Yesterday, Governor Whitmer issued the Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives Executive Order, requiring all non-essential businesses to close and workers to stay home to prevent the spread of coroanvirus. The order is effect from March 24 to April 13th.
YOU CAN:
Go to the grocery store or pick up take-out food.
Go to the pharmacy to pick up a needed prescription.
Engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, biking.
Go to the hospital or secure any care necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve your health or the health of a loved one.
Fill your car with gas.
Return to Michigan to a home or place of residence from outside the State.
Leave the State for a home or residence elsewhere.
Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian for needed medical care.
YOU MAY NOT:
Leave the home to work unless your employer designates you as a critical infrastructure worker.
Participate in any public gatherings.
Visit someone in the hospital, nursing home, or other residential care facilities (with limited exceptions).
I apologize for the late notice, but due to the anticipated
announcement from Gov. Whitmer to “Stay at Home” we are moving our last
Chromebook pickup to today from 1-3 pm at DHS. Please pull into the circle
drive and make sure a parent is with you. I’m uncertain when the building will
be open again, so if you need one this is your last chance.
We know the outbreak of COVID-19 can be stressful and cause fear and anxiety for people. These feelings during an infectious disease outbreak are normal and common. But there are things you can do to support yourself, friends and family members. By working together, you can cope with the stress which will make you and your loved ones stronger.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
Fear & worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
Difficulty sleep or concentrating.
Changes in mood and coping skills.
Things you can do to support yourself
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Repeatedly hearing about the pandemic can be upsetting.
Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch and/or meditate. Try to eat healthy, and maintain a daily routine.
Other suggestions include:
Practice relaxation techniques (see attached).
Reach out to the DHS school social workers by email to set up a time to talk (Lisa Cunningham, Lauren Rouff, Stacy Rumler) or call the Dearborn Schools Social Emotional Support line at, 313-827-8500. In crisis/distress you can also call or text at: 1-800-273-8255/Text ‘Talk’ to 741741
Journal, listen to music, make art, and/or read. Do something you enjoy or have not had time for.
Take a walk or run while maintaining safe distances from others.
If you have come across a great resource please share it.
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”
This famous movie quote from The Wizard of OZ is spoken by Dorothy when she realizes that she is no longer in the safety of her farm house in Kansas but rather has been chaotically thrown into the unfamiliar and somewhat bazaar land of Oz. Sound Familiar?
Major events have been cancelled; restaurants, malls, and other businesses closed; and “Social Distancing”, and “Flattening the Curve” have become the trending phrases of the day. In just one short week our daily routines have changed and we are still getting used to a different way of life. Amongst all of this change, parents have had to add the role of teacher to their other responsibilities. I want to thank all of our parents for the support and kind words that have been shared with us during the past week. We appreciate all that parents are doing to support our new way of learning for the weeks ahead.
Of course, there wouldn’t be any on-line lessons, virtual classrooms, or remote learning if not for the incredible work of our teachers. Almost overnight they transformed our schools by creating lessons, developing plans, and moving their classrooms from the confines of four walls to the openness of the internet. I cannot thank and compliment them enough for the outstanding work they have done to ensure our students will have meaningful learning experiences while our buildings are closed.
The learning may not look the same for each school or even each grade, but what is common is the connection these teachers are making with their students. That can be difficult to do through a computer screen, and yet our teachers are doing it. They do it by sharing personal stories; photos and videos of their pets, children or hobbies; and by demonstrating how learning can happen anywhere at any time. They are doing it because they are passionate about teaching and have the expertise in their field. I appreciate all of their hard work and commitment to our students.
There are so many people to thank for all they have done this past week. Our administrators, our engineers, crisis team, union heads, custodial staff, all district staff, and of course the hard working team in our technology department. Mr. Troy Patterson and his entire team have done, and continue to do, a tremendous job of supporting the technology needs of our teachers and students. In addition, they were instrumental in distributing more than 5,000 chrome books to students this past week.
When it comes to distributing items to the students no one does it better than our Food Service department. This week Mr. Jeff Murphy, Mr Josh Bains, and their entire team in the Food Service department were able to provide more than 35,000 meals to students in our district, 20,000 being handed out on Friday alone. Thank you to everyone who was part of that program including the dozens of volunteers coordinated by our PTA.
We are scheduled to return to our buildings and our classrooms on April 13th. As we have been saying all along, this situation is ever changing and we all must be patient to see if our efforts will help to slow the spread of this virus. We must continue to follow the recommendations of our healthcare professionals. This means avoiding groups of more than 10, keeping our social distance, washing hands, covering our mouth when coughing or sneezing, and of course if we are not feeling well, please stay in your home.
Starting Monday, March 23, the Administrative Service Center will no longer be open but, just like our schools, the work will continue. Our staff will transition to working at home and to make sure we continue to deliver services to the public, I would like to share the following contact numbers and emails:
As we increase the number of people being tested for COVID-19 there will most likely be more reported cases. The whole point to all of the closures and cancellations is to keep people from gathering in large groups so that we don’t spread the COVID-19 virus. It’s not to stop it, cure it, or end it…only slow it down. In a few weeks, we can evaluate the situation, consideration recommendations from the state and county, and with the information available to us make decisions about the remainder of the school year.
It is the uncertainty that is most frustrating for most people. People like to have deadlines, goals, a beginning and an end. With the current state of affairs we don’t have that. We only have “wait and see” with no real conclusion in sight. I ask that we all try to be patient. We are going through a very different time and learning as we live through these events. A little inconvenience for the next few weeks (and longer if necessary) is worth doing in order to keep others safe and avoid more drastic measures down the road.
Our administration has the support of our incredible Board of Education and I have witnessed first hand the awesome ability of this community to come together in the time of crisis. I know that by all of us working together, remaining calm, and being patient we will help each other through this difficult time and come out on the other side much stronger as a community, as a state, and as a nation.
Hope everyone is healthy and doing well. Today March 20th all students should send Mr. Mahar their completed fitness chart or fitness summary. This would show what they did to stay fit each day this week.
Mr. Conway, Dearborn High School Athletic Director has passed along a good article about high school sports seasons being suspended. Currently out boys basketball team qualified to play Romulus for the district championship. All of spring sports started on March 9th but are now suspended until further notice.
The following article explains the situation with the suspended seasons: https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2020/03/mhsaa-answers-key-questions-on-fate-of-high-school-sports-and-coronavirus.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
Superintendent Dr. Maleyko has been putting out video with information about COVID 19 and how Dearborn Public Schools are dealing with an ever changing situation.
Please click on the links below to view the videos.You can also subscribe to the youtube channel or my blog. (Dr. Maylekoo)
To: Counselors, Psychologists, and School Social Workers
From: Special Education Department
Date: March 18, 2020
Re: Mental Health Initiatives and Activities Updates
Amid the recent shutdown of Dearborn Public Schools, we would like to ensure that the social and emotional supports for students are available. The emotional impact of an emergency on a child depends on a child’s characteristics, developmental ages, and experiences. Thus, not all children respond to a crisis in the same way. In addition to school social workers providing resources for families and students that they service, Dearborn Public Schools will make a hotline available for students and/or parents who are struggling in coping with COVID-19 issues that might cause anxiety, fear, and stress in our families. The hotline will be supported by 4-6 staff members daily. Counselors, Psychologists, and School Social Workers will be afforded the opportunity to sign up for a time and day of the week they would be available to support. Additional Information regarding the hotline:
Disclaimer and parental consent must be provided before speaking to student or family
The voice recording will state if it is an emergency, families must hang up and dial 911
Parents can call 313-827-8500 or email dss@dearbornschools.org if assistance is needed
If a follow-up session is necessary, it will be scheduled by the appropriate provider
We want to thank you for your dedication to our students and families. Just as teachers are committed to the academic welfare of students, we are equally committed to their social-emotional welfare in order to feel safe and able to learn.
Please refer to the district website for any up to date current information regarding school news and events including updates regarding the social emotional hotline.
The majority of Mr. Mahar’s students have checked in for the first assignment. Your goal should be to get 30 – 60 minutes of exercise each day. Keep track of what you do and send the checklist or some other way to let me know what you have done to stay fit this week. The assignment will be due Friday and will be worth 50 points.
Please keep practicing social distancing, and washing your hands. Stay safe and healthy.
I am happy that so many students have already confirm that they have received the email that I sent out. Those students will receive 10 participation points for March 16. On Friday I should receive the training chart or a journal of what work each student did this week. If you have not contacted me yet at maharp@dearbornschools.org please do so. You will still earn your points for March 16
