The Patriot Pride
#riseup!
Principal's Post...
If you have not seen the video clip above, stop and watch....and then continue reading...
I am a bit of a Hamilton fanatic...but as I have joined the Patriot family this summer, the phrase RISE UP just keeps coming to mind! It comes to mind because in every area, that is what I have witnessed at Liberty Bell.
I have watched our assistant principals RISE UP by listening and working hard and planning schedules based on what teachers believe will be best for our students. They have worked PowerSchool like masters.
I have watched our office staff RISE UP and go the extra mile as they work to support students, families and staff throughout the summer and in preparing for the school year!
I have watched our custodians RISE UP as they have worked tirelessly moving classrooms, buffing and waxing floors and going the extra mile to ensure our building is CLEAN!
In the last two weeks, I have watched teachers as staff RISE UP in EVERY way to prepare classrooms, learn new skills with Canvas, collaborate with colleagues, help new colleagues, plan curriculum, reach out to students, prepare materials, meet with students and families and more and more and more.
At our faculty meeting, I mentioned that we would need to embrace the challenge and take each day at a time and you all have done that! I mentioned that our work is like building a plane while we are flying it. It really is.
The clip above is of a principal lauding all of the work that we did in the Spring. For some reason, one might think that what we are doing now is the same work. WE know that it isn't. We are now building a SECOND plane while flying IT. This work is different. We know that. But, once again, you have RISEN to that challenge as well. I am not at all surprised, because that is the heart of an educator!
Our work is hard, but we know it's worth it! I cringe each time I see anything in the media that criticizes the work of public schools because I KNOW how you RISE UP each and every time! The video above is a THANK YOU and is ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the work you did in the spring and the work you are doing NOW. Let's remember this video whenever we hear anything less than positive.... while we continue to RISE UP....and then we will just think to ourselves that those who do not understand and who have never walked in our shoes can simply "sit down somewhere." We will RISE UP and we will RISE ABOVE as we continue to be difference makers in the lives of kids and families. WHAT JOY we have each day knowing that we wake up to do work that matters. I am beyond excited to begin our first day of school tomorrow. It will be one for the history books in EVERY way! Let's make it the best one yet!
Patriot Proud,
Holly
Click below for reference to "RISE UP"
Week of the Patriot...
August 6, 2020
Dear Teachers and Staff Members of Johnson City Schools:
During this challenging time, we are doing our best to ensure the safety of our entire school community while continuing to provide an effective education to our students. Johnson City Schools (JCS) is following strict guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Tennessee Department of Health for the management of individuals diagnosed with, or exposed to, COVID-19. When a staff member or student has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the Washington County Regional Health Department will be notified. They will also investigate to determine who may have been in close contact with the diagnosed individual (within six feet for at least 10 minutes). Those have been in close contact will be notified, either by JCS or by the Health Department, and instructed to quarantine at home for 14 days from their last contact with the diagnosed individual. Quarantined staff and students will not be allowed to return to the school building until the quarantine period has ended. Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms. The individual must be fever-free for 24 hours and have improving symptoms before leaving isolation and returning to school. The school system is subject to many laws which limit the disclosure of medical information and other private matters about students and staff. We will follow all applicable laws when dealing with this pandemic. Again, if you have been in close contact with a diagnosed individual, you will be notified. If you have questions about this information, please contact your principal.
Sincerely,
Steve N. Barnett, Ed. D.
Superintendent
Reminder
Please remember to social distance as much as possible.
Devices....
Math PL Calendar
Our calendar can be found here:
With all our best,
Tiffany and Sherry
Math Coaches
Parent Orientation Video Link
Collin has sent out a press release with the link for parents to complete our “Introduction to Remote Learning” course. He has also posted this on the district website and individual school sites.
This course is an open course (no registration required) and should take most parents about 30 minutes or so to complete, depending on how many learning platforms the parent may want to review (SeeSaw, Google Classroom, Edementum, or Canvas). After working through the course, parents are asked to complete a verification form. I will be sharing a link where you can get a “forced copy” of the responses anytime you would like.
The course also includes information about the remote learning manual, technology support, and digital citizenship.
Please have teachers post this link on their Canvas courses, Google Classrooms, or in SeeSaw so that all parents (not just fully remote) have an opportunity to access.
LINK: https://jcschools.instructure.com/courses/13803
JC PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
RELATED ARTS
REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE AND LOG IT DAILY
Please read the following instructions in regards to taking your temp with the new thermometers!
