Services offered during school closure

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Services offered during school closure
Meal pickup at Roosevelt ES

Meal distribution and childcare services will continue during the state's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order as both are considered essential services.

 

While schools are closed, the Olympia School District has been working with community partners to ensure that a variety of services continue, including meal distribution, and childcare options most notably for children of healthcare workers and emergency responders. These services will be offered while Olympia School District schools are closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and distance learning continues.

 

Childcare (updated March 20, 2020)

Per Gov. Jay Inslee's direction to school districts statewide, childcare will be offered with priority given to children of health care workers and emergency responders. At this time, level of services are as follows:  

 

  • Y Care: The YMCA will provide childcare (Y Care) at Garfield, Roosevelt and McKenny elementary schools beginning on Tuesday, March 17 and continuing weekdays through Friday, May 29, or until further notice. Y Care will operate from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout the district's six-week closure. Families may register directly with the YMCA. The Olympia School District is working with the YMCA to implement enhanced cleaning procedures in spaces where Y Care is held to disinfect hard surfaces and ensure other healthy protocols.
  • Olympia Boys and Girls Club (updated May 7, 2020): The Boys and Girls Club will re-open its child care program at Jefferson Middle School beginning May 11, 2020 and running through June 19, 2020. The Boys and Girls Club had been serving Olympia School District children at its Tumwater Club but with additional demand will serve directly from Jefferson MS. The club hours are 8:30 to 5:00; Monday - Friday. For questions, call (360) 956-0755 or visit the Boys and Girls Club Olympia Branch website.

 

Note: Health officials have shared some health social distancing tips for families who might need to share childcare at home or want to arrange play dates or other outings for students of ages during the closure. The information on the Seattle & King-County Public Health webpage includes best practices for social distancing in these situations.

 

Meal Distribution (Updated April 21, 2020)

Grab-and-Go meals (lunch and a breakfast for the next day packed in a paper bag) will be available at no cost for pickup between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at all elementary schools (except Lincoln Elementary) in the Olympia School District, including the Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA) and at Jefferson Middle School. Meals will be distributed at Lincoln Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. The meals will also be available at some community sites at designated times. View a complete list of all school and community meal distribution sites, including addresses and the specific times meals are distributed. 

 

Some important details about meal distribution:


  • Meals will be available for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year while OSD schools are closed and distance learning continues.
  • Federal guidelines establish that any student, regardless of age, is eligible to pick up a meal. Any youth not enrolled in school, but under 18, is also eligible to receive a meal. Students and youth will not be asked for their name, identification, enrollment status, Free and Reduced-Price meal designation or school of attendance.
  • Each student or youth can pick up a free lunch for that day, and a free breakfast for the upcoming day.
  • Meals are available for pickup in person or by driving up to the site with limited interaction with Food Services staff. 
  • Elementary, middle and high school students or youth can choose to pick up a meal at any OSD elementary school, Jefferson Middle School, or one of the designated community sites. Students can visit any site on any of the days to receive a meal.
  • All meals meet USDA nutritional guidelines and are nut free. Lunch typically includes items such as a ham or turkey sandwich, a piece of fruit, raw vegetables, a bag of animal crackers and a carton of milk. Vegetarian sunbutter and jelly sandwiches will also be available.
  • Gluten-free meals are available for those who make prior arrangements with the OSD Food Services Department. If interested, email [email protected]. Please include the student's name and school where the gluten-free meal will be picked up.
  • Our Food Services staff closely follows standards for handling food safely. They will take aggressive measures to ensure proper, sanitary food handling methods.
  • Thanks to the partnership of many volunteer organizations, weekend food packs will be available at all of our school and community distribution sites on Friday of each week.

 

Note: For Capital High School students who live in the Griffin School District attendance area, Griffin School District will provide meals at student bus stops when requested by parents. Please contact Griffin SD employee Tawnya White at [email protected] to arrange for meal delivery at a bus stop.
 

Health Tips

As a reminder, OSD schools are closed in support of the goal of social distancing, which is designed to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 illness. Additionally, health officials continue to stress the following health tips:

 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
  • Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) advises if you have a fever and cough, stay home until your fever has been gone for 72 hours. DOH defines a fever as 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

 

For more information about COVID-19, including resources such as frequently asked questions and links to local and state health departments, visit the Information about new coronavirus webpage on the district website.