SCA Update

April 20, 2020 Dear St. Cecilia Families, Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and generous spirit as we plan the conclusion of this year together. After final discussions with our Academic Committee and with local independent and diocesan schools, I want to share with you updates for the conclusion of this academic year.

Updates

• Semester exams will not be given this spring; second semester grades will be 50% Quarter 3, 50% Quarter 4.
• The last day for seniors will be May 8.
  On the original school calendar, seniors who were not exempt from semester exams had an exam review week May 11-14; May 15 was scheduled as Senior Day off-campus. Since we will not have semester exams this year, these exam review days will not be needed.
  
  Many of our seniors are taking one or more AP classes and AP exams are May 11-22, so this will allow them time to focus completely on preparing for these exams. After formal classes end, AP teachers will continue to offer enrichment exercises, coaching, and feedback to help AP students prepare for their exams. This will give our seniors an experience of a traditional college reading week, in which taking full advantage of TA sessions is highly encouraged but does not directly impact their transcript.
• The last day for all other students will be May 15.
• Senior Graduation Survey Results: Thank you, seniors, for filling out Friday’s survey! The survey shows that the overwhelming majority of seniors and their parents want an inperson traditional graduation ceremony at a later date when we can gather again. They also would like something virtual on May 22, but not as a replacement for a ceremony together. We will be in touch soon with alternative graduation dates and ideas for how to celebrate virtually on May 22.

Planning in Process for Events Celebrated Virtually

• April 22 Senior Superlatives
• April 27-May 1 Senior/Freshman Week
• April 27- May 1 Honors Evening - This year instead of one Honors Evening, we will have an Honors Week! The award ceremony will be done via video and short segments will be posted each night at 6:00 p.m. so your family can gather to watch. It will culminate on May 1 with the announcement of the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and St. Cecilia Girl.
• May 1 May Crowning
• May 4 Athletic Awards
• May 22 Virtual Recognition of the Graduating Class of 2020

Other Planning in Process

• TBD Times in the summer for students to collect everything from school after Safer at Home mandates are lifted
• TBD Alternative dates in June, July, or December for in-person graduation and senior celebrations

As we plan to bring this year to a close, our Admissions Office has been busy preparing for our new students who will join us next year! We will have a robust freshman class of approximately 70 girls from 15 different schools. Last week our Director of Admissions Megan Gardner and the SCA Ambassadors hosted two Scarab Zoom Socials for the Class of 2024, attended by over 50 of the soon-to-be Scarabs! New Student Course Registration will be completed online by new families this week. The future of SCA looks bright!

Yesterday as we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, the words that Jesus asked St. Faustina to write underneath the Divine Mercy image and that we at St. Cecilia Academy have prayed together each morning, echoed through my mind: Jesus, I trust in You. The past five weeks have given us an opportunity to pray these words in a deeper, more personal way than perhaps ever before. May each of us to receive the special, individualized grace we need – the grace to pray these words, the grace to trust in Jesus, to trust in His love—for you—as you are—right now.

Gratefully in Christ,

Sister Anna Laura, O.P.