Please note the building will be closed on Thursday, March 28th due to work being done by PWSA down the street.
- Faculty Update/Reminder
The following was prepared with the assistance of the COVID-19 Task Force of Oakland Catholic High School, the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and input from members of the medical community and Oakland Catholic families. It includes any orders, directives, and/or clarifications from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Governor’s Office, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, and the Allegheny Health Department. It is understood that this is a fluid site that will be edited as necessary as circumstances and/or government or diocesan directions change.
To read Oakland Catholic High School's Reopening Health and Safety Plan in its entirety, click here.
Oakland Catholic High School Administration, Faculty, and Staff remain fully committed to the students and the mission of the school. Each model (Full Reopening, Hybrid, Fully Remote) has been built to maximize instructional time, engage students in active and interactive learning, and provide the full OC educational experience during this pandemic. Academics, faith and spiritual formation, extracurricular activities, and service to one another and the greater community will be integrated into each model of instruction.
The support of our extensive community (faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, board of directors, alumnae, former parents, and friends) has been a constant and noteworthy element of the OC educational experience, and we thank you all in advance as we embark on another impactful year filled with excellence, tradition, and legacy. Your collaboration with the policies, measures, and protocols outlined in this document will ensure that we can maintain our responsibilities as committed educators, enthusiastic learners, and ethical global citizens.
As a faith-based community, grounded in the gospels and Catholic Social Teaching, we believe strongly that “We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be.” We take that obligation to care deeply for one another very seriously. The reopening plan underscores our Christian duty to protect others. As an educational community, we engage in good teaching for the benefit of each student’s academic development. The strength of the OC educational experience extends far beyond the physical spaces we inhabit. It is fueled by research, best practices, professional development, and collaboration. It is supported via multiple modes of communication, selflessness, and a commitment to excellence. In these times, Oakland Catholic High School remains fully committed to its mission of education, faith, leadership, and community, seeing opportunities within the challenges presented to our world.
Based on research compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, CDC and WHO guidelines, data from the Allegheny County and PA Health Departments, examination of successful school re-openings in other nations, multiple consultations with health professionals about how to mitigate exposure to COVID-19, and with the guidance and approval of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the OCHS Board of Directors, Oakland Catholic High School has devised the following reopening plan for the Academic Year 2020-2021 that will allow for both in-person classes and remote learning, as circumstances dictate or permit.
Policies, measures, and protocols have been created to facilitate a smooth and effective transition between any of the three scenarios: a Full Reopening, a Hybrid blend of on-site and remote learning, and a Fully Remote experience. The shift from one model of instruction to another will depend on the direction of the virus, new information as it becomes available, and a change in overall circumstances. Throughout the coming school year, or until a vaccine has been developed and broadly administered, parents will have the option of choosing a fully remote mode of instruction for their daughter if that best suits her personal situation.
We look forward with our usual excitement to what will most certainly prove to be a very memorable and impactful school year!
The plan is designed with the mission, philosophy, and identity of the school at the forefront so that the students receive the full OC educational experience regardless of the manner in which that experience is provided.
A primary goal of the plan is to ensure the safety and security of all faculty, staff, students, and families to the maximum extent possible.
Since the onset of the pandemic, Oakland Catholic has been committed to delivering an uninterrupted academic program that is grounded in consistency, familiarity, and pedagogical excellence.
The plan is built with the understanding that we remain in a rapidly evolving situation that demands quick and effective transitions on the part of administration, faculty, staff, and students if/when there is a surge, new information, or a change in circumstances that require adaptations to the existing educational plan.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. -1 John 4:11
Oakland Catholic High School’s reopening plan is designed with the flexibility to move seamlessly between one of three scenarios: ability to reopen fully with some safety measures in place but no social distancing; a hybrid plan that incorporates multiple safety measures and allows for social distancing; and provision of education within a fully remote environment. Currently, and in accordance with state and diocesan requirements, masks are required of all students, faculty, and staff whenever there is less than six feet of social distancing in place or indoors. Mask breaks of no more than ten minutes ARE permitted provided that six feet or more of social distancing is in place in a classroom setting. (This is an added benefit of a hybrid model; a full reopening can only guarantee three feet of social distancing within a classroom.) Mask breaks are also permitted outdoors where six feet of social distancing can be maintained. As stated in the most recent directives from the PA Department of Education,
“Pre-K to 12 schools must consider the safety and health of all adult staff, in addition to students, as well as balance the educational imperative to open schools to in-person instruction with the public health imperative to mitigate COVID-19 infection and transmission rates.” ... All Pre-K to12 schools should implement strategies that limit the number of individuals in classrooms and other learning spaces, and interactions between groups of students. All schools should have protocols for distancing student desks/seating and other social distancing practices that allow at least 6 feet of separation among students and staff throughout the day to the maximum extent feasible.”
