In late May, fifth-graders Grace Wolfrum and Cameron Smith fill the Little Free Library with used books outside of Butler Catholic School. Students age 2 or older in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will be wearing masks indoors this coming school year.

Students, teachers and staff in the many Catholic schools in Butler County must mask up when they return to class in the upcoming weeks.

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh officials issued a news release Tuesday afternoon that mandates masks when indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

Only those younger than age 2 or those with medical or developmental conditions will be exempt.

The release said frequent mask breaks will be provided, which is best done outside.

Classrooms and lunchrooms will employ physical distancing strategies in the least restrictive manner.

Continued hand sanitizing along with cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be used in all schools, and classrooms will continue extra ventilation measures.

Teachers will conduct as many activities as possible outdoors, and positive COVID-19 cases will continue to be reported to the appropriate health departments.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines will be followed regarding quarantine for positive cases and those exposed to positive cases.

“Although we had hoped to be in a position to allow optional masking, that is not possible at this point in time,” said Michelle Peduto, the diocese's director of Catholic schools. “The protocols for quarantining in an optional-mask environment would significantly compromise our ability to provide in-person instruction.”

Peduto said the diocese intends to evaluate how the first month of classroom instruction affects COVID-19 numbers for all students.

The release said parents, teachers, staff and students were resilient, faithful and courageous last year as classes continued in-person in the diocese during the pandemic.

“Our goals continue to be to keep staff and students safe while providing five-day-a-week in-person instruction,” Peduto said in the release.

She said some grades or schools temporarily moved to at-home learning last year to prevent the spread of the virus.

Given the new variants appearing, Peduto hopes to carry out in-person classes as much as possible.

“The mission of our Catholic schools is to provide an environment where your children, God's children, can encounter Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior each day,” Peduto said. “We live that mission by loving God above all things and loving our neighbor above ourselves.”

She said the masking policy best demonstrates that mission.

The first day of school at Butler Catholic School is Aug. 26. The first day for nearby St. Wendelin Catholic School is Aug. 25.

Freshmen and sophomores at North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township return on Thursday, and juniors and seniors on Friday.