Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we complete our first day of eSchool. It has come to our attention that Governor Inslee ordered the closure of all K-12 public and private schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties through Friday, April 24th. As such, we will revise our calendar accordingly and continue to run eSchool throughout the school closure.

I remain confident that we will persist in providing a positive, informed, and engaging learning experience for our students throughout this time period. We understand these times are full of uncertainly, but please be aware we will continue to focus on your sons’ experience as this situation evolves.

As always, my highest priority is ensuring the continued delivery of an excellent, Catholic education while safeguarding the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families. Your cooperation and support are essential to our success. Please continue to pray for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and their loved ones. O’Dea is a resilient community, and together we will navigate this challenging time.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we complete our first day of eSchool. It has come to our attention that Governor Inslee ordered the closure of all K-12 public and private schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties through Friday, April 24th. As such, we will revise our calendar accordingly and continue to run eSchool throughout the school closure.

I remain confident that we will persist in providing a positive, informed, and engaging learning experience for our students throughout this time period. We understand these times are full of uncertainly, but please be aware we will continue to focus on your sons’ experience as this situation evolves.

As always, my highest priority is ensuring the continued delivery of an excellent, Catholic education while safeguarding the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families. Your cooperation and support are essential to our success. Please continue to pray for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and their loved ones. O’Dea is a resilient community, and together we will navigate this challenging time.

The O’Dea High School Administrative Team has been monitoring circumstances related to COVID-19 and the guidance of Public Health – Seattle and King County and has continued to implement strategies to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe.

Today, Governor Jay Inslee requested for all citizens to practice measures to slow the spread of this virus. This afternoon, Seattle Public Schools announced a 2-week closure and in conversation with other Catholic High School leadership and Seattle Archdiocese Office for Catholic Schools, we have concluded that while we thankfully have no active COVID-19 case at O’Dea, it is now time to take the responsible action for our O’Dea community members and close the school.

O’Dea High School will close beginning Thursday, March 12th for a minimum of 14 calendar days. All campus facilities will be closed to students and parents/guardians. By Wednesday, March 25th, we will communicate an update and possible revision to reopening as we continue to monitor the situation.

We will implement our eSchool program Thursday, March 12th to continue teacher instruction and student learning. Our students and faculty are well equipped with the tools to have a successful virtual learning environment.

eSchool: Students can find a schedule with instructions for eSchool here. Teachers and counselors will continue to be available by email to students and parents if you have any questions or concerns.

Athletics/Co-Curricular Activities: Beginning Thursday, March 12th, there will be no athletic practices or games for a minimum of 14 calendar days. We are communicating with the Metro Athletic League and Seattle Parks Department for guidance regarding future practices and competitions.

We are committed to keeping our students, staff, faculty and families safe. Please hold your loved ones close in this time and keep all those working to combat this virus in your prayers. We appreciate your many efforts on behalf of our young people and appreciate your partnership in honoring our most valuable mission.

The O’Dea Administrative Team continues to meet daily to assess risk, review our response, and evaluate the rapidly evolving circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19). We do so through the lens of maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment for our students, your sons. We acknowledge confidence in the guidance of healthcare professionals from organizations such as Public Health – Seattle King County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, we remain grateful for our peer school partnerships as we communicate daily and pursue insight from school administrators and the Seattle Archdiocese Office for Catholic Schools.

Current and consistent advice endorses keeping schools open and accessible to students citing several compelling explanations in support of this recommendation. Public Health “is not recommending closing schools at this time unless there has been a confirmed case in your school. The reason we are not recommending school closures at this time is because children have not been shown to be a high risk group for serious illness from this virus.” Based on this guidance and having not been provided with an explicit reason or directive to close, our current plan is to remain open and continue O’Dea’s academic schedule and programming as published with reasonable modifications or event cancelations as determined prudent.

While we remain grateful that O’Dea does not have a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19), we will continue to implement an action plan focused on maintaining a healthy learning environment. We are proactively preparing to implement our distance learning program, eSchool, if determined necessary. We are continuing to monitor school attendance, which thankfully remains well within our normal range of absenteeism. The campus remains closed during the lunch period, and we continue to utilize additional facility personnel to provide daily supplemental cleaning and sanitizing of high volume touchpoints throughout the campus. Also, we are actively monitoring recommendations for student travel and will communicate any revisions with families enrolled on upcoming trips.

Thank you for your attention to this and future communications concerning this important matter. Again, thankfully there are currently no cases of positive exposure in our community to the coronavirus (COVID-19). We appreciate your many efforts on behalf of our young people and appreciate your partnership and continued prayers in honoring our most valuable mission. Please reach out if you have a particular concern or suggestion.

