Back to School
Familiar Yet Foreign Back to school plans take shape as COVID-19 data, recommendations shift daily BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
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s students return to classes this fall, the coronavirus has undoubtedly changed what that experience will look like, making this annual reunion one of unprecedented transformation.
But one constant remains, according to outgoing diocesan Catholic school superintendent JoAnn Tier – the determination of Catholic schools in the Diocese to move forward both safely and ardently. “Working with so many unknowns, it’s amazing how resilient our administrators are,” Tier said. “They are people of faith. They get the job done; they put their whole self into it, as well as their staff ... I’m continually impressed with their dedication and commitment.” WHAT BACK TO SCHOOL IS LOOKING LIKE The reopening of schools after a several-months shutdown requires planning of
extreme magnitude, with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of state and national data – including viral transmission rates, children’s susceptibility and consequences for mental health – from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, government health experts and more. Administrators have had to weigh each point of information carefully to assure children will safely receive the superb academic and faith-based education parents have come to expect from Catholic schools. Diocesan staff spoke with school administrators and principals throughout the summer to discuss guidelines for getting schools ready for the upcoming academic year. Often adjusted based on New Jersey’s updated health recommendations, these guidelines have been implemented by schools based on each entity’s unique needs and capacity to meet those criteria with available resources. Parents, too, were A student of Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, works on an assignment on her home computer. Courtesy photo
26 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
provided with surveys over the summer to offer feedback on the options for the year ahead. Survey responses were taken into account alongside best practices for health and safety. “Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton will follow the guidance of both the state education and health departments,” said Dr. Mark DeMareo, principal of Holy Cross Academy, Rumson. “Because that guidance changes regularly, the Catholic schools document is not cast in stone. It’s fluid; it’s changing as the situation evolves and as we learn more about COVID-19.” As of The Monitor’s press date, DeMareo plans to open HCA for students in kindergarten through eighth grade on Sept. 1 and 2 with half days, then move to fullday instruction. Preschool four-day and five-day programs will start Sept. 14. “Our goal has been to return to normal operations to the fullest extent permitted by research-based health and safety guidelines,” he noted. “As the COVID-19 situation and guidance continues to change, our plans will also continue to change.” HCA intends to accommodate 15 students per classroom to maintain social distancing – comfortably achieved in the rooms’ oversized layout. An additional teacher will be hired to help split the 24-student fourth grade into two class-
Sister Elizabeth Dalessio, principal of St. Jerome School, West Long Branch, holds up a remote to demonstrate the virtual classroom set up for fourth grade. The school has been updating tech throughout the building, including a 1/1 device program that will allow students to view live classes virtually from home. Courtesy photo
rooms of 12 students each. Upper school students will also be split similarly, and teachers will be encouraged to utilize the library and conference rooms as needed. “For some class changes, teachers, rather than students, will move from room to room,” DeMareo explained. “Morning and afternoon prayers are presented over the intercom rather than during a morning gathering, while Mass may be attended by smaller groups and streamed schoolwide.” St. Mary School, Middletown, has been working on its reopening plan with the help of a reopening committee, composed of a pediatrician, school business manager, director of technology, school and parish administration, facilities coordinator, director of security, school guidance counselor and school nurse. “It is our aim to make the return to school as enjoyable as possible, all while ensuring that the environment … is as safe as possible, and is above the [state] standards,” school staff said. SAFETY MEASURES Looking to utilize in-person, in-classroom instruction as much as possible, schools’ safety measures include temperature checks, enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures, restrictive visitor policies and hand-washing measures.
“We are coming back full time and staying full time as long as we can,” said Jason Briggs, principal of St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square. “We are leveraging outdoor and extra space in September as much we can. As it gets colder that may no longer be possible – but we’re not going to overlook a viable option for fall because it doesn’t work in December.” In Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, school begins Sept. 9 for all pre-K through 12th-grade students, utilizing face masks and maintaining safe distancing in both classrooms and larger shared spaces, such as the gymnasium and cafeteria.
Working with so many unknowns, it’s amazing how resilient our administrators are. “Daily health assessments will be necessary in order to maintain a healthy learning environment for everyone,” said TCA president Michael Knowles. Lunchtime protocols will also look very different from prior years. “Students in the Lower School will eat lunches in their classrooms. The students in the Upper School will eat in the cafeteria or in the gymnasium if needed, and will follow social distancing guidelines,” Knowles explained. School lunches will be offered, he said, in a “grab and go” manner. Students may also bring lunches from home for individual consumption. “As 60 percent of our students receive free or reduced lunch, it is our intention to continue to provide breakfast and lunch through NutriServe Food Management,” he noted. Donovan Catholic High School and St.
