Carson City private schools adjust to new COVID-19 safety procedures

With the 2020-21 school year in full swing, private schools in the Carson City area are adjusting to new COVID-19 health and safety procedures.

Schools including Sierra Lutheran High School, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School and Bethlehem Lutheran are providing safe environments for students, faculty and staff during these unprecedented times. Each school enforces daily health measures for in-person classes while also providing virtual classes for students unable to attend.

Sierra Lutheran High School
Located at 3601 Romans Rd., Sierra Lutheran High School opened its doors Aug. 24 when districts in Northern Nevada prepared for the new year to begin. In-person classes are held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Executive Director Brian Underwood has been pleased with the measures students and staff have made with a conscious effort to keep others safe. Students unable to attend class can access a live stream recorded via the school’s Google Classroom account.

“It’s going exceedingly well thus far,” he said. “We are blessed to have such mindful students who are aware of the procedures. Our staff has been tremendous in accommodating those needs, and it’s been great.”

All students, teachers, faculty and staff inside the school must adhere to the mandatory face coverings and social distancing measures at all times.

Underwood said that daily health procedures — including electronic health screenings and temperature checks —are held before anyone enters the building. Desks, tables, chairs and other common areas used are sanitized and routinely cleaned in between classes.

“We have a number of procedures that we're following very closely,” Underwood said. “Health is critical at this time, and it’s our duty to make sure everyone is safe around each other.”

Sports at Sierra Lutheran are postponed following the Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association’s announcement of fall sports being moved to March of 2021. Underwood said that select extracurricular activities and clubs are still available for students after school.

“We have a generously sized campus to be socially distant,” he said. “Clubs and activities are still available with some limitations. But campus life is important and we’re trying our best to preserve it.”

For more information, visit the Sierra Lutheran High School website here.

St. Teresa of Avila
Located at 567 South Richmond Ave., St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School holds preschool through eighth grade in-person classes. The school released a “Return to School Plan” regarding the COVID-19 protocols in place for the new year.

Face coverings, social distancing measures and constant hygiene and sanitization are mandatory throughout the day. Distance learning options include online worksheets and handouts and virtual instruction on Google Classroom for each grade level.

“Things are going well for us as a school,” Principal Peggy Burger said. “We do a lot more than the basics for the safety of our staff and students and it’s translated to a better environment overall.”

To ensure the safety of students and faculty, Burger said air purifiers are installed in every classroom to clean certain dust and pollutants trapped inside the building.

“We want to make sure that everyone who steps foot inside is walking into a clean and protected environment,” she said. “It wouldn’t be done without the graceful actions of our staff, teachers and students who go the extra mile.”

Burger said that clubs and extracurriculars will not be held after school for the safety of students.

“Right now it is what it is,” she said. “Under these circumstances, we want to make sure everyone is safe and healthy. The way we’re doing that is just through school hours.”

For more information, visit St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School website here.

Bethlehem Lutheran School
Located at 1837 Mountain St., Bethlehem Lutheran School released a reopening plan update for in-person classes during the school year. Mandatory procedures within the classroom include face coverings, social distancing, temperature checks, hand sanitizing stations and plexiglass barriers where needed.

Bethlehem holds classes from preschool through eighth grade, and teachers have spray bottles mixed with bleach every morning to sanitize the classroom before school starts. Per the reopening plan, kids are taught to wipe down their desks and chairs with anti-bacterial wipes each day.

Zoom classes and online classwork is also available for students learning from home. The chapel is held at two locations for students and staff with the mandatory health procedures in place. Recess and outdoor activity is available for students with enforced social distancing measures.

To read more on Bethlehem Lutheran School’s procedures to the new school year, visit the link here.