Schley County Schools

Dear Parents, Our school year is about to begin its fifth week of learning! Thank you for your help in getting this year off to a great start. On Monday, the 2021 Milestone data was released. Schley County achieved high state rankings in 3rd grade ELA (#10), 5th grade ELA (#6) Math (#9) Science (#4), 7th grade Math (#9), and US History (#4). Schley County ranked very well among other state public school systems. More detailed information can be found at: https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/communications/Pages/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?PressView=default&pid=885 These accomplishments are even more remarkable given the difficulties and distractions students, teachers, and parents have been faced with over the last two years. Unfortunately we are still faced with many Covid 19 concerns. Families continue to be impacted and many households were even quarantined in the days prior to our start. This prevented many students from starting their school year until this week. While we would like to focus on and even celebrate numbers such as those mentioned above, numbers for quarantines and positive cases continue to be monitored and will be posted each Friday just as last year. We will include as much information as possible, but we very much encourage everyone to mask up. It is required on all buses. Masks provide a layer of protection when spacing may not be more than 6 feet. Each school will continue to notify parents if an exposure occurs. Please help each school by informing us if your family does come into contact with a Covid positive person away from campus. If a member of your household tests positive, everyone within your household in contact with that person should quarantine. Days for household quarantines can only begin when the exposure is over, either by the separation from the Covid positive person or when the Covid positive household member is deemed negative, without symptoms, and the appropriate days have passed. Our numbers will reflect all known cases of students in or out of the school setting. Below is this week’s report: COVID-19 Status Report as of August 19, 2021 Elementary School – Students- 4 positives and 18 quarantines. Of the 18, 10 are non-school related. A third grade class of 16 was quarantined as a teacher tested positive. A Pre k class was closed yesterday because of possible student exposure from Monday. Middle High School – Students -11 positives and 54 quarantined. Of the 54, 24 are non-school related. If they remain symptom free, 30 students will return from quarantine on Monday. Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

Microsoft Store is offering free virtual camps with a fun collection of creative workshops and virtual fieldtrips to helps kids 8+ practice digital skills and explore new concepts. For more information please see https://5il.co/u42y

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the #COVID19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

Attention Middle & High School Virtual Students, Laptop returns for virtual students will be Friday, 5-21 from 1:00-3:00 PM in the high school cafeteria. Please drive through where the middle high school buses pickup students. We will have staff ready to receive your laptop for any grade level. Your virtual supervising teacher will also be sending you a message about this.

We are having a Concession Stand on Friday, May 7. Order forms are due by tomorrow.

Dear Parent or Guardian: Effective July 1, 2021, children 16 years of age and older, who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants), must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday. More information at https://5il.co/rxfi Estimado padre o tutor: A partir del 1 de julio de 2021, los niños de más de 16 años de edad que entren al 11mo. grado (incluidos los de primer ingreso) deberán haber recibido una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna conjugada contra el meningococo (MCV4), a menos que les hayan puesto la primera dosis al cumplir 16 años. https://5il.co/rxfj

April 9, 2021 Dear Parents, Grades 3-8 will be participating in the Georgia Milestones EOG tests next week. If you have a child testing, please make sure they are rested and get a good breakfast each day. We look forward to each of them doing a great job and getting to celebrate with some time off during the following spring break week! Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of April 9, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-1, ES students-3, MHS staff-0, MHS students-0 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-0, ES students- 24, MHS staff- 1, MHS students- 5 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

April 5, 2021 Dear Parents, Participating faculty and staff will be receiving their second dose of the covid vaccine on Friday, April 9th. We once again appreciate the Schley County Health Department for partnering with our schools to make this happen. This week marks the last full week of instruction before Milestone Assessments for grades 3-8. Students and teachers have worked very hard to prepare despite many obstacles. This will be a great opportunity to show off their efforts with far less pressure this year. Please make the necessary preparations to your schedules in order to support our test takers. We want them to do their best so that we can go into spring break on a high note! Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of April 5, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-0, ES students-1, MHS staff-0, MHS students-0 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-0, ES students- 7, MHS staff- 1, MHS students- 0 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

March 26, 2021 Dear Parents, As this month comes to a close, the number of active cases or quarantines continue to look much better. Thank you for your continued efforts in monitoring each student. Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of March 26, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-0, ES students-1, MHS staff-0, MHS students-0 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-0, ES students- 2, MHS staff- 0, MHS students- 1 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

Shorter University information video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoXXRiDtBo4

March 19, 2021 Dear Parents, March 15-21 is set aside as School Board Appreciation Week. We want to say thank you to our local board members and all that they do to support our students. Despite the weather interruption, this week was very productive. Covid numbers were much improved as we continue to move towards the end of our 2021 school year. Thank you for your continued efforts in monitoring each student. Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of March 19, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-0, ES students-1, MHS staff-1, MHS students-0 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-0, ES students- 3, MHS staff- 0, MHS students- 1 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

Elementary students created a video to show appreciation for Mrs. Holloway during Board Member Appreciation Week. FFA officers recognized Mr. Sellars for his board service as well as his help with their John Deere tractor project. Our schools appreciate the time each member contributes for our system.

