Saint Paul Public Schools Announce Virtual Spring Break From March 30

Press release from Saint Paul Public Schools:

Spring Break starts Monday, March 30. Below are some resources and ideas for things to do to help ensure every student has a fun and safe vacation. As part of the Governor’s new stay-at-home order, Distance Learning for SPPS students will begin on Monday, April 6.

Virtual Trips

Take a trip to the zoo

• The Minnesota Zoo’s Facebook page features zookeepers talking about the animals.
• The Cincinnati Zoo shares a live stream from the zoo each day at 2 p.m. The Home Safari highlights one amazing animal and includes an activity you can do from home.
• The San Diego Zoo has 11 live cameras set up in their exhibits. You can watch koalas, tigers, polar bears and more.

Explore a museum

• Walk through the Guggenheim.
• #MetKids lets kids explore The Met in New York using an interactive map.
• Visit The Louvre’s museum and exhibition rooms, including the Egyptian Antiquities.
• Explore art exhibits from around the world with Google Arts & Culture.

Visit the Boston Children’s Museum

Take a virtual tour of the Boston Children’s Museum and check out fun exhibits like Explore-a-Saurus.

Visit Mars

Yes, Mars! Access Mars lets you explore a 3D replica of the surface of Mars, recorded by NASA’s Curiosity rover.

Get Outside

**Be sure to keep a healthy six feet away from those not in your household, and stay home if you are sick. If a park or trail is too crowded to safely practice this, save that walk or ride for another time, or head to another place.**

Go on a history walk

The Saint Paul Historical Society’s mobile app features self-guided walks around a number of Saint Paul neighborhoods, pointing out historical landmarks, still standing or not.

Explore your neighborhood

Take a walk in your neighborhood and stumble upon some poetry. Work by local poets is stamped on sidewalks throughout Saint Paul. Learn more about the program and find poems in your neighborhood. When you get home, consider writing your own poems on your sidewalk with chalk.

Take a bike ride

The Lilydale Regional Trail starts at Harriet Island and meanders along the Mississippi River backwaters, with a trail that splits, providing a short 3.2-mile loop. This is the kind of trail that makes you forget you’re in the city.

Online Activities and Resources

• The Minnesota Children’s Museum is sharing daily learning activities, creativity challenges and more.
• The Science Museum of Minnesota is sharing at-home science activities for all ages.
• Learn about history online with the Minnesota Historical Society.

Food Resources

SPPS will provide meals from its food truck every weekday during spring break, March 30-April 3. Unlike the last two weeks, the truck will provide one meal per person, per day.

Spring Break Meal Schedule

• 8:45-9:15 a.m. - Harding Senior High School (1540 6th St. E.)
• 9:30-10 a.m. - Battle Creek Middle School (2121 N. Park Drive)
• 11:15-11:45 a.m. - Como Park Senior High (740 Rose Ave W.)
• 12-12:30 p.m. - Johnson Senior High School (1349 Arcade St.)
• 1:50-2:20 p.m. - Cherokee Heights Elementary (694 S. Charlton St.)
• 2:40-3:10 p.m. - Highland Park Senior High School (1015 Snelling Ave. S.)

If you miss the food truck, several community organizations and local restaurants are providing free meals for families around Saint Paul. Click here for a list of Saint Paul food resources.

Hunger Impact Partners: Download the Free Meals for Kids mobile app to find and access free meals across Minnesota.

This press release was produced by Saint Paul Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.