August 4, 2021

Dear Parents,

Although our current reopening plan is to begin the 2021-2022 school year with masks required indoors for all students (Pre-K3 through 12th grade), faculty, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, please know that our COVID-19 Task Force is monitoring our community's coronavirus related indicators, keeping in mind guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While we don't want to wear masks, current recommendations from the CDC suggest that we should. From our experience, by following CDC guidelines last school year we were able to remain open for on-campus learning and had a 4% rate of mild positive COVID-19 cases school-wide (students, faculty, staff and coaches). Thanks be to God!

The best way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is to get vaccinated. To that end, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School encourages all eligible members of the community to do so. Vaccination not only protects the individual from serious illness but also serves to protect the community.

Our COVID-19 Zones (see graphic below) have been updated for the new school year to reflect the availability of vaccinations as well as taking into consideration the delta variant of COVID-19. We will begin the school year in the "Yellow Plus Zone." Beginning August 16th, following the first week of becoming acclimated to school after returning from summer break/travel and if the number of local hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 continue to go down, our plan is to shift to the Yellow Zone. This move would mean that masks must be worn in school buildings by those who are not fully vaccinated, in high occupancy classes and in hallways during class changes.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about our 2021-2022 re-opening plan:

What happens if my student is deemed exposed to an individual at school who tests positive for COVID-19?
To be considered exposed, the student must have been within 6 feet (for 15 minutes or more or 15 minutes cumulatively) of the individual who tests positive for COVID-19.
  • If the child who is exposed is fully vaccinated, he/she will NOT be required to quarantine unless he/she has symptoms.
  • If the child who was exposed is not fully vaccinated, he/she will be required to quarantine for:
  • 14 days with no symptoms (safest) or
  • 10 days with no symptoms or
  • 7 days with a negative test result and no symptoms (testing must occur on day 5 or later of exposure)

My child has already had COVID-19. Will he be required to wear a mask? Yes, to begin the school year all students will be required to wear masks indoors. As outlined above, we plan on allowing fully vaccinated individuals to have the option of wearing a mask indoors beginning August 16th. If your student isn't fully vaccinated, regardless of already having COVID-19, he will need to continue to wear a mask indoors.

I have a child in the Lower School who isn't eligible to get the vaccine yet, or I'm not comfortable with my 12-year-old student being vaccinated. Will she be wearing a mask all year?
We certainly hope not! Our prayer is that wearing masks will be short-lived and that we can continue to make adjustments. Our COVID-19 Task Force plans on reevaluating the ever-changing conditions associated with coronavirus after the first two weeks of school. Our hope is that we can then move to the Green Zone, with mask wearing strongly recommended but at the discretion of parents. We promise to keep you informed about updates on health and safety protocols.

At St. Anne-Pacelli, the health and safety of our students is a top priority. As always, we appreciate your grace and mercy when it comes to the measures put in place to protect our school community.

Love First,

Ronie Collins
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School President & High School Principal
Pacelli Class of 1979