(Lititz, PA-LititzDailyNews.com) – Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Monday that all K-12 schools will remain closed until further notice, indefinitely extending his March 13 order that closed all Pennsylvania schools for an initial two-week period to thwart the spread of the coronavirus. Just last week the governor extended the original closure through April 6.

BREAKING: LITITZ RESIDENT WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19 DIES

Last Friday the governor signed into law an emergency school bill under which schools are required to engage students in distance learning as much as feasible.

Parents receive drive-up delivery at John Beck Elementary in Lititz, PA. Photo: Warwick School District

“The Pennsylvania Department of Education has recently created a template that school districts must complete which outlines our Continuity of Education Plan.  The goal of Warwick School District’s Continuity of Education plan is to provide planned instruction and enrichment activities to all students while maintaining healthy relationships with students, parents, staff and our community,” the district wrote in a March 30 letter to parents.

School districts throughout the state have been ramping up over the past few weeks to provide distance learning opportunities to students. Some teachers have already opted to provide informal online connection to students in order maintain continuity. Concerns have arisen over equitable virtual education, as some families throughout the state do not have access to the internet at home. The Warwick district is trying to address this issue.

Packets prepared to assist students with online learning during school closures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic line a classroom in Lititz, PA. Photo: Warwick SD

Parents in need of home internet access to facilitate their child’s online learning are asked by district officials to email Dr. Ryan Berardi at [email protected].  The district will reportedly work to assist families in need. In the March 30 letter, the district directs students without internet at home to access WiFi outside of any district building, and “in other places where free WiFi is available (library, Sheetz, UPMC Pinnacle hospital, etc.).”

The Warwick School District distributed iPads, laptops, books, and other materials to students in all grades over the past week, implementing measures meant to reduce close contact between students, faculty, and staff.

A sign posted outside Kissel Hill Elementary during the COVID-19 epidemic that closed schools. Photo: Warwick SD

WARWICK SCHOOL CLOSURE EXTENDED

On Monday, parents of Warwick elementary students drove through cues in parking lots to pick up technology for their kids. Parents later posted on social media how pleased they, and their children, were to be virtually reconnected via district resources like iPads and laptops.

“Thank you to everyone involved!!!! My son was super excited to have his school iPad tonight. Right now, he is on Raz-Kids!” wrote Barbara Lease on Facebook. Raz-Kids is an award-winning teaching product that provides comprehensive leveled reading resources for students, offering over 800 eBooks at 29 different levels of reading difficulty, according to the company website.

“Thank you so much! My son was so excited to get his iPad. As we pulled it out of the envelope he said, ‘Yup! That’s definitely mine!’” wrote Sara Davis Bowen on Facebook.

Hundreds of meals meant for students line the tables at a school in Lititz, PA during the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Warwick School District

The district has also been actively distributing free breakfast and lunches to students. On Monday, over 500 meals were given out to those residing in the district.

“Thank you to our incredible staff for handing out over 500 meals today, and a shout out to our Tech Team for getting all the devices ready for distribution,” the district posted on its Facebook page.

For some students, getting a glimpse of a favorite teacher was an added plus.

“Thank you, to everyone. My daughter was so excited to see a few of her teachers, and to get her laptop,” wrote Diane Fipps on Facebook.

Warwick online education is scheduled to start this Thursday.

“Beginning on Thursday, April 2, students will receive contact from their teachers via their school email account. This is how your children will begin our virtual learning experiences,” the district wrote in a letter to parents on March 27.

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Lynn Rebuck is the editor and publisher of award-winning LititzDailyNews.com, the only independent digital news source in Lititz. Lynn is an award-winning photojournalist who was invited to the White House and has received top recognition from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and has been profiled in Editor & Publisher magazine for her unparalleled dedication to publishing LititzDailyNews.com to benefit the community.