Panther Press
January 7th-14th
SMS PTA is BACK.....
PTA Officers
President-Chemere Wells
Vice-President-Patrick Bloodgood
Secretary-Jamilia Shipman
Treasurer-Nicole Talton
Member at Large-Alexis Upton-Savedge
Please join as a member for only $10.
Email correspondences are accepted at smspantherspta@gmail.com
Cellular Phones/Electronic Devices
•Cellular phones, electronic devices (including watches with texting/calling capabilities) and headphones are not to be displayed or used during the school day. Electronic devices should be off and out of view. Unauthorized use of cell phones or electronic devices will result in disciplinary action. The school is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage of cell phones or electronic devices.
•Classrooms will have a PARK IT, PACK IT, PLUG IT policy. Students may PARK their cellphones in a provided cell phone sleeve located in the classroom, PACK their phone into their bookbag, purse or pocket, or PLUG their phone into the charging stations.
•If students are unable to abide by the SMS Cell Phone Policy, communication will be made home. Continued failure to follow the SMS Cell Phone Policy may result in your child’s cell phone being placed in the principal’s cell phone jail safely until parents/guardians are available to recover the phone from the school.
RED, YELLOW and GREEN ZONES:
YELLOW zone - teacher discretion (classrooms)
GREEN zone - acceptable place to use device (lunch courtyard - which must be earned)
RED zone - no cellphones at all (all other locations)
In case of an emergency, please contact the front office (757-365-4100) and we will make sure that your child is informed.
Calendar Change
January Happenings..
January 3rd-Staff Workday
January 4th-Students return to school
January 17th-All Schools/Offices Closed (MLK Jr. Day)
January 20th-8th Grade Science or Civics SOL Tests
January 24th-28th-SMS Winter Spirit Week
January 24th-8th Grade Science or Civics Make-Up SOL Tests
January 25th-26th-8th Grade Science or Civics-Expedited Retakes
January 27th-28th-Three Hour Early Dismissal
January 28th-End of Second Marking Period/1st Semester
January 31st-Student Holiday/Staff Remote Workday
Covid Update
On Monday, December 27, 2021, the CDC issued new guidelines for quarantine and isolation for COVID-19. Isle of Wight County Schools will be following the revised guidelines, which are posted online at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html
Below is a summary of the changes:
- CDC/VDH is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days to 5 days for people who test positive for COVID-19. This is for asymptomatic individuals (5 days from a positive test) and people with symptoms (5 days from symptom onset) as long as symptoms are resolving. The 5 day isolation is then followed by 5 days of strict mask use when around others. Students returning on day 6 of quarantine must be able to wear a well fitting mask over their nose and mouth throughout the school day. If they are unable to do so they will need to complete the full 10 days of quarantine at home. Students with symptoms must also have noted improvement of symptoms and be able to participate in a full day of school activities.
- The recommended quarantine period for those exposed to someone with COVID-19 has been updated:
- For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second dose (or more than 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and have not received a booster shot, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
- Individuals who have received their booster shot do NOT need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure.
- For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure.
- If symptoms develop, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
As a reminder, please do not send your child to school if your child has COVID-19 symptoms, someone in your child’s household has COVID-19 symptoms, or someone in their household tests positive for COVID-19. Contact your child’s school as soon as possible to make them aware of the situation.
IWCS will continue to implement mitigation measures in all schools, including wearing a mask and maintaining distancing where/when possible. We ask everyone to do their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our buildings and the community.
School Visitors
Visitors are welcome to visit the school wearing a mask. Visitors may conference with teachers, participate in PTA meetings, and/or other school programs. At this time, we are not having visitors eat lunch with students in the cafeteria.
Anyone, including students, who enters a school at nighttime without the consent of an authorized person except to attend an approved meeting or service or who enters or remains on any school property, including school buses, in violation of (i)any direction to vacate the property by an authorized individual or (ii) any posted notice which contains such information, posted at a place where it reasonably may be seen may be prosecuted.
Student handbook
Please see below for a downloadable version on the 2021-2022 student handbook. This handbook contains important information on pick-up/drop-off procedures, technology, discipline, and much more.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V5l5uNtt0uELsk-zWxn8Hu427e-3cF1IjVB-XzWBLXQ/edit?usp=sharing
Stay Connected
https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/connect5
Grades & Schedules
Please be sure you login to PowerSchool Parent Portal to check student schedules and keep track of your child's grades!
https://powerschool.iwcs.k12.va.us/public/IWCS School Calendar
file:///Users/kbuggs/Downloads/2699224d-267f-438d-bca0-05554a95dfcb.pdf