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To our community:
We have been glad to have the chance to be in touch with you through these newsletters over the past two months. Summer is approaching, so this will be our last resource newsletter for now.
We also want to acknowledge and celebrate the work of educators in our city. They have been working incredibly hard to help meet their students’ basic needs while also making sure they keep learning. Recent research shows that the work of New Orleans schools and school networks in response to COVID-19 stands out nationally. We wrote about it for our blog; take a look to learn more about how their work leads the state and nation.
Bright Spots
As ever, we find spots of great hope, joy, and progress across our community.
- NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) announced that they have officially distributed one million meals to children since schools closed.
- New Orleans’ FirstLine Schools has taken a low-tech, high-impact approach to distance learning. Their efforts were highlighted and profiled in a case study from the Louisiana Department of Education.
- Schools citywide are finding creative ways to celebrate their graduating students! Check out Martin Behrman Charter School’s 8th Grade graduates and Frederick A. Douglass High School’s individual in-person graduation ceremonies.
- In collaboration with the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS), we celebrated two “Education Heroes” recently. Click the images below to learn about them both!
Resources
Support for school leaders and teachers
Summer PD offerings: There are fantastic virtual professional development opportunities available for New Orleans’ teachers this summer. We have organized them here.
Resource on mental health: The Institute for Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES) recently released a white paper, Mental Health Framework: Coronavirus Pandemic In Post Katrina New Orleans, on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of both children and adults in our city.
Educator resources shared in our previous newsletters can be found here.
Supporting students’ and residents’ needs
Help buying groceries: Louisiana’s new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program provides $285 per child for families whose children receive free and reduced lunch at school. Families must apply to receive this benefit, and can find details, FAQs, and the application here.
Memorial Day weekend feeding schedule: As feeding sites will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day, sites will provide three days worth of food on Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 27th. Visit the NOLA-PS nutrition site for continued updates on this schedule.
Food assistance for students:NOLA-PS and NORD continue to offer free breakfast and lunch for children at community feeding sites citywide on Mondays and Wednesdays; multiple days’ worth of “grab and go” meals are provided on those days. Lyft continues to offer free ride codes for families needing transportation to sites.
Resources for student and family needs that were shared in our previous newsletters can be found here.
Over the summer, we will continue to reach out with articles and updates. As always, please feel free to be in touch. We send the very best to you and your families.
Sincerely,
Patrick Dobard
CEO
New Schools for New Orleans