'Study hall' opens at St. Bonaventure

By Linda Reeves - The Florida Catholic Palm Beach

DAVIE | As archdiocesan K-12 schools reopened for the fall term with only virtual classes, St. Bonaventure School in Davie launched "study hall," an attempt to take some of the pressure off parents who are working on the frontlines during the pandemic.  

“Thank God St. Bonaventure is opening this program,” said Dr. Jenny Arango-Longo, a wife and young mother of two St. Bonaventure students, who is juggling work and the care of her sons.

An obstetrician and gynecologist, she has continued to deliver babies and take care of women since the coronavirus outbreak began. She even came down with COVID-19 herself this summer. Her husband, Antonio, a veterinarian, did not get sick with the virus, but since March, took time from work and clients to share in the supervision of the children — Antonio Jr., 8, and Marcello, 6 — and their schooling. He also went into quarantine himself when his wife got sick.

“I am beyond ecstatic about the program,” said an excited Arango-Longo. “I applaud Lisa Kempinski.”

Kempinski, principal of St. Bonaventure, spearheaded the study hall initiative, which launched Aug. 24, 2020 on the school’s campus. The program provides daily in-school supervision for children of essential workers, is free to the school community’s families, and will run during the fall term. 

“We have a lot of parents who are nurses, doctors and firefighters,” said Kempinski, who learned about the large number of essential workers in the school community after taking a poll this summer.

Kempinski, mother of a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, understands the stresses of her families, who are faced with care of their children while they learn online at home. The cost of care on top of school tuition is a financial hardship for many. Parents are also concerned with safety of their children who are left with sitters or others as they go off to work.   

“They can’t stay at home," said Kempinski about parents who are working in industries deemed “essential,” including health care professionals, teachers, food service workers and first responders. “They need a safe place for their students. We have the extra space. It is not costing us anything.”

St. Bonaventure is serving 635 students this year enrolled in K-8 and currently learning remotely. A total of 48 families are joining the study hall, which is set up in spare rooms to accommodate 65 children. The space is away from areas used by the school’s teachers, who are working in their own classrooms while teaching online.

The school program runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an after-school-care program running until 6 p.m.

As part of the study hall, parents are asked to drop their youngsters off at school wearing uniforms and masks. Temperatures are checked, and the students are immediately escorted to their learning areas.

All summer, St. Bonaventure educators have been preparing for the new school year and for the eventual reopening of the campus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are being followed. Safety protocols associated with the pandemic are in place. Classrooms are equipped with additional gadgets and devices to keep them clean, disinfected and safe. Staff are wearing masks, washing their hands and distancing.

The study hall pods are small. Family households will be kept together the entire term and monitored. The families of the children are being updated and informed and remain in close contact with the school.

“If a family is exposed to the virus, we will close the group,” said Kempinski about sending children home if any family member is infected or exposed to the coronavirus.

Teacher assistants supervise each pod of students and provide any help that they need as they attend virtual classes with their teachers.

Once plans were in place, St. Bonaventure sent the study hall proposal to the archdiocese's Department of Schools, which gave the green light to open. 

The school is also earning high marks for stepping out in faith to help families during this unprecedented time.

“There are other schools that are replicating the model that St. Bonaventure sent to the archdiocese,” said Kim Pryzbylski, archdiocesan superintendent of schools. “It is great to see how the schools are working with their families to provide instruction and support while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic."

On the first day of study hall, Ricssie Ampuero, a pharmacist, dropped off her daughters Zara, 7, and Aubree, 5.

"They were so excited to come," she said. "They missed their teachers and friends. This is an amazing idea. This is a good community, and it's standing together in these unforeseen times."

José Ortiz, who owns a sports café, agreed that the St. Bonaventure study hall was good for his son, Jake, 7. "Keeping kids home 24/7 isn't good. Giving them an activity is important." 

Florida Catholic freelancer Jim Davis contributed to this report.