COVID Closure Daily Staff Update for Friday, March 20

- News and Announcements

Day 5 – Learning from Home Experience 

It’s already Day 5 of learning at home and it’s 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:

8,625 Learning Packets have been distributed to elementary school students.
6,008 students were actively engaged in lessons online.
560 staff supported those students in online classes.
6,000 dollars worth of gift cards have been distributed to needy families at one school alone.
10,000+ meals have been served to students and families.
20,000+ hits on the ACPS-at-Home website, and
Stories about ACPS have reached 151 countries around the globe.  

And I expect we will find ways to be even more innovative and supportive in week two.

Division-wide Expectations for Staff
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.  

Staff now have a complete packet of the Division-wide Expectations and Guidelines for Staff During School Closures:

  • Communication expectations (posted on March 17)
  • Instruction/Curriculum expectations (posted on March 18)
  • Collaboration expectations (posted on March 19)
  • Professional Learning expectations (posted on March 20)

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. 

New Food Distribution Schedule

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:

  • William Ramsay Elementary School
  • Francis C. Hammond Middle School
  • Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology
  • Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School

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. 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. Please make sure that all your students and families are aware of these options. 

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 sign up to receive ACPS Express.

Employee Assistance Program
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 EAP information on the ACPS website. It is important that our staff’s needs are met during this transition and we want to ensure you have the necessary supports as well. 

I look forward to connecting with you on the video Q&A today and seeing you all back (online) on Monday.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

NEW FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE

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:

William Ramsay Elementary School
5700 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311

Francis C. Hammond Middle School
4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304

Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology
3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305 

Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
1501 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Mobile Pop-Up Meal Distribution Site via ACPS School Buses
Near Brent Place Apartments (Location to be confirmed)
375 S Reynolds St, Alexandria, VA 22304

NO SIGN UP OR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE MEALS

Meals consist of cold breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and sandwiches for multiple days per the student’s need.

NOTE: No food distribution will occur on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The limited days for distribution is to support the practice of social distancing and to limit social gatherings.

Other Food Resources in the City of Alexandria
For food pantry locations and schedules in Alexandria, visit www.hungerfreealexandria.com or call ‪703-662-1067.

Questions? Or Need Translation?

Send us your question in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic:

  • Text ACPSMEALS to 797979 (English and Spanish) 
  • Call or text 703-927-6866 (Amharic)
  • Call or text 703-927-7095 (Arabic)

OR

Call the FACE Center’s Bilingual Parent Information Lines:

  • For Spanish, call 571-775-9719, Monday-Friday (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
  • For Amharic, call 703-927-6866, Monday-Friday (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
  • For Arabic, call 703-927-7095, Tuesday-Thursday (9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

UPDATES FROM THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT

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.

Additional updates can be found at www.alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.

WANT TO HELP?

Food donations are NOT being accepted by ALIVE! 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 Volunteer Alexandria).

Please consider donating through ACT For Alexandria and the Covid-19 Response Fund if you are able. 

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 or 703-836-2176 to register for any additional potential volunteer opportunities.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Continuity of School Support and Academic Advisement

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.

Emergency Supports

If there is a crisis or emergency during the time of the closure, students and families can access the supports below:

We know that this is a challenging time. ACPS will continue to share information through the ACPS website, social media, and email. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s school counselor or school social worker with any questions.

LEARNING ON ACPS-TV

Monday through Friday while our schools remain closed, ACPS-TV will be screening 90 minutes of educational programming from The Smithsonian’s “Science How” and “Stem in 30” 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’s schedule.

ONLINE LEARNING PACKETS

Our goal is to ensure continuity of learning while schools are closed. Download student learning packets.

HEALTH REMINDERS

Don’t Feel Well?
Contact your primary health care physician.

 

 

Have questions, concerns or feedback? Contact us or contact your direct supervisor.

HR Questions? Contact hr@acps.k12.va.us.

Stay Healthy!
Wash your hands regularly. Regular soap is okay.