COVID-19 Preparedness and Communications

March 22nd, 2020

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members,
 

We hope this message finds you and your family safe and well. We recognize this letter has a lot of content -so if you prefer a video - you can click here to listen to our Superintendent’s message shared on Facebook last night. All information will also be posted on the  Public Prep website.

SCHOOL FOOD

Starting on Monday March 23rd, grab and go meals will only be available at 439 sites. To find the site closest to your home click here. Breakfast and lunch will be available for grab and go from 7:30am-1:30pm. Any students 18 and under may go to any of these sites to pick up one breakfast and two lunch meals. Public Prep is also working closely with our food distributor Red Rabbit to ensure meals are available at all Public Prep locations. Please see the schedule below:

• 10:00-10:30- Boys Prep
• 10:45-11:15- Girls Prep Bronx Elementary
• 11:15-11:45- Girls Prep Bronx Middle School
• 12:15-12:45- Girls Prep Lower East Side Elementary 
• 1:00-1:30- Girls Prep Lower East side Middle School 

REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS (RECs) 

In order to successfully fight COVID-19, our first responders, health care providers, transit workers, and other key personnel must be able to come to work. That is why the city created Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs)—places where the children of these front-line workers can be safely cared for while their parents continue to serve the city in this time of need. Staffed by DOE employees and community-based organization partners, the centers will provide children with three hot meals daily, remote learning time with their teachers, activities like art and music, and social and emotional support. Regional Enrichment Centers will be available citywide. Please read the complete letter here. Eligible parents must  complete the survey here to be assigned to a location: https://bit.ly/2xfzEVe

REMOTE LEARNING

As our remote learning gets underway, we wanted to share a few reminders to help set the expectations for families and scholars. By now, we hope you’ve heard from a school staff member, checking in on your family. If you have not received a phone call, please email closures@publicprep.org with your updated phone number.

A few notes on the process:

• New Academic Packets for the week will be available on our website on Sunday evenings. Week 1 is now LIVE! You can access these materials through any internet device, including a smartphone. 
• To complete assignments, students will not need access to a computer all day. Much of the work requires responding to prompts in the notebook and then later submitting responses.
• If you would like support in setting up a schedule for your scholar, access sample schedules here: PreK-2, 3-4, 5-8

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members,

We want to keep these updates brief but informative. Please take the time to read in full and if you have any questions, contact us at closures@publicprep.org. 

CALENDAR UPDATES

• Saturday Academy is canceled at a minimum through April 20th or the duration of our school closure. We are still waiting for guidance from the New York State Education Department on how to handle the statewide exams for grades 3-8. 
• We are shifting our spring break to occur from April 10th - 17th. Like the NYC DOE, we hope to open schools on April 20th. As a result, pending DOE opening, Public Prep Academies will be open from May 4th - 8th.
• Family-Teacher Conferences will no longer take place from Wednesday, March 18th-Friday, March 20th.  Updates on Report Card Distribution and Family Teacher Conferences will be shared next week.

TECH

We are working to ensure that every family is able to access remote learning  tools and materials. For families who do not have a device at home for your scholar to use, please contact closures@publicprep.org (not your school leaders or Community Council Facebook Page) immediately for assistance. Thus far, we have been able to respond to all families.  

REMOTE LEARNING

By the end of this week, you should expect to receive a minimum of two phone calls from your child’s teacher/point of contact to ensure you and your family are safe, healthy and have the ability to access our remote learning curriculum. Sample schedules will be shared with you by the end of the week, so that you can prepare your home for our remote learning launch. In the meantime, here are some general expectations to keep in mind:

• We are transitioning to distance learning for the first time and this will be a process.  Your grace and support are needed during this time.  
• Don’t forget to start with the academic work packet provided last Friday and available here.  We expect that all scholars will complete all of their assignments with full effort. 
• Your teachers are here to support you! They will have office hours daily and are available to answer questions as they come up once instruction begins.
• Stay connected! It is imperative that families check text messages, emails and phone calls daily so you don’t miss any updates from us.  

Thank you for the comments, feedback and partnership as we maneuver through a new way of working.

