Friday, April 3, 2020
Dear Families of Groton Area School Students,
Time marches on and learning will continue. Our plan for the next several weeks will continue to operate much as it has since inception. Details are included below on how distribution of lunches and school materials will take place over the next two weeks.
Delivery of the next week’s academic materials will take place on Monday, April 6, 2020. Following our Easter break, academic materials will be distributed on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. During this process, we want to ensure that we can be mindful of the recommendations of health officials concerning the size of group gatherings, personal hygiene for clean hands, and social distancing. Only one representative from each family will be permitted to pick up materials and will be asked to take materials for all family members. Nobody that feels ill in any way should be sent to gather materials. We must also request for questions and discussions with staff members be limited during the in-person exchanges and invite those questions via phone call or email. It is possible that not all students will have materials to pick up if all of their content is being provided online.
The following schedule of material pick-up has been established for in-town residents. If possible, we ask that you make every effort to follow the timelines provided. If families are unable to make the established times work, they will not be turned away, but access may be managed if certain times become too busy. Each building will be open for pick-up from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Pick-up from the elementary will be held in the Elementary Commons. Pick-up from the MS/HS will be held in the GHS Gymnasium.
| Time | Grade Level |
| 8:00 AM | PreK/JK Grade 6 |
| 8:15 AM | K and Grade 7 |
| 8:30 AM | Grade 1 and Grade 8 |
| 8:45 AM | Grade 2 and Grade 9 |
| 9:00 AM | Grade 3 and Grade 10 |
| 9:15 AM | Grade 4 and Grade 11 |
| 9:30 AM | Grade 5 and Grade 12 |
| 9:45 AM | Buses will be loaded with materials for our out-of-town students. |
Beginning at 9:45, we will be loading the school buses with materials for every student on a regular bus route whose materials haven’t been picked up. The buses will run their normal routes, stopping to drop off all of the materials for the week. We ask that families please respect the 6 foot personal boundaries for our delivery staff by not coming on to the school bus to try and retrieve materials. If you have muddy driveways or driveways that can’t otherwise be used by a bus, we are asking that you place a box or plastic tote at the end of your driveway for us to leave your materials in.
Until further notice, we will not be collecting any paper materials for return. This is part of our effort to reduce the amount of materials exchanging hands limiting potential exposure to contaminants. Similarly, materials being sent home will be ready for distribution by Friday and left un-touched until Monday to protect students and families.
In order for students to learn, it is critical that work and activities are completed as assigned. We are making a conscious effort to balance the need for continued learning relative to families’ other current needs including parent work schedules.
During the week, staff will be available via email or telephone from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily to answer questions, and provide support and assistance to students. There will not be any face-to-face meetings or contacts made during the closure.
There has been a link added to our website for technical support for our students in grades 6-12 who may be encountering difficulties with their computers.
School Meals – Updated for Week of April 6 and April 13
Lunch Distribution will take place at the following times and places:
Monday, April 6, 2020 In conjunction with delivery of academic materials according to the schedule above.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 In-town students at Groton Area Elementary from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Out-of-town students via bus routes.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 In conjunction with delivery of academic materials according to the schedule above.
Thursday, April 16, 2020 In-town students at Groton Area Elementary from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Out-of-town students via bus routes.
We encourage all families to take advantage of this service during this time. All children in our district aged 18 and under are eligible for participation at no cost. Even if your participation is simply a matter of personal convenience, we’d like to help. If you haven’t yet signed up for these meals and would like to begin participating, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Joe Schwan Superintendent