COVID-19 Updates

Dear Annunciation Catholic School Families,

As we enter the first week in August, Father Deziel and I wanted to share with you Annunciation’s plan for opening school on Monday, August 31st.  We are eager to welcome all students back to school for in-person instruction.  Annunciation’s Safe Opening Committee has worked diligently over the past several weeks to develop a plan that focuses both on the health and safety of students, staff and families as well as providing an excellent Catholic education.  The family survey taken in mid July showed over 60% were eager for their child(ren) to be back in school.  Another 30% are waiting to see our plan.  I believe that Annunciation has planned for some of the biggest concerns raised including maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks indoors, frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing as well and continual cleaning of the high touch surfaces throughout the day.  

In developing our plan, our committee followed guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, the Archdiocese and outside experts including a group of parents with medical, human resource, and mental health backgrounds.  We also asked for input from our extended day program, which has  safely been running in our school this summer.  We are exploring options for remote learning for those families that have specific medical issues.  If this applies to your family, please complete the form at: www.annunciationmsp.org/school/remote-learning and a school representative will be in contact with you.  

Our school community must work together to ensure the success of our opening plan.  Teachers and staff must self monitor every day for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home if they are sick.  Parents must monitor their children before school every day for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and keep them home if they are sick.  The most updated Minnesota Department of Health guidelines will be provided to families prior to the start of school.  Annunciation will provide guidance as to the current signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and what the current guidance is from the Minnesota Department of Health as far as returning to school. We will be asking all of our families to acknowledge they have received and adhere to these guidelines.  Our plan will likely need to be altered during the course of the school year, some of the highlights of our current plan include:

• Increased nursing and counseling services
• Increased cleaning and disinfecting throughout the school day for high touch surfaces 
• Classroom arrangements to allow for social distancing, including flexible seating options
• Students will remain with their class throughout the day in K-5
• Students in middle school will remain with their homeroom as much as possible during the day
• Plexiglass for the front office and kitchen area
• Limited class sizes
• Use of outdoor classrooms
• All school lunches for purchase will be pre-packaged boxed lunches prepared by Agra Culture or students may bring a tree nut free lunch from home
• Students will eat lunches in their classrooms or outside 
• Teaching & reinforcement of hand washing, mask use & hygiene with our students
• We are exploring ways to safely continue our tradition of weekly Mass and Adoration 

Our plan will likely generate many questions. We are developing a FAQ page for families to reference that will be available on our website under the school tab by early next week. Questions can be submitted by completing the form at:
https://www.annunciationmsp.org/school/covid-19-updates/faq-form

We understand that some families might choose a path other than Annunciation for this school year.  If your family does not plan to return to Annunciation, you must notify us no later than August 14, to ensure you will receive a refund check for any tuition already paid.  We have a unique situation this year with a huge influx of applications due to Minneapolis Public Schools starting with distance learning, which has led to waiting lists in several of our grades. Please email Jennifer Renstrom at jrenstrom@annunciationmsp.org by August 14 if you will not be returning. 

Our entire school community will need to work together to maintain the health and well-being of our students, staff and families.  We are thankful for your commitment to Catholic education and to Annunciation Catholic School.  

Please feel free to reach out to either of us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Father Deziel                 Kari Zobel
Pastor                                Principal
 

"Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14