With concerns about the spread of coronavirus, please be aware that West Catholic and diocesan administrators are in close contact with our local (county), state and federal (CDC) public health organizations and we are following their recommendations carefully. Please continue to monitor this page for the latest information.
Reminders
- Stay at least 6 feet from other people.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- When in public, wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medial care.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
End of 2019-2020 School Year
Never has the school year ended so wildly, and in many ways so sadly, for our students - especially those in the class of 2020. We as administrators have missed the smiling, sometimes sleepy faces of our students entering the building early in the morning the last 2½ months. We’ve missed the laughter of students passing in the halls. We’ve missed the invigorating drama only teenagers can bring to a building. Yet learning went on. Thank you!
Thank you to students, parents and staff who figured out virtual learning together. Thank you for your patience, your dedication and your support. We have an incredibly talented, driven and committed staff. I am so very grateful for each and every one of them. But we couldn’t have done any of it without your support.
I am confident our students are ready for August, whether they are returning to West Catholic or going on to college or a career. I will pray for them over the summer, that they return or move onward happy, healthy, stronger in faith and wiser for the unique experiences they have lived through.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON RECENT EVENTS
Not only have our students had to face a pandemic, but their world has been exposed to the heart-wrenching outcome of persistent racism and felt its effects right here in their hometown. It’s unfortunate we were not physically in school to support our students during these trying events. We would have welcomed the opportunity to grow in faith and understanding of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Please take a minute to read Bishop Walkowiak's statement and the issuance from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops on the recent death of George Floyd.
The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops published a pastoral letter on Open Wide Our Hearts in 2018 that is pertinent today.
SUMMER UPDATE
West Catholic is free to open, within the directives of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders (subject to change daily) after today. A few notes:
- Strength and conditioning will begin on June 16. Click here for key reminders from Athletic Director Megan Pittman.
- Excluding athletic activities (see MHSAA guidelines (link is external)), indoor social gatherings and events among persons not part of a single household are permitted, but may not exceed 10 people.
- Outdoor social gatherings and events are permitted so long as people maintain six feet of distance from one another and the assemblage consists of no more than 100 people.
- Any individual who leaves his or her home or place of residence must:
- Follow social distancing measures of six feet from the nearest non-family individual.
- Wear a face covering over his or her nose and mouth indoors unless the individual is unable medically to tolerate a face covering.
In the upcoming weeks, these restrictions look to be lightened. We will continue to communicate any significant changes.
2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
Last but not least, many of you are asking: What will August look like when my student(s) return to school? I don’t have all the answers and those I have could change overnight. If you’d like to look at what we anticipate, click here for a glimpse into fall.
Have a relaxing, blessed summer. I am so excited for what next year has to bring! We will be providing a dynamic, excellence-driven Catholic education on the cutting edge of what is possible in education today. God is good and will lead us in the formation of disciples of Christ. God bless you all.
Other Updates
If you are planning on being in the West Catholic school building this summer, you will be required to follow the procedures listed below:
1) Stay home if you have a fever (over 100.3 degrees), cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
2) When coming to West Catholic, go to this link (link is external). Fill out your name and answer the questions in the Google form. There will be QR codes in the main office that you can scan with your phone or an iPad that will bring you directly to the form. If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions, please return home.
3) If you answer "No" to all the questions, you will be allowed to enter the Main Office. Do not use any other entrance. Go directly to the front desk where a temperature check will be administered. If your temperature is below 100.4 degrees, you will be allowed to enter the building.
4) A confidential record of screenings will be maintained to the extent possible by the law.
Please note that these procedures may be adjusted to keep our WC community members safe and are subject to change at any time. We are also in the process of developing a procedure for the fall and will communicate this plan as the 2020-2021 school year approaches.
Test administrators remain committed to delivering students safe opportunities to test and will continue forward with plans to administer the July 18 test.
All students who test will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, encouraged to wear masks and required to sit 6 feet from one another. Test site administrators will also be screened, required to wear masks and test sites will be held to CDC safety standards and local governments’ “essential business guidelines.”
Testing will only take place in test sites deemed safe, and in accordance with CDC and local government essential business guidelines. Students registered for the July test date can expect an update on their test center status by the end of June.
