We know you have questions about the upcoming school year. We invite you to check this page often for the most up-to-date information.
HT COVID-19 Safety Plans
Celebrating 100 Days of In-Person Learning!
It is thrilling to reach such a milestone amidst all the changes and uncertainty the past year has brought. Holy Trinity School was even featured in the news! We have so much to look forward to. Here's to 100 more days together! Thank you for all of your patience and support.
Parent Letter - January 7, 2021 Update
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in making the health and safety of our whole school community a priority. We understand that distance learning may not have been ideal for everyone, but we appreciate your willingness to help us keep everyone safe. Now that we returned to campus on Monday, January 11, please remember that our top priority is the health and safety of the entire school community. We will continue to screen all of our teachers and students before we admit them onto campus. For more information and updates regarding our response to COVID-19, please see Mrs. Marentez's complete January 7 letter.
Parent Letter - December 11, 2020 Update
Thank you for continuing to partner with us to keep our Holy Trinity School community safe and healthy amidst these learning times.
As mentioned in our school newsletter yesterday, in a combined effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that our HT families and staff stay safe during the holidays, we kindly ask you to remain vigilant and maintain safe and healthy practices while outside of campus with your family, especially when gathering and participating in public activities with the upcoming Christmas holidays ahead.
We also strongly urge all school families to follow all guidance from the county and state. Acting in accordance with the guidance from the California Department of Health (CDPH), please avoid having no more than three households and/or traveling during the holidays. If you do have multiple households over or travel, we strongly advise that you stay home for 14 days to self-quarantine. The health and safety of our Holy Trinity School community is our top priority during this pandemic.
Please take a moment to read Mrs Marentez's complete December 11 update for more information.
Parent Letter - Additional Info Regarding Regional Stay-at-Home Order - December 4, 2020
As you may know, yesterday, December 3, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order that will impact many businesses and industries in San Diego County for at least three weeks, starting this month. The order is applicable in areas where hospitals’ intensive care unit (ICU) capacity falls below 15%.
The order does not modify existing state guidance regarding K–12 schools. Our school may continue to remain open for in-person instruction since we reopened while the county was in a less restrictive tier on September 1. Please see the entire December 4 communication from Mrs. Marentez.
Info about Regional Stay-at-Home Order
As you may know, on Thursday, December 3, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order that will impact many businesses and industries in San Diego County for at least three weeks, starting this month. The order is applicable in areas where hospitals’ intensive care unit (ICU) capacity falls below 15%.
We do not anticipate the order will have an impact on school operations, however we are still analyzing it and waiting for the County of San Diego to share specific details of what this means for our region, including when the order will go into effect locally. For complete details, please see our December 3 COVID-19 update.
Travel Advisory Letters
As we approach the holiday season, many families may be planning to travel or get together with friends or relatives outside of their immediate family. We understand how important these connections and activities are during the holidays. As you make your plans, please keep in mind that following all relevant county, state, and national guidelines relating to gatherings and travel can help prevent you and your loved ones from getting sick. We encourage you to read Principal Marentez and John Galvin's letters.
County of San Diego Possible Move to Lowest Tier
You may have heard the news that the County of San Diego may move on Tuesday, September 22 to the lowest tier of the state reopening system and wonder what it means for Holy Trinity School. Because we reopened our campus while the county was in the red tier on September 1, our school will be allowed to stay open. We are working with the County of San Diego to implement COVID-19 surveillance testing for our employees, and will review our reopening plans to ensure we do everything possible to maintain a healthy environment for our students and employees who return to campus. For complete details, please see our September 18 COVID-19 safe reopening update.
COVID-19 Symptoms
When students exhibit the onset of any of the symptoms listed on the fever/COVID-19 symptoms decision tree, they must stay home for 10 days and follow the guidance from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and the San Diego County Office of Education. Please see below for more information.
Student Body Liturgies
All student body liturgies will take place on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. We are allowing students to wear regular uniforms due to the extreme heat and the back order of white polos. Everyone must have black shoes. Please note that athletics, low-cut ankle socks are not part of the school uniform, and we do not allow them. Mass will take place outside, and only students, faculty, and staff will be able to attend.
