(Posted 1/11/2022)
January 11, 2022
Dear Frassati Families,
The past week has brought an increase in cases and exposures of COVID-19 to our school community. We have continued our mitigation strategies that worked well during the 2020-2021 school year and through the fall of 2021. However, despite these strategies, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has greatly increased since our return from Christmas break.
Today, we have 40 students and 5 staff absent: 17 students and 5 teachers with confirmed COVID-19, 15 students with COVID-19 symptoms, and 8 students who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case from outside the Frassati community.
We know that children learn best in-person, which is the reason the Frassati community (parents and staff) has worked together to keep the doors open. However, the rapidly increasing number of cases present two immediate challenges to the practicality of in-person learning. First, we do not want the school to be a “super-spreader”, exposing students and staff to the virus. Second, the number of sick teachers and the lack of available substitutes make it increasingly difficult to staff the school safely.
Based on the above, I have decided to close the school building and move to distance learning for all grades beginning tomorrow, January 12, 2022, until at least Tuesday, January 18, 2022. (Monday, January 17, 2022 is Martin Luther King Day, a scheduled holiday on the school calendar.) Tomorrow, January 12, will be a transition day and each teacher will decide whether to give their students an assignment. Later tomorrow, each teacher will send the Distance Learning schedule and expectations via Sycamore. Teachers will be taking attendance, so please contact the office if your child(ren) will be absent.
Please contact the office with any confirmed COVID-19 case, so we can make an informed decision on returning to in-person learning on January 18, 2022.
I recognize the inconvenience caused by this interruption to in-person learning. However, the health and well-being of the students and staff is my first concern. I implore everyone to follow the COVID-19 protocols, monitor the health of all family members, and stay home if you have any cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms.
We pray through the intercession of our patron, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, that our students and staff will be safe and that those who are sick will have a speedy and full recovery.
In Christ,
Mr. Gallivan
patrick.gallivan@frassatiwbl.org
(Posted 10/18/2021)
October 15, 2021
TO: Frassati Parents and Staff
FR: Patrick Gallivan, Principal
RE: Face Covering Policy
I am writing to update you on the Frassati Face Covering Policy, as promised in my letter to you dated August 30, 2021.
My most important obligation during the COVID-19 pandemic is to keep our children safe, in school, and learning. I continue to be guided in this process by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), and the Ramsey County Public Health Department.
Each of these agencies continue to strongly recommend face coverings for all staff, students, and visitors in K-12 schools. Based on these recommendations, I have decided to maintain our current face covering policy. All staff, K-8 students, and visitors at Frassati Catholic Academy, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a face covering while on campus, at Mass, and on district transportation. Students will not be required to wear face coverings when at lunch, recess and physical education class. Preschool students will continue to be required to wear face coverings only when entering and leaving the building or while in common places, such as hallways. This policy will continue to be evaluated and any change will be communicated in writing to our entire school community.
As I mentioned in my earlier letter, students and staff members who wear their masks correctly and have a close contact exposure with a person who has a confirmed case of the virus will not be required to quarantine. Only the student or staff member with a positive lab confirmed case will be required to quarantine for the required time.
I recognize that some of our mitigation strategies, including the face covering policy, are inconvenient. However, these strategies proved very successful last year and they have continued to work well in the first seven weeks of this new school year. I am grateful for your support and cooperation as we work together for the good of our children.
During this coming week away from in-person learning, I pray that you and your family will find time for rest and relaxation. I strongly encourage all families, especially those traveling by airplane, to follow mitigation procedures. The best way to keep our children in person is to remain vigilant. Please keep your child at home and get them tested if the child, or anyone in the home, shows symptoms of the virus or has been exposed to a confirmed case.
I wish you a blessed and peaceful break.
Patrick Gallivan
patrick.gallivan@frassatiwbl.org
(Posted 8/31/2021)
TO: Frassati Parents and Staff
FR: Patrick Gallivan, Principal
RE: Face Covering Policy
I am writing to announce the Frassati policy regarding face coverings as we begin the 2021-2022 school year. I have been in conversation with parents on this issue over the past few months. Many favor a policy that recommends face coverings, but allows parents to make the decision for their children. Other parents request that we continue our mandatory face covering policy from last year.
