Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
As has been previously shared, our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have always had a strong relationship with our parents and guardians. This has contributed greatly to the success of our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools. The past three months have been a challenging time for families. Parents have dealt with their own jobs shifting to at-home work status or, even worse, having their jobs being eliminated altogether. Add to that, the stress of having to assist your children with their learning, which presented some additional challenges. I think the hardest part about the COVID-19 crisis has been the uncertain time frame and lack of consistent information from New York City and New York State officials.
Every day, updates and new developments are being shared by Governor Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio. Looking ahead, we are making plans to re-open our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in Brooklyn and Queens for the upcoming academic year (2020-2021). Though we cannot determine what the health conditions will look like for the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, as we approach September, our goal is to return to in-class instruction with all the necessary safety precautions.
A Re-Opening School Task Force has been developed and convening weekly meetings, to develop a strategic plan for the re-opening of Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in September 2020. The implementation of this strategic plan will include a variety of health and safety precautions. It is highly likely that social-distancing requirements will necessitate the need to limit the number of students in a classroom/school building at one time. The summer will allow us time to further our plans and put the necessary measures in place. Our priority is to ensure that our students, teachers, and staff can confidently return to a safe and healthy school building, conducive to teaching, learning, and faith formation.
Our Catholic Academy and Parish School buildings might be empty, but their ministry of Catholic education endures. We continue to journey together though these difficult times. We must continue to act together to ensure that our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools will remain strong and healthy both now, and when we can gather together again in the future.
In preparation for the summer months of July and August, I offer you the following prayer to share with your family:
Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
Amen.
Wishing you a safe and healthy summer.
We promise to keep you informed as plans evolve. Continue to monitor your Catholic Academy/ Parish School and Diocese of Brooklyn websites (https://catholicschoolsbq.org/).
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services