In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon have been implementing a Distance Learning model since March 17, 2020. St. Francis Catholic School and Parish are confident that the work of teachers, principal, pastor, and parents over the last term of 2019-2020 year has been successful in sustaining the educational standards to meet students’ learning.
It is with this in mind that our priority is to return to in-class instruction as long as it is deemed safe to do so. The principal, planning committee of parents, and teachers have created this Return to School Framework with enhanced precautions and hygiene protocols in place.
The guidelines referenced in this plan are based on guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and state and local county health agencies. Continual updates will be made to this plan based on information provided.
St. Francis Catholic School’s (SFCS) needs are different from those of public schools as we can require things of students, parents, and staff regarding procedures and materials more readily. SFCS’s population is relatively small, and we do not face other complications like bussing, large special needs populations, and additional funding mechanisms.