Carondelet Update l 7.2.20
Dear Carondelet Students, Parents, & Guardians,

We hope you and your family have been safe this summer and have had a chance to have a bit of fun and relaxation in the midst of our current local and global situation. We are pleased to provide you with an update on our plans for the beginning of the school year and fall semester.

The last few months of the COVID-19 pandemic have challenged our community and world, and they have also provided us with an opportunity to reimagine our learning environment. We used our experience in the spring to maximize our online learning platforms and continue adapting to our students' and teachers' needs. A COVID-19 Task Force of administrators and faculty members has met continuously over the past three months to develop policies and procedures in accordance with the guidelines of Contra Costa Health Services and the State of California that would allow us to return to campus safely.

Returning to Campus
We know the best way to facilitate our students' educational experience is in-person. Our efforts over the past months have focused on adopting a school schedule for fall that allows flexibility and provides as many opportunities as possible for students on campus. All courses and instruction are designed to be fully-online and incorporate blended strategies for students on campus.

While we understand that public health directives continually change, w e are currently planning to welcome half of our students back to campus in the fall. To do this, students will be divided into two groups, by last name, and will be on campus either Mondays & Tuesdays or Thursdays & Fridays. On days where students are not on campus, remote learning will take place. One Wednesday per month students will be offered a Flex Day on campus so each class is allowed to come together and participate in our many student life programs and activities. All on campus activities will allow for safe interaction with faculty and staff. We will make accommodations for families who are uncomfortable with on-campus, in-person learning at the start of the school year.

2020-21 Bell Schedule
Created in coordination with DLS, the following Bell Schedule is intended for use under any learning scenario: completely remote, blended (as described above), or a complete return to campus.
*Wednesday Flex Day will move to a 0-7 class schedule when students are fully back on campus.

The schedule has been designed by our COVID-19 Task Force and DLS to adapt to the unpredictability of our current situation with the following considerations:

  1. Teaching/Learning: Maintaining a schedule that is consistent for the entire school—whether at home, online, or in-person at Winton Drive.
  2. Social/Emotional: Creating opportunities for peer-to-peer connections between on-campus faculty, staff, and all students.
  3. Campus Safety Protocols: Ensuring safety for all with modifications to campus and classrooms for a safe and hygienic environment upon return. Such modifications have been introduced with Camp Carondelet and the summer math program currently underway.

Campus Readiness & Safety Protocols
Some safety protocols that are planned and underway include:

  • Desks arranged for adequate social distancing in each classroom and with plastic protective screens for teacher desks.
  • Additional hand sanitizer stations throughout campus and cleaning products in every classroom.
  • Students and faculty requirements to wear masks. (A summer student intern team at the Jean Hofmann Center for Innovation is creating plastic face shields for faculty use.)
  • Specific entry and exit points on campus to enforce social distancing. 
  • Ability to take temperatures of faculty, staff, and students as necessary.
  • Marked pathways in hallways and waiting points for hydration stations and restrooms, along with additional supervision, to ensure social distancing during breaks and passing periods.
  • Creating more outdoor space seating on balconies, in the amphitheater area, and outside the Jean Hofmann Center for Innovation. Exploring additional seating opportunities under the parking garage, under tents behind the Chapel, and use of the Convent Courtyard as faculty workspace.
  • Additional internet access points behind the Back 40 classrooms for increased outdoor connectivity.
  • Exploring the creation of additional classroom space in the library, music room, and Garaventa for more distanced seating.
  • Convert the school store to an isolated sick room for anyone showing symptoms of illness.
  • Preparation for specific contact tracing protocols, in conjunction with Contra Costa Health Services, with specified faculty and staff already training in this area.

What's Ahead
We need to continue to be prepared for the given realities of the COVID-19 crisis and the fact that there are numerous variables outside of our control. We are committed to doing everything in our power to enable a safe return to campus in full capacity when possible.

Our fall plans will continue to comply with Governor Newsom’s strategy to reopen California and will be informed by guidance from the Contra Costa Health Services and Contra Costa County Office of Education . Our planning will also continue to put student, faculty, and staff health, well-being, and safety at the forefront. At the same time, we are collaborating with and training faculty and staff to ensure that Carondelet continues to deliver the high-quality educational experience our students expect in a safe environment.

We appreciate your continued patience and confidence as we always put the needs of our students first. We are committed to their ongoing growth and development. Even though fall will look a bit different than we expected, a Carondelet education lasts a lifetime. We are in this with your family for the long haul with heart, faith, courage, and excellence.

We will continue to update you as our fall plans evolve. Our resiliency, flexibility, and unity as a community will help us persevere during this time.

Sincerely,

Kevin Cushing
Principal
Carondelet High School l 1133 Winton Drive l Concord, CA 94518 l CarondeletHS.org