Superintendent Weekly Update
from the desk of ..... Kathy Amos
March 27, 2020
I always enjoy looking through the week in pics. When I am in and out of schools, I just get a glimpse of the neat things you do everyday in the classrooms. Tonight when I went through the pictures, I must say they were even more special to me. Seeing the home offices, connecting with kids online and the kids “school zones at home” is inspirational. I am like the kids, I miss all of you. The lively discussions, laughter, camaraderie as educators and even heartfelt disagreements.
I appreciate you all for trying your best to reach out to the kids and keep our life routines on track. All the things I read, researched, prayed and worried over today- waivers, employees, grades, timelines, surveys, funding, 500 webinars…. well you reminded me why we do all of this stuff. We really do it all because we sincerely love kids and want them to have opportunities and the best public education in the land.
Thank you for all that you are doing. Please take care of yourselves because I need each of you. We will get through this and we will be stronger and tougher than ever.
Enjoy the beautiful weekend with your family!
FIRE DRILL!
This afternoon at 1:00 all YCS employees will conduct a virtual fire drill while keeping their social distance. You are to log off, power down and exit your residence for the yard. To preserve your health and well being you are to soak up some vitamin D, listen to the birds, throw something on the grill or dig in the garden. Time to step away, relax, and enjoy the gorgeous afternoon and evening!
Spring break is 9.5 days way! We can do this!!!
BCBS COVID19 - Ask Your Doctor About Virtual Options
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) wants to help you get the care you need — while minimizing the spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus Disease 2019, as much as possible. To that end, we're expanding virtual access to health care providers:
Visits to your doctor: Your plan now covers phone and video telehealth services from in-network providers. It is treated the same as an in-office visit. Call your doctor to ask about virtual options — or if an upcoming visit or procedure should wait. It's not just doctor visits when you're feeling sick. Ask about virtual options for wellness visits, behavioral health visits and physical therapy, too!
NOTE: All virtual visits to screen for COVID-19 will have no copayment, deductible or coinsurance, even if your deductible has not been met.
During a public health emergency, your health will always be our top concern. Please visit BlueCrossNC.com/Coronavirus for up-to-date information and resources, including hotlines for health systems across North Carolina.
Thank you for trusting Blue Cross NC to provide health insurance coverage for you and your loved ones.
Rahul Rajkumar, MD
Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
NCDPI DTL Remote Learning Resources
NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning team at NCDPI has developed and organized remote teaching and learning resources and created options for NC educators to connect and learn with colleagues. Please check out the DTL NC Remote Learning Resources and Information website This evolving website includes instructional resources, online pedagogy considerations, resources for leadership, and more. Please visit often to view new updates. Looking for Online PD for Credit? NC Administrators and Staff may be researching NC Educator Effectiveness System PD for Staff to complete while working remote. NOTE: Not all staff have access to this online system. Educator Effectiveness Department created courses listed here: rt3nc.org. These online professional modules offered are only available in NCDPI’s Home Base/NCEES system. Access to online PD in the Home Base system is managed through an active employee ID Number, so only current employees of North Carolina Public School Districts or Charter Schools can access Home Base. There is no mechanism for others to access and use the educator resources housed in the Home Base system. What follows are suggested PD Resource for CEU credits, not all are endorsed by NCDPI, DPI Open Access Modules are free, the rest may have a cost. Staff should follow local PSU guidelines and policies to obtain approval for taking PD outside that offered locally. Click Here: Online Professional Development for Credit Resources
NC 2-1-1 .... Resource for Assistance Related to COVID-19
NC 2-1-1 [click.icptrack.com] is an information and referral service that families and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services resources within their community. NC 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and resources are available in most languages.
“Services like NC 2-1-1 are critical during times of emergency,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolinians can now call 2-1-1 to get the information they need while we continue working together to prevent the spread of this virus.”
North Carolinians can text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive general information and updates about COVID-19. Sign up now to get regular alerts on the rapidly evolving situation and North Carolina’s response.
NC 2-1-1 can refer callers to the organizations in their local community best equipped to address their specific health and human services needs including food, shelter, energy assistance, housing, parenting resources, health care, employment, substance abuse treatment, as well as specific resources for older adults and for persons with disabilities, and much more. Simply dial 2-1-1 or TTY 888-892-1162 for assistance.
NC 2-1-1 cannot provide direct medical services, and COVID-19 can only be diagnosed by a health care professional. If you suspect you or someone you care for may have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus, you should contact your health care provider. If you do not have a provider, you can call your local health department [click.icptrack.com], free and charitable clinics or a Federally Qualified Health Clinic [click.icptrack.com] for guidance.
People should only call 9-1-1 if they are experiencing an emergency. 9-1-1 centers across North Carolina have been receiving general questions and other non-emergency calls related to COVID-19. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you have an emergency.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in North Carolina, go to ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus [click.icptrack.com].
