Three Additional School District of Philadelphia Schools Will Temporarily Shift to Virtual Learning for Students This Week Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges

Dear School District of Philadelphia families,

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continually review data to identify any school(s) where we will need to temporarily shift to virtual learning due to COVID-related staffing challenges. Based on today’s data review and with safety as our highest priority, three more schools will shift to 100% virtual learning for students this week, starting Tuesday, January 11th through Friday, January 14th, 2022. These three schools, which are in addition to those already announced, are as follows:

• Roosevelt Elementary School
• Overbrook Elementary School
• John F. McCloskey School

Principals and teachers will be contacting students and families directly with more information about virtual classes. Staff at these schools are still expected to report to work in person unless they are ill, self-isolating or quarantining due to COVID testing or exposure, or have an approved leave.

As a reminder, starting Tuesday, January 11th, the number of grab-and-go meal sites will expand from 12 to 24. Five-day meal boxes will be available for pick-up on weekdays from 9-10 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. for any School District student who is temporarily learning virtually or quarantining at home. Visit philasd.org/covidupdates for the up-to-date list of schools that will provide virtual learning this week and details about grab-and-go meal sites.

All other schools beyond those listed on thephilasd.org/covidupdateswebsite will provide in-person learning at this time. We are committed to making school-by-school decisions based on the most current staffing data, which can change quickly. IF there are any changes to in-person schools based on overnight data, families and staff at the impacted schools will be notified by 6 a.m. each day. Any updates based on changes throughout the day will be shared by 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. each day. We understand that planning in this rapidly changing environment is challenging for our families and staff, and ask that you continue to prepare for the possibility of either in-person or virtual learning at any time.

Please know that we are doing everything we can to safely keep as many of our schools open as consistently as possible. Our students and families deserve no less.

Thank you, take care and be safe.

Dr. William Hite
Superintendent