Oakdale Schools Family Update
From Dr. Joe Pierce, Superintendent | April 9, 2020
FREE MEAL SERVICE STARTS NEXT WEEK
Hello Oakdale Families & Community!
I am very excited to let you know that next week, beginning on Wednesday, April 15th, Oakdale Schools will begin serving FREE lunches to ANY child ages 0-18!
Everyone has likely experienced loss during this time in some form or another. Therefore, another way Oakdale Schools wants to help support families is to provide free lunches until the end of the school year-- and possibly into the summer months.
This opportunity is for ALL children and families whether or not they qualify for the free/reduced meal program. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE!
Two Locations: Meals will be served on Mondays & Wednesdays only:
- 10:30AM-11:00AM at 12115 N I- 35 Service Road (Bus #4's stop within Abe's RV Park)
- OR
- 11:00AM to 12:00 Noon at Oakdale School 10901 N. Sooner Road
Meals Available: A "Grab & Go" sack lunch will be available for individuals 0 to 18 years old (2 meals can be picked up at the same time except Friday, only one meal)
Cost: Meals will be provided at NO cost to ALL students 0-18 years old. Funding is provided under the USDA Waiver COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act.
Meal Pick-Up:
- All meal pick-up will occur outside the school in the east parking lot OR at our mobile located at 12115 N I- 35 Service Road (Bus #4's stop within Abe's RV Park)
- Look for signage regarding any meals that contain peanut or pork products.
- No students or family members are allowed in the building
- Proper social distancing of six (6) feet must be maintained at all times.
Walk-Up Service: Students who walk to the school will be directed to a meal Walk-Up line where they will have the option to pick up lunch. Students must maintain social distancing while in line.
Drive-Thru Service: Families who wish to use the Drive-Thru line will enter the farthest east driveway - the normal entrance for drop-off/pick-up. Proceed towards one of the two serving lines (both serve the same meal). Exit using the usual exit procedures.
- Food will be brought to your vehicle by a child nutrition staff member
- All occupants must remain in their vehicle while in line.
Tell us: Upon arrival, the parent/guardian should indicate the following:
- Number of children (ages 0-18) for which meals are requested
- Alert staff to any known food allergies
- Alert staff to any restrictions on pork products
Inclement Weather: On these days, service will only be available at the elementary school and will be walk-up service only at the front door of the elementary school. The mobile site will be closed on inclement days.
Changes in Service: As we continue serving meals, we may make adjustments to the service schedule (days or hours) in the event we have limited or greater than expected participation.
Safety Measures: All child nutrition personnel will participate in a temperature check daily before handling or serving food. Any staff member with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or who is showing symptoms of being sick will not be permitted to work. Staff members will also take all the necessary precautions including: personal protections, hygiene, and cleanliness before and while working the meal delivery stations.
Thank you for your flexibility, patience and encouragement during this unprecedented time. We understand the stress families feeling-- we feel it also. Most of us at Oakdale are parents or caretakers, too, and are trying to work from home and take care of our families. Further, we are also looking for what is or is not working, what needs to be modified, and lessons learned to take away from this new endeavor.
Let’s continue to support and lift each other up as we each do our best to navigate through these new unchartered waters. Just like in rowing, we all have a seat in the same boat; we all have a paddle; and if we row together in sync, we will move forward successfully.
Dr. Joe Pierce, Superintendent