On the heels of its successful handling of the COVID-19 crisis throughout the Summer Care program, the Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School System in Appleton is returning to in-person education this fall with experience and knowledge on its side.

Classes will resume for the new school year on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at all four of the Saint Francis Xavier campuses, including the middle and high schools, as well as both elementary schools, according to Superintendent John Ravizza.

“The safety and well-being of our students, families and employees is essential to the work of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System,” Ravizza told the Wisconsin Catholic Tribune. “Reopening teams are in place at each campus and we are working with the Appleton Health Department and Diocese of Green Bay to ensure a safe reopening in August.”

Dr. John Ravizza | Twitter

Ravizza said that the experience of running the Summer Care program will be instrumental in how the schools approach reopening.

“Since June 8, our Summer Care program has been open to students,” he said. “With daily screening procedures for each student and employee, policies regarding mask use and safety procedures and protocols, we've been able to offer our students fun, enriching activities and provide our working families with safe, faith-centered child care for the last eight weeks.”

The reopening teams are creating individual plans for each campus, ensuring that measures are tailored to the unique needs encountered by each, Ravizza said. Details for each campus can be found on the school’s reopening information page.

Additionally, the schools will be working with any families whose students cannot resume in-person education so they can develop individualized education plans. So far, families have responded well to the school’s approach, Ravizza said.

“The reactions of families have been very positive,” he said. “Our families appreciate the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of our planning and that our teachers have been involved in this process. Families know that we are doing everything we can to ensure students and staff can safely return to school in August.”