{"id":3403,"date":"2020-03-13T15:33:33","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T19:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.80.187\/?post_type=news&p=3403"},"modified":"2020-03-13T15:33:33","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T19:33:33","slug":"valley-lutheran-response-to-mandated-school-closing-march-13-2020","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.vlhs.com\/news\/valley-lutheran-response-to-mandated-school-closing-march-13-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Valley Lutheran Response to Mandated School Closing (March 13, 2020)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following letter was sent to current VLHS parents today, March 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

March 13, 2020<\/p>\n

Dear Parents,<\/p>\n

Wow!\u00a0 How things have changed in the last 24 hours!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>School is closed by order of the Governor.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 Why is this happening?\u00a0 A pandemic of this magnitude is hard to stop, especially when we cannot easily identify who is contagious.\u00a0 Health officials believe it is time to separate people as much as possible to slow the spread. As schools do their part by sending students home for an extended period, you are asked to help insure \u201csocial distance\u201d in your family.\u00a0 This article from a scientific journal helped me better understand the Governor\u2019s decision:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2020\/03\/does-closing-schools-slow-spread-novel-coronavirus<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Consequently, all Valley Lutheran school activities conclude at 3:30 p.m. today and are at this time planned to resume at 8:00 a.m. on Monday April 6.\u00a0 No athletic, drama, or other practices, including involuntary practices on or off site are allowed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Classes will be delivered in an eLearning format<\/a> beginning Tuesday March 17 through Friday March 27.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 We will do our best to deliver the best education that we can via eLearning.\u00a0 These lessons are more robust than those planned for snow days and are intended to meet as many course objectives as possible.\u00a0 Several weeks ago, teachers began to consider strategies in case school would be closed for an extended time. On Monday, teachers will begin to implement those plans. Today teachers worked with students to ensure access to Google Classroom which is the foundation of eLearning.\u00a0 Students were directed to take their books home and clean out their lockers in preparation for the application of disinfectant throughout the school. If your child was absent from school today, please contact me (<\/span>jbrandt@192.168.80.187<\/span><\/a>, 989-790-1676 ext. 11) to schedule a time when you can pick up books.\u00a0 If you have concerns about internet access at your home, please contact Dr. Lisa Meyers (<\/span>lmeyers@192.168.80.187<\/span><\/a>, 989-790-1676 ext. 12) to make alternative arrangements.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Valley Lutheran is a source of help and support.<\/span><\/span> We stand ready to help your family during this anxious time.\u00a0 If you need help \u2013 perhaps a shortage of food \u2013 let us know. Or \u2013 perhaps unexpected financial issues \u2013 let us know.\u00a0 Or \u2013 perhaps the need for a listening ear \u2013 let us know. Several individuals have already stepped forward looking to help and I know there are many others within the Valley Lutheran \u201cfamily\u201d who will do the same. \u00a0 Our guidance counselor Lindsay Mueller (<\/span>lmueller@192.168.80.187<\/span><\/a>) is a great person to contact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our teachers are more than teachers \u2013 they are \u201cministers\u201d of the gospel.\u00a0 Even though we are apart, they are ready and willing to help students in need.\u00a0 An email to a favorite teacher is a good place to look for help.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is much we don\u2019t know. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Many questions have been asked about events later in the school year.\u00a0 Will we play the spring sports? Will we hold prom? Will we perform the spring play?\u00a0 At this time all we know for sure is there is no school and no events until April 6. As we know more we will share it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>And some things haven\u2019t changed . . .<\/span><\/p>\n

You have already been of great help.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 Your calm in this storm rubs off on your children and is a great encouragement to those of us who work with your children.\u00a0 Encourage them to limit the spread of the virus by limiting their contact with others. Encourage them to be a positive, supportive member of the online communities in which they are active.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Look for ways to \u201clove your neighbor.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 As Christian citizens we need to do our part to reduce the spread of this virus.\u00a0 As we do, we will also see ways to \u201clove our neighbor.\u201d Perhaps you are blessed with a full freezer, then a gift to a Food Pantry might help. \u00a0 Perhaps you know an overworked healthcare worker who could use the relief of a home cooked meal delivered to his\/her doorstep. The ways we can safely help are many.\u00a0 If you can help a VL family contact Lindsay Mueller (<\/span>lmueller@192.168.80.187<\/span><\/a>). We can be the hands and feet of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

The practical things we can all <\/span>still<\/b> do are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n