Green Dot Public Schools Tennessee Re-Entry Updates 2/28
GDPST RE-ENTRY UPDATES
Black History 365
If you are reading this newsletter, you have survived the recent historic winter storm that brought more snow than the Bluff City has seen in over 30 years! While this weather event was history in the making, it cannot overshadow the strength and power of Black History Month. Green Dot Public Schools TN acknowledges the importance of the contributions people of color make in the continuous creation of culture in the United States and the world. We also understand and emphasize that February does not end our appreciation of the rich legacy African Americans have built and continue to build daily.
As educators, we work to make manifest the dreams of students, allowing them to construct new and more sustainable pathways for the future. GDPST is committed to preparing the next Stacey Abrams to ensure Tennessee residents have the right to make their voices heard each time a ballot is cast. We will strive to initiate the conversations that invigorate the next Michael Eric Dyson to bring truth to power through words and actions. We endeavor to educate students to think critically and imaginatively, to prepare them to walk in the legacy of fellow Memphian, the late Eric Jerome Dickey, writing the next great work of American literature. We stand on the shoulders of Dr. King and Malcolm X, waiting to celebrate the rise of the next Vice President Kamala Harris, the next Senator Ramesh Akbari, or the next Councilman J.B. Smiley. We affirm that ALL Green Dot Public Schools TN students are capable and deserve to be on a journey to greatness!
As a social justice organization, Green Dot believes and understands that Black Lives Matter but in order for this to have true significance, we must continue to push for opportunities that provide equitable learning, growth and achievement to remove the barriers to economic attainment for the students and communities of color in Memphis.
Vaccines
We are thankful to our community for all you have done to make re-entry and distance learning successful for our students. Our teachers, admin teams, staff and students have persevered through the challenges of the past year and continue to make academics a priority. In an effort to maintain safe and healthy learning environments, we are working to ensure our GDPST family has opportunities to receive vital vaccines for COVID-19. Green Dot has applied to become a vaccination site in partnership with Life Doc/Dar Salud. Once we have received our final approval from the state, Kirby Middle School will be a community designation for Shelby County, especially for our families and the residents of Hickory Hill and Parkway Village.
While we work to move through the state approval process, we are excited to announce that the Achievement School District (ASD) has formed a partnership with Meharry Medical College to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to all teachers and staff across the district. We will continue working with the ASD and the state health department to make sure our school site teams have a chance to receive vaccinations.
Spring Sports
GDPST will be returning to play for spring athletics as we continue to prioritize in-person learning. Students who plan to play must meet the following guidelines:
- In-person daily attendance;
- GPA requirements set by TSSAA and GDPST;
- Attend school for each day of Spring state testing; and
- A current physical on file at their school.
Failure to meet the guidelines will make student athletes ineligible for play.
We will emphasize social distancing and mask wearing for all students and coaches. Students will be required to sign-in to each practice for contact tracing purposes. Temperatures will be checked prior to all practices, games and events.
The following requirements introduced in the Fall have not changed for the Spring; before any school begins participation, we will ensure:
- School Administration have approved each sports practice plans;
- Athletic Directors and Coaches have completed required trainings;
- Student-Athletes have the required paperwork on file; and
- Athletic COVID-19 resources have been reviewed with essential personnel.
We Want Your Input
The re-entry process has been one of the most important endeavors of this past year. Working with GDPST team members, parents and community partners enabled us to create a plan that resonated with our families’ needs.
As we work on our plan to make sure students continue academic growth, your input is very important to us. We are creating opportunities to ensure our students receive enrichment and to address all learning loss. If you are interested in joining one of our working groups (pictured below), please email [email protected].
Important Documents
Need WiFi at home?
Green Dot Public Schools TN understands the technology gap that exists for families in our communities. We are proud to be able to partner with Comcast to provide six months of free internet service to enrolled families who qualify. After the six months of free service, families will have the opportunity to continue, with a nominal fee.
We have extended this opportunity to all of our current students and have received an overwhelming response. Fortunately, we are able to extend this to newly enrolled students as well. So, if there are families contemplating enrollment but are afraid they will not have access to internet for their students to attend distance learning, we will work to get them enrolled, assign a laptop and set them up with Comcast for WiFi.
Please email your full name, your student's full name, and your best contact number to [email protected] or call your student's school to sign up today!
How to Guidelines
Curious about what our classrooms will look like when we return for in-person learning? Check out this video!
Here's what our students had to say about being back in the building...
Green Dot Public Schools Tennessee | 4950 Fairley Road, Memphis, TN 38109