Ian Rowe, Chief Executive Officer
Janelle Bradshaw, Superintendent
Michele Cerwin, Chief Operating Officer

March 15th, 2020 

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members, 

With the announcement from the Mayor this evening, Public Public will follow the Department of Education guidance and our schools will remain closed until at minimum, April 20th.

We want to share important information in regards to school closure.

• Remote Academic Learning Resources: Although Public Prep buildings are closed, learning will continue. Beginning Tuesday, students should be utilizing the emergency academic packets. We anticipate remote learning to launch on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Our school leaders and teachers will utilize Monday through Wednesday for professional development on how we will implement remote learning. 
  • Student Remote Learning Academic Packets: Links to student remote learning packets for grades Pre-K-8 are available here on our website. Public Prep will update families via email and kinvo text message when new materials are added. 
  • Academic Remote Learning Communication: As we transition to remote learning, expectations, guidelines and instructions will be shared by the end of the day Wednesday to all families.
• Food Service
  • NYC DOE School Foods: The NYC Department of Education Office of School Foods is making provisions so that there is a school foods representative at each of our schools distributing out meals near the main entrance or cafeteria. Meals will be distributed during regular breakfast and lunch times for the beginning of this week, 3/16-3/20. We will update families as soon as additional information is known.
  • Red Rabbit: Boys Prep food service provider Red Rabbit will be distributing bagged breakfast and lunch daily from 10-11am in the lobby of the Boys Prep building (192 East 151st Street). 
• Internet/WiFi Connectivity: Please notify Public Prep via Closures@publicprep.org if you do not have internet or WiFi connectivity. Cable and Telephone companies are working to open up enhanced data and hotspot capabilities as well as free or discounted internet packages for families that need connectivity. 
  • Spectrum: Offering free public hotspot access as well as 60 day 100 Mbps broadband internet. Call (844) 488-8395. 
  • Comcast: Offering free two months of internet service 
  • Altice USA: Altice USA is offering their advantage 30 Mbps broadband solutions for free for 60 days to any new customer households. Call (866)-200-9522
  • TMobile and Metro By Tmobile: Providing subscribing for the next 60 days unlimited smartphone data plus 20GB of mobile hotspot/Tethering (Apple/Android) 
  • AT&T: Keeping public wifi hotspots for free access
  • Sprint Wireless: Providing subscribing for the next 60 days unlimited smartphone data plus 20GB of mobile hotspot/Tethering 
• Communication/Information:
  • Have specific Public Prep questions? Information on COVID-19 can be found on the Public Prep website or by emailing Closures@publicprep.org 
  • Receive up to the minute information from NYC.Gov by texting COVID to 692-692
  • Have questions or need assistance? Dial 311
  • Up to the minute information from the Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

We will continue to use email, Kinvo text messages and social media channels to keep our community informed. We recognize the impact on our families and we are determined to come together to continue providing learning and services for our scholars.

Ian Rowe, Chief Executive Officer
Janelle Bradshaw, Superintendent
Michele Cerwin, Chief Operating Officer

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members, 

After careful consideration and evaluation of the unprecedented evolving situation surrounding the coronavirus/COVID-19, we have decided that Friday, March 13, 2020 will be the last day in the school building for Public Preparatory Charter School Academies until at least Friday, March 27, 2020, pending local and state guidance. 

Monday, March 16, 2020 - Wednesday, March 18, 2020 will be designated for staff to prepare remote learning for scholars. We anticipate remote learning to launch on Thursday, March 19, 2020. We will treat Monday similar to a snow day allowing our community to reset while our network team mobilizes our remote learning resources. For Tuesday and Wednesday, please utilize the work packets that were distributed to your scholar earlier this week; the information can also be found on the Public Prep website, here. 

Again, we continue to adapt to new and updated information with the best interests of our students and community at heart. Please continue to check our COVID-19 webpage for additional information and resources. 

Thank you,
Ian Rowe, Chief Executive Officer
Janelle Bradshaw, Superintendent
Michele Cerwin, Chief Operating Officer

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members, 

On Wednesday, March 12, 2020, we held a conference call with the Community Council Executive Boards from every campus along with Michele Cerwin, Chief Operating Officer.  The purpose of our call was to gather feedback from families around our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

During the call, it was brought to our attention that across every campus, there are numerous examples of sick children who are exhibiting contagious symptoms (runny noses, sore throats, fever, and vomiting) yet are being sent to school and not being picked up in a timely fashion when contacted by the school nurse.  

