TAPA COVID-19 Email - Monday 3/30
Hello TAPA Ensemble,
I have been thinking about the past year and feeling so proud of our school-wide accomplishments. We recently bought a brand-new building,
solidifying our TAPA home
in downtown Providence. We overcame a grueling renewal process and received statewide attention for an increased commitment to rigor. We changed our school’s curriculum to become one of two districts (7-12) in the state that
meets the green-standard
of content. We
won XQ
to become an XQ Super School and have national attention and the world cheering for our success.
The recent accomplishments of TAPA have been due to the commitment, equity-driven, and community-focused passion of our ensemble. We have made “warm-demanding” a common phrase at our school, and we have shown the world that we are relentless in our pursuit of high-expectations. We all have linked arms, and have turned our warm & love-filled school to match our magic by increasing our rigor and by making the Artist’s Mindset a concept that all schools could adopt.
Now, as I see a nation facing a pandemic and moving into the Distance Learning world, I am deeply-craving the TAPA classrooms, the goofy and brilliant kids engaging in creativity and learning and art. I miss the teachers modeling excellence by their delivery of content and genuine drive to do better. The foundation of everything we’ve build over the years is more alive than ever, and while our “warm demanding” nature is now a part of our identity, I find myself asking our ensemble for yet another, heart-felt, request:
I ask our community to think about how inequity and systemic oppression run rampant in our country, especially within communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. I want us to think about who gets first-dibs on access to healthcare, childcare, groceries, housing and high-quality resources. I want us to think about the innumerable challenges that our students, families, and staff, are navigating at this time while also doing their best to attend school and build some consistency in their lives.
I know that I am overwhelmed with responsibilities while thinking about my parents and extended family, so I can only imagine what our entire community is facing. So please, during this time especially, show the world what TAPA high-love looks like. Please support one another, accommodate the vast and difficult challenges of various individuals, model leadership through empathy, and cut one another grace. TAPA is the most family-oriented, loving place that I’ve ever worked, and I would like us to keep to our roots, and light the world with our magic. With a focus on high-love, we will overcome this difficult time, and when we are back together— we will continue fighting for what is right, because as always, our kids deserve the absolute best.
With Love,
Mr. Ammar Zia
Here’s the Ish You Need To Know
1. The latest about education from TAPA and RIDE
A. RI is doing Distance Learning Through April, and Likely Beyond That.
B. All RI Schools Will Follow The Same Calendar For April
C. There Will be no RICAS or SAT-School-Day Test this School Year
D. Gov. Raimondo Launches the RI Reading Initiative:
2. The latest from RI Gov. Gina Raimondo and Dr.Nicole Alexander-Scott
A. Stay At Home Order In Place
B. Total Number of RI Coronavirus Cases is Increasing Quickly.:
C. All Child-Care Facilities Closed Again
D. No one will be kicked off Medicaid
E. 90 Day Extension on Drivers License Renewals
F. All non-essential businesses must close
G. Drive Through Testing Centers to open at RIC, CCRI, URI
H. Earliest Dates for When COVID-19 Restrictions May Expire
3. The Latest From TAPA’s School Nurse
A. Latest from RI Department of Health
B. What Do I Do If I Feel Sick?
C. What About My Regular Well Visits To The Doc? Should I Still Go????
D. Staying Calm During Coronavirus
E. Help! I Have Health Questions!!
4. The Latest For Members Of The TAPA Community Who May Be Strugglin
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B. Call KidsLink for Concerns about Youth Mental Health
C. COVID-19 PVD Area Mutual Aid and Community Assistance Group Resources
D. Free Virtual Community Yoga every morning at 10am EST
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1. The latest about education from TAPA and RIDE
A. RI is doing Distance Learning Through April, and Likely Beyond That.
- We don’t know when school will be able to reopen, but we (and RIDE) have high hopes that we will return to TAPA before the end of this school year. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
B. All RI Schools Will Follow The Same Calendar For April
- For April, all of RI will adopt the same School Calendar. This will include two holiday days, and two PD days:
- April 3 and April 17 are set aside as PD for staff, and makeup work days for students
- April 9th and 10th are long weekends/days off for students and staff
- All of these will count as “school days” and won’t need to be made-up.
C. There Will be no RICAS or SAT-School-Day Test this School Year
- RIDE has applied to the federal Department of Education for a waiver for the RICAS and SAT school day tests, and the DOE intends to approve it. These tests will not take place during the 2019-2020 school year. Current juniors will take the SAT in the fall. RI schools will stay at their current report card star rating until next year. (school report cards - tool used to measure the performance and effectiveness of state schools)
D. Gov. Raimondo Launches the RI Reading Initiative:
- The Gov is saying “Let's all read all 30 days in April.” They’ll be distributing books via “grab and go” meal-sites, and work with libraries for curbside pickup of books. They’ll also help for districts to mail books home. Keep an eye out for more information about this from TAPA’s ELA team!
2. The latest from RI Gov. Gina Raimondo and Dr.Nicole Alexander-Scott
A. Stay At Home Order In Place
- Everyone must stay at home, only leaving for essential reasons, and cannot gather in groups of 5 or more.
B. Total Number of RI Coronavirus Cases is Increasing Quickly.:
- There have been 114 new cases identified since yesterday, bringing the state’ total to 408 cases, with 41 people in the hospital. Of those, 11 are in intensive care and nine are on ventilators. Additionally, three patients in nursing homes have contracted the virus.
