Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Health Safety Information
St. Michael Catholic School Families:
The parish and school continue to monitor advisories from the CDC and the Archdiocese regarding the Coronavirus. In addition, we follow the Prior Lake Savage School health guidelines to ensure that we meet Minnesota Department of Health policies. The District is monitoring this situation daily and is following the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), both of which are now scheduling weekly conference calls to provide us with updates about the situation.
Under the guidance of the MDH, we are recommending the following simple, everyday habits to help prevent the spread of illness throughout our school communities:
- As always, staff and students should stay home if they are feeling ill, have a fever of 100 degrees or more, or are exhibiting flu-like symptoms-fever, cough and shortness of breath.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Use your own water bottle - do not share.
- Cover a cough. Cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place in the trash.
- Continue to notify the office of any illness so that we can be informed
- At Mass we will discontinue the shaking and holding of hands
We also demonstrated on Blues News Network (morning announcements) how to properly use our hand sanitizer, making sure students count to 20, cleaning their fingertips, fingers and wrists. Thank you for helping them practice this at home.
Any future changes that may be needed will be determined based on CDC warnings and advisories. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students and staff safe. If you have additional questions about the situation in Minnesota, you may contact the Minnesota Department of Health's at 651-201-5414 or visit
health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools.html
. This global situation is changing daily, so please know we will continue to update our community as information becomes available from the CDC and state agencies.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL GUIDELINES & SCHOOL CLOSING:
- Pastors, Canonical Administrators of Catholic Schools, and Presidents/Chairs of Boards of Private Catholic Schools are to review the recommendations of any decision to close a Catholic school with the Archdiocese prior to any public announcement.
- The recommendation of closure will be confirmed by the Archdiocese and communications will be coordinated with the local school(s).
- All parishes and Catholic schools will be notified of a closure decision by any one school.
- Public communications should be made within 24 hours of the decision to close.
- The Archdiocese will make a statement as described in the attached concurrent with the school making its own local statement/notification.
- Should it become necessary to announce a decision to close all Catholic schools in the 12 counties, we will communicate with as much advanced notice as possible.
If we close our school, students will have various online assignments, workbooks or packets to work on while they are home. Teachers will be planning for a closure and communicate this over the closure period with families via email. Please let us know if you will not have access to the internet should school be closed for a period of time.
Email is our most efficient and clear means at the present moment for communications like this. Please watch for updates and further communications via email and our school newsletter.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder
