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CURRENT STATUS: COVID-19 Impacts on Brunswick County Schools

 
(Haga clic aquí para español)
 
We'll continue to get important information out to you via social media, the district website, and via phone call. 
 
 
CURRENT STATUS: (Espanol: https://bit.ly/BCSEstadoActualEspañol )  
 
All schools are now in Plan A (100% face-to-face instruction) with the option of requesting 100% remote learning for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
 
Students who chose Plan A will be counted absent if not in the classroom.  There will be no virtual log ins on days they are absent.
Asynchronous learning will be a major part of the remote learning plan. 
 
There is no longer be a 'Plan B' learning option(Hybrid) after April 12th.  Students will either be 100% face-to-face in the classroom or 100% remote learners based on their preference.   
 
 
3/23/21: The NC Department of Health and Human Services updated the Safe Schools toolkit that includes daily operations, transportation, etc.

Key Changes include:

  • All grade levels can operate on Plan A
  • Daily symptom screenings no longer required
  • Incorporated CDC recommendations on at least 3 feet of physical distance between children and 6 feet between adults
  • Changed wording from “social” to “physical” distancing 
  • Disinfecting playground equipment no longer required 
  • Physical barriers no longer recommended  
 
SCHOOL BOARD NEWS:
 
Redistricting Vote: During the March 30, 2021 Special Meeting to vote on Phase 2 redistricting, Board Members voted to unanimously approve Plan A redistricting, the consultants recommendations, with the exception that students in the Mallory Creek area would NOT be moved to SBHS to help relieve projected growth in the northern region should the student population hit 1,400 at NBHS in the future.
Instead, the district will move forward with the consultant's alternative recommendations to look for ways to add capacity at NBHS by 300-400 seats to avoid overcrowding within the next 5 years.
Plan A Vote: During the March 23, 2021 Board of Education Committee Meetings, Dr. Jerry L. Oates presented his recommendations for Grades 6-12 return to 100% face-to-face instruction to board members.  
The recommendation was approved by the board and includes the following schedule:
  • March 29, 2021- Remote students, who indicated they want to switch to face-to-face instruction, return on Plan B as an 'immersion period'.
  • April 12, 2021- All 6-12 students, who want face-to-face instruction, return on 'Plan A' 5 days a week.
Students who chose Plan A will be counted absent if not in the classroom.  There will be no virtual log ins on days they are absent.
Asynchronous learning will be a major part of the remote learning plan. 
 
There will no longer be a 'Plan B' learning option(Hybrid) after April 12th.  Students will either be 100% face-to-face in the classroom or 100% remote learners based on their preference.   
 
Additionally, Superintendent Dr. Oates recommended(and the board approved) the first week of May be designated as BCS Employee Appreciation Week with a token of appreciation as well to include:
  • $1,000 bonus to certified employees
  • $750 bonus to classified employees (increased to $1,000 by board members)
  • An additional $500 teacher supplement increase(to bring the total teacher supplement this year to $1,000)
The additional teacher supplements are expected in April.
The $1,000 bonuses for certified and classified staff are expected in May.
 
New Air Purifiers: In January, the Board Members approved the purchase order of new Ionized Air Purification Systems to be installed districtwide and the project is now complete.
 
What is it? 
  • This 'needlepoint bipolar ionization technology' as it is called will be installed in existing HVAC systems at Brunswick County Schools.
What does it do?
  • Basically, it inactivates/deactivates pathogens and reduces the volume of harmful pathogens including the coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2.
Bus installation is complete on the entire fleet(approximately 150 buses).
 
Schools completed as of 3/29/21:
  1. South Brunswick Middle 
  2. South Brunswick High 
  3. Lincoln Elementary
  4. Belville Elementary
  5. Leland Middle 
  6. Waccamaw School
  7. Town Creek Elementary
  8. Town Creek Middle
  9. Union Elementary
  10. Virginia Williamson Elementary
  11. Supply Elementary 
  12. Bolivia Elementary
  13. Cedar Grove Middle
  14. Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary
  15. Shallotte Middle
  16. Southport Elementary
  17. The COAST 
  18. North Brunswick High
  19. West Brunswick High

BCS COVID-19 DASHBOARD: 
We've put together a Dashboard that shows the specific impact of COVID-19 inside the school district. The idea is to simply have a place where the public can go to see what the current situation is inside the district. 
 
If someone in your household test positive for COVID-19 and you need to notify a school of quarantine procedures, please contact your child's school and ask to speak with the school nurse.
Only positive cases and quarantine cases given to us by the Brunswick County Department of Health will be listed on the chart.  Data shown is effective as of 9/21/2020 when students returned to face to face instruction. 

📹 VIDEO: We've put together a tutorial on the Dashboard. See link below.

STUDENT MEAL PICKUP: 
 
⚠️   Beginning 4/27/21, there will be a slight adjustment to the curbside student meal pickup service for 100% Remote Learners.  Due to low participation in the 4-6pm pickup time on Tuesdays, that time slot will no longer be available after 4/20/21(the final day of 4-6pm availability). 

The 11am-1pm pickup time will remain in place at the high school locations for those who utilize that time frame.
If that 11-1pm slot is not convenient, the BCS Child Nutrition Department is more than happy to schedule a weekly pickup time for any 100% remote learner who needs student meals.  

All you need to do is call the school you currently pickup student meals from and ask to speak with the Cafeteria Manager.  They will assist in finding the most convenient pickup appointment time for you. 
Thank you for your continued support of Brunswick County Schools and please reach out if we can be of assistance.
 
