3/13/2020
School Closure
Santo Nino will be closed March 16th - April 6th

3/13/2020

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019

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Updates & Directives for Archdiocesan Catholic Schools

Archdiocese of Santa Fe Link
https://www.asfcatholicschools.org/coronavirus-directives

https://www.asfcatholicschools.org/coronavirus-directives
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10163038003700134&id=10150094714850134

3/12/2020 8:02 pm (text to families)
Clarification: School will be open tomorrow. Closure is March 16-April 6.

3/12/2020 6:13 pm (text to families)
We will provide detailed info tomorrow on the just announcedstate mandated school closure. God Bless.

3/12/2020 5:46pm (email to families)
Good Evening Santo Niño Families,
I'd like to provide you with the latest information and directives we have received regarding the COVID19 pandemic.  We have been monitoring the Department of Health and CDC websites for current information. We have also received directives and guidance from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and our insurance provider Catholic Mutual.  There is a lot of important information, please read all the way to the end!
We will be taking the following steps:
We have hired an outside vendor, specializing in deep cleaning for schools, to clean and sanitize the building during the upcoming break.
We are asking students to remove all items from their desks and lockers and to leave the lockers unlocked and open; and to take home chair packs for washing.
Students in fifth and sixth grade will be allowed to take home their Chromebook devices; students are responsible for bringing them back to school in good order and will be charged for damaged or lost devices.
In the event that Spring Break is extended due to local, state or national mandates, we will provide online platforms for students to work (I'm checking with the Public Education Department to confirm if we can count this toward contact hours).  If this happens, students who do not have access to computing devices or internet access may contact me directly and I will help provide access to equipment and online access.
The wrestling tournament scheduled for this weekend has been postponed and practice today cancelled.  Other practices for today will go on as planned.  The gym will be closed all of next week as we clean the building.   
The following is from Archbishop Wester's office:
The following are directives/recommendations promulgated because of the current epidemiological situation.
 
I.  Preventive Measures - Effective Immediately
 
I.       Proper Hygiene per Center for Disease Control guidelines:
a.       Clean your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
b.       If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
c.       Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
d.       Cover coughs and sneezes. When a tissue is not readily available, covering of the mouth and nose with the bend of the arm when sneezing or coughing
e.       Frequent cleaning and sterilization of surfaces like desktops, keyboards, phone receivers, doorknobs etc.
f.        Stay home if you are sick.
Acknowledgement and adherence to recommendations of the  Center  for  Disease  Control (CDC) of the U.S. Public Health  Service https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/index.htrnl and  the New  Mexico  Department  of Health  http://cv.nmhealth.org/  specific to a viral or bacterial outbreak. If you suspect you have been exposed, call the New Mexico Coronavirus Hotline: 1- 855-600-3453.
 Please note: The New Mexico Department of Health is advising that to prevent overwhelming medical facilities, if you think you may have been exposed, call the hotline number to receive advice about how to proceed before you go to a doctor, urgent care or emergency room.
Archdiocesan Schools - Directives
I.       Operations of Archdiocesan schools will follow the response procedure of their public school counterparts, on a county-by-county basis.
a.       Public school corporation closures for the purposes of disease prevention in a
county containing an Archdiocesan school will result in that Archdiocesan school's closure.
b.     Follow recommendations made by local or state Health Departments that apply to  schools.
2.       In the instances where an Archdiocesan school closure occurs on the basis of disease prevention:
a.       Employee compensation will follow the 'Inclement Weather' policy.
b.      Custodial staff will be provided all necessary safety wear and cleaning materials to conduct a disinfecting/deep clean of the premises prior to the reopening of the school.
 
3.       All schools should be prepared for implementation of extended "inclement weather" type learning days and makeups as necessary.
 This means we will follow all directives and if public schools close we are directed to close as well.
In addition to guidance on schools the Archbishop also provided information on restrictions and advice for parishes.  I am including the following for your information.
I.        Liturgical Comideratiom
Beyond liturgical restrictions already issued, Masses should continue to be celebrated as per the regular schedules. Should the NM or County Health Depts. or Governor's office advise the closing of schools and other public facilities, this will be re-evaluated. Pastors are allowed wide latitude in their decisions to close their churches even earlier in the absence of specific direction from the Archdiocese; however, pastors should close their churches and facilities once so advised by the Archdiocese.
 
All persons should be strongly urged to stay home if they are ill, elderly or if they have compromised immune systems. Persons with infants and young children are also advised to avoid large gatherings. All of these and their caregivers are assured that they are dispensed by the Archbishop from the weekly obligation of attending Mass until the current situation is alleviated, as are those who may simply be fearful of possible contagion for themselves and/or their families.
 
Pastors of souls and others should encourage those who are not attending Mass to watch Mass on television and/or read the readings of the day with their families, meditating on the Word of God and its application towards the two great commandments of loving God with whole heart, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this.  I know it's a lot, and I know this is quite disruptive and may continue to get more so.  We will do everything possible to keep  you informed of developments.  Know that we take the health and safety of your children and our faculty and staff very seriously.  We are all praying for a swift end to this crisis and for the health of those who are impacted by it.  
God Bless You and Your Angels with health in mind, body and spirit!
Mrs. Chavez