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Dear Marquette Academy Families,

I hope this email finds you and your family well. Needless to say Covid-19 has thrown many challenges our way, but I am confident in saying that the goal established by our faculty, staff and administration at the beginning of this pandemic remains true.  It is our goal at Marquette Academy to keep our students safe and healthy, engaged in quality learning, and provide a sense of normalcy and community during this difficult time.  We are continuing throughout the summer to prepare our building, faculty, and staff to properly welcome all of our students back to school 5 days a week. We will be ready on our first scheduled day of school. This will be  August 19th for all Grade School students and Freshman. All High School students will report on August 20th. Preschool will begin on August 24th.  We have developed a plan using the ISBE recommendations and the CDC guidelines as blue prints to create the best plan to support your child. 

Please know that it is our goal to hold ourselves to the highest standard of safety because your child is important to us.  Marquette Academy intends to implement the following for the 2020-2021 school year. Please know there are still more steps that will continue to evolve but we want to make sure that you understand what you can do to begin to prepare your child for the 2020-2021 school year. 

• Pre-Screening - Will be done to assure individuals who don’t feel well or have a temperature will not be allowed in our building. 

1. Begin getting in the habit of taking your child’s temperature daily, if your child has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, keep your child home. 
2. In August we will provide families with a list of questions that a student should ask himself or herself daily before coming to school.  
3. We will be taking temperatures upon arrival to school. 

• Social Distancing - All Classrooms will be set up to provide the greatest distance possible of social separation for all students.

1. Encourage social distancing at events by setting the example for your child.
2. Have conversations about why this is important and ways to still engage with individuals while still practicing CDC guidelines. 

• Face Masks - Face Masks will be required of all students and staff at arrival, dismissal and any building movement. (When social distancing is not available, and as instructed by their teacher). 

1. Masks must be clean, fit the student appropriately covering both their mouth and nose.
2. Begin investing in cloth face masks - look for masks that your child finds comfortable and expect to have a set of 3-5 for sanitary reasons.
3. We ask that masks have no phrases on them or offensive images.  No scary faces, skulls or crossbones, etc...  However, they may support a sports team (Ex. Go Knights or Crusaders or your favorite team of choice) or another theme (Ex. gymnastics, cars, dogs, unicorns, etc..)  Masks can be any color, as long as they are respectful, have no phrasing written across the mask, and are not distracting to others.
4. Masks may be cloth (please wash daily or weekly depending on your child) or disposable. 
5. Again, we ask that 3-5 masks be provided per student.  

1. To be worn into school

2. Another (back up) mask to be placed in the front pocket of their backpack

3. A couple masks to be given the first week of school to their homeroom teacher.  The homeroom teacher will store in a separate plastic bag in the classroom, in case your child loses or breaks their mask during the school day. 

Options for masks:

Disposable                        Cloth Masks:

Neck Gaiter (Might be a bit warm as we start the school year)

• Sanitization Stations - All Classrooms will have sanitization stations and highly used surfaces in the building will be sanitized multiple times a day.

1. 20 seconds is a long time, practice with your child the importance of washing your hands (this may seem unnecessary but 20 seconds is a long time!)
2. Encourage your child to use sanitizer approved by the CDC when soap and water are not available.  

Please know that this is the first layer of information and it is subject to change.  Please expect additional information by the beginning of August. We have submitted to the Office of Catholic schools our Reopening Plan. Once approved this plan will be shared with all of our stakeholders.   It is our hope that you are patient but there are a few pieces that we are committed to:  

1. Providing education to your child 5 days a week in school
2. Limiting your child’s interactions with other students as much as possible while balancing the learning process
3. Provide quality virtual options when appropriate
4. Support mental and emotional wellness through staff and resources
5. Provide education pieces for our staff, parents, and students
6. Continue to provide a community of Faith to support our youth

Thank you for your support as a Marquette Academy Family. We intend to continue to improve the support  that we offer through this pandemic experience.  I am confident that if we stay focused on our faith, our relationship with Christ, and are mindful of each other we will get through this and become a better school, community, and nation.

May your family continue to stay safe and healthy, and may you enjoy the remainder of the summer!

Respectfully, 

Brooke Rick, Principal

Marquette Academy

High School 815/433-0125  Ext 1013

Grade School 815/433-1199