SCHOOL CLOSURE UPDATE
May 5, 2020
Dear St. Paul Students, Parents, Faculty & Staff
Not unexpectedly, Governor Lamont announced this morning that Connecticut schools will be closed through the end of the school year. Connecticut follows a similar decision recently made by the governors of the neighboring states of Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island and becomes the 40
th
state in the country to close schools for the year.
“I know how important it is for so many students and teachers to finish out the school year, and I was holding out hope – particularly for high school seniors – that we’d be able to at least complete the final few weeks, but given the current circumstances and to protect everyone’s safety, it has become clear that it’s just not possible,” Lamont said.
While not the outcome we hoped for, the health and safety of our entire St. Paul community remains of utmost importance to us. We pray that we are getting closer to the end of this health crisis and the opportunity of being together once again.
We will continue to evaluate and implement Phase II of our distance learning initiative. We remain proud of the effort and resiliency of our faculty and students who have been amazing through this adversity. While this news is disappointing, on several fronts, we ask that you remain committed to making the best of this situation. This morning in house advisory meetings, you shared both blessings and crosses you’ve experienced the last two months. It’s been a time for personal reflection, prayer and, in some cases, life changing attitudes.
To the Class of 2020, as I have indicated previously, be assured that we will recognize your academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. It may be different than what we all expected when the school year started but it will be celebratory and appropriate within the recommended safety guidelines. More on this in the days to come.
With this decision, the immediate future of this school year becomes a bit clearer. I will be in communication with the Archdiocese of Hartford and our St. Paul community to provide answers and begin to outline our path through June. Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support as we move forward together.
St. Paul, pray for us!
In the Spirit of St. Paul,
