Calhoun City Schools undaunted by distance learning

Community

For Calhoun City Schools, the last two weeks of distance learning, despite the quick implementation, has been “outstanding,” according to Michelle Taylor, Superintendent of Calhoun City Schools.

Calhoun City Schools

Michelle Taylor, Superintendent of Calhoun City Schools says her staff, students, and parents have worked together to make distance learning work.

“Our leadership team has done an outstanding job working with our students, staff and parents to continue learning as our buildings have closed,” she said. “Calhoun City Schools’ parents have been rockstars.  They are communicating their needs with teaches and the schools and we are working together to make the best of this evolving situation.”

Governor Brian Kemp ordered schools to remain closed for the remainder of the school year on April 2. Included in that is all spring sporting events, including some recruiting events, according the Georgia High School Association.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that can cause illness in animals and humans. Some coronaviruses commonly circulate in the United States and usually cause upper respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose, although some can cause more serious illness. The 2019 novel (new) coronavirus causes the illness coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease that was identified in Wuhan, China, and is now being spread throughout the world. People are encouraged to take common-sense precautions to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

According to the Georgia Department of Health website, Gordon County currently has 21 cases, including two deaths. Georgia has 6,160 cases, 201 deaths, and 1,239 hospitalizations related to the virus.

Technology focus

The system has 4,200 students from preschool to 12th grade and 92-percent, or 3,864 with internet access and 73-percent or 3,066 with access to an electronic device. Taylor said they have sent Chromebooks and iPads to the students who needed them.

calhoun city schools

While they can’t meet like they did in this earlier photo, Calhoun City Schools will continue to foster Yellow Jacket spirit despite school buildings being closed.

“We are hopeful that this gap will decrease by the end of the week,” she said, adding they are encouraging all students to move to the online platform so they will not have to use paper packets.

Mike Afdahl is over technology for the students and encourages parents and students who need Chromebook support to complete a Google Form, offered in Spanish and English.

Families receiving Free-and-Reduced lunch can apply for Internet with AT&T and Comcast. Normally $5 or $10, those companies are offering their low-income access free for 60 days.

Calhoun City Schools have been distance learning since March 18, after schools were closed on March 18. The original plan was to re-open the schools on March 31, but as the COVID-19 cases increased, the date was moved further and further back until the decision was made to close schools for the remainder of the school year.

“We had a relatively smooth start,” said Taylor.. “Teachers and staff designed and produced content overnight and we had a plan in place on Friday (March 13), and finalized the plan on the 17th to roll out to families on the 18th.”

She said her concern at the moment is teachers and students will need more time to acclimate to the new delivery model.

Keeping the spirit alive

Calhoun City Schools

Calhoun City Schools mascot.

Anyone living in Calhoun can attest to spirit radiating from Calhoun City Schools. The Yellow Jackets are a solid part of the landscape in the city and keeping that spirit alive during the pandemic is important.

“We’ve had ‘Learn from Home’ Spirit Week where we try to connect with students and family through fun, spirited days. Students and parents have sent us photos and videos to post online and on social media,” Taylor said.

Graduation concerns being heard

The question all seniors and their parents have, regardless of system, is “Will there be a graduation ceremony?”

For Taylor, is imperative that seniors get their night.

“Calhoun City Schools’ Board of Education is committed to recognizing the Class of 2020 at a graduation ceremony,” she said.

However, safety is an issue and one that can’t be ignored or compromised.

“We’re not sure of the date but we will host the graduation ceremony when it is safe to do so.”

calhoun city schools

Calhoun seniors will have graduation, but the date has yet to be determined.

Graduation isn’t the only question facing seniors and to some extent, juniors. SAT testing has been cancelled through May with the earliest possible testing dates to be in June. However, even the June dates aren’t set in stone as the testing centers monitor the situation.

“We fully expect seniors will move forward with scholarship application and an honors ceremony to announce scholarship recipients will be held either online or at a ceremony when safe to do so.”

Students with special needs

For students with special needs, who often receive a variety of extra assistance, including speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy, support is continuing. Head of special education, Hayley Gilreath said teachers, therapists and service providers are making daily and weekly contact with students using Remind, telephone, Zoom and Google meetings. Those using special communication devices are receiving additional support. Those unable to access the technology due to their disability have been receiving packets, manipulatives and tasks to complete at home.

School psychologists and diagnosticians are keeping in touch with all parents whose child is in the process of an evaluation and the school will complete the evaluations if they have enough data and will hold others until school is back in session.

Meetings have continued, with 12 annual Individual Educational Plan (IEPs) meetings being conducted by phone conference or other virtual tools. The nurses are also staying in touch with medically fragile students.

Food deliveries

The schools have provided 34,018 meals so far, including breakfast and lunch over the past two weeks. According to Kim Kiker, the schools will deliver six breakfasts and six lunches on Friday, April 3 to cover spring break. Then starting on April 13, they will decrease to three deliveries per week to limit employee exposure. The plan is to deliver a hot breakfast, hot lunch, cold breakfast, cold lunch on Monday for Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, they will deliver a hot breakfast and lunch and on Thursday, they will deliver a hot breakfast and lunch along with a cold breakfast and lunch for Friday.

Maintenance and renovations

Work continues at the city schools, according to Tom Griffith, head of the department. Some summer priorities have been moved up that can accomplished while the buildings are closed to students and teachers. For instance, HVAC systems are being replaced, work continues on the medical clinic, and the middle school gym was recently finished.

