All-Boys Catholic High School
Reopening Frequently Asked Questions
The start of a new school year is an exciting time as we welcome new students and our current students back to for another academic year full of personal growth, diverse opportunities and spiritual development. It's also a time that naturally generates many questions - especially as we address the evolving issues the COVID-19 pandemic presents.
For questions related to COVID-19, health and safety protocols, return to school models, factors taken into consideration regarding decisions and more, please refer to our Be The Light - The Plan to Reopen Salesianum which contains an extensive list of answers to questions, specific policies and steps taken to help ensure the safest return to school possible. However, answers to more general questions related to academics, activities, schedules, etc. may be found below.
Please join us as we extend a warm welcome to our students, families, faculty and staff!
"Be who you are and be that well." -St. Francis de Sales
ACADEMICS:
Advanced Placement
Q: How will AP classes be managed in terms of the difference of taking the class in the first semester compared to the second? If students take the class during the first semester wouldn't this become an issue with reviewing for those classes as well as taking their second semester classes during the second half of the year?
A: Each AP teacher will design a system to allow students to review throughout the Spring Semester. In some cases, students will continue to complete assignments. In other cases, classes will meet as available for review sessions. Students can email individual AP Teachers as well.
Math
Q. I’m worried about my son doing well on the PSAT/SAT or having gaps in his mathematical conceptual knowledge in this schedule. What is being done?
A: The math department is working together to adjust their curriculum for our new schedule as well as supply enrichment and supplemental materials for each math course should a student wish to utilize them.
Curriculum
Q. Are students only getting half of the information or half of the curriculum in the new 4 by 4 block?
A: No. Teachers have been meeting during the summer to plan different strategies and adjust curriculum including the essential questions and enduring understanding of a course in preparation for this schedule. Students will meet the year-long course outcomes during our instructional time.
Drivers Education
Q: How do we make up missed Drivers Ed time from the spring?A: For missed Drivers Ed time reach out to Mr. Sassaman at rsassaman@salesianum.org.
Class Schedules
Q: When will my son get his schedule for the year?
A: Schedules are currently available via OnCampus.
Textbooks
Q: When will the class book lists be available and will the books be available through Follett?
A: Textbooks are now available through Follett Virtual Bookstores. A list of instructions for class materials organized by class is also available in OnCampus. Please do your best to order books soon as you may experience some delays with shipping.
Summer Reading/One School One Book
Q: If students are scheduled for English class in the second semester, will their summer reading assignment still be do in the Fall?
A: Regardless of the English class semester, students will take summer reading tests and/or submit summer reading writing assignments within the first few weeks of the school year. Further details will be provided by the English Department as school begins. English teachers will send out Turnitin information via email.
Q: Where can I find the One School, One Book selection?
A: Visit the Daily Announcements resource board in OnCampus Resources for information regarding One School, One Book.
Activities, Athletics, Center for Faith & Justice, Student Life
Activities
Q: How will clubs and activities be handled?
A: We are committed to and working to maintain clubs and other activities to the extent possible, which is largely determined by the “mode” we are in. In a scenario where we are “All-In,” clubs and activities will take place on Wednesdays. Students will be required to sign up for 2 - 3 clubs and/or activities. In a hybrid or an asynchronous mode, some clubs and activities may lend themselves to a virtual meeting better than others.
Q: How will Marching Band be handled?
A: The current plan involves operating Marching Band relying on a set of protocols and standards that meet, or in some cases exceed, the guidance provided by the state as well as the CDC. Marching Band, as an activity, operates independently of the Athletic Programming and is subject to its own rules, regulations, and institutional governance. For more specific guidance and information please contact Band Director, Brian Cox bcox@salesianum.org
Q: What is the status of Salesianum School Theater?
A: SST has announced, and is planning to produce, three productions this year. The Fall Play is “She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition” by Qui Nguyen. It was chosen because there is a version appropriate for in person production, as well as a version prepared by the author for streaming/virtual production. Decisions will be made as to which version is being produced when more information about our overall institutional operational mode is available. Our Winter Musical will be “Little Shop of Horrors” and our Spring Play will be “Puffs, Or Seven Increasingly Magical Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”. As with all of our productions, we plan on working with students from our sister schools, however, we are still awaiting expectations from Padua and Ursuline as to their specific policies and protocols.
Wellness Wednesdays
Q: Can you talk more about Wednesdays - What will happen?
A: The COVID pandemic has changed the manner in which we implement curriculum and academic requirements, which in turn has led to reflection on how the school will address student wellness. Wednesdays were selected as the time to prioritize whole person programming. Participation in these days is not optional.
Following the same bell schedule as instructional days, activities will meet in four periods. The first period will be Chapter (homeroom), with students attending activities of their choosing in the other three periods tailored to On Campus, Hybrid, and OnlineLearning models. Programming from the Guidance Department, Center for Faith and Justice, and Educational Support will also be featured on Wednesdays.
