2020-2021 Reopening Options
Parents of students in the School District of Newberry County are asked to complete one questionnaire per child to determine how they would like their child to return to school for the 2020-2021 school year. Option 1 allows parents the choice of sending their child to school on a Hybrid schedule – meeting in person 2 days per week and eLearning 3 days per week. Option 2 is for parents who wish to have their child participate in the Newberry ONE Institute for eLearning, a completely online option for a semester at a time.
The questionnaire can be found at https://bit.ly/SDNCLearningPref and must be submitted prior to midnight on July 28, 2020.
Check out the Newberry County Library's virtual performances!
Attention Parents of Students in Grades K-3:
The South Carolina Department of Education has collaborated with various stakeholders to create resources for students that will allow for continuous instruction throughout the summer. State Literacy Specialists and Early Learning Specialists identified essential learning needed by students for successful fall re-entry, and created lessons that can be used by teachers and parents through a variety of delivery methods. All current and previous resources may be found at www.SCRemoteLearning.com.
Only a couple days left to order your 2019-2020 Yearbook! Yearbook orders are due by Wednesday, May 20th! Order your yearbook online for just $20! Click the link to order: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000793482#login
LIBRARY BOOKS: We still have over 300 library books that are checked out to students! Please ask your children to find their library books and return them on Thursday with your work. Any library books that were left in classrooms have already been returned. Notices will go out next week for missing books and fines. Thanks for your help with this!
Final Packet Turn in is tomorrow (Thursday) from 9:00-1:00 pm. It is important for everyone to come because we will be giving you all of your children's personal belongings from their classrooms. As in the past, this will be a drive-thru drop off and pick up. Just come through the car line and you don't even have to leave your cars! This is the LAST DAY that any work will be accepted.
All of our teachers will be here, so we would love if you can bring your child and let us see them one more time!
Don't forget about our Meal Service on Monday!
Today we honor Fran McClain for National Nurse’s Day! Nurse Fran works so hard to keep our Gator Family healthy and ready to learn!! Tonya Sligh who is a member of our Sunshine Committee presented a plant and a Cabana gift card to Nurse Fran to show our appreciation for all she does!
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the loss of one of our Gator Family members, Ms. Jane Pitts. Jane was our Computer Lab teacher for many years. She was one of the hardest workers EVER--always positive, NEVER complaining, would do ANYTHING she was asked, ALWAYS smiling, and had a love for our students that surpassed job requirements. She was genuine. Often, reaching some kids and parents when we couldn't. Jane was determined, strong-willed, and a fighter! Jane Pitts was a jewel in our school who will be greatly missed. Please pray for Jane's family and our Gallman Gator family!
Packet #3 pickup will be held at Gallman on Monday, May 4 from 1:00-4:00 pm and on Tuesday, May 5 from 9:00am-1:00 pm.
If you have not returned packets 1 and 2, or if your child has medication to be picked up, please do so at this time. Medications must be picked up and signed for by an adult, preferably by a parent/guardian. Medications not picked up will be destroyed by the school nurse.
Packet 3 and any other packets not previously returned will be due on May 14. Packets turned in after May 14 will not be accepted. Students are asked to return all textbooks and library books on May 4, May 5, or May 14.
We again want to thank all of you for what you are doing for our students and encourage you all to continue to wash your hands and practice social distancing.
Congratulations to Whitney Kibler and Jane Pitts! Ms. Kibler was named Gallman Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year and Ms. Pitts was named Gallman Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year. Thank you both for all you do for the whole gator community!
Today we honor Meridith Wilson and Penny Wright for Administrative Professional’s Day! These two ladies do so much for our faculty, students and parents every single day!! Codie Ruff who is a member of our Sunshine Committee delivered a plant and a Cabana gift card to to show our appreciation to Mrs. Meridith and Ms. Penny.
Happy National Librarian Day to all librarians! Our librarian, Mrs. Cobb, is the best! She loves to make books come alive for our students and is a HUGE support for our entire faculty! Thank you Mrs. Cobb for being so awesome!
