Schools COVID-19 Cases Merit Quarantines and Shifts to Online Learning; Soccer Program Reopens

There are two new COVID-19 situations, and two updates in cases announced earlier this week from schools within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.  School administrators continue to follow policies and protocols which include immediate reporting of the cases to appropriate health agencies. With an abundance of caution and a focus on keeping school communities safe, actions are taken based on medical guidance as offered through those health agencies.

• A first grade class at Butler Catholic Elementary School will participate in virtual learning after a person associated with the class tested positive for COVID-19. Following all health and safety protocols, the school principal, Sister John Ann Mulhern, reported the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and immediately notified school families.
• The girls’ soccer team at St. James School in Sewickley is temporarily shut down and members of the team will quarantine and shift to online learning after exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.  No school building closure is warranted based on guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department.
• Following health and safety protocols after a third person reported a positive COVID-19 test result, St. Louise De Marillac Catholic School in Upper Saint Clair will close, and students will learn online until November 2, 2020.
• Based on updated direction from the Allegheny County Health Department, the boys’ soccer program at North Catholic High School will be back at school Monday, October 26, and able to resume practices and matches effective immediately. All 27 people involved with the North Catholic Varsity Boys Soccer Team had begun quarantine based on original guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department upon being notified that the team was potentially exposed to COVID-19 in a recent match.

“At the diocesan level, we continue to support our schools on an individual basis, and I’m very proud of the way our administrators, teachers, and school families continue to rise to meet the challenges associated with keeping everyone safe while providing the quality instruction our families expect.  We have seven high schools and 32 elementary schools throughout five counties within the diocese. These are the challenges we anticipated and prepared for all summer long. Our focus remains the safety of our school families,” said Michelle Peduto, Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.