St. Philip’s 2020 – 2021 Action Plan for Faith Formation

St. Philip’s Catholic Faith Formation is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all our children/youth, parents and volunteers. St. Philip’s Faith Formation has developed the following Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are intended to help us fulfill the mission to which we have been called – to support families as the first educators of faith for their children.

Our goals are to provide faith formation opportunities while minimizing the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our ministry and communities. We all children, youth, parents, volunteers and staff will have to cooperate with each other and act with empathy and respect to achieve a positive, faith-filled experience.

Policies and practices for the 2020-2021 faith formation year will be flexible and responsive to new information and developments. We acknowledged that that we may need to refine and adapt protocols. Special considerations will be made to best provide for the needs of individual children and families.

Please prayerfully consider volunteering in Faith Formation. We need Catechists, Small Group Leaders for Middle School and High School, building monitors, office help, and especially prayers!

Communication
Kris Jensen, Faith Formation Director, is the primary contact person for raising concerns or questions that any program participant (catechist, learner, parent) might have regarding procedures and/or incidents. Any information, feedback, suggestions etc. from parents, learners and our catechetical volunteers are welcome.
Communication will be mostly through email and the Church’s website - stphilipsbemidji.org

Resource
We will rely on guidelines/recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota Depart of Health, Beltrami Health Department, other public health officials and the Diocese of Crookston.

Three Models of Faith Formation during Covid-19

Option A: Onsite, In-Person Faith Formation and Activities (See Option A: Guidelines for Onsite Faith Formation)

Option B: Virtual, Online, or At-Home (distance) Faith Formation and Activities (See Option B: Guidelines for Virtual Faith Formation)

Option C: Hybrid Approach, Combination Virtual, At-Home (distance) and In-Person Faith Formation and Activities

St. Philip’s Faith Formation will use Option C to start.
Elementary Faith Formation will meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings without Middle School and High School Faith Formation and Middle School and High School Faith Formation will meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings without Elementary Faith Formation. We will start the year with this schedule. We will review and possibly change the plan as needed.

If In-Person Faith Formation is canceled/postponed, Faith Formation will use Option B in presenting instruction/activities.

Catechists, small group leaders, volunteers, parents and parish staff all are responsible for implementing this plan.

Faith Formation schedule will be emailed to parents and posted on the Church’s website.

Catechists, small group leaders and volunteers will be properly trained on the Plan and demonstrate understanding of their critical role in ensuring a healthy environment for faith formation.

Grade level groups will primarily be held in small groups with 8 to 10. There will be some large group teaching in Middle School and High School Faith Formation. We will meet in school classrooms, the Social Hall, Church, Chapel, school gym, and school cafeteria. There will be limited large group gatherings. Whenever possible, we will implement programming that refrains from mixing grade level groups. If mixing of groups is necessary, a limited number of groups that mix and keep records of staff, volunteers, and participants that mix.

Option A: Onsite, In-Person Faith Formation Instruction and Activities

Per Minnesota Executive Order 20-81, face coverings are required at this time for all over the age of five (children, youth, parents/guardians, faith formation staff, and volunteers) during indoor activities. The Minnesota Department of Health provides further information on this requirement and legitimate exemptions.
 

• Face coverings will be required for non-game outdoor activities. We realize that it may be difficult for children/youth to maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others while outside, it is most likely that that person-to-person interaction will occur. During participation in game activities, wearing a face covering will be optional.
• Face coverings will be provided upon entrance to the church/school should a child, youth, parent or volunteer are unprepared to adhere to this requirement.
• We will not conduct health screenings upon arrival/entry.
• Everyone will disinfect their hands upon entering the church building with provided hand sanitizer.
• Children/youth should wash their hands frequently with soap and water (especially before and after eating). Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Parents or older siblings will only be able to accompany child/youth into the church/school campus to drop children off to their classrooms. Parents must leave immediately after dropping off their child to his/her classroom.