Schley County Board Members were individually recognized on Friday by students. The Kool Kids Cafe honored Mr. Aldridge while the Schley County High School Jazz Band performed for Mrs. Lumpkin. Mrs. Morrow was surprised at her business by middle school students with personal "thank you's".

Dear Parents, Based on the current weather models available, there will be severe weather risks that are substantial during arrival time. The time frame for this system would still exist for a delayed start. For this reason, we will be closed for tomorrow and will resume classes on Friday. Please be safe and monitor these weather conditions for tonight and tomorrow morning.

At this time we are continuing to monitor the forecast for tomorrow's weather. The time frame for the arrival of severe weather Thursday morning is still very wide. The county is also split with two different risk levels. The window of the stronger weather is between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Currently, we have not made any changes in arrival times or made any cancellations. We will continue to monitor all updates prior to 6:00 p.m. today so that we make the best decision for the safety of our students.

March 12, 2021 Dear Parents, As we begin the fourth 9 weeks, I want to thank our local Health Department in Schley County. They have supported our schools in many ways throughout this pandemic. Information and daily guidance has been available nearly 7 days a week! Our teachers and staff were able to receive vaccines today thanks to their drive through set-up. We appreciate their hard work. We look forward to finishing this year strong! Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of March 12, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-0, ES students-3, MHS staff-1, MHS students-1 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-0, ES students- 16, MHS staff- 0, MHS students- 14 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

The following groups are now eligible for COVID vaccine in Georgia: • Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, environmental services, etc.) • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities • Adults aged 65+ and their caregivers • Law enforcement, firefighters, first responders • Funeral home workers who come into direct contact with the deceased • Educators and staff (Pre-K, K-12, DECAL licensed or exempt childcare programs) • Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers:  Intellectual Disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 22.  A developmental disability is a physical or mental impairment that happens before the age of 22, is expected to last a lifetime, and impacts at least three activities of daily living. Activities of daily living include self-care; receptive and expressive language; learning; mobility; self-direction; capacity for independent living; and economic self-sufficiency. • Parents of children with complex medical conditions who are at high risk for COVID complications:  Malignancies requiring active treatment  Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including organ transplant (bone marrow or solid organ) within 2 years  Critical congenital heart disease  Asthma (moderate to severe)  Sickle cell disease  Diabetes  Obesity (BMI >95%)  Cystic fibrosis  Significant neurologic injury or condition (e.g. hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, congenital anomaly, acute flaccid myelitis) with functional/developmental impairment (e.g. cerebral palsy, developmental disability, prematurity, mitochondrial disease)  Technology dependence (e.g. BiPAP, trach) The Schley County Health Department will host a vaccination clinic this Friday, March 12 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. If you or someone you know meet the above criteria, please contact the health department at (229) 937-2208 to schedule your vaccine!

March 5, 2021 Dear Parents, This week marks the end of the 3rd nine weeks as we prepare for report cards to be finalized. The 4th nine weeks is all that remains for the 20-21 school year! Keep up the good work at home to follow the listed guidance. Thank you for your help in monitoring your children daily and exercising caution when any symptoms are present. Please continue to help us stay safe and healthy by: • Masking up • Staying home when sick • Physically distancing as much as possible • Sanitizing hands regularly To ensure you are provided with the most recent information, please see the weekly status report below. This information provides the total number of active COVID-19 cases reported by our system to DPH, as well as the total number of quarantines as a result. COVID-19 Status Report as of March 5, 2021 at 4 p.m. Total Number of In-Person Students and Staff: 1151 (students) + 143 (staff) = 1294 Total Number of Active COVID-19 Cases: ES staff-0, ES students-3, MHS staff-0, MHS students-3 Total Number of Active Quarantines Due to Close Contact: ES staff-2, ES students- 18, MHS staff- 0, MHS students- 24 Thank you for your continued support of our schools! Sincerely, Brian Hall

The Schley County School System is seeking a full time Maintenance worker. This job includes helping to maintain school buildings and grounds, safely use tools and equipment, follow directions and be able to work in a professional environment. Salary is based on experience and job responsibilities. To apply, download a Non-Instructional application online at http://5il.co/5ito or pick up an application at the Schley County Board of Education, 161 Perry Drive, Ellaville, GA. Completed applications can be mailed to Human Resources at P.O. Box 66, Ellaville, GA 31806 or dropped off at the Schley County Board of Education. For more information call Mr. Tim Whitt at (229) 937-2405.

The Schley County School System is seeking a Full Time Custodian. The Job includes helping to clean and maintain school buildings and grounds, safely using tools, equipment and cleaning supplies, following directions, and working in a professional environment. Salary is based on experience and job responsibilities. For more information about the job, call Mr. Tim Whitt at (229) 937-2405. To apply for this job, call The Staffing People at (229) 924-0476.