COVID-19 presents a public health situation that requires us to adapt the way we do youth ministry for this school year.  Based on the fact that in - person youth ministry is much more effective to build community than online youth ministry, our St.Andrew's Saltire youth ministry programs will be held with the following changes.

These were compiled based on Diocesean requirements as well as parent's input via the online surveys conducted.  We hope and pray this plan will ensure that the spiritual needs of our students are met, while still maintaining health precautions. 

COVID-19 Safety Plan

Middle School Saltire 5 - 6:15 pm most Sundays, some weekend nights (calendar is provided to registrants)

• The majority of sessions will be outdoors, outside of the Fr. Pilecki room.  
• Students will check in at the Saltire flag location.  Parents are asked to provide a Daily Health Screening Chart or their child's temperature will be taken upon check in. 
• Snacks will be served outside while the students are seated socially distanced from each other (masks off).  
• Based on the difficulty with keeping students socially distanced, masks will be worn the remainder of the time and should also be worn upon arrival before snacks.  Saltire masks will be provided at the kick-off session.
• When the weather prevents outdoor meetings, we would likely meet in smaller groups in the Lounge and Fr. Pilecki room or larger groups in the gym or church hall, again with social distanced serving and eating of snacks and masks required the remainder of the time.
• When there are games involved in which balls or game pieces are touched by multiple people, we will have the students sanitize before and after using equipment. 
• All leaders' temperatures will be taken before middle school students arrive and masks will be worn, except when presenting, which will be done while they are minimum 6 feet away from students.

High School Saltire and Confirmation 7:30 - 9 pm most Sundays

• The majority of sessions will be held in the Lounge or Fr. Pilecki rooms with masks worn and social distanced as much as possible.  When possible, some parts of meetings will also be held outside. 
• Students will check in at the Saltire flag location.  Parents are asked to provide a Daily Health Screening Chart or their child's temperature will be taken upon check in.   
• Snacks will be served outside as students arrive.  High school students will be instructed to eat only while seated in socially distanced chairs. 
• Masks will be worn the remainder of the time and should also be worn upon arrival before snacks.  Saltire masks will be provided at the kick-off session.
• For the majority of the time, groups will be divided in smaller groups (Confirmation separated from Sophomores - Seniors or guys from girls, etc.) between the Lounge and the Fr. Pileck room.  On occasions when the large group comes together and outdoors is not feasible (due to weather or a video component), social distancing as much as possible will be done and the amount of time will be less than 15 minutes.
• When there are games involved in which balls or game pieces are touched by multiple people, we will have the students sanitize before and after using equipment. 
• All leaders' temperatures will be taken before high school students arrive and masks will be worn.
• For students requiring online Confirmation preparation, we will plan to have a leader whose group that teen is assigned to, Facetime the student for all sessions.  This way, the student can still participate in the small group discussion that is a usual part of each session.  

NOTE: All students must be registered, guests' parents must sign a Covid-19 waiver upon entry.  You can complete the waiver by clicking here.