Children/youth will do a staggered dismissal. Pick up will be in the Narthex in the Narthex. St. Philip’s Faith Formation will have a plan in place for arrival and dismissal of children and youth from formation activities to maintain social distancing guidelines.

Adequate class supplies will be provided to minimize sharing of high-touch materials to the extent possible. Supplies will remain with the grade level group.

St. Philip’s Faith Formation strives to adapt practices to allow physical distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.

Physical contact between children and youth is to be avoided (i.e. handshakes, hugs).
Attendance will be taken at all Faith Formation activities/events and maintained on file.

Health Checks

We will provide information about symptoms of COVID-19 and will require children/youth/volunteers/staff to refrain from attending Faith Formation if they are experiencing symptoms. school. See wellness check at the end of the plan.

We will continually review guidance on returning to faith formation for individuals with symptoms or diagnosis. St. Philip’s Faith Formation will follow the recommendation from CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, and Public Health.

Symptomatic children/youth and staff sent home from Faith Formation will follow the current recommendations from CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, and Public Health.

Children/youth and staff who become ill at Faith Formation with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will be placed in an identified quarantine area. This area will be staffed by the Faith Formation Directors, volunteers or parish staff.

Catechists, small group Leaders, volunteers and parents (who will be entering the Church/School) will conduct a wellness check prior to coming to Faith Formation activities. The wellness check is at the end of this plan.

If catechists, small group leaders, Faith Formation Directors or volunteers exhibit any new or unusual symptoms as reported on the wellness check, they will follow the recommendations from CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, and Public Health. The Catechists, Small Group Leaders and volunteers will contact one of the Faith Formation Directors to inform them that they are going to be absent.

At-risk children, youth, persons and those with preexisting health conditions should consider staying home and not attending in-person faith formation activities at this time.

If your child/youth does not attend school or is sent home due to illness; he/she should not attend Faith Formation that day/evening. If your child is ill; do not send him/her to Faith Formation. Contact the Faith Formation Office and optional learning activities may be provided.

Parents you are the first line in protecting our children and youth. We ask that if
your child/youth is sick or experiencing any of these the Covid-19 symptoms that you keep them at home. Parents should monitor the symptoms of their child(ren) and not send those who exhibit symptoms.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Not everyone with COVID-19 has all of these symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Parents we ask that you refer to the Daily Home Screening for COVID-19.

Responding to Positive Cases in Both Children/Youth and/or Volunteers/Staff

Faith Formation will cooperate with local public health officials if a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified. The Beltrami County Health Department or other official agency will initiate contact tracing, provide guidance, respect privacy and follow public health practices.
Local health officials, staff, and families will be notified of a positive case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.

If someone in your family has had a positive test result to COVID-19; Faith Formation children/youth should not attend Faith Formation for 14 days. If someone in your family has had a negative test result but with symptoms with no other diagnosis; Faith Formation children/youth should not attend Faith Formation for 14 days. If your child/youth has been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has symptoms; Faith Formation children/youth should not attend Faith Formation for 14 days. Contact the Faith Formation Office and optional learning activities will be provided.

A child/youth or a family member experiencing a positive COVID-19 test will work with Faith Formation Directors to develop an individual distance learning plan regarding coursework and a plan to return to Faith Formation.

Faith Formation Activities/Events will be Canceled If…

Faith Formation use shared spaces of St. Philip’s School. If St. Philip’s school classes are suspended due to an outbreak of COVID-19, in-person faith formation activities and events will be suspended until the Pastor, in consultation with the School Principal and Faith Formation Directors, determines it is safe to resume.

If faith formation children and youth attend school in a local public school district(s) that closes an individual school or schools due to an outbreak of COVID-19, the Pastor, in consultation with the Faith Formation Directors will determine whether in-person faith formation activities and events will be temporarily suspended.

If faith formation children and youth attend school in a local public school district(s) that chooses not to hold in-person classes at one or more schools to begin the school year, the Pastor, in consultation with the Faith Formation Directors, will determine whether in-person faith formation activities and events will occur.

