 A Note from Dr. Jeannine
As part of the COVID-19 Task Force Team, I can assure you that we have been working to ensure that returning to school is as safe as it can possibly be during this pandemic. The risks of keeping schools closed is far greater than the risks of returning to school, especially with all the safety protocols that OLG School has put in place. We believe, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, that "schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development and well-being.”
Because of all the new procedures and changes to the daily routine that OLG has made, the COVID-19 Task Force Team is recommending school start on time and on campus, Tuesday, August 11th. We understand that parents are concerned, and we offer these guidelines: The COVID Task Force Team recommends that families with people in the household that are 65 or older, or are considered medically fragile, seek the advice of their primary care physicians before attending our in-school setting.
It's so important in the current situation to take care of children's emotional as well as physical health. The Task Force has worked closely with the school to make every effort to ensure that the children feel safe as well as be safe.
Dr. Jeannine Griffin, MD is a well-known and well-loved pediatrician who has been practicing medicine at the Port Lavaca Clinic for over 34 years.
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OLG plans to start August 11th!
After reviewing OLG COVID protocols, the OLG COVID-19 Task Force Team has recommended OLG proceed with the plan to begin on-campus classes for all grade levels on Tuesday, August 11th. The team will continue to monitor the local COVID situation and reevaluate on-campus learning as needed. Should the COVID Task Force team at any time recommend remote learning for classes, the school will have plans in place to make this happen.
The team also reminds all families to consider the following for your household:
1) Is anyone living with you who is over 65?
2) Is anyone living with you who is medically fragile?
If the answer is yes to either of these questions, please contact your Primary Care Physician for guidance prior to your student attending school on campus this Fall. Full 1st Semester Remote learning options are available through CCISD.
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Uniform Reminders
Don't forget, we will be holding outdoor uniform sales on Wednesday, August 5th from 8am to 10am & from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. $2/item or trade-ins welcome.
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Masks
All OLG staff & students in grades K-8th will wear masks when moving about the main building. Cloth masks must be 3-ply, and students will have the option to wear a solid color of royal blue, navy, black, white, or grey or disposable non-cloth masks. Designer & specialty masks will not be part of the dress code. You may order royal blue or grey masks (with or without school logo) from a link on the school website (OLGMariners.org).
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During the COVID-19 situation, masks will be part of the uniform dress code for grades K-8th and all adults. Don't worry Mariners - you'll make this look good as we do whatever it takes to get back to the business of learning on campus!
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School Supplies
Because access to the campus will be greatly restricted with the temporary COVID regulations, empty boxes were distributed on Thursday, July 30th to hold your student's school supplies. For those that missed the curb-side service event last Thursday, you may contact the school office this week and pick them up from the school office. Please put your student's school supplies in his/her box (a.k.a. the old remote locker box), and then return the box with school supplies to school on Friday, August 7th (and pick up your mask orders) - all via curb-side service! The boxes will be waiting for the students' return in their homerooms on the first day of school, Tuesday August 11th.
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Procedures
Morning Drop-off Routine
Students participating in the Breakfast Program may be brought in to the school office from 7:00am - 7:30am. They will follow the required screening procedure prior to proceeding into the school and will be seated (socially distanced) with breakfast brought to them by the Breakfast Program personnel.
Normal drop-off times and locations: Pre-K4 students meet the teacher on the St. Francis porch for their screening procedure each morning. All K-8th grade students must be dropped off at the black gate where their screening procedure will take place. Please note that the school office is not a drop-off location from 7:30am - 7:55am. Because of the extra manpower required for screening, the school office will be closed from 7:30am - 7:55am. It will reopen at 7:55am to screen and accept students that are tardy.
All students must participate in a COVID screening prior to being left at school:
 1. Parents drive student to drop-off location. Parents will not be allowed to walk their students into school.
2. Parents answer the posted COVID screening questions about exposure and travel and if all answers are no, proceed to the gate.
3. Students exit their vehicle with masks on and have their temperature checked.
4. If any answer to the posted questions are "yes" or if a student's temperature is 100.4 or higher, everyone in the car goes back home and contacts their primary care physician to determine next steps.
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End of School Day Routine
Pre-K4 students are picked up at the St. Francis gate between 3:00pm and 3:30pm.
K-8 students are dismissed at 3:45pm, wearing masks until in the car with the doors closed.
Students remaining after 4:00pm will move to the hallway to wait for their parents following a routine similar to breakfast program. Student remaining on campus from 4:00pm - 4:30pm will be charged $3/day. Students must be picked up no later than 4:30pm so that we can finish our daily disinfecting routines.
We are working with the YMCA to provide After School Care for those who need it from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. As soon as we have finalized transportation options, we will send out more information for parents who need this service.
