Dear StJPII families,
My prayers have been with you throughout the last few weeks that our entire community is staying safe and healthy. Here, at StJPII, our Catholic faith has always guided us and we will always hold strong to our mission at St. John Paul II Catholic School.
At this time, we have long awaited
preliminary guidance
from TEA, under the direction of Governor Abbott, for schools to reopen. While final guidance will not be available until mid-July, StJPII is continuing to plan for in-person instruction to begin on August 18.
We are fully committed to creating outstanding plans for our fall programming. So, over the past few months, StJPII’s Task Force has been reviewing both TEA and the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Educational Department (TCCBED) guidelines in order to establish reentry contingency plans that will best serve our Saint community.
When St. John Paul II Catholic School reopens in person on August 18, noticeable new safeguards will be in place. For example, daily disinfecting surfaces with CDC approved cleaning agents, physical distancing implemented, and faculty and staff Covid-19 response trained
. These and any others will be in compliance with government guidelines as well as responsive to the needs of our Saint community.
Additionally, our Saint Task Force is working diligently on educational and technology plans to maintain the value of our Catholic education. In-person and remote plans have been developed to align with our curriculum commitment to Catholic education and fulfill our mission to prepare students both academically and spiritually to succeed in life and to God’s will.
We know how desperately we all wish for definitive answers for the fall, and while there is simply no way for anyone to provide those answers at this point, we are absolutely clear on the priorities that guide the Task Force as we plan:
- StJPII will pray and make all decisions and modifications in regard to reopening plans in alignment with the Mission of the School.
- StJPII’s reopening plans will prioritize the spiritual, physical, and emotional health and safety of our students, our families, and our faculty and staff.
- StJPII will consistently communicate reopening plans as they evolve.
- StJPII will provide an educational experience that is exceptional, dynamic, interactive, and intentional regardless of learning format.
- StJPII will utilize technology and instructional resources to support all aspects of the learning experience.
- StJPII will ensure integrity, caring, and excellence is delivered regardless of learning format, and we will Be Not Afraid as a community in adjusting as needed.
While the safety and well-being of our Saint community remains a priority, our ability to move forward to offer in-person instruction along with any necessary adjustments relies fully on both the grace of God and the support of our community working in partnership with the School. I thank you in advance for your prayers and support. As we receive final guidance, we will be in communication to share our reopen plans for the 2020-21 school year. Be on the lookout in a few weeks for details on reopen, as well as introductions of new staff and our theme for the school year.
Be not afraid…
Be joyful in hope
,
patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer
. Romans 12:12
In Him,
