We are very excited to get our students on campus! As many of you know, the Marion County Health Department announced last week that high schools must go to 50% capacity to start the school year. This recommendation is an effort to provide for more social distancing in light of COVID-19. However, because Cathedral High School is fortunate to have a vast 40-acre campus with three buildings, we feel confident that we can create a safe environment for our students and educators. An engineering study of our campus finds we have a school capacity of 2,363. At an enrollment of 1,030, we easily meet the 50% capacity rule while having all of our students on campus. We are still waiting to hear from the Marion County Health Department regarding our waiver to have all students on campus. Our Academic Task Force has created a hybrid model and is ready to implement it if the Marion County Health Department mandates we do so.
As communicated yesterday, we remain committed to starting the school year on Thursday, August 13. However, we will build to capacity by only allowing half of the student body on campus for the first two days. This will enable students and parents to understand the new traffic flow clearly. Having fewer on campus will also allow us to train students on how they will transition through the halls with new COVID procedures. We will spend the first two days discussing new COVID safety procedures and policies, so it will be crucial for students to be in class in person or virtually.
On Thursday, August 13 – Freshmen and Seniors will be on campus* – Sophomores and Juniors will participate in virtual learning at home.
On Friday, August 14 – Sophomores and Juniors will be on campus* – Freshmen and Seniors will participate in virtual learning at home.
PleaseCLICK HERE to review student expectations when participating in at-home learning.
We understand that this transition to bring students on campus may cause an inconvenience. Please know this change is only for the first two days of school and is being implemented to ensure the safety of our students, families, and educators.
Monday, August 17 –ALL STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, and we will begin with Day 1 of our regular seven-day rotation.
The first-semester rotation can be found on the semester one schedule. Specific start and dismissal times can be found on the day 1-7 Daily Schedule. As in past years, days 2 and 5 will be late arrival days (8:50 a.m.), and days 1,3,4,6,7 will be a normal start time (7:50 a.m.). Any special schedules or start times will be communicated to students and parents several days in advance.
We know there is a lot to digest right now, and our directives to comply with the health department change daily. We will continue to do our best to share information promptly.
Also, please remember we are partners in this process. It is critical that your child does a self- health check each morning. *If your child is not feeling well and believes he/she has been exposed to COVID, please keep your student home. By taking steps to protect our community members, we can continue to be together in community on the Hill.
We are grateful for your patience and grace to navigate these unchartered waters. We know that greatness is calling our students back to campus, and we have all intentions to educate our students’ hearts and minds safely! Thank you for your support!
Please continue to pray for those directly impacted by COVID-19, and for a safe and productive school year!
Class of 2024 Lughnasa
We can’t wait to see the Class of 2024 at Lughnasa this Saturday, August 8! Read More
This day is to introduce the new class to the important and exciting traditions that make up the Irish experience.
Important information to remember includes:
– Students are to be dropped off at the round about at the top of the hill to sign between 3:30 – 4p.m.
– Parents will now only attend the closing ceremony, which will begin at 9:30 on the football field
– Students are encourage to dress comfortably, tennis shoes are highly encouraged
– Most activities will take place out doors
– As this is a school sponsored event, please be sure to do a health check with student prior to bringing them to the event
Cathedral has teamed up with EdTech for our online bookstore. Read More
You can access the bookstore and instructions on how to order textbooks via this link: Ordering Textbooks
Please contact Anna Lynn Houk at alhouk@gocathedral.com if you have any questions.
School Lunches
In effort to reduce the congregation of students, lunch will look very different this year. We are asking that students bring a packed lunch each day that they will eat in their classrooms. Read More
While we will have satellite locations that students can purchase lunch from, it is our strong recommendation that this is a last resort. Cash payments will not be accepted and money must be loaded on the students lunch account. These new procedures will limit the lunch lines and movement in the school during the lunch periods.
There will also be no food deliveries permitted to Cathedral. If food is delivered, we will deny that delivery and the student will have to handle following up after school. Since bringing visitors to campus is not safe, students will be sent home if they attempt to have food delivered on campus.
