Over the weekend, community COVID-19 numbers have become concerning in our county. Although part of the increase in numbers may be attributed to delayed results on the Department of Health website from earlier in the week, Marion COVID-19 cases are steadily increasing. At this time, we are not experiencing high impact inside of our schools. Of course, this could change at any time. We ask that you help us by keeping us informed regarding symptom reporting. Please continue to keep children home if they are sick and to notify the school promptly so that we can begin contact tracing. Anytime we can prevent a particularly hazardous situation, it enables us to remain open for in-person learning.
Remember that this Friday is the end-of-semester workday, which is a student holiday. Students will return to school on January 19th, after the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. On this day, high school students will begin new classes. Students who have outstanding work for this semester must finish by Thursday, January 14th.
We currently have two middle school students who have tested positive for COVID-19. Parents/guardians of children in direct contact with those students have been notified. Students who were not directly exposed will continue with school as scheduled. Please continue to monitor your children and report any issues to the school.
Recently, the Marion County girls' and boys' varsity basketball teams, like many other sports programs, have been affected by COVID-19. At Marion County High School, we want to be extremely cautious when it comes to the health and safety of our school and community (as well as that of our opponents); therefore, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our varsity basketball program temporarily. We hope to be able to return to competition on January 22nd and apologize for any inconvenience. Please work with us to reschedule the affected games.
Happy New Year, everyone! Here is some information regarding our return to school on January 5. This will be a phased reopening.
The number of positive COVID-19 cases in our county has increased this week. Because of this, Marion County Schools will follow a phased reopening plan. Because the current level of spread is high, we will continue to monitor the situation and may face further changes.
All elementary students and students in grades 6-8 will return as scheduled on Tuesday, January 5. ALSO, high school students who are participating in EOC testing should return on Tuesday, 1/5. Tuesday’s EOC tests are Algebra I and ELA makeups. Wednesday’s tests include Biology and US History. Buses will run as scheduled but may arrive a few minutes early.
All high school students (9-12) will return to class on Monday, January 11. (High school students are in their last few days of the semester, ending January 14. They also have greater class-to-classs movement than the younger groups.) Information regarding upcoming semester exams for students in grades 9-12 will be posted soon by individual teachers. Students, please check your Teams account and teacher web pages later this week.
There will be no food delivery this week, but food pick-up is available. Further information will follow regarding semester exams and the finishing of fall courses.
Please remember the following safety guidelines:
Do not return if you have had direct contact with an infected person.
Face masks are required on all buses and are encouraged inside the buildings.
Please let the school nurse know if you have tested positive, are experiencing symptoms, or have been exposed.
Reminder!
You may pick up meals at LK Moss TUESDAY (today) and THURSDAY between the hours of 11:00 - 1:00. Buses will also run their afternoon scheduled routes on TUESDAY (today) and THURSDAY to deliver meals for LK Moss students.
We have had another middle school student and staff member test positive for COVID-19 this afternoon. Please continue to monitor and report any issues with your children.
Since the previous announcement, new cases have arisen at the Middle/High School. With movement and mixing of kids at that level, it is difficult to contact trace all situations. Please monitor your kids closely over the next few days; report any developments to Nurse Tiffany.
Both LK Moss and the Middle/High School will be closed to students this week. Over the weekend there was a situation not related to school that caused some LK Moss personnel to quarantine. At the middle/high level, one student and one faculty member have tested positive, in addition to the positive test from last week. This has left us with so few staff members that we will not be able to provide services. All employees who are not quarantined should report to work as scheduled tomorrow. If you have been exposed, you have been or will be directly contacted. Teachers will make every effort to contact students tomorrow; please let them know if you would like lunch delivered. A bus will run on Tuesday and Thursday of this week to deliver meals for LK Moss students and on Wednesday for middle/high. There will be no meal service during the regularly scheduled holiday break. We apologize for any inconvenience and wish you a safe and happy holiday!
Attention L.K. Moss Parents: Please note that Friday, December 18 is an EARLY RELEASE DAY. Students will begin to load buses at 11:45 am. Students will arrive home approximately 3 HOURS EARLY. Car riders will begin loading at 11:45 am. Please plan early to provide supervision for your children on that day. Christmas Holidays are Dec.21-Jan.4, 2021. Have a safe and wonderful break. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!
