Vital to the mission of the Catholic Church, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic School System works in partnership with our communities and especially our parents, who are the primary educators of their children, to educate the whole person through unique attention to academic, human and spiritual formation based on Jesus Christ and His Gospel. 
 
The COVID-19 pandemic presents the most serious public health crisis the world has experienced in generations. Looking forward to the 2020-21 school year and beyond, the Kansas City-St. Joseph (KCSJ) Diocesan schools/centers are resolved to do everything we can to reopen our campuses safely with the health and well-being of our entire community in mind. 
 
Kansas City-St. Joseph (KCSJ) Diocesan schools/centers will re-open with in-person instruction in August.
 
Recommended start date: Week of August 24
 
The following recommendations are based on the assumption that a vaccine will not be available for 12-18 months, which means each KCSJ Diocesan school/center needs to be able to respond quickly to circumstances in its own school/center community as well as to conditions in surrounding municipalities.  Individual schools/centers will follow the direction of the local health department and/or civil authorities. Even as we plan to reopen our campuses in August, we know we may need to close them again with very little advance warning. This means the KCSJ schools/centers will be prepared to toggle between different learning models designed to fit a variety of circumstances and drivers.  This plan is based on the following principles:

1. Whenever safe, we prefer in-person learning over remote learning.
2. The health, safety, and well being of the students and faculty are our highest priority.
3. We will promote practices and policies to reduce risk of virus transmission and support our capacity to be responsive and agile when facing changing health circumstances. 

 
The principal and pastor of each KCSJ Diocesan school/center will base the selection of a learning model on their assessment of health risk based on local health departments and local civil authorities’ recommendations.
 
Three Models for Learning 
In anticipation of ongoing and changing challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the KCSJ Diocesan school/centers have developed three learning models.

• In-Person Learning Model: a traditional school/center experience where students attend school/center five days a week.
• Distance Learning Model: our campuses are closed and the school/center remains open through remote learning experiences.
• Hybrid Learning Model: combines in-person learning with coordinated online experiences.

 
Daily Routine Recommendations
The following routines are based on current CDC recommendations and local pediatricians.

• In general, students should be kept in small cohort groups, not making contact with other groups within the school,
• maintain physical distancing,
• and wear masks when physical distancing is not possible or when transitioning back into school, between classrooms, in large areas, or in the hallway.

 
Pediatricians discourage gathering a large number of students in a large room and recommend maintaining cohort groups within schools to minimize exposure to others and limit the spread of COVID-19.  Exposure is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as contact that lasts more than 15 minutes with less than 6 feet of distance, whether masked or unmasked.  
 
There is not much evidence that masking alone is effective without physical distancing. It is also important that students and teachers not touch their own faces as this can assist the transmission of the virus. When masks are required, students with special medical, sensory or other conditions are not required to wear masks, but must take extra precautions to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by physical distancing or other means. 
 
Visit our School Locations page for available individual school learning plans.

Everyone Is Welcome 

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Schools proudly offers children of all faiths and life circumstances the opportunity to become a part of an enriched educational community. Your child’s success not only includes academic achievement; but spiritual growth, respect, morality, and self-discipline for life. Students are encouraged to recognize the presence of Christ in themselves and others.
 
In our schools, each child is a valuable member of a loving and caring community dedicated to showing them how to live successful, virtuous, and educated lives through the teachings of Christ. Every classroom experience includes a welcoming and challenging learning environment guided by life lessons of discipline, kindness, honesty, confidence, character, and faith, to name a few.
 
Catholic Education Is at the Heart of the Catholic mission 

It provides a complete education by teaching to both the heart and the mind which empowers children to reach their full potential. Every child is a known and valuable member. They will always feel welcome!

We encourage your family to visit for a tour. Your student is also welcome to attend a shadow day. Until then, learn more about the values of Catholic Education by viewing A Dozen Reasons to Attend Catholic Schools Infographic.