COVID-19 Parent & Staff Update
Monday, January 18, 2021
Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff:
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. It is fitting for us to announce today - in the spirit of the man it honors - that our Diversity Committee recently voted to change its name to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to make sure that we support our students, staff, and families by looking at the difficult topics, researching information, and presenting materials and activities that will aid in continuing to create an atmosphere of equity and acceptance in Overbrook. We look forward to the good work planned through this committee.
We are looking forward to returning to the hybrid model of instruction on Monday, January 25th. The Health and Safety Team is preparing the campus so that it's ready for students and staff, and we will continue to institute and update processes that focus on mitigating the spread of the virus while providing a safe and comfortable environment for everyone. We have missed seeing our students in person! We are looking forward to seeing the OSB family - including a special OSB Husky who may be on-site at the bus turnaround(!) - come together again on the morning of the 25th.
~~ Todd Reeves
Current Status of In-Person Instruction:
Starting January 25th, we will return to our hybrid program. This includes both the on campus instructional program Monday through Thursday and virtually on Friday and the fully virtual program, Monday through Friday. This model will be in place for the Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School and School to Work Programs. If you have not yet informed your teacher or program coordinator of your plans for your child’s instruction, please do so immediately so that we can plan accordingly.
Food Services Availability for Students
Meals will be provided for students participating in the hybrid model of instruction starting on January 25th.
Transportation
We have notified the school districts and transportation providers about our return to the hybrid model. As students attending the on campus program may change and this could modify routes, we recommend that you confirm your child’s pick up time with your transportation provider.
Pandemic Response Team
The Pandemic Response Team will meet shortly after returning to hybrid model instruction. If you are interested in joining the team please contact Angie Williams, Director of Health & Safety at angie@obs.org
Vaccination Information
Follow the link below to information on the vaccine distribution plans in the Philadelphia Five County region.
https://www.obs.org/parents/Vaccine%20Availability.pdf
Parent Cafe, January 21, 3pm
Featuring Dr. Jeff Gerber on the topic of Covid-19 Vaccines for Children with Disabilities.
Do you have questions about Covid-19 vaccines for children with disabilities? Please join us for a special session of Parent Cafe on Thursday, January 21, at 3pm where we will discuss this topic with Dr. Jeff Gerber, Associate Chief Clinical Research Officer at CHOP's Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Gerber is leading a group doing vaccine trials in children, so will be a wonderful source of information for parents. OSB staff is invited to attend too, in order to better support our families. Zoom information is below.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jan 21, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: OSB Parent Cafe
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83489112119
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13017158592,,83489112119# or +19292056099,,83489112119#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 312 626 6799 or
+1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 834 8911 2119
Reminder of Important Dates
Resources
Educational Resources Available through PBS Pennsylvania
Covid-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Phase 3
Phase 3 of Philadelphia's Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been announced. If you were eligible for Phases 1 and 2, but did not receive funds, you may be eligible to receive rental assistance now. Please check here for more information. For other options to help with paying your rent, please check here.
Covid-19 Testing at CHOP
CHOP has expanded their testing program to include anyone in the community who is under 21 years of age. Children do not need to be CHOP patients. Follow this link to access the assessment which will then allow you to make an appointment.
Social Needs Response Team
If you are experiencing distress, have safety concerns, or need assistance with resources, such as food, transportation, or medications, the Penn Medicine Covid-19 Social Needs Response Team can help. Call 267-785-2019 for questions and referrals, Monday-Friday, 8am to 8pm.
Philly HopeLine
Philly HopeLine is a free and confidential helpline sponsored by Uplift Center for Grieving Children and the School District of Philadelphia as a resource for students and caregivers who feel isolated due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The HopeLine is staffed by Master's level clinicians from Uplift who specialize in free mental health counseling, emotional wellness, grief support, and strategies for coping with COVID-19 related losses. They offer service in both English and Spanish, and have an interpretation line for over 150 different language needs. For more information, click here.
Hours of service: Monday through Friday, 10am to 8 pm.
Call or Text For Free:
1-833-PHL-HOPE
(1-833-745-4673)
Parent & Staff Questions
There were no new questions this week.
Submit questions to healthandsafetyplan@obs.org
Sincerely,
Todd Reeves, Executive Director
Jackie Brennan, Superintendent
Angie Williams, Director of Health & Safety
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