Archdiocese updates COVID-19 policy for safe, new school year
The Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Newark has formally announced the COVID-19 safety protocol for the 2021-2022 school year, which begins on Sept. 8, 2021, covering 74 elementary and high schools in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.
Officials of the Archdiocese emphasize the safety of their students as one of their top priorities, as well as their mission to provide academic excellence guided by Catholic values. Their goal is to keep students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible, and to keep its elementary and high schools open for in-person learning with minimal disruptions.
The Archdiocese’s policies comply with all public health mandates. As per New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 251, universal indoor use of face masks is required for all Archdiocesan Catholic school students, faculty, staff and visitors while on school premises. There is no exemption for universal mask use based on vaccination status.
Following the Governor’s Executive Order 253, starting on October 18, 2021, all full- and part-time school workers, including administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo ongoing testing until fully vaccinated.
School administrators will continue to implement safety practices including social distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and proper quarantining in alignment with CDC guidelines and recommendations. Daily cleaning and sanitizing of school facilities and high-touch surfaces, as well as improved ventilation, will continue to be practiced.
Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to monitor their children daily for signs of illness every day, and schools will continue to follow screening and self-reporting tools used in the prior school year. Those who are ill, exposed to an infected person, or experiencing illness symptoms should remain at home.
The Archdiocesan Catholic schools followed similar protocols during the past academic year, offering five days of in-person and virtual instruction in adherence to strict safety guidelines.
Based on evolving state and federal guidance, the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Schools will continue to monitor the ongoing pandemic and related circumstances and adapt safety practices as required.
To learn more about Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Newark, visit www.catholicschoolsnj.org.
Featured image: (CNS photo/Rick Musacchio, Tennessee Register)