At the time of this plan’s development, Oakland Catholic High School anticipates opening the academic year 2020-2021 in a hybrid scenario so that the school community can more easily adjust to the safety measures in place, acclimate to the new school year on a de-densified campus, and maximize the teacher/student interactions when students are on campus for the purpose of assessment, instruction, and evaluation. In addition, a hybrid plan allows for six-feet of social distancing in every classroom. A “mask break” is therefore possible when a student is indoors or outside, and at least six feet away from others.
Under a full reopening, all students, faculty, and staff would travel to campus daily and follow a Monday to Friday class schedule that would be adjusted in order to accommodate longer waiting times in the mornings for temperature checks. Since lunch in a full reopening constitutes a large gathering, students would be assigned to classrooms for lunch in small groups and would rotate over the course of a week for opportunities to eat in the cafeteria in a slightly larger group. Wednesdays would continue to be used as Collaborative Community Wednesdays (CCWs) for targeted learning, remote lecture presentations, specific program delivery to grade levels, retreats, and other alternative educational experiences. The remaining four days of the week would be preserved schedule-wise, to the maximum extent possible, for instructional purposes. It is important to note that during a pandemic, a full reopening does not mean a typical school day such as school during pre-pandemic times. Safety measures such as temperature checks upon arrival, masks worn at all times except when eating, at least 3 feet of separation between student desks, directional hallways and stairwells, assigned seating for every class, lunch eaten in individual classrooms as opposed to the cafeteria, or in identified large areas such as the AUX Gym or Lecture Hall, and restrictions on large assemblies, gatherings, major events, and field trips would continue to be elements of this plan and all other plans. Recommended social distancing of six feet would not be in place at any point during the school day during a full reopening, but 3 feet of distance is required and restricts partner and group work in a classroom. In a full reopening, athletic, extracurricular, and small group activities after school or during CCWs would be expected to enact six feet of social distance to the maximum extent feasible since more physical space would be available after dismissal of most students.
Implementation of a full reopening plan will take effect quickly if circumstances in Allegheny and surrounding counties improve with regard to community transmission and spread of the virus, and new information/directives from the Diocese, Health Department, PA Department of Education, county and state governing bodies are received. Once a vaccine has been developed, tested, and broadly administered, regardless of when that moment occurs within the school year, Oakland Catholic will immediately switch to a full reopening plan. Safety measures stated above and below will be adjusted or adapted according to the circumstances, information, and directions at the time.
Under current circumstances, and with the safety of all students, faculty, and staff in mind, Oakland Catholic High School intends to bring all students back to campus beginning on August 24, 2020 under a hybrid plan. With only half of the student population and all faculty/staff on campus each day, a hybrid plan allows for the six feet of social distancing stated in the diocesan plan and in the guidelines of the state plan and CDC, in addition to all other safety measures. For the first week of school, incoming freshmen will attend every day of the week for a comprehensive orientation program. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be scheduled throughout the first week on specific days to allow for small group activities and to move through their course schedules. The hybrid plan will be adequately communicated to all students and their parents, with verbal and video training methods in place. Social distancing and all safety precautions will be followed as outlined herein. In addition to being aligned to both diocesan and state guidelines, starting the year with a hybrid plan will allow all students to adjust to the measures in place, meet teachers, acclimate to the new school year, and benefit from periodic mask breaks even when indoors.
After that first week of school, students will attend classes in a hybrid blend of on-site and remote learning with freshmen being on campus three days of most weeks, and all other students being on campus two to three days per week, depending on the programs being delivered and/or attended by grade levels and individual students. A hybrid schedule permits adequate social distancing both within classrooms and in public spaces, and is in compliance with CDC directives and medical consultations on how to minimize risk of exposure/transmission within a closed setting over an extended period of time. The exact days that a student will be on campus will depend on the student’s last name and/or grade level, course schedule, transportation, cleaning protocols, campus capacity, and family/individual risk circumstances. On-campus and remote learning will be synchronous, meaning that the same course schedule and class times will be followed regardless of which day a student is in a class physically or attending from home. This facilitates consistency across instruction, class interaction whether classmates are on campus or at home, and establishment of a routine so that students are not rising early two or three mornings a week but then breaking that school routine to sleep in late on remote days. It also permits an uninterrupted experience to those students who may be attending remotely for extended periods of time due to personal health situations that prevent them from attending in person, contraction of COVID-19, or exposure to someone in or out of school who has contracted COVID-19. *See tables outlined later in this document for quarantine protocols when sick, exposed to the virus, or confirmed with having the virus.
