Dear Catholic School Community:
Today, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and El Dorado County public school districts announced that they will close their campuses through the end of the school year; similar announcements may follow by other school districts.
From the start, we have collaborated with county public health officials to determine when we will be able to safely return to campus. We have already announced that all our schools will remain in Distance Learning mode, with campuses closed to students, through May 1. Governor Newsom and others have predicted that we will need to stay closed beyond that date; we would all like greater clarity, but the situation remains dynamic and subject to change.
In regards to a decision for all our campuses to remain in Distance Learning mode for the rest of the school year, our circumstances are different than public schools. We do not want to overcommit for the entire system; because our diocese extends to the Oregon border, it is possible that some counties may lift shelter-in-place orders at different times than others, and we will allow for regional variance in collaboration with the appropriate public health authorities. We will work with the counties’ public health departments in making a decision that is best for the families and schools of that county.
In the meantime, we will continue to educate our Catholic school students in Distance Learning mode as we work together to slow the growth of this terrible disease. We look forward to the day when we can once again celebrate our Catholic communities in person, coming together in a spirit of gratitude - to join Lord Jesus at the table in Holy Eucharist, to commemorate the growth of our students, and to acknowledge the resilience of our community.
Thank you for your commitment to Catholic schools.
Peace,
Lincoln Snyder
Superintendent and Executive Director of Schools
The Diocese of Sacramento