Butler Catholic moved its fifth graders to remote learning as a result of a positive COVID-19 test.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced on Tuesday morning 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 total 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.

“We will keep the well-being of our students and staff uppermost in the decisions we make,” Mulhern said.

School officials had no further comment on the matter Tuesday.

Several other schools in the diocese have been affected by COVID-19 as well, according to news releases received by diocesan officials over the past several months.

This is a breaking news report — read more in Wednesday's Butler Eagle.