January 16,2021

January 15, 2021

Even though distance learning is neither optimal nor desirable, our teachers are putting great effort into gathering new ideas and sharing successes with each other. Last Saturday they participated in an on-line “Idea Marketplace,” where they exchanged ideas for successful online learning. The Educational Council, Lithuania’s Ministry of Education, and individual Lithuanian schools in the U.S. all share information, websites, videos, and lessons to help our students and teachers.Please remember – parents are a child’s first and most important teachers . Let’s join our efforts toward success.

The first semester is ending this Saturday. Students will not be receiving traditional report cards. An evaluation of their progress, attendance, and participation will be sent to parents before Jan. 23rd. Please look for it in your email. Second semester tuition is now due. Guidelines are found in this website.

The upper classes participated in a wonderful online presentation of the events of January 13,1991, when Lithuania rose up against the USSR. Maj. Albertas Daugirdas , a participant in these events as a young man, gave our students a behind-the-scenes look at the fortifications of the Lithuanian Parliament on that fateful day. We are grateful to him and to acting consul Agne Gureviciene for making this presentation possible.

The third graders are preparing to receive First Communion and Reconciliation sometime in the spring. Viktorija Gedviliene will be their Religion teacher . Please inform Maryte if you are interested in these classes.

Stay healthy and safe,

p.Maryte

December 19, 2020 Christmas program

December 17, 2020

Dear parents,

Wishing all our school families a joyful, peace-filled Christmas. May the gentle spirit of the newborn Christ Child bring happiness to your homes.

Distance learning has been challenging for all of us. I salute the teachers,students, and parents, who have supported our efforts during this troubled time. With good intentions, will power, and lots of heart – everything is possible, as you have shown these past months. Let’s keep our beautiful Lithuanian language and culture alive in your homes. Remember to include Lithuanian traditions in your celebrations, and, most importantly, to highlight the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus’ birthday.

Our annual Christmas program EgluteEglute20_ will be on Zoom this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Every family has received an email with the details. I am attaching the announcement with this letter.Thanks to Viktorija Gedviliene and her son Vytas ,who have made this virtual program possible!

Distance learning resumes January 9,2021. Stay healthy and safe.

With love,                                                                                                                                           p.Maryte

September 26,2020

September 22, 2020

Once again, welcome to our on-line Lithuanian School classes. We are now beginning our third Saturday of instruction. You must register this week at the latest,if you haven’t done so already. All the information is found on this website.

Please have patience with our distance learning process. The teachers are trying their best! If your child is not registering for on-line classes, but intends to return to school when we have live classes, he/she MUST complete all the assignments at home, in order to be able to rejoin their class.This is an equitable solution for all.Contact the grade’s teacher, as well as Laima Gajauskas to buy books.

You should have been receiving my emails with general information and the Sept-Dec.calendar.

Let’s all have a wonderful school year!

MNewsom

SCHOOL OPENS SEPTEMBER 12th

September 05, 2020

Thank you to all the families who have registered for the new school year 2020-2021.We will be working remotely for the time being. Classes begin Saturday, September 12th. 9-11am Gr. 1-6; 11-1pm Gr. 7-12. Kiskiai and Vaiku Darzelis will arrange class schedules with the teachers.

PLEASE REGISTER NOW ! WE NEED COMPLETE STUDENT ROSTERS.

All registration information is found on this website’s tab  About the School .

Books can be purchased on Sunday, Sept. 13th at parapija. School Opening Mass is at 11 a.m. Please see announcements in the previous week’s Letter to Parents. All borrowed books and materials can be returned at that time. Contact Laima Gajauskas Laima_g@hotmail.com for other book pick-up sites.

Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces on the computer screen. Remember – we are all one big Lithuanian family ! 

The 2020-2021 school year begins!

August 14, 2020

Dear parents and students,

We are living in unprecedented times. Although being homebound has given us an opportunity to spend valuable family time together, it has also brought a great deal of uncertainty for the future. We became aware of the importance of social interaction and community involvement.

Recognizing this as the “new normal” for the time being, Lithuanian School will resume in September with distance learning. Last spring, caught by surprise and dismay due to the pandemic, our teachers, parents, and students worked very diligently to complete the school year. Congratulations! We all did it!

I am inviting all families to continue honoring our Lithuanian heritage by registering for the new school year 2020-2021. Let’s not break the 70 year tradition of St.Casimir Lithuanian Heritage School.

