Diocese of Greensburg intends for students to return for in-person learning, announces safety plan

PITTSBURGH — The Diocese of Greensburg said they are preparing for students to return for in-person learning at their buildings at the start of the school year.

A school safety task has been working throughout the summer to develop a safe return plan for the schools.

It said the current plan is based on most recent information and will be updated accordingly for students at all 12 Catholic schools in the diocese.

According to a release, Policies for cleaning, sanitizing, social distancing, monitoring the health of the school community and other safeguards have been mandated by the Diocese of Greensburg for all of its Catholic schools. Highlights of the plan include:

• All students in all grades will be able to return to school on a full-time basis pending government mandates.
• Students will be able to take advantage of distance learning should the student or a family member become ill or exposed to COVID-19 or if the family believes it is unsafe for the student to return to the physical school location.
• The Office of Catholic Schools is working to secure clear tri-fold desk shields called “hygiene” barriers for students’ desks or tables to improve safety in the classroom.

“Our students will be able to engage in Catholic education either in person at a brick-and-mortar school or, if circumstances warrant, through distance education,” Dr. Maureen Marsteller, superintendent of Catholic schools said. “We recognize that some students may be apprehensive about returning to the brick- and-mortar school despite the efforts being taken to ensure a safe return for the school community. If this is the case, options for engaging in distance learning before transitioning back to on-site education may be discussed with a school administrator,”

The diocese said more details about procedures if someone is exposed to COVID-19 or has COVID-19 will be posted to the school’s websites in August.

Click here to read more on the health and safety plan from the diocese.

Here are the current starting dates for Catholic schools in Diocese of Greensburg:

Aquinas Academy, Greensburg, Aug. 20

Christ the Divine Teacher School, Latrobe, Aug. 31

Conn-Area Catholic School, Connellsville, Aug. 20

The Divine Redeemer School, Ford City, Sept. 1

Mary Queen of Apostles School, New Kensington, Aug. 24

Mother of Sorrows Catholic School, Murrysville, Aug. 24

Queen of Angels Catholic School, North Huntingdon, Sept. 1

St. Bernard Regional Catholic School, Indiana, Aug. 24

St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, Uniontown, Aug. 24

St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School, Aug. 20

Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Connellsville, Aug. 20

Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Aug. 20

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