While many in the Saint Louis U. High communities were anticipating a full return following the Thanksgiving break, their anticipation will have to wait a little bit longer. All SLUH students will be completely online the week of Nov. 30, and will be notified Dec. 1 on whether SLUH will be transitioning fully in-person or will be maintaining the hyflex model of the first quarter.

The decision came in light of the spike in cases both in the St. Louis region and the school. As of Nov. 16, the school has had 12 students and faculty out with COVID-19 and over 50 in quarantine.

“We are a part of the region. Some of our students have made unwise decisions, but they have been responsible in working with us to protect our firewall,” said Principal Ian Gibbons, S.J. “Some have contracted the virus by random contacts, which further evidences the need for rigorous safety measures. Our rates are below the region’s, but growing too fast.”

Gibbons and the SLUH administration believe that this plan of action is the best choice of action, especially since it allows the SLUH administration to reassess the situation in a week when conditions could potentially change.

“We are one of the safest places to be in the region,” said Gibbons. “Our safety firewall works, but when there are one and a half new cases a day with dozens of quarantines added, we have to realize the limits of our firewall. Everyone needs to wear a mask, keep distant around others, avoid new groups of people, and wash our hands. SLUH exists in the region, and the region is not safe right now.”

During the week following Thanksgiving break, school will be entirely virtual. This will act as a buffer and an extra precaution in case of an expected spread during the break. 

“We want to be on campus,” said Gibbons. “The online pivot for a week is a result of the rapid influx of cases in the state and St. Louis region. SLUH's numbers are spiking as well, although not like the 20 to 40 percent positivity rates seen in the state or newly double digit positivity rates in the city. If we can get our numbers and those of the region stable, we will return to our plan.”

On Dec. 1, SLUH parents and students should receive an email from Gibbons defining the plan for  returning to campus. SLUH hopes to have everybody on campus for the last remaining weeks but will have to reassess the situation and decide the safest possible return plan.

“We have to stop the rising numbers in our community,” said Gibbons. “We are averaging over one new case a day in the past week. If we announce on Dec. 1 that we will move forward with everyone being able to return, we will send an option selection survey to families. They will choose either being all online or four days on campus. We would then make the big alterations to campus later that week to bring everyone back.”

For Gibbons, the most important factor for deciding how about returning after break will be how the student body behaves during the holiday period.

“Please be safe over the break. Stay within your circle of family,” said Gibbons. “I am grateful that you can do so. A simple Thanksgiving in 2020 will be our gift to SLUH and the region.”