Instead of a 6-day cycle of classes, Oakland Catholic will follow a Monday to Friday schedule for the coming school year in all three plans. By doing so, we are able to increase instructional minutes, minimize the number of study halls, and ensure an easy transition between plans as circumstances with regard to the virus evolve. Homeroom period has been eliminated in order to minimize unnecessary exposure; first period has been extended to allow for attendance at the end of the period. Upon arrival to campus on their designated days, students will report to an assigned entrance for a temperature check and proceed directly to their first period class. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday will be “regular” instructional days during which classes will be taught simultaneously to those on campus and those learning remotely. Wednesdays will serve as Collaborative Community Wednesdays (CCWs) with targeted learning on campus for different classes by grade level, specific program instruction that needs to be conveyed to all students, retreat and spiritual programs, and club/service/retreat activities. Wednesdays will also provide teachers the ability to hold office hours and additional educational activities that will be conducted in smaller groups over the course of the school day. Under a hybrid plan, Wednesdays will also provide grades to come together as a complete class. Freshmen will be in attendance on campus almost every Wednesday. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will attend school on campus on Wednesdays if they are scheduled for a specific learning or small group activity on that day, or if a program specifically designed for their entire class is scheduled to occur on that Wednesday. In addition, sophomores, juniors, and seniors will come to campus on Wednesdays according to individual learning and extracurricular activities that are offered. Further details and specific schedules for this hybrid model will be distributed in August when student and faculty class schedules have been finalized. Wednesday schedules will be much more fluid and will be released on a monthly basis.
As indicated above, when circumstances permit or require a change to this hybrid schedule (fully remote in the case of a surge or shift of the Commonwealth to the Red Phase; or full reopening if the virus abates), the schedule outlined above will allow for a seamless transition. If fully remote classes are required for an extended period of time (longer than 2-3 weeks), a different time schedule of classes will be followed to allow for more substantive learning and less screen time for the students.
If the school must be closed completely for longer than 2-3 weeks, and/or schools are directed to shut down due to diocesan or government directives, Oakland Catholic High School will continue the OC educational experience online for all students. Unlike the remote-learning that was instituted in March, 2020, in the sudden crisis of an emergency situation, Oakland Catholic faculty and administrators, who did exceptionally well last spring, have an even better understanding of how to teach, engage, interact, and collaborate within a fully remote environment. With our 1:1 laptop program, Schoology, Zoom, and other innovative programs, Oakland Catholic teachers are both equipped and trained to conduct effective remote learning.
A different time schedule for classes in a fully remote environment will be implemented if the fully remote period extends beyond 2-3 weeks. This remote schedule will accommodate longer classes and longer breaks between classes, with only 4-5 periods per day as opposed to the nine periods conducted per day under the full reopening or hybrid plans. Reflective of a block schedule implemented in some high schools, the Oakland Catholic Fully Remote Plan schedule will maximize instructional time and allow all classes, students, and teachers to successfully maintain progress and content coverage across all courses so that the academic year remains on track.
Students who are immunocompromised, or living in a household with an immunocompromised family member, will have the option of taking all classes remotely. Parents who choose this option for their daughters will be asked to commit to the decision for a semester at a time. At the end of each semester, the decision can be reevaluated and changed, according to the student’s situation.
All members of the Oakland Catholic High School Community should be mindful that as long as there are cases of COVID-19 in the community, there are no strategies that can completely eliminate transmission risk within a school population. The goal is to keep transmission as low as possible to safely continue school activities. With the safety measures and policies outlined in this plan, Oakland Catholic strives to minimize both exposure and transmission to the maximum extent possible. It is incumbent on all students, faculty, staff, coaches, and parents to strictly follow all procedures, protocols, and policies in order to achieve this level of mitigation.
Policy/procedure regarding face coverings for all Faculty, Staff, and Students:
The use of face coverings/masks will be taught and reinforced throughout the year. Face coverings must be worn by all faculty, staff, and students indoors, and outdoors whenever six feet of social distancing can not be maintained consistently. (PA state directive, PA Department of Education, Diocese of Pittsburgh, CDC)
Cloth face coverings/masks should not be placed on:
Face covering/mask breaks are permitted during the school day under the following circumstances:
Cloth face coverings/masks are designed to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms (asymptomatic). Recent research has indicated that wearing a mask also provides additional protection to the wearer.