Distance learning begins Sept.12th and Saturdays thereafter, 9:00-11:00( 1-6 gr.) and 11:00-1:00 (7-12gr.) with recess breaks. Kiskiai(preschool) and Vaiku Darzelis (Kindergarten)will arrange brief instruction times with their teachers. Tuition has been substantially reduced. Registration forms are available on the school’s website lamokykla.com

We are planning an interesting, instructive, and pleasant curriculum, and are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces on the computer screen.

Faithfully yours,                                                                                                                                                                     Maryte Newsom

The school year has ended

May 27, 2020

This unusual 70th jubilee school year has come to an end. May 16th marked the last formal day of instruction. The 11th and 12th graders had their final class led by teachers Vitalija and Gida. We said our goodbyes to five 12th graders . Their names appear in the Lithuanian version of this letter. Each read a farewell letter, thanking parents and teachers. They will miss the school and their friends, but urged the younger students  to continue on to 12th grade.

We have some winners of the Lithuanian Educational Council (Švietimo Taryba) sponsored art and essay contests. Their names are listed in the Lithuanian version of this letter.

We congratulate our long-term teachers  : Vitalija Virbukiene 15 yrs.; Gida Urboniene 15 yrs. ; Reda Pereviciene 10 yrs; Tara Barauskas 10 yrs. Although we have many other teachers who have served our school for many years, the Educational Council formally commends specific intervals of teaching.

The national  Amber Apple Award (Gintarinis Obuoliukas) for excellence in teaching was awarded to our upper school teacher Vtalija Virbukiene. Congratulations to an outstanding teacher. We are proud of your accomplishments.Thank you to all our dedicated staff!

In the ten weeks of distance learning, we have all been challenged to find new teaching methods and to  communicate effectively.  We have been very successful in completing the academic program for the year. A big thank you to the students, parents, and teachers for their efforts in participating in on-line learning, thus displaying a love for their Lithuanian school and culture.

As of now we have no specific information for the new school year. I will gather an advisory group during the summer to make plans for  September. We will inform parents as soon as possible. Whatever the future holds, we hope that you will see the value of our Lithuanian School and will continue to make an effort to keep up with lessons, whether in person or otherwise. We need you to carry on our 70 year tradition!

Have a restful summer. Stay well and God bless.

Marytė

EASTER

April 10, 2020

April 4,2020

April 03, 2020

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, marking the start of Holy Week . Since we cannot meet in churches and schools, take time to celebrate these events at home. They all lead to Easter – Christ’s Resurrection from the dead – the most important holy day in Christianity.

Some activities you can do at home: make your own Lithuanian “verbas” or palms; watch a film about the Old or New Testament ; pray the Stations of the Cross;  make greeting cards to send to loved ones; prepare “margučių” egg-painting materials and construct an egg-rolling trough for traditional play; bake traditional breads and cakes.

Blessings and greetings to our Lithuanian brethren who are celebrating Passover in the Jewish tradition. This eight-day feast, beginning next Wednesday, reminds us of God’s care for all, especially during this time of uncertainty. It is most important to teach our children that God is present in our lives. He will never forsake us; we just need to trust in Him.

You can find many informative pieces on “verbas” and other Lithuanian and religious traditions on YouTube and other Internet sources. Have a meaningful week.

p.Maryte

SCHOOL CLOSED – Offsite classes

March 24, 2020

Dear Parents,

We are living in very uncertain times. For some, the days are productive and well-spent. For others, routines are disrupted and time flows unmarked. Pope Francis urges us to dream about the days when we can all be together again and enjoy the simple pleasures of life: family gatherings, meetings in coffee shops, communal prayer, hugs…In this way we will recognize the small gifts that surround us every day and we will appreciate them.

As of now, Lithuanian School will be closed until the end of April. Hopefully classes will resume April 25th. In the meanwhile, each classroom teacher has been sending online assignments to students. Please help your child complete these assignments so that they can move on to the next grade in the Fall. Our teachers are putting time and effort into keeping communication open with families. Please direct questions to them. There will not be an opportunity during the summer to complete missed work. Please finish all work at this time.

All 45 Lithuanian schools in the U.S. are operating off-site. The Lithuanian Educational Council has provided teachers with additional online material if needed.

In the future I would like to boast that all of our families cooperated with the school and that all students turned in assignments. Then we’ll really celebrate when we come back to school !

Stay well,

p.Marytė and teachers

Offsite classes

March 20, 2020

Dear parents,

Our teachers are spending quite a bit of time putting Lithuanian school assignments online, communicating with parents, and correcting returned work so that students would not fall behind in their studies. Please respect their work and efforts by helping your child complete the given work. Direct all questions to your child’s teacher. Stay well.

p.Maryte