Dear Fenwick Community,

As you know, earlier this week I announced a two-day pause in in-person learning to take time to assess and better understand the rise of Covid-19 cases in and around the Fenwick community and how it potentially affects the health and well being of our students, families, faculty, staff and their families.  After great consideration, I am announcing that remote learning will continue through next week and the Veterans’ Day holiday.  At this time, we expect in-school learning to resume on Tuesday, November 10.
 
This was a very difficult decision to make, but is based on the following factors:

   132 students are currently in quarantine
   107 students were exposed to a positive case at Fenwick
   36 students were exposed to a positive case outside of Fenwick
   After having had 13 known positive cases through the first nine weeks of school, 14 confirmed cases have been identified since last Friday
    Among the faculty and staff, there are two confirmed cases, one probable, and 16 faculty/staff are in quarantine
   There is a strong feeling among the nursing staff that several, if not many, more positive cases are likely to be identified in the next few days.
   As Cook County moves into an Orange Zone and DuPage County is currently in the Orange Zone due to increasing community positivity rate, we along with the Cook County Board of Public Health feel an adaptive pause is needed, per the Illinois Department of Public Health Adaptive Pause Matrix
 
All of the student, faculty and staff quarantine situations due to Covid-19 exposure were based on the then-current guidelines of the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health and local health authorities, which change regularly. 
 
Until November 10, there will be no athletic practices or competitions, no rehearsals or BFG practices, no club or other in-person activities.  Unfortunately, the Kairos retreat scheduled for Friday, November 6, will be postponed.  Further detail on any postponed activities will be forthcoming.
 
During this time, students should follow the bell schedule that has been in place all year.  Students should check their teachers’ Schoology pages for further updates.
 
We are acutely aware of the mental and emotional strain this is putting on students and families.  The staff is working next week.  The social workers, grade level and college counselors are all available for support.
 
The nursing staff is also working and available.  Please inform them of any further exposure to or positive cases of Covid-19 within your families and social circles.  Please continue to cooperate with the nurses for contact tracing and other health needs.  This reporting is always kept confidential. In the absence of good information from our community, Fenwick will err on the side of caution when it comes to the health of our students, faculty, staff and their families.
 
To our knowledge, no Covid-19 cases have been transmitted at Fenwick.  To our knowledge, all cases have been transmitted outside of school, primarily through social gatherings and/or travel athletic teams.  Cases are being transmitted outside of school and are brought into Fenwick, where the potential to infect others is of great concern to our community.  Short of infection, the potential need to quarantine due to exposure is seriously hampering our ability to have enough adults in the building to properly teach and supervise the students.
 
We need your help!  If you are in quarantine, stay home and isolate.  At all times, all students should refrain from large social gatherings.  Don’t host or attend parties.  Wear masks.  Maintain social distance.  Wash your hands regularly.
 
We all prefer in-person learning.  Fenwick wants that to be our reality.  That can only happen if the current trend in infections is reversed.  That is why we are taking this pause.  Reversing that trend is up to all of us.  Together, as the Fenwick community, let us follow all health and safety protocols for the next ten days and beyond so that we can all get back to in-person learning on Tuesday, November 10.
 
You can expect to receive another update from me next Friday.  In the meantime, have a safe Halloween weekend.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Richard Peddicord, O.P.
President

A Video Message From Father Peddicord and Mr. Groom
Fenwick High School is owned and sponsored by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
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