April 24, 2020 — (Wilmington, Delaware) — The Diocese of Wilmington will close all school buildings for the remainder of the school year in both Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, it was announced today. Distance learning for students will continue through the end of the academic term for all parish and diocesan elementary and high schools.
“We realize that this decision creates a number of questions,” said diocesan superintendent, Lou De Angelo. “First and foremost, we shall continue quality Catholic education adhering to the diocesan school calendar through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Continuation of distance learning is important so that our students are prepared for the next school year. Our final day for school on the Official School Calendar is Friday, June 12.”
Questions regarding graduation, closing exercises, and end-of-year activities will be addressed by each local school. Since all schools have different contexts and traditions, these plans will be individualized by school. School administrators have been asked to share their plans with parents by Friday, May 15.
When permitted, schools will work to provide families limited access to school buildings, respecting the requirements of social distancing, masks, gloves, and other expectations, to retrieve students’ belongings.
Governor John Carney announced today that school buildings in Delaware will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. As of yet, no announcement regarding school buildings in Maryland has been made by Governor Larry Hogan.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 36 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Details on how the Diocese of Wilmington is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic is available at http://www.cdow.org/coronavirus.