On Friday, Gov. Baker announced that masks will be mandatory across the state for everyone over the age of 2 while outside of their home, an order that goes into effect on Wednesday, May 6. And while no announcement has been made yet for the official last day of school in Boston, distance learning continues for the 8th week under an updated set of guidelines released by the state last Monday. In addition, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced that students will not be held back in their grade but parents can request a meeting with their child’s teacher if they believe their child should be retained.

Mayor Walsh has extended the timeline to continue the city’s ongoing 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew — for non-essential workers — to May 18. 

While all of our previous updates with coronavirus-related resources are available on the SchoolFacts Boston Blog, here are several more:

Keep Healthy & Fed

• In their ongoing efforts to assist the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Elevate Boston, in partnership with Wilahmena’s Place and The Breakfast Spot, are helping to fight food insecurity by providing Boston families in need with food care packages, toiletries, and essential information. Grab and go packages are available for pick up Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. at 1544 Columbus Ave, Roxbury. Registration on-site or pre-register at https://forms.gle/FUUtsin9ja5KrcQt7.

Keep Centered

• Finding support in times of high stress is essential; the Children’s Trust shares a list of local and national resources.

Keep Celebrating

• High school graduation season is nearly upon us, and while these important celebrations will look very different this year, Edutopia provides four alternative ideas to properly commemorate the accomplishments of the graduate in your life.

Keep Teaching

• Teach for America has compiled a comprehensive guide of resources, tips, and tools for Massachusetts teachers navigating distance learning and all that it entails, including offerings provided by Scholastic Learn at Home, a guide on supporting students with disabilities in online learning, and tips on managing the coronavirus concerns of students.

Keep Learning

• Award-winning Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda has created an educational platform that brings together theater and history, with the chance for students to create and share performances based on historical documents. 
• WNET Education provides PreK-12 resources for parents and educators alike, with a goal to “expand minds and ignite curiosity.”

Keep Busy

• KIdsActivities.com has 100 ways to keep kids busy while in quarantine, from creating paper bag puppets to making homemade paint.
• Daily through May 17, the Boston Playwrights Theater offers 10-minute plays at noon. The listing of performances and information to connect via Zoom may be found here.

Keep Active

• Namaste to Four Corners Yoga in Dorchester for offering community classes to current and aspiring yogis. Sign-up for free classes here. 

Keep Connected 

• Whether you need help or are seeking help, Good Neighbors, a service sponsored by the city of Boston and Nesterly, can help people connect; facilitating everything from deliveries to a reassuring phone call. 
• BPS students requiring Chromebooks or help with internet connections can find help here. General updates and resources from the BPS during school closures may be found here. 

Keep informed

• The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education has shared a document that covers what distance learning looks like across some of the state’s largest districts, including Boston.
• All City of Boston COVID-19 updates are available here. For information on available resources, the non-emergency phone number for the city is 311.
• The state’s unemployment website can now be accessed in Spanish and the addition of more languages is forthcoming.
• State of Massachusetts COVID-19 updates are here. The non-emergency phone number to reach the state is 211.
• The City of Boston’s resource page to access information on emergency meals and housing. 

If you have additional resources you’d like us to share with other families, please let us know by emailing info@schoolfactsboston.org.