Yearbook Portrait Information
Students in all four grades will have their yearbook portraits taken during the school day on either Aug. 31 or Sept. 1 depending on when their Religion, Peer Mentoring or IB Theory of Knowledge class meets. Read More
All freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors will have their portraits taken. Students may be out of uniform on the day their portrait is taken, as many students dress up for their school pictures.
Senior men are encouraged to wear a dress shirt and tie (a coat or jacket is recommended as well). Senior women are encouraged to dress up, but are reminded that shoulders should be covered; plunging necklines and spaghetti straps should be avoided. The yearbook staff reserves the right to remove any portrait as a result of students being inappropriately dressed.
If any students are absent on Aug. 31 and therefore miss having their portrait taken that day, they may go to the Welch Activity Center (gymnasium) lobby before or after school on Sept. 1, and Inter-State photographers will take their yearbook picture.
For more information, contact Tony Willis, the yearbook faculty moderator, at twillis@gocathedral.com.
Parent/Student Theatre Info Zoom Party Aug. 17 at 6p.m.
Due to the restrictions of having large group gatherings, CaTheatre is having a Zoom call out “party” for all parents and students interested in how we are keeping theatre alive during COVID. Read More
Meet the thespians, meet the Booster Parents and meet our theatre educators! We are excited to announce our season and also answer any questions you may have about Cathedral Theatre. We will have break out rooms for students and parents who want more specific information about how we are making theatre happen this year. If you can only make part of the meeting, no worries, pop in when you can and we can tell you about our exciting program.
Michael Moffatt is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: CaTheatre Call out Zoom Meeting
Time: Aug 17, 2020 06:00 PM America/Indiana/Indianapolis
Attention to parents of students who took any level of Ceramics last spring: Please contact Sara Greene directly via email at Sgreene@gocathedral.com to arrange the pick-up of all artwork. Read More
Any work not picked up by Wednesday, August 12 will be thrown away. Thank you for understanding.
Student Masks
Masks are in for the 2020/21 school year! Each student will receive one Cathedral mask that they can wear this year. Read More
Students can also wear their own personal mask if that is more comfortable. Per our school policy, masks must be solid color or Cathedral branded. If you want additional Cathedral masks, the Spirit Shop has a few different styles that are uniform approved!
Friendly tip to keep you healthy – regularly wash your mask! Health officials are seeing an increase in infections around the mouth when people do not clean their mask and wash their face.
Planning for the 2020/2021 School Year
One of the most important things I have learned through this pandemic is that things are ever-changing. Read More
We have no idea or control over what will happen tomorrow. What we do have control over is doing everything we can to keep students and staff safe and healthy, both physically and emotionally. While some schools chose to go virtual, we continue to stand strong that it is in our students’ best interests to be in school. This continues to be our plan as long as there are no federal/state/county mandates to the contrary. However, we are putting every precaution possible in place to help stop the spread of this awful, unforgiving virus.Please continue to check our website for the newest and latest updates regarding our back to school plans. I wanted to highlight and clarify some of our policies and procedures that will be important for our parents to know so you can plan accordingly.
Daily Self Screening: Students are required to do self screenings each day prior to coming to school. We are all in this together, and it is crucial that students and staff do not come to school if they have any symptoms. Click here for screening flyer provided by the Indiana Department of Health.
Masks: Masks will be a requirement. All students and educators will be expected to wear masks at all times, except when eating lunch. Cathedral will provide each student with one mask, but students will also be able to wear their own mask. All masks must be Cathedral branded or a solid color with no designs or logo. We do plan to have masks available for purchase from the Spirit Shop.
Disinfecting: We will be disinfecting high touch surfaces between classes. Intense thorough cleaning will be completed each night.
Lunch: We are encouraging all students to bring a packed lunch from home. However, we will offer prepackaged, boxed lunches for purchase in satellite locations on our campus. Students will eat in the classroom to ensure social distancing and avoid large group congregations.
Water: Students will be allowed to carry water bottles. Touchless bottle filling stations can be used. Drinking fountains are closed.
Passing Periods: Our hallways will be “one way” during passing periods. Our schedule is being modified to extend passing periods to accommodate the extra time it may take for students to get to class.
