CCS Staff In the Know
The  North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services  and  North Carolina Department of Public Instruction  has released guidance to school districts for reopening school buildings. This information provides safety protocols and requirements which help establish a path towards reopening public schools. Under direction from the NC General Assembly, Craven County Schools is responsible for establishing and submitting a Remote Learning Plan for the upcoming school year.
The Roadmap to Re-Open Plan must include 3 options for our students and families:
  • Plan A - Minimal Social Distancing: This plan allows for most students to attend school on a school campus. All campuses are operating under enhanced health and social distancing protocols. 
  • Plan B - Blending Learning: In this plan, schools must reduce the number of people in the building to at least half. This means that some students will be learning from home and some will be on a school campus. All campuses are operating under enhanced health and social distancing protocols. 
  • Plan C - Remote Learning Only: In this plan, all students are learning from home. There are no students or employees on school campuses.
Based on public health data, state and/or local health officials will determine under which plan we operate. We anticipate that health officials will require us to shift plans throughout the school year, in response to our community’s public health needs. 

On July 14, 2020, Governor Cooper announced that all public schools should open under the guidance of Plan B with the option for local school boards to offer Plan C (Remote Learning Only). This announcement included updates from the NC Department of Health and Human Services to the current safety protocols and we will now look into those impacts.
Craven County Schools created four options under Plan B for learning based on the requirements and recommendations from the CDC on reopening schools. 
The Board of Education took action at their July 16th Board of Education Meeting and approved Plan B Option #3 and Plan C (CravenLive Virtual Academy) for the upcoming school year.
 
We understand that many of our families and staff have questions regarding the return to school. We hope the information provided helps answer your questions and concerns. As we move forward we will continue to communicate all information through our call notification system, social media, and the local media. 
 
Please know Craven County Schools is basing all decisions on health guidance from trusted sources (NCDHSS &CDC )including our local partnership with Craven County Health Department. The health and safety of our students, their families, staff, and the community is the top consideration before any important decision is made.
As a reminder, these plans are subject to change based on updates related to COVID-19 in our community and state. It is critical we do our part to help mitigate the spread of this virus so we remind our families to remember the 3 W's: Wear, Wait, Wash.
  • Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
  • Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Remember that these habits protect our families, friends, and neighbors. They are acts of kindness that when practiced collectively can have a tremendous impact on our community, especially for those at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Additional information is available on the district website located at: https://www.cravenk12.org/domain/3658
This site is continuously being updated with new and accurate information so please take the time to visit the pages created to include Plan B, Craven LIVE, Health and Safety Framework to Return, & Parent & Staff FAQ's (must be logged in to the Site to view).
CRAVEN LIVE APPLICATIONS:

The application for Craven LIVE is now available. All current Craven County Schools’ teachers may submit an application to Craven LIVE. The application process is posted on the CCS main webpage under the Roadmap to Re-opening Tab. Teachers must be logged in using their UID in order to see the application tab . Prior to applying, the interested teacher must notify his/her supervisor. The teacher should then complete and submit an application by 5:00 on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, to be considered for positions with Craven LIVE. Applications will be reviewed, and teachers will be selected based on the needs of the students enrolled in Craven LIVE, along with the qualifications of the applicant. Principals will be contacted for recommendations of applicants. While teachers may have a number of reasons for applying to Craven LIVE, the primary criteria for selection will be the identification of personnel who are most qualified to deliver high-quality virtual instruction to our students.
Technology
New iPad Assignment Process:
Tech Services has updated the process for assigning iPads to staff and students.  Check out this quick video that walks you through the setup:

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/2169702b-4374-4ded-bcfd-1fbc5aa89df9 (You’ll be asked to login to your Office365 account). 
FREE WiFi Access for our Students

With remote learning quickly approaching we are reaching out to our local businesses and community members to see if they will be willing to help our students who do not have reliable internet access at home .
Several are willing to help anyway they can which we greatly appreciate. We will collect all of the names of our Wifi Partners to share as a list of resources for our families.
Do you happen to know a business or local community partner that may be willing to assist? If so, please contact Jennifer Wagner at jennifer.wagner@cravenk12.org
𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼
Please help us in Congratulating Taylor Rogers! She is a soon to be sophomore at West Craven and she represented West Craven in the Creed Speaking Career Development Event Competition this year. She placed 1st out of 25 other speakers in the Eastern region and 5th place at the State level!
The Creed Speaking competition is for Freshman FFA members only. They memorize and recite the FFA creed. They have to provide spark, authenticity, and charisma in their performance of reciting the FFA creed. At the state level she was asked a series of questions about the FFA Creed and how it relates to her life and society today.
Taylor has put in the time and effort during her summer break, meeting with Mr. Shaw and Ms. Tart 2 or 3 times a week since June, practicing in between those days, and meeting every day this past week even though she was on family vacation. Ms. Tart shares, "Taylor has truly been a reminder of why we fight to get kids back in school and enjoy what we do every day."
Congratulations again Taylor, you make West Craven High School & Craven County Schools very proud!
Community Partner Seeking Help
Cherry Point Baptist Church in Havelock is looking for part-time professional help to work with Children.  This would entail implementing and overseeing a robust children's ministry.  CPBC envisions a children's ministry to include religious education and other activities in support of children.  Any experience with Awanas, MOPs or any other children's groups is helpful.  If interested, please text or call Pastor Steve Epperson at 252 876 2882
Educator & Student Social & Emotional Health Round Table Virtual Online Office Hours

July 31st, 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

The trauma experienced by students and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to significantly impact social and emotional well-being. Join the SIS & NC Healthy Schools section of the NCDPI K-12 Standards, Curriculum & Instruction Division for this interactive round table discussion as we talk about concerns and being prepared for both student and staff social and emotional needs in the coming school year.
You do not need to pre-register. Join with this Microsoft Teams Link.

Limit of 300 participants.
TEACHERS: APPLY FOR A BRIGHT IDEAS GRANT BY AUGUST 15 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $100
With the start of the school year just around the corner, Carteret-Craven Electric Co-op (CCEC) is reminding local K-12 teachers to submit their applications for a 2020-21 Bright Ideas education grant. Teachers who submit their applications by the early-bird deadline of August 15 will be entered into a statewide drawing to win one of five $100 gift cards. CCEC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants to local teachers for creative and innovative classroom projects. Teachers can apply for a grant up to $1,000. The final deadline to apply is September 15. Last year, the co-op, with additional funding from the Carteret-Craven Electric Foundation awarded more than $23,000 to fund 33 projects at 18 schools. To apply teachers must include a budget; explain the implementation, goals, creative elements and evaluation of the project; and have approval from their school’s principal. Applications will be judged through a competitive evaluation process, with judges looking for projects that feature inventive and creative approaches to learning. Teachers can apply individually or as a team. More information and applications are available at www.ncbrightideas.com. Since the program began in 1994, educators statewide have received more than $12.9 million in Bright Ideas grant funding, and approximately 2.5 million North Carolina students have participated in 12,359 Bright Ideas-funded projects. The Bright Ideas grant program is part of CCEC’s ongoing commitment to community and education. To learn more about this and other community outreach efforts, visit www.ccemc.com and click on the myCommunity tab.
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