Catholic Schools
Big plans for back to school
Brooklyn, Queens Catholic schools prepare for September reopening
THERE’S A PLAN FOR THAT: Each of the Brooklyn Diocese’s 66 Catholic academies and Parish schools have submitted their 2020-2021 reopening
plans to the New York State Department of Education — and the methods vary. Pexels
COURIER LIFE, AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, 2020 15
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
A majority of Catholic
schools in Brooklyn and
Queens are preparing to offer
students in-person classes fi ve
days a week, implementing
social distancing in the classrooms
and throughout the
schools, according to plans
fi led by the Brooklyn Diocese
with New York State.
The Diocese of Brooklyn
announced on Aug. 18 that
each of its 66 Catholic academies
and Parish schools have
submitted their 2020-2021 reopening
plans to the New York
State Department of Education.
“We are pleased with the
governor’s recent announcement
regarding the reopening
of schools. This is a great
fi rst step in the right direction
to helping our children safely
return to the classroom,” said
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D., superintendent
of schools.
The plans submitted by
each school/academy to New
York State presented one of
the following three options:
Plan A (100 percent in-person
learning); Plan B (blended
learning); and Plan C (100 percent
distance learning).
Under Plan A, mandatory
face coverings will be required
in school with mask breaks,
hand and respiratory hygiene
guidance and enforcement, signage
throughout the buildings
promoting hygiene, illness,
mask and distance requirements.
There will be daily health
screenings of all who enter the
buildings per NYS guidelines,
including temperature checks
and testingpolicies in place per
Health Department guidelines.
The Plan B hybrid learning
model — which varies by school
— could be three days in school
and two days of remote learning
from home, according to
the Diocese.
There will be remote learning
with a combination of synchronous
and asynchronous
with instruction sessions led by
teachers of the students’ Catholic
academy or Parish school.
Meanwhile, Plan C introduces
the Saint Thomas Aquinas
Distance Learning Catholic
Program, created with a
faculty focused exclusively on
the development of an academically
rigorous, Christ-centered
remote learning program.
According to the Diocese,
this is an additional option to
ensure instructional equity for
those who choose 100 percent
remote learning.
Of the plans submitted, a majority
of the 66 Diocesan schools
and academies aim to open for
instruction under Plan A, with
the fl exibility to adopt Plan B
or Plan C quickly if COVID-19
cases arise.
“Our principals, teachers,
boards and administrators
have been hard at work to ensure
all the health and safety
protocols will be met at all our
Catholic Academies and Parish
Schools. We are prepared and
excited for a full reopening in
September,” Chadzutko said.
“This may be slightly different
school by school given the
building footprint and student
population. Some schools will
need to use a hybrid model if
they cannot meet the social distancing
standards.”
The health of the students,
faculty and staff, remains the
top priority, so enhanced cleaning,
disinfecting and sanitizing
protocols will be in place at all
school buildings.
The reopening plans for
each school can be found on
the individual school website.
Additionally, parent meetings
will take place this week, via
Zoom, to review and discuss
the plans.
“We are prepared and
excited for a full reopening.”