TAPA COVID-19 Email - Friday 4/3
Happy Friday, TAPA Ensemble,
We have made it through our second week of distance learning, and -- as much as we wish we could all be together -- it has gone really well. TAPA Attendance was 93% for the week, which is awesome, and not happening in other schools, so an amazing job TAPA team (especially Mr. Sousa!) and students!
However, while almost all TAPA students are showing up, we did see a decrease in engagement (work completion, meetings, etc) because there are a lot of "outside of school" things happening to our TAPA families. On the bright side, our students are reaching out to their teachers asking for accommodations. We’re grateful to our students for asking for help, and we’ll continue to work with everyone to make sure that every student has what they need to succeed.
Special thanks to several members of the TAPA staff:
1) Mr. Avi David is navigating so many various responsibilities (including parenting his adorable baby daughter), but is incredibly on-top of everything and has modeled warmth through academics in a way that has been magical to watch. So many praises for Avi!
2) Ms. Ayla Ahlquist and Mr. Carlos Lopez have been wizards in determining student needs, engaging in thoughtful check-ins and sharing important feedback back to the right stakeholders. Super awesome communication and support!
Mr. Zia and the TAPA Admin Team
Here’s the Ish You Need To Know
1. The Latest about education from TAPA and RIDE
A. TAPA’s April Distance Learning Calendar
2. The Latest Health Info and News
A. Wear a Cloth Mask When You Leave The House
B. STAY. THE. HECK. AT. HOME
C. RI is Setting Up Field Hospitals
D. No Childcare Facilities Available Until The End Of April At The Earliest
E. The SBA Payroll Protection Loan Program Is Now Available
F. Many Inmates Released To Increase Health/Safety in the ACI
3. The Latest For Members Of The TAPA Community Who May Be Struggling
A. Concerns about Youth OR Adult Mental Health??
B. COVID-19 PVD Area Mutual Aid and Community Assistance Group Resources
C. Free Virtual Community Yoga every morning at 10am EST
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1. The Latest about education from TAPA and RIDE
1A. TAPA’s April Distance Learning Calendar
- Can be found HERE in English and in Spanish!
2. The Latest Health Info and News
A. Wear a Cloth Mask When You Leave The House
- It could be a scarf, a bandana, or a homemade mask (like this one, in Ms. Nadeau’s video tutorial), but you should always have one on when you leave your house.
B. STAY. THE. HECK. AT. HOME
- Many people are still not complying with the social distancing orders. It is the most important thing we can do to save lives. Stay at home. Work from home. Stay in your house. Go out quickly and occasionally to the grocery store and pharmacy, alone. We are not doing as well as most other states. Staying at home buys us time to get the hospital beds and equipment ready for the people who need it.
C. RI is Setting Up Field Hospitals.
- Our major focus over the next few weeks is to have enough hospital beds and equipment for when the surge of cases hits. The Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard are setting up hospitals at the Convention Center in downtown Providence, the former Citizens Bank building in Cranston, and the vacant former Lowes building in Quonset. Those sites will get us over 1,000 additional hospital beds
D. No Childcare Facilities Available Until The End Of April At The Earliest
- If you need to hire a babysitter (or want to be hired/volunteer as a babysitter) go to Care.com
E. The SBA Payroll Protection Loan Program Is Now Available
F. Many Inmates Released To Increase Health/Safety in the ACI
- 70+ people who were incarcerated for non-violent crimes and were within 90 days of the end of their sentences are being released from the ACI for the safety of all those in the prison
3. The Latest For Members Of The TAPA Community Who May Be Struggling
A.
Concerns about Youth OR Adult Mental Health??
- For adults who need a Mental Health referral, call 401-414-LINK
- For youth, 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
C. 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.
