Worcester Connect-ed coming today to students and staff

This was supposed to go out last night, but there somehow was a glitch and it didn't. Here's the latest:

Good evening, This is Maureen Binienda, Superintendent of Schools. I am calling tonight to provide additional school information.

All WPS schools have been thoroughly cleaned. On Monday, March 16 from 8am-noon, all WPS staff should report to their perspective schools to retrieve their personal belongings, classroom pets, plants, and food stored in their classrooms and faculty areas. Teachers should also take their chromebook, grading materials and text manuals needed for online professional development. 

School nurses will be present to distribute student medications to parents from 8am-noon also on Monday, March 16. Only parents can be given student controlled substances. Students age 12 and above, can be given insulin, epi pens and inhalers. 

On Tuesday, March 17 from 10am-6pm, all WPS are open for students to retrieve their belongings. School nurses are also available to distribute meds to parents from 10am-6pm on March 17. Due to the need to practice social distancing, staff, students and families should plan on a focused retrieval of their belongings with minimal personal contact with each other. 

Students learning packets will be sent home by the end of the week. Students should also visit the WPS website Worcesterschools.org to access extended learning. Spectrum has agreed to provide free WiFI to families. See the WPS website for more details on WiFi. 

The WPS will be providing free meals to students at the 30 sites used during the yearly summer feeding program. Friendly House is partnering with the WPS again and will be providing meals at their summer sites. A list of sites will be posted on the WPS website by the middle of the week. The feeding program is planned to begin by the end of this week. 

The WPS staff want all our families to know, we are thinking of all our children and their families. Teachers will be contacting their students by phone or through media during this shutdown. 

Medical experts advise not using facilities like playground structures, avoiding contact with people outside your family and avoiding group events. 

I will continue to update you as new information becomes available.