Boy, has our world changed in two weeks! As we figure out our "new normal" I hope that you are all figuring out how to balance school and home with your kids home all of the time. It is a tricky balance to find, for sure.

We have spring break next week. Take time to do some fun things while you keep social distance. Take walks on the Prairie Path, get out those rusty old bikes, pull out the old Wii! But staying away from others can hopefully flatten the curve of this virus.

I hope you have a relaxing spring break and stay healthy!

Tim

Please note our tech support offerings over spring break will be somewhat reduced.

• Live Chat will remain available for staff and families M-F from 8am-4pm
• Phone support is also available at (331) 228-4357. Staff and families should leave a message and expect a timely call back during business hours.
• The Helpdesk ticketing system is also available for staff.

Device Exchange for families and staff at TMS will NOT be available during Spring Break and will resume, if necessary, on 4/6. Please direct staff and families to the live chat for device assistance if you hear of the need. This change has been posted on the technical support resource page.

With many students, educators, and families at home, away from school and work, Mindful Schools is excited to offer free, online mindfulness classes for KIDS! Your kids can join us online for mindful activities, mindful movement, read-alouds, and more.

Sign up and get Zoom call-in instructions. We look forward to seeing a Zoom room full of kids!

(Washington, D.C., March 24, 2020) – Be on the lookout for potential scammers using the COVID-19 situation to steal personal information, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants today. USDA is issuing this warning after receiving reports of several possible SNAP fraud attempts.

“While many organizations are seeking to help communities respond to COVID-19, SNAP participants should be suspicious of any unknown individual or organization that requests their confidential information,” said Brandon Lipps, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, which administers the SNAP program at the federal level. “This is a difficult time for us all, and we certainly don't want to see bad actors taking advantage of those in need.”

Examples of confidential information include social security number, bank information, or a participant’s SNAP EBT card or PIN number. In one potential scam, a website asked SNAP recipients to enter their personal and bank account information to qualify for COVID-related monetary assistance.

If SNAP participants are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, USDA advises they contact their local SNAP office. If they do not know their local SNAP office, participants should contact their state agency. State contact information is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory.

To stay on top of potential scams, please visit USDA’s SNAP scam alert webpage at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/scam-alerts.

If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, contact your local police department regarding procedures for filing a report. You may also file a consumer complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://www.ftc.gov. FTC is the federal agency responsible for protecting consumers from identity theft scams.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that leverage American’s agricultural abundance to ensure children and low-income individuals and families have nutritious food to eat. FNS also co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide science-based nutrition recommendations and serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

This message is a reminder to elementary school families that the Intra-District transfer window for the 2020-2021 school year opens on April 7 at 8:00 a.m.

For the 2020-2021 school year, ALL elementary students have been assigned to their attendance area school by the District. This includes elementary students currently attending a school on an intra-district transfer.

An Intra-District Transfer Request must be submitted online no sooner than 8:00 a.m. on the first Tuesday following spring break (April 7, 2020) and no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third Monday following (April 20). A link to the request form will be posted on the District 303 web page (district.d303.org) by 8:00 a.m. on April 7.

If you are requesting a transfer for more than one child, a separate request must be submitted for each. Due to fluctuating class sizes at schools and each grade level, siblings are not guaranteed placement. If granted, transportation is the responsibility of the parents.

If you have questions about the process, please call the District office at 331.228.2000.