Dear St. Peter’s Families,
It is amazing how rapidly things have changed in the 48 hours since students were dismissed for Spring Break.
A few brief updates:
- Diocesan Professional Development (Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline) training for all Diocesan teachers and principals was cancelled yesterday out of an abundance of caution, as the training would have included hundreds of Diocesan employees. The training scheduled for principals today was also cancelled. VBRD training will resume in August 2020.
- Diocesan Superintendent Dr. Dan Peters and Associate Superintendent Ms. Pat Burbach met with principals yesterday morning regarding Coronavirus precautions and plans in our Diocesan elementary and high schools. Dr. Peters sent the following letter to administrators today after meeting with Bishop Johnston yesterday afternoon: Diocesan School Office Letter
I would ask you to please note Dr. Peters' appeal to all of us that if anyone has been in contact or might have been in contact with someone who has been exposed to the Coronavirus immediately notify me, as well as be prepared to self-quarantine (entire family). Please take time to read Dr. Peters' letter.
In addition, at our faculty meeting Wednesday, teachers and administration discussed plans for potential school closure. We have been amassing a list of resources that can be used for online learning and home-based study. Per the Diocesan School Office letter, St. Peter's School's plan for possible closure include a combination of utilizing both online resources/learning, as well as hard copy packets of materials for students. Given the when not if nature of school closures, please know that we will keep families informed. Dr. Peters has requested a follow-up principal meeting early next week. However, this is an unprecedented situation, and plans may quickly change.
The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph (and St. Peter's School) will follow the recommendations of the Board of Health and the CDC or make decisions as precautionary or preventative measures. St. Peter's School will require individuals who have symptoms of the infection or who have been exposed to the virus to obtain medical clearance before returning to school. We take very seriously our responsibility to keep students, faculty, staff, and families safe, and we will continue to follow the lead of Diocesan leadership, as well as the guidance of the CDC and Jackson County Health Department among other government officials.
I encourage you to consider the CDC’s recommendations regarding travel. You can find the information
HERE
. Please keep in mind the potential health risks and travel restrictions that could arise as you make travel decisions.
Please be aware of any signs or symptoms of fever, lethargy, weakness, cough, or shortness of breath. It is important to check with your child's healthcare provider (or yours) and follow their instructions about staying home or away from public spaces to prevent the spread of the virus. More information about preventing the spread of Coronavirus can be found
HERE
.
Please know that I recognize how challenging this is for our school family of faculty, staff, students, and school families, and again, we take this situation very seriously. We may have to make decisions based on an abundance of caution, or we may have to follow recommendations or requirements regarding closure.
Let us especially keep all first responders, including those among our school and parish community in our prayers, as well as all medical professionals, again including those in our school and parish family and in the greater KC area, as all work through this evolving situation.
Further communications will be forthcoming. I appreciate everyone's support and understanding.
God Bless, Angie Meyer
Bishop Johnson urges everyone to pray, and he offers this as a recommendation:
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Patroness and Protector of the People of the United States of America,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen
