Return to School 2nd Semester

December 30, 2021 Saint Joseph Academy community, We hope this finds you doing well and having had a blessed Christmas break so far. Due to the number of emerging cases of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, we wanted to pass along some important updates regarding our plans to resume classes on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

At this time, per the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville Catholic Schools Office, all catholic schools will be resuming in-person instruction as scheduled in January. As we have for the past 20+ months, we are confident in our abilities to keep our students and school community safe during the ongoing COVID-19 situation. We ask for your continued assistance in these efforts.

As we return to school next week, please note the following: - Masks are to be worn at all times during the school day, except during lunch.

- For those attending after school activities and sports, masks are required on campus when indoors, including Memorial Gym. - Table sizes will be reduced during lunch for the 7th-9th graders that eat in the Student Center.

- All classrooms, academic spaces, and athletic facilities will be thoroughly cleaned each day.

As a reminder, our Return to School Plan states: - Any student, faculty, or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.

- If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, individuals that have not been vaccinated will be required to quarantine for 10 days. Those that have been vaccinated are not required to quarantine, but are asked to get tested in the next 3-5 days.

If a member of the school community begins experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home and consult with a health care provider. Anyone who experiences any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) should quarantine and seek medical attention. Symptoms of COVID-19 include: - Fever of 100.4 or higher - Shortness of Breath - Cough - Fatigue - Headache - Loss of taste or smell - Sore Throat - Unexplained body aches If you test positive for COVID-19, please notify SJA immediately, by calling (956) 542-3581. Know that the health and safety of our students and faculty/staff is a top priority. If you have any questions or need more information on this matter, please contact us.

Blessings on the new year, SJA Administration