FAQs: Chesterton Academy in Fall 2020 Amid COVID Limitations

By Peter Ohotnicky, Headmaster

Last Updated August 17, 2020

“I would rather die of the plague than die of toil and vexation in order to avoid the plague.”  --G. K. Chesterton

Following the wisdom of our patron, we hope the following questions and answers express the common sense of how Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Guadalupe will operate if not prohibited from doing so by executive orders or other government directives which limit the freedom of the school leadership to exercise their judgment.  These FAQ also assume that there is no significant change regarding the impact of COVID and the recommended public health measures. If our region of the state is in “Phase 5” of the “MI Safe Start” plan, all aspects of the “MI Safe Schools” directive become “Recommended” and we will be able to operate in accordance with these FAQs. This guidance will be updated in greater detail following a final COVID plan review by our Board of Directors in early August.

Q: Will Chesterton Academy have live in-person classes in the fall?

A: Yes, Chesterton Academy intends to have live in-person classes in the fall, and all students will be able to come to school with their teachers live in class every day.  Many schools are developing or have announced plans which only allow students to come to school every other day, with remote online class participation on the “off” days; that will not be necessary here.  We have a small student population in a large, spacious facility.  Research shows COVID has much less impact on high school-aged people.  Our faculty, staff, and enrolled students include no high-risk individuals.  Therefore, we believe it reasonable to open our school to live in-person classes this fall with some reasonable safety precautions.  We will be limiting enrollment to ensure we do not compromise our educational mission or take on excessive risk.

Q: Are all your teachers still committed to teaching in the school?

A: Yes!  Although many Michigan teachers are considering leaving the profession this fall, all our teachers have recently confirmed they are as eager as ever to teach at Chesterton Academy.  Parents do not have to worry about the quality of instruction in our school: every teacher at Chesterton Academy is a faithful, committed Catholic with academic credentials and multiple years of experience teaching in each of their subject areas.

Q: Will the school still be able to have daily Holy Mass?

A: Yes.  We still intend to participate at daily Holy Mass at San Francesco Catholic Church at 8 a.m. to begin our school day.  However, because San Francesco’s daily Holy Mass is attended by those at higher risk for being severely impacted by COVID, students and faculty will need to carefully observe social distancing and wear masks at Holy Mass.  This is a charitable sacrifice to make for these individuals who are so graciously inviting our school to celebrate the Eucharist with them.  More common sense.

Q: Will students be screened for COVID symptoms when coming to school?

A: Yes. We think it is best, for several reasons, for parents to have the responsibility to confirm their student is not experiencing any COVID symptoms before coming to school.  Parents will complete and initial a slip to document the check, which the student brings to school to be reviewed and filed with school records.  Teachers will also have to document that they are not experiencing COVID symptoms.

Q: Will students have to observe social distancing?

A: Yes, in general. Because we are a small school in a large building with large classrooms, we can very easily accommodate social distancing in our classrooms and during lunch.  Having students spread out will have little impact on the learning environment.  There are other times when social distancing will be more difficult, such as between classes or during bathroom use, but we will seek to minimize classroom changes and encourage students to observe social distancing to a reasonable extent.

Q: Will students have to wear masks?

A: Once we are in Phase 5, masks will be optional.  We see masks as having clear negative impacts to the learning environment.  For example, they make it difficult for teachers and students to see each other’s facial expressions.  Because students are already spread in the classroom to mitigate any transmission risk, and we have a low-risk population overall, we don’t think the use of masks in the classroom justifies their negative impact on learning.  It may be necessary to use masks in between classes if social distancing is difficult, and wearing them during the short carpool trip between San Francesco and the school seems prudent.

Since it appears we will still be in Phase 4 during the start of school, Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order requires masks for grades 6-12, regardless if social distancing can be observed or not. However, “any student who cannot medically tolerate a facial covering must not wear one” according to Executive Order 2020-142. Parents who wish to file a medical exception to the facemask mandate will be permitted to do so.

Q: What will you do if someone tests positive?  Will the school shut down?

A: First of all, it’s important to recognize that this situation—and the disruption to the learning it will cause—is less likely in our small school since fewer people are in the building.  As is the normal procedure, sick students and teachers will be sent home.  If we have a student or faculty member who tests positive for COVID, we will protect that individual’s confidentiality.  We will support the contact tracing efforts of public health officials and thoroughly disinfect the building.  The individual can return to school when cleared by a doctor. Students, if they are well enough, will be able to participate in their classes remotely via an online platform.  Teachers, if they are well enough, can lead their classes remotely (live webcast projection into the classroom), or we may have other faculty fill in for the colleague, or some combination of both. We will not shut down the school.

Q: What if there is an outbreak in the school or in the local area?

A: Under such circumstances, either the Board of Directors or government officials may direct the school to stop having in-person classes.  In such cases, we will switch to online learning, like other Chesterton Academies did in the spring.  While the learning was not ideal, the other schools in our network transitioned quite effectively to this environment.

Q: What about sports?

A: We are still hoping to have girls volleyball and perhaps boys cross country in the fall.  The Michigan High School Athletic Association is providing guidance to coaches and schools on their website.  The guidance is frequently updated, complex, and varied, based on the sport and region of the state.  Chesterton Academy will allow individual coaches to implement this guidance as they see fit, subject to review and approval by the Headmaster.

Q: How do I know my student will be safe from COVID at Chesterton Academy?

A: Extreme isolation or chemical warfare gear are probably the only ways to avoid all risk of COVID.  Short of that, a student will certainly be safer at Chesterton Academy than at a large public high school with hundreds or thousands of teenagers.  The reasonable, common sense measures we plan to implement will further reduce risk and will be easier to implement in our setting.   

We hope you will join other families who are right now enrolling their children in Chesterton Academy.  While the physical safety of children is certainly a very important consideration, our top priority is the salvation of souls and joyfully educating the minds, hearts, and souls of our students with wisdom and virtue for this life and eternal bliss in the next.