Aspinwall's Christ the Divine Teacher bucks remote learning trend, remains full-time in-person and covid-free

Students at the Catholic elementary school in Aspinwall have been in full-time in-person learning since the beginning of the school year, bucking a trend across the region which has so many districts switching between remote and classroom instruction.

Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, which houses about 190 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, has yet to report its first covid-19 case in students or staff, leaders said.

“While school looks different this year, we are thankful to be in our school building every day,” Principal Mark Grgurich said.

“It has been a tremendous effort to continue to keep us covid-free and our students should be commended for their constant wearing of masks, washing of hands and cleaning of their personal spaces.”

Director of Marketing Katie Lovett said the success is not a fluke. It’s the direct result of diligence and mitigation efforts that include daily temperature-taking of all students and staff upon arrival at school, limited visitors to both buildings and 100% mask-wearing.

School leaders installed 40 hand sanitizing stations in classes and hallways at the beginning of the year, students are seated socially distant and they clean the surface of their desks when they leave each classroom.

“Students continue to eat lunch in our cafeteria while sitting six-feet apart,” Lovett said. “Students are also having recess outside when the weather permits and staying in sectioned areas with their grade.”

Extra curricular activities and sports are currently suspended.

Still, students have been able to continue social outreach and fundraising, like the recent toy drive by kindergarten and sixth-graders. They collected gently used toys and supplies for Play It Forward Pittsburgh.

”We have not missed one day of school,” Lovett said.

There are 18 students who are using the virtual learning model from home, she said.