It is critically important that every member of our community adhere to the policies in our Family Handbook. A copy of our Family Handbook can be found on our website for your reference.   If your child is ill, please do not send them to school.  Given our current concerns about COVID-19, moving forward if a family does not respond to the school nurse in a timely manner, the case will be escalated to the school principal.  Should we find that there are numerous incidents in which the health and safety of our community are put at risk and in direct violation of our Family Handbook, meetings will occur with the Superintendent.  

I thank you in advance for keeping all of our children, staff and families safe.   

In Partnership,

Ian Rowe, Janelle Bradshaw, Michele Cerwin

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members, 

As a follow-up to Monday’s email regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), Public Prep continues to monitor information and guidance from federal, state, and local agencies regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and adapt as necessary to safeguard our students and staff. As such, we would like to announce some additional resources as well as updated procedures at this time.

• Public Prep Webpage: We have created a dedicated COVID-19 section of our Public Prep webpage. Here you will find current and past health updates, resources from  NYC Department of Education, Center for Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, and other federal, state, and local agencies. In addition to email and Kinvo, future correspondence will also be linked to this page (https://www.publicprep.org/covid19info)
• Family Teacher Conferences: Public Prep is aware that the NYCDOE has moved to virtual and telephone conferences and we will do the same. We will have an update with details on the format of Public Prep Family Teacher Conferences currently scheduled for March 18th-20th by the end of the week.
• Public Prep Field Trips: Beginning today through April 3rd at minimum, Public Prep will be suspending all field trips. Please note that this will include any previously scheduled trips. Our Operations teams will make best efforts to collaborate with the vendors to reschedule the trip to another date. Beyond April 3rd, we will work with campuses and vendors to make decisions based on the evolving landscape of information.  
• Public Prep Events: Beginning today through April 3rd at minimum, with an abundance of caution, Public Prep will be suspending all school events such as Open Houses, School Tours, Chat and Chews/Teas with Principals/First Fridays, After School Dances, shows, etc., Unity Meeting and Community Shining Stars Meetings, Curriculum Craft Nights, Bake Sales, etc.  Where possible, we will live stream events so that families can participate virtually.
• How to speak with your scholar about COVID-19: Below are some guidelines and resources that might be helpful for you in approaching conversations about COVID-19 with your children:
  • Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus. NPR created this student-friendly comic that explains the facts and busts myths about COVID-19.
  • Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus. A helpful resource from the New York Times featuring advice on how parents can help adolescents get the facts straight and be prepared.
  • Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus. This article addresses the bias associated with COVID-19, and why it is important for us to have these conversations. 
  • When Xenophobia Spreads Like A Virus. NPR asked their listeners about experiencing coronavirus-related racism and xenophobia.

Again, we continue to adapt to new and updated information with the best interests of our students and community at heart. Please continue to check our COVID-19 webpage for additional information and resources.

Ian Rowe, Janelle Bradshaw, Michele Cerwin

March 9, 2020

Dear Public Prep Families and Community Members, 

As a follow-up to last Thursday’s email regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have remained in contact with a variety of government agencies to ensure the health and safety of all of our students and staff. We wanted to answer a few questions as well as provide you with additional procedures Public Prep has put in place at this time.

• Morning Greeting: Until further notice we are suspending the formal handshaking at morning greeting. Each school leadership team is ready with new and fun ways of greeting your scholar to ensure every child receives a warm welcome in the morning. 
• Academic Packets: Academic packets will be going home no later than Thursday of this week for every scholar (Grades PK-8). Included in the packet will be academic materials and clever badges that scholars can use to access online academic tools such as Khan Academy, IXL, and Reflex Math. These packets are meant to remain at home in case of any school closure. While we do not anticipate any closures at this time, Public Prep is taking proactive measures to ensure every scholar has academic materials at home.
• Internet Connectivity: It is important that we determine how effective online learning is in the unlikely event of a school closure. For Grades K-2, families should expect a Kinvo message this week in regards to at home wifi connectivity. For Grades 3-8, during advisory and homeroom, teachers will be surveying our scholars to confirm internet connectivity and the types of internet enabled devices accessible to them. 
• Attendance Awards: Beginning with Trimester 3 (as of March 9th),  Public Prep is suspending all attendance awards until further notice. For parents and guardians of Middle School students, the New York City Department of Education has confirmed that COVID-19 related absences will not impact applications to middle or high schools for the current or the coming year.
• Reporting of Illness is Relation to Attendance: As of March 9, until otherwise notified, scholars may have three days of excused absences for illness without submitting a doctor’s note. In accordance with our standard policy, families must communicate that their scholar is ill by 8am in order for the absence to be excused. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence. This updated policy is not retroactive. Absences prior to March 9  are not excused without a doctor’s note.

