Posted on Aug 24, 2020

FALL 2020 REOPENING INFORMATION & RESOURCES

Please refer to this page frequently for the latest announcements and updates about Newark Catholic High School regarding our ReOpening Plan & Procedures for Fall 2020. We are in the midst of a national emergency and we are committed to making decisions that are not only in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff but also ensuring that those decisions are in the best interest of our national health and security.

 

We are committed to making the best decisions as new challenges arise and as opportunities present themselves. Just as we know that this crisis will pass, we are certain that Newark Catholic High School will stand proud of how we rose to the challenges and put our communities and each other first. Our top priority is always the health and safety of all our students, faculty, and staff. As such, we continue to monitor information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

 

PLEASE REFER TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH & SAFETY PAGE FOR INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING TO COVID TESTING AND PROTOCOLS

 

 

 

 

ACTIVATION PLAN FOR REOPENING – AUGUST 6, 2020

 

Announcements

September 18, 2020

COVID-19 PROTOCOL REMINDERS
 
  • When calling your student in ‘absent’ due to an illness that may have “COVID” related symptoms, your student will be required to stay home one additional day after their last absent day (example: if you call your student off on Monday, they cannot return until Wednesday even if they feel fine on Tuesday). This is a precautionary step that we are following along with many other Licking County schools. While students are at home that are able to login to Google Classroom for remote learning.
  • Allergy season is upon us and we are heading into flu season. The symptoms between allergies, flu, and COVID-19 are very similar. Knowing your child’s past medical history will help you determine the best call to action for them.
  • Newark Catholic is continuing to clean all bathrooms between lunch periods and deep clean them in the evening. Split lunches have helped limit exposure and hallway gatherings are virtually non-existent. Classrooms are disinfected during lunch periods along with handrails, light switches, doorknobs, and anything that a student may come in contact with. The entire building is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every evening

 

August 17, 2020

Ohio Department of Health Director’s Order Requiring the Use of Facial Coverings in Child Education Settings

July 17, 2020
We are pleased to announce that Newark Catholic High School students will return to on-campus learning every day for the 2020-2021 school year. We are working on plans to safely bring our students back to our campus that will meet the directives given to us by the Governor’s Office, the Ohio and Licking County Departments of Health, and the Diocese of Columbus. A Fall 2020 Task Force consisting of parents, school advisory board members, faculty, and students have been meeting regularly to focus on specific aspects of our reopening. Over the next few weeks, the Task Force will continue developing plans and strategies for the safe return of on-campus activities for our students. 

 

Below are dates to assist you in preparing for the start of the 2020-2021 school year opening:

 

August 17–21   Faculty Professional Development Days – No Classes

August 24–26 School begins with Mandatory Grade Level Orientation Days (dates and times for each class will be announced in early August)

August 27  All students report for class, regular schedules followed

September 7  Labor Day, No Classes

 

While there are many details yet to be solidified, we are happy to share this information with the Newark Catholic community as we anticipate the new school year. We will share information with you as time moves forward. Please continue to check your daily e-mail, the school’s social media pages, and correspondence from Newark Catholic.

 

Following the closure of school in the spring of 2020, The Reopening Newark Catholic Task Force has created a plan to have students attend school for the 2020-2021 school year. The intent of this plan is that it:

 

1) Prioritizes the safety of the student, teachers, staff, and guests at all times. While on the Newark Catholic campus, students and faculty/staff will follow all safety guidelines during class time, the time between classes; before and after school;

2) Prioritizes that facilities must be cleaned and sanitized on a scheduled basis;

3) Provides procedures that require face masks be worn on the school campus, and three to six feet physical distancing will be practiced throughout the day;

4) Builds a community that comes together to celebrate and grow in our faith.

5) Has students attend school in-person every day on the campus of Newark Catholic High School;

6) Recognizes that the school day supports family life and students need to be in school and engaged in learning;

7) Uses all resources, facilities, and personnel to their fullest;

8) Allows for teaching and learning to continue should school be closed for extended emergencies or calamities.

 

Newark Catholic will continue to build plans that foster a safe and healthy school community before, during, and after possible emergencies. We will continue to abide by and follow all recommendations set by the State of Ohio, local health officials, and the Diocese of Columbus.

It is imperative that all students, staff, families, and volunteers understand that at any point, an event or incident which could cause physical harm, serious physical harm or even death, the safety and wellbeing of all involved supersedes the COVID-19
recommendations and protocols.

