Regarding Hurricane Sally

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are located in eight civil parishes and one separate educational authority.
 
With recent updates in the forecast for Hurricane Sally, it is anticipated that the storm will land more to the east than anticipated. 
 
Therefore, since the entire diocese will probably not be affected, the schedule for tomorrow (September 15) is listed below.
 
School principals will communicate directly with parents about the school’s schedule, activities, aftercare, bus service, etc.
 
We continue to pray for the safety of all during this hurricane season.
 

August 31, 2020

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are opening their doors to displaced students from dioceses affected by Hurricane Laura.  Students enrolled in one of the 17 Catholic elementary and high schools located in the Dioceses of Alexandria and Lake Charles may apply by contacting the Baton Rouge Catholic school directly.  General information about Catholic schools in the diocese can be found at www.csobr.org, and a list of Catholic schools can be found through the School Finder Page at https://www.csobr.org/schoolfinder.

While each school’s capacity to accept displaced students is different, especially because of reduced numbers in classrooms due to the pandemic, some schools have room for displaced students while still maintaining social distancing guidelines.  Some schools may require a two-week quarantine with virtual learning before the student can attend on-campus classes.  Interested parents should contact the school directly to find out the process for applying.

Displaced families will receive a reduced cost to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.  Instead of a registration fee, a small application processing fee may be required.  No other usual fees will be charged to displaced families.  Likewise, the cost of annual tuition will not be charged, and the monthly tuition cost will be set by each school.    

Government tuition funding may be available for displaced families through two avenues.  Students from an affected area who were attending Catholic schools through the State of Louisiana Scholarship Program may be able to temporarily transfer their scholarship status with state approval.  Additionally, displaced families may be able to receive FEMA funding to attend a Catholic school in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, by completing an application at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm seven days a week. The number for assistance with hearing and speech impaired applications is 1-800-462-7585 (TTY).  Displaced families can also apply for tuition assistance directly from the school if the family is not able to pay tuition. 

August 31, 2020

Prayer Gift Card Drive

As a Catholic school community, we continue to pray for everyone affected by Hurricane Laura. Many families have been displaced by the storm to our area, and they may remain here for the foreseeable future. 

The Diocese of Baton Rouge has established ways that anyone can help people affected by the storm:

• Click on the “Click Here to Give Now” or “Give Online” tabs on the diocesan website (www.diobr.org).  Catholic Charities (www.ccdiobr.org) will coordinate making these donations available to families in need.

• Parish churches are taking second collections this weekend (September 5-6) to assist victims of Hurricane Laura.

• Both Parish churches and Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge are collecting gift cards to Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and for gasoline etc. for families to use as they rebuild their lives.

Our Catholic school communities are also helping families in need through the Prayer Gift Card Drive for victims of Hurricane Laura.  Schools will collect prayers and gift cards for families in need or will raise funds for gift cards on campus through dress down days, spirit days and the like. Following the 2016 flood, many Catholic schools across the nation reached out to us this way, so schools in our diocese want to respond in kind.

The gift cards can be from Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. and for gasoline to help families with clothing, food and other supplies that are needed immediately while they are displaced.

Field workers for Catholic Charities will distribute Prayer Gift Cards to displaced families temporarily living in hotels at other sites across the diocese of Baton Rouge.  

Let us continue to pray for all affected and let our actions show that sometimes little things can make a world of difference.  Thank you for your continued support of Catholic education.

The schools of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

August 21, 2020

Elementary and Middle Schools Suspend Athletic Competition for Fall Semester

Catholic elementary and middle schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge have decided to suspend extra-curricular athletics for the fall semester. There are approximately 25 Catholic elementary and middle schools in the diocese whose levels of academic instruction and sports programs run through the eighth grade. The suspension applies to all school sports, such as football, boys and girls basketball and volleyball, as well as auxiliary sports like swimming, cross country and soccer. Not all schools compete in all fall sports, so the suspension will apply differently depending on each school's athletic program. The decision to suspend play resulted from a consensus on the part of the schools' principals in collaboration with the Catholic Schools Office.  Athletic competition at diocesan high schools is not affected by this decision. High school athletic programs are governed by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. 
 
The Catholic Schools Office issued the following statement in announcing its decision: 
 
Catholic elementary and middle schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge reopened in August with appropriate procedures in place to mitigate the chance of COVID-19 transmission on campus.  The health and safety of students and staff were of primary importance in the decision to reopen school buildings in service to students and families.  With that focus, it has been determined that extra-curricular athletics will not be held during the first semester of this school year.  With time, it is hoped that it will be possible to consider resuming sports programs in elementary and middle schools during the spring semester.  These are extraordinary times that have caused us to take this extraordinary action.  School leaders are grateful for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders as decisions are made to ensure safety of all. We share the disappointment of our students, their families, our faculties and staffs, and the communities in which our athletic teams have participated for decades. We all pray for a safe environment in the spring that will permit a return to spirited sports competition.
 

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