Stephens County Schools Extends Winter Break through January 8

Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Education, Press Release
fundraiser successful

Winter Break will be extended through January 8th. SCSS will reevaluate conditions at that time. For more details and information, please visit the SCSS website for the official press release.

https://www.stephens.k12.ga.us/

Per the Superintendent:

At this time after consulting with the school principals and DPH staff we think it would be best to extend the winter break for students through Friday, Jan 8th. Staff would report to work to plan and prepare for the coming weeks. Friday we will reassess to see if we can go forward with our current in-class/virtual plan. If conditions do not improve then we would have the parents pick up materials if needed on Jan. 8th for virtual/distance learning for the following week. Parents please continue to contact your school and provide them with information about positive cases and exposures. This will help us to have information to guide us moving forward. Our district wide virtual/distance learning plan will be a week at a time. Once conditions improve we would go back to our original in-class/virtual learning plan. If we do need to move forward with more virtual school after the end of this week each individual school will roll out their own directions and plans for virtual learning.  If you have further concerns or questions please contact your school’s principal.

 

Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

 

Daniel Oldham

Superintendent 

CCMS shuts down 6th Grade in response to COVID-19

Board of Education, News
CCMS Clear Creek Middle, Grade

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Starting today, Gilmer County Schools has shut down the 6th Grade of Clear Creek Middle School to attempt to stem a rise in numbers of positive cases within the grade level.

Grade, Shanna Downs, Superintendent

Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs

Those numbers are coming from both students and staff according to a letter from Gilmer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs stating that they would be closing due to the increase.

Effective until November 4, 2020, students will be at home with learning devices as a part of the distance learning platform that the school has had in use since the early spring outbreak of the virus. However, it is not exactly the same program as the school system has since improved and evolved their distance learning programs with added software and procedures.

Since August, some students have already been a part of the virtual classrooms and students in school have received instructions on using Google Classroom as well.

At this time, Downs states that all of the system’s other schools and grade levels will keep operating as they have been, remaining open for students.

In a letter to parents, Downs said, “Recognizing the challenges closures pose for many families in our community, we are making this decision with a heavy heart but for the greater good. Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff.”

As of last Friday, October 16, 2020, the school system had 7 students absent with positive tests for COVID-19 and 133 students quarantined for possible exposure.

According to the school system’s website;

  • 4125 – Students enrolled in GCSS

  • 7 – GCSS Students Absent with a Current Positive COVID-19 Status

  • 133- GCSS Students Quarantined for Possible Exposure

  • 526 – Total Number of GCSS Employees

  • 7- GCSS Employees Absent with a Current Positive COVID-19 Status

  • 32 – GCSS Employee Who Has Been Exposed and is Quarantined or Reporting to Work as an Essential Employee*

The Board of Education is holding meetings this week as their regularly scheduled monthly meetings. FYN will update new stories if new information becomes available.

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