Joseph School, Toms River, which share a campus, have the advantage of ample space to spread students across larger rooms. The cafeteria, said Dr. Edward Gere, principal, will accommodate students for six lunch periods. “They’re going to have a real lunch experience, albeit six feet apart. But it’s sitting at tables,” he explained. “Even that simple act is powerful. It’s going to give them more opportunities to interact together.” The outdoor space includes a quadrangle that has been available for lunch in non-pandemic years. “We’ll use it even more for outdoor lunch now, and teachers can use it from time to time for class periods,” Dr. Gere continued. St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, will adopt many of the same safety and distancing measures. “It is our intent to make the return to school as complete and enjoyable as possible, all while ensuring that the environment for our students and staff is at or above the standards outlined in Gov. Murphy’s guidance,” said Mary Koury, director of admissions and marketing. Focusing particularly on the sanitization aspect, St. Leo the Great campus renovations over the summer have included student bathrooms, which have been updated to include no-touch faucets, toilets, hand dryers and paper towel dispensers. Touchless hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in each classroom, and the school is the process of designing and installing student desk top safety and security shields to further help accommodate social distancing. “We have had the school and air ducts completely cleaned through an electrostatic disinfecting and sanitizing process; all sanitizing measures have been carried out by certified contractors,” Koury delineated. In addition, a Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization System is being installed, which filters the entire HVAC system, continually cleaning circulating air and eradicating bacteria, viruses and mold. To further reduce viral introduction, Koury said, “students will use the Sani-Stride shoe wash system, which is used in industrial and medical settings to assure the disinfection Continued on 36
August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 27
Back to School
Pandemic offers opportunity of ‘renaissance’ for Catholic education BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
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afety and health are of utmost concern for staff and students returning to classrooms across the globe during the pandemic, whether in a public or nonpublic school setting. For Catholic schools, however, the mission of a well-rounded education is two-fold: to provide academic excellence and address a spiritual health that is deeply rooted in Catholic identity. As such, critical attention has been given to Catholic values as schools Life in Christ plan for the upcoming year, with cannot be put participation in liturgy and prayer and service-learning opportunities reon the back maining a priority in both the in-person and remote classroom settings. burner. “When it became clear that we would have to quickly pivot to a home learning environment, our first step was to identify and make explicit what we do daily that makes Catholic education unique,” said Filippini Sister Elizabeth Dalessio, principal of St. Jerome School, West Long Branch. “[We are] guided by a philosophy to foster in students … a continuing growth in love of God and neighbor through our Catholic faith and Christian values.” Dr. Edward Gere, principal of Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, agreed. “We’re going to begin with the whole person.
We’re not just going to dive into math and science right away. We’re going to be in the moment and recognize the blessings and the struggles we’ve gone through and continue to go through.” At St. Mary School, Middletown, “We emphasize to all the parents that this school and Catholic education is the mission of the Church,” said Father Jeff Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish. “Catholic identity is the priority of our school; we’ll make great scientists, lawyers, bankers and plumbers – but our goal is to make great saints.” FAITH CONNECTIONS Community, rich prayer and sacramental life, integration of mind, body and spirit as well as real physical presence are all distinctive elements of Catholic education identified in Vatican documents. So much of the Catholic faith revolves around community, and having that community distanced by various forms of physical COVID-19 protections can have a profound impact on the individual’s psyche and spirit. “Just think about the simple example of a student walking into a classroom and the desks are six feet apart,” Gere pointed out. “That has an effect on a person. And with masks on – it’s a whole different reality.” He explained that Donovan Catholic – and all Catholic schools by that measure – teach the entire person. “We’re sensitive to our students, the needs of a person … that’s where we excel.” Taking lessons from what worked during the spring shutdown, St. Jerome School will aim to repeat many of the activities and formats that strengthened its faith community. “We hope to continue the activities that brought such meaningful connection during the last three months of school, Continued on 38
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., visits St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, during Catholic Schools Week 2020. The new school year during COVID-19 may look different, but Catholic identity in schools will not change. Mike Ehrmann photo
28 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
Back to School
Greetings from new diocesan
Catholic schools superintendent
I
am so very happy to introduce myself. My name is Vincent de Paul Schmidt, and I am honored to have been named the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. My wife, Dana, and our three sons are very happy to have moved to New Jersey. My family has heard there is much to do here, and once the state fully reopens after COVID-19, we will be excited to experience all the Garden State has to offer. From the boardwalks on the beach to farmers’ markets in our community, this seems to be a perfect place to live and raise our family. Friends and colleagues have asked me many times over the past months, “What are you going to change in Trenton?” In reality, my job is not to change anything, but continue to build on the fantastic efforts of former superintendent JoAnn Tier and the team in the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.
In his greetings as the new Catholic schools superintendent, Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt praises the Diocese’s students for the gifts they bring – “and the good works they will be challenged to bring forth daily.” Mike Ehrmann photo Over the last few months, I have come to realize that in the Diocese of Trenton, we have a wide variety of students – from Catholics and non-Catholics, to those of all ethnicities, special needs and varying economic status. All will continue to be embraced for the gifts they bring and the good works they will be challenged to bring forth daily. Having said that, over the course of this school year, you will hear me speak of Pope Francis, a Jesuit, who implored all Catholics to embrace the Ignatian ideal of becoming “men and women
A Message from
VINCENT DE PAUL SCHMIDT
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
for others.” This year, my prayer is for all in the Catholic school community of Trenton to be the embodiment of that ideal. Specifically, we will ask our faculty, students and families to concentrate on the notion of service to all in our community and each other. What better time than in the midst, or hopefully on the cusp, of coming out of a pandemic than to realize the need to help others meet their daily needs? The needs might be spiritual. The Our schools needs might be educational. The needs might be social. The call is have committed now; the call is loud. I am asking teams that all in the educational community to be ready to step up and help are dedicated whenever/wherever you see the need. to leading all To achieve a Catholic edustudents. cation that serves all requires that we teach the faith, that we live Gospel values. Pope Francis focuses on the faith and service. Our parents – you reading this letter – are the principal educators of our children in this faith. Our educational staff work hard every day to support this mission. What better evidence of lived Gospel values than these students here, with their parents, giving of their gifts in service to others? The Catholic schools in this Diocese are poised to take off into unprecedented areas of academic growth and rigor along with an increased focus on Catholic identity. Our schools have committed teams that are dedicated to leading all students to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, strong academic achievement, personal growth in the areas of social awareness and social responsibility, and a sense of self-reliance steeped in a set of values that can only come from a mission-driven, faith-filled community such as that found in our programs. Our students are just starting the journey into young adulthood within their faith, and our students are role models that are proof positive of what can be achieved by putting one’s self second. Let us form men and women for others – just as Jesus did throughout his ministry, and what Pope Francis calls us to EVERY DAY. Thank you for accepting this challenge, and thanks for your constant support of our Catholic schools. August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 29
Back to School
Catholic education ‘a gift,’ Holmdel’s new leader says
Kane is a member of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel. She and her husband of 22 years, Danny, are the parents of three children, Bridget and Cathleen, SJV graduates who are now in college, and Brendan, an SJV junior.
BY JOHN SPINELLI Correspondent
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argaret Kane is no stranger to the St. John Vianney High School community. For more than a decade, she has been an educator in the Holmdel school, teaching English, fine arts and social studies, and most recently served as assistant principal. She now looks forward to beginning the 2020-2021 academic year as the school’s principal. “My job is a vocation,” she said. “Being a teacher and an assistant principal in St. John Vianney High School has prepared me for this new role … and I look forward to continuing to learn in the coming ill ic year w m e d a years.” c a 1 02 take the he 2020-2 ls a Kane is a product of Cathip c n new pri d n a olic education, and she says th see three u o m ton, Mon g in rl g u that had a tremendous role in B in v a reins in ng with h lo A . s her own faith formation. e ti n u a Ocean Co tials and n e d “Catholic education, with re c ademic olic edth a C strong ac our shared values and faith, to t en es commitm ti h e c s n fosters a community that lo u c ta e s v e also ha re th ll a you cannot find anywhere u , n m ucatio ool com else,” she said. “It creates ective sch p s re ross ir e to th rparts ac te n u a community that runs o c e their have ls a nities. Lik ip c through generations of n ri p se, these are p re families.” p the Dioce to tly g diligen r in fo rk Kane’s history in o ff w ta s been ulties and c fa , educational leadership ts n e their stud includes having earned a r. a e ool y a new sch bachelor of arts degree in English from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, N.Y., and a master’s degree in school leadership and administration from Georgian Court University, Lakewood. As a principal, she was recognized with a New Jersey Standard Certificate and also holds level three catechetical certification from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind.
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30 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
Margaret Kane Kane acknowledged that St. John Vianney – like other schools in the Diocese – has been working to be as ready and adaptable as possible about reopening during COVID-19. “This coming year will present new challenges,” she said. “Yet, I know that the faculty, staff, students and families are prepared. We have invested in improving our technological infrastructure to ensure that our students and parents have a choice in the learning experience. I am excited to continue to work with our faculty as we are training on new programs.”
St. Charles Borromeo familiar school turf for Cynthia Smith BY MARY STADNYK Associate Editor
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ynthia Smith is happy to return to familiar territory as the new principal of St. Charles Borromeo School, Cinnaminson. It happens to be where she began her career in education as a teacher more than 30 years ago. “This is a homecoming of sorts,” said Smith, who joined the faculty in 1984,
Back to School and for three years, served as a fifth-grade general education classroom teacher, math coordinator and grade-level liturgy committee chairwoman. “I welcome the opportunity to get to know the faith community of St. Charles Borromeo and working with Father Dan Kirk [parish pastor] and the dedicated faculty and staff to promote the spiritual and educational development of each child,” she said. Smith’s previous educational experience in the Diocese of Trenton includes serving as principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Maple Shade, from 2018 until June. Prior to that, she taught in Camden public schools for 28 years and for a year in a public school in Collingswood. She also has served as an instructional coach for the New Jersey Education Association, as a teacher mentor and as student teaching supervisor for Rutgers University.
fessional affiliations include the National Catholic Educational Association; National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Education Association/New Jersey Education Association/Camden Education Association. Smith and her husband of two years have united as a blended family with four adult children. They are members of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Collingswood. Looking ahead to the school year during the coronavirus pandemic, she said, “Our children’s social and emotional health is as crucial as their academic achievement during these unsettling times. Providing structured, interactive lessons will be a priority if we must provide remote instruction at some point.”
St. Dominic School welcomes longtime educator to new role BY MATT BECKER
Digital and Social Media Coordinator
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Cynthia Smith Reflecting on the value of Catholic education, Smith said Catholic school students “become instruments of God’s grace in their own families and communities. “In addition to academics, Catholic schools teach lessons about life, faith and instill moral values,” said Smith, who holds a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Delaware, Newark, Del., where she majored in elementary education with a minor in psychology. In Rowan University, Glassboro, she pursued graduate work in math, science and technology through an Eisenhower Grant, and from Wilmington University, Wilmington, Del., she earned a master of education in school leadership. Her pro
fter serving 16 years as an educator and assistant principal in St. Dominic School, Brick, Elizabeth Tonkovich is ready to hit the ground running in her new role as principal. “St. Dominic School’s atmosphere is welcoming and inclusive. This community of faith-filled students witnesses daily the modeling of kindness, respect and teamwork. Students meet rigorous academic challenges while being reassured that best effort is truly what our Lord Jesus seeks,” she said. Tonkovich’s appreciation for Catholic education and the community is rooted in her own upbringing. She graduated from St. Benedict School and St. John Vianney High School, both Holmdel, and received a bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of Dayton, Ohio, which is a Catholic institution. “The 16 years in Catholic education formed the person I am today. I often speak with my parents, who worked so hard to provide a Catholic education for
Elizabeth Tonkovich me, of my gratitude for a faith-filled childhood,” she said. She also holds a master of arts degree in teaching from Monmouth University, West Long Branch, and completed an accelerated master’s program from NJPSA/ FEA EXCEL, Monroe. Tonkovich said she is pleased to be so familiar with the culture and community in St. Dominic School, where she started more than a decade ago as a sixth-grade teacher, going on to teach everything from religion to advanced mathematics. She became vice principal in 2011, during which time she led the school’s efforts in receiving AdvancED accreditation (2015) and COGNIA accreditation (2020). She said she was proud to see the school designated as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2018. Tonkovich admitted that the school day may look a bit different in the new academic year due to COVID-19. It’s her hope, however, that “with the guidance of our Lord, I will bring the school community through this unprecedented time of uncertainty.” She said she is humbled by the opportunity to lead St. Dominic School and grateful for the dedicated teachers and staff, and that her main focus will be on providing students with a high-quality Catholic education. “Answers to important questions cannot be found in the secular world. We must go back to the foundation of our faith and therein find the answers,” she said, reiterating that her goal is “to offer the opportunity for children, beginning at a young age, to be a part of an environment, wherein faith is the rock that each life is built upon, is nothing short of a gift.”
August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 31
Back to School
Prepared Parents
Families stay positive as they keep close eye on school reopening plans BY ROSE O’CONNOR Correspondent
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s Catholic schools around the Diocese continue to plan for the 2020-2021 academic year, parents are faced with a lengthy list of questions, considerations and concerns about what to expect and how best to prepare for the return to school – whether in person or online. Cara Lynch is the mother of two daughters in St. Paul School, Burlington. She served on her school’s task force to help determine back-to-class readiness, evaluating issues such as health, safety, technology, needed equipment and transportation. Each Catholic school in the Diocese of Trenton was asked to create a task force consisting of principals, staff, parents and others and work with the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.
“Knowing how much time has been spent addressing the many concerns that have been raised provides me with a great level of comfort leading up to the new school year,” Lynch said. “I am hopeful that the students will be able to return to in-person teaching and continue learning with their classmates in a stable environment that they enjoy. “I also hope that parents understand that patience, positivity and flexibility will be the best way for all of us to get through whatever challenges we will be facing in the coming months,” she said. Meredith Socha, who has three children in St. Ann School and a daughter entering Notre Dame High School, all in Lawrenceville, said that while the school year may look different than years past, she hopes it won’t “feel different for our kids … and that the new safety protocols and procedures won’t change the school’s
Students in St. Paul School, Burlington, demonstrate how they are one community even during virtual learning. Courtesy photo 32 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
community. Kids are so resilient and adaptable.” MaryBeth Green remains upbeat that her two children, Bobby, a seventh-grader, and Jayson, a third-grader, can return in person to St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin. “I am hopeful that the students can settle into a new routine and maintain focus on their schoolwork in the supportive environment.” BUSING CHALLENGES Among parents’ top concerns in the upcoming year: maintaining social distancing on school buses. “This is part of the transition back to school that I do think about often, as I do not have any alternative transportation options at this time,” said Lucy Tomczynski, whose daughter, Emma, is a junior in Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, and her son, Sean, an eighth-grader in St. Paul School. Barbara Vidal shared similar apprehensions. Her two daughters, Emma and Gracie, attend Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, with another daughter and son, Hailey and Charlie, attending the Manahawkin school. “I have mixed emotions about transportation,” she said. “My older daughters need to take the bus to school, since Donovan Catholic is 20 to 25 minutes from our house, and I’m concerned that social distancing may not be able to be maintained on a bus. “ Green agreed. “Students of this age won’t always have the self-control to stay apart from their friends. I am concerned about the risk of exposure from other students and staff and the exponential risk of any one person coming to school when they are positive and don’t know it.” Added Socha, “I think it’s going to take a lot of reminders both from us as parents and from [school] staff to remind the kids that they can’t hug their friends and teachers.”
FAITH IN SCHOOLS Returning to school will bring about new rules, as parents are well aware. “We are already preparing the children for the new protocols by mask wearing, talking about the safety protocols, destigmatizing the protocols themselves and giving them the reasoning,” Green said. “We talk about the pros and cons of being in groups, and we are very conservative with exposure.” Lynch expressed similar sentiments. “My husband and I have been discussing the pandemic in the simplest of terms [with their children] while continuing to practice good hygiene and working toward getting them used to wearing a face mask for an extended period of time.” While there are a number of challenges, parents continue to have faith in their Catholic schools. “Our school’s ability to maintain social distancing, clean surfaces and stay vigilant to changing conditions provides a much-needed sense of relief,” Lynch said of St. Paul School. Vidal believes the Catholic schools her four children attend will do their best to keep everyone safe. “I believe that in-school learning cannot adequately be replaced by remote learning, especially for my younger children,” she said. “It is my firm belief that students need their teachers in person to guide, teach and nurture them into who God created them to be,” Vidal said. “We believe Catholic schools educate the whole child academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually, keeping God at the center of who they are and what they do.”
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August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 33
Back to School
COVID funding to help bridge Courtesy photo
‘digital divide’ BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
F
or students across the nation, the pandemic has highlighted what has been dubbed the “digital divide” – the technology gap experienced by those who either do not have access to the internet from home or do not have a device with which to connect to attend virtual classes. To that end, N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration have been working to allocate federal funding to both public and nonpublic schools, as plans go forward for reopening both in-person and virtual classrooms. Public school grants will come from the state’s federal If I can get Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) money from the Act Elementary and Secondstate to help cover ary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. After those technology, then funds have been exhausted, Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) the rest of the monies will be redirected, with school budget is $6 million available for nonpublic schools. less tight. “One thing the 2019-2020 school year taught us is just how resilient and innovative our students and educators can be, particularly in times of crisis,” Gov. Murphy said. “By taking these steps to close the digital divide and equip students in need with personal device access and internet connectivity, we can ensure that students continue to succeed in these unprecedented times.” An estimated 230,000 students statewide were impacted by the digital divide when schools were closed to in-person instruc-
34 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
in schools
tion in March. Among them were students of Asbury Park’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Though the school was able to distribute Chromebooks, one per family if needed, there was still a problem of connectivity. “We began to get calls from parents saying, ‘I don’t have any more data,’” principal Theresa Craig said. A local internet company stepped in to provide free-of-charge mobile hotspot service, allowing each computer to serve as a hotspot. Now, the school is working to secure more computers, especially aging devices in need of replacement. “We ordered 75 Chromebooks in November … but because of COVID-19, imports were shut down, so they never arrived,” Craig said. The school has placed an additional order for 100 Chromebooks with a national store chain. Having funds available from the state for devices both in and out of the classroom will ultimately allow schools some budgetary breathing room. “If I can get money from the state to help cover technology, then the rest of the school budget is less tight for things like sanitizing and PPE [personal protective equipment],” Craig noted. Addressing the need for the Coronavirus Relief Fund monies, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said, “There are thousands of kids around the state who, after three months of virtual instruction, still do not have access to the internet or a tablet, preventing them from connecting with their teachers or interacting with materials. “This use of funding, to connect every single New Jersey student to online learning by the time school starts in the fall, is critical to preventing further learning loss and ensuring we are prepared for what is to come in September and throughout the remainder of the school year.”
BACK TO SCHOOL & BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
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August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 35
Back to School
Schools adjust to virus mitigation Continued from 27
of shoes coming into the building.” St. Gregory the Great Academy is also looking to airflow measures as well as ondesk polyethylene guards. “In order to promote better ventilation, we are retrofitting classroom windows for through-window vent fans,” said Briggs. “We’re also ordering desk guards for the lower grades. The reality is that you can get fifth-graders and up to wear masks [consistently], but younger kids are going to fiddle with the mask and move it. If they’re working at their desk and have a desk guard, it’s not as big a deal if they slide the mask aside.” St. Mary School has also renovated bathrooms with all no-touch amenities, added hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the school, and will limit student movement and contact.
Our goal has been to return to normal operations to the fullest extent permitted. “We have an arrangement with Flynn O’Hara to incorporate SMS inspired face mask/gaiters for student use – easy to pull up when needed,” the school assured parents. “All students will be wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible.” In West Long Branch, administrators and parents at St. Jerome School have been instrumental in assuring best practices for following health guidelines. “We are fortunate to have parents who are clinicians and physicians at Hackensack Meridian Health, guiding our efforts and helping us to establish protocols,” said Filippini Sister Elizabeth Dalessio, principal. “They are graciously giving their time and expertise to develop policies, including guidance around masking, temperature checks, sanitizing and lunchtime protocols … measures include keeping children
St. Mary School, Middletown, has been working on its reopening plans with the help of a reopening committee. Plans include keeping desks six feet apart. Courtesy photo
in their classrooms, requiring all persons entering building to wear masks and have temperature taken. Children will eat in classrooms and we will schedule as much outside time as possible for P.E. and recess.” VIRTUAL READINESS Because complete home instruction was required a short few months ago, Catholic schools around the Diocese have moved with energy to adjust to the virtual classroom. Recognizing the possibility that shelterin-place restrictions may again be indicated by the state if cases balloon, teachers have spent extra time familiarizing themselves with the various online platforms that played such a critical role in the continuation of the 2019-2020 academic year. Various scenarios have been planned, with some schools offering a hybrid week of instruction divided between school classrooms and at-home virtual access, and preparing for total online instruction should the need arise or a family situation require it. Donovan Catholic High School, in coordination with St. Joseph School, is working on ironing out the options alphabetically by last name to keep families on the same schedule cross-campus. “Option one is a hybrid model, with partial at-home and partial in-classroom instruction; another option is to be home virtually 100 percent of the time,” explained Dr. Gere. “When we surveyed parents
36 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
initially, about 30 percent said they were interested in virtual instruction.” Anticipating that need, Donovan Catholic has elected to set up cameras in each classroom for real-time education – with an adjustment in teaching structure. “Things will be a bit different in terms of lesson plans,” Dr. Gere said. “You might see review at the beginning of class followed by seat work, and maybe that’s when the teacher uses Google Meets or speaks with students individually at home and those present [in turn], so there’s some real-time interaction… It does offer them a little bit richer experience than just the Zoom format. But we’re preparing to do that too if needed.” Trenton Catholic Academy will offer full-time online learning as a choice for families through Google Classroom, as well as a separate and full online option for grades six through 12 through the online learning platform Catholic Virtual. Speaking to the experience of spring 2020, Knowles said, “While COVID-19 may have closed our physical school building, our administration, staff and coaches were busy making sure our students had all the tools they needed to succeed.” That included the use of social media for leading school community daily prayer and virtual celebrations like the May Crowning and helping families secure wifi access. Briggs said that St. Gregory the Great Continued on 40
WHY
Safety. Our facilities, our values, and our community will ensure your daughter has a safe environment to become all she can be.
