RE: Covid-19 Protocols for Parish Religious Education Programs:

 

In-person Instruction As the Covid-19 and its variants continue to present challenges, the guidance from federal, state and local authorities varies and is ever-changing. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, the Office for Catechetical Formation, in consultation with the Office of Catholic Education Covid-19 Task Force, created one, systematic plan for Archdiocesan Parish Religious Education Programs which are returning to in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 academic year.

 

This plan keeps the protection and safety of our parish children, most of whom are not vaccinated, foremost by mitigating exposure to the Covid-19 virus.

 

1. Waiver: Each student must have a signed and dated Archdiocesan Covid-19 waiver on file. If a parent/guardian refuses to sign the waiver, the family is offered a home-based catechetical plan.

 

2. Masks: All adults, teens and children are to be masked before, during an in-person instruction session and at dismissal until safely outdoors.

 

3. Social Distancing: Desks or seating must be three feet apart.

 

4. Classroom or Instructional space: • Environment: Keep well ventilated to the greatest extent possible to circulate fresh air; • Seating Charts: Important for Covid-19 tracing if someone tests positive and was present at PREP; • Shared School classrooms: Do not change the desk or other furniture set up.

 

5. Educational and Hygienic Supplies: The parish or families should provide hand sanitizer and tissues; educational materials such as crayons, markers, paper products, etc. should not be shared.

 

6. Cleaning and Sanitizing Shared Space: Rooms, bathrooms, high traffic areas and any shared space must be cleaned and sanitized after each PREP session.

 

For guidance, go to: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

 

7. Monitoring Student Health: Parents/guardians should monitor their child’s health and not send a sick child to PREP.

 

8. Tracing and Reporting: If a student or an adult volunteer tests positive for Covid-19 or a variant, immediately contact the local County/City Department of Health for guidance. N.B.: Delaware County is under the state Department of Health.

 

 

Please be assured that this plan will be constantly monitored and adjusted if conditions improve or deteriorate. The Directors/Coordinators of Religious Education will be notified of these changes immediately via email.

 

 

C: Most Reverend Michael J. Fitzgerald, Rev. Stephen P. DeLacy, Dr. Andrew McLaughlin