Springfield
Springfield is home to our flagship school, Veritas Prep Charter School (VPCS), which was launched in 2012. Since its founding, VPCS has continued to provide a rigorous education that fosters scholars' social-emotional and academic success. VPCS students graduate ready for high school, on a path to college or career, and poised to achieve amazing things!
Summer Meal Program
Sodexo, the district’s food service agency, has distributed more than one million meals since schools closed on March 12 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, Sodexo has committed to maintaining that emergency meal program throughout the summer. Under the program, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, and milk is provided for families at 17 locations throughout the City five days week. On Fridays, meals for Saturday and Sunday are also distributed.
The meals are served at the following locations: Boland, Bowles, Brookings, Chestnut Middle School, Commerce, Dorman, Glickman, Indian Orchard, Kensington, Liberty, Lincoln, Milton Bradley, Rebecca Johnson, Sumner, Talmadge, Warner and Washington schools.
Parents, guardians or grandparents may pick up meals for their students. Identification is not required of anyone picking up meals for students.
Meal service provided by Sodexo is available to not only Springfield Public Schools students but to students from all schools in Springfield and from surrounding communities.
Programa de Comidas de Verano
Sodexo, la agencia de servicios de alimentos del distrito, ha distribuido más de un millón de comidas desde que las escuelas cerraron el 12 de marzo en respuesta a la pandemia coronavirus. Ahora, Sodexo se ha comprometido a mantener ese programa de comidas de emergencia durante todo el verano. Bajo el programa, se brinda desayuno, almuerzo, cena, merienda y leche a las familias en 17 ubicaciones en toda la ciudad durante cinco días a la semana. Los viernes, también se distribuyen alimentos para los sábados y domingos.
Las comidas se sirven en las siguientes escuelas: Boland, Bowles, Brookings, Chestnut Middle School, Commerce, Dorman, Glickman, Indian Orchard, Kensington, Liberty, Lincoln, Milton Bradley, Rebecca Johnson, Sumner, Talmadge, Warner y Washington.
Los padres, tutores o abuelos pueden recoger alimentos para los estudiantes. No se requiere identificación.
El servicio de comidas provisto por Sodexo está disponible no solo para los estudiantes de las Escuelas Públicas de Springfield sino también para los estudiantes de todas las escuelas de Springfield y de las comunidades circundantes.
Viper Chit Chat
Start your day with Viper Chit Chat! Brought to you by the Veritas Prep Enrichment team!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, or visit our Instagram Feed from the links below.
Why choose Veritas Prep?
Hear from our students and families!
Enrollment FAQs at VPCS
We have multiple strategies to target rising 5th-grade family.
- We post flyers and applications at local businesses
- We have an online portal with an application on our website
- We send out mailers with applications to all rising 5th-grade families
The application is very simple and only ask for basic information such as:
- Name of student and parents
- Previous grade
- Address
- 1 proof of address
It is very easy to complete. The front desk is always available to support in filling out the application. We hold three information sessions that are posted in the enrollment flyers that we distribute throughout the community. These sessions are also posted on our website.
All applicants, regardless if they are offered a seat receive a letter in the mail, to the address listed on their application, 1 week after the lottery with their status ( seat offer or waitlist).
There are 120 seats available for the 5th grade, the first 120 applications pulled through the lottery are offered a seat. All other 5th grade applicants are placed on the waitlist. All 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade applicants are automatically placed on the waitlist. Depending on if seats are available 6th, 7th and 8th-grade applicants are pulled off the waitlist in chronological order of their waitlist number.
The enrollment packet is both in English and Spanish. Each page is translated line by line.
The enrollment packet asked for information ranging from:
- Proof of address
- Medical and health form
- Frequently asked questions
- Previous school - records release
- Media Release
- Emergency Contacts
- Notice of an IEP or 504
- Home Language Survey for our ELL students
- A letter stating out ELL program ( As required by the state)
- Final enrollment form with a signature from the parent
Our front desk reviews every enrollment packet we receive and we provide support filling out the application in person or will contact the family over the phone if there are any errors with the packet. I have not seen any applicants drop a seat due to the enrollment packet.
- Veritas does not know any information about ELL or Learning disabilities status at the moment of the application. We do not ask for this information until after the student has been offered a seat through the lottery process.
- There has been one instance during my time here in which I presented the family with all the information to make the best decision for their child, during this instance the student would be leaving a district school which provides them with a completely contained class in which the child would be learning language and life skills. Our school does not separate self-contained classes for ELL students. When I made this information clear to the family they made the decision to remain at the district school.
Applications are being accepted for 5th grade for the 2020-21 school year!
The 2020-2021 application cycle is currently open for 5th grade, but closed for 6th through 8th grade. If you would like to enter your student into the lottery for a seat in 5th grade for the 2020-2021 school year, please visit the link below to apply. All applications must be entered by July 15, 2020. The lottery will take place on Thursday, July 23, time TBD.
The date of the lottery for applications received by July 15, 2020, will be updated soon: be sure to check back for updates!
If you would like to receive information about the application cycle for the 2021-2022 school year, sign up for our newsletter below.
VPCS Resources
Anti-Racism
Anti-Racism Resources for Students & Family
A Letter from the Executive Director
Back To School
Calendar
Report Cards
Uniform Policy
Operational Plan
VPH SY19-20 School Operational Plan
Executive Summary
Meet Nurse Ravizza!