Stuart NOW
For over 200 years, Sacred Heart education has been educating women through challenging times, and as the stewards of this tradition, we are committed to developing the confident and courageous leaders the world needs now more than ever.
Resources. With our expert faculty who know girls well, extensive investments in technology, and a robust financial aid program, we have demonstrated our leadership in remote, in-person, and hybrid education. Commitment. We will be here in September no matter what the shape of the pandemic recovery is.
Investing in Stuart for your daughter now means your family can count on:
OUR TRADITION
STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2020
YOUR JOURNEY
Learn how your son can excel at CBA with our Virtual Admissions Hub
CBALincroftNJ.org/admissions BUILDING WELL-ROUNDED YOUNG MEN SINCE 1959
August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 37
Back to School
Catholic schools’ mission remains: forming the whole person Continued from 28
including daily Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration,” Sister Elizabeth explained. “We will continue to pray for health care workers and all professions on the front lines. We will celebrate activities, such as class liturgies and community feast day, that unite us with the Religious Teachers Filippini in Morristown and Rome. We also hope to continue connecting with a truly extended family, through a pen pal program with students from Italy and Brazil who came to us on Facebook.” St. Mary School will continue its community outreach and schoolwide Masses in its large church, said Father Kegley, who noted that the principal, Craig Palmer, “really keeps the minds of the kids focused on the fact that we’re called to serve others” with food drives and fundraising for causes throughout the year. The goal overarching academics is “to make it as normal as possible … life in Christ cannot be put on the back burner.” NEW REALITY, SAME MISSION Donovan Catholic and St. Joseph School, which share a campus, will aim for reserving approximately one day a week for community-building for a particular grade. “We might have it be a retreat day, and we could have a class
Mass in the church if the numbers are allowed at the time,” Gere explained. Students could be allowed time to reflect on how the past several months affected them, and how they are doing now, he noted. “Some students coming back might feel nervous; I remember that feeling when going back to the store for the first time,” he continued. “We also have to think about our teachers – they’re putting themselves on the line,” Gere said. “We’re going to take care of the physical, mental and spiritual health of our students and teachers before education.” Sister Elizabeth said the coronavirus will never change the mission of St. Jerome School. “With the support of our community and the Diocese, we will continue to learn, love, and connect as one family, deeply rooted in our Catholic identity.” Father Kegley agreed. “I really believe with all the craziness in the world right now, this should be a renaissance for Catholic education. We need institutions like Catholic schools that can teach the Gospel message – Jesus’ message of love, mercy and forgiveness. I believe it’s an opportunity for our mission to shine. “The focus of Catholic education … is not just to teach, but to form,” he continued. “Children need to know they are not bystanders, but active participants in the Gospel.”
FAITH
KNOWLEDGE
SERVICE
COMMUNITY
MATER DEI PREP continues to soar despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. We are moving into the Fall of 2020 focused on continuing to deliver our individualized programs with small class sizes. Our committed faculty and staff ensure all our students are engaged in the full high school experience. We provide a safe, independent Catholic school learning environment that nurtures while challenging all our students to reach their full academic potential.
Due to an increased interest in attending MATER DEI PREP during COVID-19, we are continuing to accept applications for the Freshmen Class of 2024 and transfer students in grades 10-12.
CONTACT US TODAY!
admissions@materdeiprep.org
Middletown, NJ
www.materdeiprep.org
38 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020
732-671-9100
MATER DEI PREP students seamlessly adapted to our exceptional Virtual Learning Program during COVID-19. We provided live Zoom classes four days a week from 8am- 2:30pm with one-on-one sessions with faculty on Fridays.
MATER DEI PREP students maintained honors or high honors admissions@materdeiprep.org during quarantine and all students received full credit and completed their planned curriculum uninterrupted.
BE KNOWN
TRENTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY Three educational opportunities. One school.
TRADITIONAL
BLENDED
. BE VALUED . BE CHALLENGED .
BE MORE
INVEST
ONLINE
Visit us online for more information www.trentoncatholic.org 175/177 Leonard Avenue Hamilton, NJ 08610 175/177 Leonard Avenue
Hamilton, NJ 08610
**The average St. Rose 2020 Graduate received $192,000 in college scholarships.
As we begin this new school year, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton are committed to: The safety and health of our students, faculty and staff. Living God’s message of love, understanding, and diversity. Delivering solid, faith-based curriculum in a number of innovative ways. Applications are still being accepted for the 2020-21 school year.