As we’ve previously stated, it is important that we listen to facts and not react to fear. Public Prep remains vigilant in our efforts to ensure our buildings remain clean. We are working closely with our custodial staff to ensure all our building common spaces remain thoroughly cleaned. The health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our top priority. We will follow all guidance and take appropriate measures accordingly. 

As always, we  are committed to providing updates as we have more information and recommendations. 

Ian Rowe, Janelle Bradshaw, Michele Cerwin 

March 5th, 2020 

Dear Public Prep Families and Community, 

We wanted to provide an update on the preventative measures Public Prep is taking amidst concerns around the spread of the coronavirus(COVID-19). The safety of our community is our top priority and we will remain focused on providing a safe, clean and positive learning environment.

Here is what we are doing to ensure the Public Prep Community remains safe, healthy, and clean:

• We are stocking up on disinfecting products and making them readily available to our scholars and teachers.
• Our staff has increased efforts to daily cleaning with disinfectant, with special attention given to wiping down surfaces and door handles. Our Operations teams are working closely with school custodians to ensure the building is thoroughly cleaned daily. 
• If your child is or becomes sick during the course of the day our main office will notify families immediately for pick up. 
• We are in the process of putting up signage in our schools to remind scholars and staff of the need for frequent hand washing and other preventative measures. Faculty and staff will continue to reinforce with our scholars the need for thorough daily hygiene, allowing the recommended 20 seconds for washing hands.
• We are currently working on a plan for our scholars to continue learning from home, including the utilization of technology to the extent possible, in the unlikely event that we need to close school
• Scholars and faculty or staff who travel to countries placed under a travel alert by the CDC will be required to study or work from home for two weeks before returning to school. You may find the most up-to-date travel alerts on the CDC website. Scholars, staff, & students can return once cleared by a medical physician. All medical notes can be brought to the main office. 

What You Can Do?

• We urge you to remain calm and speak to your child if they are anxious or have concerns. These talking points can help guide that conversation. 
• Anyone exhibiting symptoms of fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing should not be assumed to have COVID-19. However, if your child has a fever, please keep them home, which is aligned to Public Prep Policy  and contact your medical professional immediately. Students remain home with a fever for at least 48 hours and return with clearance from a medical physician.  Please refer to the CDC’s fact sheet for more information

Public Prep will continue to communicate with families via Kinvo text message, backpack letter, and email as additional information becomes available. We appreciate your partnership as we continue to monitor the situation. Please reach out to your scholar’s main office if you have any additional questions. 

Ian Rowe, Janelle Bradshaw, Michele Cerwin

March 2nd, 2020 

Dear Public Prep Families and Community, 

This week's announcement by the Center for Disease Control about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the United States has understandably caused concern in the Public Prep community. At this time, it is important to listen to facts and not respond to fear.  Transmission of the virus in other countries and parts of the United States has raised our level of concern.

At this time, neither federal, state, or city health and government authorities are recommending that the school cancel any classes or shut down.

Here are steps we are taking to prepare:

• We are reminding our staff  and families about our school closure policy. As with any school closure, Public Prep follows the guidance and direction of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). Should we close, communication will be sent out via Kinvo text messaging and included in our social and digital channels. Please make sure to follow up with your scholar’s main office to ensure the office has your most updated phone number on file. 
• Canceling classes and closing schools are an extreme measure that can be disruptive to day-to-day life, and the decision to implement will be at the direction of the NYCDOE and public health experts.
• We have continued to instruct our school based teams to work closely with school custodial staff to ensure classrooms, offices, bathrooms, and hallways are thoroughly cleaned each and every day. 

