FORT ATKINSON — While headlines and social media chatter make many mentions of the Dane County order limiting most public and private education to virtual learning, along with the lawsuits in-progress to attempt to get that order overturned, many schools in the Diocese of Madison have opened their doors for in-person instruction this school year and have done so safely.
Working together
One example is St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson, in Jefferson County, east of Dane County.
Its first day of school was on August 24.
Since June, the reopening committee met each week to follow the CDC and Jefferson County Health Department recommendations to make sure the school could open safely for students and staff.
Principal Kari Homb said that, “At the beginning of the day, students are dropped off in a staggered approach as parents drive up . . . [Then] students are temperature/ health checked before they leave their vehicle.”
Students in different grade levels enter through different sets of doors.
In addition to students wearing facemasks and following social distancing, school staff is sanitizing high contact areas between transitional periods.
Homb added that, “Our head custodian has also created a cleaning schedule to keep the building clean and sanitized.”
Handwashing breaks have been incorporated into the classroom, and “we are also holding classes outside as much as possible in a safe manner so students can be physically distanced and get lots of fresh air,” said Homb.
“The protocols are working at this time,” Homb explained and called it a “blessing” to work with the school staff.
“We are a faith filled team. Our goal is to keep our students and staff safe, healthy, and engaged.”
She added that, “It is so important for us to have face to face classes . . . [it] allows for real, genuine teaching with highly qualified teachers that are a blessing to each one of us . . . The safe interactions we have in place have created smiles (even under their face coverings), lots of laughter, and friendships.
Homb added that St. Joseph School is “stronger because we are together.”
“Our motto is Where Faith and Knowledge Meet. Our Parish Motto is On Fire! Living our Faith Together.”
Taking safety measures
Another example of a safe opening was at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Beloit, in Rock County, south of Dane County.
The school opened for classes on August 26 for a half day.
According to Principal Trevor Seivert, the school changed its policy and procedures for lunches, recess, physical education classes and middle school arrival and dismissal to ensure proper handwashing, wearing facemasks, and social distancing.
“We created a policy based on the CDC’s guidelines for all classes and procedures,” Seivert said.
“We have been in close communication with the diocese along with our county health department and have been assigned contacts with them. We have weekly Zoom meetings to see where we are at as a county and what measures we need to take.”
Seivert said the measures have been “so far, so good” and noted that some of the only “hiccups” so far were involving the updated arrival and dismissal times.
“Students learn better when they’re in person,” Seivert said.
“The social interactions, being with grade level peers and again with their teachers is so important. We don’t just teach subjects, we teach God’s children, and like all people, we respond better when we’re able to be social.”