August 10, 2020
Dear St. Louis Families,
By now most of you have received your enrollment letter, and I have heard your dissatisfaction with the current plan. We have received an overwhelming amount of feedback, but please understand that this is the ONLY way we can safely reopen St. Louis School given our class sizes and the dimensions of each classroom. We are blessed with a very full school and limited space which is why we crafted this version to meet the CDC requirements---18 students per room with 6 feet of physical distance is what we can do safely. St. Louis has an enrollment of 460 students and 63 staff members to consider in terms of safety and health. There can be no compromise on either especially for our teachers and your children.
The reopening plan was based on the survey responses provided initially and there was a significant change in the data when the enrollment forms started rolling through. To be frank, our entire school is filled with working parents and the overwhelming majority chose essential 5 days or preferred 5 days and those who indicated virtual instruction practically disappeared on the enrollment form. Every student deserves the opportunity to have in-person instruction, and for that reason we developed an innovative rotational hybrid model to accomplish everyone's goal of some in-person instruction.
It may not be ideal for your family’s circumstances, and ultimately you will need to make a choice that fits best for your family, but I remain confident that as a Catholic community we can work together to find a way to make it possible for all. I will not compromise on the health and safety of my students or my teachers. There will be no movements or changes; it is non-negotiable.
Class lists will be distributed Aug. 18th to allow families the ability to connect with one another to devise a carpool or cohort to help one another. The pandemic has gifted us with an opportunity to help others and put our yearly theme to "Spread Love" into practice. Our community has always prided itself on working together and lifting others up in times of need. COVID-19 has presented a time of need where our community must come together in support of our common goal, to educate our children. This is certainly a challenge, but I am confident we can overcome the obstacles together, and I remain hopeful that families will partner together to support and assist one another .
Peace,
Anne Dyke
Principal
