Friday’s update from Ponca City Schools Superintendent
Ponca City Now - March 20, 2020 8:09 pm
Superintendent Shelley Arrott
March 20, 2020 7:30 PM
PCPS Families, Staff, and Community,
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There are several items I need to inform you of based on the guidance of our State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. |
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We have been advised to plan for online instruction should the mandatory school closure extend beyond April 3. I want to be very clear – this order has NOT been given. Below is a link to a VERY IMPORTANT SURVEY I need you to complete by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, to assist with these plans IF the order is given. This link will also be sent to you through the PCPS App and will be posted on our Facebook page. Please complete one Survey per household. |
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOO1CjwF58UhELMYzALrH24xKxopywMLwviN6cUwZg Rep44Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
Should an extension occur, please do not worry because we will do everything we can to support our students to the best of our ability. I will keep you informed as quickly as I have any updated information, whether it be to return from the closure, or extend the closure.
I am going to provide information to you today in bullet form, and then we will post sections of this information as a reminder on our Facebook Page:
• Medication Collection at Sites March 24, 12:30 to 3 p.m.
We are going to have an opportunity for medication collection at each site on Tuesday, March 24 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Email your site principal to discuss the location for you to drive up for collection. No one will be allowed in the building. Please email your child’s principal if you need to collect medication.
Garfield: Katy Thomason – [email protected]
Liberty: Lori Cox – [email protected]
Lincoln: Liz Hargraves – [email protected]
Roosevelt: Ronda Merrifield – [email protected]
Trout: Carla Fry – [email protected]
Union: Jennifer Dye – [email protected]
Washington PreK: Tina Fisher – [email protected]
Woodlands: Tim Williams – [email protected]
West Middle School: Stacey Sattre – [email protected]
East Middle School: Denton Long – [email protected]
Ponca City High School: Thad Dilbeck – [email protected]
• Only a MINIMAL crew of essential staff will be allowed in our buildings through April 5.
NO student, employee, or patron may collect any items other than the medication as described above. This directive is mandated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and will be upheld to the fullest level by PCPS. Keeping people out of the buildings through April 5 will allow for a 14-day quarantine to pass after possible Spring Break travel.
• One employee will man the main office phone from 9 a.m. to noon each week-day beginning on Monday, March 23 at 580-767-8000.
• Questions may be sent to [email protected]. We appreciate your concerns, ideas, and comments, but personnel will only respond to valid questions.
- We are posting links to mental health resources under the COVID-19 Link on the website. Many of our students and staff are hurting right now.
- We are posting a links to free educational resources under the COVID-19 Link on our website because we know you want to keep your children actively engaged with review and practice. However, our teachers cannot provide instruction through April 5 as mandated by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
- Beginning Monday, March 23, the PCPS Child Nutrition Program will be providing pre-packaged grab and go meals at no cost for children ages 1-18. The meals will be available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Locations include Po-Hi (5th St. Parking lot), West Middle School, Garfield & Union. Please refer to the Child Nutrition Press Release on the district website www.pcps.us at “COVID-19 Updates” or “Press Releases” for more details.
Parents, please know we will do everything in our power to support your children should the mandated closure be extended. It may be digitally, but we are going to provide them with whatever support it takes to get them through this ordeal. We love your children like our own and miss them terribly. We hope this is over sooner, rather than later, so we can be back in school with them. However, NOTHING is more important than the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.
Life as we know is going to change for a bit, but we will get through this obstacle together. #wildcatway Stay safe,
Shelley Arrott
Superintendent, Ponca City Public Schools
