Welcome to our digital newsletter for District families!

Good morning - Yesterday's issue of The District Digest did not include the times for the Trauma-Informed Caregiver Workshop or the phone number for our Call Center. That information has been added to this updated version. Additionally, our Gifted & Talented Office released an update yesterday afternoon. You can read that HERE. We hope all of our families have a great weekend!

Countdown to SY 2020-2021

We are looking forward to welcoming your students back to school on Monday, August 31, 2020. Our teachers reported back to work this week. They are engaging in professional development with a focus on virtual instruction and are eager to meet their new students and get to know you, our parents and guardians!

Trauma-Informed Caregiver Workshop

Trauma is ubiquitous. According to Echo Training, 67% of us have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience. In people of color, that is more likely to be 83%.

Children can recover from traumatic events, especially with the support of caring adults. Plan to attend the District's trauma-informed caregiver workshop on Saturday, August 29, 2020, from 10-11:30am on Zoom: LINK.

RSVP to your school's family and community support specialist by Thursday, August 27, 2020, and please share this FLYER.

If you have any questions, please contact Megan Marietta, our manager of social work services, 314-345-4563.

The 4-1-1 on Virtual Learning

There will be more details to come leading up to August 31, but here are the basics on how virtual learning will work!

TECH: Every K-12 student will be issued a device for virtual learning. Students in K-8 will receive an iPad. Students in 9-12 will receive a Dell laptop. Distribution will be at your assigned school site, starting the week of August 24, 2020. Your principal or teacher will be reaching out to you to schedule pick-up. Our target date to complete distribution is September 4, 2020. Hotspots will also be provided to families that indicated they needed one to access the internet.

SUPPLIES: School supplies needed to start the school year will be provided when you pick up your electronic devices.

HOURS: Virtual learning will be held daily, Monday through Friday, from 8:15am to 3pm, with the exception of holidays or professional development days. Reference the 2020-2021 SLPS academic calendar for details: www.slps.org/calendar.

FORMAT: SLPS will use Microsoft Teams as its virtual learning platform. The format will be a roughly 50-50 mix of synchronous instruction (virtual face-to-face class meetings, direct instruction, collaboration, discussion and intervention) and asynchronous instruction (independent work).

ASSIGNMENTS: An overview of each week's lessons, along with links to the Microsoft Teams classrooms, can be accessed on your teacher's website.

BREAKS: Teachers are developing schedules now, but the day will be oriented, so students have brain breaks, bio breaks and lunch/snack breaks.

LOGGING IN: Parents/guardians can obtain their child's username and password from their child's teacher or principal.

TECH SUPPORT: For technology-related issues on District devices, contact the IT Help Desk at 314-345-5757 or email your principal. On-site training and printouts will also be available during technology distribution at your school.

Shout out to our fantastic models from Meramec Elementary: 1st and 2nd grade ELA teacher Briana Everett and her 2nd grader, Brian!

Marvelous Monday Meals!

On the first day of school, Monday, August 31, 2020, SLPS will launch a new, five-day meal plan for students. The new program serves 8am to 1pm every Monday from designated schools.

As we gear up for the new plan, this Friday, August 21, 2020, marks the end of the District's seven-day family meal service.

In the new plan, meal distribution is on Mondays. Please see the newly updated list of meal distribution sites. Every Monday (except holidays), families can take home a five-day meal kit, which includes five breakfasts and five lunches, for each student enrolled and studying virtually in any program at SLPS.

In order to receive meals, students or parents/guardians must present the student’s meal service Personal Identification Number (PIN).

If you are new to the District or do not remember your PIN, please contact:

Your home school (even though we’re studying virtually, students are still assigned to a home school), or
Food and Nutrition Services Department: Tenecia Williams, Accountability Specialist, 314-345-2308; or Althea Albert-Santiago, Director, 314-345-4519

This institution is an equal opportunity employer.

Athletics Update

In order to accommodate the challenges of coordinating organized sports in a pandemic, the SLPS Public High League (PHL) will move its traditional fall season to a modified spring season with competitions taking place March 12-May 1, 2021.

Schools will have the option, based on projected participation numbers, to let the PHL Office know if they will participate in the traditional spring season or the alternate spring season with competitions taking place May 14-July 10, 2021.

We expect to have more information to share with PHL families in the near future. Thank you for your patience and support, as we work to safely bring sports and related opportunities back to our student-athletes.

In the meantime, we ask that student-athletes wear masks and social distance. Stay healthy and safe. We’ll see you soon!

Please click HERE to learn more.

Question? Contact the SLPS Back to School Call Center

The District's Back to School call center is now open. Contact the call center at 314-345-5656 for your questions, as we head into the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Hours are below:

Week of 8/17/20 – 8/21/20: 8am until 3pm
Week of 8/24/20 – 8/28/20: 8am until 3pm
Week of 8/31/20 – 9/4/20: 7am until 5pm

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