COVID-19
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Please read the statement below about the mask use policy in the schools of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
Updated COVID Health and Safety Guidelines for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Fort Worth from the Office of Bishop Michael Olson - 8/10/21"While we encourage the wearing of masks, especially for those who are unvaccinated or without natural immunity, we leave that decision to the discretion of our employees and Catholic school parents. The wearing of masks is optional for all students, faculty, and staff at this time. We ask parents to be mindful and respectful of the potential that the decisions they make regarding their children may impact other children." Bishop Olson
CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools - Updated 8/5/21
- Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.
- Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.
- Due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
- In addition to universal indoor masking, CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as screening testing.
- Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.
- Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care.
- Many schools serve children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time. Therefore, this guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies (e.g., using multiple prevention strategies together consistently) to protect students, teachers, staff, visitors, and other members of their households and support in-person learning.
We continue to pray for an end to the pandemic.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I wll uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
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