COVID-19

Together in Spirit: Staying Connected During COVID-19

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We’ve started to notice something interesting lately: our current conditions of social distancing have actually brought us closer to some of the people in our life. Families are working, learning, and playing at home together. People are calling family and friends just to check up on them. Neighbors are waving to one another from a distance, just to have some form of human contact.

Even though we aren’t able to gather physically, we will keep looking for ways to connect with each other. Here are some ways we are staying connected with our little Cardinals.

Facebook – please follow our Facebook page. We post DAILY lessons, pictures of students, messages from teachers, a nightly storytime, free resources, and more. We VALUE and LOVE our Menchaca families. Even if you avoid social media, connect for the short term so we can stay connected to you. Follow our page for the latest, up-to-date information.

MECC Virtual Learning – We post all of our virtual lessons here. If you started with packets and want to go back to previous weeks, you can! We have this up so our little Cardinals can continue learning. You don’t have to learn only on the dates they were posted. This is meant to help you help your children. We use videos, interactive resources, and more to keep this as accessible as possible. We have our instructional packets available for you to access here, too.

Educational Programming on TV

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PBS channels are partnering with the Texas Education Agency to show at-home learning on TV! They are showing programs for Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school programs. All of the programs are made with TEKS (the state standards) in mind, too! This free programming will reach 96 percent of Texas’s student-age population and each age group will receive targeted programming at specific times throughout the school day. San Antonio viewers will watch on KLRN!

Want to read more? Check out TEA’s official article HERE.

*UPDATED* Meals for Students During School Closure

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Southside ISD’s Child Nutrition Department is preparing to ensure that meals are available to our students. We are expanding our meal service to benefit students and families.

CHILDREN MUST BE PRESENT: Meals for students will continue at Southside High School and Heritage Elementary daily at noon AND at the following locations:

Students will get a lunch and a breakfast for the next day.
Students need to be present to receive meals. Effective Thursday March 26th, meals for students will be available for pick up at the locations listed below.

Students must be present, please use social distancing of 6 feet .

Estimated Times of Meal distruibution

12:00 p.m. Mathis Rd. & Mathis Cir.

12:08 p.m. Mathis Rd. & Bywood Dr.

12:16 p.m. Alanwood Dr. & Owenwood

12:34 p.m. Camp site Rd. & Ranch Trail Rd.

12:53 p.m. Star Oaks Dr. Mathis Rd.

12:00 p.m. 24945 Pleasanton Rd @ Thelma Food Store

12:15 p.m. Trumbo Rd. & Trumbo Trail

12:38 p.m. 1600 Pleasanton Rd. & Everybody Loves Raymond’s Parking Lot

1:03 p.m. 15307 FM 1937 Dave’s Quick Store

12:00 p.m. New Mathis Rd. in the strip mall.

12:09 p.m. New Mathis Rd. & Hickory Shadow

12:19 p.m. Waterwood Pass Dr. & Grand Spring

12:26 p.m. Waterwood Pass Dr. & Skila Dr.

12:24 p.m. Shady Forest Dr. & Priest Rd.

12:00 p.m. San Casimiro St. & Renova St. @ Church Parking Lot

12:07 p.m. Champion Homes

12:19 p.m. Pleasanton Cir. & Pleasanton Pl.

12:25 p.m. Rosemont Apts.

12:23 p.m. Gallardo Bus Loop

12:44 p.m. Del Lago PKWY Swimming Pool Parking Lot

12:00 p.m. N. Addison St. & W. Addison

12:08 p.m. Big Oak & Crossland Rd.

12:16 p.m. US HWY 281 S & Mogford @ The Dollar General Parking Lot

12:23 p.m. Big Oak Dr. & Loma Verda Rd.

12:31 p.m. US HWY 281 S. Memorial LN.

COVID 19 Update: School Closure Extended Until April 3, 2020

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Dear Southside families,

We continue to actively monitor developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) in conjunction with local and state public health officials, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

This week, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a third public health emergency and prohibited gatherings of more than 50 people. Therefore, and because of the rapidly evolving nature of this situation and out of an abundance of caution, Southside ISD is joining other San Antonio area districts in extending our closure of campus classrooms through Friday, April 3. 

Parents should begin, if you have not already done so, to plan for long term closures of schools.

In the meantime, we will continue to offer curbside meals for our students for breakfast and lunch at designated locations around the District. We are also working to implement remote instruction during this time. We will continue to update the district website about both meal service and remote instruction.

We will continue to provide regular updates on our website, social media channels, and through our email messaging system. We will be updating our  COVID -19 website with Frequently Asked Questions, dates, instructional plans and more. http://southsideisd.org/covid19/. Please continue to monitor and share information posted at the above website.  Also, if you know of any families that do not have internet access, help us share this information with them by contacting them directly.

Phone calls and “robo-texts” will occur on an as needed basis.

During this unprecedented time, we want you to know that our students’ safety and well-being are our top priorities. We understand that these developments have put a strain on your family. We continue to be committed to educating your children. We will get through this by working together. Thank you for your patience and understanding and for your support of Southside ISD! Go Cardinals!

Mark E. Eads

Superintendent

COVID 19: School Closed March 16 – 20th

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March 13, 2020

Dear Southside ISD families,

Southside ISD has been monitoring developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) in conjunction with local and state public health officials and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Due to the public health emergency by the City of San Antonio regarding social distancing for groups larger than 500 and the alert from the World Health Organization designating COVID-19 as a pandemic, we understand that proactive measures are better than reactive measures in terms of controlling the number of new cases.  

Therefore, Southside ISD is joining other San Antonio area districts to close schools the week of March 16 – 20 to help prevent exposure to students, staff and the community. Additionally, all extracurricular activities, practices and athletic events are suspended while we are closed. 

We know this may create difficulties to working parents who have young, school-aged children. We are hopeful these measures will ensure the long-term health and safety of children, staff, and the larger community.  That being said, we also are aware of the nutritional burden this poses on families. Southside ISD’s Child Nutrition Department is preparing to ensure that meals will be available next week. 

  • Meals for students will be available for curbside pickup at Heritage Elementary and Southside High School ONLY.
  • Monday, March 16th at 8am student will get a cold breakfast, a cold lunch and a cold breakfast for the next morning
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there will be ONE pickup at Noon. Students will get a hot lunch and a breakfast for the next day.
  • Student needs to be present to receive meals.

 The district is finalizing logistics on distance learning options for students. More information and guidance will be made available on our website by the middle of next week.  We will also take this week to further clean schools and buses and resupply custodial and nursing supplies.

At this time, we do not anticipate extending the school year in order to “make up” the days from this closure.

Please continue to monitor the website at southsideisd.org and our Facebook and Twitter sites for more information.

Here are some TIPS to stay healthy at home:

The coronavirus is thought to be spread via person-to-person contact through contaminated air droplets from coughing and sneezing by an infected person. As with controlling the spread of other viruses, we urge you to speak to your child about the following prevention measures:

  • Wash your hands regularly, especially after using the restroom and before preparing or consuming food. Using soap and hot water, wash for about 20 seconds. Be sure to also wash your fingertips.
  • Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or in the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, and then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze into your arm.
  • As much as you can, avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
  • As a reminder if you have traveled during spring break, follow the CDC guidelines regarding the need for health monitoring and possible self-quarantine.

Please continue to monitor the website at southsideisd.org and our Facebook and Twitter sites for more information.

Mark E. Eads
Superintendent of Schools

Spanish

Estimadas familias de Southside ISD:

Southside ISD ha estado monitoreando los desarrollos relacionados con el coronavirus (COVID-19) en conjunto con los funcionarios de salud pública locales y estatales y los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC).

Debido a la emergencia de salud pública de la Ciudad de San Antonio con respecto al distanciamiento social para grupos mayores de 500 y la alerta de la Organización Mundial de la Salud que designa a COVID-19 como una pandemia, entendemos que las medidas proactivas son superiores a las medidas reactivas en términos de control El número de casos nuevos.

Por lo tanto, Southside ISD se está uniendo a otros distritos del área de San Antonio para cerrar las escuelas la semana del 16 al 20 de marzo para ayudar a prevenir la exposición a los estudiantes, el personal y la comunidad. Además, todas las actividades extracurriculares, prácticas y eventos deportivos se suspenden mientras estamos cerrados.

No tomamos esta decisión a la ligera. Sabemos que esto puede crear dificultades para los padres que trabajan y que tienen niños pequeños en edad escolar. Esperamos que estas medidas garanticen la salud y seguridad a largo plazo de los niños, el personal y la comunidad en general. Dicho esto, también somos conscientes de la carga nutricional que esto supone para las familias. El Departamento de Nutrición Infantil de Southside ISD se está preparando para garantizar que las comidas estén disponibles la próxima semana. Compartiremos más información una vez que se finalice el plan.

 El distrito está finalizando la logística de las opciones de aprendizaje a distancia para los estudiantes. A mediados de la próxima semana, se ofrecerá más información y orientación en nuestro sitio web. También aprovecharemos esta semana para limpiar más las escuelas y los autobuses y reabastecer los suministros de custodia y enfermería.

En este momento, no anticipamos extender el año escolar para “compensar” los días de este cierre.

Aquí hay algunos CONSEJOS para mantenerse saludable en casa:

Se cree que el coronavirus se transmite a través del contacto de persona a persona a través de gotitas de aire contaminadas al toser y estornudar por una persona infectada. Al igual que con el control de la propagación de otros virus, le recomendamos que hable con su hijo sobre las siguientes medidas de prevención:

Lávese las manos regularmente, especialmente después de usar el baño y antes de preparar o consumir alimentos. Usando jabón y agua caliente, lave por unos 20 segundos. Asegúrese de lavarse también las yemas de los dedos.

Evite toser o estornudar en las manos o en el aire. Siempre trate de toser o estornudar en un pañuelo desechable, y luego bótelo. Si no tiene un pañuelo, tosa / estornude en su brazo.

Tanto como puedas, evita tocarte los ojos, la boca y la nariz.

Como recordatorio si ha viajado durante las vacaciones de primavera, siga las pautas de los CDC con respecto a la necesidad de controlar la salud y la posible auto cuarentena.

Siga monitoreando el sitio web en southsideisd.org y nuestros sitios de Facebook y Twitter para obtener más información.

Mark E. Eads

Superintendente de Escuelas