LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to a letter sent to Catholic School families, the Archdiocese of Louisville is recommending that schools transition to distanced learning following Thanksgiving break due to a rise of COVID-19 cases in the area.
There has been a mixture of NTI learning, and in-person classes at Louisville area Catholic Schools since the beginning of the school year.
Superintendent Leisa Schulz communicated some recommendations to school leaders about holiday precautions in place based upon continued consultation with the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.
According to the letter, the Thanksgiving buffer recommendation was extended Friday from Monday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 18. Students may then return to in-person classes after the Christmas holiday break.
This expanded recommendation also includes a week of virtual instruction from Jan. 4-8.
Emily Gentry has a daughter who goes to John Paul II Academy and says with what 2020 has thrown thus far, this announcement was no surprise.
"It's been a wild ride so far honestly," Gentry said. "I'm okay with it, honestly I really am I'm okay with it."
Gentry's daughter started off the year doing NTI with JCPS, and since moving to Catholic school, she's been in the classroom.
"We love that she's able to go to school and be around her friends and her teachers and everything with in person learning but we have a son that has a health condition," Gentry said.
Gentry says her daughter has brought letters home from school explaining the upcoming change, and just in time for the holidays, she says it's actually easing her mind.
"I know that us personally we're having people over for Thanksgiving and we can't be too careful about where those people have been," Gentry said. "We don't want her to get sick, we don't want the other kids to get sick, we don't want their families to get sick."
This email was sent to parents explaining the superintendent's recommendations.
Due to increased cases in schools and in the community, they are suggesting virtual instruction begin Monday, November 23rd, and continue until January 9th.
"I feel really proud that we made the decision, to move over and that they're making the decision to take a stand and action against it to keep the kids and the teachers safe," Gentry said.
For parents like Emily, it was the right move to be able to have some much needed family time, and keep everyone safe.
"Families are going to get together, we've been doing this since march and we miss each other."
Schools will be in session next week, November 16-20.
The letter goes on to say, these recommendations do not represent a system-wide decision or mandate, and some schools may elect to follow a different approach.
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