Catholic schools across southern Massachusetts to fully reopen this fall
Article originally published on FallRiverReporter.com.
FALL RIVER, MA – The Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Office announced today that all Catholic schools serving Pre-K through Grade 8 students will fully re-open this fall with in-classroom instruction five days per week. The four Catholic high schools will announce their plans for re-opening on an individual basis. According to the Diocese, while the safety and health of students, faculty and families are paramount, research has shown that in-person instruction offers the optimal learning environment. Moreover, each school has submitted a plan to the Central School Office that follows the guidelines set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The Diocese stated that each school is able to follow the three to six feet of social distancing requirement and still provide 100% in classroom instruction. For students or families who have compromised health conditions, every school will also offer live streaming capabilities to ensure students choosing to learn remotely are still part of the school community. Positive parent feedback of the Catholic school remote learning experience started immediately and continued through the end of the 2019-20 academic year. While parents were highly satisfied with their child’s remote learning experience, there is consensus that students of all ages yearn for the sense of community provided by their Catholic school.
“We are so pleased that our students will be able to come back to the school they know and love this fall,” says Stephen A. Perla, Superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Our school leaders have worked extremely hard to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our students and teachers. They are just as excited to return to a building full of life with the activity and sounds of happy kids.”
Andrew Raposo, principal of Espirito Santo Parochial School adds, “We are blessed with such a big building that can safely accommodate our students and more. We welcome any family who may have some concerns about their child’s learning experience and are interested in how our school could help bridge a learning gap.”
“Education is the hot topic this summer and we are so thrilled to return as close to ‘normal’ as possible,” indicates Mona Lisa Valentino, principal of St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis. “Our students are excited to be back in class in August to pick up where they left off in the middle of June. There is a very strong sense of community and we welcome all new families who may feel a need to change their child’s educational direction.” St. John Paul II High School announced their return to school plans earlier this week. Similar announcements will be made by Bishop Stang High School, Bishop Connolly High School and Bishop Feehan High School.