You are reading

Catholic Schools Won’t Require Students to Wear Masks Starting Wednesday

March 1, 2022 By Christian Murray

Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens will no longer be requiring students to wear face masks—both indoors and out–beginning Wednesday.

The announcement came Monday, just one day after Governor Kathy Hochul said that the statewide school mask mandate would be lifted on Wednesday March 2. The state policy, however, still provides municipalities and local authorities with the option to keep the mask requirement in place.

New York City, for instance, doesn’t plan to lift the requirement for public schools until March 7, the mayor said Sunday.

The Diocese of Brooklyn, which oversees schools in Brooklyn and Queens, said that face coverings will become optional—although recommended—for both school personnel and students starting Wednesday.

“We respect all faculty, staff, and parents of differing opinions, and we understand the concern on both sides of the issue,” according to a letter from Diocesan school officials to parents. “No individual, faculty, staff or student will be discouraged from wearing a face covering at school, and face coverings will remain a recommended mitigation strategy.”

However, children who participate in New York City-funded Pre-K-3 and Pre-K-4 programs (UPK) offered at Catholic schools must continue to wear masks as required by the New York City Department of Education.

The schools in the diocese will continue to maintain preventive strategies in order to reduce the spread of the virus. These mitigation techniques include physical distancing; improved ventilation; handwashing; and cleaning and disinfection.

Meanwhile, the Arch Diocese of New York, which covers Catholic schools in the three remaining boroughs and the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester, said it too was lifting the mask requirement beginning March 2.

The New York diocese also sent out a letter to parents.

“Effective March 2nd, the wearing of a mask by an adult or children in all Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York will be recommended but NOT REQUIRED,” wrote Michael J. Deegan, superintendent of schools. “We will encourage the continued use of masks but will respect the choice of each parent and staff member.”

 

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Former client sentenced for murdering prominent immigration attorney in his Flushing law office: DA

A Flushing woman was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for stabbing her immigration attorney to death in 2022, just days after he dropped her as a client, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.

Xiaoning Zhang, 27, of Kissena Boulevard, was found guilty by a jury last month of murder in the second degree and other related crimes for fatally stabbing 66-year-old Jim Li, a prominent lawyer known for his legal work and activism during the Tiananmen Square uprising in the People’s Republic of China in 1989. Trial openings began on Sept. 9, 2024, and closings occurred on Sept. 19, 2024. The jury deliberated for one day.

DA Katz introduces Kimi, the facility dog providing comfort to Queens crime victims

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz introduced one of the newest members of her team on Wednesday as part of her office’s public information campaign during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Kimi, a 2-year-old golden retriever/Labrador retriever, has been appointed as a facility dog to provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses. “Kimi has been an extraordinary addition to our team here at the Queens District Attorney’s Office,” Katz said. “She’s affectionate, highly trained, and has already assisted survivors and witnesses and put them at ease.”

Mets to host playoff watch parties at Citi Field

Oct. 3, 2024 By Ethan Marshall

As the New York Mets look to clinch a trip to the National League Division Series Wednesday night in Milwaukee, the team announced that beginning as early as Thursday, Oct. 3, Citi Field will be hosting watch parties of select away games during the playoffs.