Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Parent Update for Wednesday, July 15, 2020

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July 15, 2020

Dear STM Parents:

The SFUSD announced yesterday that on August 17, 2020, they plan to start the new school year with distance learning.

What does this mean for our Catholic schools? The short answer is that I don't know yet. Given the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area and California, we continue to be concerned. We are, however, continuing to plan for reopening as scheduled until we hear otherwise. The Catholic schools have spent the past six weeks making changes to our campus and developing new protocols for both students and staff. Some of the changes we have made at St. Thomas More include the following:

  • Replacing faucets in the girls' and boys' bathroom sinks so that students can now use a lever to turn on and off the water. We also are eliminating the middle sink to provide more separation.

  • Installing touchless faucets in the preschool classrooms.

  • Adding a hand washing station to the school yard.

  • Installing touchless hand sanitizing units at each entrance to the school and outside each classroom. (22 units)

  • Providing face shields and plexiglass barriers for all teachers and the office area.

  • Purchasing 20 no touch thermometers.

  • Purchasing large room dividers to separate spaces.

  • Developing signage to promote social distancing and proper hand washing.

Other changes include staggered drop off and dismissal procedures, health screening protocols, smaller cohorts of students, routine hand washing schedules, restroom schedules, additional cleaning and sanitizing, especially of high touch areas, staggered recess and lunch schedules and so many other little details.

We are putting the final touches to our Logistical and Reopening plan that I will submit this week to the Department of Catholic School and to the SFDPH. The second part of the requirement for opening is a detailed plan for parents that is also close to completion. This is based on the information I shared with you on July 1, but with much more details and some changes. For instance, we will now be taking student temperatures before entering the school building. I will share the draft of this with you soon. This will also be subject to approval by the Health Department.

Given the uncertainty surrounding reopening and the challenges regarding spreading the virus, I think it is best that you hold off on buying school uniforms for the moment if you haven't done so already. Even if we return to campus, we will make uniform adjustments for the first part of this school year that will include clothing that can be washed and changed easily and that is cheaper and readily available. This is still in the planning stages so please wait for an update on that.

Even if we begin the year with distance learning, these plans and protocols will be used for whenever we do return to the campus so the weeks of intense work will not be in vain. The teachers will be spending additional time planning before the beginning of next school year. Whether this is for in person learning or distance learning remains to be seen.

We are blessed with the support and strength that we share as a school community. I would like to finish with a prayer written by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, March 13th, 2020, just as we began to close down our schools and shelter in place. It resonates even more at this time, when we reflect on the racism that is such a part of our society.  Let's continue to stay positive and focus on equality for all.

Gratefully,

Marie

The Other Side of the Virus,
An Opportunity to Awaken...


Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

       You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

       The sky is no longer thick with fumes

       But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

       People are singing to each other

       across the empty squares,

       keeping their windows open

       so that those who are alone

       may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

      is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

 Today a young woman I know

      is busy spreading fliers with her number

      through the neighborhood

      so that the elders may have someone to call on.

 Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

      are preparing to welcome

      and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.

All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way.

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

      To how big we really are.

      To how little control we really have.  

      To what really matters.

      To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

     But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

   But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

    But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

    But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

     But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic-

     The birds are singing again

     The sky is clearing,

     Spring is coming,

     And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

          And though you may not be able

          to touch across the empty square,

          Sing.

- Written by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, March 13th 2020

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