Sick Students: All students who are sick are required to stay home. Students who begin to have symptoms while at school will be sent home immediately. Students who are ill and waiting to be picked up will be in a segregated area. If your child is sick, we ask that you follow the ISDH Guidance for Students Returning to School ***Streaming Capabilities*** Our Technology Department has been working very hard this summer to install cameras in each classroom. This will allow sick students (or students who have been exposed to COVID) to stay home, yet still attend class virtually. Staying home when sick is going to be crucial, and it is our hope that this capability will offer incentives for students to stay home when sick but not fall behind.
Testing Positive for COVID: If a student or educator tests positive for COVID-19, Cathedral’s nurse will immediately contact the Marion County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Education. Read More If a student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, Cathedral’s Athletic Director will also contact the IHSAA. Athletic Director Rick Streiff sent our COVID athletic protocolsto student-athletes and their families.Cathedral administrators will inform the educators who came in direct contact with the student or teacher. We will also contact the students who we believe came in direct contact with the student/educator who tested positive. Students will have assigned seating which will help us with this process.We will not identify the person who has tested positive for COVID-19, except for the teachers who had that student in class. The Marion County Health Department will contact the person confirmed with COVID-19, inform direct contacts of their possible exposure, and give instructions to those involved with the confirmed case, including siblings and other household members regarding self-quarantine and exclusions.
Preventative measures put in place for teachers: We are working with our teachers to ensure their comfort and safety so they can continue to provide our students with a high-level education. Different accommodations will be made to suit each individual teacher depending on their risk level, comfort, and preferences.
Visitors: Guests and parent volunteers will be very limited. If approved to come in the building, all visitors will be required to follow CDC guidelines, do self screenings, and wear a mask.
Please find more details on our website, which will continue to be updated. Any parent who has any concerns because your family or student is considered high risk, should contact Mark Matthews at mmatthews@gocathedral.com. We look forward to having our students back on The Hill on August 13!
Please Join the Campus Beautification Group!!
Cathedral is starting a Campus Beautification Group to help Cathedral stay beautiful and provide an outlet for the love of gardening. Read More
First meeting will be at Cathedral next Tuesday, August 4th at 6-7:30p.m. and will meet in front of Loretto Hall. Anyone (faculty, staff, parents, and students) interested in being part of a group that will plant flowers, share gardening ideas that can keep Cathedral beautiful, you are welcome.
Leading this group is Virginia (Jenny) Mahurin, parent of a freshman and junior.
For more information, you can contact Jenny at vlbmahurin@gmail.comor (317) 985-4893
Important Information for Student-athletes and Their Parents
There are three phases to our return to play. These are guidelines that have been handed to us and adapted by the Indiana Department of Education and the IHSAA. PleaseCLICK HERE to review important details of these phases. Read More
Please also review the requirements listed below for students who wish to participate in sports.
All parents of student-athletes need to register with Final Forms if you haven’t already. Documents in Final Forms must be completed and signed electronically by parents and student-athletes prior to participating in any athletic activity.
Cathedral requires all incoming freshman athletes to have a current (performed after April, 1 2020) IHSAA physical on file in the athletic office before participating in any athletic activity. The IHSSA form can be downloaded on Final Forms by clicking on the tab titled IHSAA PPE (for physicians). The form must be completed by the doctor in their office, and returned to Mike Hunker at mhunker@gocathedral.com.
Returning student-athletes must submit theIHSAA 2020-2021 Health History Update Form & Questionnaire. The form needs to be downloaded, completed, signed, and returned to Mike Hunker at mhunker@gocathedral.com. Please note that any “Yes” answer on this form will require your student get an updated physical before participating in any athletic activity.
Please contact Mike Hunker at mhunker@gocathedral.com if you have any questions or need assistance.
Parking Passes
Due to construction on campus, parking needed to be reconfigured for students and staff. Seniors and Juniors should have received an email this week on how to receive a student parking permit.
Cathedral Mother’s Club Used Uniform Donations
Time to clean out those closets and help the Cathedral Mother’s Club! We are excited to announce our used uniform drop off dates: Read More
July 31 – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m
Volunteers will be standing outside of Cunningham (art building), so please drive up the Hill to Cunningham and we will unload your donation. We are looking for uniform pants, shirts, and sweatshirts, as well as Cathedral spirit wear and college spirit wear. Please launder any donations prior to dropping them off. We will be announcing our used uniform sale dates, which will take place before school starts. Thank you in advance for your donations! If you have any questions, please email samencer@yahoo.com.
