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Coronavirus Update: Fall School Instruction
Dear Neighbors,
One of the most common questions that I'm asked is what fall instruction will look like for DC Public School (DCPS) students during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And, following an announcement by Mayor Bowser today, we have some sense of what that plan could be. The information below is an optional hybrid plan of virtual and in-person instruction being considered by the Mayor, DC Health, and DCPS Chancellor Ferebee. The final plan, primarily determining whether students will experience a fully virtual or partially virtual learning experience in the Fall, will be based on health trends reported over the next couple weeks. The Mayor will announce her final decision for the next school year on July 31st.
Here are some details of the optional plan for a hybrid instruction model as presented today. The 2020-2021 school year is scheduled to begin on August 21st:
- Under the hybrid model, students of all grade levels would be sorted into groups that would alternate between receiving in-person instruction at school and virtual instruction at home (this would reduce the number of students at any given time in the school building)
- Fully virtual learning from home will remain an option for every family at every grade level
- Wednesday instruction will be virtual for all students at every grade level to enable a deep cleaning of the school building
The Mayor's slide presentation on this optional hybrid learning plan is available online here: July 16 Situational Report.
There is no doubt that this will be a very difficult decision for the Mayor to make. In coordinating this plan, the safety and health needs of our students, their families, teachers, and building staff will need to be weighed alongside what education experts advise to be the most developmentally and educationally beneficial plan for student learners. It is also not lost on anyone that as parents increasingly head back into the traditional workplace, they need time and certainty in DCPS operations in order to coordinate childcare or a remote learning plan. It may be that only hindsight will dictate what would have been the best path forward, but I will keep residents updated of any additional school announcements and the final instructional decision once that is made at the end of the month.
Regards,
Mary
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Cheh Request Prompts Extension of Beach Drive Closure for Resident Use |
From DCist - National Park Service Extends Closure Of Beach Drive To Cars
Beach Drive in D.C.’s portion of Rock Creek Park will remain closed to cars through at least Phase Four of D.C.’s reopening, which could still be weeks away.
The news comes via Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, who tweeted on Tuesday morning that the National Park Service, which has jurisdiction over the roadway, would extend the closure that first started in April for the time being.
“Under normal circumstances, Rock Creek Park is one of our most popular and beloved weekend destinations and now, during the height of the pandemic, it has become a critical daily outdoor resource for those who want to exercise and spend time outside safely,” Cheh told DCist/WAMU in an emailed statement. “I’m hopeful that additional analysis may further extend the closure through the entire recovery period and, in meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the parkway safely and responsibly.”
Read the Full Story
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Summer Camp At Home with DPR |
Camp-At-Home - Over the past few months, the Department of Parks & Recreation's (DPR) team of camp counselors, childcare specialists, and fun experts have taken all the aspects of a traditional summer camp and packed them into a Camp-At-Home experience for District children. This at-home, self-guided summer experience is a blend of fun activities, including neighborhood exploration, arts and crafts, science projects, culinary activities, as well periodic online engagement with DPR's camp counselors. The video above by Director Delano Hunter discusses the program.
DPR’s Camp-at-Home Includes:
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A 'DPR Fun Pack' provided to reach registered camper
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A Camp-at-Home Activity Guide
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Online virtual camp content
Click the button below to register your camper and receive details on how to pick up the Fun Pack and printed copy of the Activity Guide: Sign Up for Camp-At-Home.
Help Shape DPR's Master Plan - DPR is seeking public engagement in its new 20-year master plan, Ready2PlayDC! This week's virtual Ready2PlayDC kickoff meetings will take place tonight, July 16th and tomorrow Friday, July 17th. The meetings will be organized into two formats:
- July 16th from 6-8 pm: A 2-hour kickoff meetings that include virtual break-out rooms for focused discussion and feedback
- July 17th from 12-1 pm: A 1 hour Q & A sessions with DPR planning staff
To join either of the online meetings, please see instructions in the following link: Ready2Engage.
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COVID-19 Testing this Week Available Through Saturday |
A Note on Delayed Testing Results - There have been national reports of delayed testing results and, as testing expands and labs across the country become overwhelmed with the influx, the District's public testing sites have also been subject to result delays. The District's public health lab, for example, is able to process around 700 tests per day but receives anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 tests. New equipment is expected to arrive this month to help expedite the public health lab's test processing capacity and, in the meantime, the Health Department would like emphasize that if you are feeling unwell, please seek care and testing through your primary care provider. And, if you receive a public test, the expectation and CDC guidance recommends that you will self-quarantine for 14 days or until a negative result is received.
Hospital capacity remains below 80% and our positivity rate remains below 3%, but the District continues to experience new positive cases every day, with 80 new cases just yesterday, so please remain diligent in wearing a mask while in public and socially distancing to the greatest extent possible.
Antibody Testing Sites - There are now three free, appointment-based antibody testing sites in the District. To schedule an appointment, please call 855-363-0333.
