Dear Parents:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our entire Trojan community! I hope this letter finds you enjoying these final days of a much-needed break. We are set to resume school on Thursday, Jan. 7. This letter contains details concerning our return to school. Please take some time to read through this and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any clarifying questions.
The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) most recent Public Health Order (39-2020) mandates that if high schools cannot maintain six feet of social distancing they must move to online only or hybrid learning so that the number of students on campus at any one time will allow for six feet of social distancing between each student. With those guidelines, and the opportunity to return on our originally scheduled date, we will begin the second semester with our hybrid schedule. We will remain hybrid until further notice and a hybrid schedule has been published in Canvas for our students to view. Our first day will be Thursday, Jan. 7. Please note that Thursday, Jan. 7, is Blue Day (A-K in-person) while Friday, Jan. 8, is a White Day (L-Z in-person). Our first two days will be a seven period schedule. Also, our first two days back will be regular uniform days. Spirit days will resume the week of January 11-15. A copy of our hybrid schedule can be found here.
Our hope is to return to full in-person learning as soon as possible, taking into consideration all of the circumstances beyond our control and doing all that is possible within our control to provide a safe environment for students, faculty and staff. We also remain steadfast in our desire to minimize the impact of close contact exposures that require multiple-day quarantine. Since mid-August our hybrid model has provided a safe space where students could be at school every other day and not run the risk of close-contact exposure. The hybrid model allows us to remain six feet apart at all times. As evidence of the safe space that we have created, our last 20 positive cases did not close-contact expose any student or teacher in our academic space. We currently have three active positive cases, and only one student out due to close contact exposure.
Extended non-hybrid virtual participation is reserved for students who are isolated, quarantined, or who would like to opt-out of the hybrid model. An opt-out requires a quarterly commitment and must be approved by administration. A student who opts out is not eligible for athletics or other extracurriculars. Please contact Mrs. Ann Taylor at ataylor@bishopchatard.org by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, if your son or daughter would like to opt-out of hybrid learning and be fully virtual for the third quarter.
Upon our return we will continue to track COVID-19 cases in our community. Daily screenings for COVID-19 symptoms are required of all staff and students. Please do not come on our campus if you exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If somebody in your household tests positive for COVID-19, is quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure or exhibits any of the above COVID-19 symptoms, even if you believe them to indicate something else, please contact BCHS using the email address medical@bishopchatard.org.
I am excited about returning to school and the promise that 2021 holds. Thanks again for your constant support and we navigate these COVID-19 challenges. Please continue to pray for the success and safety of Bishop Chatard High School.
God bless,
