7/22/2020

Dear Parents and Students of Santa Cruz Catholic School,
We find ourselves in a unique time. My first letter to you as the new administrator of Santa Cruz Catholic Church and School carries with it an important decision about our future academic year. We have diligently poured over your responses and assessed the data from Civil and Diocesan officials. Thank you for your feedback, guidance, and patience.

We believe that the class sizes at Santa Cruz Catholic School puts us in a strong position to open for in-person instruction with heavily regulated health and physical distancing protocols. We understand that joining us in person is a prudential decision that each parent has to make. Therefore, in addition to on-campus instruction, our staff has been working to increase our capacity and efficiency for synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction is when your child logs on in real time to be part of his/her class as the teacher is presenting the material.

Santa Cruz’s opening plan will be as follows: • Parents may choose if they would like in-person or synchronous instruction for their child. As parents, you will have three weeks from the start of school to finalize your decision which will remain for the rest of the semester. School will begin on August 17th with the following:
• Classes will begin with the option for in-person or synchronous instruction for Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade.
• Classes will begin with on-line instruction for students in grades 5th-8th for the first week.
Beginning August 24 synchronous and in-person classes will be offered.

This cautious rollout will allow us the time and attention to ensure our youngest children feel comfortable with the health precautions. Parents of Pre-Kindegarten-2nd graders will be invited to walk with their child in the new campus environment beforehand, in scheduled blocks, to familiarize themselves with the new safety protocol and to meet their teachers.
As we announce this, staff and parents are contributing to a detailed reopening plan. In this plan, the particular details of sanitizing, logistics, instruction, and communication will be outlined. This plan will be forwarded to you the first week in August.
Prudence dictates that we act responsibly with care and concern for the health and wellbeing of both students and staff. We do not do this alone. Relying on the help of God, we turn to Him in faith and hope. Working to act responsibly and carefully, together we can provide the best education in the optimal environment so that our children will thrive in the years to come. Forming the minds and hearts of our children is an essential responsibility that carries with it many important decisions that coincide with this endeavor. Thank you for your partnership.

Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Jesse P. Martinez