PFEIFFER-BURLEIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

School Counselor

Mr. Chris Feeney

Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School

235 East 11th Street

Erie PA 16503

Office: (814) 874-6754 Fax:(814)874-6756

Email: cfeeney@eriesd.org

ZOOM LINK:  https://eriesd-org.zoom.us/my/stedman44

Welcome to the school counselor's personal page. My name is Chris Feeney. Working as a counselor, I am in a unique position that allows me to service many groups of people in our school and community. I look forward to the opportunity of working with the students daily. Seeing students grow socially, emotionally, and academically through the school year is a testament to the hard work the teachers and students put in to their daily lives. As they make this journey, I am always there to support them and lend assistance to them along the way. Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or questions about your student. Have a great day.

COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS STATEMENT

I know this is a stressful time for our students, our families, our Erie community, and our Nation. It is important to follow all of the guidelines suggested by the CDC and our local and national governments to stay healthy and safe. Please check out our local news media outlets for their updates on the coronavirus and how it is affecting our community. I also encourage you to follow Erie's Public Schools website and social media accounts for all of the latest developments regarding our current situation. Lastly, I would like to share with you some important information regarding a variety of resources and how to contact them. The resources are:

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a 24/7 Statewide Support and Referral Helpline to assist with challenging emotions/anxiety due to Covid-19 pandemic. Skilled staff members can refer callers to community-based resources that can help them meet their needs. If you or someone you know needs support, call toll free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 1-724-631-5600.

If you feel that you or a loved one needs help mentally, emotionally, and/or behaviorally, please consider calling CRISIS SERVICES (24/7/365) at 814-456-2014 or at 1-800-300-9558 or find them on the web at:

www.upmc.com/locations/hospitals/hamot/services//behavioral-health-services/services/crisis-services/crisis-center.

The United Way provides a service called PA 2-1-1 of Northwest PA. Here is a summary of what they can provide to residents of Erie County:

⋅ PA 2-1-1 Northwest is part of the national 2-1-1 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services for everyday needs and in crisis situations.

⋅ PA 2-1-1 Northwest is brought to you by a partnership among local United Way organizations, local county government, and human service providers in the Northwest region, along with PA 2-1-1, and United Way of Pennsylvania. United Way of Erie convenes the PA 2-1-1 Northwest Advisory Council, a coalition of local lead agencies, which provides oversight of PA 2-1-1 Northwest. 2-1-1 staff work closely with government and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is accessible through our helpline when it is most needed.

Every day, highly trained 2‑1‑1 call specialists provide referrals to:

* Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, shelters, rent and utility payment assistance

* Physical and Mental Health Resources: crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling * Employment Support: financial assistance, job training, education programs

* Support for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities: home-delivered meals, transportation, health care

* Youth and Child Care Programs: after school programs, summer camps, mentoring, protection services

* Regional Disaster Preparation 

Those who contact 2-1-1 gain free, confidential access to thousands of programs and services that can help improve the quality of their lives. Help is available by calling 2 1 1. TTY and language services are available in more than 170 languages and dialects. 2-1-1 can also be reached by texting your zip code to 898-211 or chatting with a 2-1-1 specialist through the website. Resources are also available through the website 24 hours a day, seven days a week www.pa211nw.org. For more information about us or our partners or PA 2‑1‑1 Northwest, please contact us directly at 2‑1‑1.

Highmark, AHN and Gateway Health have launched an online tool to meet critical needs during Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the increased need for access to social service resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Gateway Health are implementing an online social care network, Aunt Bertha, which serves as a referral tool for urgent needs. Aunt Bertha connects people to resources that can assist with addressing needs such as food, housing and transportation, and is available to all members and patients served across Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and nationally. Aunt Bertha’s mission is to connect all people in need and the programs that serve them with dignity and ease. For more information, go to www.auntbertha.com.

Need Diapers? The Diaper Depot at the Erie Family Center (located at the former St. Andrew School) is giving away diapers to anyone who is in need of them for their children during this pandemic crisis. Please call the Erie Family Center at 814-520-8214 to check when the next available diaper distribution will take place. Enter through the gymnasium doors on the south side of the building at 606 Raspberry St. Want to donate diapers? You can call the Erie Family Center, or email Megan Haugh (mhaugh@eriefamilycenter.org) or Christina Bell (cbell@eriefamilycenter.org) to learn more. 

COVID-19 EDUCATIONAL TIMELINE INFORMATION

On March 19, 2020, Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Mr. Pedro Rivera, announced all state assessments have been cancelled for this school year. At Pfeiffer Burleigh, that means the PSSA and PASA will not be given. On March 30, 2020, Pennsylvania's Governor, Mr. Tom Wolf, ordered that all schools be closed indefinitely to combat the spread of Covid-19. On April 3, 2020, the Governor has suggested that all persons having to go outside wear a mask. See the advertisement below on how to make a homemade mask. On April 9, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf has announced that all schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Erie's Public Schools will continue its planned launch of mandatory online instruction on Monday, April 20th. All updates will be posted on our district Facebook page and on our website. Again, this is a very fluid situation and developments are happening by the hour. Please stay alert for more updates from our Governor and local officials regarding the Stay At Home Order and other virus related information.

EPS ONLINE LEARNING INFORMATION

As previously mentioned, the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year will happen in the form of on-line learning starting Monday, April 20th. Each student will be required to complete their 4th quarter assignments using Google Classroom on their personal computer or a distict loaned computer. One suggestion I have for you is to work together as a family and create a "mini classroom" area in your living space where the students can feel connected to their on-line learning. If parents are working from home as well, a joint workspace may help so that everyone can work together during a common time and family time can resume once school and work is complete. If you feel the need to keep your student engaged further during the day, there are numerous websites out there that are now open to the public for students and their families to explore. Take a walk through a famous museum, visit the solar system, do a fitness activity, or read a good book together. This is truly a unique position to be in and I hope you can make the most out of the situation. Again, please take care of yourself and refer to Erie's Public Schools Covid-19 Updates webpage at www.eriesd.org/Page/18165 for all your printable Work From Home enrichment packets for all grade levels until the launch of on-line instruction, which will begin on Monday, April 20, 2020. More information will be shared with you about this online instruction from the district, school, and teacher level. Please visit the Online Learning Information webpage at www.eriesd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=19342. If there is anything that I can do for you during this time, please don't hesitate to contact me via my school email address cfeeney@eriesd.org. Unfortunately, I cannot respond to voicemails at this time. I will respond back to your emails as soon as possible. Stay safe everyone and practice social distancing.