Dear Delone Catholic Families,
Parents and students were notified on Wednesday that there is no Freedom Friday Dress Down Day on Friday, March 12. Freedom Fridays are an incentive for families to complete the daily COVID screening on student(s). In order to have a Freedom Friday, 95% of families need to complete the COVID screening. This past week, we had a large number of families not complete the screening. With all the successes of this school year, we urge you to continue to remain diligent in monitoring your students(s) and completing the daily screening.
Easter Break
Easter Break is Thursday, April 1 until Monday, April 5. Students will return to school on Tuesday, April 6. On March 31, we will follow the virtual half-day schedule. Students are dismissed at noon. All school offices will be closed from noon to 3:30 for staff in-service.
Health and Safety Update
The Diocese of Harrisburg announced an end to travel restrictions within the United States that were previously mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This means that students, faculty and staff traveling within the United States will not be required to quarantine upon their return. However, we would like to emphasize that we are still in a pandemic and that risks still exist. We urge you to continue to wear a mask during travel and to practice social distancing and maintain good hygiene habits. For cases of international travel, the Diocese of Harrisburg is following the CDC guidelines that can be found at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
We received notification of a positive case of COVID-19 in our school community. Per guidance from the Department of Health, the individual has been quarantined. Any individual who was in close contact with this person (less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) has already been notified by school administration of quarantine protocols and any other health and safety measures needed before returning to school. This is the only active case of COVID-19 at the school.
Delone Catholic will continue to follow the COVID-related health and safety procedures as outlined in the school’s re-opening plan as well as seek guidance from the Department of Health and the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Water Main Update
Conewago Township is still working on the water main located on South Oxford Avenue. While our water supply is not being effected, we are asking that students being dropped off or picked up by car continue to follow the directives published in last week's Squire Wire. Please be patient and use caution with these temporary new arrival and dismissal procedures. Many students and faculty members will be walking into and around the school during arrival and dismissal. We will keep you abreast of the project's progress as best as we can.
Course Selection for Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors
In the next weeks, guidance counselors will visit Religion classes to discuss next year's courses as well as to hand out course selection sheets. The instructions and forms for completing course selection will be available to students in the PlusPortals beginning March 29. Guidance counselors will then begin meeting with students, starting with the Junior class. The deadline for all registration paperwork is April 30.
Prom, Baccalaureate and Graduation
We are awaiting guidance from the Diocese on the status of the Prom and what is allowable for Baccalaureate and graduation. We plan to provide an update to parents as soon as this information is communicated with us.
The third quarter ends next Friday, March 19 and we look forward to the start of the fourth quarter of this school year. As we make preparations to close out 2021 and welcome the Class of 2025, I would like to leave you with this Bible passage from James 1:2-4:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
May God Bless You,
Donna Tompkins P '06, P'10
Interim Principal
