Safe Learning Plan (2022-2023)

Over the course of the summer, Carondelet Catholic School has been carefully monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 situation. After reviewing the mitigation strategies recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health, the CDC, and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, we have developed the following plan for safe learning in the 22-23 school year, subject to any necessary updates. The primary objective of our Safe learning plan is to provide IN-PERSON learning experiences while keeping our students and staff safe. Part of this goal is to ensure that we have teaching staff available for all students in our system. Our mitigation plan is designed to ensure that teachers and students can be in the buildings as much as possible.

Our COVID response team (Paula Leider, Kathryn Martin, Becky Harris) will continue to monitor our community and partner with the Minnesota Department of Health to ensure the safest possible learning environment for our students and staff. If case numbers begin to pose a significant threat to our community, or if government agencies enact new mandates, some portions of this plan may change according to the evolving situation.

Carondelet will keep parents informed of changes as they may occur.

Learning Model

All students will learn in-person daily. Carondelet will no longer offer synchronous, live google meet  instruction due to shortened quarantine lengths. Students who are quarantined for exposure or positive test results will need to use google classroom to complete assignments or pick up materials at teacher direction.

Mask Policy

Carondelet Catholic School will continue a “mask recommended” status for all students and staff for the 2022-2023 school year. Carondelet reserves the right to change this mask policy based on case numbers and government mandates. The school has KN95 masks available for all students and staff who would like to wear an upgraded mask while at school.

Carondelet will use the following metrics to assess the need for a return to required masking:

• If a government agency reinstates a mask mandate, Carondelet will follow that mandate as a member of the broader community.
• Carondelet will consider reinstating a mask mandate based on the guidance of CDC and MDH.

Volunteers and visitors who are unvaccinated are required to mask when on school premises. Please wear a mask if you are unvaccinated.

Lunch/Recess/Snacks

Masks are not required during outdoor recess or other outdoor activities unless the classroom is required to mask due to exposures. 

Students will no longer be physically distanced during lunch and snack time to avoid spread of COVID-19 while unmasked. Students who wish to remain physically distanced during lunch or snack may do so in the spaces provided or they may choose to use a physical barrier rather than physically distance.

Students who have returned to school and are on Day 6-Day 10 of an active infection will need to sit at the covid safe table.

Activities and Athletics

Students will be offered a variety of activities and athletics throughout the 2022-2023 school year. COVID-19 mitigation strategies will be developed for each activity to facilitate safe participation and in accordance with MDH’s youth activity guidance.

Drinking Fountains and Water Bottles

Our drinking fountains will reopen. They have been cleaned and tested to ensure safety. Preferably, students will continue to use water bottles only for water. All students should bring a water bottle to school daily to ensure proper hydration throughout the day.

Cleaning and Sanitization

• Classrooms will be disinfected daily.
• Common areas and high-touch areas will be cleaned daily.
• Hand sanitizer, facial tissues, gloves and masks will be available for use as needed.

Attendance Policy

Students must stay home if any of the following symptoms are present:

• A fever of 100.4 or higher**
• A new or worsening cough**
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath**
• New loss of taste or smell**
• Sore throat
• Chills
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe headaches
• Nasal congestion/stuffy or runny nose
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea 
• Diarrhea

Regardless of vaccination status, students who are suffering from two or more of the above symptoms or any ONE of the starred (**) symptoms are required to have a COVID test before returning to school. Students exhibiting covid symptoms should remain off campus for a minimum of 24 hours and seek a covid test. Parents must provide the result of a covid-19 test. The school has antigen tests available if needed. Two negative tests at least 24 hours apart is preferred in order to return to school. Both PCR and antigen tests should be reported to the school using a photo or a pdf of the result.

Parents must notify the school by calling the office or emailing the attendance email if their child stays home with any of the above symptoms OR if students have 

• flu-like symptoms 
• have tested positive 
• are awaiting test results 
• has a known exposure to COVID-19.

If students or staff test positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status, they will be required to leave school and undergo a quarantine of 5 days. On the 6th day, students may return to school, but must wear a well fitting mask, preferably a KN95 or equivalent, until the conclusion of Day 10. Test results should be reported to the school by emailing covid19@carondelet-mpls.org. Parents are asked to work with the school to determine a return date after quarantine.

Students who have a close contact exposure outside the home do not need to quarantine. Masking for 10 days is highly recommended. Parents should carefully monitor their child, and keep their child home if ANY symptoms develop.

Students who have an exposure inside the home should wear a well fitting mask while on campus, test immediately, then again every 2-3 days until day 11. On day 11, students can resume normal campus activities.

Carondelet will track cases for reporting to MDH.

Additionally, all other guidance for illness outlined in the parent/student handbook apply for the 2022-2023 school year.

COVID Coordinators

Carondelet Administration will serve as the COVID Coordinators. Please direct all questions regarding this plan to Paula Leider at pleider@carondelet-mpls.org. 

Flexibility and Cooperation is the Name of the Game

The fluidity of the COVID situation will continue to require our community to be flexible and nimble, adjusting to the ongoing challenges as they occur. Most importantly, keeping our students and staff healthy and safe from COVID-19 requires our entire community to work together as a team. When we all do our part by reporting illness and exposures, keeping our students home when they are ill or have been exposed, encouraging proper hand washing and masking, practicing good habits outside of school and maintaining a positive disposition, our students will have an exceptional year.