Good day, Atlanta Public Schools!
I’m Lisa Herring, Superintendent. Welcome to the first in a series of our weekly APS Update where we provide you with a video summary of the news and information you need to know most as we prepare for a strong start on Day One!
The health and wellness of our students and staff continues to be our top priority during this pandemic. Every decision is being made through the lens of public health and based on the scientific data related to our local community.
As conditions change, we will make decisions throughout the school year about whether to remain virtual or move to a hybrid or a traditional face-to-face instructional model.
Communicating that information to you is important. APS will provide families with consistent and timely updates as shown by this schedule as we move forward this school year.
Nutrition
I have a few important updates for you in Nutrition. As part of taking care of our families, Atlanta Public Schools will provide free community meals on August 10th and August 17th as part of the Summer Seamless Option waiver granted by the federal government.
Meals will be provided to all children in the community on those two days in the form of five-day meal bags with five breakfast meals and five lunch meals.
Those meals will be distributed at the 12 schools shown here from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Our families can get those meals via walk up or drive-thru. Bus delivery of food will also be provided on some middle school bus routes. Please check our website, www.atlantapublicschools.us for more information.
Order My Meals!
It’s very important that you know that beginning on the first day of school APS meals will only be distributed to APS students.
And, all APS families must pre-order meals for each week through the MySchoolBucks online pre-order system.
Those orders must be placed no later than one week before distribution.
For example, for the five-day meal bag on Monday, September 7, your order must be placed no later than Monday, August 31. Once in the pre-order system, you can select whether you will pick up the meals at one of the 12 school distribution sites or if your meals should be delivered via one of the middle school bus routes available.
Families paying for meals will need to submit payment through the MySchoolBucks online payment system. Remember that schools will not be collecting money for school meals.
This year, 54 APS schools will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision or CEP, which provides ALL students in those schools with free breakfast and lunch.
However, 21 APS schools will participate in the Federal Eligibility Application or FEA program, which offers free and reduced meals to qualifying students.
All students at FEA schools must apply to qualify for free or reduced meals by completing the online FEA form.
Free meals will continue for all students for the first 30 days of school. But after the first 30 days of school, students at those 21 FEA schools will pay full price for meals until their FEA application is approved, and their eligibility status is sent to the school.
We want to keep all of our students healthy and fed, so please make note of these changes and ensure you have completed the necessary paperwork!
Community Engagement
Finally, we want to keep the APS community in the know, and two-way communication with you is critical. In addition to our web site, our social media channels, Let’s Talk, text messages, and emails, we have scheduled a series of town halls and fireside chats to share updates, answer your questions and get your feedback. Don’t worry if you miss one, they are recorded and will be available on our Facebook page. We will also hold more discussions throughout the school year.
As I close, it is essential that all families ensure that we have your current and correct contact information. This information is even more critical now as we plan to reopen virtually. We often have important updates to share with you and don’t want you to miss that information.
You can update your details in Infinite Campus or contact your school to provide your current contact information!
Thank you for watching our APS Update for the Week of July 27! Stay tuned, stay in touch, and most of all BE WELL!
