Dear WSD Families,
We hope you are all staying healthy, and that you and your children have settled into a healthy routine. For many of you the prospect of being responsible for your children’s education for the next few months adds stress to an already uncertain situation. We want to reassure all parents: Our teachers are just as committed to developing exciting, engaging student learning opportunities as ever. We do ask for your patience and partnership as we all figure out what this new learning process looks like.
The past few weeks during the “Maintenance of Learning” period our teachers have focused on maintaining students’ learning by reviewing previously taught lessons and skills. Starting the week of April 13th we will move into the “Continuity of Learning” phase of remote learning. This means we will be introducing some new learning and developing new skills. Administrators and teachers are working together with the guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) as we continue to create our Continuity of Learning (COL) Plan. What this looks like will differ by grade level and may include a combination of paper and online work. We will share out more information about it next week.
In addition, we just received guidance from the Secretary of Education that school districts should follow their approved calendar so the week of April 20-24 will be school vacation. Do not expect the regular communication you have been receiving from WSD staff.
Below is important information about picking up new learning materials and food distribution, including our Veggie VanGo produce drops.
Learning Material Distribution
We will hold our second round of learning material distribution for students next week. Details below:
- Monday 4/6 and Tuesday 4/7 from 9am to 11am at our three meal sites (listed below).
- Use this document to find the distribution site where your child’s materials will be.
- Families may choose either Monday or Tuesday. You may ask someone else to pick up your student’s materials if you are unable to make it.
- All JFK Elementary students will get work packets. 5th grade students will be given Chromebooks. If your 5th grader already has a Chromebook at home and you don’t feel it will be necessary for us to provide one, please let their teacher know. Our goal is to make devices available for K-4th grade students in the coming weeks, but we are waiting on orders for chargers and other equipment that are currently not readily available. Those devices will be handed out during a third round of learning material distribution later in April.
- Not all Middle or High school students will be receiving materials. Students can expect to hear from their advisors if they have materials to pick up.
- Please read this document for our health and safety guidelines when picking up materials from distribution sites.
WSD Meal Distribution
WSD continues to provide meals from 9:30am-10am, Monday – Friday, for all students, children, and teens at three sites:
- Winooski Family Center, 87 Elm Street
- O’Brien Community Center, 32 Malletts Bay Avenue
- Winooski School District, 60 Normand Street
Veggie VanGo
On the first and third Friday of each month, from 9am – 10am until the end of the school year, we will continue to provide fresh produce to the Winooski School District community. Our next produce drop is this Friday, April 3. We will let you know what produce is available on our Facebook page the day before the drop. The next Veggie VanGo dates are: April 3, April 17, (May 1 is pending), May 15, June 5 and June 19
Childcare for Essential Workers
If you are an eligible essential worker and need assistance locating available childcare, you can call Amy or Sue on the Child Care Resource referral line – 802-863-3367 ext. 365. You can also complete this form from the state of Vermont or call 211 ext. 6. Click here for more information on the Child Care Resource website.
Essential Needs Resources
We know that many families struggle to make ends meet, and that the COVID-19 pandemic has made their situations even more complicated. We have compiled a list of resources and plan to update this list as new information becomes available.
We are in this together,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent