Dear Cristo Rey Jesuit Community:

At times like these, it is important for us to remember that God is good ALL of the time! While COVID-19 has dramatically shifted our world, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School has quickly adapted our mission to a virtual world.

RESPONSE PLAN:
On Monday, March 17, the faculty and staff worked diligently to prepare our community to continue to provide a quality education to our students' homes remotely while simultaneously preparing themselves to work remotely for the foreseeable future:
  • Students will learn and demonstrate their curriculum standards remotely. Teachers will post lessons and students will complete their class assessments daily;
  • On days our students are usually scheduled to work their Corporate Work Study job, students will train online in Microsoft software, coding, and various client relations management systems;
  • Our Deans are connecting with students and families to ensure that each student is able to access their work and learn productively while at home;
  • Administration is working to ensure that each student has the necessary technology and remote access to complete academic work at home;
  • Counselors are reaching out to students to offer social-emotional resources, including continuing to offer individualized support;
  • All after school activities have been postponed or cancelled including the musical, robotics and the Senior Kairos Retreat;
  • The Campus Ministry team is delivering the traditional Daily Examen over social media and preparing to offer our Holy Week Mass online;
  • Our weekly Friday Morning Assembly will take place online;
  • Our College and Alumni Counselors will continue to support our students and their families as they make their plans for the future; and
  • Our Nutrition team is receiving breakfast and lunch meals from our caterer and non-perishable food from our partner Catholic Charities so that families may pick-up meals at Cristo Rey or have them delivered by our Transportation team. Thus far, we have distributed about 55 packages of non-perishables to families.

WISH LIST:
Many people have asked how they can help. Below is a wish list we have started:
  • Verizon Hotspots: We know that at least 10% of our students do not have access to the internet at home. We need 50 hotspots to distribute to students so that they can access their education. Roughly $200 per hotspot: $80 for the device and $40 per month for three months. Total cost: $10,500 - Two individual donors have generously donated a $2000 and a $5000 gift individually. We still need $3500 to support this transition.
  • Laptops/Chrome Books: We have distributed all school owned laptops, iPads and Chromebooks to students who do not have a device at home. If you have a used device that you no longer use, we could prepare it for a student to use.
  • Non-Perishable Food: We could use more canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans (dry or canned), pasta, pasta sauce and cereal. Gift cards to grocery stores would allow families to purchase milk, protein and fresh produce.
  • The May 20th Pathway to Success Event will take place virtually. As our national and local leaders have discouraged gatherings larger than ten, we will work to demonstrate our Pathway to Success in a new format. More information to follow.
As we learn more in this new reality, we will communicate additional needs.

If you would like to donate, please click here to make a gift online, or contact myself or Steve Crandall at stevencrandall@cristoreytc.org or (612) 545-9708.

ADDITIONAL MISSION NEWS:
We do have good news to share:
  • The last of our 124 seniors awaiting word on acceptance to college had been accepted. For 10 years in a row, all graduating seniors have been accepted to college!
  • Our boys basketball team, the #4 seed in Section 4AA, upset St. Croix Prep, the #1 seed 68-61. The Section Final was cancelled two hours before tipoff. While their season is over, our team takes consolation in that they were able to walk off the floor in the last game season with a win over an undefeated team.

Thank you for your continued partnership in our mission! We will keep you up-to-date as our world continues to evolve.

In peace,

Jeb A. Myers
President
(612) 545-9701