Classrooms/learning spaces organized to mitigate spread
Communal spaces organized to mitigate spread
Policies and procedures governing use of other communal spaces within the school building
Building cleaning
The school buildings are always cleaned in the summer in preparation for the return to school. All hard-surface floors have been stripped, cleaned, and waxed. All carpeting has been professionally cleaned. All hard surfaces, including furniture, countertops, window sills, windows, doors, stairwells, hallways, and restrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. All fabric furniture has been professionally cleaned. Disinfecting misters were purchased and have been used in any high traffic or high touchpoint areas. Cleaning is always done with soap and water, followed by the application of an EPA-approved disinfectant (see www.epa.gov). Disinfectants differentiate themselves from other cleaning products by killing germs with chemicals rather than removing them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), disinfectants should be used on surfaces that have already been cleaned of dirt and grime—especially high-touch surfaces—to prevent the spread of diseases. Frequently touched surfaces, such as desks, light switches, keyboards, will be cleaned regularly throughout the school day and disinfected after school each day.
The school has purchased products recommended by the CDC and EPA for the coming year, in addition to specific equipment and cleaning gear that will facilitate regular deep cleaning and disinfecting of different areas of campus buildings. Additional hand sanitizer stations have been installed and/or placed throughout the building. Cleaning with disinfectant wipes, etc. will take place throughout the school day. At the end of each school day, a complete cleaning of both buildings will take place with a deeper cleaning and disinfection process being executed at least twice a week and more frequently in the case of possible exposure to the virus.
Frequency of cleaning, sanitation, disinfecting, and ventilation
The initial cleaning will have been done before the students and staff return to school. Once school is in session, staff can conduct the regular cleaning of areas, particularly highly touched surfaces, using a product that is both a cleaner and a disinfectant. During the day, while school is in session, the staff will regularly wipe door knobs, railings, and other frequently touched surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner. Restroomswillbemonitored,cleaned,anddisinfectedregularlythroughouttheschoolday.As mentioned above, hand sanitizing stations have been strategically located throughout both buildings for easy access at all times for everyone.Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings. The latest information available on how long COVID-19 remains on surfaces will be used to determine the schedule of cleaning.In a study conducted by a team from the School of Public Health at The University of Hong Kong (Alex W.H. Chin, Julie T.S. Chu, Mahen R.A. Perera, Kenrie P.Y. Hui, Hui-Ling Yen, Michael C.W. Chan, Malik Peiris, and Leo L.M. Poon), their experiments found the virus to be detectable on multiple surfaces. In particular, parents, students, faculty, and staff should be aware of the following:
For maximum effectiveness, masks should be washed daily and never shared. As more information on the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus has become available, it has been widely accepted that although the virus lives on many hard surfaces, the main mode of transmission is human-to-human contact. With that said, the careful practices of hygiene, frequent hand washing, and minimizing touching your face significantly reduce the risk of transmission and will be regularly reinforced throughout the school day.
All faculty, staff, and students will be trained on appropriate methods to keep surfaces, learning spaces, classrooms, desks, hands, materials, etc. clean. Maintenance staff will be trained on the process to keep restrooms, hallways, staircases, floors, banisters, ventilations systems, classrooms, etc clean and sanitized. Training will be provided during Professional Development sessions in August; reinforced verbally, in communications and with signage; and repeated as necessary throughout the school year. In addition, training videos will be used to assist faculty, staff, and students with proper hygiene, cleaning, and sanitizing procedures related to student and staff safety during the school day. Training verification forms will be signed by faculty and staff to verify preparedness to implement cleaning protocols during the school day.
Hygiene routines will be implemented throughout the school day
Visitor and volunteer policies implemented to mitigate spread
Stakeholders will be trained on social distancing and other safety protocols
The school will follow state & local guidance in determining when a student or staff member may return to school after a potential exposure to an active COVID-19 infection. Students and staff members will be permitted to return to school/work after the prescribed self-quarantine time period, and in accordance with the “Exclusion From and Return to School Requirements Form” (see tab above). Any individual who was out of school with symptoms must be symptom-free for a 72-hour period prior to returning to school. If a student does not wish to return because she is unable or uncomfortable to return, she may continue to participate in the classroom instruction remotely.
School families will be notified through the parent alert system (School Messenger) on the same day that the school is alerted of a positive COVID-19 case. In the communication, they will be notified if there are needed changes to current school operational protocol. Notifications will be sent via email and text. *Parents should opt into the School Messenger text alerts as instructed by Administration in order to receive the most recent communications. School Messenger works in conjunction with PowerSchool and will send text alerts to the cell phone number recorded in PowerSchool. Please contact the Principal/Assistant Principal with questions.
