Though students in Michigan will not be returning to their classrooms for the 2019-2020 academic year, Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Saginaw remain dedicated to providing excellence in Catholic education through virtual learning.
"This is a challenging time for all of us and certainly a difficult time for our students, families as well as faculty and staff in our schools,” Bishop Robert Gruss said.
The Lord Will Bless us in Many Ways
“Facing a new normal is always challenging. But this is when our faith comes into play. We must turn to the Lord during these times, using this time wisely for seeking both academic excellence outside of a classroom setting and engaging a personal faith life on our own when we don't have access to weekly Mass and religious education. In doing so, the Lord will bless us in many ways.”
On Thursday, April 2 Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the statewide closure of all public and private schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jensen (below), a fifth grade student at Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary in Saginaw, was asked by his teacher to find a song online and then to try to play it by ear. Jensen found a song, wrote down the music and plays the music in this video.
Focused on Serving Families
“During this extended closure, our Catholic schools will continue to provide virtual/modified instruction,” said Mr. Cormac Lynn, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Saginaw. “We remain focused on serving families during this challenging time and also maximizing the instruction we can provide to our students.”
Since Governor Whitmer announced the then-temporary closure of schools beginning on March 16, Catholic schools in the diocese have been utilizing a multitude of platforms, including virtual learning, to provide a continuity of education. This instruction will count towards instructional time for students as required by the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS). Every catholic school in the diocese annually exceeds the mandated number of instructional hours established by MANS. The instructional time requirement established by MANS matches that of the Michigan Department of Education.
Grateful for our Teacher and Principals
“I am grateful for our teachers and principals who have invested so much time and energy over the past two weeks to support our students during the initial closure,” Superintendent Lynn said. “There was and is a learning curve for everyone involved. I am confident we can continue to enhance and streamline our process moving forward.”
In consultation with teachers, counselors, administrators and other important partners, Superintendent Lynn said he hopes to be able to address the many questions families and students have in a timely manner while developing more long-term strategies to support students for the remainder of the school year.
Supporting Our Students and Families
“Our first priority is and continues to be supporting our students and families,” he said. “We will continue to discuss how we can meet their spiritual, academic, extracurricular and social concerns.”
Solutions will likely vary between schools and grade levels.
“While some traditional end-of-year events are still several months away, it is very possible social distancing practices ... will require us to modify, delay or cancel. Especially for those students who are scheduled to graduate from one of our schools, we will work to find a way to honor their accomplishments and provide a fitting closure to their Catholic school education,” Superintendent Lynn said.
He also expressed gratitude for the commitment of school families in assisting teachers during the pandemic.
Collaboration Between the School and Family
“Education is truly a collaboration between the school and family,” he said. “I greatly appreciate the willingness of our parents to support their child’s continued academic growth in the home during this unprecedented time. Our teachers and administrators are dedicated to partnering with them as we navigate this new educational landscape.”
Despite the challenges our schools have faced and will continue to face while adjusting to this new normal, Catholic schools continue to work together to determine best practices moving forward. The Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS), whose members include our diocesan Catholic schools, is well aware of this.
Both Scholars and Saints
“Our educators have been stepping up to this unprecedented challenge. Administrators and teachers across our schools have been diligently adjusting instruction to provide quality distance learning for students from preschool through 12th grade,” said MANS Board member and Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Lansing Tom Maloney. “As always, Catholic education is a partnership between parents and Catholic schools. This is a new and very different way of living out that partnership, but our mission is the same -- to build both scholars and saints.”
Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Saginaw
There are 2,100 students attending 13 Catholic schools across the 11-county Diocese of Saginaw. Catholic school students routinely score above state and national averages on standardized assessments. Nationally, Catholic high school students have a 99 percent graduation rate and 94 percent pursue higher education. As part of their well-rounded, faith-based education, students feed the poor, visit the elderly, raise awareness of important social issues, and serve at local charities. The legacy of Catholic school education in the Diocese began in 1868.
Catholic schools in the Saginaw Diocese include: All Saints Central Elementary School, Bay City; All Saints Central Middle and High Schools, Bay City; Auburn Area Catholic School, Auburn; Blessed Sacrament School, Midland; Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary School, Saginaw; Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw; Our Lady of Lake Huron School, Harbor Beach; Sacred Heart Academy, Mt. Pleasant; St. Brigid of Kildare School, Midland; St. Elizabeth Area Catholic School, Reese; St. Joseph the Worker School, Beal City; St. Mary School, Alma; and St. Michael School, Pinconning.