While noting that virtual learning is not the ideal setting for education, Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones Jr. said in a recent blog post that families, students, faculty and staff could work together to make the best of it.

"We’re not going to find a solution in government, we’re not going to find a solution at the federal level, and we may not even find it at the state level," he wrote. "I think it’s going to be found with us as we decide to practice social distancing, as we decide to wear masks or face coverings, and as we decide to frequently wash our hands."

The Bibb County School District’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Department has launched the "Be a S.T.A.R." campaign to reinforce the District's focus on safety initiatives due to COVID-19. The "Be a S.T.A.R." campaign encourages and teaches students, staff, parents and community stakeholders the District’s expectations to:

Social distance

Temperature check

Always mask up

Rinse and wash your hands for 20 seconds

The PBIS Department encourages students, staff and community partners to “be a S.T.A.R.” when you enter any Bibb County School or District Office. There will also be a #BibbBeASTAR challenge on social media. The Department has challenged all the schools to create videos, flyers or pictures showing themselves being a STAR. The school with the video or picture with the most likes on social media will win a gift card sponsored by Amerigroup.

Curlandra Lightfoot Smith, the District’s PBIS Coordinator, is excited to engage students with the newest PBIS initiative.

"PBIS focuses on developing and teaching school-wide expectations. The ‘Be a S.T.A.R.’ campaign is a way to reinforce and demonstrate the District's safety expectations during the re-opening of schools,” Smith said. “We know that students are beginning the school year virtually, but we want them to practice being a S.T.A.R. at home, in the community and to already have a good understand of the expectations when they return to school face-to-face.”

CLICK HERE for more information!

“To trust me to look over their children in their absence while they’re at work, trying to make a living, is a privilege, and I tell all of my students that,” he said.

Erin Kelly of Miller Magnet Middle School was the runner-up this year. Other finalists included Central High School’s Keywon Harvey, Heritage Elementary School’s Thomas Cote, and Rutland High School’s Amanda Maddox.

Convocation was held virtually thanks to the efforts of District employees and community partners. Faculty and staff viewed the event at their schools or offices.

The Bibb County School District will continue helping provide students with the necessary internet connection for virtual learning TODAY, September 1. This event, part of the District’s participation in the 1Million Project Foundation, will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Professional Learning Center, located at 2003 Riverside Drive.

This distribution of more than 1,500 mobile hotspots as well as a service connection is part of an ongoing effort that began with an initial batch of hotspots in December. Students enrolled in the District in Pre-K through 12th grade are eligible to sign out a device, with a limit of one device per household.

Also, once the school year begins on September 8, the District will deploy buses equipped with WiFi throughout the community to support students with internet access throughout the school day. Currently, seven buses are equipped to serve as WiFi access points, with a plan to expand that number in the coming weeks to about 30 buses equipped with WiFi. More details about locations and times of service for these WiFi buses will be released soon.

Rutland High School Marketing Pathway graduate Chandler Wood was awarded the first ever Rutland High School Marketing Scholars Scholarship for the 2019-2020 school year. To receive this award Rutland students must epitomize scholarship, leadership and citizenship. His dedication to marketing, the RHS School-Based Enterprise—The Vortex, and DECA, as well as academic excellence played a major role in Wood’s selection for this scholarship. Wood plans to further his education at the University of Georgia and major in Finance.

CLICK HERE for the documents and form link.

In an effort to help students read on grade level, the District is launching the Literacy Bus to facilitate activities that will reinforce students’ literacy and numeracy skills. This bus will capitalize on the talents of Teaching as a Profession students at W.S. Hutchings College and Career Academy, as well as community partners and volunteers. The bus will be able to travel to school sites or welcome students at Hutchings, with pre-K and kindergarten students as the main focus.