Due to anticipated high call volume, those seeking general information about COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to sign up for texts. People who are trying to locate specific services would benefit by calling. To learn more about NC 2-1-1, visit nc211.org [click.icptrack.com].
FAQs for state employees are posted at www.oshr.nc.gov/coronavirus.
NC Problem Gambling Program Grant & Training for Schools and Programs
These are trying times, but I wanted to give some information and provide an online training to those that want to learn more while many are working from home. If you are interested in learning more about youth problem gambling and how gambling and gaming are converging, please email me and I will send a link to a zoom meeting. In addition, please read below regarding a grant opportunity. Please be aware the grant guidelines clearly outline how funds can be spent. This includes up to $1,000 for a teacher to buy supplies for their classrooms and funds for overhead for the school to allow a teacher or counselor to deliver the curriculum.
You are being invited to apply for the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP) Stacked Deck Grant for the state fiscal year of 2020-2021. Attached you will find the grant application, grant guidelines, grant information, and the scoring system.
Stacked Deck is the only evidence-based program that has been found to be effective in preventing and reducing the risk of problem gambling among teens. Offered in six session, the program is aimed at changing gambling-related attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, and practices. It also seeks to improve decision-making and problem-solving. The Stacked Deck curriculum is interactive, including activities such as role-playing and discussion of case scenarios involving gambling and substance abuse. Please visit our website for teacher testimonials and more information.
First year grant applicants can apply for up to $5,000, second year grant applicants can apply for up to $3000, and third year applicants can apply for up to $2,000. This grant is for middle schools, high schools, and organizations serving at-risk youth in community settings. It is suggested that the curriculum be taught to 7th – 12th graders.
Please email all grants to me (Alison Drain) by May 30 with a final deadline of August 30. The application deadline is rolling throughout the summer This is a competitive grant process and not all of those that apply will receive funding. Please take time to review the grant guidelines, the scoring sheet and the sample grant application (the last page of the grant application) before you complete your application.
Again, there will be a webinar in May conducted on how to apply for the upcoming year, if you need assistance.
All instructors MUST be trained to deliver the curriculum. Please reach out to me ASAP if you have someone on staff that would like to attend our summer training opportunity on UNC, Wilmington on July 27-30. Full scholarships including room and board are available through the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP).
Wake Forest Baptist Health Facebook Live Provides Great Explanation for NC on COVID-19
https://www.facebook.com/wakehealth/videos/2514493898867696/
Live feed posted on Thursday, March 19, 2020.
Camp Daniel Boone Offers Summer Employment Opportunity to Teachers!
Camp Daniel Boone, a ScoutsBSA camp located in southern Haywood County has been providing a quality week-long camping experience for youth ages 11-17 from sixteen states for 79 years. The summer of 2020 will be no different!
CDB is looking for staff that can work teaching classes (lesson plans provided). The camp will provide housing, meals, some uniform parts, and competitive pay. Teaching areas are varied with five classes a day with class limits of no more than thirty.
There is the possibility to create job-sharing positions so that one person works 1-3 weeks and still gets some summer weeks off. However, anyone who wants to work the entire summer (all of June and all of July) can certainly do so.
Check out the CDB website at www.campdanielboone.org. You can access the application here: https://www.campdanielboone.org/files/5242/2020-Seasonal-Camp-Staff-Application-pdf The job list is on the last page of the application.
Classroom Spruce Up - $10K Donors Choose Funding Giveaway!
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
- Educators enter their DonorsChoose project March 2 - April 3 for a chance to win.
- During the week of March 30 - April 3, Horace Mann will draw winners and fund at least $2,000 in DonorsChoose projects each day!
If you're educators are new to DonorsChoose or haven't created a project yet, click HERE for some tips to help them get started. Or they can contact their local Horace Mann representative.
Let Horace Mann help your teachers get their project funded! Encourage them to enter the sweepstakes today at:
http://www.horacemann.com/teacher-lounge/contests?source=ancasa.
For Official Rules on this opportunity, click HERE -- NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
The North Carolina Association Of School Administrators (NCASA) Ensuring Student Success Through Visionary Leadership
2019 myNCRetirement Statements
2019 myNCRetirement Statements
The 2019 myNCRetirement Statement (MRS) is in production and will be available through your secure ORBIT account soon. As a reminder, we store a maximum of two annual statements in your account. The 2017 myNCRetirement Statement will be permanently removed from your account on March 31, 2020. If you would like to retain a copy, please log in and download the document for your records. Notifications will be sent when your new statement is available, so be on the lookout for those announcements. We encourage you to do a beneficiary check in your ORBIT account. Active employees can designate, update and maintain beneficiaries online in just a few steps. The information or change is immediately confirmed. If you do not have an ORBIT account, visit https://orbit.myncretirement.com and click the Register button. The process is easy and secure, and you will have access to service history, tools, your personalized annual MRS statement and more.
Yancey County Schools
Email: rxrobinson@yanceync.net
Website: www.yanceync.net
Location: 100 School Circle, Burnsville, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 682-6101