Now What? Resources for Caregivers During School Closures

by | Mar 16, 2020 | CASA Blog, CASA Updates

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Now what?

Schools are closed and we’re directed to practice social distancing. For caregivers, that means we’re all of a sudden surrounded by bored, confused, hungry kids. If you’re overwhelmed, don’t feel bad. We all are!

Here are some resources to help:

School District 2 Breakfast & Lunch for Children

School District 2 is providing grab-and-go curbside pickup meals for children ages 0-18. Breakfast will be available from 7:45 to 8:30 and lunch is available from 11:00 to 12:30 at these sites:

  • Castle Rock Middle School – 1441 Governors Blvd.
  • Riverside Middle School – 3700 Madison Ave.
  • Lewis & Clark Middle School- 1315 Lewis Ave.
  • Medicine Crow Middle School – 900 Barrett Rd.

There will also be a mobile food trailer at the following elementary schools:

  • McKinley: 9:00-9:30
  • Washington: 9:45-10:15
  • Newman: 10:30-11:00
  • Ponderosa 11:15-11:45
  • Orchard 12:00-12:30

Updates and more information can be found on the school district website at Billings Public Schools.

Internet Services

Charter/Spectrum is providing free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students impacted by school closures. For more information call 1-844-488-8395 or check their website at Charter Internet.

Online Art Tutorials

Several businesses are providing free online art tutorials to keep kids busy and engaged. Here are just a few!

Educational Resources 

Local schools are contacting parents with information on learning resources and expectations, so you will hear from your child’s teacher sometime soon. Here are some additional resources:

Scholastic is offering free learn-at-home resources at appropriate grade levels. They can be found at Scholastic Learn at Home.

Many visitor attractions are providing live or recorded broadcasts of their locations. Here are some ideas:

Podcasts for Kids

Podcasts are a great way to teach listening skills. Here are just a couple of great options out there for kids and families.

And don’t forget, with these school closures, that your kids will not fall behind their peers academically! Their peers are all in the same situation. They may learn something they usually wouldn’t — like baking, or clay sculpting, how weather prediction works, or maybe the math and science involved in the power of social distancing.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, or on them. We all learn from everything we do — and this is a brand new learning experience for all of us.

Marisa Clark was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in 2019 and is currently a volunteer Peer Coordinator.


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Court Appointed Special Advocates are community volunteers who speak up for the best interests of children in foster care. Volunteer CASAs work for the best interests of kids by advocating for their safety and permanency.

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