Local Catholic schools starting with in-person classes
By Christine Haines
chaines@yourmvi.com
Thursday marked the first day of classes at St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School in Belle Vernon and provided an opportunity for parents to drop off supplies and see school year precautions first-hand at Madonna Catholic Regional School in Monongahela.
Like their public school counterparts, administrators at the private schools have been working over the summer to develop safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our phased reopening plan is a fluid plan, so it changes often,” said Principal Kathy Miller at Madonna Catholic.
Both regional Catholic schools are starting the school year with five-days-a-week in-person education with the option for virtual education. Of the 165 students at St. Sebastian, only a handful selected the virtual option, school officials said.
The remainder of the students chose to return Thursday, masks in place, to socially distanced classrooms. School spokesman Lance Russell said each student in the school is equipped with computer technology.
“Students who are remote learning will be videoed into the classroom,” Russell said. “Our teachers will be microphoned to assist with their learning. Students at home will be able to participate in class just as they would if they are in the building,”
Earlier this summer, Dr. Maureen Marsteller, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Greensburg Catholic Diocese, sent out a letter to parents.
“I am sure that we would all like to see a return to normal. However, we must remember that we are not living in normal times,” Marsteller wrote. “We must realize that although some aspects of school will be normal, other aspects will be different. It is our Christian responsibility to ensure that we keep ourselves and others as safe as possible upon our return to school.
“The one ‘normal’ that you can count on is our desire to teach your children in a kind, loving atmosphere where the teachings of Christ are manifested in all that we do for ourselves and others.”
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