Is the coronavirus reshaping our Catholic school system and the formation of students?

Like a bullet, the COVID-19 pandemic shatters our world and brings us to a startling halt where fear and uncertainty know no boundaries. This health crisis has transformed how our children/youth are educated and formed throughout the world — near and far. The walls of the traditional safe and nurturing classroom, where teaching and learning commence, are replaced with a sprinting race for innovative solutions and new ways to educate those entrusted to our care.

The Coronavirus has indeed become a catalyst for our Catholic schools and our public school counterparts to create a new landscape for teaching and learning. This new vibrant and verdant landscape could blossom into a lasting impact on the trajectory of learning innovation and digitization. The unknowns are plentiful, but the results may be a powerful stimulus for change in the field of education – especially Catholic education. 

This crisis also sets the stage for the expansion of public and private partnerships to engage in novel educational solutions. A myriad of stakeholders such as publishers, technology providers, educational experts of all levels, health and wellness agencies, charitable organizations, institutions of higher learning, social and emotional health care experts, licensed professional counselors, and governmental agencies have joined together to implement digital platforms and offer resources as solutions to this crisis. The pandemic is paving the pathway for large scale and cross-industry coalitions to embrace a common but critical educational goal. Multiple organizations have reached out offering support and resources to our Catholic schools. Working together, we work smarter, and thus we become stronger. 

So, how does our System of Catholic Schools, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, deliver instruction during the spread of the Coronavirus? 

Our Catholic schools began planning for alternative educational platforms for the delivery of instruction early in March. Our students are engaged in online and offline instruction. The online format, also known as e-learning, provides students with learning opportunities, via the internet, and guided by a teacher. This platform, managed through Google Classroom, enables students of all grade levels to study and pursue academic goals free of a traditional classroom setting. Students are provided with a high-quality education through a variety of resources, including lectures, direct instruction, thoughtful and specific teacher feedback, journal entries, videos, quizzes, discussion forums, live question and answer sessions, and interviews. Not only do students engage in subject-specific instruction, but they may also benefit from socializing with classmates and sharing in collaborative group projects. 

Similarly, students may also engage in offline instruction. 

This format consists of take-home instructional folders with carefully crafted content and assignments predicated on educational best practices, and consistent and timely teacher feedback to support student learning. Both the online and offline platforms are consistent with curricula standards and provide students with a clear sense of purpose, opportunities for expression, and empower students to work toward mastery. Thus, learning becomes authentic and meaningful. We are proud to walk through this educational and formational journey in partnership with our schools and school families. We are committed to serving with care, compassion and love. 

Other recent innovations supporting instruction, teaching and learning include the following:

Ongoing professional development for teachers in online and offline instruction

Teacher portal for teachers to share lessons

Communication plans and protocols for school and home partnerships

Parent resource library

Resource library for students with special needs

Yes, the current pandemic has transformed our Catholic schools in the delivery of instruction. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of prayer and building student resilience to face health threats, fears and anxieties, economic catastrophes, climate insecurity and rapid technological change. Our children and youth need to develop values and skills to navigate through this unpredictable world. The work of our teachers and school leaders is focused on equipping our students with compassion, informed decision making, creative problem solving, academic rigor, deep learning, adaptability and resiliency. What’s more, our Catholic school students will succeed as their religious values and virtues guide them in daily prayer and reflection, compassion, charity, service to others and their zest for truth. The evangelizing mission of our Catholic schools remains strong, like a pillar untouched by disaster, during these unprecedented challenges. It is here, where our youth are formed – mind, body and spirit.   

Please join me in prayer for all those impacted by the Coronavirus and especially for all our students, Catholic school faculty/staff members, school leaders, and school/parish communities. We pray for our Lord’s blessings of courage, strength, wisdom, compassion and grace. Come oh Holy Spirit.