Good afternoon Eagle Nation!
It is with a heavy heart that I am reaching out to you this afternoon as Gov. Walz had to make a difficult decision in closing schools and asking educators to implement Distance Learning through May 4th. Although this is not the outcome that we were hoping for, OLP is ready to rise to the occasion and continue to provide an excellent Catholic education regardless of the obstacles that lay before us.
I know that there will be many questions in the coming days as we tackle Distance Learning together and what that means and looks like for us as a community. Below are a few highlights I would like to point out as we move forward.
- I ask that we are all patient with each other as Distance Learning is new to all of us. There will be bumps in the road and we will troubleshoot as needed. Do not hesitate to reach out to me or your classroom/advisory teacher with any questions.
- The purpose of Distance Leaning for ELP through 8th grade is to continue learning and progressing our students through the curriculum as if they were in the building.
- OLP is looking into refunding families who are paying for Extended Day services while the school building is closed (3 PM-6 PM preschool through 8th grade). We will provide more details as we finalize plans.
- If you have been financially impacted by the effects of COVID19 due to job loss and are concerned about tuition payments, please reach out to me directly at pberry@olpmn.org.
- Currently, OLP does not have the resources or staffing to provide childcare for our families who are considered 'essential workers'. That being said, we are working with two other surrounding Catholic schools to collaborate programming. As time progresses, OLP may be able to institute child care but please plan on other care for the time being. OLP is doing everything we can to find a solution for families who need child care due to their required work outside of the house.
As we enter into this new phase of educating and learning please know that Our Lady of Peace Catholic School is up for the challenge. Our amazing staff is here for each and every family. Your needs are our needs. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or needs.
God Bless,
Paul Berry | Principal