Future plans for distance learning

As for the future, Taylor said she sees distance learning becoming a part of the education system in Calhoun City schools.

“Our teachers are becoming more comfortable with online learning an see the benefits for providing a “flipped” classroom to assist students at school and at home. We will definitely use online learning for future inclement weather days.”

Other local school districts keeping an eye on COVID-19

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Other local school districts, Gordon County, Calhoun, Whitfield County and Dalton, are keeping an eye on COVID-19. Other local school districts like Murray County and Murray counties are also preparing for the worse, but hoping for the best.

“To our knowledge, we don’t have any confirmed cases, or anyone in contact with confirmed cases,” said Amy Parker, Director of Communication and Community Relations.

Dr. Michelle Taylor, superintendent of Calhoun City Schools, said her district also had not known connections to COVID-19, but were following the department of public health.

“We’re encouraging students and staff to stay at home if they are sick and making sure our schools are safe and clean,” Taylor said.

Murray County Schools have two quarantined after contact with infected persons. For details, read our story here.

Most local schools have a contingency plan, but one district, Dalton Public Schools, is already developing online curriculum should the schools decide to close.

Pat Holloway, Chief of Staff for Dalton Public Schools, said there are no cases or quarantines involving staff or students in their district, but they are developing curriculumn for students to access via their devices if needed. The system has about 7,800 students with third grade through 12th grade each having their own devices, either laptops or I-pads. For more information, click here.

Other area schools, including DPS, are following guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control to reduce the chance of the virus coming into their schools. The Georgia Department of Health has resources available, including guidelines on how to disinfect surfaces.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control reported there were 23 confirmed cases in Georgia.For a complete listing by state, click here.

The see how Pickens County Schools are responding, see our story here.

The virus spread from the Wuhan in China and has 938 confirmed cases in the United States and 29 deaths. A confirmed case in Fulton County schools led to the closure, according to the Georgia Department of Education, but they are not recommending closures for other schools. To read the GADOE statement, click here.

COVID-19 virus is spread person-to-person and symptoms are flu-like or the common cold.

The CDC recommends:

COVID-19 virus

Handwashing poster from the Georgia Department of Health.

Stop handshaking – use other non-contact methods of greeting.

Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand washing reminders by email.

Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes.

Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly  Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning.

For other tips, visit here.

The Georgia Department of Health recommends:

Washing hands regularly

Get flu shot

Cover coughs and sneezes

Stay home if symptoms appear until they resolve

 

Read our complete coverage on COVID-19.

 

From Gordon County Schools:

  • March 6, 2020

    Dear Parents/Guardians/Staff:

    We understand that there is a great deal of concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and we wanted to take the opportunity to reassure our families that Gordon County Schools is closely monitoring the situation and is in frequent contact with Department of Public Health officials for updates to ensure we have the latest and most accurate information.

    In the latest information received today from DPH, Governor Kemp reiterated that, “To prevent the spread of incomplete or inaccurate information, we encourage Georgians to rely on guidance from the CDC, the DPH, and my office. We will continue to provide regular updates to keep the public informed and ensure the health and safety of families across our state.”  For the complete DPH release, visit our website.

    As a school system, we continue to take precautions in our schools to help keep our children safe.  Our custodial staff is regularly cleaning and disinfecting work and play areas throughout our facilities, following the suggested protocols from the Department of Public Health.  Our transportation department is also cleaning and disinfecting busses.

    Please continue to implement the following measures to help us combat a breakout in our schools:

    • Stay home from work or school and limit contact with others when you are sick.
    • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and properly discard used tissues. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
    • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
    • Avoid close contact with those who are ill.

    Up-to-date health information can be obtained at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

    For more information on Gordon County Schools and COVID-19, visit here.

With the increasing concern of the Coronavirus (a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person) around the globe, Whitfield County Schools would like to remind students, parents, faculty and staff of simple, everyday actions that can be taken to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. 

1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. *Parents, please do not bring your child(ren) to school if they are sick.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand santitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
4. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

As always, the first priority of Whitfield County Schools is the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and their families. Therefore, our school district is closely monitoring the Coronavirus and making the necessary preparations in case the virus becomes more prevalent in our community. In situations like this, we always take our guidance from the medical professionals at our local Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. At this time, they are telling us that we are at low risk for the spread of the virus. As a system, we are being proactive in the prevention of any spread of the virus. We contract with a cleaning company to clean all facilities every day. They are using cleaning solutions designed to kill the Coronavirus.

We are told that the best prevention at school is to wash hands. Our teachers are diligent to give students opportunities to wash their hands frequently. They are supervising younger children to make sure that they are washing hands thoroughly. Symptoms of the Coronavirus are fever, onset of a cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure, and the average incubation period is reported to be about 5 days. Eighty percent of patients with confirmed Coronavirus have only mild symptoms. If your children have any of these symptoms, please do not send them to school.

At this time the Georgia Department of Public Health has advised us that students who are not ill can safely attend school. The Georgia Department of Education is in regular contact with the Department of Health, and we receive updates almost daily. If their recommendations change, we will certainly let you know.

Should it become necessary to close a school or schools, our Teaching and Learning staff has a plan for continuing the education of our students. Of course, the plan varies with the grade level. Should we need to close, you will receive more specific information. Additional information on continuation of academics would be placed on our Whitfield County Schools website in the event of closure.

Whitfield County Schools is working closely with state health officials to monitor the evolution of the Coronavirus and its potential impact on our community. For more information regarding the Coronavirus, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Follow Whitfield County Schools here.

From the Georgia Department of Education, click here.

 

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