Statement from Superintendent

We recognize that everyone is trying to balance the risk of contracting this virus with delivering effective education of children and young people. The safety of our students, teachers and staff has been a priority since the first day of school. Our 2 diocesan schools which have nearly 1,000 students and in the past two weeks ending Friday, Nov 20, 4 students tested positive and were out from preschool and high school, 19 high school students tested negative following close contact in school and 27 students tested negative following possible contact with someone outside the school suspected to have it, and 5 students are still out waiting for results from possible contact with someone outside the school who had it:  3 teachers tested negative but are out due to direct contact with someone who  tested positive. These numbers, which are shared regularly with the local Department of Health, are testimony to how well the protocols have been followed.

Our schools are being responsive to the desire of parents to have their children receive in-person learning as much as possible, especially elementary school grades. This is consistent with the Dept. of Education and the Governor’s recommendation that students have access to on-site learning as long as it is safe. We are, of course, monitoring the evolving guidelines from the state during this upcoming holiday. Should the state and/or local boards of health recommend moving to remote learning for a defined period of time, or if a specific school has an increase of Covid-related absences which warrants moving to exclusively remote learning, we will respond accordingly.