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Daily Schedule
Each class will be kept together and separated from other classes during the day ("cohorting"). Each class has scheduled bathroom breaks and recesses. Teachers will provide their classes time outdoors (weather permitting) each day. The Covid Task Force has advised that it is not necessary to wear masks outdoors while social distancing.
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Water Bottles
Each student should bring a water bottle that they may refill throughout the day from a bottle-filling station. See-through and spill-proof bottles only, please (no metal bottles). Pre-K4 students will be provided water in disposable cups in the classroom.
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Hand Sanitizer
The school will have several hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus, and teachers will also have sanitizer in their classrooms. However, students old enough to keep a small hand sanitizer bottle with them in class may bring one from home. No "perfumed" sanitizers please.
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Backpacks & Lockers
Grades K - 4th will place their backpacks in their hall lockers at the beginning of the day and retrieve them at the end. They will  utilize their remote lockers within the classroom to keep their daily supplies, thus minimizing movement about the school and within their rooms.
Grades 5th - 8th will have individual cubbies in each of their classrooms for their  textbooks and a 3-ring binder (1.5 inches or less). They will take their backpacks with their planners and class supplies (pencils, pens, paper, etc.) with them to each classroom to eliminate the need to go to a locker during the day.
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 Lunch
Class separations and social distancing will be maintained during lunch. Sack lunches will be provided to the classrooms for PreK - 4th grade students who have ordered lunch (at a price of $3.25). Middle School students (5th - 8th grade) will have sack lunches socially distanced throughout St. Jude Hall. To minimize exposure inside the school, parents are asked to send lunches from home in the morning with those students who are not ordering a school lunch. No lunches may be dropped off during the day. |
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 Mass
Grades K-8th will rotate Mass attendance with half of the school going to the church each day, in order to maintain social distancing. On days a class is not scheduled to go to the church, students will participate in the Liturgy of the Word in their classrooms. Pre-K4 will not attend Mass at the beginning of the school year. On the first day of school, grades 1st - 8th will attend a special "School Only" private Mass that will follow all proper social distancing protocols.
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Thank you to seminarian, Joseph Blackburn, who installed nautical ropes on the pews to ensure social distancing.
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PE & Athletics
PE classes will be held outside when possible. Due to the current situation, PE classes will focus on conditioning and individual physical activities (e.g. stretching and aerobic exercises) as opposed to team sports. Middle school will also not dress out during this time.
Under the advice of the OLG COVID-19 Task Force Team, there will be no athletics offered at the beginning of the school year. The team will continue to monitor the situation and advise the school as to when athletics/team sports may begin.
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Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance Round 2 was processed at the end of July. The school has awarded over $60,000 in tuition assistance for the coming school year based on the 2020 Federal Poverty guidelines. Normally, the school awards $45,000 to $50,000 in tuition assistance in the course of a school year. During these unprecedented times, the school is grateful to be in a position to offer the additional financial support to our families. If you missed rounds 1 & 2 and are in need of financial assistance, please pick up a Tuition Assistance application at the school office or go to the school website (OLGMariners.org) for a PDF of the application. Although funds are tight, we will do our best to provide assistance to those with demonstrated need. Anyone wishing to donate toward our Tuition Assistance program may contact the school office (361.552.6140 x6 or olgmariners@olgulf.org).
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Christ is the Source...
Let us work together to keep each other safe - social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, and coming together to do what's best for our children and families. In the midst of all trials, let us choose love.
The Light of God
The light of God surrounds us,
The love of God enfolds us,
The power of God protects us,
The presence of God watches over us,
Wherever we are, God is,
And where God is, all is well.
We pray for continued protection
as we come together again in hope and faith
in a new school year.
Amen.
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COVID-19 Task Force Team
The OLG COVID-19 Task Force Team includes the following medical professionals that have generously donated their time and talents to support our school: Dr. John Wright, MD; Dr. Jeannine Griffin, MD; Michael Gaines, FNP-C; Linda Meyer, RN.
If you have school questions related to COVID-19, please email them to COVIDInfo@olgmariners.org and this task force will reply to you as quickly as possible. |
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School Advisory Council
We are most grateful for the SAC members, who normally meet monthly to ensure that we can continue to provide a faith-based education to every child whose family so desires. We appreciate their guidance as the school prepares to receive the students back on campus.
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We want to take this opportunity to thank our donors.
Your generosity makes it possible for our school to provide a loving and productive environment in which students can grow in the Light of Christ.
Sather Financial Group, Inc.
Catholic Daughters
Armando Lopez & Ana Campos De Lopez
Vern & Karen Lyssy
Miraina Lopez
Dorothy Mayne
Thanh Nguyen
Danielle Mendoza
Sandra Henke
Dr. Thao M. Truong
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This newsletter is periodically distributed to connect the Mariners with their families and community partners. For more information about our school, please go to our website: OLGMariners.org
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We are a Catholic educational community providing opportunity for growth in the Light of Christ.
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