Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. –
Proverbs 1:5
August 27, 2020
Dear Catholic Schools Families,
As the days grow shorter, the rituals of summer give way to the routines of fall and a new school year. School principals have been working extensively with the Office of the Superintendent and the Catholic Schools Reopening Advisory Council, to provide extensive professional development on COVID-19 awareness, enhanced teacher technology, and mental health social-emotional learning (SEL).
Given the emphasis on hygiene, our maintenance and custodial staff are receiving training in the new requirements for cleaning and sanitizing our school buildings. A recent article in Catholic New York does a wonderful job of articulating this intensive instruction currently underway to ensure our mission is carried out safely and efficiently.
By now, your principal has been in touch with you to share the reopening plan crafted for your particular school and familiarize you with the modifications to daily routines such as drop off and pick up procedures and the regulations surrounding meal times and traversing hallways.
These communications will continue since your comfort and familiarity with the new protocols is paramount. While the painstaking work continues in your school buildings, there are things you can do at home to prepare your family for the coming school year.
This comprehensive video presentation, Teacher and Student Resources for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, with materials approved by our health experts, including Dr. Walid Michelen, chief medical officer and senior vice president at ArchCare, is a timely refresher on COVID-19.
While we are all familiar with the dos and don’ts of life during this pandemic, one can never be too informed. Consider this an opportunity for some family professional development before returning to your school in just a few weeks.
More than ever, your partnership is crucial to safely and successfully reopening our schools and to carry on the storied legacy of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of New York.
Thank you for being informed, supportive and understanding as we navigate this new beginning together.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of New York
