Denver Catholic

12 AUGUST 22-SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 | DENVER CATHOLIC Denver Catholic Schools Catholic schools are reopening. Here's what you need to know. T The Archdiocese of Denver Offi ce of Catholic Schools has created a framework to aid school leadership in preparing to return to in-school learning to ensure they are doing everything they can to create the safest and healthiest possible environ- ments and conditions to reduce the impact of COVID -19 upon returning to school this month. The guidelines referenced in this framework are based on guidance that has been given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Colorado Department of Edu- cation (CDE) the Colorado Depart- ment of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), an Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Health Taskforce, and advisors at Centura Health, offi cial partners of Denver's Catholic Schools. Regular updates continue to be made to this plan and shared with school leadership based on the updates from the CDC, CDPHE and any other applicable fed- eral, state, local agencies, and the advice of advisors. Until the current pandemic is over, school leaders will continue to monitor guidance provided by the Archdiocese of Denver and the Offi ce of Catholic Schools, who will remain in close com- munication with health offi cials and will continue to work with the Health Taskforce and our Centura Advisors over the course of the academic year. The Archdiocese of Denver and Offi ce of Catholic schools are using the following root beliefs as guiding princi- ples for reopening Catholic schools:We believe that we are communities of charity and solidarity, called to seek and protect the good, safety, health, and well-being of our children, families, and teachers, especially the most vulnerable in our community (i.e. the elderly or immunocompromised). • We believe that community and human encounter is the best way to form children and allow them to fl ourish. • We believe that adults set the tone for students to be adaptable and resilient. • We believe students succeed when they are loved, heard, protected, and challenged. • We believe that true freedom and healing comes from knowing, serv- ing, loving, and being loved by Jesus. Schools should to their best to keep 6 ft. distance between students have as much distance as possible between students from the center of a chair to the center of another chair. However, this may not be practical or realistic to maintain at all times in a school setting. Consistent with the latest research, at a minimum, schools are asked to keep at least 3 ft. center to center, plus other control measures (i.e. masking, desk or face shields, transparent barriers). Based on the research there can and will be diff erences in approach between Preschool, K-5, and 6th-High School Programs. Based on recent studies, dis- tancing and masking eff orts become more critical at the middle school and high school programs. There is suffi cient evidence that mask-wearing is eff ective in limiting the spread of the virus, especially when people must come into close contact with one another. While there may be moments where prudently one may determine masking is not necessary in the school setting, based on the age and grade level, and if suffi cient social distancing is present, it is highly As we look to the next school year, we know a lot more about COVID -19 than we did just a few months ago. The capabilities of health offi cials and health care providers to test and track the virus have greatly improved. The Offi ce of Catholic Schools has also been consulting with health experts to determine how students can safely return to school. To develop the health protocols and processes, and to ensure a healthy school environment upon returning to in-school learning in August, an Offi ce of Catholic Schools Health Taskforce has been assembled. This taskforce is composed of physicians, nurse prac- titioners, a virologist, with the addi- tional support of Centura Health as a health partner in collaborative eff orts to safely reopen schools. The Offi ce of Catholic Schools has been working with this team and school leadership, as well as local and state health offi cials, to identify the best health measures to put in place to ensure the well-being of all students, faculty, and staff at each school. Goals of the Health Task Force: • Have students return to in-school learning • Create a healthy school environment for students, faculty, & staff • Develop health protocols and pro- cesses following the guidance and standard set by federal, state, and local health offi cials, as well as our Catholic schools health advisors Root Beliefs for Reopening Health Task Force Let's get back to school! WILL WE HAVE TO KEEP 6 FT. OF DISTANCE AT ALL TIMES? WILL STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS ALL THE TIME? WILL TEACHERS & STAFF BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS? recommended that our schools pro- mote a culture of mask wearing espe- cially during certain moments or sit- uations such when students will be in close contact with one another over an extended period of time (more than 15 minutes), and 3-6 ft. of distance cannot be maintained. Face shields may be an option for schools and parents to explore. Schools will also need to be respon- sive to local orders on mask wearing and use. Our state currently has an executive/public health order on masking. Yes, but only as much as is rea- sonable according to the setting and duties, and as defi ned by any executive or public health order. Teachers should wear masks when in close contact with other people, or where suffi cient distancing cannot be maintained. It is highly recommended that schools consider acquiring or making face shields for teachers. Face shields with masks provide the highest degree of protection. Governor Polis has committed to providing one medical-grade mask a week, for every teacher in our Catholic schools for the fi rst 8-10 weeks of the school year. Medical, N-95 or masks with shields need to be available and provided for staff on the front lines of working with sick children (i.e. offi ce, front line staff ). Learn more on denvercatholicschools.org/parents i

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