Lake County Gazette

With an overwhelming majority of parents wanting their children in the classroom, Saint James School in Arlington Heights recently reopened for in-person learning with approval from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The school conducted a survey asking students' families what type of learning method they favored for the upcoming school year, according to a news release. The survey revealed that most of the 243 families who responded prefer sending their children back to campus for in-person education despite potential threats from COVID-19.

"We saw that a majority [86%] of families want to be back on campus for in-person instruction," Saint James principal Mike Kendrick said in the release. "That leaves 14% of families requesting a [St. James School] remote learning option, which is approximately 50 to 60 students, and 0% of families wanting the Archdiocese of Chicago E-Learning option."

Saint James Principal Mike Kendrick | Contributed photo

The school let students back on campus starting with orientation on Monday, Aug. 24, but it also provided an option for online learning with live-streamed instruction. The first day of school was  Tuesday, Aug. 25, but only for 7th and 8th graders. Earlier grades progressively joined them through the rest of the week, with all grades together in the school on Friday, Aug. 28.

In-person instruction is given five days a week for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Students are grouped and asked to follow instructions provided in a reopening document.

Families also had the choice to opt-out of in-person learning and select remote learning for their children. Those students live-stream classes from home and receive instruction and work to complete.

The school also has a team present to help facilitate the remote learning. The team is in charge of checking on students learning remotely for assignments, social-emotional check-ins and keeping the students connected to the community.

Saint James staff and faculty worked hard to ensure it was ready for online learning and to make sure the school was ready to safely educate students in-person.

"This task has required countless meetings, incredible collaboration, strategic shifts and plenty of prayer," Kendrick said in the release. "As we approach our first week of school, we sincerely ask you, as school parents and as members of our faith community – to please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and our government. It is imperative that you and your family practice social distancing, wear masks and avoid travel to viral hot spots so that your children are well. All of the tireless work our staff has done to prepare can only set us up for a successful start if we work together."