Effective March 2nd, 2020, the following policy is in place: All students and school personnel returning from travel where there have been elevated cases of the coronavirus are required to get written medical clearance from their physician before returning to school/work. Parents must submit this written medical clearance letter signed and stamped by a licensed physician to the main office. If you believe you have been exposed to someone with the virus please reach out to the school main office and/or leadership team for guidance.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing should not be assumed to have COVID-19. If your student, or anyone in your family, develops such symptoms we urge you to contact a medical provider immediately.  While the coronavirus news is concerning, we believe it is important to note that all members of the Public Prep community should continue to follow general flu prevention measures: 

• Cover your cough or sneeze into  a tissue or sleeve.
• Wash your hands regularly. 
• Avoid touching your face. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Get your flu shot – it’s never too late. 
• Stay home if you’re feeling sick. Call your doctor and let them know your symptoms and travel history.

You will find an attached letter and Frequently Asked Questions Guide from the New York City Department of Health with information about the coronavirus and general flu prevention measures. Here are additional links for more information on the coronavirus outbreak: 

• Tips Sheet on how to speak with kids regarding the virus: https://parenting.nytimes.com/childrens-health/coronavirus-kids-talk
• Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

We will communicate any changes that impact our community as soon as we can via the channels listed above. In the meantime, please continue to ensure your scholar is in school, on time every day and ready to learn.  

With gratitude and in unity, 

Ian Rowe, Janelle Bradshaw, Michele Cerwin    

Comcast 

• offering free public Wi-Fi for 60 Days to families who do not have a subscription already. 
• https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/internet-essentials-low-income-broadband-coronavirus-pandemic
• 1-855-846-8376 for English 
• 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.

Charter Communications/Spectrum 

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GOYGiB4FfMKTedrAQ7hr-cqe3eVcPu8nh2V9sqDRRXAadband-and-wifi-for-60-days-for-new-K12-and-college-student-households-and-more

Altice USA

• For households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not a currently have home internet access, we are offering our Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within our footprint. 
• https://www.alticeusa.com/news/articles/feature/corporate/altice-usa-brings-free-broadband-k-12-and-college-students-during-coronavirus-pandemic
•  866-200-9522 to enroll in Optimum region

AT&T

• AT&T is waiving data overage fees to all customers so that families and students can stay connected during the pandemic. The company is promising not to terminate the service of any customer over the next 60 days.
• AT&T will continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through the Access from AT&T program.
  • https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/
  • 855.220.5211 - English
  • 855.220.5225 - Spanish 
• https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html

Verizon

• Verizon will waive any late fees and not terminate any service for the next 60 days.

T-Mobile

• ALL current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers who have plans with data will have unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).
• Providing T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot / tethering service for the next 60 days – coming soon.
• Working with our Lifeline partners to provide customers extra free data up to 5GB of data per month over the next two months.
• Increasing the data allowance for free to schools and students using our EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month for the next 60 days.

Sprint 

• Not terminating service if they are unable to pay their Sprint bill because of the coronavirus, and
• Waiving late fees incurred because of economic circumstances related to the pandemic.
• Starting on Tuesday, customers with international long distance calling plans will receive complimentary international calling rates from the U.S. to countries defined by the CDC as Level 3.
• By next Thursday:
  • Customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
  • We will provide customers with an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
  • Coming soon:
  • Customers with mobile hotspot-capable handsets who don’t have mobile hotspot today will now get 20GB as well per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
• The 1Million Project Foundation’s efforts to connect kids without home internet has become that much more important to schools, community leaders and district administrators as they grapple with ongoing educational challenges as schools are canceled. Starting next Tuesday, we will be increasing the data allotment provided to students from 10GB to 20GBeach month from now through June 30, 2020.

Logging into Clever at home:

1. Navigate to https://clever.com/in/publicprep.
2. Login with Clever Badge OR Google:
   • Login with Clever Badge: select Clever Badge Login and hold up your Clever badge; OR
   • Login with Google:
     • Username: scholar's Boys/Girls Prep email
     • Password: Student ID # (OSIS Number)
3. You’re logged in!
4. Select an application in the portal and start learning!