March 13, 2020
Dear Monroe County Schools Students, Staff, and Parents:
Even though there are no positive cases for COVID-19 in our local area right now, we do understand the seriousness of this pandemic and are taking necessary precautions to help our students and staff stay safe. In making sure that we are following recommended federal and state safety protocols and hoping to minimize the chance of contracting or spreading this virus, Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 20th, will be designated as Alternate Learning Days for students. Students will be able to work from home next week. These 5 days will count as regular school days for our students. As for school beyond March 20th, we will be messaging everyone about those plans next week. Thanks for being supportive and flexible during this most uncertain time. We also appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together to overcome this disease. Details concerning plans for next week are below. At any time, if you have questions or concerns, please contact your child's school or central office.
Instructional Resources- Digital Learning Extending Beyond the Classroom
Due to the potential number of days students could be out of school, our schools will provide the opportunity for students to continue to engage in learning. Students will participate in Alternative Learning Days through reading traditional books, traditional "at home" paper-based assignments, and through use of personal devices, GoogleClassroom, email, and other electronic and digital media to ensure uninterrupted instruction.
What will an Alternative Learning Day look like for students?
All staff and students in our district access and can utilize GoogleClassroom and GAFE (Google Apps for Education), in addition to other digital media, online texts, forums and resources, on a regular basis to communicate, collaborate, research and complete assignments and lessons. On Alternative Learning Days, students may access assignments from their teachers through their GoogleClassrooms (or other digital sources) just as they would normally do while present at school.
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Alternative Learning Day assignments for students in grades PK-5 are posted on each school's website.
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Alternative Learning Day assignments for students in grades 6-12 can be accessed in the students' GoogleClassroom by logging into their @mcschools account.
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Parents should contact their child's school or email their child's teacher if they need assistance logging into their child's account.
Students who do not have internet access at home will have the opportunity to complete paper copies of assignments. Parents should contact their child's school and make arrangements to
pick up their child's wor
k at the front office at each school on Monday, March 16 or Tuesday, March 17 from 8:00am-3:30pm.
Classroom teachers will be overseeing their students' digital learning platform throughout the time students are out of school. Teachers will be available to communicate with students and parents through email, GoogleClassroom, Remind, and other forms of digital media.
Professional Learning for Staff Members
All certificated staff members and instructional paraprofessionals will be responsible for completing site-based professional learning activities while school is not in session. Principals will be communicating the activities that should be completed and will be required to keep a log
of completion. Assistant Principals and Instructional Coaches will assist with monitoring and oversight of professional learning activities and will be available through email and GoogleClassroom to answer questions from staff.
Clerical Staff
All clerical staff assignments and professional learning will be determined by building-level administrators.
School Nutrition
School Nutrition Program Managers and Assistants will work in their kitchens and cafeterias on Monday, March 16, 2020 and Tuesday, March 17, 2020, to do a deep cleaning of facilities and equipment in preparation for the resumption of school and meal services. Appropriate professional learning activities will be distributed (either on paper or on-line) for School Nutrition personnel to complete.
Transportation
The Transportation Administration will schedule bus drivers to bring their buses to the bus shop Monday, March 16, 2020 and Tuesday, March 17, 2020, for a thorough cleaning inside and out. Drivers will be encouraged to help each other to accomplish the task. Transportation Office and Garage staff will assist with these tasks as well as other business functions that need to continue.
Appropriate professional learning activities will be distributed (either on paper or on-line) for Transportation personnel to complete.
Custodial
On Monday, March 16, 2020 and Tuesday, March 17, 2020, central office will support the school administration in having custodial staff deep clean all school facilities which students and staff routinely utilize. System maintenance and groundskeeping crews will support these efforts as necessary.
Other Information
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All Georgia High School Association events have been suspended until the close of business on March 27, 2020.
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All Monroe County Middle School athletic activities have also been suspended through March 27, 2020.
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All field trips, competitions, club activities from March 13, 2020 through March 27, 2020 will be cancelled.
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Boys and Girls Club of Monroe County will be closed March 16, 2020 through March 20, 2020. Plans for the following week will mirror school system plans.
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K. B. Sutton's musical Wizard of Oz will be postponed. Plans for rescheduling will be discussed later.
We will continue to monitor updates from the Georgia Department of Education and our local and regional Department of Public Health. We will keep you informed if our situation changes.
If you have medical questions, please contact your healthcare provider or the local Board of Health. You can also check the Centers for Disease Control website at
https://www.cdc.gov
.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike Hickman
Superintendent of Schools
