COVID Closure Daily Staff Update for Thursday, March 19

- News and Announcements

Day 4 – Learning from Home Experience 

We have made it to Day 4 of our ACPS-At-Home Learning Experience and almost completed week 1 of one of the most unprecedented times in our history. Like many of you, my wife and I are refining our daily routines often to accommodate our kids’ new schedules as well as our modified work schedules. I know these may be challenging times for many of you and our families. We want to ensure that we are supporting your needs and providing you with the necessary tools to support our students and families. 

Today, we will be continuing to share our division-wide expectations and guidelines for staff during the school closures to ensure consistency throughout our schools. 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 adjust 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. 

Today, we are sharing our division wide Collaboration Expectations for ACPS staff during school closures. It is important that we remain connected to our colleagues and provide opportunities to continue to collaborate as well as share our innovative approaches to learning. By tomorrow Friday, March 20, you will have a complete understanding of all division expectations and guidelines for staff. 

Here’s the schedule for release of this information to staff: 

Please be aware that the Governor has issued new guidelines that recommend that anyone who is 65 or over should not be in a school building. Please work with your supervisor to fulfill these guidelines if you are 65 or over.

I am mindful that it is not only our students and parents who are struggling with this transition. Our staff are impacted by this situation and ever-changing environment as well. I know that our staff look forward to coming to school each day to teach and serve our wonderful students. You all have strong friendships and connections with your colleagues. As such, the closure of school can be difficult for all of us as we lose our day-to-day interaction with the people and routines that we know and rely on. In this type of situation it is not unusual to see ourselves, professional colleagues, spouses/significant others, and/or children suddenly become more emotionally reactive. Change can be challenging for even the most resilient people, and with patience, reassurance and structure, we can help each other to adjust and grow from the experience. 

Here are a few tips to help yourself, loved ones, or colleagues: 

  • Validate your loved one’s feelings and encourage honest conversations. It is normal to see changes in behavior during a change, including the closing of school. Know what resources we can offer at school or within the school division to help support you or a loved one through this.
  • Stay connected. Please use all the ACPS tools available like Zoom to stay connected with your students, colleagues and staff. Write them notes or emails about your day or even send a text or post on social media. 
  • Reach out for ideas or help from your school’s student support team members if needed. ACPS school counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers are teleworking and available to answer questions during normal school hours. They can be reached by email and are happy to assist. 

Finally, I have been getting through your questions and will continue to answer them. Don’t miss today’s Q&A video for staff, available to watch beginning at 2 p.m. If you missed yesterday’s staff Q&A, you can watch it on the ACPS-at-Home website. Please stay healthy, safe and engaged. We will make it through this together as a team and I know that we all will be better after this unprecedented situation! 

Sincerely,

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

BILINGUAL PARENT INFORMATION LINES

The FACE Center’s Bilingual Parent Information Lines are still available to connect parents and staff and are being monitored by ACPS division-wide Parent Liaisons. Please feel free to connect families to them as needed. 

  • 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.

FOOD ACCESS

ACPS Food Access
ACPS is continuing to provide food over at no cost for any child and any family who needs it during the school closures. It is essential to stay healthy at this critical time.

There are two ways to access food while schools are closed:

  1. Individual Meals to Go: Any child – whether or not they are eligible for Free or Reduced Price Meals – can pick up a meal to go in a bag. Stop by the Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School (door 14) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. to pick up a meal-to-go (8 a.m. – 10 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m for lunch). You do not need to fill out any forms to pick up a meal-to-go.
  2. Family Meal Packs: You can order a family meal pack online and pick it up at the drive through pick-up point outside Chinquapin Recreation Center (Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School, door 14) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m the following day. If transportation is an issue, please remember to check the box to request free meal delivery. Fill out the form to request a family meal pack.

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

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.