Re-opening Update - October 21, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

October 21, 2020

The McDuffie County School System continues to actively monitor public health data as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Department of Education. 

Based on the current public health data, the McDuffie County School System will expand in-person instruction for PK-12^th grade face-to-face students to four days per week effective November 2, 2020. 

The system plans to remain in this model for face-to-face students until December 16, 2020.  However, should changes be necessary, plans will be communicated as soon as possible.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL FOR FACE-TO-FACE STUDENTS

Students who opted for the face-to-face instructional model will attend school Monday thru Thursday and will engage in virtual learning on Fridays through December 16, 2020.  The chart below illustrates the schedule as of November 2, 2020.

MASKS / FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED

All students, employees, and visitors will be required to wear masks or face coverings when entering and exiting buildings, in transitions, on system buses / vehicles, and in areas where social distancing is not possible.

LEARN FROM HOME MODEL FOR VIRTUAL STUDENTS

Students who opted for the Learn from Home virtual instructional model will continue to engage in virtual learning five days per week, Monday thru Friday, through December 16, 2020. 

Lessons will continue to be streamed live and will also be recorded for those students who are unable to participate in the live sessions. 

INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES / ATTENDANCE

Students in both instructional models are expected to continue to participate in instruction. Face-to-face students must attend class to be counted present on the assigned in-person instruction days. Learn from Home students who are submitting weekly assignments will be counted present; failure to submit any work for the week or to participate in any live class sessions will result in a student’s being marked as absent in the official student record. Grades and attendance will be posted in the PowerSchool Parent Portal as usual.

Tip sheets and videos for technology support are located on the Learn from Home page of the system website (www.mcduffie.k12.ga.us).  In addition, each school has designated an individual to assist families with technology-related issues.  These email addresses are also found on the Learn from Home page.

WI-FI/INTERNET ACCESS

As indicated in the Return to School Plan for the district, the system has established multiple Wi-Fi access points throughout the county for students. The Wi-Fi access points will be within system vehicles and parked in the following locations. 

MONDAY-THURSDAY

 FRIDAY ONLY

At these locations, families can use personal devices or system-issued Chromebooks to connect to the system network. Directions on how to change the Wi-Fi settings on Chromebooks are located on the Learn from Home link on the system webpage at www.mcduffie.k12.ga.us. 

Using devices connected to these Wi-Fi locations will enable students to watch teacher-directed videos, to submit assignments, to email teachers, and to reload flash drives by downloading materials from Google Classroom.

MEALS

Schools will serve meals to face-to-face students during normal breakfast and lunch hours.  In addition, all schools will serve as grab-and-go meal sites for pick-up by Learn from Home students or parents at the times and locations listed below. In addition to the sites below, breakfast and lunch will be delivered on Friday of each week at 10:00 a.m.