Some of the activities will be explicitly academic in nature. AP course enrichment, Math skills, Writing center supports, and additional academic enrichment programming will be developed in and included in the Wednesday programming menu as options for students.
Athletics
Q: Will sports still take place?
A: Citing concerns about safety due to COVID-19, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) board of directors has voted to prohibit any high school sports competition in Delaware during the first semester of the 2020-21 academic year. This decision delays the start of high school sports until at least December. We will keep the Salesianum community apprised as more information becomes available.
Busing
Q: Will the bus company sanitize buses every day?
A: Buses will be sanitized at the end of each route.
Q: Will students be required to wear a mask on the bus?
A: As safety protocols currently stand, students will be required to wear a mask while on the bus.
Q: Will students be appropriately distanced while riding a bus?
A: In accordance with DE State Department of Education protocols, capacity will be limited by the number of students that can be seated between 3 or more feet apart on the school bus with one student per row in staggered fashion, if possible. Students from the same family may sit together in one row, however.
Center for Faith & Justice
Q: Will students be able to attend retreats?
A: Virtual Encounter, Camden Experience, and VJ Retreats have all been piloted over the Spring and Summer. We are prepared to safely deliver any overnight programs virtually until it is safe to return to retreat centers and outside locations. Day retreat programming will have some combination of in-person socially distanced prayer and reflection and online components.
Q: How will service hours be handled?
A: Each grade will continue working with their target issues and areas of Catholic Social Teaching, but do so through online platforms. For instance, freshmen usually do a mentoring/tutoring program with students at Nativity Preparatory School and/or Reed’s Refuge. Our plan is to set up one-to-one meetings via iPads with students at these schools to continue these relationships. Sophomores will either be a part of a digital pen-pal program with senior centers or will also meet via iPad with their digital buddies under the supervision of the CFJ. We are currently setting up virtual BRIDGE trips for juniors and developing digital and outdoor/distanced projects for seniors to work on throughout the year as part of their Salesian Servant Leadership groups or independent study.
Student Life
Q: We were away when school reopened to clean out lockers, when can my son arrange to get his belongings?
A: We inventoried lockers that have not been cleaned out and emailed those students directly to come to campus. Students must book an appointment via the link shared in their Salesianum email.
Freshmen
Q: Is there a change of start date for the upcoming school year?
A: Freshmen Orientation will be held on August 24 and 25. All students will attend a virtual start of the school year meeting on Wednesday, August 26 with school starting the following day on Thursday, August 27.
Seniors
Q: When are senior portraits?
A: Senior portrait appointments were available on campus in mid-July. We are currently working on another on campus date for mid-September/October.
Guidance/College Counseling
Q: Will juniors still have the opportunity to meet with their college counselor throughout the year?
A: Yes, juniors will still have their advisory class and there will be additional opportunities to meet with college counselors as well, whether that be virtually or in-person, if conditions warrant.
Q: How will the school address anxiety or emotional needs?
A: If students are on campus they will be able to meet with our counseling staff as normal. If we are in an asynchronous mode with students at home we will be able to pick up with our virtual Wellness Check-In sessions on Zoom. This is something that we offered to students last spring and it worked very well.
COVID-19 Response: Due to the extensive questions and important information surrounding reopening school amidst the pandemic, please refer to our Be The Light - Reopening Salesianum resource guide.
2020-2021 Schedule
Q: How will you address non-continuity of core classes like Math, Science, and World Language?
A: This will be articulated before the school year begins.
Q: Will class length of time be longer each day?
A: Each class will be 65 minutes long. This is about 15-25 minutes longer than our “regular” schedule class time.
Q: How will exchange classes be handled - like band?
A: We are working with Padua and Ursuline to determine if exchange classes will work with the current schedule adjustments.
Q: What does PE/Health look like under a hybrid learning environment?
A: In a hybrid environment, it is possible that PE classes will take place while students are in school and health would take place during online days.
Q: Will subjects be offered back to back, meaning Spanish 1 first semester, Spanish 2 second semester?
A: We would not rule that out, but in many cases students would be prevented from doing this due to the scheduling of their other classes. For example, most students in Spanish I would not have room in their schedule for Spanish 2. On a case by case basis, however, this may be evaluated.
Q: What happens when/if a students gets sick and are too sick to keep up with school work? What’s the plan for that?
A: With each class meeting live streamed, students will be able to “join” classes remotely, while absent for an extended period of time. Students who are unable to attend due to illness should also contact the school nurse, Suzanne Mansi smansi@salesianum.org
Hybrid Learning Split
Q: Could we have the hybrid learning split by class so all of the students can be together in a grade?
A: The reopening task force explored many ways through which to subdivide the students. The benefits of the last name approach (A-L, M-Z) is that it allows us to effectively halve the number of students in a classroom.
Q: My son carpools to school with a student on the other half of the alphabet, is there anything that we can do?
A: We are looking at the possibility of making accommodations for families that carpool and we would look at each request on a case-by-case basis.
ACCREDITED BY MIDDLE STATES ASSOCIATION