St. Paul's Virtual Learning Center

With the decisions by many school districts to begin the year with remote and hybrid instruction, many families are experiencing the crisis of how to manage the beginning of this fall with their kids at home. As a parish, we have the amazing gift of space and organizational knowledge and capacity to help some families with this situation.This week, the Vestry concurred with my recommendation that we launch a Virtual Learning Center in our Undercroft for at least the first 9 weeks of the school year.

This Center will be a staffed and supervised space where kids can do their remote learning from their home schools. Though we have capacity for a somewhat larger group, we are beginning with 16 available spaces.The Center will follow a meticulous health and safety plan that involves more than the required social distancing, masking and other hygiene practices. Our program will first host students on Monday, August 31st.There will be a program fee, with financial assistance available. Any money raised above the program costs will benefit the St. Paul’s COVID 19 Fund.

I am grateful to also announce that Kara Viggiano has accepted the invitation to serve as the Program Coordinator.Kara Viggiano, who grew up attending St. Paul’s, is a graduate of the West Virginia University School of Public Health masters program. Kara has experience working with children and families in and outside school settings. She was the Wellness Program Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club in Morgantown, WV. She also served as the Youth Program Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Three Rivers, Marathon Inc. Recently she was the Clinical Research Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh Concussion Research Lab. In the evenings, she works as a Kids Zone Captain at the PPG Paints Arena during Penguin games.

You can watch this interview to learn more! The Virtual Leaning Center can be reached at virtual@stpaulspgh.org. Please email Kara with questions.

I am grateful that our parish continues to respond to ways to serve our community, especially during this strange and uncertain time.

Peace,

Noah

The Reverend Noah H. Evans

Rector