- Total positive cases in RI: 408
- Rhode Island deaths from coronavirus: 4
- Rhode Islanders hospitalized for coronavirus: 35
- Negative tests in RI 2,840
- Rhode Islanders instructed to self-quarantine: About 1,000
- Positive cases in Massachusetts: 4,955
C.
All Child-Care Facilities Closed Again
- All child-care facilities will be closed until April 4, with weekly evaluations of whether to keep them closed. But those who want to babysit children or look after the elderly can sign up on a site called Care.com. Those who need help can also access this site.
D. No one will be kicked off Medicaid
- No one will be kicked off Medicaid, which provides health care to low-income families, until the crisis is over.
E. 90 Day Extension on Drivers License Renewals
- Drivers have a 90-day extension to renew an expiring license. For example, a license that expired March 1 wouldn’t have to be renewed until June 1.
F. All non-essential businesses must close
- The order does not apply to manufacturers. Mom-and-pop businesses will have to close their stores, but the government will help businesses set up delivery and pick-up services.Small retailers can also ask for technical support to set up online sales by calling 521-HELP.
G. Drive Through Testing Centers to open at RIC, CCRI, URI
- These testing centers are by appointment only.
H. Earliest Dates for When COVID-19 Restrictions May Expire:
- Until At least April 13
- Restaurants and cafes are closed to dine-in customers.
- Hair salons, nail salons, gyms, and spas are closed.
- Indoor recreation like movie theaters, Go-kart racing, and laser tag closed.
- All gatherings larger than 10 people are prohibited.
- Everyone who can work from home has to do so
- Until At least April 25
- All people who fly into T.F. Green airport must self-quarantine for 14 days.
- All people traveling to RI from New York must self-quarantine for 14 days.
- Until At least May 8
- The state’s Open Meetings Act is suspended, which means government boards can meet virtually rather than in person.
- Health insurers must cover tele-health services.
- Indefinitely
- The state’s two casinos are closed.
- Nursing homes can’t have visitors.
- The DMV is open to appointments only.
- State hours is closed for visits
3. The Latest From TAPA’s School Nurse
A.
Latest from RI Department of Health
- Access to Covid - 19 testing is expanding in RI. Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can safely self-manage symptoms at home; knowledge of test results will not change the course of their illness.
- RIDOH is recommending testing for all of the following people with symptoms of COVID-19:
- Hospitalized patients
- Healthcare workers, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- Patients 65 and older
- Patients with underlying conditions placing them at higher risk for COVID-19 complications
- First responders (police, fire, and non-EMS) and other critical infrastructure workers
- RIDOH has opened multiple respiratory clinics to help aid in treatment of those having symptoms of Covid - 19. They have also opened 3 drive through testing sites in RI. These sites are currently not open to the general public, and require you to call your Dr for a date and time to be tested.
B. What Do I Do If I Feel Sick?
- Call your Dr. (either your primary care doctor, or call your local urgent care center and describe your symptoms.) They are able to triage you over the phone and direct your next steps.
- Some symptoms of Covid - 19
- Stomach Ache/ Nausea/Diarrhea
- Body aches/ headache
- Fever
- Cough
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
C. What About My Regular Well Visits To The Doc? Should I Still Go????
- YES!!!!! We are just ahead of our surge of COVID19 in the RI community. This means that your doctor can safely see you at this time for well visits, management of chronic conditions.
- Now is the time to get those appointments in. Make sure you have all of your medications that you might need. Do not wait for a chronic condition to turn into an urgent one.
E. Help! I Have Health Questions!!
4. The Latest For Members Of The TAPA Community Who May Be Struggling
A.
Free Use of Cellphone Wifi Hotspots
- For TAPA families who still do not have internet access/wifi, but do have a smartphone with a plan through Verizon, AT&T, T-mobile or Sprint, you can activate and use your wifi hotspot for free! But it is preferable (and will get you faster/better internet) if you work with TAPA and Cox. Cox will provide 60 days of free internet for low-income families, and then TAPA will pay the $10/month after that for the length of time we are required to be doing Virtual Learning.
B. Call KidsLink for Concerns about Youth Mental Health
- Call KidsLink, which is manned at all times, at 1-855-543-5465 if a student is feeling unsafe or violent, with threats to themselves or others.
- OR - for TAPA families only, you can reach out to our new Social Worker, Ms. Goretaya at by phone or text at 401-282-9221 or by email at ms.goretaya@TAPAprovidence.org
- Please click on the link above for resources about:
- Community Testing
- Community Fundraising
- Community Organizations
- Request & Offer Assistance
- Food Assistance & Resources
- Statewide Community Action Programs
- Unemployment, Government Programs & Assistance
- Health & Safety
- Addiction & Recovery Resources
- Resources for Children/Education
- Businesses Offering Assistance
- Other Resources
- General Information
D. Free Virtual Community Yoga every morning at 10am EST
- Let's breathe together. This is strange. Lots of feelings.
- The Glitter Goddess Collective (led by TAPA Dance Artist In Residence Matt Garza, and featuring numerous TAPA staff, alum, and allies) believes that our bodies have wisdom and insight for us in times like this. It feels so uplifting and grounding to practice in community with so many of you.
- Stay tuned for more virtual yoga/meditation offerings, dance challenges, creativity prompts, retreats, and other virtual spiritual care offerings from the Glitter Goddess Collective & Haus of Glitter Dance Company.
