In an email to parents on Sunday, Schools Superintendent Alan Addley told parents that “Free lunches are available to any Darien student in need starting tomorrow, Monday, April 20.”
Addley also wrote that the Board of Education meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday can be accessed through Google Meet. The home page of the school district website will have a link to follow.
“The administration will present its Grading and Reporting Procedures” at the board meeting. “Members of the public may still comment on the Grading and Reporting Procedures agenda item by emailing Dr. Alan Addley aaddley@darienps.org or Tara Ochman tochman@darienps.org by 4 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, April 20,” he added.
Addley said district officials are looking into “preparations for a possible return to school; end-of-year events such as the prom and graduation; Summer School; and, extended school year.”
Lunches
The lunches can be picked up Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while schools are closed. Parents will drive through the bus loop at the school and be asked to open the trunks of their vehicles, where a district employee will put that day’s lunch or lunches in.
“Students do not need to be present. Parents can simply identify their children by name and school to the Grab-and-Go staff,” Addley said. “Grab-and-Go bagged lunches (deli sandwich, fruit, bagged chips, drink) are prepared by our Food Service staff.”
For more details, see the full text of the letter, emailed shortly after 1 p.m., below.
No documents about the special Board of Education meeting other than the agenda have been posted on the school district website.
Agenda as posted on the school district website
The agenda for the Tuesday, April 21 meeting is short. It starts at 9 a.m.
Addley’s Letter
Here’s the full text of Addley’s letter, with subheadings added:
April 19, 2020
Dear Parents,
Good afternoon on this beautiful Sunday. Here are a few updates. As you know, under the Governor’s Executive Order 7X, schools are closed through at least May 20.
Plans for This School Year
As our school community works together on implementing eLearning, we are simultaneously anticipating events and processes that are upcoming in the near future.
These include preparations for a possible return to school; end-of-year events such as the prom and graduation; Summer School; and, extended school year.
Tuesday’s Board of Education Meeting
Perhaps most pressing is the issue of grading and how the district plans on closing out student report cards.
The administration will present its Grading and Reporting Procedures at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 21 at 9 a.m. The meeting will be available live through Google Meet and can be accessed Tuesday morning from the front page of the district website.
Thank you for the emails and feedback that we have received thus far on this topic. Members of the public may still comment on the Grading and Reporting Procedures agenda item by emailing Dr. Alan Addley aaddley@darienps.org or Tara Ochman tochman@darienps.org by 4 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, April 20.
The district’s response to COVID-19 continues to evolve as circumstances and needs unfold.
Free Lunches for Any Darien Student in Need
With school closures extended through at least May 20, the district will meet the nutritional needs of our students by extending our lunch program to any student in the Darien Public Schools.
Free lunches are available to any Darien student in need starting tomorrow, Monday, April 20.
Grab-andGo lunches may be picked at Middlesex Middle School, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the period of school closure. Grab-and-Go bagged lunches (deli sandwich, fruit, bagged chips, drink) are prepared by our Food Service staff.
Our Food Service staff wear gloves and masks and adhere to the highest health and safety food preparation practices, particularly in light in COVID-19.
Parents picking up a meal should arrive at the Middlesex Middle School bus loop where they will be asked to open their trunk and a Darien Public School employee will place the bagged lunch in your trunk.
Students do not need to be present. Parents can simply identify their children by name and school to the Grab-and-Go staff. Campus monitors will be on site to assist with social distancing practices and to help direct cars to the appropriate location.
We ask that parents follow this procedure to ensure social distancing for the safety of our employees.
Parents with food allergy concerns should email our Food Service Director, Myrese Nochomowitz at mnochomowitz@darienps.org. Email messages should specify the student’s name and the known allergies.
Thank You, Students
Finally, just a wee shout-out to our students.
I continue to admire the work and accomplishments of our school community, most particularly our students during these challenging times. I have always believed that young people will rise to the expectations set before them, most particularly when facing adversity.
That is certainly the case in this eLearning environment. Kindergarten students through the senior class have quickly adapted and responded to the challenges of this new normal.
They have stepped up and we should recognize and be very proud of their efforts and achievements.
Thank you for the structure that you are providing at home for your children and for the ongoing support of our teachers’ extraordinary efforts…know, we will all get through this together.
Sincerely and with gratitude,
Alan Addley
Dr. Alan Addley Superintendent of Schools