C a t h o l i c S c h o o l s
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Our Lady of Good Counsel School • Moorestown Sacred Heart School • Mount Holly St. Charles Borromeo School • Cinnaminson St. Joan of Arc School • Marlton St. Mary of the Lakes School • Medford St. Paul School • Burlington
MERCER COUNTY
Our Lady of Sorrows School • Mercerville St. Ann School • Lawrenceville St. Gregory the Great Academy • Hamliton Square St. Paul School • Princeton
St. Raphael School • Hamilton Trenton Catholic Academy Lower School • Hamilton Notre Dame High School • Lawrenceville Trenton Catholic Academy Upper School • Hamilton
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Holy Cross Academy • Rumson Mother Seton Academy • Howell Our Lady of Mount Carmel School • Asbury Park St. Benedict School • Holmdel St. Catharine School • Spring Lake St. James School • Red Bank St. Jerome School • West Long Branch
St. Leo the Great School • Lincroft St. Mary School • Middletown St. Rose School • Belmar St. Rose of Lima School • Freehold Red Bank Catholic High School • Red Bank St. John Vianney High School • Holmdel St. Rose High School • Belmar
OCEAN COUNTY
St. Joseph School • Toms River St. Dominic School • Brick St. Mary Academy • Manahawkin St. Peter School • Pt. Pleasant Beach Donovan Catholic High School • Toms River
HAVE it ALL!
FA I T H • A C A D E M I C E XC E L L E N C E • AT H L E T I C S • S E R V I C E • C O M M U N I T Y
REACH OUT to the Catholic school near you to learn more… GO TO dioceseoftrenton.org/schoolfinder OR CatholicSchoolsHaveItAll.org
August 2020 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 39
Back to School
COVID challenges Continued from 36
Academy’s virtual instruction solution will be “simple but effective. Teachers will use a Chromebook with the camera focused on the board, and virtual students can sign in to view class.” Chromebooks have been assigned to grades five through eight for years, Briggs continued. “Third and fourth grade will have Chromebooks that will remain at school unless we go to full remote instruction.” Devices for younger grades will be on loan from the school on an as-needed basis. St. Jerome School has been at the forefront of tech updating since the pandemic began. “With the support of the entire St. Jerome community, we have been able to outfit each classroom with a camera and large screen television to allow students to attend school in person or virtually,” Sister Elizabeth said. “We have also created a oneto-one device program, which will enable
us to hold class in real time and, using Microsoft teams, interact with each other as if we are all in the classroom.” TRANSPORTATION ISSUES For most school districts, busing has not yet been decided for public school students, which has left nonpublic schools awaiting word on availability. Contributing to the challenge of finding busing companies willing to take Catholic school student routes – with already fewer students in a wider-spread area – are the distancing protocols required by the pandemic. “A school bus accommodates 40 kids,” which must be reduced by half to keep children spaced apart, Tier pointed out. “If there are only 20 kids now scheduled on the route, there need to be multiple routes. Masks are a possible solution, but it depends on what each district is deciding; they are still figuring it out.” As in non-COVID-19 years, state aid in lieu of transportation will go to families on behalf of each student who is unable to be accommodated with a bus seat, in accor-
dance with the money allocated for nonpublic school transportation in Gov. Murphy’s budget, which is due in September. Monmouth and Ocean educational services sent a letter to school principals in Toms River, said Tier, indicating bus assignments “could be a rocky experience, and not to count on transportation … only 20 routes out of 300 have been bid on by bus companies. We think this could be a domino effect across the state.” Bidding on busing routes continued through July. TCA has learned that busing will be available from Hamilton, but will need to look to courtesy busing – wherein parents pool resources to pay for a private bus – that has supplemented busing for students in Trenton, Ewing and Burlington in prior years. Transportation is still an evolving situation for Donovan Catholic as well. “We still have not received a definitive answer from the district,” said Dr. Gere. “It’s in transition. We do have some of our own buses, and those will continue – but it doesn’t cover all students. Having buses is expensive, and bus drivers are hard to come by.”
NO SAT! NO ACT! NO APPLICATION FEE!
GEORGIAN COURT IS TEST OPTIONAL* It doesn’t get much easier than this. The college search process is stressful enough without a pandemic, so we’ve streamlined our admissions process. A completed application and official high school transcript are all you need! Letters of recommendation and an essay are optional. Apply via the common application or at georgian.edu/apply. You’ve got this! Questions? Call 732-987-2700 *Nursing, international, athletic, and homeschool students excluded
Georgian Court University does not discriminate in its recruitment and admission of students, regardless of gender, race, creed, color, religion, age, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
40 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2020