Important Please Read Regarding School Opening
July 13, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, within the Diocese of Brooklyn are planning to open in September! The Office of the Superintendent Re-Opening Task Force continues to work tirelessly to ensure that our students, faculty and staff remain healthy and have access to the most current information. Moreover, the Diocese of Brooklyn Re-Opening Task Force, led by Chief Esposito, has been most impressed with the thoroughness of the Office of the Superintendent’s Task Force’s comprehensive plan for a successful safe opening of our school buildings this Fall.
Principals have been working diligently, planning for a September re-opening. The New York State Education Department just recently shared the framework for school reopening plans with formal guidance. This framework will be disseminated later this week and will serve as a roadmap, providing schools with guidelines, expectations and mandates, to safely open our schools this fall. We also anticipate receiving information shortly from the New York State Department of Health and the Board of Regents. The Office of the Superintendent Re-Opening Task Force will continue to share all information with our schools.
Governor Cuomo will be informing us of his final decision on school openings, during the week of August 1-7. In anticipation of schools re-opening, please know there are essential elements included in all the re-opening plans being developed:
- Our goal for opening schools is a 5-day a week, in-school model, ensuring that as many students, using social distancing, can safely be in our buildings. We are aware that many buildings cannot accommodate their total student population, in a socially distant way, for a full 5 day Plans are being developed by principals, using alternative scheduling; hybrid learning, combining in-person and remote learning.
- We are deeply committed to ensuring that each Catholic Academy and Parish School continue to provide a loving, nurturing Catholic School environment. We will stand firm on continuing academic excellence. Social-emotional learning and mental well-being has been and will continue to be a priority.
- The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff will continue to be our number one priority, with enhanced cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing protocols, and the implementation of student and faculty wellness checks and symptom screening.
- We have and will continue to advocate for the many resources our students are entitled to under State and City law, as well as through the local school We will continue to stress that all public-school districts provide a nurse/medical professional to our schools and provide transportation for eligible students. Unfortunately, at this time, we are uncertain if they will be able to fulfill these requirements. We will continue to be persistent in engaging local school districts and lobbying for our students. Further updates on these issues will follow.
We have studied the re-opening plans from around the world, and across our country. We have worked collaboratively with Principals, Pastors and Academy Boards, to envision a re-opening plan that is safe and strong in academics and is Christ-centered.
As we continue to plan for September 2020, we must remember that all plans are based upon information we have presently received, never looking to compromise the health and safety of all. We will continue to work and plan, accepting changes with patience and common sense.
We thank everyone for their continued support through these unpredictable times and continue to ask for God’s blessings.
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Important Please Read – Remote Instruction or In Class Instruction
July 10, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I pray you’re having a restful and safe summer. We are currently making plans for the opening of our academy on September 9, 2020. At that time, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy will be open to all students.
However, if you so wish, we are giving the option to those parents who would like to continue with Distance/Virtual Instruction at home to have their child remain at home and receive instruction through Distance/Virtual Instruction as has been done in the past few months.
Otherwise, we will begin classes with 12-15 students in each class depending on classroom footage, 6 ft apart, and we will be following all social distancing guidelines. Masks will be required to be worn by students while in the school building and, therefore, masks that accommodate your child should be sent in with your child daily.
All teachers, teacher aides, custodians, and staff members will also wear masks. We will have hand sanitizers in each room, and disinfection of everything in the classroom and halls, etc. every day and sanitizing during the day will occur. According to CDC regulations, students will remain in
the same classroom all day to allow for the least amount of contact to others. Teachers will shift from class to class.
Because we are not permitted to gather them together, they will also have lunch in the.classrooms.
All those entering the building will be screened for fever every morning. Therefore, it is a must that if your child does not feel well, they should remain at home. An isolation room for parents to pick their child will be set up near the nurse’s office in the event your child becomes ill during the day and must be removed from the classroom. All CDC precautions and requirements will be adhered to at our academy. It is of the utmost importance to keep
everyone safe. Limited visitors will be in the building, and all visitors must follow the same safety precautions such as coming with masks on while in the building.
If you choose to have your child remain at home for instruction, please send an email informing me of this decision to ddibrino@olphca.org to let us know if your child will continuewith remote learning. If we do not hear from you, then I will count your child as being instructed in our classrooms at school. This information allows me to judge accurately the number of
students we will be expecting to be home or in our building. More specific information will be provided to you if the CDC adds additional requirements.
May God bless you and watch over you,
Mrs. Frances DeLuca
Principal
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, our school, is NOT closing – Please read
July 9, 2020
Dear Parent or Guardian:
It is with deep sadness we must announce the permanent closing of six of our Catholic academies, within the Diocese of Brooklyn, effective August 31, 2020, due to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis on enrollment and finances – an issue faced by many Catholic schools in the region and across the nation.
This communication is to assure you that Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, our school, is NOT included in this announcement and is planning to reopen in September 2020, when New York City and New York State determine it is
safe to do so.
We want to share our commitment that the tradition of Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens will continue. We are committed to giving all children an opportunity to receive a Catholic education.
The extended family of Catholic Academies and Parish Schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn must come together to mourn the losses suffered, pray for the future, and support our children, as many of them will need to transfer to a new Catholic Academy in the midst of very uncertain times.
Our smaller and caring community of Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have many advantages, as witnessed by how quickly we adapted to remote learning, to ensure and maintain our high standard of education. Our children knew that even though they were separated, they were not alone. Our devoted teachers and staff supported every child with the tools they needed to continue their education.
Planning is currently underway to serve all our students and school communities in the best way possible for the upcoming academic year, following state and health department requirements. More information about the reopening plan for your Catholic Academy or Parish School will be shared later in the summer, as guidance from the state and health officials evolves.
We look forward to continuing to care for and educate children with faith and knowledge in God’s plan for all of us.
Let us pray for every family, child, teacher, and school staff member at this time.
(from our Superintendent’s Letter to parents)
Sincerely,
Frances DeLuca
Principal
Summer Enrichment Activities
I hope you are enjoying your summer!
Please click the link below for fun and engaging enrichment activities. Please note that this is not mandatory, but can help you to prepare for the 2020/2021 school year. For more information click on the link “Letter to Families”.
Please note that the enrichment activities does not replace your summer work assigned by each subject teacher.
God Bless.