A positive case of COVID-19 has been identified at the Middle High School. Parents of affected students have been notified. Students who were not directly exposed will continue with school as usual. We will continue to monitor the situation.
We have reevaluated our contact tracing, and students at the middle/high school will be allowed to return on Thursday.
I hope all of you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. All employees will return to work on Monday the 30th unless you are quarantined. LK Moss students return Monday the 30th as well; middle/high students will come back later in the week. Please watch the website for specific updates. DO NOT come back if you have symptoms OR if you have been exposed to someone over the break who has symptoms. If this is the case, call your school on Monday.
We have had a student test positive for COVID-19 at the Middle/High School. A high school case can cause extensive issues. Due to quarantine issues, we will be short of staff members to carry out daily supervision. Marion Middle/High School will be closed as of the end of the day today and will remain closed through December 3rd. This DOES NOT impact L.K. Moss Elementary; currently, they plan to reopen as scheduled on November 30th. As always, if your child or teen has had direct contact with the affected student, you will be personally notified. Please watch the website for assignment information.
All Marion County school facilities will be closed to the public tomorrow (Friday) to begin deep cleaning and fumigation. Office staff will be available by phone or e-mail from 8 to 11 a.m. Teachers will also be available by e-mail during regular school days and times.
TOMORROW!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18:
BUSES will run the routes to collect any paperwork that needs to be turned back in to teachers, AND drop off any new paperwork. Please meet your bus at the normally scheduled drop-off time.
CAR RIDERS can come by to drop off any paperwork that needs to be turned back in to teachers, and collect any new paperwork. You may come by the school between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
PARENTS: Buses are headed your way TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at regular afternoon drop-off times! We will deliver student packets. Meet the bus where you would normally pick up your child. Provide the child's name and grade level. Friendly reminder....school personnel will hand you the materials. Stay at arms length away from the bus. Let’s practice our social distancing! See you all tomorrow!
NOTE: Bus routes will occur again on Monday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 18 at normal afternoon drop-off times.
PARENTS: On Wednesday, November 11, from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm, L.K. Moss car rider students can pick up their paperwork in a drive-through format. Cars will enter the campus through the far entrance, and proceed just as they do with car riders. No one is to exit the car. A school representative will ask the student’s name, and will retrieve the packets. Four cars will be served at a time.
PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR CHILD’S HOMEROOM TEACHER IF YOU WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE DRIVE-THROUGH. We will need to pull your child’s paperwork and have it ready for pick-up.
This procedure will be repeated on Monday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 18.
See the image below for information on Student Council.
We feel that it is important to address two concerns that have been expressed through comments. The question was raised as to whether or not we had cleaned the affected room. As a follow-up to any positive case of COVID-19, the affected room as well as all of the rooms on the wing, the hallway, the nurse's station, the office and main hallway have been sprayed, cleaned and fumigated. The disinfectant that is being used to treat the school is effective for 21 days, and this cleaning is in addition to the scheduled rotation of every 21 days. The second question asked for the identification of the person who is positive. According to HIPAA Laws, we legally cannot give out identifying information as to who is a positive COVID-19 case. HIPAA is an acronym that stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This law provides privacy standards to protect patients' confidential health information and medical records. Please be reminded that If your child has been directly exposed to someone at school who has tested positive, you will be personally notified. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to keep the safety of our students, employees and community a top priority.
The ASVAB will be given on December 16th. Preference will be given to seniors. Juniors may test in the spring. Seniors, if you are considering a career in the armed forces, please sign up for the ASVAB as soon as possible. See Mrs. Jernigan for details.
Effective tomorrow (11/10), ALL in-person L.K. Moss Elementary students will transition to distance (work from home) learning and will return to school on November 30th. THE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL WILL CURRENTLY REMAIN IN-PERSON.
A food service member at L.K. Moss has tested positive for COVID-19, and while there has not been a widespread outbreak, the entire food service staff must be quarantined. With no cafeteria staff, students would not have access to school meals. *There will be no lunch delivery during this time.
While there has been no exposure to the students in the cafeteria, the affected employee also works in the transportation department. If your child was exposed via transportation, you will be contacted personally this afternoon.
A couple of bus routes may run next week to deliver instructional materials and packets. Please watch the website for updates.