Current Curbside Pickup Locations:

🍎 NBHS: 114 Scorpion Drive Leland 
🍊 WBHS: 550 Whiteville Road Shallotte
🍏 SBHS: 280 Cougar Drive, BSL Southport 

 

All frozen food items should be kept frozen until ready to cook. Milk should be consumed or refrigerated immediately. Click on this link for Food Handling Procedures

 

NEED A CELLULAR HOTSPOT?  We can help!

 

EXTENDED HOURS:

The Brunswick County Schools Help Desk team is be available for Students, Staff, and Parents with technology support for remote learning later in the evening! 🕗
Technology Support for Remote Learning Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
📞 Call - 910-253-1095
✉️ Email - helpdesk@bcswan.net
 

COPING WITH CORONAVIRUS IMPACTS:  Brunswick County Schools Behavioral Specialist Tracy Jones has a special message for children.  She, along with a puppet that connects with kids, talk about the Coronavirus and ways that we can cope with it right now, together.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: BCS Student Support Services has numerous resources to help students and parents during this challenging time we are all going through.  Behavior Specialists, School Counselors, School Psychologist, School Social Workers, and Dropout Prevention Specialists are all available to talk with to support the social-emotional learning and mental health needs during this unprecedented time.

SERVICIOS DE APOYO ESTUDIANTIL: BCS Student Support Services tiene numerosos recursos para ayudar a los estudiantes y a los padres durante este momento difícil por el que todos estamos pasando. Los especialistas en comportamiento, los consejeros escolares, el psicólogo escolar, los trabajadores sociales escolares y los especialistas en prevención de abandono escolar están disponibles para hablar con el fin de apoyar el aprendizaje social-emocional y las necesidades de salud mental durante este tiempo sin precedentes.

HELPFUL LINKS: This link takes you directly to websites related to COVID 19/Coronavirus impacts for Brunswick County Schools, Local/State/Federal Coronavirus. 

ENLACES ÚTILES: Este enlace lo lleva directamente a sitios web relacionados con los impactos de COVID 19 / Coronavirus para las Escuelas del Condado de Brunswick, Coronavirus Local / Estatal / Federal.

INTERACTIVE MAP: You can enter your address on this webpage and it will provide you with what services/offers are available to you.  Puede ingresar su dirección en esta página web y le proporcionará qué servicios / ofertas están disponibles para usted. 

TALKING WITH CHILDREN: Adults play an extremely important role in helping children cope with the unknown.
This is one of those times. Here is some helpful advice from the experts:

  1. Be calm and reassuring.
  2. Listen and let kids ask questions.
  3. Avoid language that blames others.
  4. Limit screen time on COVID-19. 
  5. Provide honest, age-appropriate info.
  6. Teach actions to reduce spread of germs.

Bonus: Be their strength. They need it.
You can find more helpful information on talking with children on the CDC's website via this link: https://bit.ly/TalkingWithKidsAboutCoronavirus

HABLANDO CON NIÑOS: los adultos juegan un papel extremadamente importante para ayudar a los niños a hacer frente a lo desconocido.
Este es uno de esos momentos. Aquí hay algunos consejos útiles de los expertos:

  1. Mantén la calma
  2. Escucha
  3. Evita el lenguaje que culpe a los demás.
  4. Limite el tiempo de pantalla en COVID-19.
  5. Proporcione información honesta y apropiada para su edad.
  6. Enseñar acciones para reducir la propagación de gérmenes.

 

CRISIS CHAT LINE: A Crisis CHAT line courtesy of Integrated Family Services, PLLC is available for all staff, students, parents, family, and friends that will offer online emotional support 24 hours a day.
Trained chat specialists are available to assist individuals who are depressed, going through a hard time, need to talk, or having
thoughts of hurting themselves. Any life issues may be discussed utilizing the Crisis CHAT line. The goal of Integrated Family
Services’ Crisis CHAT line is to help you and others reduce stress and feel empowered to make healthy decisions. To utilize this free
service, simply go to www.integratedfamilyservices.net and click the “chat with us” icon at the top of the page.
You can also call Mobile Crisis Hotline 1-866-437-1821
 
 
LÍNEA DE CHAT DE CRISIS: Una línea de Crisis CHAT está disponible para todo el personal, estudiantes, padres, familiares y amigos que ofrecerá apoyo emocional en línea las 24 horas del día. Especialistas capacitados en chat están disponibles para ayudar a las personas que están deprimidas, pasando por un momento difícil, necesitan hablar o tener
pensamientos de hacerse daño a sí mismos. Cualquier problema de la vida puede discutirse utilizando la línea Crisis CHAT. El objetivo de la familia integrada
La línea CHAT de Crisis de Servicios es para ayudarlo a usted y a otros a reducir el estrés y sentirse empoderados para tomar decisiones saludables. Para utilizar esto gratis
servicio, simplemente vaya a www.integratedfamilyservices.net y haga clic en el icono "chatear con nosotros" en la parte superior de la página. También puede llamar a la línea directa de crisis móvil 1-866-437-1821
 
  
TECH SUPPORT:  Parents and Students, if you are having issues with technology that you checked out from school(Chromebook, laptops, tablets, etc),  please contact BCS Technology Support before calling the individual school.  You can reach Tech Support by calling 910-253-1095 or email helpdesk@bcswan.net
They should be able to help fix the problem.
You can also find Brunswick County Schools Troubleshooting Tech Tips here: http://bit.ly/BCSAtHomeAccessTroubleshooting