Daily Update
3/20/20
A Brief Note from Our Superintendent to Our Students and Parents:
To our students, please take this health crisis seriously. Heed the advice of health experts by practicing social distancing and proper hygiene - wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, seek medical attention if sick and avoid sick people. We must protect each other. Now is NOT the time to be gathering with friends or venturing out into public places with groups of people, unless absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs. Take care of yourself - physically and emotionally. Know that public health experts are working tirelessly to respond to this health crisis. Remain calm and stay connected. Pick up the phone or video chat with friends or family. Share a laugh, smile, express appreciation and gratitude to others.
To our parents and guardians, our expectation during this unprecedented school closure is that families don’t feel pressured to take on the additional responsibility of homeschooling their child. If we extend the school closure beyond spring break we will have a plan to provide learning resources via the District’s website. Please redirect your energy to the most important tasks at hand -- proper hygiene, social distancing, and supporting one another.
Thank you,
Coby Dennis, Superintendent
Boise Schools
Grab-And-Go Meal Services For Children Who Need Them
Boise School District will begin Grab-And-Go meal service on Monday, March 23, 2020 through March 27, 2020 (spring break) for children who need nutritious meals while schools are closed.
Starting Monday and continuing through Friday, free sack meals will be available from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at the following locations:
Grace Jordan Elementary
6411 W Fairfield Ave
Front of school
Morley Nelson Elementary
7701 W Northview St
Student drop off loop by Community Center
Whitney Elementary
1609 S Owyhee St
Bus loop drop off near the Community Center entrance
Whittier Elementary
301 N 29th St
Bus loop entrance
Any child ages 1-18 (including toddlers) can receive one breakfast and one lunch per day to eat at home. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but the child must be present. Meals will be served in a drive-through manner and meals are not to be eaten on site. There will be no public access inside the schools; these are not places to socialize or congregate at this time. Meals will be served sack style on a first come first served basis. Each sack will contain one breakfast and one lunch.
If your child requires special meal accommodations, please contact the Boise School District Food & Nutrition Service Office at 208-854-4067 to make arrangements. A decision about continuing the Grab-And-Go Meal Service beyond spring break will be made should there be an extended closure of schools.
AP Announces Free, Optional Remote Learning and Updates to this year’s AP Testing
From the AP Website: AP testing this year will be at-home, online. AP will support students with free, optional remote learning. These options will give students the opportunity to earn the college credit and placement they've been working toward all year.
The AP Program will invest heavily in solutions that are designed to be as simple and lightweight as possible for both students and teachers—without creating additional burdens for school communities during this time. We will be working with the Boise School District AP teachers and will provide an update for our students following spring break. You can read the full release on AP’s website.
Updated FAQ to Address Current Closure
Since Spring Break is next week, we have prepared an updated Frequently Asked Questions to address concerns raised during the recent closure, as well as what we’re planning for after Spring Break.
How Can I Help My Child Continue Learning?
Our expectation during this unprecedented school closure is that families don’t feel pressured to take on the additional responsibility of homeschooling their child. Please redirect your energy to the most important tasks at hand -- proper hygiene, social distancing, and supporting one another.
If we extend the school closure beyond spring break (March 23-27, 2020) we will have a plan to provide learning resources via the District’s website (boiseschools.org). Once live, the website will include family resources, as well as ideas for home activities.
SAT Day
Idaho’s school SAT day is being moved back from April 14 to April 28
Translations
The Daily Updates, as well as our FAQ, are posted on our website. If you would like this translated, use the “Language” menu on the top left of the page (just above the District or School logo). Available languages are: Cantonese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Closures and Cancelations:
Boise Music Week has been canceled
All Boise School District musical and theater performances are currently canceled
All High School Academic Assemblies and Proms are currently canceled
AVID Senior Celebration has been canceled
Treasure Valley Math & Science Center's April 2nd Orientation Night and the April 4th Applicant Screenings are cancelled on those two dates. Learn more…
Cleaning & Disinfecting:
During the school closure, District custodial staff continue cleaning and disinfecting all schools.
Contributions & Donations:
We live in an amazing community! Boise Schools has received many calls and emails about helping families. We ask for the community to not drop off food, hygiene or clothing donations directly at schools. The best way to help right now is to make a donation at www.boiseschoolsfoundation.com.
Athletics:
IHSAA Sanctioned Sports & Activities - Today the IHSAA announced that all sanctioned sports and activities are suspended from March 17th thru April 5th. Member schools are not to compete in contests, events, or practices during this time.
Junior High & Elementary Sports - Currently suspended through the end of Spring Break. Future athletic plans will be communicated when schools reopen.
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Twitter: @BSDEducation
Instagram: @boiseschools
Facebook: facebook.com/boiseschools