The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Tuesday that Butler Catholic School's fifth-graders were moved to remote learning at home until Dec. 16.

A news release from the diocese said the action was necessary because an individual “involved with the class” tested positive for COVID-19.

School administrators made the decision to move the three fifth-grade classrooms to remote learning in consultation with health care professionals and the diocese's Catholic Schools Office.

School officials said 34 students will study at home, and their three homeroom teachers will quarantine until Dec. 16.

“We want to keep our students here in school for in-person learning,” said Sister John Ann Mulhern, elementary school principal. “It's getting harder and harder to keep this goal.”

She said the school's administrators will monitor data and share updates with school families through regular channels of communication as the pandemic plays out.