Back To School Shopping
The first day of school will be here before we know it, so start your back to school shopping at the Cathedral Spirit Shop! Get your uniform polos and sweatshirts on campus! Read More
Check out the latest Cathedral shirts, sweatshirts and polos to show your Irish pride!
TheSpirit Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Summer Reading
Cathedral’s English Department promotes reading year-round, and all grade levels are responsible for choosing one book from theSummer Reading List to buy, read, and annotate by the first day of school. Read More
Cathedral educators nominated and selected books that exemplify the 2020-2021 Holy Cross Core Value of “Excellence,” and students can choose a fiction or non-fiction book from the list.
Camp Cathedral has LIVE CAMPS offered in July!
Are you looking for your children to brush up on their writing skills or learn more about a particular STEM area? Perhaps you want them to work on their athletic abilities and maintain their edge competitively? Maybe you are merely seeking an opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun? Read More
Camp Cathedral has K – 9th-grade offerings ready to address these needs, and we are prepared to provide your family with a safe and enriching Camp Cathedral experience in July!
Find our full schedule of July Camps at www.CampCathedral.com. We will operate our camps weekly from July 6th – July 31st.
We know this summer will be one like no other. However, we are taking steps to ensure your child’s experience will be safe and fulfilling! We are incorporating curbside check-in and pick-up procedures. For best practices in social distancing, we have set caps on registrations for all of our camps. Furthermore, we will have cleaning protocols in place for our facilities and equipment and a nurse will be onsite.
Feel free to look over the week by week schedule and register your children at www.CampCathedral.com.
Campus Facility News – Updated News (7/30/20)
We are excited to share that demo work has begun as the first step in the construction process for Cathedral’s Innovation Center! Below is a construction calendar that we will keep updated to ensure that you are aware of how this will impact our campus in the coming year. Read More
Construction Calendar
2020
*** Door 4 is no longer accessible. The main entrance is now Door 2.
– August 31: New Spirit Shop-Delivery entrance opens
– September 10: Blessing of the Beams
– January 31: New cafeteria space built
2021
– May 1: Exterior building structure and elevators complete
– June 30: Main floor complete
– July 26: Top floor complete
– July 31: Ground floor complete
– August 5: Main staircase complete
– August 12: Construction complete – Innovation Center opens!
2020 Yearbook Distribution Information
Based on when the yearbook plant in Kansas City resumes production, the 2020 Cathedran yearbook is scheduled for distribution in August. Read More
All current seniors will have their yearbooks shipped to their home address from the yearbook plant. Current freshmen, sophomores and juniors will receive their yearbooks at school when classes resume on campus, with a specific distribution schedule to be determined. All Cathedral students receive a yearbook as part of their tuition and fees. It is not necessary for students to order a yearbook. For more information, contact Tony Willis, the yearbook faculty moderator, at twillis@gocathedral.com.
2020/2021 Calendar
***PLEASE note there have been changes made in February***
We have finalized the 2020/2021 calendar. Clickthis link to view important dates in our academic schedule. Read More
Junior parents, please note that we will be holding our Baccalaureate Mass on Friday evening, opposed to the Saturday morning before Graduation. We made this change to serve the many students who have other important end-of-year commitments that often conflict with Baccalaureate when it is on a Saturday.
Happenings in Our Schools, Parishes, and Community Organizations
Cathedral loves to support our schools, parishes, and community organizations. See what’s happening in our area below. Read More
Looking for High School Students Interested in an After School Job
St. Simon School is looking to hire several high school students to assist with their after school care program. You will be supervising small groups of children after school as they play and do their homework. Our program runs every school day from 2:50pm until 6pm. We can be flexible with the times (and days) you are able to work. $12 per hour. If interested, please contact Mrs. Monica Voorhis at mvoorhis@saintsimon.org. We start school August 13 and will be hiring immediately. All safety precautions will be in place for both adults and children.
