Re-opening Update - December 3, 2020 - Second Semester Plans

PRESS RELEASE

December 3, 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 plans to expand in-person instruction for PK-12th grade face-to-face students to five days per week at the start of the second semester, beginning January 5, 2021. Schools will observe student holidays as scheduled on January 4 and January 18. The district will also offer a Learn from home option during second semester.

REQUESTS TO CHANGE INSTRUCTIONAL MODELS FOR SECOND SEMESTER

All McDuffie County schools will accept instructional model change requests for the second semester December 7-10, 2020. During this time, parents may request to change from the virtual/Learn from Home model to face-to-face learning or vice versa, depending on their student’s current instructional model. If your student is satisfied with their current instructional model, no action is required.

If you would like to request a change of your student’s instructional model, please contact your school’s assistant principal.  Contact information is listed below.

Campus

Contact

Phone

Email

Maxwell Elementary

Keturah Hoskins

706-986-4800

[email protected]

Thomson Elementary

Jamie Maddox

706-986-4700

[email protected]

Norris Elementary

Patricia Stripling

706-986-4400

[email protected]

Dearing Elementary

Sonya Thomas

706-986-4900

[email protected]

Thomson-McDuffie Middle

Renee Askew

706-986-4300

[email protected]

Thomson High

Sonya Strong

706-986-4200

[email protected]

McDuffie Achievement Center

Angie Roberts

706-986-4070

[email protected]

The commitment to the Learn from Home model is for one nine weeks for grades PK-8 (ending March 10, 2021) and one semester for grades 9-12 (ending May 21, 2021). Instructional model changes cannot be made during this commitment.

When you request a change of your student’s instructional model, please be prepared to communicate your student’s transportation method (bus or car rider) and whether technology is needed.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL FORMATS

Pupils must participate in instruction and submit assignments regardless of instructional model selected.  Students who opted for the Learn from Home instructional model will continue to engage in virtual learning five days per week, Monday through Friday, through the ends of their commitments. Information about the Learn from Home expectations is attached below, and supporting resources can be found on the Learn from Home Resources page.

 

WI-FI/INTERNET ACCESS

The system has established multiple Wi-Fi access points, located in system vehicles, throughout the county for students. A list of these access points can be found on the system website.

 

MONDAY-THURSDAY

 

Location/Morning

Location/Afternoon

Location/Evening

Calvary Baptist Church

8:30-11:30

Sweetwater Activity Center

1:30-4:30

Rollingwood Apartments

4:30-7:30

Bussey Point Apartments

8:30-11:30

Rollingwood Apartments

12:30-2:30

Union Baptist Church

5:30-7:30

Rollingwood Apartments

8:30-11:30

 

Happy Valley Store

5:30-7:30

Thomson Villas

8:00-12:00

   

Happy Valley Store

8:30-12:00

   

 

FRIDAY ONLY

 

Location /Morning

Location/Afternoon

Calvary Baptist Church

8:30-11:30

Sweetwater Activity Center

1:30-4:30

Dearing Pointe

8:30-11:30

Fort Creek Baptist Church

1:00-3:00

Springfield Baptist (Former MAC)

8:30-11:30

Pitts Street Park

1:00-3:00

Rollingwood Apartments

8:30-11:30

Rollingwood Apartments

12:00–6:00

Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church

8:30-11:30

Marshall Baptist Church

1:00-3:00

Thomson Villas

8:00-12:00

Boys and Girls Club

1:00-3:00

Bussey Point Apartments

8:30–11:30

Happy Valley Store

1:00-3:00

Happy Valley Store

8:30-12:00

 

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 listed below. There will be no meal delivery on Fridays.

 

School

Breakfast

Lunch

Pickup Location

Dearing Elementary School

7:45 – 8:15

11:30 – noon

Front Entrance

Maxwell Elementary School

8:15 – 8:45

11:30 – noon

Cafeteria (Rear of School)

Norris Elementary School

8:15 – 8:45

11:30 – noon

Bus Ramp

Thomson Elementary School

8:15 – 8:45

11:30 – noon

Bus Ramp

Thomson-McDuffie Middle School

8:00 – 8:30

12:00 – 12:30

Bus Ramp

Thomson High School

7:45 – 8:15

11:30 – noon

Bus Ramp

 

FUTURE PLANS FOR REOPENING

The McDuffie County School System will re-evaluate the public health data on January 19, 2021, to determine if the district can continue in the five-day face-to-face instructional model. However, if changes are necessary prior to this date, parents will be notified as soon as possible.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community.