September 9, 2021
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School Returns to Virtual Learning Sept. 9 and 10

ST. THOMAS, USVI -- The Ulla F. Muller Elementary School on St. Thomas will revert to virtual learning on Sept. 9 and 10, due to confirmed COVID-19 exposure on the campus. School and district officials were informed of the exposures by the V.I. Department of Health on Sept. 8. An announcement will be made on when the campus would reopen for in-person learning.

Meal distribution in the ‘No V.I. Child Goes Hungry’ Feeding Initiative is not affected at the Muller campus and will operate as normal.

As part of the Department of Education’s COVID-19 protocols, the affected areas of the campus will be thoroughly sanitized using the appropriate, CDC-approved sanitizing solutions. Department officials pointed out that it is to be expected that there would be COVID-19 exposure on campuses as schools operate during the pandemic; however, all schools have the appropriate safety protocols in place to address cases as they arise.

“While we very much prefer to have our students on our campuses, their health and safety, and that of our staff, are top priorities,” said Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin. “All of our school campuses have the capability to seamlessly move between in-person and virtual learning as we continue to educate students during the pandemic. We ask everyone to do their part—get vaccinated, continue to social distance, wash hands frequently, wear a mask—so that students can continue to learn uninterrupted on our school campuses.”

The Department wishes to remind employees who are sick to remain at home. If an employee has undergone COVID-19 testing, he or she should remain quarantined until negative COVID-19 test results are received. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, he or she should seek further guidance from the V.I. Department of Health or a healthcare provider.

Parents are also informed that if they or anyone in their household test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19-releated symptoms, children in that household should not attend in-person classes. All members of the household must remain in quarantine until negative COVID-19 test results are received or until all members have been cleared by the V.I. Department of Health. To knowingly expose others to COVID-19 is punishable by fines and imprisonment.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all USVI residents aged 12 and up. Visit www.covid19usvi.com/vaccines for more information and to schedule an appointment to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine.

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Ulla F. Muller Elementary School Returns to Virtual Learning Sept. 9 and 10 

September 4, 2021
‘No V.I. Child Goes Hungry’ Feeding Initiative To Operate Territory-wide Beginning Sept. 7

ST. THOMAS, USVI – The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s “No V.I. Child Goes Hungry” Feeding Initiative will operate in both districts beginning Sept. 7, following the suspension of the program in the St. Thomas-St. John District on Aug. 23, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases among the district's food service workers.

Workers in the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix districts have undergone COVID-19 testing and/or been vaccinated, and provided additional training to ensure the feeding program can operate safely.

Parents and/or guardians are invited to pick up packaged breakfast and lunch meals at designated sites in or near their neighborhoods, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9-11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Meals are not served on weekends or holidays. Students attending in-person classes beginning Sept. 7 will receive their meals at school. The Ricardo Richards distribution site on St. Croix has closed due to low participation at that location.

Now in its third year, the initiative was launched in March 2020 and has served more than 1,071,897 meals to students attending the Territory’s public, private, and parochial schools since campuses closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“While our kitchen workers have undergone COVID-19 training this summer and multiple times last school year, with the emergence of the more-contagious and deadlier Delta variant, we are making every effort to further prepare workers to safely handle food and navigate the kitchen environment,” said Assistant Commissioner Victor Somme III, whose office spearheads the feeding initiative. “Many Virgin Islands’ families depend on us to provide nutritious meals for their children, and we want to ensure our employees feel confident in practicing the required safety protocols while preparing those meals.”

ID is not required when picking up meals; however, masks are required to be worn and recipients are asked to remain in their vehicles for drive-through service.

Meal Distribution Sites 2021-2022 School Year

ST. CROIX MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES

Juanita Gardine K-8 School
Lew Muckle Elementary School
Alfredo Andrews Elementary School
John H. Woodson Jr. High School
St. Croix Educational Complex High School
Eulalie R. Rivera K-8 School
Arthur A. Richards K-8 Modular Campus
Claude O. Markoe Elementary School

ST. THOMAS MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES
Bordeaux (Near Bus Stop)
Michael Kirwin Terrace Community Center
Contant Knolls Community Center
Savan Basketball Court
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School
Paul M. Pearson Gardens Community Center
Oswald Harris Court Community Center
Winston Raymo Community Center
Joseph Sibilly Elementary School (Front Entrance)
Lovenlund Housing Development
Bovoni Methodist Church
Anna’s Retreat Basketball Court
Tutu Valley (Near Bus Stop)
Ezra Fredericks Ball Park ST. JOHN MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES
Julius E. Sprauve School
George Simmons Terrace
Bellevue Area
Calabash Boom
Coral Bay Fire Station
Pine Peace
Chocolate Hole

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'No V.I. Child Goes Hungry' Feeding Initiative to Operate Territory-wide Beginning Sept. 7