An Update from CDC Regarding Face Shields
The CDC provided an update regarding face shields. Please review "face coverings" in our school reopening plan.
Students may remove mask coverings for quick breather breaks when seated behind the plexiglass shields at their desks, but must put it on for the majority of the day while in the classrooms.
Students may use a clear face shield with drape coverings in place of a face covering when it is necessary for a person's face to be visible during interactions.
CDC does not currently recommend the use of face shields as a substitute for masks.
Students:
- Under two years old: face covering is not a requirement.
- Two years old to 2nd grade: face covering is strongly encouraged.
- 3rd grade to high school: face covering is required, unless exempt.
Staff:
- All staff must use face coverings in accordance with CDPH guidelines unless Cal/OSHA standards require respiratory protection.
Morning Walk-Up/Drop-Off & After School Line Pick-Up
Morning Walk-Up/Drop-Off:
Staff will be at the Faith, Hope, and Love gates at 7:45 a.m. A parent must remain with children until temperature and symptom check have been verified for in-person learning. We will close and lock the gates at 8:00 a.m. and late students will need to report to the school office for check-in.
- Faith: Gate entrance for students in grades K, 3, and 4.
- Hope: Gate entrance for students in grades 1, 2, and 5.
- Love: Gate entrance for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
For families with multiple children, please use the gate assigned to your youngest child.
Please see page three of the August 26, 2020 newsletter for a diagram.
After School Car Line Pick-Up:
We will dismiss students at the Hope gate alphabetically by their last name at the following staggered times:
Full Days:
- A–K: 2:45–3:00 p.m.
- L–Z: 3:00–3:15 p.m.
Half Days:
- A–K: noon–12:15 p.m.
- L–Z: 12:15–12:30 p.m.
August 20 School Reopening Update
Dear Parents and Guardians,
You may have heard the news that the County of San Diego was removed from the state’s COVID-19 watchlist and wonder what it means for our Catholic private schools in the Diocese of San Diego. While this is encouraging news that could help pave the way for us to reopen schools this fall, there are also some very important things to keep in mind. These numbers will need to stay within the acceptable range for at least fourteen days before schools in San Diego County may reopen without a waiver. Therefore, if our county remains off the watchlist through August 31, our plan is to begin the new school year with in-person instruction on September 1. Based on the results of the Holy Trinity School parent survey provided by the Diocese of San Diego office for schools, we understand that some of you would prefer to return to distance learning. As stated in our school reopening plan, we will offer distance learning for all students in all circumstances. We will give you our best and show you the value of a Holy Trinity School Catholic education. Please complete this survey of your intentions for your child’s instructional needs this upcoming school year by Friday, August 21 at 3:00 p.m. so that our teachers may plan accordingly.
Please review the rest of my update letter to learn more about Holy Trinity School’s “Promises through Change & Uncertainty” and “The Value of Now.” I appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we adjust to these ever-changing conditions.
All the Best,
Mrs. Marentez
Principal
Reopen Update Letter From John Galvan, Director of Schools for Diocese of San Diego
This has been an historic year. Over the course of the past months, our Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego have been working hard on their plans for a safe reopening of campuses in the fall. Throughout this process, we have been in regular consultation with county, state, and federal authorities regarding their public health guidance. The safety of our Catholic school communities remains our highest priority. Our children are a treasure, and our school leadership and families are to be applauded for their efforts in working together for their education, faith formation, and protection. We encourage you to read John Galvan's letter in its entirety, which includes Governor Newsom's announcement on the reopening of public and private schools in our state.
California Catholic Bishops Call on Governor
School Reopening Guidance and Big 4 Info
Please consult our School Reopening Guidance & the Big 4 information for the latest information about school reopening.
Diocesan School Re-Engagement Plan
The Diocese of San Diego has prepared a comprehensive plan to mitigate risk of exposure to COVID-19 in our Catholic schools. Please read our Diocesan School Re-Engagement Plan. This contains detailed information about safety protocols for all Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego for the 2020–21 school year. The plan addresses the following:
- Temperature Screening
- Visitors and Volunteers
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Mass, Gatherings, and Sporting Events
- Strategic Social Distancing
- Instructional Programs