In an effort to assess internet capabilities within our district, we are asking that all parents complete the following survey by Tuesday, April 14. Internet is defined as ability to use a desktop, laptop, or tablet at home. For the purpose of this survey, access to internet solely through a smart phone is NOT considered internet access. Please complete a separate survey for each child who attends a school in Newberry County. Even if you previously completed a survey through your school, please take a moment to provide the information requested at https://bit.ly/SDNCInternetSurvey.
Mrs. Hunter wrote a heartfelt poem expressing her feelings during this very different and uncertain time. We hope that you will share this poem with your children and talk to them about expressing their feelings during this time in whatever way is comfortable for them. For Mrs. Hunter it is through writing, but it may be a different way for you and your family. We love our students, families and staff and we truly miss them!
We Got This!
by Nikki Hunter
Becoming an administrator is never an easy choice to make.
There are so many things that are always at stake.
Emotions of children, instructional strategies, and test scores,
Parents, community, school culture, and so much more.
When tragedies hit, administrators are looked at to take the lead.
Sometimes our hearts are hurting too. We need space to breathe.
In the wake of Spring 2020, COVID-19 hit causing our world to change.
Not going to school for weeks seemed very strange.
Homeschooling jokes on social media made many of us laugh.
Me coming to school every day, I was missing my staff.
I missed the emails or texts saying I’m going to be out today.
I missed the IEP meetings, referrals, funny stories, or telling someone it’s going to be okay.
Walking down dark halls and empty classrooms makes me sad to my core.
All of my students I miss daily, more and more.
The ones who are good; the ones who are funny;
The challenging ones who I’d never get rid of for any amount of money.
I got into this, thinking I can make a difference and change the world.
I work in a great school with awesome boys and girls.
The Coronavirus will not deter us from the goal of success.
Leading my school through this time is definitely a test.
I’m blessed with Mr. Dukes, one of the best APs.
He can organize, direct, and simplify—putting others at ease.
With the great teachers, staff, parents, and community,
We will come through this together in unity.
No virus can destroy the love for what we do.
The love we have for our students is sincere and true.
We are strong. We are relentless. We are tenacious Gallman Gators.
We got this! That’s a promise from your GES Administrators!
Updated meal pickup information. In an effort to make it easier on parents who are working, please note that meal pick up will be on MONDAY ONLY! Students will get all of the meals for the week.
The next set of instructional packets is to be picked up on Monday and Tuesday, March 30 and 31 from 9 am – 1 pm. The first set of packets are asked to be returned at this time. Please make sure your child’s name is on the work that is returned. If your child has not completed all of packet 1, please have them continue to work on that packet in addition to packet 2, which provides all assignments through May 1. The set up at each school will be a drive thru where you will not need to leave the car. If you have a high school student who takes courses from the career center, please make sure you also go to the career center to pick up student work. Our teachers are working to respond to parents via email. Please continue to reach out to your child’s teachers for assistance.
Report cards will be available via parent portal beginning March 30. Parents are encouraged to view student grades in Parent Portal. If you do not have a Parent Portal login, the request for access can be found on our district’s website – click on the COVID-19 link on the main page. The request form must be completed and sent via email to your child’s school to receive the access code. If you do not have a way to access to Parent Portal and would like to receive your child’s Report Card, please contact your child’s school and it will be mailed to you. Pre-K – Grade 2 and Montessori report cards will be distributed with the new instructional packets on March 30 and 31.
Beginning Monday, March 30, we will begin distributing 5 days’ worth of meals to children. At the pick up and delivery sites, students will receive 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals for the week. This will reduce the number of times that parents are going to the pick up and delivery sites. Again, we will only be distributing meals on Mondays for the duration of the school closure. Our school and community sites and times remain the same. Please only select one site to serve all of your children. When approaching the line, indicate the number of meals needed by holding up a hand count. We will put the meals in the trunk or through a window. You will not need to exit the vehicle to receive these meals.
We truly appreciate all of your support through this time. We continue to encourage you to wash your hands and maintain social distancing. Thank you.
Updated free meal service information. Please note that pickup will only be on Monday and Thursday of each week where students will receive meals for multiple days. Thank you to our extremely hard working Child Nutrition staff for their amazing dedication to keeping our students fed!
Free Meal Service will begin tomorrow, March 18 at Mid-Carolina High School, Newberry High School, Newberry Middle School, Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School, and Whitmire Community School. Pick up times are from 10 am - 12 pm.
