Four Catholic schools begin or extend remote learning due to COVID

Four Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh will begin or extend remote learning into next week due to COVID cases or COVID-related staffing issues.

• Butler Catholic School, Butler County: Students will return Tuesday, Jan. 18.
• Sacred Heart School, Shadyside: Students will return to school Tuesday, Jan. 18.
• Mary of Nazareth School, White Oak: Students will return to school Wednesday, Jan, 19.
• St. Therese School, Munhall: remote learning that was already underway has been extended. Students will return Tuesday, Jan 18.

The principals have sent emails to parents of all the students, with details on procedures for working from home.

Time away from class was limited because the schools were already off for the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday. Two of the schools also had previously scheduled in-service days on Friday or Tuesday, when students were not going to attend class. 

The schools are also cancelling extracurricular activities. A science fair scheduled for next week at Butler Catholic will become a virtual event, with videos released on Facebook on January 21.

“The members of our school communities have shown great patience, creativity and care as we all strive to protect students, staff and their families from the COVID virus,” said Michelle Peduto, director of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. “Their health is our priority.”