1st day of school looks different at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall

The traditional red carpet welcome looked slightly different at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall, but staff at the private elementary school said spirits are high and students are excited to be back in class.

“We’ve made all of the necessary adjustments to make the school day safe for our students and staff,” CDTCA Principal Mark Grgurich said.

Students celebrated their first day back to school on Sept. 8, with CDTCA providing families the option of either a five-day, in-person schedule or full-time remote instruction.

Director of Marketing Katie Lovett said about 80 percent of the school’s 181 students chose a physical return to the building.

“The students were so excited to be back at school,” she said. “Our teachers and staff are passionate about our school and our students and have gone above and beyond to make this a safe environment.”

Some of the precautions include daily temperature checks and masks for students and staff, and regular deep-cleanings of the buildings.

According to the school’s covid-19 reopening plan, the school buildings were cleaned this summer by stripping the floors and washing desks and chairs. High-touch surfaces were sprayed with an EPA-approved disinfectant to kill germs. That will continue throughout the school day, with staff regularly wiping door knobs, hand railings and light switches, according to the plan.

Hand sanitizing pumps will be placed in the hallways for everyone’s use.

Lovett said staff and students will adhere to strict social distancing, with desks placed six feet apart and regular activities, such as Mass, operating with limited participants.

“We postponed our opening day school Mass until Sept. 15 to give students time to get in the rhythm of the school day,” Lovett said. “When we do go to Mass, only two classes will be present in the church while the service is live-streamed to those students who remain in their classrooms.”

The tradition of first-day Popsicles was enjoyed in the classroom instead of outside as a group, she added.

Despite the changes, Lovett said the first day went smoothly.

Earlier this summer, the Diocese of Pittsburgh pushed the opening day from Aug. 27 to Sept. 8 for elementary schools to give teachers time to prepare classrooms and get safety protocols in place.

“The spirit and heart of our school is strong, and we’re thrilled to be back in our school buildings,” Grgurich said.