The start of the 2020-2021 academic year last month began positively as schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn reopened on time, with proper health and safety measures enforced.
Queens
Halloween’s Not Canceled at Immaculate Conception in Astoria
With Halloween festivities changing due to the pandemic, the Home Academy Association (HAA) at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy (Astoria) made sure their students could still have a semi-normal experience. So, they came up with the idea to hold an outdoor “Trunk-or-Treat” event that involved dressing up in masks and costumes, plus trick-or-treating at tables in Immaculate Conception’s church parking lot.
11-Year-Old Finds Strength Through Acts of Kindness While Going Through Cancer Remission
Rocco Pisani celebrated his 11th birthday on Oct. 7 at Cohen Children’s Medical Center while receiving intense chemotherapy treatments. He was diagnosed with leukemia in May and has been going into the hospital every 10 days for three-day stays.
Only in Print: Going Remote in the ‘Red Zone’, From Educators’ Points of View
On Oct. 6, Governor Andrew Cuomo established three color-coded zones — red, orange, and yellow — to identify areas with increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. Public and private schools in the red and orange zones were temporarily closed, beginning Oct. 6 and Oct. 9, respectively, and must remain closed for at least two weeks.
A Day With St. Ephrem’s Pre-K 4 Class: ‘The Hardest We’ve Ever Worked’
With a month of school officially done, there’s a sense of routine and structure when you walk into St. Ephrem Catholic Academy. Students line up outside on the designated stickers, get their temperatures checked through thermal imaging, and go up the stairs and down the hallways in one-way fashions.
After Judge’s Ruling, Bishop DiMarzio Says Diocese ‘Looking at Our Options’
In the wake of a setback in the courts, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said the Diocese of Brooklyn will explore its legal options in its fight against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new regulations governing attendance at houses of worship in COVID-19 hot spots.
Court Denies Brooklyn Diocese’s Request for Temporary Restraining Order Over Cuomo’s New COVID-19 Mandate, Bishop Says Fight Isn’t Over
A federal judge denied a request made by the Diocese of Brooklyn for a temporary restraining order to block Gov. Andrew Cuomo from enforcing his new COVID-19 rules on houses of worship. The decision means that the new restrictions Cuomo mandated can go into effect.
Catholic HS Admissions Test Goes Remote
The Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS) will be administered online as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold.
Cuomo’s Threat to Close Churches Stirs Anger
In the wake of his decision to close all schools in nine ZIP code areas in Brooklyn and Queens that have become hot spots for COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Oct. 5 that he might have to shut down religious institutions, too.
Catholic School Parents Voice Frustration During Schoolyard Protest, Following Gov. Cuomo’s Announcement
On Oct. 5, Gov. Cuomo announced all New York City schools within nine hotspot ZIP codes will physically close and pivot to remote learning on Oct. 6. This came after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a proposal on Oct. 4 to shut down schools and non-essential businesses within the areas with high positivity rates.
