Pius XI re-opening with a hybrid schedule
August 24, 2020 - We received word from the Milwaukee Health Department that our plans to re-open school safely in a hybrid learning model have been approved.
The Pius XI Comes Home Committee has spent the summer clearing out classrooms, developing strict safety and distancing protocols, as well as new cleaning procedures to ensure that when students and staff return, we are in the strongest position to remain open for instruction and keep our entire community safe and healthy
We are excited to welcome our students back beginning on September 8.
Parents will be receiving additional instructions in the coming weeks. Until then, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pius XI Principal Mark Ostap at [email protected].
The hybrid schedule reflects the significant work by many members of our faculty and staff and is meant to balance the academic and social needs of our community with the need to follow the best practices and policies outlined by the Milwaukee Health Department. We are able to adapt the schedule to meet our needs if we are to go 100% virtual or in the event we are allowed to increase the number of students in the building at once.
Students will be divided alphabetically by last name into two groups:
Below you will find the schedule of when students will be in attendance. It is important to note that this schedule is meant to accommodate the current demands of the pandemic and is not meant to supplant our mod schedule.
The Pius XI Comes Home Committee has spent the summer clearing out classrooms, developing strict safety and distancing protocols, as well as new cleaning procedures to ensure that when students and staff return, we are in the strongest position to remain open for instruction and keep our entire community safe and healthy
We are excited to welcome our students back beginning on September 8.
Parents will be receiving additional instructions in the coming weeks. Until then, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pius XI Principal Mark Ostap at [email protected].
The hybrid schedule reflects the significant work by many members of our faculty and staff and is meant to balance the academic and social needs of our community with the need to follow the best practices and policies outlined by the Milwaukee Health Department. We are able to adapt the schedule to meet our needs if we are to go 100% virtual or in the event we are allowed to increase the number of students in the building at once.
Students will be divided alphabetically by last name into two groups:
- Cohort A: A-K (Monday/Wednesday in-person and Tuesday/Thursday virtual)
- Cohort B: L-Z (Tuesday/Thursday in-person and Monday/Wednesday virtual)
Below you will find the schedule of when students will be in attendance. It is important to note that this schedule is meant to accommodate the current demands of the pandemic and is not meant to supplant our mod schedule.
In addition to the above schedule, Pius XI will be employing numerous safety measures. To highlight some of our most important measures:
- Students will be seated 6 feet apart in class and required to wear masks throughout the day except for lunch.
- Pius XI has introduced measures to enhance the air quality, with particular attention paid to larger common areas and improved ventilation in all classrooms.
- All students, teachers, and staff will be required to undergo temperature checks as they enter school each day as well as answer screening questions.
- Class dismissal will be staggered to limit the number of students in the hallway at once.
- Frequent cleaning and sanitizing of classrooms will take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT sTRATEGIES will you be using to minimize transfer of THE COVID-19 virus through the air?
Since COVID-19 is known to spread primarily through respiratory droplets, Pius XI is spending considerable time addressing air circulation throughout the entire campus.
- A review of the school’s ventilation system has been conducted.
- Belts and air filters on our air handling and roof top systems that supply tempered air to many of the locations in the building are being replaced. Filters with greater effectiveness in removing particles from the air stream will be installed.
- We are cleaning and disinfecting all of the coils in the air handling and roof top systems. The disinfectant used will leave a residue that keeps the coils clean and thus the air stream cleaner.
- All instructional areas in the school have been measured and are being analyzed for ability to social distance in full or partial capacity, and air circulation needs such as windows that can be opened, air conditioning, need for fans to circulate the air.
What strategies will you be using to minimize transfer of the covid-19 virus through tOUCHING SURFACES?
Cleaning hands and surfaces is still very important. The following has been completed:
- All rooms have been audited for sinks so that soap and water could be used for washing hands (preferred method) at the beginning of each class. Rooms without sinks were identified as places where hand sanitizer will be provided.
- Locations for additional hand sanitizer throughout the building have been identified.
- Spray bottles with disinfectant and towels have been ordered so that student desks can be sprayed at the end of each class.
What are all the precautionary measures that will be taken during in-person school days?
- All people entering the building will be required to wear masks and to have their temperature taken upon entry. This will change the morning entrance procedure. The details of that procedure are being outlined at this time. We will share procedures as they are in place.
- The school will provide cloth facemasks for faculty, staff and students. Students may also choose to bring their own face mask daily.
- Cloth masks will be collected and laundered in disinfectant detergent at the school weekly. If you are uncomfortable with this, please plan to have your child take their mask home and launder it.
- Specific directives for use of masks, social distancing, movement throughout the building, etc. will be available soon. Students, faculty and staff will receive very specific training so we can all be well prepared to execute our plans.
- Gloves will not be required but will be available for those who feel more comfortable wearing them while at school.
Will students and teachers/staff be required to wear face masks in the building?
Pius XI has been ahead of the City of Milwaukee ordinance in notifying parents that our students will need to wear face masks all day upon return to school. This is also true for faculty and staff. We will continue to keep parents and faculty and staff updated on that throughout the year.
Any decision to discontinue face masks would be based on guidance from the CDC and the City of Milwaukee Health Department. Since we are responding to a pandemic no decisions will be based on people's personal opinions about what we should do.
Any decision to discontinue face masks would be based on guidance from the CDC and the City of Milwaukee Health Department. Since we are responding to a pandemic no decisions will be based on people's personal opinions about what we should do.
If a students has to stay home from school, will virtual school be an option?
As we are planning our various scenarios for the upcoming school year, we are definitely taking into account those families who may wish to participate in school online. We will communicate those options as well as how families may pursue them soon.
What will the hybrid model of school look like at Pius XI?
Students will receive in person instruction two days per week and virtual instruction two days per week. This means only 50% of our student population will be on campus at one time. Students will be assigned to a cohort for their attendance days. Friday will be a flex day for cleaning, small group support, teacher planning, teams meeting for projects, etc.
How will students be divided into cohorts?
There are many details about which students attend school on what day. You will receive the details as they are solidified.
What type of class schedule will be followed?
To limit the amount of movement in the building, we will be following a block schedule and students will be eating lunch in their TAC. This is a temporary schedule change to minimize student movement during the health crisis. Pius XI remains committed to our unique modular scheduling model and our hope is to pivot back to it once it is safe.
How will Pius XI account for the mental health and emotional well-being of students?
Our existing TAC program will be leveraged in the hybrid model with smaller groups and longer meeting times to ensure more personalized attention and care for each of our students
- Our Counselors will continue to meet with their advisees during open class periods and on Flex Days as well as hold small group sessions to deal with common teenage struggles such as anxiety, time management, self-esteem, etc.
- Pius XI will begin using the Atlas Mental Health app this year. Atlas provides tools – such as podcasts, videos, journaling, and more – which will help students to improve their mental and emotional health, strengthen their academic performance and time management skills, and help them get better sleep and develop habits of wellness. Our counselors will work closely with the Atlas tools to provide our students with a customized wellness platform.
What about Summer Athletics?
On July 17, the City of Milwaukee made the decision that schools are not permitted to hold in person sessions including extracurricular activities, until further notice on our property. With that being said Pius XI Catholic High School Summer Athletics and Strength & Conditioning Camp will be shut down for in person workouts for the time being and will be conducted virtually using Google Classroom to post Zoom links everyday.
What will the food service look like?
Conversations with FLIK about food service and what it will look like have begun. FLIK is a national company and they are actively working out their vision of food service at this time. FLIK is working out all the health and safety protocols required by the local health department. We will keep you posted when we have more definitive information about the specifics for Pius XI.
Pius Comes Home Updates
Updates on our work to re-open the school are sent to school families each Thursday. Click on a date to download the updates. You can reach the Pius Comes Home team via e-mail at [email protected].
Athletics
Pius XI Catholic High School has decided to adopt the WIAA’s Revised Season Calendar for the 2020-2021 School Year.
Fall Sports Season:
Traditional Winter Sports Season*:
Fall Sports Played in Spring:
Traditional Spring Sports Season:
For updated Athletics information, visit the Pius XI Athletics website.
For detailed information from the WIAA, click on the buttons below:
Fall Sports Season:
- Girls Tennis: August 24th - October 19th
- Girls Swim: August 24th - November 9th
- Boys/Girls Cross Country: August 24th - October 26th
- Boys/Girls Volleyball: September 8th - November 2nd
- Girls Golf: August 24th – October 12th
Traditional Winter Sports Season*:
- Girls Basketball: November 16th – February 22nd
- Hockey: November 16th – February 15th
- Boys Basketball: November 23rd – March 1st
- Wrestling: November 23rd – February 15th
- Boys Swim & Dive: November 23rd – February 1st
Fall Sports Played in Spring:
- Football: March 8th - May 3rd
- Boys Soccer: March 22nd - May 10th
Traditional Spring Sports Season:
- Track & Field: April 19th - June 28th
- Baseball: April 19th - June 28th
- Softball: April 19th - June 28th
- Boys Golf: April 19th - June 14th
- Girls Soccer: April 26th - June 28th
- Boys Tennis: May 3rd - June 21st
For updated Athletics information, visit the Pius XI Athletics website.
For detailed information from the WIAA, click on the buttons below:
Spiritual Support
During this current COVID-19 crisis, joining together in prayer and supporting one another in community is more important than ever. Here are some ways that you can bring your family and friends together in prayer during this critical time:
• Keep It Simple – Pick a time when your family can share intentions and a quiet prayer together.
• Read The Bible Together - Select a short passage and sit with it silently, or ask each person to name one word or line that is significant for them.
• Pray The Rosary - Reach out to the Blessed Mother and ask her to pray for us.
• Visit Bustedhalo.com - Great website with all kinds of helpful resources.
• Submit Your Prayer Requests - Send to [email protected].
• Keep It Simple – Pick a time when your family can share intentions and a quiet prayer together.
• Read The Bible Together - Select a short passage and sit with it silently, or ask each person to name one word or line that is significant for them.
• Pray The Rosary - Reach out to the Blessed Mother and ask her to pray for us.
• Visit Bustedhalo.com - Great website with all kinds of helpful resources.
• Submit Your Prayer Requests - Send to [email protected].
Do not hesitate to reach out to our Campus Minister, Carol Ward, ([email protected]) if you have any needs or questions at this time.
God of all healing, we pray for one another as a Pius XI Community.
Fill us with protection and hope as we navigate this pandemic.
Bless our families and keep them safe.
Remove any anxiety from our hearts during this uncertain time.
We pray that we may be together as a community soon
so that we may experience the joy and support of being FAMILY at Pius XI.
St. Francis of Assisi and St. Vincent Pallotti, pray for us.
Fill us with protection and hope as we navigate this pandemic.
Bless our families and keep them safe.
Remove any anxiety from our hearts during this uncertain time.
We pray that we may be together as a community soon
so that we may experience the joy and support of being FAMILY at Pius XI.
St. Francis of Assisi and St. Vincent Pallotti, pray for us.
Performing Arts
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The remainder of the 2019-2020 Pius XI Performing Arts season has been cancelled due to the current public health situation surrounding COVID-19.
It is important for our school and community to adhere to government stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines. With uncertain times ahead, we are unfortunately unable to predict when we will be able to safely resume creating performances with our students. |
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