Masks will be required at Central Catholic, other diocese schools

This statement was released Tuesday by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, of which Central Catholic is a part, over the signature of Bishop Shelton J. Fabre:

To the Catholic Schools Family of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux:
In full alignment with the most recent federal and state guidance, including the directives
announced by Governor John Bel Edwards Monday, I am providing this updated list of safety
protocols as our Catholic schools’ family in the diocese begins their safe return to our classrooms
this week.
As our Superintendent of Catholic Schools Suzanne Delaune Troxclair stated in her column in the
August issue of the Bayou Catholic, “as we embark on the 2021-2022 school year, we do it with
great anticipation, hope, and the awesome responsibility of forming students who will go out into
our world and spread the Good News!”
Our priorities during the last school year remain the same this year as we chart a path to inclassroom
instruction so employees, students, and families feel as safe as possible and to reduce
the impact of COVID-19 conditions. Those priorities are safety, presence, and growth.
• SAFETY - The diocese is committed to utilizing appropriate safety measures in the context
of a safe return to work and schools.
• PRESENCE - The diocese is committed to in-classroom instruction in collaboration with
our Return to School Task Force and our medical partners, Terrebonne General Health
System and Thibodaux Regional Health System.
• GROWTH - The diocese wants our children to continue their academic progress and faith
formation in a safe, secure, and Christ-centered environment in our schools as we work in
the ministry of Catholic education to form the whole child.
Those preparations include the careful consideration of the many protocols recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control, the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana Department of
Education, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and our local and state leaders.
We are announcing the following protocols for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-
Thibodaux for the start of the 2021-2022 school year (new directives from the previous July 27
communication are in all bold):
Office of the Bishop | PO Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395
htdiocese.org | bishopsec@htdiocese.org | (985) 850-3124
• Terrebonne General Health System and Thibodaux Regional Health System will again
assist our Catholic schools in aspects of any COVID-19 infections or outbreaks in our
Catholic schools.
• Students and employees who are sick should stay home (regardless of illness).
• Those with COVID-19 are required to stay home until they have recovered and have been
determined to no longer be infectious according to the CDC's end of isolation criteria.
• Inside school facilities, masks are mandated for all employees and students age 5 and
above, and all children enrolled in a kindergarten program. Any child between the
ages of 2 and 5 who is not enrolled in a kindergarten program is strongly encouraged
to wear a face covering.
• While outdoors, all fully vaccinated and unvaccinated adults and students do not need to
mask if they adhere to physical distancing requirements. It is strongly encouraged that
unvaccinated individuals wear masks in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that
involve sustained close contact with people who are not fully vaccinated.
• Buses are allowed to operate at 100% capacity, and, as required by Presidential Executive
Order No. 13998, ALL passengers MUST wear a mask, regardless of bus capacity or
vaccination status.
• Schools will continue to provide adequate access to hygienic supplies and maintain
sanitizing and proper hygiene measures.
Considering the fluidity of the situation, these guidelines are based on the current medical
knowledge of the transmission of COVID-19 and may change at any time in accordance with
updates from the CDC, the LA Department of Health, the LA Department of Education, the Board
of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), or our local medical partners and leaders.
Sincerely in the Lord,
Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre
Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux