LOCAL

St. James Catholic School announces reopening plan

Michael Rodgers
michael.rodgers@gadsdentimes.com
The Gadsden Times

As schools across the county are preparing for the start of the school year, St. James Catholic School has announced that it will welcome students back to the classroom on Aug. 17.

Principal John Parker said classrooms are being prepared to meet social distancing safety guidelines.

“We are extremely excited to have our children back in the classroom with us,” Parker said in a release. “While online learning was necessary during the challenging spring semesters, we feel confident that our new health procedures will keep both students and faculty safe and ready to learn in the most optimum environment that we are capable of giving them.”

The school’s website features a list of guidelines for how the school will handle safety precautions, including temperature checks for students during carpool and protocols for dealing with those running a fever.

Faculty, staff and students are required to wear face coverings or masks during arrival, dismissal, in the common areas and hallways of the school and any time social distancing can’t be practiced, including in the classroom.

Students will be permitted to lower their masks while in their classroom if social distancing is practiced.

Parker also mentioned that sneeze guards, sanitizing wipes and sprays, and touchless hand-sanitizing stations will be available for classrooms and hallways along with the new health routines.

“Our mission has always been to promote social, educational and spiritual excellence in our students. We take this responsibility seriously. Our parents can feel confident that we are doing everything we can to safeguard their children, and should circumstances in our community worsen, we are also ready to transition online,” Parker said.

The school is currently accepting registration for K-3 preschool through eighth grade, and more information can be found at www.stjamesgadsden.org. Information about the COVID-19 response plan is under the student handbook tab.