Precautions for the COVID-19 Coronavirus & School Closure

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Precautions for the COVID-19 Coronavirus & School Closure

⚠️ UPDATE: Newer information and changes have superseded this announcement. Please see the latest information, dates, and resources on our Coronavirus Information & Resources Page.

March 13, 2020

Good afternoon,

Over the course of the past several days, the Archdiocese of Boston and Cathedral High School have been monitoring all available information regarding the coronavirus, and have closely followed the guidance and input from the Governor, our local health partners and the Center for Disease Control. Given this information, and in an effort to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19, the Archdiocese of Boston has made the difficult decision to close Cathedral beginning on March 16th and currently lasting through March 30th.

We know and understand that the closing of school, its associated activities and planned events is extremely disappointing and disruptive to your daily routines in many ways. However, we make this decision placing the health and safety of the entire Cathedral community as our number one priority. We also understand that the entire Boston, and indeed global community must do their part to contain the spread of the coronavirus. We encourage all Cathedral community members to continue to follow the guidelines put forth by medical professionals around good hygiene, monitoring their own health symptoms and avoiding large gatherings.

Should any Cathedral student need a lunch during school closure, we ask that an email be sent to meals@cathedralhighschool.net with the student’s name, and the dates during closing that they are requesting a lunch. A carry-out meal will be available for those students beginning Monday, March 16th, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and can be picked up at the entrance to the Applied Learning Center only. Please note that we will only have enough meals for Cathedral students who send an email and we will monitor the effectiveness of this system.

We plan to provide various updates next week, including a modified academic plan for students, so please do stay tuned to your email and our website. We will also monitor and follow all updates from the Archdiocese of Boston and notify you immediately of any changes, including any adjustments to the length of our closing. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this concerning time and will keep all those effected by COVID-19 in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Dan Carmody
Head of School

Frequently Asked Questions

What more can we do?

Per CDC recommendations, that most important thing we can do is continue good hygiene practices, including and most importantly the frequent washing of hands. It is critical that any member of the community who feels ill during school immediately see the school nurse. If feeling ill at home, a doctor must be called and protocols should be followed set forth by the doctor. Faculty/staff should direct any student who feels ill to do the same.

How will we communicate any updates to our students and families?

We will place an update on our website, send phone and text messages through IRIS, and send emails through Blackbaud.

What will the academic program look like if we have a prolonged closing?

Any academic program offered must be accessible to all Cathedral students. Teachers have been asked to prepare coursework that can be delivered either via email or via the Blackbaud system. Results of a homeroom survey determining internet accessibility and computer access will determine the extent of the academic program offered. Appropriate modifications will be made. All departments have been asked to communicate their anticipated plan to the Director of Teaching and Learning.