Saint Mary School Reopening Update

DEAR SMS FAMILIES AND PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES:
 
Since we started virtual instruction this past March, we at Saint Mary School have been busy preparing for our eventual return to in-person school. As we are moving through summer break, we wanted to communicate with you and let you know of some of the measures we have taken and will be taking to secure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff upon their reentry into Saint Mary School.
 
It is our aim to make the return to school as enjoyable as possible, all while ensuring that the environment for our students, faculty, and staff is as safe as possible and is above the standards directed to us by the State of New Jersey. Below are some of the early steps we have already taken to facilitate a safe return:

• We have renovated all bathrooms to no-touch faucets, toilets, hand dryers, and paper towel dispensers.
• No-touch hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in every classroom as well as throughout the building within easy reach of children at any time.
• We will have social distancing signage throughout the school.
• We are limiting class size.
• We are working presently on defining start-of-school entry and end-of-day exit procedures.
• Classrooms will be arranged so there will be limited contact between students and proper social distancing protocols will be maintained.
• Cafeteria and gym use will be extremely limited.
• We are presently interviewing experts on daily decontamination procedures for the building.
• All students will be wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible. We have an arrangement with Flynn O-Hara to incorporate SMS inspired face mask/gaitors for student use - easy to use and pull up when needed.
• There will be limited access to restrooms.
• Review of schedule to facilitate limited contact between student groups.
• Regular meetings of the marketing committee who are serving as the facilitators of the most up-to-date information between the school and families. 

A reopening committee has been established and has been meeting weekly. Our reopening committee is composed of:

• A Pediatrician
• Our Business Manager
• Our Director of Technology
• School and Parish Administration
• Our Facilities Coordinator
• Director of Security at Mater Dei Prep
• Our School Guidance Counselor
• Our School Nurse

 
And as always, thank you so much for your support and encouragement during this time and we look forward to sharing more reopening information and plans as soon as they become available. Please expect a weekly update with reopening information shared in email as well as on Facebook.