Kimberly Ravizza is the School Nurse Leader at Veritas Preparatory Charter School. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from the Pace University. Prior to joining the school health setting full time at Veritas Prep in 2016, she practiced for eighteen years at Baystate Medical Center. Nurse Kim is proud to be a part of your child’s education. She beliefs that success in school is directly related to good health and emotional well-being of each student. She proudly supports the Veritas mission by encouraging each of our scholars form scholarly habits that will prepare them to compete, achieve, and succeed in high school, college, and beyond.
I know the decision to continue learning remotely through the end of the school year comes with a range of emotions.
Please know I am here to provide support to our Veritas scholars and families throughout this time. I miss you all very much and hope to serve as a resource for those seeking health-related information, have questions, or those who would like to talk.
Contact Nurse Kim:
Email: kravizza@vpcs.org
Google Voice (call or text): 413-351-8322
Virtual Nurse’s Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday 10am-11am
Medication Pick Up Date: I will be in my office at Veritas on Tuesday, May 12th from 10am-3pm for medication pick up, including EpiPens and inhalers. Please contact me if this time does not work for you. Any medication that is not picked up by June 1st, will be discarded.
For more information and up to date resources please refer to the following links:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-health
CDC has created recommendations to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
Children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear.
Los CDC redactaron recomendaciones para ayudar a los adultos en sus conversaciones con los niños acerca del COVID-19 y las formas de evitar infectarse y propagar la enfermedad.
Es posible que los niños sientan preocupación por la posibilidad de que ellos mismos, sus familias y amigos se enfermen de COVID-19. Los padres, miembros de la familia, personal escolar y otros adultos de confianza pueden cumplir un rol muy importante a la hora de ayudar a los niños a comprender lo que escuchan de una manera honesta, precisa y que minimice sus temores y ansiedad.
VPCS Cares
VPCS Cares about our Students, Staff, and all of our families. We've provided the following resources to help manage these challenging times.
VPCS se preocupa por nuestros estudiantes, personal y todas nuestras familias. Hemos proporcionado los siguientes recursos para ayudar a gestionar estos tiempos difíciles.
Mental Health Tips for Families and Children
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many adults, and especially parents and caregivers, are struggling to manage their own stress and maintain a positive outlook for their family. They may be unsure what to say to children who are at varying levels of development. In many cases, children are now doing school work at home while their parents or caregivers are also working from home. It is critical for all adults to stay calm and model coping for children.
Watch the video below for Mental Health Tips for Children and Families to help in coping with the coronavirus (COVID-19), from Dr. Scott Poland, veteran school psychologist and current professor at the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University.
Consejos de salud mental para familias y niños
Durante la pandemia de coronavirus (COVID-19), muchos adultos, y especialmente los padres y cuidadores, luchan por controlar su propio estrés y mantener una actitud positiva para su familia. Pueden no estar seguros de qué decirles a los niños que se encuentran en diferentes niveles de desarrollo. En muchos casos, los niños ahora hacen el trabajo escolar en casa mientras que sus padres o cuidadores también trabajan desde casa. Es fundamental que todos los adultos mantengan la calma y modelen el afrontamiento de los niños.
Mire el video a continuación para obtener Consejos de salud mental para niños y familias para ayudarlo a sobrellevar el coronavirus (COVID-19), del Dr. Scott Poland, psicólogo veterano de la escuela y profesor actual en la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad Nova Southeastern.
Mental Health Tips for Families and Children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Covid-19 Information Site
Sitio de información de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades Covid-19
Details about the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts
Detalles sobre la respuesta de salud pública a la pandemia de COVID-19 en Massachusetts
This 9-minute course informs you how coronavirus spreads, how to recognize its symptoms; prevent and treat the virus; and, determine what to do if you become sick with coronavirus.
Este curso de 9 minutos le informa cómo se propaga el coronavirus, cómo reconocer sus síntomas; prevenir y tratar el virus; y determine qué hacer si se enferma con coronavirus.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)
Get practical guidance in this 7-minute course from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help you get your household ready before, during and after an outbreak occurs in your community.
Obtenga orientación práctica en este curso de 7 minutos de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) para ayudarlo a preparar su hogar antes, durante y después de que ocurra un brote en su comunidad.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)
This 9-minute course will help you define stress and anxiety; identify common signs and symptom; and, identify how to reduce stress for yourself and others during this difficult time.
Este curso de 9 minutos lo ayudará a definir el estrés y la ansiedad; identificar signos y síntomas comunes; e identifique cómo reducir el estrés para usted y para otros durante este momento difícil.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)
In this 7-minute course, you’ll learn best practices for leadership when transitioning to a remote workforce; best practices for working remotely; and, identify pitfalls to avoid during the transition.
En este curso de 7 minutos, aprenderá las mejores prácticas para el liderazgo al hacer la transición a una fuerza laboral remota; mejores prácticas para trabajar de forma remota; e identifique las dificultades a evitar durante la transición.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)
In this 8-minute course, get practical guidance from the CDC for cleaning and disinfecting rooms or areas where those with confirmed COVID-19 have visited.
En este curso de 8 minutos, obtenga orientación práctica de los CDC para limpiar y desinfectar habitaciones o áreas donde han visitado personas con COVID-19 confirmado.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)
This nearly 8-minute course will help you learn the steps for creating a sewn cloth face covering; learn the steps for creating a non-sewn cloth face covering; and, identify best practices for wearing a cloth face covering.
Este curso de casi 8 minutos lo ayudará a aprender los pasos para crear una cubierta de tela cosida; aprenda los pasos para crear una cubierta de tela no cosida; e identifique las mejores prácticas para usar una cubierta de tela para la cara.
(Traducción automática de subtítulos cerrados disponible)