June 2, 2020

Dear JCHS students and families,

Over the past few months, the JCHS administration has been carefully monitoring the recommendations and guidelines put in place by the CDC, the Diocese of Palm Beach, and our local health officials here in St. Lucie County regarding the novel coronavirus.  When we originally moved into distance learning in mid-March, we carefully evaluated each upcoming school event to determine its viability and to reschedule as needed.  Our plan was to move important events until later in the summer months, with the hope that restrictions would have been lifted by that time in order to allow for larger gatherings.  One such event that we rescheduled was our junior-senior Prom, originally scheduled for April 4th.  In light of what was happening at the time, we worked with our venue and other vendors and rescheduled the prom to June 27, 2020, with the hopes that we would be able to allow our students to gather and celebrate at that time.

As we enter the month of June, we have spent a good deal of time in careful consideration and reflection on the possibility of having the Prom on this rescheduled date, and at this time, we are saddened to share that we will not be able to hold this event, due to the current restrictions still in place on large gatherings in our local area.  Furthermore, in addition to the restrictions,  based on the nature of this event in particular (dancing, a buffet-style dinner, 150+ people), we feel that it is in the best interest of our students that we cancel this gathering out of an abundance of caution for their health and safety.   Due to these current health guidelines, we feel it would be difficult to alter this social event to follow the guidelines while ensuring student enjoyment at the event. We appreciate your understanding and patience regarding this difficult decision.

It is our sincere hope to plan a celebration/special reunion for the class of 2020 to be held in the late fall of 2020 when permitted. We cannot wait to celebrate in person with this amazing group of young people.  Please know that senior students will be able to pick up their diplomas from the front office in the coming weeks once senior accounts have been satisfied.  Please be on the lookout for a future email from me with more information on these details.

We continue to pray for the safety and healing of our local community and ask for God’s protection from all illness as we move into the summer months and look ahead to the fall with great hope.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Corey Heroux