Symptoms to Watch for According to the CDC
Staff and students should stay home if they have tested positive for or are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.
Please note the building will be closed on Thursday, March 28th due to work being done by PWSA down the street.
The Diocese has made the decision to have all diocesan schools participate in a flexible instruction day on April 8th due to the solar eclipse. We will run this flexible instruction day as we have for snow days where students will be expected to complete asynchronous assignments in each class (about 15 minutes per class). Assignments should be posted by 9 am and students and have an accountability piece for each assignment (online discussion, turn in something via Schoology etc.). This would be a great day for meetings with parents/students/office hours/department meetings/watch NCEA sessions on demand etc.
Graduation is around the corner, please check your closets to ensure you have your caps/gowns and hoods! If not, please email Nikki R ASAP.
No school for Seniors. Underclassmen have early dismissal at 11:30.
All are free to go after celebrating the Class of 2024 over a delicious luncheon.
Honors Convocation is April 18th at 7 pm. All faculty are required to attend this amazing celebration of our scholars! Those who are presenting awards will have a brief after school practice at 2:45 that afternoon :)
SCENARIO | Exclude From School? | Return to School After... |
1: No symptoms | No | Not applicable |
2: COVID-19 symptoms | Yes | Individual should be tested for COVID-19. Individual may return
|
3: Positive COVID-19 PCR test with symptoms | Yes |
|
4: Positive COVID-19 PCR test without symptoms | Yes | 10 days after the PCR test was collected, or two negative test results at least 24 hours apart; the individual's doctor should work with an infectious disease expert at the local health department to determine if individual is likely to spread COVID-19 to others and needs to stay home longer.
|
5: Close contact with symptoms. **According to CDC & medical guidelines, "close contact" means any individual within 6 ft of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. | Yes | Individual should be tested for COVID-19.
|
6: Close contact of COVID-19 without symptoms | Yes | 14 days after the date of last exposure the person with COVID-19
|
7: Secondary contact of COVID-19 with symptoms (A "secondary contact" is exposure to a close contact) | Yes | Individual should be tested for COVID-19.
|
8: Secondary contact of COVID-19 without symptoms | No |
|
PLEASE NOTE: Policies on travel continue to evolve during the pandemic as Oakland Catholic receives additional guidance and/or policy updates from the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The Diocese works regularly with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and the PA Department of Health so that policies accurately reflect the increasing knowledge and changes in our understanding of this virus. Oakland Catholic Administration conveys all letters, policy changes, and communications regarding these matters to current families via email, weekly newsletters, and posts to the Communications Hub of our website. Please consult the Communications Hub (link at the top of each page of our website) and your email for all recent messages and other important communications.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh recently updated policies on student/family travel. This updated policy applies to all Catholic elementary and high schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. As noted in the letter sent to all families in January, 2021, all schools will implement the Pennsylvania Department of Health order regarding travel effective Tuesday, January 12. Clear details can be found via the link below and in the Second Semester Diocesan Message located on the Communications Hub of this website.
We recognize that some families will still need to travel during this school year. Adherence to the current policy on travel requires a period of quarantine and possibly testing prior to a student's return to campus. It is important to review the information in the link above and notify the School Office if your daughter has traveled so that we can inform her teachers and coaches that she will be participating in remote learning during the prescribed quarantine period.
Participating in interscholastic athletics is a privilege at Oakland Catholic High School and it is of the utmost importance that everyone involved - athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators-worktogethertoadheretotheguidelinesoutlinedinthisdocument. Itisthe responsibility of the participating interscholastic student athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators to follow these guidelines while in season and out of season and conditioning. Failure to follow these safety measures will jeopardize everyone’s ability to participate.
These guidelines will be reviewed and updated as needed, prior to the official start of the Fall Sports Season (August 24th for Fall sports), and throughout the 2020-2021 academic year.
SANITATION:
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
DAILY SCREENING:
Originally enforced summer 2020; will be used in the event of potential future closures:
STUDENT-ATHLETES’ ACTIONS:
Oakland Catholic High School requires that its student-athletes assist in following these guidelines to help maintain a safe and healthy environment for all. Failure to adhere to these guidelines provided by the Athletic Department could result in the inability to participate in interscholastic athletics.
COACHES’ ACTIONS:
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S ACTIONS:
ATHLETIC TRAINERS’ ACTIONS:
COMPETITION AND TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:
ATHLETIC EVENT ATTENDANCE: