Bruce Vento Family Survey

Vento families please take a few moments to fill out the Spring Family Engagement Survey.  The survey contains questions related to the School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP), the Family Engagement Plan (FEP), the Family-School Compact, and overall family engagement.  The survey links are listed below by language.  Thank you in advance for you time and support. 

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RRXQVM8

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PVKJSQ2

Resources for Families during COVID-19

Family Support for Distance Learning

https://www.spps.org/Page/38794

Change, Inc., has a Support Line available for students and families during the pandemic. SPPS families may call for phone support or referrals to community resources. Calls are answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling 651-262-5858.

Bruce Vento Student & Family Support Contact Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10VHuiPsslpnwDIDIYGI61RGUcL9f7UdoEhyeTaObuxo/edit?ts=5e8df762

COVID-19 Meal Access Plan

HOME DELIVERY

NEW! Starting Monday, April 20, we will no longer have bus stop deliveries. Instead, we will start weekly home meal delivery to SPPS families who are in need of food for their children. Meals are only for kids ages 18 and under, or those with a disability enrolled in a school program.

For families that qualify for free or reduced lunch: You will automatically receive your first delivery and can confirm with the delivery driver if you would like to continue receiving meals through home delivery. You can also confirm online here. Students who are enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program will also receive their first delivery automatically.

For families that do NOT qualify for free or reduced lunch: If you do not have other means of getting food for your children, you can register online or wait to receive a call from Nutrition Services. When you receive a call, you can enroll over the phone at that time.

SCHOOL PICKUP

Meals will be available for pick up from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or while supplies last) at the following sites:

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

• Harding Senior High School (1540 6th St. E.)
• Johnson Senior High School (1349 Arcade St.)
• Chelsea Heights Elementary (1557 Huron St.)
• Cherokee Heights Elementary (694 S. Charlton St.)

Please remember to practice social distancing (stay at least 6 feet away from other people) when picking up meals.

Still have questions? Visit the COVID-19 FAQ page.

SPPS Student and Family Support

https://sites.google.com/stpaul.k12.mn.us/student/home

SPPS Essential Care

Essential Care Flyer - Click on link for more informaiton regarding essential childcare for first responders and health care staff.   

Student Health and Wellness

https://www.spps.org/Page/38688

Gordon Parks High School Health Start clinic will remain open for well-care, nutrition support, mental health support and health education during the school closure. The clinic will provide a space for youth who feel healthy to have their preventive and emotional needs met. Please call for an appointment or walk in for care.  

We cannot test for the flu or COVID-19 at school sites.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Gordon Parks Health Start Clinic is open to all youth under age 22.  Call Gordon Parks with your questions and to make appointments: 651-793-2234

Community Food Resources   

March 31, 2020

Salvation Army, 1019 Payne Ave., St. Paul, MN 55130

The Salvation Army is running a food shelf Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests are asked to call (651) 776-2653 to place an order. Staff will call guests by phone when the order is ready for pick up. 

On Fridays, the Salvation Army will run a food distribution out of the WEST door on Lawson street. Guests are asked to wait 6 feet apart, lined up along the sidewalk. At 1:30 p.m., each guest will be given a box and bag of food rescue items.

Hot lunches are served daily Monday through Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. out of a food truck in the Salvation Army parking lot.   

Merrick Family Services, 1669 Arcade St. N., Suite 4, St. Paul, MN 55106

Families can receive an emergency box of food on Monday’s from 3 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

Neighborhood House Food Support, Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul, MN 55107

The Wellstone Center Food Market will be providing curbside pre-packaged emergency bags. We accept walk-up and drive-up pick-up. Please call 651-789-2534 when you arrive and staff will bring out your groceries.

If you need delivery, please call 651-789-2534 and let the operator know you would like to order emergency bags for delivery. Neighborhood House will be taking calls for delivery between 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–4 p.m. All calls before 12 p.m. will be guaranteed for next-day delivery. All calls after 12 p.m. will be delivered in two days.

YMCA-

The YMCA is partnering with Loaves & Fishes and UnitedHealth Group to serve free healthy meals to families in need.  Families may pick up food from Noon – 2pm Monday through Friday at select YMCAs. Meals are currently available at the Y locations listed below. Check the website listed for added locations.  https://www.ymcamn.org/food-distribution

Locations include:  

St. Paul Eastside YMCA
875 Arcade Street 
Saint Paul, MN 55106

St. Paul Midway YMCA
1761 University Avenue West 
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Maplewood Community Center YMCA
2100 White Bear Avenue 
Maplewood, MN 55109

RAMSEY COUNTY BASIC NEED RESOURCES FOR COVID-19          

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Financial Assistance Services: All Financial Assistance intake appointments will be completed over the phone. If you need to schedule an appointment or speak with your financial worker please call 651-266-4444. For questions regarding Ramsey County METS Medical Assistance cases, call 651-266-3870. 

WIC Program: Due to COVID-19, all WIC (Women, Infants and Children) appointments will be completed over the phone. If you are a client with an upcoming appointment, a WIC nutrition educator will call you at your scheduled appointment time. Please call 651-266-1300 if you have questions.

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health Crisis: Individuals, families and service providers from across the state calling from a cell phone can call one number — **CRISIS (**274747) — and have their call seamlessly forwarded to their county crisis team. **CRISIS will automatically connect to the right county crisis number based on the caller’s location.

Minnesota Care Partners is offering telehealth options for all services, for those who have insurance. They will continue to accept new referrals and get creative with delivering care.

NAMI COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

NAMI is offering online support groups www.supportgroupscentral.com/groups_detail.cfm?cid=21

Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative Coronavirus Calm  www.rccmhc.org/post/coronavirus-calm

Online resources:

o    CDC Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19

o    The Jed Foundation Tips for Self-Care and Managing Stress

o    The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (English, Spanish, and Chinese versions available).

o    Child Mind Institute Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

SERVICES FOR HOMELESS

YMCA - all programs are continuing as usual, just virtually. Putting a hold on in person programming but doing intakes with youth and providing assistance virtually as much as possible. 

MDH Coronavirus Site: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html

National Healthcare for the Homeless COVID-19 Site: https://nhchc.org/clinical-practice/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/

UNEMPLOYMENT

If your employment has been affected by COVID-19, you can apply for unemployment benefits, Executive Order of the Governor. This includes any COVID-19 related layoff, including parents having to leave work to do child care. The one week waiting period has been waived.  Apply for benefits online at: https://www.uimn.org/

Karen Organization of MN (KOM) is helping their clients with a language barrier apply for unemployment benefits. 

UTILITIES

Xcel: As families and communities face the challenges of COVID-19, we want to ensure customers have the service needed to power homes and keep families safe. Xcell will not disconnect service from any customers until further notice. If you have difficulty paying your bill, Xcel is there to help. Contact to set up a payment plan that works for you. http://spr.ly/61831s11V

Cell Phone -Century link and other major Cell Phone providers will not be shutting phone or internet service, or charge late fees.  Check individual provider websites for details. 

COMCAST is taking steps to implement the following new policies for the next 60 days starting mid-March, and other important initiatives: 

Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.

News, Information and Educational Content on X1 and Flex: For those with school-age students at home, we’ve created new educational collections for all grade levels in partnership with Common Sense Media.  Just say “education” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. To help keep customers informed, we also have created a collection of the most current news and information on Coronavirus.  Just say “Coronavirus” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. 

No Disconnects or Late Fees: Comcast will not disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if the costumer contacts Comcast and lets them know they can’t pay their bill during this period. Comcast care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options and can help find other solutions.

Internet Essentials Free to New Customers: It’s even easier for low-income families who live in a Comcast service area to sign-up for Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month. Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service was increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward.

Updates Regarding COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health are closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19).Questions regarding county policies and the county response to COVID-19 can be sent to Ramsey County's COVID-19 Response Team. 

Current situation overview

o    Health officials confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus in Minnesota on March 6, 2020.

o    The World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic on March 11.

o    Map of current number of cases by state maintained by the CDC. 

o    Current information on Minnesota cases provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Learning at Home:

See math videos and resources under the learning at home tab.  Resouces are listed by grade level.  

Learning at Home Handout

Title l Information:   

Parent Right to Know All Languages

Family Engagement Plan 2019-2020

School Compact 2019-2020

Vento SCIP

Vento 19-20 School Report Card

Family Center Resources :  

Housing Information 

Career Navigation and Resources

Educational Resources for Families

Information on Adult Education Classes

Community Connections

Food Pantry

Literacy Resources

Volunteer Opportunities 

Community Garden Connection

Phone: 651-744-5779

Gretchen Ray

gretchen.ray-jensen@spps.org

Gardening Coordinator-

Kirsten Saylor 

kirsten.saylor@spps.org