Category: COVID Resources

General Information

• The Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program Utility Grants Flyer
• Department for Children & Families Benefit Programs
• Letter to MVSD Community – March 27, 2020 (Information regarding school closing for the rest of the year.
• Vermont Department of Health CORONAVIRUS Information
• 5 Tips for Families as They Transition to Home Learning
• MVSD COVID-19 Program and Exposure Control Plan
• Child Care Referral Information
• CDC Guidelines on conditions medically vulnerable to COVID-19

Local Food Pantries

Child Care for Essential Workers

The Governor has asked the state to gather information on those essential workers who require childcare.  The list of who is an Essential Worker can be found here:  https://vem.vermont.gov/essentialpersons.  If you work in one of those categories and cannot find care for your children, please fill out the survey below. 

Let’s Grow Kids has developed a web form to help collect information to connect the families of essential workers with child care in schools and licensed child care programs that are operating to provide services now through April 6, 2020, while school dismissal and general child care service closures are in effect.

Essential workers who need help finding child care should visit: https://webportalapp.com/webform/essentialworkers. Families can also call 2-1-1 ext. 6, or call 1-877-705-9008 to speak to a child care referral specialist.

Child Care for Essential Workers

Vermont Care Partners have prepared this list of Intake and Crisis Lines for anyone who may need them.

PreK Learning from Home:
Supplemental Resources for Families

PreK Learning from Home Supplemental Resources for Families from the Vermont Agency of Education is available now!

Vermont Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and the Agency of Education (AOE) are partnering to
support continuity of learning for our students and school communities. This partnership provides
access to free educational programming and distance learning tutorials through Vermont PBS At-Home Learning. Teachers can create unique accounts with their school email or Google account through PBS LearningMedia. Accounts are free and provide access to a range of additional features.

Contacts:
Pat Fitzsimmons (AOE) at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Heather Duhamel (PBS) at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

3/27/2020

Dear MVSD families, Faculty and Staff;

Last night we were all stunned to see that Governor Scott closed schools for the rest of the school year.  Although school leaders expected that some kind of extension of remote learning would be forthcoming, this was not the news any of us hoped to hear.

 I know that this directive will be a serious hardship on families, teachers and students.  It will also be a period of loss for us all. We will lose the joy of seeing our students and families every day.  We lose the camaraderie of teachers and leaders working together in our schools. We lose our usual connection with one another.  We will need to ensure that we work hard to minimize that hardship and loss as we plan for the next few months.

We are committed to continuing our delivery of meals to children in our communities.  Our teachers and staff have shown true dedication to our students by making sure we are able to bring food into the community.  If there are any changes to routes or drop off locations due to the spread of this virus, we will communicate those changes as publicly as possible.  

We are also committed to continuing to maintain student learning for the next few weeks.  Teachers will be working with administrators, instructional coaches, and our tech department to plan and implement the provision of remote new learning experiences.  We will be receiving guidance from the Agency of Education shortly on their expectations for continued instruction in a remote environment. More information will be coming from your school about the specific plan for your child’s classroom, grade level and schedule.  This way of delivering education is going to be a challenge for everyone, so it is important that families and teachers keep in close communication during this transition.

For those of you with High School Seniors, I know this is not the Senior Year anyone expected.  I am keenly aware of the disappointment you and your students must have at the loss of so many celebrations and activities.  We will be getting guidance about graduation requirements, graduation ceremonies and end of year activities soon. As soon as we know anything, we will share what we know.

 We will continue to put information and resources on our mvsdschools.org website, our school district Facebook page and @MissisquoiSD.  We will also use School Messenger for important updates. If you are in need of resources for your family during this time you should dial 211 to get connected to the right agencies and supports.

As difficult as this school closure is, we must remember how important it is for the wellbeing of our community members.  “We are all in this together” seems to be the phrase most used right now, but it could not be more true. We have a responsibility to care for each other during this crisis even though that involves staying apart as much as possible. Please be well and take care.

Regards,

Julie Regimbal, Superintendent