Reopening - Fall 2020

Holy Cross is currently looking at three different scenarios for the beginning of the school year.

• Scenario One is a full return for all students and faculty to campus but would incorporate the social distancing safety measures as dictated by the Governor, the medical professionals and the Connecticut Association of Schools.
• Scenario Two would be a hybrid model where a reduced number of students would be in the building at a time. The students’ day would be split with in-person time on campus and online learning at home. The administration is still working on the specifics of this scenario.
• Scenario Three would be a full online offering. If there is a need for an online platform, student facetime and face to face instruction will be mandatory. Assignments will also be disseminated through our Learning Management System, Canvas.

This summer, Holy Cross leadership will be focused strictly on curriculum and instruction that will focus on all three of these scenarios regardless of where we are in August. Holy Cross will be ready to deliver any one of these three scenarios with fidelity.

Holy Cross will utilize a number of tools to open in full in August:

• Physical Plant: The school sits on 195,000 square feet of space. The physical layout lends itself very well to regulating traffic, both motor vehicle outside the building and pedestrian within the building. We have ample classroom space for each individual student.
• Testing: At the current time, we anticipate COVID-19 acute testing will be required for all students and employees. This will depend on accessibility of tests and would be accomplished in accordance with all requirements and guidance in place from the local and state health departments as well as the CDC. Temperature check ins are anticipated for the beginning of the year as students enter the building. We will have contact tracing protocols in place when we open, and parents and community will be notified in a manner consistent with the guidance provided by the CDC as well as local and state authorities.
• Social Distance Spaces and Common Spaces: In Social Distance Spaces, students will automatically be placed (seated) six feet apart and/or at whatever space is needed to accomplish social distancing.  Students may, but are not required to, wear masks when seated. The most common examples of Social Distance Spaces are classrooms and the cafeteria. In Common Spaces, students and staff are required to wear masks.  Common spaces include hallways, the library, the gym, the lobby, the bathrooms. Some classrooms are not Social Distance Spaces because we cannot always achieve six feet distances between students.  Depending on the nature of the subject being taught, the use of equipment, etc., some classroom experiences may require masks.
• Handwashing and Sanitation: In between classes, desks, doorknobs and light switches will be wiped down by an employee of the school. Hand sanitizers will be in each of the classrooms, the Common Spaces and outside of the bathrooms.

For the fall opening, we will not be assigning or having students use lockers.  We will assess this as winter approaches.  Should we need to use lockers, we can accommodate all students while maintaining six feet social distance.

The Connecticut Association of Schools recently released some lenient and optimistic guidelines regarding extra-curricular activities to all superintendents and principals.  All activities, as of today, will be fully functional with proper precautions in place. Football (all levels will start on August 17th). Fall sports (Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Soccer, Volleyball, and Cheerleading will start on August 27th). We plan to go live on August 31st with full practices, competitions and scrimmages. We will look at what this would like in our interior spaces such as our band room, our gymnasium and our auditorium. We are looking at what performances and practices would look like.

There will be no change in tuition price for Holy Cross High School. The school plans to deliver the exact same educational experience that students and families were used to before the pandemic hit.  We are all acutely aware of the financial strain that these circumstances have placed on our families.  Our Director of Finance and Operations will work with families on an individual basis to help them navigate these difficult waters.

Flexibility is key. We understand that things can change. Our plans are based on the best evidence we have in front of us. They're generated from a re-opening task force and informed by external medical, legal and architectural professionals.

Canvas is an online learning platform that Holy Cross High School is using for both in person and distance learning.

It is critical for students to know that even if they are home, they are still students, still taking classes, and still expected to complete all assignments and behave in ways expected of them as Crusaders.  We need parents to support this idea that closure of school does not mean that students are not still students.  

Please email your teachers directly if you have any classroom questions. For all other issues including technical problems, please fill out this form.

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.  Wash hands regularly, and definitely after touching high contact surfaces.  If soap is not available, use alcohol-based sanitizers;
• Avoid shaking hands as a greeting
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands
• Limit touching your face as much as you can
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue away
• Students with symptoms of acute respiratory illness are urged to stay home and not come to school until they are fever free and symptom free.