1. Use hand sanitizer prior to touching thermometer
2. BEFORE pointing thermometer towards your forehead, press the trigger button and PLEASE MAKE SURE that the screen reads “LO” (this is resetting the temp from the previous user)
3. THEN point it towards your forehead and press the trigger button once again, then read your temp.
Kids' Camp-Liberty Bell
- Kids Camp hours are 7:00-3:30.
- Students should enter the main office and will be escorted to their assigned rooms. You will also pick up your students in front of the main office.
- Students will be grouped together based on grade levels. K-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th, and 9th-12th
- Students will be socially distanced in classrooms, but will be required to wear masks while they are entering/exiting the building and walking through the hallways.
- Grab and go breakfasts and lunches will be provided on an as needed basis. Breakfasts and lunches will need to be preordered and prepaid. Please visit myschoolbucks.com to prepay for meals.
- Pricing for meals are as follows:
- Breakfast/ Morning Snack $1.75
- Lunch K-4 $2.50
- Lunch 5-8 $2.65
- Lunch 9-12 $2.85
- If you have questions about the meals or pricing, you may contact Sarah Fried by email at frieds@jcschools.org.
- Pricing for meals are as follows:
- Students will need to bring their technology device (Ex. Chromebook, laptop, or iPad), earphones or earbuds, school supplies (Ex. pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, paper, etc.), and any other materials they might need to complete assignments. We will not have community supplies.
- Please email me back with any questions you may have, if your student will need a breakfast and/or lunch on Monday, and what time we can expect your student to arrive on Monday.
Johnson City Schools meal distribution for August 10-28
Johnson City Schools meal distribution for August 10-28
Johnson City Schools will provide daily curbside meal pick-up and meal delivery for students from August 10 until August 28. At this time, we will only be offering meal distribution to Johnson City Schools’ Pre-K through 12th grade students.
Curbside Pick-up: How it works
● Meals will be provided from 9:30- 10:15 a.m. Monday through Friday at all Johnson City School locations.
● Eligible students will receive up to one breakfast and one lunch per day at the time of pick-up based on parent request.
● Each individual school will establish how traffic will flow and the precise pick up location for meals. It will be similar to the summer feeding pick up. Please contact the school cafeteria to find out how to pick-up meals at that school.
● You may choose any school to pick up meals; it doesn’t have to be the school your child attends. Parents/guardians with students at multiple schools should pick up all meals at one school site.
● Parents/guardians are allowed to pick up meals and bring them home to their children. Parents will be asked to complete a sheet listing student name, school, and meal(s) requested (breakfast and/or lunch) each day. This will be compared to student enrollment.
Meal Delivery: How it works
● Meals will be delivered daily between 10 am to Noon depending on location and the bus delivery route. The bus routes will be the same as the summer feeding routes. Eligible students will receive one breakfast and one lunch per day at the time of delivery.
If a need exists where no route is planned, please contact Ann Hilliard, Johnson City School Food Service, at 423-434-5228. The request will be reviewed and considered, but, not guaranteed.
Meal Costs and Payments differ from summer feeding based on Federal rules.
● Meals will be charged to the student’s account according to the student’s eligibility status.
● There must be sufficient funds in a student’s meal account to cover the cost of meals if payment is needed based on reduced price or paid meal status. (This is everyone not currently approved for free meals. Free status from 2019-2020 is still in effect).
● If you don’t already have an payment account set up, you may do so at www.myschoolbucks.com
● Pre-payments by CHECK can be made on-site or arranged through the Food Service Office at 100 East Maple Street or by calling 423-434-5228. Daily handling of cash will not be done for safety as well as speed of meal delivery.
Meal prices
● Reduced breakfast $.30
● Reduced lunch $.40
● Paid breakfast $1.75
● Paid lunch - Elementary - (K-4) - $2.50 –Intermediate/Middle School - (5-8) - $2.65 -High School - (9-12) - $2.85
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications: How to Apply
● Applications for free and reduced benefits will be available at all Johnson City Schools front office locations or on the bus routes. One application is submitted for all children in the household who attend school in Johnson City. You may return completed applications to any Johnson City school office, Central Office, or bus route.
● For more information regarding free and reduced benefits, please contact the School Food Service Office at 423-434-5228 or e-mail hilliardj@jcschools.org.
CONNECTING THROUGH REMOTE LEARNING
7th Grade Immunizations
After talking with Dr. Wallace last week, we still have more than one hundred students who have not yet turned in evidence of their vaccinations. In your communications with 7th graders, please continue to remind them that they will not be able to attend school when we begin back in person, without this documentation. I will continue to include this information in my parent newsletter as well. Hopefully, since we have delayed our in-person start date, we will be able increase our number of students who turn in vaccination documentation.Thanks!