Sunday, March 15, 2020
Dear Coatesville Area School District Parents, Staff and Community,
I want to provide you with an update about how the Coatesville Area School District will operate over the next two weeks, as we will be in a mandatory shutdown of schools. We recognize that this presents a serious challenge for our community, and we’ll do all we can to support our families and students. We know there are a lot of questions, and we’ll do our best to answer them. All updates will be sent via email and posted on our website.
- How can parents pick up medicine and other essential items during the closure? Building principals will be present from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 16 at schools for parents to collect their children’s medication and essential items such as eyeglasses that may still be in the building. We will ask parents to wait in the lobby while a principal retrieves the medication. You will need to bring identification. To set up alternate arrangements to retrieve medication, please contact 610-466-2431 or 610-466-2432, or email Pupil Services Director, Mrs. Rita Perez, at perezr@casdschools.org.
- What types of learning activities can I provide for my child? To ensure our students are able to continue their academic growth, the teaching staff, administration, and technology department have developed a link on our District website, https://www.casdschools.org to provide educational resources that students can access via their Chromebooks, personal computers, or any other electronic device with internet access. The assignments and lessons posted on the website will provide students with an opportunity to strengthen previously taught skills and strategies. In addition to these lessons and activities, additional resources are provided by grade level and content area. Please know that these resources, lessons, and activities are not mandatory, as we know not everyone will be able to work through the provided assignments.
- Do we have to make up these days since the governor stated that no district will be penalized for not meeting the 180-day requirement? The PA Department of Education made this announcement but has not clarified rules for school districts. We will not ask our students to make up days that they aren’t required to. Our official calendar has our last day of school listed at June 11. We have four snow days, and until now, have used one for students. That day, Friday, March 13, 2020, was a teacher work-day. We will work with the association and adjust for this. We will be sure to communicate about this as we receive clarification from the state.
- How will a two-week shutdown impact graduation dates, PSSA tests, field trips, etc.? Right now, graduation is on track for the existing date (June 11.) We don’t know yet whether the state will waive PSSA testing and/or Keystone testing. Short term field trips have been canceled and principals/teachers will reach out to parents about other field trips as the situation evolves.
- How are we assisting our families during this shutdown? We are able to provide meals and we have volunteers. We are grateful to all of our municipalities and CCAP for helping us organize volunteers. Thank you for the support that you have given our families and the Coatesville Area School District. If you have any questions about receiving food, please contact Erin Robinson, 610-466-2405 Robinsone@casdschools.org or Brenda Wolf, 610-466-2404 at wolfb@casdschools.org.
We will be providing a grab-and-go breakfast and lunch for students (they can be picked up together) between the hours of 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Rainbow Elementary School, Caln Elementary School, Scott Middle School, the Senior High School, Benner Building, West End Fire Hall, Olivet Methodist – (Tuesday-Friday), Modena Borough Hall, and South Coatesville Borough Hall. We will also be delivering meals to Indian Run Village and Regency Park Apartments. This is available for any child under the age of 18. We will be continuing to communicate with additional location sites as they become available.
For families needing services during this time, please see the links below for the Chester County Food Bank and Mitzvah Circle. We also have attached a list of Youth Mental Health Services.
- What can the District do to assist families who have children experiencing anxiety? Our Pupil Services Department is providing resources for families. Included with this email are resources for the National Association of School Psychologists, The American School Counselor Association, The ChildMind Institute, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In addition, the School Counselors have included contact information for Chester County Mental Health Resources and Support in their e-learning folder.
Once again, I thank you for your partnership in our effort to keep our schools safe and healthy. As I have repeatedly stated, this situation is very fluid, and as more information comes forward, we will do our best to continue to communicate with you in a timely way with the best information we have. Again, all closure-related updates will be sent via email and posted on our website.
Sincerely,
Rick Dunlap
Interim Superintendent
CASD