Tentative Graduation Dates Set

I hope that everyone in your household is staying safe and finding continued enjoyment in your time together. As the school district alters or finalizes plans during this time of school closure, there are several items of importance that I want to bring to your attention.

New Feeding Sites to Open Monday, April 20

Beginning Monday, April 20, we will begin Grab-and-Go meal service for any child ages 1 to 18 at five additional school sites.

Angie Debo Elementary (16060 N. May Ave.)

Frontier Elementary (4901 Explorer Dr.)

Heritage Elementary (400 E. Sorghum Mill Rd.)

Northern Hills Elementary (901 E. Wayne St.)

Orvis Risner Elementary (2801 S. Rankin St.)

The meals will be available in the schools’ drive-thru from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Meal service will be set up near the schools’ cafeterias, which, in some cases, could be at the back of the building. The addition of these sites brings to 13 the number of feeding locations across our district. Each week, EPS is serving around 5,000 students an estimated 10,000 meals. For a master list of all Grab-and-Go feeding sites, go to edmondschools.net.

Tentative Dates Set for Graduation Ceremonies

District and high school administrators, as well as senior sponsors, have been finalizing plans to move high school graduation ceremonies to the summertime. The Cox Convention Center has been booked for two tentative dates, July 11 and July 24, the latter date preferred, but will be dependent on other concurrently scheduled events at the Cox. Additionally, we are requesting a booking date over fall break (TBD) that, while not ideal, still provides an opportunity to recognize and reflect upon our graduates’ accomplishments, even as they have begun their new lives in college or careers. We are communicating these dates now so that families have the opportunity to “hold” the dates and begin to make tentative plans with family and friends. National and local health and safety guidelines will dictate on which date the ceremonies will be held.

Commemorative graduation programs will be printed and school sites will soon announce tryouts among the valedictorians for the positions of graduation speakers. In the meantime, the district, thanks to a grant from the Edmond Public Schools Foundation, is purchasing yard signs for all graduates to proudly display at home to commemorate this important accomplishment. Members of the EPS Foundation Board and the schools’ teachers are planning a surprise posting of the yard signs in the seniors’ front yards. As we near the end of school, seniors will be contacted to solicit information regarding transcript needs, scholarships, and post-graduation plans. Also, dates will soon be announced for seniors to schedule appointments to return their Chromebooks and student IDs and at the same time pick up their official diplomas, yearbooks, and any personal items still remaining in the buildings.

District Developing Plan to Pick Up Personal Belongings

We hope to be able to announce by late next week our plan for how elementary, middle school and high school students (except seniors) will pick up their personal belongings and drop off school equipment such as textbooks, library books and so on. Thank you for your patience as we develop this process.

2020-2021 Annual Update to Open May 1

Parents or guardians of students currently enrolled in the 2019-20 school are required to complete an Annual Update for 2020-2021 by logging into the Parent Portal. After May 1, login, scroll down and click on the “More” link and then “Online Registration” in the lower-left corner of the portal screen to begin the Annual Update. Parents or guardians can verify their existing information and make any needed changes. Students will not receive 2020-21 schedules or homeroom teacher assignments in August until this update has been completed. If you need assistance registering or logging in to the Parent Portal, please email parentportalhelp@edmondschools.net with your specific question.

Teachers off Contract on April 24

As Friday, April 24 (better known as “April Day”) is still considered a non-contract day for all certified personnel under the EPS board-approved school calendar, all teachers will be off that day. Teachers will not be obligated to contact students or hold virtual lessons on this day. Remember, content and lessons can still be accessed and completed on the EPS Learning Dashboard.

New Content Uploaded to EPS Learning Dashboard on Sundays

New content is uploaded to the EPS Learning Dashboard every Sunday at noon. Please encourage your child to do as many of the dashboard activities as possible. The skills addressed in the learning dashboard each week are key skills needed for the next grade level.

Until our next communication, please stay safe and take care of yourselves. If you are struggling with excessive worry, anxiety or depression, please reach out to our Call Sam hotline. The number is 1-855-225-2SAM (2726). This free, 24-hour, confidential hotline is staffed by full-time counselors at Mercy who are eager to assist you.