2020-2021 Test Dates:
- September 12
- October 24
- December 12
- February 6
- April 17
- June 12
- July 17
Fall SAT registration is open to all students at www.sat.org. Please note that the College Board is experiencing high volume due to unprecedented demand. As a result, some students may encounter delays.
Fall 2020 SAT Dates:
- August 29
- September 26
- October 3
- November 7
- December 5
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, the College Board plans to monitor and will let test takers know if circumstances change closer to the test dates.
Advanced Placement (AP) Update
This year AP testing were done at home through a 45-minute online test. The College Board is hoping to have scores released for AP exams around the same time in July.
Starting this year, students will indicate the college/university they want to receive their free score report only through My AP. To add their free score report recipient, students sign in to the My AP (myap.collegeboard.org), go to the My AP Profile, and then click the Score Send tab. The deadline to send a free score report has been extended to June 30, 2020.
As a service to students and families, NACAC is providing this online tool as a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Enrollment Deposit Waiver
NACAC Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver can be completed without having to print it. Students should download the form on their computers, fill out the form, add a signature using the “Fill & Sign” button on the top right of the PDF, and save it on their computers.
Applicants who are not eligible for a Pell Grant but whose annual family income falls within the form's alternate income eligibility guidelines (link is external) may self-certify their eligibility.
NCAA Eligibility & COVID-19
Given the unprecedented events during Spring/Summer 2020 due to COVID-19, the NCAA Eligibility Center has partnered with the NCAA membership to identify adjustments to the initial-eligibility certification process. Click HERE for more information.
Course request sheets and AP contracts that were signed by a parent/guardian can be scanned and emailed to Mrs. Ford at lauriford@grwestcatholic.org.
All students who are signed up to take Aquinas Dual Enrollment class next year received an email from Mrs. Ysasi with the required steps they will need to complete in order to take the Aquinas classes. It is important that these steps be completed before the end of the current school year.
Resources can be found on the Personal/Social Resources page on our website. School Counselors will continue to check email regularly. We are here for all of you!
Coronavirus Resources:
- Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety (Harvard Medical School)
- 7 Science-Based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety (The Conversation)
- What You Need to Know About COVID-19 (CDC)
- Complete Mental Health Guide During COVID-19 Pandemic (Peak Resilience)
- Manage Anxiety and Stress (CDC)
- Coronavirus: 8 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health (MHE)
School Sports
For updates from the MHSAA, please visit mhsaa.com/coronavirus.
Summer Strength & Conditioning Workouts
Summer strength and conditioning workouts will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.
- Female Athletes: 8-9 a.m. reporting to main ticket booth
- Male Athletes: 9:15-10:15 a.m. reporting to main ticket booth
Please keep in mind the following items:
- All workouts are optional.
- All workouts will take place outdoors.
- Anyone who either has a fever or is showing other symptoms of being ill are expected to stay home.
- All participants will be screened and attendance logged at the beginning of each workout.
- All participants and coaches will be expected to maintain 6 feet social distance at all times.
- All participants must bring their own water bottles. Drinking fountains will not be available.
- The handicap bathroom will be available. This is only to be used in case of an emergency. All athletes are expected to sanitize their hands before they enter and upon leaving.
- Locker rooms will be off-limits. Participants must arrive dressed and ready for the workout and immediately leave the WC facilities upon completion of the workout.
- We will be cleaning any equipment used in between sessions.
- With workouts being held outside, the strenuous nature of the exercises involved and the mandated 6 feet social distancing, we are not requiring masks.
- MHSAA June 1 guidelines linked here (link is external).
- All participants should wear tennis shoes.
- With outdoor workouts, there is the potential for inclement weather. We will communicate with you via TeamSnap. Please be on the lookout to sign up for communication.
2020 Summer Camps
All sports and conditioning camps are currently scheduled to start in July. You can reserve your student's spot today at www.grwestcatholicprograms.org/athletics.cfm.
When you register, you will join a waitlist for that camp. We will notify you as soon as we can confirm a camp will be held so you can pay for your specific camp. We will also notify you if the camp is canceled. We should have a decision on July 1 regarding whether or not we can run our camps.
*NEW* The Academy for Sports & Wellness is offering group training for middle school athletes this summer at West Catholic. The four-week program will recondition your athlete after the loss of spring sports and help reduce the risk of injury going into fall sports. Register today at www.grwestcatholicprograms.org/athletics.cfm.
