A year in, Shamrocks return to full face-to-face instruction

CC returned to full face-to-face instruction on March 8.

A year in, Shamrocks return to full face-to-face instruction

Cole Nogawa ’22

On March 1, 2021, after nearly one full year of previously unimaginable solitude, loneliness, and heartache, Detroit Catholic Central announced its decision to return to fully in-person education for the fourth academic quarter.

While the Brotherhood has met the trials and tribulations of the 2020-2021 school year with undeniable courage, it is expected that this news will come as a relief to those who have long expressed feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction with remote learning.

Though the school’s response to the crisis at hand was exemplary, nothing could have entirely replaced the lost sense of camaraderie.

Alongside excitement for the return to full-capacity education, concerns over the future of social distancing efforts have been raised by numerous community members.

When asked about changes to procedure, Father Fulton responded, “There will be some changes to classroom desk configurations. At lunchtime we will still limit the number of students at a table; however, we will open up the gym bleachers during lunch as well. Eating is one of the more vulnerable moments in the day for students.”

Students will also be able to utilize all of the school’s entrances, rather than just the main entrance. For students and families concerned about distancing, the LE@D program remains an option.

Addressing concerns regarding Easter break vacationing, Father Fulton continued, “The second week of Easter holiday is effectively a quarantine period in the hopes that students who have travelled internationally (which includes Mexico), can respect the school’s request for a 10-day quarantine period.”

Ultimately, Father concluded, “The Shamrock Nation needs to protect the rest of the Shamrock family by avoiding risky behaviors with the potential for infection in order to protect and keep the brotherhood healthy. Now it is more imperative than ever that the Shamrocks attend to those [old] routines in order to keep our school healthy: appropriate mask wearing, handwashing/sanitizing, desk sanitization, etc.”

Junior Billy Ward, when asked about his thoughts regarding the decision to return to full capacity, remarked, “I don’t really see not going back in person as an option.”

The administration seems to agree. “Our infection rates are low, many teachers are vaccinated now, and given the success of the DRIVE, we have few days of school left,” said Father Fulton.

The conclusion remains the same as it has been all year: “It’s up to the Shamrock Nation to keep us all healthy.”