Back to School Message

Dear School Communities:

August always brings excitement and anticipation as we look forward to the start of school, and this year is no different. In preparing for the 2020-21 school year, although we've also had to plan for such things as masks and social distancing, we continue to approach this year as we would any other, working in partnership with our schools and families to offer a Catholic education rooted in Christ and serving our students in mind, body, and spirit.

We want to reassure you that our schools are opening because we are confident we can safely do so. We value the health and safety of our students, families, and staff and while we can't ensure that someone in our communities won't get COVID-19, we can assure you that we are following all of the proper procedures and protocols to protect our students and staff to the best of our abilities.

You may be seeing your local public school offering different options than your local Catholic school. The issues that some public schools are facing and which have influenced their decision not to offer face-to-face instruction are not necessarily our issues. Our school populations are not the same size. We have the ability to follow recommended social distancing guidelines provided by the State as well as limiting capacity in classrooms. Our average class size across the diocese is 12 students per classroom. Many of our schools have capped class sizes and have waiting lists at various grade-levels to ensure that we can allow for appropriate social distancing.

Since the beginning of March, no one person or organization has had the perfect answer in regards to what to do in a pandemic situation. We also do not have the perfect answer, but I am confident the Back-to-School plans our schools have created have been made with the best information available to guide their school communities. We will continue to work with our administrators and parents as we make decisions at the diocesan level in the future. Our interest lies in what is best to educate our students and keep them and our school staff safe.

With this in mind, we have adjusted our NWEA MAP testing window to allow schools to assess the students as soon as they are able. This assessment of students' learning will be used to help inform instruction and provide differentiated support to students for either in-person or remote learning.  

As I mentioned earlier, all of our schools have developed reopening plans. They have been reviewed by our office and were submitted to the Michigan Department of Education last week. All plans comply with the "MI Safe Schools: Michigan's 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap" requirements, CDC and local Health Department mandates, as well as recommendations that schools may have added to address local concerns. Our schools that are continuing to offer athletics will be following all Michigan High School Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Association guidelines for each sport in addition to requirements laid out in the Michigan Safe Schools Plan. Many of our schools have also offered options for parents who do not feel comfortable returning their students to in-person classes by offering remote learning opportunities for their child's continued educational and spiritual growth. 

I recently overheard a conversation regarding the stresses of starting school at this time, where one mother told the other, "As we approach the first days of school there is nothing more important than being able to give grace to our administrators, teachers, parents, students - whatever role we all are in right now". I echo that mother's sentiments - we all need grace and flexibility as we approach a school year with routines and decisions we've never had to deal with before. As a community built on faith, it is especially important in times like these to draw on that faith and remember all that unites us and remember to extend those simple acts of kindness and grace to one another. 

As always, thank you for allowing us to partner with you in educating your child. We recognize that there still may be some unknowns ahead of us and we may have to alter course, but flexibility and grace will see us through. Have a great start to the school year. As always, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

 

Margaret Erich
Superintendent of Schools - Diocese of Kalamazoo