(March 27):   As you already heard, Governor Lamont has extended the executive order for Connecticut schools to remain closed until at least April 20th. This new directive will take us up to the conclusion of our regularly scheduled spring break. In the coming days, you or your child will be receiving additional materials from your child’s school, which will provide students with enough distance learning opportunities to get them through this closure. I’d like to clarify the expectation the district has for your children during this time. 

These additional assignments will provide learning opportunities through April 9th, which is the day before Good Friday. We will still be recognizing Good Friday as a holiday, and April vacation will remain as planned during the week of April 13th to April 17th. I believe everyone - students, teachers, and parents - all deserve a break during this trying time, and we intend to honor these days off as originally planned. There is no expectation from the district that any work will be required by anyone (students or staff) during this time. It is my hope that everyone will use this well deserved break to take time to relax with family and engage in activities that will help everyone decompress from the circumstances we’ve needed to deal with over the past few weeks. Although this closure deadline is only extended through April 20th, we have to be prepared in the event it lasts longer. As more information is available, we will send additional information home for students so they are prepared to continue our distance learning plan for a longer duration, if necessary. 

Let me reiterate, although everyone has pulled together to create a distance learning plan in record time, we all realize it is not perfect. We also realize that the stress parents, students, and teachers are feeling is real. We are in uncharted territory. Since we’ve never experienced anything like this before, everyone is doing everything they can to make this situation work as best as possible for our students. Right now, our highest priority is everyone’s safety. The work we send home is important, but the safety of our students and staff is of the upmost importance; therefore, what we are asking is that everyone continue to do their best. 

We realize there are still many questions regarding this approach to learning, and we will do our best to answer what we can, but please understand we all need to work together during these trying times. If we exercise patience and understanding, we will come through this stronger. I want parents, students, and staff to know our intention is to be very flexible with these distance learning materials in regards to completion and grading. As we await guidance on grading and credit from the Connecticut State Department of Education, we are currently working on provisions regarding exactly how these assignments will impact student performance measures. We understand the anxiety this situation has caused, and we intend to be as flexible as possible to help everyone get through this. Again, all we ask is that everyone do their best, and we will work together to make the best of this challenging situation. 

Lastly, I just want to remind everyone to stay safe. It seems like every day a new executive order or guidance is sent out that changes how we normally live our lives. I don’t have any inside information on when life will get back to normal, but our main priority is keeping everyone as safe as we can. Please adhere to the guidelines we are receiving, practice social distancing, stay home if you are able, and continue to practice good personal hygiene. Most importantly, please remain optimistic. The outpouring of support I’ve received on the behalf of our staff and the stories of how people are coming together during this difficult time reminds me of the best in all of us. We will get through this. As long as we support one another and remember our highest priority, our students, we will come out of this stronger than ever. 

Stay well,  Christopher J. Drezek Superintendent of Schools 

(March 23): As you may have heard, Governor Lamont has ordered all Connecticut schools to remain closed until at least April 20th. I will send an update to everyone soon but wanted you to know as soon as I heard.  Thank you

Christopher J. Drezek 

Superintendent of School

(March 20): This is Chris Drezek, Superintendent of the Enfield Public Schools, with a message for all parents, students, and staff of the Enfield Public Schools. I wanted to provide everyone an update after our first week of distance learning and share what information I have regarding future plans. Hopefully by now your children are actively engaged in academic work at home, with virtual assistance from teachers and staff.  Although nothing can replace the experience of being in school, our hope is that during this extended school absence, all of our students will continue to grow and thrive. I also want to thank the numerous staff members who have created additional virtual experiences for our kids during this crisis. Whether it’s a teacher live-streaming a story online or teachers and staff putting together a virtual talent show so kids can stay connected to one another and engaged in extracurricular activities, these experiences are above what we’ve asked of staff, but will serve as an integral reason everyone gets through this pandemic.

In the coming days, you will be receiving additional assignments and activities for your children. Staff is working diligently to prepare ongoing educational opportunities for students in the event this break is longer than we expected. Regarding the length of this closure, as of right now, I do not have any official word from the state that school closures will go beyond the Governor's executive order of March 31st.That said, based on recent events, I would be surprised if we are able to return to school by then. Any decision to keep schools closed longer than March 31st will be made by the Governor, and once we have additional information, we will communicate that to everyone. We are preparing these additional materials so that if we are forced to remain closed, the continuity of education for all our students can continue.

I want to thank everyone for your patience during this difficult time. Because information changes on an hourly basis, we’ve tried to limit communication to you based on actual facts we can report, and we will continue to keep you updated as much as we can. I realize how stressful this time is for everyone, not just our students. Please know we are doing everything possible to help alleviate some of your stress by making this experience the best it can possibly be for your children. Don’t forget to take care of yourselves and each other during this unthinkable time, but know we will get through this as long as we continue to help one another. 

Enfield Public Schools would like to share with you the following:

We recognize that the current public health emergency is resulting in an increase of stress on families.

If you or your child are experiencing an immediate safety concern call 911.

If you or your child are experiencing a behavioral mental health crisis call 211.

If you would like to access support services, please contact the following:

For children over 8 years of age, please call  Youth and Family Services  at  860-253-6380.

For children under 8 years of age, please call the Family Resource Center 860-253-5214.

If you would like to contact your child’s counselor or social worker, please do so via their school email address.

Sandra J. Ingalls

K-12 School Counseling Coordinator

Enfield Public Schools

(860)  253-5551

singalls@enfieldschools.org

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Please remember that: All calls from the central office will come with the caller ID of: 860-253-6500. If you determine that you would like to be removed, prefer a different or additional number, please fill out the opt-in / opt-out form from our webpage at www.enfieldschools.org 

When children and youth watch news on TV about an infectious disease outbreak, read about it in the news, or overhear others discussing it, they can feel scared, confused, or anxious—as much as adults. This is true even if they live far from where the outbreak is taking place and are at little to no actual risk of getting sick. Young people react to anxiety and stress differently than adults. 

Some may react right away; others may show signs that they are having a difficult time much later. As such, adults do not always know when a child needs help. This tip sheet will help parents, caregivers, and teachers learn some common reactions, respond in a helpful way, and know when to seek support.

1.Tips DURING INFECTIOUS OUTBREAKS .pdf

2.Managing-Reactions-to-the-Coronavirus.pdf

Stay in touch with your school-communities (online) during our closures, and beyond. A lot of information is being shared everyday by Staff & Parents for our EPS Families. Here's a list of the EPS PTO Facebook pages! Please "like" or "follow" enfieldpto

Enfield PTO: 

https://www.facebook.com/enfieldpto/

Stowe Early Learning: https://www.facebook.com/groups/424681288154509/

Enfield Street School: https://www.facebook.com/groups/428420123847173/

Parkman School: https://www.facebook.com/groups/571793929507916/

Henry Barnard: https://www.facebook.com/groups/henrybarnardpto/

Prudence Crandall: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prudencecrandallpto/

Hazardville Memorial: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HazardvilleMemorialFamilies/

Eli Whitney: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EliWhitneySchoolFamilies/

JFK Middle School: https://www.facebook.com/groups/233520547151671/

Enfield High School: https://www.facebook.com/groups/483661298384811/