Dear St. Cecilia Community,

I hope this finds you well. Today, the Catholic Schools office released an update to their COVID policies transferring the decision making regarding masks back to the individual schools effective October 1. After thoughtful consideration, the use of masks by students will be strongly encouraged beginning Tuesday, October 12. 

As we have communicated from the beginning, our primary concern is the health and safety of our students and our staff, and keeping our students in school - learning in person and playing with their friends here at school. As you know from our weekly COVID updates, we have been monitoring COVID numbers here in Houston, and in our school, weekly, in fact daily. Fortunately, it does appear that we are experiencing a slight downward trend in the number of positive cases, positive rates, hospitalizations, and the number of ICU patients in the Houston area. We have been very fortunate over the last few weeks to see our own school community COVID numbers decline to just a single digit number of positive cases. That is in part due to all of us following the flow chart and guidelines and also the mask mandate and protocols we have in place at school to minimize the spread of COVID amongst our community.

To support contact tracing, families who choose that their child(ren) not wear masks will be required to inform the school of their decision by completing this online form by Wednesday, October 6. All faculty, staff, parents, and visitors will continue to wear masks in the presence of students while indoors or in a public indoor space.

With the Parish Fall Fest occurring this weekend, Homecoming Week next week, and the first quarter coming to an end on October 8, the new policy taking effect on October 12 will give our families time to prepare and ensure high participation at upcoming events. It will also give our school time to prepare as we are purchasing air purifiers for every classroom.

We know that COVID remains, and will continue to remain, active in our community. We also know that many in our community have lost loved ones to this virus over the last year and a half. While we hope local COVID numbers continue to decline, we remain concerned about the exposure to COVID for our students and community and anticipate an increase in the number of active cases here on campus. We will continue to maintain all of the other mitigation protocols we have in place for this school year - including contact tracing and quarantining close contacts. Please see this updated protocols document that includes updated information regarding the mask protocols as well as updates to quarantine protocols. Students not wearing a mask will be considered to have been in close contact if within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID. This would require the 10 to 14 day quarantine (unless vaccinated or within 3 months of having tested positive.)

In addition, based on new guidance from Harris County Public Health, it may become necessary for masks to be required again if specific thresholds are met, regardless if parents had previously chose that their child(ren) not wear masks: 

Also, there has been some concern regarding issues of students understanding and respecting the decisions of others with respect to wearing masks (or getting the vaccine). Please spend some time talking with your children about the importance of respecting the decisions of their classmates, parents, teachers, and staff. As Catholics, we respect the dignity of the human person and are called to be Christ-like to all whom we encounter. Any teasing or taunting due to a personal mask choice will be referred to administration.

Thank you for your continued support, confidence, and trust during this most challenging academic year. Please join me in praying for the continued health and well being of our students, families, and our greater St. Cecilia community. Together we are stronger. St. Cecilia, pray for us.

Warm regards and blessings,

Jeff Matthews

Principal

St. Cecilia Catholic School