During the last two weeks, our administrative team has been meeting regularly to monitor evolving events and information regarding the spread of COVID-19. With the knowledge we currently have, we are choosing to act with an abundance of caution and transition our 49th annual Celebrate O’Dea Auction to an online event. We will miss celebrating in person with each of you. However, as we came to this decision, we also rest easier with the knowledge that you will continue to stand in support of O’Dea whether you are celebrating here at the school, or from the comfort of your own home.

Our auction goal this year was, and is, to raise $700,000 to provide essential funds for the financial aid program at O’Dea High School. I prayerfully ask for your support to make this a reality for our students and families who need our help.

At this time, O’Dea High School plans to remain open and is establishing the tools to implement eSchool if necessary.

• Beginning Monday, March 9th, all students will be required to stay on campus for lunch until further notice. This is an effort to limit the number of possible exposures students may have by going into another facility and gathering as a large group. Students will have access to microwaves around campus and we will open the gym for additional space. Students will be required to eat on campus and should pack a lunch as they normally would.
• Athletic practices and competitions will continue as scheduled. Field trips, meetings, assemblies, and school trips will be monitored on a case-by-case basis and we will communicate with participants with updates.

King County Public Health has recommended to “avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events, and gatherings.”

To better inform yourself and family, you can find more information about Coronavirus in the resources below:

1. Centers for Disease Control
2. Washington State Department of Health
3. Public Health – Seattle & King County

Because our shared priority is the health and wellness of our entire school community, if your child is experiencing any signs of illness, please keep them home. Please notify the school if your son or family member shows possible signs of the Coronavirus. We all need to act with an abundance of caution to help limit the spread of this illness. As a Catholic community, we remember the power of prayer. Let us continue to hold all those impacted in our prayers during this time. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping the O’Dea School Community healthy and safe.

As you are aware, related fatalities in King County are confirmed, and Jay Inslee, Washington State Governor, has declared a state of emergency. We will continue to seek accurate information and follow the guidance of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Seattle & King County, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), and the Office of Catholic Schools in our coordinated response to the coronavirus.

Based on confirmed information received to date, we currently plan to continue classroom instruction, school events, and activities as scheduled. However, this is a rapidly evolving situation, and our future response may include closing the school and implementing our eSchool program to maintain course instruction and student learning.

The O’Dea administrative team, school safety committee, and facilities team continue to plan and implement appropriate interventions, emergency response procedures, and finalize future response strategies. Our current action steps include the following:

1. We have hired additional facility personnel to provide supplemental cleaning and sanitizing of high volume touchpoints throughout the school campus (classrooms, restrooms, gymnasium, locker rooms, common spaces, and school vehicles).
2. We have purchased and distributed additional hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and Kleenex to each classroom, office, and work area to better ensure a healthy learning environment.
3. We have created an informative video announcement and fact sheet to instruct students, faculty, and staff members on positive well-being habits to maintain a healthy learning environment and decrease the risk of getting sick.
4. Our administrative team, safety committee, and facilities team continues to prepare school community announcements and finalize protocols to ensure a rapid response to changes to school-sponsored events, activities, and a school closure if it becomes necessary.
5. Our administrative team continues to prepare faculty members and students to hold classes via eSchool. Also, our technology team members are advancing support systems required to run eSchool.

Coronaviruses, including COVID-19, spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) via coughing or sneezing. It may also spread by touching a surface or object with the virus on it. The same good health habits that prevent other illnesses like the flu, also prevent the spread of COVID-19 and decrease the risk of getting sick.

1. Continue to be mindful of good hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, with 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available.
2. Cough into a tissue or your elbow (not your hand), then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
4. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is sick.
5. Keep students home if they are running a temperature, or they report not feeling well or appear weak or ill. Some of the symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other respiratory issues.
6. Consult your healthcare provider if you or your child have health conditions that put you at increased risk.

I take the well-being and safety of our community members seriously. Thank you for your continued attention as our region combats the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). I recognize that families, staff, and students are worried, and I am committed to keeping you informed and partnering with you to keep our school community safe. In times like these, our shared community values are tested. We must continue to be united and support each other as the coronavirus disease becomes more widespread. At O’Dea, we will continue to remain diligent and informed in our response. We will demonstrate compassion and care as our greater community navigates this global health situation. We all have a role to play in keeping students, staff, and families healthy and safe, and I appreciate your support, cooperation, and prayers.

We need your continued partnership in helping keep students healthy and safe. Please remind your son to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. As with the regular flu, please keep your son home from school if they have a fever.

While the CDC advises that the risk throughout the United States is currently low, we are taking this health threat very seriously.

To better inform yourself and family, you can find more information about Coronavirus in the resources below:

1. Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
2. Washington State Department of Health: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
3. Public Health – Seattle & King County: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus.aspx