Calvary Lutheran High School returns to in-person classes

Calvary Lutheran High School at Jefferson City
Calvary Lutheran High School at Jefferson City

Calvary Lutheran has returned to in-person classes today after almost two weeks of virtual learning.

Classes were canceled Sept. 4 after four students and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and school leaders expected a rise in cases. The school switched to virtual learning Sept. 7.

A total of 38 students and staff members ended up testing positive, Executive Director John Christman said. He estimates about two thirds of these people have recovered and returned to school. Calvary has about 100 students total.

Since teachers were much more prepared, the two-week closure went much more seamlessly this time than during the closure in March, Christman said.

"Our teachers are rock stars," he said. "They were so ready - not that anybody wanted to do it, but they had practiced, and they knew what to do."

The Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence recommended being out of school for 10 days if 5 percent of students test positive in one day, Executive Director John Christman said.

Based on this guidance, classes could have returned Monday, but school leaders decided to wait a few more days to lessen anxiety about returning.

Many extracurricular events and activities that were canceled were or will be rescheduled, and some outdoor activities continued Monday if those students were not experiencing symptoms and not quarantined, Christman said.

Before switching to virtual learning, students and staff were only required to wear masks if they could not socially distance for longer than five minutes, Christman said. Now, they will be required to wear masks in all instances when social distancing cannot be maintained or when there is not a physical barrier between people.

School leaders are also educating students, staff and families more about precautions to take and when to stay home.

Christman is encouraging people to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms, even if they are mild. He said he believes there was a high number of cases because many people attended school while experiencing mild symptoms. Many students and staff members assumed they were experiencing allergies when it was actually COVID-19, he said.

Christman said he believes this additional education and wearing masks more often will make a big difference. And although nobody wanted to switch to virtual learning, the school community made the best out of the situation, he said.

"I think, as educators, it's our job, it's our calling, to learn, and so that's what we're going to do," he said. "We're going to learn from this, and we're going to be better and we're going to do better. You got to make the lemonade out of the lemons, and we will. I'm confident in our school community responding in a way that's going to make this ultimately constructive and that we can help others through this experience as well."