COVID-19: March 19 update
Thank you for your patience and understanding as the planning continues to best serve our students and community during this unprecedented time in history. This message covers the need-to-know information for parents/guardians for the week of March 23-27 in response to a state order to close schools.
Please read this message carefully and consult ahschools.us/covid-19 for additional information and answers to frequently asked questions. This situation is quickly developing and your attention to this matter is essential.
Anoka-Hennepin is taking action to protect the safety and personal health of students, employees and the community it serves. Operational guidelines are in place for any person who comes to district buildings for their own protection and the safety and health of others. These include:
- Following guidelines for social distancing with other individuals.
- Maximizing deployment of work-from-home for employees and distance learning for students.
- Organizing in groups of 10 or fewer people when meeting in person.
- Ensuring the safety and security of all aspects of our school system.
- Practicing personal hygiene recommendations such as covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home when sick.
Schools closed March 16-27: All students attending Anoka-Hennepin schools are excused from school through Friday, March 27. Work will continue on Monday, March 23, to finalize plans for students’ distance learning and district operations. Additional information regarding the plans for distance learning or in-person school after March 30 will be shared when they are confirmed.
Emergency child care: Anoka-Hennepin is offering emergency child care for emergency workers, at no cost, at elementary schools. The state order directs the district to provide child care services to families of school-age children for Tier 1 health care workers and emergency personnel. Emergency care is being offered for children in kindergarten up to age 12 who qualify, at no cost, starting Monday, March 23, and continuing through Friday, March 27. The original registration period closed on March 18. To request this service, please complete this form as soon as possible, and program administrators will be in contact to discuss options.
Community education programs, including Adventures Plus school-age care: All community education programs serving adults and youth, including facility rentals, will be closed through Friday, March 27, following the state order from the state of Minnesota. Review community education program updates at ahschools.us/COVID-19_CommEd.
Activities, events and facility rentals: All school district activities, events and community rentals are canceled until at least Friday, March 27.
Medications: Parent/guardians that need to pick up medication from school within the next few days can come to school to pick them up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. Parents/guardians that can wait to pick up medication may choose to make a single trip to school to gather any necessary personal belongings at the full school pick up time. Note that students are not able to pick up their own medications.
Personal items: A previous message noted that personal items in school could also be picked up on Monday and Tuesday at school. That notice was premature. The only items to be picked up on Monday and Tuesday are medications. A separate announcement about picking up school supplies and personal items will come later directly from your school.
Emergency student meals: Anoka-Hennepin will offer “grab and go” meals for students age 18 and under at no cost starting on Tuesday, March 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Food will be distributed from school buses located in various district parking lots. Locations include Andover Elementary School, Anoka High School, Coon Rapids High School, Blaine High School and Jackson Middle School, A Speciality School for Math and Science. Only students present will receive a meal, but no identification or registration will be required in alignment with program guidelines. Students will receive lunch and breakfast for the following day. More is on the COVID-19 website.
Plans under development that will be communicated in the future:
- Pick-up of personal and other items at school, look for notice from your student’s school next week.
- Distance learning plan and the distribution of Chromebooks and other technology devices.
- Student support services, mental health and counseling support.
- Plans for school on March 30 - either distance learning or in-person.
- Continued emergency care for emergency workers after March 27.
- Additional locations for emergency food distributions.
How can you help?
Please continue to practice healthy habits to limit the spread of disease:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you cannot wash your hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough into the inside of the elbow. Dispose of tissues immediately. Wash hands afterwards.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
- Practice social distancing guidelines, and stay home when you are sick.
Learn more about COVID-19 and its status in Minnesota on the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website or by calling the MDH information line at 651-201-3920 or submit questions via email to health@ahschools.us.
There's no question that it will take the adaptability of students and the support of those who support them to provide the best outcomes for them. Thank you for your attention to this message and your ongoing support of your student and our schools.