November 26, 2020
Dear Parents, Principals, Teachers and Supporters of Catholic Schools,
I hope that everyone enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving. Truly, we have numerous blessings for which to give thanks. I am particularly grateful that our Catholic schools have been operating in-person this fall and that they have been able to provide children with a safe, faith filled, educational experience that honors and develops their intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and emotional traits by cultivating human relationships through in-person education. I am thankful that our students have experienced this aspect of “normal” life in the midst of a most abnormal year.
This critical experience for our children would not be possible without the humble, selfless, and heroic efforts of our teachers and principals. Their willingness to confront uncertainty, solve problems, innovate and embrace new ways for schools to operate has been key to keeping our schools open and operating in-person.
They have willingly undertaken many additional duties including constant cleaning and sanitizing, distancing, masking, handwashing, contact tracing, teaching online, changing schedules and countless other changes imposed by COVID protocols.
In addition to implementing these protocols, teachers have willingly embraced the challenging task of teaching students in the classroom while at the same time livestreaming their class on the internet so that students who are sick or quarantined at home don’t fall behind academically and still are included as part of the class.
This requires hours of extra preparation and follow-up with online students after school or during evenings. Additionally, they have also stepped up to help address the substitute teacher shortage affecting schools statewide. Teachers and principals routinely give up their lunch breaks and preps to substitute in other classes.
Our teachers and principals have acted heroically in this crisis, going far above and beyond the call of duty, so children’s can still have a Catholic education that nurtures them in mind and spirit in the most natural and effective way possible, through face-to-face, in-person, human interaction.
I am so thankful to our teachers and principals whose selfless dedication and professionalism impels them to go the extra mile to keep our schools safe and open.
Their efforts have ensured that we have not had a single case of COVID transmission in any school this year. They also make a critical difference to our children, keeping them safe and nurturing them socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually, providing crucial stability in an uncertain world.
Finally, although some of our schools have had to move to online learning due to high numbers of students out on quarantine, none of our schools would still be open if it were not for the efforts of our students’ parents who follow health department recommendations for keeping children home. Although this is often an inconvenience for parents, it limits any potential exposure to the virus in the schools, keeping the number of absent students low, allowing schools to stay open.
This cooperation ensures that even if a school must move online temporarily, it will definitely resume in-person classes. We know that in-person learning is best for students, and we are committed to making that happen. Despite this commitment, we cannot do this alone. It takes parents and schools working together to keep our schools open. Thank you to parents for trusting us with your children and for working with your school to confront the virus.
There is indeed much to be thankful for, and I am confident that through our continued prayers, faith, hope and cooperative efforts, we will continue to provide the best education possible for our students, in-person.
Thank you to all the teachers, principals and parents who are dedicated to the support and success of our Catholic schools. The positive difference this makes now for our children will remain with them for years to come.
Most Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Michael J. Lancaster, Ed.S.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Madison