For our multilingual learners!
Thursday, January 23, 2025
2-Hour Delay
Doors Open at 9:15am
Tardy Bell at 9:45am
Students will not receive breakfast due to the late arrival.
Buses will run 2 hours later than usual.
Our multilingual families are invited to attend our District-Wide Multilingual Learner Program (MLP) Family Drop-In on Thursday, February 6 at Newberry Middle School. You are encouraged to drop in anytime from 5:00-6:30 pm!
The archery tournament that was scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed/canceled due to the weather.
Due to the threat of winter weather and the resulting hazardous road conditions, the School District of Newberry County will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, 2025, with schools and offices closed. All activities are canceled for January 10. Teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on this day. Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments during school on Thursday. Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments. Additional information regarding eLearning guidelines and expectations can be found at https://bit.ly/426hmBW.
Due to the threat of winter weather and the resulting hazardous road conditions, the School District of Newberry County will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, 2025, with schools and offices closed. All activities are canceled for January 10. Teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on this day. Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments during school on Thursday. Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments. Additional information regarding eLearning guidelines and expectations can be found at https://bit.ly/426hmBW.
SCDE responds to PowerSchool Data Breach
Jan 8, 2025
Late Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) was informed by PowerSchool of a cybersecurity breach involving its PowerSource portal. This was an international incident over which the state and local districts had no control.
This breach resulted in unauthorized access to certain customer data from PowerSchool’s Student Information Systems (SIS), including data from multiple states and school districts across the country.
During a meeting with PowerSchool’s senior leadership, they confirmed that personally identifiable information (PII) was compromised. The SCDE is currently working to understand the full scope of the breach.
PowerSchool has stated that this breach has been contained and has informed the SCDE that it has taken steps to secure its systems, engage cybersecurity experts, and is also coordinating with law enforcement to address the breach.
The SCDE is actively communicating with PowerSchool, legal counsel, and local districts to assess the full impact on South Carolina schools, students, and educators and to determine next steps. The SCDE is also in direct communication with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Attorney General’s office and has notified the Governor and legislative leaders.
Commenting on the seriousness of this incident, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said, “The protection of our South Carolina students’ and educators’ personal data is non-negotiable. We fully recognize the anxiety this raises for them and their families.”
She continued, “While PowerSchool has taken accountability for this breach, our Department will take uncompromising action to ensure we uncover the complete extent of this incident. We will insist that PowerSchool not only notify affected individuals but also provide them with credit and identity monitoring services."
The SCDE will continue to engage and support districts and schools throughout this process as more information becomes available.
https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/scde-responds-to-powerschool-data-breach/
FREE TO FOCUS
Proviso 1.103 in the General Appropriations Bill, H.5100 of 2024, prohibits access during the school day to personal electronic communication devices and devices not authorized for classroom use. More information may be found at:
https://ed.sc.gov/initiatives/free-to-focus/
Personal devices should be turned off and out of sight upon entering the school building through the dismissal bell. Personal devices include, but are not limited to:
Smart Phones
Gaming Devices
Smart Watches
Headphones
Personal Tablets
Ear Buds
Benefits of Free to Focus:
Fewer distractions
Less cyberbullying
Fewer fights and social media related drama
Increased engagement
Improved attendance
Boosted efficiency
More reading
Improved teacher morale and retention
Less mid-class absenteeism
More vibrant lunchrooms
Less cheating
Less reported stress among students
Bee's Spotlight on Victor Pineda Sanchez
Bee's Spotlight on Carter Dean
Bee's Spotlight on Heaven Israel
Bee's Spotlight on Dylan Balero Salinas
FREE TO FOCUS
Beginning January 6, 2025
The South Carolina Department of Education has released a policy that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.
The purpose of this policy is to create a phone-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions.
During the school day, students are prohibited from accessing their personal electronic devices. Students may not wear or access device accessories during the school day.
This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices.
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!
Bee's Spotlight on Wueslin Cobon
Bee's Spotlight on Edy Perez
Bee's Spotlight on Mason Wise
Bee's Spotlight on Davion Gallman
Bee's Spotlight on Victor Hair
Bee's Spotlight on De'Avion Combs
Bee's Spotlight on Collins Fore