Food Items

Children/Youth are allowed to bring a water bottle to Faith Formation. There is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread by food. However, people sharing utensils and congregating around food service areas can pose a risk.

If a cafeteria or group dining room is used, individually plated meals or grab-and-go options will be provided (i.e. pre-packaged boxes or bags for each attendee)
No self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations will be allowed.



Off-Site Travel

Group travel for off-site activities, including service projects, should be limited and only occur if the mode of transportation can accommodate appropriate social distancing. Participants should wear face coverings while traveling.

Off-site activities, including service projects and retreats, must follow the same procedures as on-site activities depending on the category (number of participants, social distancing, face coverings, personal hygiene, etc.)

Disinfecting and Cleaning Measures

Following each event or activity, all occupied areas will be cleaned and disinfected by St. Philip’s Maintenance Staff.

If faith formation events and activities use space in the school, Kris Jensen will coordinate with Jana Norgaard, the school principal, to develop a plan to ensure those spaces are appropriately cleaned and disinfected prior to the subsequent school day.

Personal belongings (phones, writing utensils. etc.) are not be shared. Plans are in place to limit the sharing of common supplies.

Procedures for use of the bathroom by children are based on guidance at Considerations for Events and Gatherings from the CDC.

Option B Guidelines: Virtual, Online, or At-Home (distance) Faith Formation and Activities

Faith Formation will be held (in-person) two times per month. When Faith Formation is not meeting In-Person, Faith Formation Directors will provide learning opportunities/lessons for families to complete at home. 

Lessons will be a combination of student book materials (lessons), instruction materials, live and prerecorded classes.

Google Classroom and Zoom will be the platform for distance learning.

Class materials will be provided either through Google Classroom or printed packets.

Parents/Guardians will be assigned as a “guardian” to their child’s classroom account.

Expectations for Virtual, On-Line, or At-Home Faith Formation are:

• Children/youth are expected to do the assigned lessons.
• All assignments must be uploaded to Google Classroom.
• Families would need to provide their own internet and device.
• Weekly meeting with Google Meet or Zoom for children/youth participating in at-home

Faith Formation.

• Meeting in Google Meet or Zoom, when in-person class does not meet.

• Family training is required before school begins on Google Meet/Zoom.
• Virtual gatherings will take place in Google Meet or Zoom.
• The Faith Formation Director, Catechist, Small Group Leaders and participants should

use their given name (first and last) when signing into the on-line meeting.

All meetings must have parents’ written consent prior to connecting with minor(s). Consent must also be given for the recording of all on-line meetings, and minors must be informed that they will be recorded.

One-on-one meetings will be conducted by a safe environment certified adult and a parent should also be present during the meeting.

All meetings with minors must always be conducted by safe environment certified adults, and a parent/guardian should have access to the meeting. Exceptions may be granted by certified administrators/leaders for guest speakers who are not safe environment certified.

All meetings including minors, should have passwords and be private invitations, this may vary depending upon solution used (no publicly available links or meeting numbers; waiting rooms should be utilized when available).

All participants should be aware of their surroundings while on virtual meetings. Individuals should be in public spaces of their homes and avoid personal spaces, i.e. lying in bed.

All meeting date/times will be pre-scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.

The Faith Formation Director, catechist, or small group leaders of any on-line meeting with minors must create standards for effectively managing conversation and share these at the beginning of all sessions.

Virtual gatherings should take place between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

At-Home (distance) Faith Formation

As the primary educators and catechists of their children, accommodations will be made, and parish support given if parents and caregivers decide to do at-home faith formation this year rather than participate in any in-person/onsite activities.

Parents along with the Faith Formation Directors will provide materials and support for at-home Faith Formation. Parents will need to notify the Faith Formation Directors that they are doing Faith Formation at home.

Thank you for your patience and prayers as we continue to navigate through these challenging times. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we work together to bring our young people closer to Christ.