Catholic schools!
BK Catholic schools to implement
COVID-19 safety protocols upon
reopening in September
Mask-wearing children line up for school. Photo via Getty Images
COURIER LIFE, AUGUST 20-26, 2021 25
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The Office of the Superintendent
of Catholic Schools for the Diocese
of Brooklyn, which includes 69 elementary
schools in Brooklyn and
Queens, announced that COVID-19
safety protocols will be in place
when schools open on Wednesday,
Sept. 8.
In the absence of a mandate,
the New York State Department
of Health recommends school districts
adopt universal indoor masking
for all based on guidance from
the American Academy of Pediatrics
and the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
Therefore, Catholic academies
and parish schools in Brooklyn and
Queens will require all students, faculty
and staff members to wear masks
beginning on the fi rst day of school.
Additionally, school officials
will continue to encourage vaccinations,
social distancing, hand washing
and hand hygiene. Schools will
maintain the rigorous daily cleaning
and sanitizing of facilities, and
they’ll use enhanced ventilation.
Parents will be reminded to keep
their child home from school if they
are sick, and their child will be required
to receive medical clearance
from a healthcare provider so that
they can safely return to in-person
instruction.
The Catholic academies and parish
schools will also continue to follow
city and state guidelines regarding
contact tracing, quarantine and
isolation protocols.
“As the numbers of coronavirus
cases continue to spike in children,
and the overall numbers of hospitalizations
in New York City are on
the rise, this is the most responsible
approach to take when we begin
the new school year,” said Superintendent
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko.
“I know the return to these safety
measures is not the situation parents,
teachers or students were hoping
for in the 2021-2022 school year,
but we cannot ignore the trends.”
According to Chadzutko, if the
schools are successful in preventing
a further increase of cases as
the academic year moves along,
they will revisit the guidelines and
adjust them accordingly.
“As much as we want a return
to normalcy in our classrooms, we
want our students, faculty and staff
to be safe,” Chadzutko said.