St. Matthew Catholic School

Due to the current situation and limited staff on campus, the best way to contact us is via email. Our email has changed to the staff member's first initial last name @smcssa.org.

Website: https://smcssa.org/
Location: 10703 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-478-5044
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMCSalumni/

The mission of St. Matthew Catholic School is to educate a strong, faith-centered community through a commitment to the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, and physical development of each child.

Dear Parents,

We are scheduled to return to school August 17th. We will be providing instruction in person and through distance learning. In regards to the public announcement that public and private schools are not to reopen for face to face instruction until after September 7th, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter stating that these orders do not apply to religious private schools. We continue to work closely and communicate with the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Any new information or plans will be shared with families as soon as possible.

The Safety Task Force has been meeting weekly to develop our plans to reopen with safety protocols, high quality instruction, and a continued focus on faith formation. Please see the information below.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email school administration. We are here to answer your questions.

Blessings,

Mrs. Salinas

Harold Maldonado- Leading the Safety Task Force- Middle School Vice Principal

Ana Hornedo- School Nurse

Ruben Reynosa- Maintenance Lead

Angela Favila- Cafeteria Manager

Chris Juarez- Athletic Director

Jose Sepulveda- Counselor

Juan Contreras- Technology Director

Marinda Lund- Middle School Teacher

Stacie Smith- Middle School Teacher

Melissa Gross- Elementary Teacher

Susan Vallot- Elementary Teacher

Elizabeth Bloom- Elementary Vice Principal

Geneva Salinas- Principal

Below is information regarding our current reopening plan. These items may change due to new recommendations and orders. We continue to plan with more details, protocols, and procedures. At this time this is a summary of our plans.

Parents are able to select what type of instruction they would like their child to participate in. In regards to in person instruction, we are needing to consider the amount of students in each grade level and classroom. We can accommodate 18-20 students per classroom with appropriate spacing. At this time, according to the parent choice results, we are able to accommodate students with the required 6 foot spacing. It is more feasible for the school to change from in person to distance learning. It is more challenging to make a change from distance learning to in person due to the planning that needs to take place for social distancing. If there is a particular situation that you would like us to assist you with, please contact administration. We are here to work with our families as much as possible.

• Back to School Meeting information will be shared early August.

• Teachers will be meeting with parents to discuss class schedules and expectations.

• Information regarding extended/after school care will be shared soon.

• Morning care will be from 6:45 am-7:30 am. Student participation will be limited. Social distancing practices will be maintained.

• All other students will arrive between 7:30 am-8:00 am.

• There will be a front and back car line drop off. PK through 3rd will be dropped off at the back car line. 4th-8th grade will be dropped off at the front car line. Siblings with a PK-3rd grade child should be dropped off at the back car line.

• Parents will stay in vehicles- no walk ups.

• No one should come to school with COVID-19 symptoms (temperature of 100 degrees or higher, coughing, shortness of breath, muscle/body aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea or diarrhea).

• Staff will self assess for COVID-19 symptoms.

• Staff will take their temperature at least twice a day.

• Temperature checks will be taken for students before they exit their vehicle and again midday.

• Students will need to wear their mask- 1st grade-8th grade. Masks are not age appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten.

• Breakfast can be purchased by only those students attending morning care.

• Students will report directly to their homerooms.

• Students arriving after 8:00 am will need to be walked to the front office by their parents. Temperature checks will be taken.

• Recess will continue to take place.

• Classes will go individually by homeroom.

• Playground equipment will be disinfected after each use.

• Students will wash their hands before and after lunch.

• Some classes will be eating lunch in the cafeteria and some in their classroom.

• Lunch will be provided in closed disposable containers.

• Parents are encouraged to send disposable items and items students can open themselves. If lunch boxes are used, we encourage they be cleaned every day.
  

• Social distancing practices will be maintained.

• Some specials/electives teachers will go to the students’ classroom.

• PE will still be in the gym, practicing social distancing.

• At this time, a decision has not been made regarding 6th-8th grade students changing into PE gym clothes. PE clothes are not required at this time.

• There will be no parent walk ups.

• PK-3rd students will be picked up at the back car line. The back car line will be open until 3:20. Parents arriving after 3:20 will pick up their child at the front car line.

• 4th-8th grade students will be picked up at the front car line.

• Older siblings will pick up the younger sibling when they hear their name.

• Dismissal may take a little longer due to no walk ups and we are also slowing down the release of students to avoid too much congestion in the hallways.

• After school care will be from 3:30 pm-6:00 pm. Student participation will be limited. Social distancing practices will be maintained.

• If a student or anyone in their household has been diagnosed with COVID-19, they will be required to receive remote instruction for 14 calendar days. They can not return until they have been symptom free for 3 additional days of the 14.

• If a teacher is diagnosed with COVID-19 they will need to remain at home for 14 calendar days and 3 additional days symptom free. Students will continue to receive instruction.

• Anyone possibly exposed to COVID-19 must remain home for 14 days.

• Parents will be contacted if their child has been possibly exposed to COVID-19 or if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19. Confidentiality will be maintained. Parents are expected to pick up their child immediately.

• No one should be on campus if they are not feeling well or have any of the COVID-19 symptoms.

• Individuals showing COVID-19 symptoms will be in a location isolated from others.

• Campus will be closed to visitors. Only essential individuals will be allowed on campus.

• There will be no large gathering on campus, such as assemblies.

• There will be no field trips until further notice.

• There will be two student temperature checks throughout the day.

• Water fountains will be closed. Students should bring their clear container with water daily. Teachers will help with refilling water bottles as needed.

• Students in 1st grade through 8th grade will wear masks.

• Hand washing and hand sanitizer will be encouraged throughout the day.

• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in every classroom and common areas.

• Toilet sensors will be installed for flushing.

• Sink sensors will be installed for hand washing.

• Proper hand washing reminders will be posted by the sinks.

• Paper towel dispensers will be installed instead of using air dryers.

• Social distancing signs will be posted around the school.

• Two additional hand washing stations are being added to the big playground and outside the portables.

• An electrostatic machine will be used to disinfect the school regularly.

• Library books and computer keyboards will be disinfected using a UV light.

• Teachers will be provided with a cleaning, disinfectant kit.

• Custodians will be cleaning and disinfecting high traffic areas frequently such as restrooms, cafeteria, playground equipment, door handles, and handrails.

• Nurse visits will be limited for more serious issues.

• Mass will be held in accordance to the guidelines from the Archdiocese. We are considering a rotation schedule for grade levels and live streamed Masses for students who are scheduled to remain at the school.
  

• Distance learning and in person instruction will be offered.

• IPADS will be provided to each student receiving distance learning instruction for grades 3rd-8th. PK-2nd grade will need access to their own technology device.

• Core classes and electives/specials classes will provide live stream and recorded lessons. We purchased cameras and microphones for each classroom.

• ClassLink will be implemented. This new resource will make accessing school programs much easier. By logging into ClassLink, students will have access to all school programs without having to log in to each one individually.

• Google Classroom will be implemented.

• Google Meets will be utilized in place of Zoom Meetings.

• Grade level websites will be utilized.

• Some electives and specials will be live streamed.

• Distance learning assignments will be graded.

• Assignments will not be excused unless the student is sick.

• Attendance and participation is mandatory.

• School supply lists are posted on the St. Matthew website. Ordering NJHS supplies is optional. If choosing to do distance learning, school supplies can be purchased as needed.
  

Due to costs of preparing for the new year, enrollment and registration fees are nonrefundable. There is no tuition discount, which includes distance learning, due to expenses that must be paid such as teacher and staff payroll, curriculum, school materials/resources, and other costs.

• Tuition will remain the same for both distance learning and in person instruction.

• No refunds will be given for registration or enrollment fees.

• Prepaid tuition will be refunded as of the date with withdrawal.

• If a student is withdrawn and re-enrolls for 2020-2021, paid registration/enrollment fees would not have to be repaid.

• Students who withdraw and are interested in returning for 2021-2022 will need to submit an application in January. Registration/enrollment fees would have to be paid.
  

• Uniforms will be required for in person instruction.
• Uniforms will not be required for distance learning. Students should be appropriately dressed for school, no pajamas.
• Masks must be school appropriate. Masks should be the school plaid or solid color of the plaid. They can be solid colors such as white, black, red, or navy. Disposable/surgical masks may be worn. The school will have extra masks available for anyone needing one.

Please keep an eye out for an email with dates and times for upcoming virtual town hall meetings. We are asking that questions be sent in advance. We will need these questions sent by July 28th.

Please click below to submit your questions:

Our goal is to provide a quality curriculum with rigorous instruction whether your child participates in distance learning or in person instruction. We will continue to maintain our Catholic school identity and traditions to the extent possible.