May 22, 2020 PPS Parent Update Letter

Friday, May 22, 2020

Dear PPS Families,

I hope you and your family had a good week. Please note that all District offices, schools and Grab and Go locations will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Remote learning will commence on Tuesday, May 26.

Emergency Supplemental Food Payments
Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Food and Nutrition Service approved the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide households, with children eligible for free and reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program (NLSP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP), with Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) benefits due to COVID-19 and related school closures. This is meant to ensure that all children who would normally receive meals at school do not go hungry while schools are closed. Below is a high-level overview. Additional information is available online.
• Since all students in PPS are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Program, all PPS families, PreK-12, will receive P-EBT supplemental funds for lunches missed while being out of school from March 16 to June 12, 2020.
• The benefit amount is $5.70 per school day per child. Each PPS student will receive $370.50.
• Benefits will be provided to all eligible children whether or not they currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
• Children who are identified as part of an open TANF or SNAP household will receive their P-EBT benefit directly on the household’s current EBT card the same way current SNAP benefits are received. Households with children who are not identified as part of an open SNAP or TANF household will be issued a white P-EBT card.
• The card will be mailed to the head of the household or to one of the children in the household on or around Friday, June 12.
• The person listed does not need to be present when using the card.
• P-EBT cards are non-transferrable. If a family receives the card and does not wish to participate in the program, they can shred and dispose of this card.

Quarter 3 Report Cards
Quarter 3 report cards are now complete and accessible through the Home Access Center (HAC) at www.pghschools.org/HAC. Once on the HAC homepage, click on the Grade Screen >> Report Card tab. Your child’s marks, attendance, report card comments, and honor roll message are displayed. To print a copy of the report card, click the Print button in the upper right corner of the Report Card tab to view/save/print a full report card. Families using the eSchoolPLUS Family app on their mobile device can view the report card but will not have the option to save/print the full report card.

Summer Programming Options
• Virtual Summer Dreamers Academy – K-5 Students
The 2020 Summer Dreamers Academy is a premier no-cost summer learning camp for current Kindergarten through Fifth Grade students. The program will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams from June 29 through August 5. The daily schedule will be shortened and will incorporate fun and engaging camp activities that our campers and families have come to enjoy. Families interested in applying can find the application at www.pghschools.org/summerdreamers and apply using their Home Access Center (HAC) username and password. For help with your HAC credentials, please call 412-529-4357. For assistance with the online application, please leave a message at 412-529-2454 and a team member will return your call as soon as possible. Application Closes at 5:00 pm on May 29

• Summer Brain Booster Online Classes – 10 & 11th Grade Students
High school students finishing the 10th and 11th grade can take select online academic courses, based on the PPS school year curriculum to boost students’ academic skills in preparation for the next school year. Applicants can select up to two out of nine courses that will be offered this summer. Participation is not graded and is not credit-bearing. The application is available at www.pghschools.org/brainbooster. Application closes at 5:00 pm on June 5

• Online Summer Learn & Earn Program – 8 & 9 Grade Students
The Summer Learn & Earn Youth Employment Program is designed to provide students that are finishing the 8th and 9th grade with employment experience and relevant professional development. Interested applicants should apply online. Eligible students ages 14 and older should also apply through the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program to receive online training and guidance to complete a paid remote work experience in partnership with a local organization. Students under 14 and students that do not meet the income criteria will be eligible to participate, however, they will not be eligible to receive the Learn & Earn stipend. Application closes at 5:00 pm on June 5

Instructional Packet Distribution – Round 3
Families that could not pick-up materials this week are encouraged to contact the District’s Support Center at 412-529-HELP or www.pghschools.org/letstalk.

Paragon Fresh Vegetable Distribution – Begins Next Thursday, May 28th
Beginning next Thursday, May 28, Paragon Foods will distribute a mixed box of produce every Thursday for the next six months in the parking lots at the following schools:
• Milliones (UPrep): 3117 Centre Avenue – 15219
• Carmalt: 1550 Breining Street – 15226
• Perry: 3875 Perrysville Avenue – 15214
• Faison: 7430 Tioga Street – 15208
• The Gifted Center: 1400 Crucible Street – 15205
Food will be placed in a family’s car/trunk beginning at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on a first-come, first-serve basis. Per guidelines for social distancing and quick traffic flow, interested families will be required to use a car to pick up boxes of produce. Families unable to participate with a car can contact The Food Bank at 412-460-3663 ext. 665 or 2-1-1.

Take care and have a wonderful long weekend.
Anthony D. Hamlet, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools