Hempfield School District has restructured its schedule and offerings in response to the novel coronavirus. New content and ongoing updates will be posted at http://www.hempfieldsd.org/Page/768.
Free grab-and-go bagged meals are available for all district students. Cold lunches are provided Mondays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The meal options include turkey sandwiches and Smucker's Uncrustables brand peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The Uncrustables are delivered to the food services team individually wrapped and are regularly offered in the district's cafeterias.
Following current federal guidelines, children must be present to receive the bagged meals. The meals may be picked up at Mountville Elementary School, 200 College Ave., Mountville. Families may walk to the school or drive in and take advantage of a curbside delivery service. As a reminder, during this time, building and school facilities, including playground equipment, are closed. Vehicles should enter the school grounds using College Avenue. District staff will direct traffic.
Families that are currently enrolled in the Power Packs program are eligible to pick up their packs on Thursday, March 26. Power Packs leaders understand that more families may be feeling the impact of the current situation and may benefit from the program. Interested families that are not currently enrolled may email hempfieldpowerpacks20@gmail.com for information.
Power Packs will host four distributions at the following times and locations on March 26: 3 to 5 p.m., Arbor Park Community Center, 2886 Terry Lane, Lancaster, and Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay St., Mountville; 4 to 6 p.m., Hempfield United Methodist Church, 3050 Marietta Ave., Lancaster; and 5 to 7 p.m., East Petersburg Area Civic Center, 6030 Lemon St., East Petersburg. Families may choose to pick up their items at the site most convenient to them. Power Packs asks that individuals do not come if they are sick, but rather send someone else to pick up their pack.
Community members who are interested in helping with the Power Packs initiative may drop off jars of peanut butter at the same distribution sites at the corresponding times. Updated information will be posted on the "Hempfield Power Packs" Facebook page.
All school buildings are closed and have been cleaned and disinfected by the custodial staff. A medication and durable medical equipment pickup event was scheduled on March 18. If a family was unable to collect student-owned medications or equipment that is currently held in one of the health rooms, family members may email medication@hempfieldsd.org or leave a voicemail at 717-618-5031 with the student's name, school building, and medication or equipment name.
The governor's decision to close schools for 10 business days effective March 16 means that schools are prohibited from having any activities on campus, including athletic competitions or practices. Individuals should not be using the high school stadium, quad, tennis courts, baseball fields, practice fields, building playgrounds, or other areas. Signs have been posted on the major facilities, and district officials have asked for the support of local emergency responders in communicating this message directly, when necessary.
There should be no athletic practices or contests during this 10-day time period. District officials related that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has stated that student-led practices held off-campus are contrary to the intent of the governor's order and thus are not permitted. The Hempfield School District is a PIAA member and supports the position. Coaches and student-athletes are expected to comply with the order as a benefit to the greater good of the community and beyond.
Teachers have not been asked to develop or facilitate any online lessons during the mandated closure through Friday, March 27. Hempfield School District is not approved for flexible instructional days; therefore, teachers cannot send out assignments or projects for students to work on during the shutdown. Staff members may be able to offer resources or optional experiences to help engage students and their families while school is closed. Readers may visit the aforementioned website to see if links to educational sites are posted.
The district also noted that families without internet access, regardless of whether they live in a Comcast service area, may sign up to receive free or reduced-cost access at http://www.xfinity.com/wifi.
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