Locations include:
- Takoma Recreation Center (300 Van Buren Street, NW)
- Hillcrest Recreation Center (3100 Denver Street, SE)
- Canal Park (200 L Street, SE)
Serology Survey - DC Health is working with the CDC to conduct a District-wide serology survey. Serology tests look for the presence of antibodies in the blood that would indicate a previous coronavirus infection. The results from these surveys will help DC Health better understand the spread of COVID through our community. As part of the survey, 850 randomly selected households will receive a letter inviting them to voluntarily participate. Free transportation to and from the serology testing site will be provided to participating families and a $25 gift card will also be provided. If you receive a letter, you are urged to participate. The survey will end on August 15th at which point the District’s antibody testing sites will also close. If you miss the deadline, testing can also be provided through your health care provider.
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Please Take a Moment to Fill Out the 2020 Census |
DC Behind the National Average - Nationwide, the Census completion rate is 62%. The District's completion rate is 58%. In August, the U.S. Census Bureau will deploy staffers to neighborhoods across the country to obtain Census data from residents who have not completed their census. To avoid this in-person encounter, residents may still complete the census online to 2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. Of course, if you still have the paper version that was mailed to you, you can complete it and mail it back at any time. |
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Upcoming Webinar: Street Outreach during COVID-19 |
Combating Homelessness during Coronavirus - Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, residents living on the street have experienced substantial reductions in resources and access to homeless services. Friendship Place’s Street Outreach team goes out daily to meet people where they are, and supply them with water, food, and the tools they need to stay safe. The Street Outreach team also connects our neighbors experiencing homelessness with the critical services needed to begin the transition out of homelessness.
Join Friendship Place on Tuesday, July 21 at noon to learn about their life-saving Street Outreach efforts across the District and in Ward 3. This discussion will be facilitated online. To register, please see the 'How We Serve' registration link available: here.
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New Database Allows Renters to Look Up Mortgage Deferrals |
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Resources for Renters - Emergency legislation passed by the Council in April required mortgage lenders to offer deferrals to property owners, and for those property owners to pass that same relief on to their renters. The Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB) has created a database of property owners’ deferred mortgages available: here.
If you find your landlord has not passed his/her mortgage deferral on to you, contact the DC Pro Bono Center or Start Small Think Big for a free legal consultation.
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Free Virtual Event Tonight: |
From the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. - The struggle for DC self-determination—the right to govern the District and for full representation in Congress—has existed since the District’s inception. DC activists have focused on statehood as the dominant strategy for Washingtonians to gain their full rights of American citizenship.
How and why did statehood become the popular strategy? Why did late-20th-century efforts for statehood fail? And what role has race played in the effort for representation for this historically Black city?
Derek Musgrove, associate professor of history at University of Maryland Baltimore County and co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital, will speak with Bob Levey, former Washington Post columnist, on these questions. Their conversation will help us understand the historical context for today’s ongoing statehood effort.
“Is Statehood Possible?” is the latest installment in the Context for Today series of online conversations with thoughtful and thought-provoking historians.
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DDOT's Business Guide to Expanding Outdoor Seating |
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Outdoor Seating Guidelines for Local Businesses - Sidewalk space, alleys, parking lanes, and travel lanes can now be converted into parklets, outdoor dining seating (dubbed "streateries"), and dining plazas as well as specially designated as curbside pickup and delivery spaces. This new program is managed by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in consultation with DC Health.
A Reimagining Outdoor Space: Restaurants and Retail report details safety guidelines for how these new outdoor spaces should be organized, means to avoid outdoor crowding, and recommendations on maintaining customer logs to facilitate contact tracing, if necessary. The image to the left (from the report) diagrams what outdoor seating might look like.
Interested businesses should submit the Expanded Outdoor Dining/Streatery Registration Form and are encouraged to contact their local Main Street organization for application assistance or questions or DDOT with any questions or concerns.
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Ending this Update on a Happy Note:
Celebrate the Change Makers in the District's Food System
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From the Washington City Paper - The 2020 Food Issue
"The change-makers who fill the pages of this year’s Food Issue shape our local food system and make D.C. an exciting place to eat, even as the District is gripped by a global pandemic.
Among them are a pastry chef whose crumb of an idea turned into a global bake sale that raised close to $2 million for organizations combating systemic racism, a Mutual Aid Movement worker who brings groceries to home-bound residents at high risk of contracting COVID-19, and an entrepreneur out to prove a food hall filled with Black-owned businesses can bring tourism to River Terrace. They all envision a D.C. where residents have access to fresh, healthy food and economic opportunities no matter their address, and where multiculturalism and diversity are deeply valued and celebrated. May their stories light a fire under our collective butts to challenge what’s possible, in this region and throughout the world."
Read the Full Story
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Our Office is Open!
Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.
You may continue to email the office directly or reach us via phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.
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