For the first time since March 12th, the sounds of children filled the halls of St. Peter Academy on Monday, June 29th. The school happily welcomed students back into its year-round early education and summer programming with extensive policies and procedures to promote the health and safety of everyone during the ongoing pandemic. Of equal importance to the school was to ensure the school’s long-established hallmark feature of valuing each individual child by providing a nurturing environment filled with compassion and individualized instruction that promotes the growth of the whole child; academically, socially and emotionally, remain intact with consistency during these unprecedented times.
Early Education Operations Coordinator, Ashley Crush, checks daily wellness questionnaires and temperatures before students and staff enter the school. 
School Principal, Frank Galligan, welcomes and guides students back at a distanced pace as they enter the building.
“Over the past seven weeks, children have enjoyed being back in school with their friends. They have adapted quite nicely to wearing a mask and remaining within their specific cohorts with the appropriate six-foot social distancing in place. I am so proud of our students and their demonstrated resilience!” said Summer Program Director, Christian Hennessey.
Summer Camp Director, Christian Hennessey, and students play a fun game of Simon Says where outdoor time is encouraged at the Academy. 
Outside play is encouraged with sprinkler and playground fun. 
The school playground is thoroughly disinfected between each student cohort use.
Toddler Transition Room Lead Co-Teacher, Brittney Robinson remarked “The three days of training provided by the school leadership prior to reopening the school, laid the foundation for our current success of being back in school for almost two months with happy, engaged children without one incident of COVID. The school leadership set hygiene, health, cleaning frequency and safety standards that in many cases exceed state requirements. Teachers were also encouraged to think ‘outside of the box’ and collaborated on ways to creatively provide engaging lessons and extension activities dosed in a big way with nurture and compassion for our students. I felt safe, cared for and ready for my students upon my return to school.”
Toddler Blue Room students engage in a learning activity with the appropriate social distancing and PPE protocols in place. 
Ms. Gloria engages students in morning circle with lively conversation, instruction and songs.
The school is preparing itself to welcome back all prekindergarten, kindergarten and elementary students on September 8th. “If there’s a silver lining to be discovered during these trying times, the St Peter Academy Community will find it” assured governing board and founding member, Maryellen Connolly. “Our intentional small class sizes always provided for authentic individualized instruction so that faculty have the ability to truly meet each child where they are on their learning journey and subsequently encourage each child to reach their full potential through challenging and differentiated instruction. It is our intentionally maintained small class sizes that will benefit our whole school community in today’s world, where minimizing contacts among people is key to deterring the spread of COVID.”
Prekindergarten Teacher, Ms. Carmen, assists a kindergarten student with his school issued summer break enrichment work packet which is scheduled into the summer program day. 
A student is eagerly engaged in an online math lesson during summer program hours.
Likewise, a school parent who ascribes to the school’s intentionally small environment agrees. “The school has done a phenomenal job with making sure that the kids come back to a very safe and healthy environment” noted parent, Anthony Gilardi. “I’m so thankful to the teachers, administration, and board for doing such a great job with virtual learning and reopening its building under very difficult circumstances this year.”
The Academy’s daily “welcome station” filled with touchless thermometers, hand sanitizer, sanitizer spray for backpacks, a bubble machine and balloons await student arrival. 
Students are provided with their own exclusive use learning materials to lessen any spread of germs.
St. Peter Academy in an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K, Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Virtual tours are being conducted and can be made by contacting the development director, Maria Blasi at 617-268-0750 or by emailing M.Blasi@StPeterAcademy.com or the school at SPA@StPeterAcademy.co
