Dear CCSD Families, We hope you are staying healthy and safe during this time. We understand COVID-19 (the coronavirus) is causing drastic changes to normal daily life, from your children learning at home to your typical work schedule being turned upside-down. While we hope this is temporary, we will continue to heed the Governor’s guidance on when or if we return to school this year after the May 1 date currently set. In the meantime, as we continue to adjust, it is important we look out for each other including the state of our mental health during such uncertain times. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the outbreak may cause anxiety and fear in some people, including children and teenagers. It is important to remember that everyone reacts to stressful situations differently. If you notice a change in your student’s behavior, there are actions you can take. You can talk openly with them about the outbreak, reassure them that they are safe, limit your family’s exposure to news coverage and try to keep up with regular routines. You can also set an example for them by taking breaks, getting plenty of sleep, exercising and eating well. We all must take care of ourselves in order to care of others during this time. If your child’s behaviors do not improve from the above measures, you may want to reach out to their school counselor for further guidance. Keeping you and our students safe remains a firm priority for our district as we continue to navigate the changes brought about by COVID-19. Ultimately, we want you to know, we are with you and we are here for you, as we are all experiencing this together. Please continue to check the district Facebook page and our website for COVID-related updates impacting CCSD students. Sincerely, Deborah M. Swinehart Superintendent

DISTRICT NEWS

Academic Resources for Parents and Students By now your child should be having regular contact/feedback from their teacher(s) regarding weekly assignments. If you are experiencing challenges with completing assignments or accessing the resources that the teachers are making available, please let the teachers or your child’s principal know so they can assist you in a timely manner.

What Can Parents Do to Help Teach Their Child at Home? During these unprecedented times, it’s important now more than ever to engage with your student in their schoolwork. We understand the reality of students learning at home can be very challenging for parents, as you juggle your own work responsibilities, while ensuring your family remains healthy and safe. As you navigate this new and temporary normal, CCSD staff and administrators are committed to making sure you have the right tools and resources you need to help your student succeed. Alissa Putnam, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, recommends tips for parents of students at all grade levels when supplementing learning at home. Read more .

Local Resource Hotline We know how hard COVID-19 is on members of our community and are here to point you toward resources to help. 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that connects Ross County residents to local resources 24/7. When you call 2-1-1, a community resource specialist will help identify organizations that can provide services like food, housing, education and employment opportunities, health care, veteran services and more.

Food Assistance for Students The district is providing free breakfast and lunch delivery for students in need while schools are closed until May 1. Parents can sign up for this service by emailing Mary Montgomery, the district’s food service director, at [email protected] . In order to have breakfast and lunch delivered, parents must sign up by 5 p.m. the previous day. If you sign up after 5 p.m., you will receive meals two days later. Families enrolled in our snow day meal plan are automatically signed up for this service. When signing up, please include your student’s name, your address and the number of student breakfasts/lunches needed. After you sign up for deliveries, a response sent back to your email will include a link to a form enrolling your student in our food program. If you are unable to email Mary, please contact your student’s school building. If you have more than one child, you can just call one of their schools, but please indicate that over the phone. Meals will rotate between ready-to-eat and non-perishable items. To reduce human contact, deliveries will be dropped off on porches. Please be on the lookout for your delivery after 10:45 a.m. Because our delivery lists are growing every day, we ask that families please be patient as we work diligently to find the best possible way to serve all students.

Deep Cleaning We are using this time with students and staff out of the buildings to deep clean our facilities in the event we go back before the end of the school year. CCSD maintenance and custodial staff are working hard to ensure each building gets additional attention in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. These guidelines include cleaning with detergent or soap, then disinfecting with at least a 70% alcohol or bleach solution. Custodial staff are also washing their own hands frequently and have been instructed to stay home if they are feeling unwell.

Like us on Facebook for more district news and like your building page for school-specific updates.

Chillicothe City Schools | 740.775.4250