North Branch Area Public Schools
Distance Learning news and updates - March 26
Dear Families,
I hope everyone is doing well and adjusting to our new, temporary, reality. This is a unique situation and people have many questions, and not just about the delivery of educational services. We will try and share resources with families as they are presented to us, but also remain sensitive to the fact that people are being inundated with messages and resources and it can be hard to keep up.
School districts are receiving updates daily, sometimes hourly, from the state and Dept. of Education. We are doing our best to sift through all the information and make sure the information that affects our families gets to you quickly and clearly. We will use this template for sharing updates with you.
We know that kids will experience behavior issues including anxiety or anger in this situation. That is totally normal. It is fine to go off schedule and spend that needed time with them so they feel reassured and loved. If your student regresses educationally during this time, that is okay! When school resumes our excellent staff will help correct course and get students back to where they need to be. The most important thing is kids’ mental health! Please do not feel that you cannot take a break, make some cookies, do a science experiment, read a book together, or just go for a walk. How they feel during this time is more important than academic skills and no one is better suited to help them through this than you are!
I continue to be grateful for our partnership, and swell with pride at the way our entire school community has risen to the occasion. My thoughts are with all of you at this time!
Regards,
Deb Henton, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Free meal and curriculum pick up sites (new pick up times and sites added)
Starting tomorrow, Friday, March 27, free food for all students 18 and younger will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. and between 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:
1) Sunrise Estates Mobile Home Park (Stacy) - Starlight Lane and Sunrise Drive
2) Countryside Mobile Home Park (North Branch) - 12th Ave and Maple Street
3) Harris empty Parking lot (Harris) - 439th Street and Forest Blvd. next too Country Charm Store
4) Almelund - Carl Almquist Lions Park just south of #95 on Park Trail
5) Casselberry - Coventry Drive and Hillshire Ave, the bus will park on Coventry Drive
6) NEW: Central Park - North Branch - Branch Ave and Elm Street
Printed curriculum materials (for those unable to receive curriculum electronically) for K - 4 students will be available at the above locations on Mondays.
NOTE: There will be no deliveries on Good Friday, April 10. Those scheduled deliveries will be one day earlier on Thursday, April 9th.
If your family is unable to get to one of these sites and need meals, please contact Chef Sharon, Taher Food Service Manager chefsharon@isd138.org.
If your family is unable to get to one of these sites and need printed curriculum materials for your K - 4 student, the materials are available in the front entrance area of Sunrise River School from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not drop off any materials in this area.
Buses will be sanitized daily. Drivers and assistants on the bus will be following safety protocols.
Activities/Community Ed classes canceled through April
Activities: Effective immediately and continuing until the school closure declaration is lifted:
- All participation in Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) spring activities at all member schools is suspended.
- Participation includes, but is not limited to, competitions, training, practices, scrimmages, and contests.
Pending a reopening of schools, return to participation protocols will be determined and communicated by the MSHSL board and staff. No decisions regarding the cancellation of spring activities have been made by the MSHSL at this time. Coaches/advisors may choose to be in contact with participants during this period following strict MSHSL guidelines and school district procedures.
All April activities and Community Education classes are cancelled, including:
April 3 - Patron Tour
April 9 - School board winter sports recognition
April 6 - High School Girls Basketball Banquet
April 30-May 3 - High School Spring Musical Performance (postponed TBD)
March 31-June 9: Chisago County Probation Decision Points Class (Community Ed)
April 18 - Prom
April 23 - High School and Norse ALC conferences
Community Education: All non-district sponsored facility use of district buildings and grounds is canceled effective immediately through May 5. This includes all community groups, youth athletic teams, rentals, etc. All community education classes and programs are canceled through May 5. Community Education will be in contact with affected patrons and users. All outdoor facilities are closed to students and the public until further notice.
Is your information up to date?
Mental health support
Therapeutic Services Agency (TSA) continues to operate the North Branch Day Treatment program at its Cambridge TSA location (1700 East Rum River Dr. - South Suite B). TSA does have telehealth options for students/families. New clients can call TSA’s referral line (320-629-7600) to make a new referral. The Department of Health has given agencies telehealth platforms options so TSA is able to serve many clients.
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) has resources for families in need of mental health support during the COVID-19 response, including online support groups, online classes, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions. You can access NAMI's resources at this link.