Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
The changes in our lives due to the COVID-19 have been many. Unfortunately, the impact of the virus continues to change the most fundamental aspects of how we live, including how we hold school, which is the purpose of this letter. While we cannot predict what the COVID-19 pandemic will look like this fall, the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools are planning to implement a number of enhanced health and safety measures, based on guidance from local health and government authorities.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aside from a child’s home, there is no other setting which has more of an influence on a child’s health and well-being than their school. The in-person school environment: provides academic instruction; supports the development of social and emotional skills; creates a safe environment for learning; addresses nutritional needs; and facilitates physical activity.
School leaders have been working tirelessly to develop plans for the safe return of as many students as possible, to in-person school, in order to best meet students’ academic, social-emotional and faith-based needs. Over the coming weeks, we will be meeting with principals, Board Chairs and Pastors, to discuss site-specific plans. Based upon the current medical status, the expectation today is for students to return to full in-person instruction in September; however, schedules may vary, and these reentry plans are subject to change, based upon the final determination, to be made by Governor Cuomo.
The health and safety of the children and adults in our schools is paramount. Health and safety considerations must always come first in every decision made and every action taken by our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. In planning for school opening, our goal is to establish best practices for ensuring a healthy and safe return to school. This will include but not limited to: health checks; healthy hygiene practices; social distancing; personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings; and cleaning and disinfection.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these extraordinary times. We acknowledge that there are likely to be more questions than answers at this time, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks.
In preparation for a safe re-opening of our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, I offer you the following prayer to share with your family:
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Loving Jesus, be with us,
as we prepare to open our
Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in September.
Amen.
Let us all pray for a resolution to and decrease of the COVID-19 virus.
May everyone be healthy, safe, and well.
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
