Welcome to the new school year 2020-2021! We are very excited to share with you the schedule for the first week of school August 18 - August 21 and the first day of distance learning August 24 as well as the Distance Learning Program. The following are some important details to help you plan for the first week. Each grade is assigned a specific day to limit the foot traffic on campus. Your student will take their school photo (Interstate Studios will be sending an order link), pick up the individualized device, meet the teachers, pick up textbooks and test their device. If you are unable to attend your designated day, please contact the school office. We will be open Thursday, August 20, 3pm-7pm or Saturday, August 22, 9am-1pm by appointment. Pick up will be held in the Dominican Hall. We will comply with the health and safety guidelines of physical distance and face covering. If you are sick, please contact the office to make other arrangements. Your homeroom teacher will be sending a welcome letter and invitation to Google Classroom on Monday, August 17.
Dear Holy Rosary Families, I want to share the structured distance learning plan that we have laid out for the 2020-2021 school year. Once school adjourned this summer, we began to prepare formalized plans for two tracks of educational delivery- a) modified, in-school learning which abides by the state and diocese mandated rules for physical distancing and b) at-home distance learning which improves upon the knowledge we have acquired from the sudden shift to distance learning in spring. Given the constant warning from experts that precautions for public health safety would continue to be enforced, proceeding with plans for both these tracks was necessary. The possibility of having to apply either approach at some point in the new school year was highly likely. In mid-summer, as California moved into the phased reopening, the work to prepare for in-person schooling inched ahead as our priority track to mobilize. However, since Governor Newsom issued the order for high COVID case counties to start the 2020-2021 with distance learning, we have quickly pivoted to focus more on this track of educational delivery. Holy Rosary School falls under this distance learning requirement for Contra Costa County throughout trimester 1. As county guidelines are updated, we will work with the Department of Catholic Schools and the Contra Costa County health department to re-evaluate the health and safety plan for a return to in-school learning. We are working very hard to flesh out all the details so that we can deliver the best possible distance learning experience, but it is important to share our progress and plans in these 3 broad areas now. Enablement of Technology Equity Uniformity of Administration Modifications for Virtual Classes We are looking forward to working closely with you next year to provide a solid distance learning program for Holy Rosary School. Our school has always had a strong relationship with its families and takes pride in its school community. During this time, the support will make even more of a difference. As we continue to re-envision the entire school experience, I anticipate that we will also benefit from the help of parent volunteers in a new way. I welcome any talents that you can offer to the school and your feedback. Our distance learning program serves an immediate need. However, we absolutely intend to continue to leverage all our hard work so that it continues to benefit our students in the future. The foundation is laid for enabling students to learn from home when needed. In the coming weeks, I will continue to communicate more about our progress and readiness for the new school year. To read more, please follow here: Distance Learning Program Outline 2020-2021 In Partnership, Mrs. Fely Fajardo Principal