Dear Carondelet Families,
During orientations the past two days we welcomed more than 80% of our students back onto campus in preparation to start our hybrid instructional model, 31 weeks after we moved to shelter in place and distance learning. For the past few months, per county guidelines, Carondelet has been running athletic and student life cohorts, and the switch to having our students back on campus as learners is a welcome addition.
To Know and To Do
There are several important items to know and do before your daughter returns to campus for hybrid learning next week:
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Each morning before your daughter leaves for campus she should fill out the CHS Prescreen App information so she is ready to show it when she arrives in the parking lot on campus. The app is available through the Apple Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android phones. Please provide plenty of time to get to campus for the first couple of weeks since this is a new process for everyone.
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Dress code during hybrid learning will be Carondelet’s casual uniform: blue jeans or any uniform bottoms (khaki, black, or navy) capri-length or longer and a Carondelet top. Low- or high-top sneakers or athletic shoes (lace up or slip on), or flats, and all shoes must be closed toed and closed healed. Seniors can wear opaque black leggings, capri-length or longer free from rips, holes, and cutouts. Our regular, everyday uniform is also an acceptable option for students. Also, remember that hair should be a natural color. Please make any necessary changes this weekend to ensure that your student is following our appearance code.
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Read through the COVID-19 FAQs, which covers illnesses, student expectations, campus readiness, arriving to and leaving campus, food, and campus spaces. We will continue to add to the FAQs on a regular basis.
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Watch the Hybrid Student Safety Video.
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If your student plans to switch between hybrid and distance learning, please fill out the Hybrid/Distance Change Request Form. These requests are processed weekly.
We celebrate our dedicated faculty and staff who have continued to demonstrate amazing creativity and innovation in their teaching and service delivery to meet the needs of all students. We are committed to ensure that all students will be able to access course learning outcomes and weekly objectives even as they are spread across space.
If your student is continuing with distance learning, all the existing protocols, rules, and expectations will remain the same. Teachers will be teaching the same lesson and lesson content to on-campus and off-campus students.
During the hybrid model, know that there will be a few teachers who will continue to teach remotely in order to accommodate for health or family concerns. Students that are on campus will have a substitute to ensure that the in-person classroom environment is maintained.
Community Responsibility
We messaged in our Oct. 8th communication that we are all responsible for protecting our students, families, and Carondelet employees by following all masking and distancing guidelines at all times. We want to share with all of you that as we open for hybrid learning, there are no clear cut parameters related to having to reclose school. Though Contra Costa Health Services has provided guidelines, they are NOT hard and fast rules. We will have to work with County Health to determine the cause of any cases on campus and whether we will be able to effectively mitigate spread. If the cause of cases comes from off-campus activity, then we cannot, as a school, assure County Health that positive cases followed distancing and masking protocols. According to CDPH guidelines, private gatherings that include more than three households are prohibited. This includes everyone present, including hosts and guests. Large off-campus gatherings could actually lead us to have to close school and return to distance learning.
We can, however, be sure that students are following distancing and masking protocols while they are on campus. Know that there are several reasons for our enforcement of these guidelines and why we are concerned about weekend travel and social engagements. We have a community responsibility to each other—students for other students, and families for other families. If we are experiencing behaviors that put our students, families, or employees at risk, then we will have to return to distance learning as a safety precaution. This is our responsibility as a community, and we need everyone to understand that responsibility and practice what we know are proper behaviors to limit the spread of this insidious virus.
We cannot dictate that families not travel, of course, but we ask that if travel is necessary that you have your daughter tested upon return and that she spend the next week participating in our distance learning, stay-at-home option. If this is the case, please contact the Attendance Office and have her reach out to her individual teachers.
Carondelet Community Pledge
Please thoroughly read and have your student(s) e-sign the Carondelet Community Pledge by Wednesday, October 28. If we are to be successful in the reopening of our campus, we all must understand that it will be a SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, for common health and safety.
I Pledge to:
Protect Myself
- Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and honestly report my symptoms in the CHS Prescreen App
- Wash my hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer when washing hands is not possible
- Get vaccinated for the flu (recommended)
Protect Others
- Wear a face covering on the main campus at all times except when eating or drinking or when exercising at the CAC
- Maintain appropriate 6-foot physical distancing at all times
- Stay home if I feel ill or after exposure to someone who is ill or has tested positive for COVID-19
Protect the Carondelet Community
- Respect all Carondelet and De La Salle community members
- Refrain from hosting/attending parties and large gatherings in order to mitigate the spread of the virus
- Follow all public health request and guidance to preserve the wellness of the community
Navigating our campus reopening is challenging and evaluating what works and what doesn't work is going to be a continuous improvement process. Our highest priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our students, families, faculty, and staff.
Week of Oct. 26 (50% of students on campus each day)
- Mon. 10/26: 1/2/3/7 (Last Name A-K on campus)
- Tue. 10/27: 4/5/6/0 (Last Name A-K on campus)
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Wed. 10/28: Flex Day (Spotlight: 11th)
- Thu. 10/29: 1/2/3/7 (Last Name L-Z on campus)
- Fri. 10/30: 4/5/6/0 (Last Name L-Z on campus)
Blessings for safety and well-being for you and your family,
