Our Catholic schools were closed to in-person instruction in mid-March as a part of a broader set of recommendations to reduce the spread of the virus, COVID-19. On Friday, July 17, 2020, Governor Newsom stated, in-person instruction will not occur for all schools, public or private, within counties on the California watch list; both Riverside and San Bernardino counties are on that list. Once the county is off the watch list for 14 consecutive days, we implement our onsite learning plans. We are prepared and excitedly await when we can instruct students on campus. We know that the uncertainty of potential school openings or closures is stressful for all involved, but we remain focused on the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff, and all of our families.
Our schools will open the 2020-2021 academic year through Catholic Online Synchronous Learning, our distance learning protocol. We want to ensure that our Catholic identity is in the forefront of distance learning while providing real-time access to instruction. The highest level of academic rigor parallels our ability to set foundations of morals, values, and character. The decisions made by all our schools are based on that premise. In a Catholic Online Synchronous Learning environment, all school policies remain in effect, including grading, acceptable use of electronics, and academic integrity and rigor. Successful participation in our distance learning protocol will aid in ensuring success when return to on-campus instruction sometime in the near future.
Please use the attached document as a resource for all of your distance learning needs.
Students that attend Catholic Online Synchronous Learning sessions will receive attendance credit for that day, and must complete and turn in all assigned work by the designated time frame of that week to receive a grade for those assignments.
We encourage every student to have an environment that promotes optimal learning. Such environment can be created by:
- Designating a quiet space for the student to work from.
- Eliminating distractions, including turning off extra devices.
- Following the school's class schedule.
- Have all supplies that are necessary to learn ready prior to class. Set a nightly routine to be ready for school the next morning, charging their electronic device, etc.
- Utilize the extra resources available for assistance (tutoring or office hours).
- Keep an open line of communication with teachers.
St. Thomas Aquinas...pray for us!