Day 5 – Learning from Home Experience\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s already Day 5 of learning at home and it\u2019s been very productive. By the end of today we will have made it through week one of this journey together! We have seen some creative responses from our teachers and parents regarding adjusting to our new normal. Thanks to your resilience, flexibility and innovation, we have achieved a lot this past week. The numbers say it all:<\/span><\/p>\n 8,625 <\/b>Learning Packets have been distributed to elementary school students. And I expect we will find ways to be even more innovative and supportive in week two.<\/span><\/p>\n Division-wide Expectations for Staff Staff now have a complete packet of the <\/span>Division-wide Expectations and Guidelines for Staff During School Closures<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n Please make sure you are familiar with these expectations and guidelines. We understand that you are adjusting to this unprecedented situation and know that you need adequate time to process and adapt to this new way of learning and communicating. If you have specific questions, please feel free to speak with your immediate supervisor for guidance and support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n New Food Distribution Schedule<\/b><\/p>\n We are announcing an extension of our food distribution plan. Starting Monday, March 23, ACPS will be providing breakfast and lunch meals for any ACPS student on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. at four locations across the city:<\/span><\/p>\n A fifth mobile\/pop-up meal distribution site will operate from a school bus close to the Brent Place Apartments near Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School. <\/span>Please note that no sign-up or registration is required to receive any of these meals. Meals can be picked up for multiple days at one time. <\/i><\/b>Please make sure that all your students and families are aware of these options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We will be mailing a letter home to all families next week to share this revised plan. Please help us keep our families up to date with the resources available for them at this difficult time. Please also share this information with your secondary students. Some students may not be getting all the daily information to have access to the resources they need. Please remind your secondary students to <\/span>sign up to receive ACPS Express<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Employee Assistance Program I look forward to connecting with you on the <\/span>video Q&A<\/span><\/a> today and seeing you all back (online) on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n Sincerely,<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. Starting Monday, March 23, ACPS is providing two days worth of breakfast and lunch meals free for any ACPS student between the ages of 2 and 18 years-old on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the following locations:<\/span><\/p>\n William Ramsay Elementary School Francis C. Hammond Middle School Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School Mobile Pop-Up Meal Distribution Site via ACPS School Buses NO SIGN UP OR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE MEALS<\/b><\/p>\n Meals consist of cold breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and sandwiches for multiple days per the student\u2019s need.<\/span><\/p>\n NOTE: No food distribution will occur on Tuesdays or Thursdays. <\/b>The limited days for distribution is to support the practice of social distancing and to limit social gatherings.<\/span><\/p>\n Other Food Resources in the City of Alexandria Questions? Or Need Translation?<\/b><\/p>\n Send us your question in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic:<\/span><\/p>\n OR<\/span><\/p>\n Call the FACE Center’s Bilingual Parent Information Lines:<\/span><\/p>\n The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) continues to advise that the general public in Alexandria is at low risk from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic because both cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria are directly related to other known cases. The City of Alexandria has taken measures to further reduce risk, and encourages organizations and individuals to take action, as well. The AHD is reminding the community of the importance of social distancing by maintaining six feet of personal space whenever possible, and frequently washing hands and using hand sanitizer. For other questions about COVID-19, call the Alexandria COVID-19 Information Line at 703-746-4988, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Additional updates can be found at www.alexandriava.gov\/Coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Food donations are NOT being accepted by ALIVE!<\/a> at this time in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. They are requesting financial contributions to buy food, and volunteers to sort food and to distribute food (screened through\u00a0Volunteer Alexandria<\/a>).<\/p>\n Please consider donating through ACT For Alexandria and the Covid-19 Response Fund<\/a> if you are able.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Volunteer Alexandria is working on a plan for onsite volunteer registration at the ACPS food access point. We will let you know more details about this as soon as we have them. Community members who would like to volunteer should reach out to www.volunteeralexandria.org<\/a> or 703-836-2176 to register for any additional potential volunteer opportunities.<\/p>\n Continuity of School Support and Academic Advisement<\/strong><\/p>\n School Student Support Team staff, including school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, and school social workers will be available during school hours throughout the closure. Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m staff will be connecting with students and their families. The Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity staff members are also available during this time and can be contacted by voicemail and at student_services@acps.k12.va.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n Emergency Supports<\/strong><\/p>\n If there is a crisis or emergency during the time of the closure, students and families can access the supports below:<\/p>\n We know that this is a challenging time. ACPS will continue to share information through the ACPS website, social media, and email. Please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to your student\u2019s school counselor or school social worker with any questions.<\/p>\n Monday through Friday while our schools remain closed, ACPS-TV will be screening 90 minutes of educational programming from The Smithsonian\u2019s \u201cScience How\u201d and \u201cStem in 30\u201d series in a loop all 24 hours. Use this series with your students to ensure continuity of education while schools are closed. See this week\u2019s schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our goal is to ensure continuity of learning while schools are closed. Download student learning packets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t Feel Well?<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have questions, concerns or feedback?<\/strong> Contact us<\/a> or contact your direct supervisor.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>6,008<\/b> students were actively engaged in lessons online.
\n<\/span>560<\/b> staff supported those students in online classes.
\n<\/span>6,000<\/b> dollars worth of gift cards have been distributed to needy families at one school alone.
\n<\/span>10,000+<\/b> meals have been served to students and families.
\n<\/span>20,000+<\/b> hits on the ACPS-at-Home website, and
\n<\/span>Stories about ACPS have reached <\/span>151<\/b> countries around the globe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Today, we are sharing the final document in our division-wide expectations and guidelines for staff during the school closures to ensure consistency throughout our schools. Today we are highlighting our Professional Learning Expectations. It is important that we continue to update our skills and learn at this time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/b>For your support during this difficult time, we remind all staff to contact our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1-800-327-1850. Your EAP is designed to provide short-term counseling services, work-life assistance, and legal and financial guidance to help you and your family handle concerns constructively with professional guidance. See more <\/span>EAP information<\/span><\/a> on the ACPS website. It is important that our staff\u2019s needs are met during this transition and we want to ensure you have the necessary supports as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Superintendent of Schools<\/span><\/p>\nNEW FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>5700 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>1501 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Near Brent Place Apartments (Location to be confirmed)
\n<\/span>375 S Reynolds St, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>For food pantry locations and schedules in Alexandria, visit<\/span> www.hungerfreealexandria.com<\/span><\/a> or call \u202a703-662-1067.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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UPDATES FROM THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT<\/h2>\n
WANT TO HELP?<\/h2>\n
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT<\/h2>\n
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LEARNING ON ACPS-TV<\/h2>\n
ONLINE LEARNING PACKETS<\/h2>\n
HEALTH REMINDERS<\/h2>\n
\nContact your primary health care physician.<\/p>\n
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