Back to School 2020
We are confident in our plans for a strong fall semester and in our ability to adapt as needed to the ever-changing landscape.
While much uncertainty still remains, we are ready to open the school year. Our plan for the school year prioritizes the community’s clear desire for a safe environment and access to on-campus instruction. Because our situation remains fluid, our plan embraces the need for flexibility with an eye for continuity.
The success of our plan depends upon a core strength of Spartan Country – community support for one another and a desire to focus on the greater good. De Smet Jesuit is re-opening campus using evidence-based practices to reduce risk to students, faculty, and staff. While doing so, we are also working hard to build routines and schedules that are predictable and supportive to students, parents, faculty, and staff. Everyone’s success and safety are interconnected.
Fall 2020 Schedule
To help our community adjust intellectually, emotionally, and physically to our plan, we are taking a phased approach to the opening of the school year.
Fall 2020 Schedule
- Phased Roll-out Approach
- Tentative Calendar of Phases
- Odyssey & Orientation Weeks
- Phase 1: Acclimation Week
- Phase 2: Hybrid, 9AM-12NOON
- Phase 3: All Students On Campus, 9AM-12NOON
- Phase 4: All Students On Campus, 9AM-2PM + Lunch
- Phase 5: All Students on Campus, Full Day
- Phase 0: All Remote, 9AM-12NOON
- Formation Fridays
- Helpful Calendar Resources
Phased Roll-out Approach
Tentative Calendar of Phases
Odyssey & Orientation Weeks
Phase 1: Acclimation Week
Phase 2: Hybrid, 9AM-12NOON
Phase 3: All Students On Campus, 9AM-12NOON
Phase 4: All Students On Campus, 9AM-2PM + Lunch
Phase 5: All Students on Campus, Full Day
Phase 0: All Remote, 9AM-12NOON
Formation Fridays
Helpful Calendar Resources
Current Spartans can log into OnCampus to access
- detailed schedules
- general Fall 2020 timeframes here
Student Life and Learning
The development of our young men extends well beyond the college prepatory curriculum and classroom instruction. The formation of faith, character, leadership, and community is essential to the De Smet Jesuit experience.
Student Life and Learning
Health, Wellness, Safety
The success of our plan rests upon a core strength of Spartan Country – community support for one another and a focus on the greater good.
Health, Wellness, Safety Guidelines
- Exposure & Return to School Guidelines
- Daily Health Screenings
- Sick at Home
- Sick on Campus
- Social and Emotional Wellbeing
- Exposure to COVID-19
- COVID-19 Case Identified
- Contact Tracing
- COVID-19 CASE NOTIFICATION POLICY
Exposure & Return to School Guidelines
Daily Health Screenings
Sick at Home
Sick on Campus
Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Exposure to COVID-19
COVID-19 Case Identified
Contact Tracing
COVID-19 CASE NOTIFICATION POLICY
Campus and Facilities
A community-wide commitment to health and safety practices is essential to everyone’s success. We are truly in this together.
Guidelines On Campus
- Arrival and Dismissal
- Parent Visitation and No Item Drop-off
- Distancing
- Classroom Procedures
- Masks Required on Campus
- Guidelines for Masks
- Hygiene and Classroom Cleaning
- Lunch
- Water Fountains, Bathrooms, Lockers, Hallways
- Transportation
- Visitors to Campus
Arrival and Dismissal
Parent Visitation and No Item Drop-off
Distancing
Classroom Procedures
Masks Required on Campus
Guidelines for Masks
Hygiene and Classroom Cleaning
Lunch
Water Fountains, Bathrooms, Lockers, Hallways
Transportation
Visitors to Campus
So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:25-27). St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians
Task Force: COVID-19 Response and Readiness
Administrators, staff, and faculty began meeting in April to prepare for the 2020-2021 school year, knowing that with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it would be critical to plan for a variety of scenarios. We have worked closely with internal and external educators, medical professionals, doctors, nurses, coaches, and counselors, keeping our sharpest focus on what is best for our students and teachers.
We are grateful to each member who contributed to the work of the task force, comprising the following sub-committees.
- Academic readiness
- Schedules
- Health and safety procedures
- Student Life (faith, service, clubs and activities)
- Professional development for faculty
Pledge of Commitment to the Community
A community-wide commitment to these practices is essential to everyone’s success. We are truly in this together. We will be asking all our families to sign a pledge of commitment to comply with current health and safety practices when the school year begins in conjunction with our Parent/Student Handbook agreement.