Vanguard East IMPORTANT Updates
Information from the leadership team and resources
Vanguard Leadership Team update
March 24, 2020
Dear Vanguard Classical School Families:
I would like to take this opportunity to give Vanguard Classical School (VCS) families a midweek status update. Again, general VCS community safety is of the utmost importance to us and remains our primary concern when making educational decisions. We also continue to work in conjunction with Aurora Public Schools (APS), and are still developing our own unique VCS Remote Learning Plan for all 1100+ VCS East and West students.
Over the first week of Spring Break, your VCS leadership team was hard at work developing the structure of our soon-to-be unveiled Remote Learning Plan. To clarify, a remote learning plan will not necessarily be a virtual learning plan for all students. The major elements of this plan were shared with our teaching staff yesterday to allow them over a week to prepare and organize. VCS teaching staff will be spending the remainder of this week developing content-creative educational opportunities for students at every grade level at both VCS campuses. We anticipate that our VCS remote educational plan will be finalized internally by this Thursday, March 26th, and similar to other schools in APS, will be rolled out to students on Tuesday, March 31st.
Technology
VCS is currently able to provide school-issued Chromebooks for families with students in grades 9-12 and students who are receiving special education services. These students are required to have a device which can access technology and the internet (tablet, laptop, computer, chromebook, etc.) in order to meet graduation requirements and/or receive legally mandated special education services as outlined in their IEP. Again, these devices are available only to students in grades 9-12 and students receiving special education services who do not already have a computer at home.
Access to the internet will be required for VCS East students in grades 9-12 and VCS East and West students who are receiving special education services. VCS will not be able to provide internet connections. However, Comcast has offered two months of free internet to families who qualify at https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19. Use the link at the top of that website to access languages other than English.
Chromebooks will be distributed only to students in grades 9-12 and students receiving special education services who do not already have a computer at home on Friday, March 27th from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at the East Campus and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the West Campus. This will allow families enough time to access WIFI or internet connectivity over the weekend and Monday. If you have questions and need help feel free to contact us at info@vanguardclassical.org.
Mental Health Supports
If you or your student needs urgent counseling support during the extended Spring Break, call Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-TALK (8255), or text “Talk” to 38255. This service is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Starting Monday, March 30, families can contact their school’s mental health team on weekdays from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Additional resources will be added to the VCS website.
Medication Pick-Up
If you need to pick up your student’s medication at the school, you can pick up medication on Friday, March 27th from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at Vanguard East and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Vanguard West.
Upcoming Board Meeting
The VCS Leadership Team will present the collective Remote Learning Plans for both our East and West campuses to the VCS Board of Directors at our upcoming virtual board meeting Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 pm. Rather than hold an in-person board meeting, the VCS Board of Directors will meet through a video conference call. This conference call will be live streamed through Facebook. You can connect with Vanguard on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vanguardclassical. Please submit your questions and comments by 4:00 pm Thursday, March 26th to info@vanguardclassical.org.
These are certainly unprecedented times and unprecedented times call for extraordinary and creative measures. Our VCS teachers and staff look forward to providing just that, a worthy educational opportunity during this unique time. And of course, we miss you and look forward next week to re-establishing contact between our dedicated teachers and wonderful students.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding.
Practice Social Distancing and Stay Safe!
Jay Cerny, Ed.S.
Executive Director, Vanguard Classical School
Emily Van Luit
K-5 Principal, VCS East
Angela Schendel Keedy
6-12 Principal, VCS East
Terry Glen
Principal, VCS West
Resources for families
Thank you SHP team!
Crisis Lines
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
Call 1-800-985-5990
Text TalkWithUS 66746.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741-741
Trevor Project (LGBTQ Resource)
Call 1-866-488-7386
Text START to 678-678
Safe2Tell
Call 1-877-542-7233
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-7233
Text LOVEIS to 22-522
Mental Health Resources
Aurora Mental Health Crisis Walk-In Center (STILL OPEN)
(844)-493-8255
2206 Victor Street, Aurora, 80045
Aurora Mental Health Connect2Care (STILL OPEN)
791 Chambers Ave, Aurora, 80011
Mental Health Center of Denver Walk-In Center (STILL OPEN)
4353 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80220
Aurora Mental Health
Call (303)-617-2300
Teletherapy Services
Maria Droste Counseling Center
Taking new telehealth referrals & Medicaid clients
(303)-867-4600
Westside Behavioral Care (TELETHERAPY)
Call (303)-986-4197
Check to see if insurance is accepted
Has therapists that take medicaid
Colorado Teletherapy Services
Free 24/7 psychotherapists counselors available
Available through chat or texting at (719)-639-4089 or via contact request form on website
Colorado Crisis Services
Call 1-844-493-8255
Text “TALK” to 38255
Child Mind Institute
https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/
Flat-Fee Consultations for Problem Behavior
Remote Evaluations and Telemedicine
COVID-19 information
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: Colorado COVID-19 Case Summary
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: COVID-19 Facts for Coloradans
Colorado Department of Education: Coronavirus 2019 Fact Sheet (Spanish)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and Children
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf
National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent/CareGiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with Coronavirus Disease 2019
New York Times: Talking to Teens and Tweens about Coronavirus
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Get Your Home Ready
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
CO Help: COVID-19 Hotline
(303)-389-1687
Food Resources
Aurora Public Schools: Free Breakfast and Lunch During Extended Break
Food Bank of the Rockies: Emergency Food Assistance
The Salvation Army: Aurora
802 Quari Ct
(720)-285-2025
Drive-Thru/Walk-Up Food Services from 10am-3pm Monday-Friday
Denver Metro Emergency Food Network
Delivers free, prepared meals to homebound families and elderly individuals.
Need to complete application below
Hunger Free Colorado
Food Resource Hotline Statewide Toll-Free: 855-855-4626
Food Resource Hotline Metro Denver: 720-392-2920
Colorado Department of Education: COVID-19 Meal Sites
Aurora Interfaith Community Services
Colorado Food Assistance Program
Income Resources
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Information and Resources on Coronavirus
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Unemployment Insurance Claims
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Work Share Program
COVID-19 Economic Relief Fund
1-866-211-9966
Health and Medical Resources
Aurora Public Schools Health Services Important News & Resources Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Tri-County Health Department: Coronavirus COVID-19
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus COVID-19
Medicare: Telehealth
Recovery & Substance Abuse Resources
Alcohol Anonymous
Free app for both IOS and Android users for meetings
Narcotics Anonymous
Meet over the phone or online
Aurora Mental Health Detox Services (Still Open)
(844)-493-8255
Families Anonymous
https://www.familiesanonymous.org/meetings/virtual-meetings/
Virtual meetings, email meeting, and phone meetings
Utility Resources
Energy Outreach Colorado
Used for critical home energy issues
1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-8435)
Xcel Energy Response to COVID-19
Commits to not disconnecting any service to any residential customer
Please contact Xcel if you are having a difficult time paying your bills.
800-895-4999
Childcare Resources
Colorado Emergency Child Care Collaborative
Home Internet Resources
Xfinity WiFI
Comcast Internet Essentials
Charter Communication
Call 1-844-488-8395
Access from AT&T
Volunteer Options
Help Colorado Now: State of Colorado COVID-19 Volunteer Response
Help Searching Additional Resources
Finding Help
https://findhelp.org/?fbclid=IwAR13de0DPNapE3BKrkDGxanKaIgn4nDuplVoGqCPUMJETyVrLYcQnFpvjqI
Search by area code
Mile High United Way
Call 2-1-1