Tampa: Students Are Back on Campus

By Lili DeGrasse

Monday, August 24 marked the first day of the 2020-2021 academic year for Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School at Mary Help of Christians in Tampa, FL. Parents had three options from which to choose this year: to have their children attend classes on campus, to have them e-Learn from home, or a hybrid of both. About 60% chose to have their students on campus, and we are happy to see them again.

As expected, there are differences to the school day now in response to safety protocols and guidelines for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). From temperature checks at arrival to school to morning prayer and convocation outdoors or via Zoom, to classrooms with only a handful of desks in them to allow for social distancing, to grab-and-go procedures in the cafeteria at lunchtime, a lot of things look different. However, the good and familiar things about school in an oratory of Don Bosco’s remain:

1. Spending time with friends, classmates, teachers, and the entire Salesian family;
2. Growing in faith, growing in knowledge, and growing in skills;
3. Moving, exercising, being physically active;
4. Sharing meals and praying together;
5. Being encouraged as well as challenged; and
6. Not to mention the beautiful campus and Salesian presence of Mary Help of Christians Center.

Welcome back, Panthers! It is good that school has begun. Let’s make it a great year.