Dear Walla Walla Catholic Schools community,

Above the main entrance to DeSales is a stained glass window which states, “Be who you are and be that well to give glory to the Master Craftsman, whose handiwork you are.” Who we are as a school is very clear to me, we are an apostolate of the Church with the mission to “form disciples of Jesus Christ: strong in virtue, exceptional in learning, and generous in service.” While this identity never changes, the way by which we live it out must always adjust so as to “be that well” in the ever changing world in which we live. Normally, such changes are relatively small steps of continuous improvement. However, in our current environment these changes are much bigger, rapid and fluid. 

On August 5, the governor, and subsequently the State Department of Health, released guidelines for schools regarding the educational modality the state recommends under different conditions of COVID-19 infections. Given the spike in cases in Walla Walla, we are currently a “High” risk county, triggering a recommendation to move entirely to remote learning, with limited exceptions. These metrics have prompted the public schools in our area to make such a move.

While our school is prepared to make such a move if necessary, we believe that for most students and most families, it is best for students to be physically at school, in person, as much as possible. As such, we have been in communication with our local health department, our faculty, and our school board. Additionally, schools across the diocese are in similar situations and so we have been working with the school leadership team of all of our diocesan schools to discern the best way to be “be who we are” in the season of COVID-19. 

Through all of these conversations I have decided that the best thing for our students is to move our start date to Tuesday, September 8, 2020, the Tuesday after Labor Day. Our original start date had been situated substantially before any other school’s start date, and is now more in accord with our broader community. This change allows our leadership team to work with our board and teachers to ensure that we are opening safely in the manner that best supports families and students. 

This change is consistent with similar changes being made by our fellow Catholic schools in many parts of the Diocese of Spokane. I recognize that this change is disruptive to the lives and plans of our families and am sorry to be the cause of such disruption. However, by making this adjustment, it will better position our school to live the culture of consistency which we have embraced in our community.

Given this change of date, we will also be rescheduling our planned Community Meeting. Rather than taking place tonight, it will take place next Thursday, August 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. By this time, we will be releasing our opening plans and structures for any adjustments that will be made as the school year progresses. 

“Be who you are and be that well to give glory to the Master Craftsman who created you.” Simple words, but difficult words. This will be a hard year, even in the best of opening situations. Our students will not receive everything that they would under normal circumstances. However, guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we are committed to providing the best environment for student formation possible within the circumstances of this time. Our Walla Walla Catholic Schools community does hard things because that is what is best for our kids. And it is through the growth of our kids as disciples of Jesus Christ—strong in virtue, exceptional in learning, and generous in services—that God, the Master Craftsman, is glorified. 

In Christ,
-Father Curtis Seidel

President of Walla Walla Catholic Schools