My first and most important obligation as principal is to ensure the safety of our students, staff and visitors at Frassati. In order to fulfill that obligation, especially during this pandemic, I have been guided by the recommendations for schools offered by The Centers for Disease Control, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the Ramsey County Public Health Department.
Given that COVID19 continues to present a health threat to our community, each of these agencies strongly recommends that face coverings be worn in school settings by teachers, students, and visitors in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.[1]
Based on the recommendation of these agencies, and after consultation with the Frassati Board of Directors and a number of our teachers and staff members, I have decided to implement the following policy at Frassati: Frassati Catholic Academy will require face coverings for students, staff and visitors (regardless of vaccination status) through October 15, 2021. All K-8 students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear face coverings on district transportation, when entering and leaving the school building, and in the classrooms. Students will not be required to wear face coverings at lunch, recess, and physical education class. Preschool students will only be required to wear face masks when entering and leaving the building. As we approach October 15, we will evaluate this policy in light of the existing state of infection rates in the surrounding communities[2] and our school community, and the recommendations of local, state and national agencies.
An important factor in adopting this policy is the updated close contact definition, which now provides that students in an indoor classroom are excluded from quarantine when both the case and close contact were wearing a well-fitting mask. Only students with a positive lab confirmed test will be required to quarantine for 10 days from the date of the onset of symptoms. All other classmates will be allowed to attend school. Though face coverings are an inconvenience, they increase the likelihood that more students will enjoy in-person learning, which is so important for each child’s education.
In 2020-21, the vigilance of our staff, students and families in following the mitigation strategies, including mandatory face coverings, allowed Frassati to remain open for the entire school year for in-person learning. I ask for your support and cooperation in following our mitigation strategies for this new year, including the face covering policy, so that our school remains open for in-person learning and our students and staff stay healthy.
[1] White Bear Lake Area Schools has adopted a mandatory mask policy for students two years of age and older.
[2] For example, Ramsey County advised that it is using the 7-day rolling case rate as a basis for the mask recommendation and will reevaluate the mask recommendation once the rate falls to 50/100,000 for seven consecutive weeks. As of today, the rate in Ramsey County is 125/100,000 and rising (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view).
(Posted 5/22/21)
FCA 2021-22 Transportation/School Start Time Survey
Families registered for the 2021-2022 school year are asked to complete the following survey by Friday, June 25 at noon: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5W989K
Thank you!
(Posted 5/21/21)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 11/30/20)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 11/19/20)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 11/13/20)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan & Fr. Talbot to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 11/10/20)
Refer to our COVID-19 Quick Reference Guide if you are questioning whether your child should attend school or stay at home. View HERE
(Posted 10/27/20)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan & Fr. Talbot to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 10/13/20)
COVID-19 update from Mr. Gallivan to FCA families. View HERE
(Posted 9/22/20)
As we move through this ever-changing situation, we will be relying on the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC for updated information and screening tools. The “COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools, Youth and Child Care Programs.” VIEW HERE It is a great tool for discerning when students should attend school and when further evaluation should be considered.
(Posted 9/10/20)
Lunch Change
Q&A:
Do I need to order hot lunch ahead of time? No, your child can order their lunch when they arrive in their homeroom each day.
How will I monitor what my child is eating at school? Students will still use Sycamore for lunch each day. You will be able to track when they take hot lunch on your family Sycamore account. You will not be charged during this time period.
When does this new program begin? September 9, 2020 – If your child took lunch yesterday, there was a charge for that purchase.
(Posted 9/4/20)
View Frassati Catholic Academy’s COVID-19 Policy HERE.
(Posted 8/26/20)
Transportation & School Hours Starting September 8, 2020
Monday – Thursday: Frassati School Hours 7:35 AM – 3:05 PM. Busing is available for WBLAS families if you have completed the non-public form. (Click here to access.)
Fridays: Frassati School Hours 7:35 AM – 2:10 PM. No busing is available. All Fridays will be parent drive days.
Please contact the school office with questions.
(Posted 8/25/20)
Good Morning Frassati Families,
(Posted 8/11/20)
Frassati Catholic Academy Fall School Update to Families 8/10: VIEW HERE
