Monroe Messages
A Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
Parents and Guardians: As you are aware, Monroe County Schools will continue to provide instruction through our Alternative Learning Days platform through Friday, April 3, 2020. Elementary and middle school students who do not have internet access at home will have the opportunity to complete paper copies of assignments. Parents should make arrangements to pick up their child’s work at each school as we will have staff members available on Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 from 8:00am-3:30pm. Thanks for being understanding, supportive, and flexible during this most uncertain time for our country. Please stay safe.
The CDC has recently released a new resource on Children and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Tips to Keep Children Healthy while School’s Out. Click here for more information. 
Alternative Learning Days
In making sure we are following recommended federal and state safety protocols and hoping to minimize the chance of contracting or spreading this virus, Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3, are designated as Alternate Learning Days for students. Students will be able to work from home this week. These 5 days will count as regular school days for Monroe County Schools students. 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 this 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.  
  • Alternative Learning Day assignments for students in grades PK-5 are posted on each school's website here.
  • Alternative Learning Day assignments for students in grades 6-12 can be accessed in the students' GoogleClassroom by logging into their @mcschools account.
  • 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 work at the front office at each school.

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.
The Overdrive collection is getting lots of usage while we are having Alternative Learning Days. More titles are being added daily! Contact your school media specialist for login assistance.

Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau undertakes a mammoth task: counting all the people residing in the United States. This count affects the allocation of funding for our community's public resources (e.g., roads, hospitals, schools), how we plan for the future, and our voice in government. Learn more about the importance of the #2020Census and how to participate:   2020census.gov .
Are you curious about how many people in your community are responding to the 2020 Census? Stay up to date with a map of self-response rates from across the United States!
A Message from Monroe County School Nurses: Preparing Sick Space
Have you prepared a space in your home in case someone gets #COVID19? If a person you live with gets sick, you should separate them from others. Use an extra room or other area, and – if possible - have them use a separate bathroom. https://bit.ly/39Rl0Sf
Information obtained from Centers for Disease Control.
Keep those bodies moving! Alternative Learning Days PE with Coach Ward via YouTube! Check it out here.
Public Notice: Destruction of Old Special Education Records
The Monroe County Public School will be destroying old Special Education records in July 2020. The records scheduled to be destroyed are for persons who were served in special education and born in 1998. If you desire to have your records, please contact the Department of Instructional Student Support 478-994-2031 x 1604. Records not picked up by August 1, 2020 will be destroyed.