St. Michael Announces Virtual Learning for Week of November 16-20

Dear students and families.

We have a case of Covid in our front office, meaning the central office and the administration are "close contacts" and on quarantine through Friday, November 27.  I spoke to the archdiocese late this afternoon, and they agree with me that we must shut down face to face schooling for this coming week and will open again on Monday, November 30 after Thanksgiving break. Without anyone to handle visitors, phone calls, sick students or direct emergencies, we simply cannot be in school.

Beginning Monday November 16, then, we'll move to virtual, with "live" classrooms via google meets. Google Meet codes are available on your class bulletin boards in blackbaud. We will begin classes at 7:45 a.m. and follow a Monday through Friday bell schedule. We will not do assemblies or lunch, but will not adjust to move up the bell schedules--students will need those breaks to stay alert throughout the rest of the day. 

Teachers will take attendance via blackbaud and report absences.  Students, to be marked "present,"  you must be on time and have video cameras "on." If the video goes off in the middle of class, attendance will be changed to "absent." You are required, as always, to be at a desk or table, with a uniform shirt on, ready to go for class. 

We'll do this for the week, take a much anticipated and deserved week off for Thanksgiving, and resume to "normal" the following Monday unless something changes. 

The school is closed to visitors. 

We do not believe this particular Covid case has put any students at risk. Because of that, we  are going to allow after school practices to continue and to play games as scheduled. However, we will NOT allow spectators to be at games-- those who want to watch will have to do so online, featuring our new digital system.  We cannot host games, monitor students and guests in the middle of a pandemic without a full administrative presence.  So it'll be the teams, the coaches, the refs and the score-keepers. No one else. 

All try-outs for Spring teams scheduled the week of November 16-20 are postponed. 

If you have already purchased a ticket for Tuesday night's basketball game, we will refund your ticket. We will not charge to watch the Tuesday game digitally under these circumstances; more information will be forthcoming about future games. 

If anyone on a sports team develops symptoms, all practices/games will stop until that student is tested. Covid is spiking right now. Baldwin County is "at highest risk."  No student should be on campus for any reason unless under the direct supervision of the coach. 

We will get through this! If the last 8 months have shown us anything, we have resilient teachers, resilient students and resilient families! May God continue to protect all of us. 

Feel free to ask me questions ( [email protected]).   

Onward and upward! 

Mr. Weber
Principal