Return to School

We invite you to read our three REOPEN PLANS as we prepare for 2020-21. NWC continues to prepare for a full onsite reopening but remains flexible and aware of the daily changes in our state and nation. Our reopen plans allow us to pivot to a hybrid or online delivery should we need to. Please note the schedule for our opening days below and download our tentative school year CALENDAR.

Please read these RULES for self-screening and for returning to school following illness or exposure, these school PROTOCOLS for responding to a positive case, and this FORM if your child is being evaluated for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Please click HERE to download our Frequently Asked Questions.

Reopening FAQs

Q. When is orientation?
Freshmen will have two orientation days, August 31 and September 1. The first orientation day will be more relaxed and students may wear casual clothing that adheres to our casual dress policy. Freshmen are asked to wear their uniforms on September 1 and to be prepared to take their school photo. Sophomore orientation is September 2, junior orientation is September 3, and senior orientation is September 4. Grades 10-12 are asked to attend their orientation days in full uniform. Grades 10 and 11 will have school photos taken.  
 

Q. When does school start?
All students return to school on September 8.
 

Q. Where can I read the reopening plan?
https://www.northwestcatholic.org/return-to-school
 

Q. Which of the three reopening plans will NWC be following?
At the current time we are planning to open under Plan #1 with a full return to instruction.
 

Q. How will I know if the reopening plan changes?
A revised plan will be emailed to parents and posted on the school website.
 

Q. What is the earliest my child can arrive at school in the morning?
School will open at 7:00 am. Students cannot be dropped off until this time.
 

Q. Will there be health screenings at school?
No, the CT State Department of Education and CDC guidance states that schools are not expected to perform daily screening, such as temperature checks. However, parents are asked to monitor students, and staff should self-assess daily before leaving for in-person school, to identify fever and other possible symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. Students and staff must stay home when they are sick and report this absence to Jennifer Montoney at jmontoney@nwcath.org until further notice.
 

Q. Does my child have to wear a mask?
Masks are required to attend school in person at NWC. Students may wear a surgical or cloth mask that fully covers their nose and mouth. Due to recently released scientific data, masks with valves, knitted masks, fleece masks, bandanas, scarves, and gator masks are not allowed.
 

Q. What should my child do with their athletic bag/instrument when they arrive at school?
Athletic bags should be dropped off in the Johnson Gym. Instruments can be dropped off in the Rice Auditorium. Afterward, students should proceed immediately to their first period class.
 

Q. What if my child forgets their school supplies?
According to state guidelines, material sharing is not permitted. Students must remember to bring ample supplies to school each day.  
 

Q. Will my student be able to use their locker?
NWC will not be utilizing lockers when we open school. Students should bring the materials they need for their block day (green or white) and keep them in their book bag. This policy will be reassessed as the school year progresses. 
 

Q. Will after-school clubs meet?
Yes, clubs will meet after school and will follow size limitations and social distancing guidelines.
 

Q. What time will school remain open until?
The school will close promptly at 5:00 pm. All students must vacate the building at this time to give the maintenance staff the appropriate amount of time to clean the school for the following day. No exceptions can be made. After-school supervision concludes at 5:00 pm and students will be asked to leave the building at that time if they are still inside. Athletes on campus for practice or games will be supervised outside by a coach and cannot reenter the building after 5:00 pm.
 

Q. Will there be food service?
Yes, Lessing’s will be providing food service. Food will be prepackaged in closed containers and will mostly be grab-and-go items. 
 

Q. How can my child pay for lunch?
No cash will be accepted at lunch. Students can add money to their account online or they can bring a check to the Pride Café between 7:00 am and 7:50 am to add money to their account. Students going through the lunch line will have to swipe their ID cards to pay. Lessing’s staff will look up freshmen accounts in line until they are provided with their ID cards.
 

Q. If my child forgets something can I drop it off?
We are asking parents to refrain from entering the school. The reopening plan calls for us to eliminate visitors to the building.
 

Q. Can my child elect to attend virtually?
Yes, NWC is providing virtual school for students who elect to not return to in-person instruction. Please see our reopening plan for more information. Students electing to attend virtually must email the Academic Dean at cstuck@nwcath.org by August 28. 
 

Q: Can my child change to in-person learning if initially starting with distance learning?
Yes, families can opt back into in-person learning at the end of the first quarter.
 

Q. What if I have traveled outside of Connecticut in the last 14 days?
Students and adults must quarantine for 14 days prior to their student’s orientation date if they have traveled to any of the states on the governor’s travel advisory.  Please refer to https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/travel for a list of states. Negative tests are not accepted in lieu of the 14 day quarantine. 
 

Q: What will happen if a student or adult in the school building becomes ill during the course of the day?
Students or staff who become symptomatic during the course of school day will be separated from others immediately and assessed by the school nurse in a confidential setting. Students exhibiting symptoms will be required to continue to wear a mask and wait in the designated isolation room. The school nurse will have a plan for treating other students in the health office, recognizing that not all symptoms are COVID-19 related. All dismissals for illness should be coordinated by the school nurse.  Students should not call their parents and request to be dismissed.
 

Q: When can an ill student or staff member return to school?
The school nurse will advise parents/guardians of students who are ill that they are not to return to school until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation. Students must have a note from their healthcare provider to return to school.
 

Q: If there is a positive case, will the entire school be closed? How long will it be closed? 
Schools may implement a short-term closure (2-5 days) or longer, regardless of community spread, if an infected person has been in a school building. The CDC currently recommends dismissal of students and most staff for 2-5 days. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the West Hartford Department of Health, in conjunction with the school nurse, administration, and AOH to determine appropriate next steps.
 

Q: What will remote learning look like if my child’s class or school has to close short term?
If a short closure is necessary, students will have taken their materials and iPad home in order to continue learning in a similar schedule that was implemented in the in- school learning model. Students will be provided the schedule for this virtual learning.
 

Q: If there is an unforeseen closure, how will parents be notified?
If an emergency closure is necessary, communication will be provided via email, text message, and the school website.