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2020 - 2021 Dr. Melanie B. Palmisano, Superintendent
The Corona Virus pandemic has certainly challenged all of us since March 13, 2020 when the State of Louisiana ordered that everyone stay home to help control the spread of disease. Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge continued to provide online learning support from the first day that buildings were closed and finished the school year strong, maintaining rigorous learning standards and providing remote support and encouragement to families. We are so proud of our teachers and principals for their great work!
At the end of the school year students, parents, faculty members and administrators provided anecdotal stories about the experience of continuing to learn from home. Videos of these testimonies are posted on school websites and on the Catholic Schools Office website (www.csobr.org). The recurring theme for the videos is Catholic Schools … Always Learning and Learning In All Ways! Even though students were not on campus, they felt connected to their schools and supported by their teachers as they utilized technology for lessons. Connections were made through the livestreaming of teacher presentations, coaching via email, collaboration through Google classrooms, and communication through old fashioned phone calls. Catholic school educators demonstrated great resolve in continuing their ministry, astonishing flexibility in delivering lessons online, and steadfast resilience to accomplish the mission of completing the school year with integrity.
As we approach the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, we are mindful of the need to return in a way that connects students to each other and to their teachers. Schools currently face the challenge of reopening buildings within health and safety guidelines. Principals did not get much of a summer break this year because they were constantly monitoring updates about COVID-19 in their areas, and committees at each school site met virtually to discuss details about reopening. Each school was afforded the opportunity to consult with a team from Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center to identify best practices to safeguard students, faculty and staff as the new school year begins.
What we know to be true is that students miss going to school, seeing their friends, and connecting with faculty members who provide relational support for learning. Catholic schools educate the whole child - Evangelizing Hearts, Educating Minds, and Encouraging Talent. Now we know that we can fulfill that mission in a variety of ways in addition to traditional attendance at school. Catholic schools help students learn In All Ways!
Dr. Melanie B. Verges
Superintendent
July 8, 2020
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.