 

Academic Updates

Click HERE to view the Newark Catholic 2020-2021 School Activation Plan that contains a summary of the key elements of the plan developed based on safety protocols established by the State of Ohio and Diocese of Columbus.   It is subject to change with or without notice depending on directives received from the state or diocese.

 

ReOpening Task Force

Miss Devani Adam – Faculty Member

Dr. Joyce Albright – School Advisory Board member, Parent

Mrs. Stephanie Backlund – Faculty Member

Ms. Kara Ehret – Bingo Coordinator, Parent

Mr. Chris Grieb – Campus Minister, Faculty Member

Miss Beth Hill – Principal

Mrs. Emily Matuska – Faculty Member

Mr. Russ Nelson – Technology Coordinator, Faculty Member

Michael Ouweleen – Student Council President, Student Representative

Mr. Tom Pickering – Athletic Director, Faculty Member

Mrs. Tonya Sherburne – School Advisory Board member, Parent

Mrs. Deb Welch – School Counselor

Joseph Windholtz – Senior Class President, Student Representative

 

Task Force Planning Domains  

  1. Logistics and Planning – Mr. Pickering, Dr. Albright, Ms. Ehret
  2. Creating and Maintaining Community – Mrs. Welch, Micheal Ouweleen
  3. Curriculum and Instruction – Miss Adam, Mrs. Backlund, Mrs. Sherburne
  4. Promoting Catholic Identity in Remote Spaces – Mr. Grieb, Joseph Windholtz
  5. Technology Support – Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Matuska

 

Athletic Updates

 

 

August 25, 2020

Ohio Department of Health Directors Orders that Provides Mandatory Requirements for Youth, Collegiate, Amateur, Club, and Professional Sports

RESPONSIBLE RESTART

 

Ohio High School Athletic Association  The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has presented the OHSAA with a myriad of challenges. The Executive Director’s Office, with support from its Board of Directors and feedback from the Ohio Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the Ohio Department of Health along with support from the Ohio Lt. Governor’s Office, offer a Return to Play document as recommendations on how our member schools can consider approaching the many components of “opening up” sports with the objective of commencing the fall sports seasons on August 1, 2020. The OHSAA fully intends to support its member schools and the student-athletes who desire to compete in interscholastic athletics and will continue to assess all areas as more information becomes available.

 

The recommendations within the Return to Play document for the resumption of the varsity, non-varsity, and 7th-8th grade interscholastic athletic seasons and participation opportunities have been made with the health, safety, and well-being of all student-athletes in mind.

OHSAA RETURN-TO-PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS

OHSAA STUDENT-ATHLETE PLEDGE FORM

 

Ohio Department of Education
ODE Remote Learning Resource Guide to assist parents, families, and caregivers as they navigate the world of remote learning during Ohio’s ordered school-building closure.

ODE Reset & RsStart Education Guide

ODE Coronavirus Information for Schools & Districts

 

Diocese of Columbus

 

 

Our Catholic Schools – The Diocese of Columbus

ReOpening Letter from Superintendent Adam DuFault, July 2020

Diocese of Columbus Executive Summary ReOpening Task Force Report

 

Faith Formation Resources

Faith-Based and Community Resources for Parents and Families

http://www.usccb.org The US Conference of Catholic Bishops Website for daily readings, prayer resources, and daily mass live streams
https://ascensionpress.com Ascension Press offers tremendous resources for Bible studies, podcasts, and videos 
https://www.wordonfire.org Word on Fire offers many different sources, from daily live streamed mass to articles and videos. 
www.formed.org Many parishes have accounts, so please check with your parish.

The Magnificat – Free

Magnificat For Kids – Free

Catholic Sprouts – Join over 3,000 Catholic Families and Classrooms that tune in daily to Catholic Sprouts, the 5-minute daily podcast for Catholic Kids

Growing Up Catholic – Navigating Coronavirus with your Kids

Catholic Family Faith

Catholic Brain – Catholic Faith Formation Platform for Students, Parents, Catechist & Teachers. Access over 5000 video lessons, ebooks, interactive games & quizzes. Free trial through Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19

 

Parenting Links

National Association of School Psychologists – Talking to Your Child about COVID-19

NPR – Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus

WOSU Classroom

 

Health Resources

Return to School Guidance – Licking County Health Department

CDC Coronavirus Information

Licking County Board of Health

Ohio Department of Health