PGIA Update 3.29.2020 - Ms. Arpasi

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Dear PGIA Parents & Students,

I hope that this message finds you well, safe and healthy at home. As we are amidst challenging circumstances, we wish to bring you constant updates that will assure you that VIMSIA is tackling these current issues with safe and effective measures. During our community quarantine, the PGIA is aiming at providing students with normalcy and continuing academic studies via distance learning in the best interest of our shared mission. I am very happy to be back in St. Thomas and hard at work with the PGIA.

Here are some important updates regarding the PGIA:

  • As spring break comes to a close, PGIA’s Distance Learning Program starts bright and early on Monday, March 30th. School will run regularly from 8am - 3.15pm, as normal, per the modified distance learning schedule via ZOOM, email and managebac.

  • Here is where you can find the PGIA Distance Learning Schedule, including ZOOM links for digital meetings. As previously indicated, the green class periods are face-to-face zoom meetings where students are required to be digitally present. The white class periods are ones where students should be working from home on assignments from that class. Students should be very regularly checking ManageBac and email.

  • PGIA teachers will be available for office hours every day, Monday through Friday, from 3.15-4pm. This is a time where students can reach out to teachers to ask questions, request support, share ideas, etc. The links to access teachers via office hours are included in the Distance Learning Schedule.  Of course, teachers are still available via email in all instances.

  • Upcoming PGIA Parent-Student-Teacher conferences have been cancelled at this time. We will have regular distance learning school days on both Friday 4/3/20 and Monday 4/13/20. (Friday 4/10/20 remains a holiday, per the 2019-2020 Academic Calendar.)

  • As a means of updating you regarding your student’s class progress, PGIA Semester 2 Progress Reports will be sent out on Wednesday 4/8/20 (slightly adjusted date). These reports will be released digitally via ManageBac, and will include numerical marks for each class, as well as an update regarding recent overall class progress. Further questions, concerns or comments can be brought to my attention by emailing me at garpasi@vimsia.org.

  • We know this is a strange and trying time for all of us, including all teachers, students and parents. Please know that you can reach out to us at any time as we navigate our new Distance Learning Program, and as you and your family experience this at-home quarantine. Teachers will make every effort to extend reasonable class expectations, and offer plenty of pastoral care to our students at this time.

  • We have created a PGIA Distance Learning Handbook which contains important information regarding these topics. This handbook will be live on our school’s website on Monday. This handbook lays out all student, parent and teacher expectations and everyone should be referencing it as we go along.

Looking forward to “seeing” students on Monday!

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home.

Reach Out Anytime,

Gloria Arpasi
PGIA Director
340-998-6353