2020-2021 Sports Physicals & Health Questionnaires
Any student who would like to participate in sports this school year needs to have a physical on file. Physicals dated after April 15, 2019, are acceptable. You need to fill out the MHSAA health questionnaire form (link is external) if your physical is from 2019. If your student did not have a physical on file last year, they must get a physical prior to their sport starting, which includes tryouts. A health questionnaire form in place of a physical WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 2020-2021 physical forms can be found HERE. Fall sports begin on August 10 and 12.
TeamSnap
Athletics has implemented TeamSnap so each sport and every coach can communicate with their teams. This platform also gives the coaches the ability to enter their practice/game schedules. If your student will be participating in athletics this year, please download the app on your phone! You will be receiving an invite soon if you haven't already!
NCAA Eligibility & COVID-19
Given the unprecedented events during Spring/Summer 2020 due to COVID-19, the NCAA Eligibility Center has partnered with the NCAA membership to identify adjustments to the initial-eligibility certification process. Click HERE for more information.
Meal Program
Unfortunately, our meal program ended on June 30. However, there are still many area schools, churches and organizations providing food service throughout the summer. Please visit mcgi.state.mi.us/schoolnutrition/ (link is external) to find a location near you.
National School Breakfast and Lunch Program Update
Please take note of the fact that West Catholic participates in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. Normally an application is filled out at the beginning of the school year by our families that may need assistance with food costs during the school year. However, these are not normal times. Many families have suddenly found themselves with no income. The State of Michigan, which administers this program for the Federal Government, is allowing families to fill out this application based on their current income.
A link to the application can be found HERE. Applications can be sent to Mary Jo Jones at maryjojones@grwestcatholic.
If your circumstances remain the same at the end of the summer, it is recommended that another application be filled out when school resumes. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact maryjojones@grwestcatholic.org
Current decisions regarding programming changes are listed below. We will continue to update this information as final decisions regarding each event are made. Please check back regularly to stay up to date.
Graduation
West Catholic administration has decided to postpone the original graduation date of May 19 and reschedule graduation for July 14, 2020. It is our intention to celebrate with as much normalcy as possible, including an opportunity to celebrate an awards ceremony and Mass prior to conferring diplomas. We will continue to modify and share details as we make updates to our plans in accordance with CDC guidelines and Governor Whitmer’s restrictions.
2020 Summer Camps
Due to COVID-19 and the recommendations of the CDC and our government officials, we are postponing or canceling our June summer camps:
Sports Camps - We are hoping to run our camps in July. Updated dates will be posted HERE. If you have already signed your child up for a camp and the new date does not work for your family, please email Megan Pittman at meganpittman@grwestcatholic.org so we can remove your name from the waitlist.
Fine Arts Camp - Canceled
Middle School Summer Band - TBD; We will continue to share more information as final decisions are made.
West Catholic High School
- 6/29/20 - Update from Principal/CEO Cynthia Kneibel
- 6/5/20 - End of Year Letter
- 5/14/20 - Senior Checkout & Graduation Info
- 5/5/20 - End of Year Notes (Last Day, Exams, etc.)
- 4/20/20 - Exam Note to Seniors
- 4/20/20 - Thank You, WC Community
- 4/2/20 - Letter from Principal/CEO Kneibel
- 3/27/20 - WC Alumni & Friends Update
- 3/13/20 - Letter from Principal/CEO Kneibel
Office of Catholic Schools
- 6/5/20 - Supt. Faber joins Kent Co. superintendents in equity statement
- 5/29/20 - Congratulations, class of 2020!
- 5/13/20 - Office of Catholic Schools COVID-19 update
- 5/6/20 - Save on school supplies, cleaning materials with Office of Catholic Schools purchasing program
- 4/2/20 - Superintendent's letter regarding suspension of in-person instruction through end of school year
- 3/20/20 - Instructional time during COVID-19 closure
- 3/17/20 - Student meal resources during coronavirus pandemic
Diocese of Grand Rapids
- (Continually updated) - COVID-19 Response and Recommendations
- 5/31/20 - Bishop Walkowiak joins brother bishops in speaking out about death of George Floyd, violent protests
- 5/19/20 - Spiritual resources during COVID-19
- 3/30/20 - Sacramental care in hospitals during COVID-19
