Dear Diocese of Sacramento Catholic School Families,
Today, Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the CA Health and Human Services Agency announced the state’s requirement for masking in schools will expire on Friday, March 11th, allowing students, regardless of vaccination status, to be without a face mask (optional) at school beginning Monday, March 14th.
However, from now until then we will use the most recent guidance from CDC which allows schools to be mask-optional based on their COVID-19 Community Level. COVID-19 Community Levels are determined by data referring to hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Based on your school location, and if your Community Level is designated as low or medium, student masking will be optional immediately. The following counties in our diocese are currently designated as low or medium: Colusa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo. For schools located in other counties not listed, we will continue to monitor and update you accordingly.
I can assure you that our principals and teachers are doing their best to provide a faith-filled experience for our children. For this, they are to be commended. As we prepare for mask optional environments we remain focused on our mission, learning and serving. I encourage our families to begin conversations at home concerning mask wearing. Whether or not a student wears a mask is a family decision and in the classroom, we want to ensure no child is made to feel uncomfortable due to that choice. This preparation is essential for inclusive and respectful environments as we move forward.
Please know that we are here to forge the best path forward for all of the students we educate in our Catholic schools across the diocese. Let us continue to extend grace to one another.
Warm Regards,
Katie Perata, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Sacramento
