Van Buren County Schools

There are a lot of new things to learn for the upcoming school year! Help your child get a head start in understanding our new ways of doing things at school by talking to them about social distancing and how it will affect them at school. Parents as Partners Tip Sheet #2 can be found by going to the Van Buren County School's website or following this link: https://5il.co/igv5

This school year, more than ever, parents and schools will need to partner together to ensure the needs of our students are met. Parents as Partners Tip Sheet #1 can be found by going to the Van Buren County Schools website or following this link: https://5il.co/ierd

VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (VIP) APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE: Van Buren County Schools will offer an at-home Virtual Instruction Program option for families that wish to utilize it. This program will be free of charge and will be facilitated by Van Buren County Schools teachers and will allow students to remain enrolled within the school district while distance learning at home. Students enrolled in the virtual learning program option will still be held accountable for coursework completion and online attendance. This will be a very structured and rigorous at-home option for students that are accepted. Parents that are interested in enrolling their students in the Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) will need to fill out an application that has been released today, Friday, July 17th. This will be found on the school website, at this link: https://5il.co/icu0 or can be picked-up at the central office. Central office hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm and Fridays 8:00am-12:00noon. Applications are due Thursday, July, 23rd by 3:00pm. Application does not guarantee acceptance into the VIP.

The High 5's & School Supplies Donation Drive begins TODAY! Thank you for your continued support!

ADDITIONAL SCHOOL REOPENING INFORMATION: Transportation: Bus transportation will be provided as normal by the school district. Because we can not guarantee social distancing on buses, all bus riders are encouraged to wear a mask. Now more than ever, students are reminded of their personal responsibility to behave appropriately. Misbehavior on a bus will not be tolerated and may result in a loss of privileges. An additional staff member will be riding the bus to check each students’ temperatures before students board the bus. Students with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will not be allowed to board the bus or attend school. Parents/guardians retain responsibility of the students until the students have been cleared to board the bus. Morning Student Drop-off: Every student will have their temperature checked by school personnel before they enter the buildings. In all cases, parents are responsible for being sure they are not sending sick students to school. To prevent traffic congestion please do not arrive prior to 7:30am. The doors will not be unlocked at any building until 7:30am to begin student drop-off. Parents/guardians retain responsibility of the students until the students have been cleared to enter the building. Student drivers that provide transportation for younger siblings that are students at SES must drop them off at the front doors of the elementary school building. Health, Safety, and Operations: Van Buren County Schools will apply the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) guidance for Critical Infrastructure Workers to our employees and students when potential exposure to a positive COVID-19 case has been determined. Those with positive cases must be quarantined for 14 days before returning to school. Those who were possibly exposed will be contacted but will continue to come to school and be asked to wear a mask for 14 days as long as they remain symptom-free. Cleaning protocols will be enhanced and other procedures will be altered to mitigate coronavirus concerns. The use of masks will be encouraged especially in hallways and common areas. Those showing signs of illness will be isolated and parents will be called. If any person tests positive for COVID-19, the health department will work with the school to provide the relevant information to those exposed to risk. Updates: There will be more information to come. Regular updates will be released from the school district via phone calls, the district website at www.vanburenschools.org and other media outlets. If yo have immediate questions you may contact your child’s school or the Van Buren County Board of Education. In order to stay informed as information is released it is imperative that parents and guardians notify their child’s school with any updated contact information.

The High 5's & School Supplies Donation Drive is being held July 17-August 7 to collect much needed school supplies for our students. Donations may be dropped off at Van Buren Co. School Board. Collected supplies will be given out at school to students in need. Please share the letter regarding the Donation Drive (on the school Facebook page) with your business, church, or organization.

The BAM Back to School Celebration will be a DRIVE THRU EVENT at White Co. High School on Saturday, July 25, at 9:00 a.m. for White and Van Buren Co. K-12 students. Each student will receive a FREE backpack filled with school supplies. Each student receiving items must be present with an adult with a valid drivers license.

Any homeschool child who is planning on playing sports for Van Buren County Middle or High School during the 2020-2021 school year should contact Dustin Sullivan as soon as possible so he can get them eligible with TSSAA. This does not apply to students who choose the virtual learning option through the school system. Coach Sullivan can be reached at sullivand1@vanburenschools.org

2020-2021 SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN: Overall Plan: Van Buren County Schools will open the 2020-21 school year on a traditional schedule with all students attending on a regular schedule Monday - Friday. Social distancing will be practiced when practical, daily temperature checks will be taken for employees and students, and masks will be encouraged to be worn. Virtual Learning Option: Van Buren County Schools will offer an at-home Virtual Instruction Program option for families that wish to utilize it. This program will be free of charge and will be facilitated by Van Buren County Schools teachers and will allow students to remain enrolled within the school district while distance learning at home. Students enrolled in the virtual learning program option will still be held accountable for coursework completion and online attendance. Parents that are interested in enrolling their students in the Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) will need to fill out an application that will be released this Friday, July 17th. This will be found on the school website or can be picked-up at the central office. Applications are due Thursday, July, 23rd by 3:00pm. Application does not guarantee acceptance into the VIP. Registration Day: Registration Day will be Wednesday, August 5th between 8:00am-9:00am. Buses will not run on this day. ONLY new incoming students that were not enrolled in the district last year need to attend with a parent/guardian. Students who were enrolled in the district last year DO NOT need to attend. Pre-K and Kindergarten students that pre-registered by phone or online DO NOT need to attend. Pre-K and Kindergarten students will receive a card in the mail explaining their “phase-in” days around the last week of July. If you are a middle or high school student and would like to pick up your schedule you may come through the schedule pick-up line at the auxiliary gym on Registration Day between 8:00am-9:00am. All families and students are also welcome to check their Skyward accounts on or after that day to view their schedule. We will follow the original approved school calendar for this year. The first full day of school will be as originally scheduled on Friday, August, 7th, 2020. Additional information will be forthcoming.

REMINDER - VAN BUREN COUNTY SCHOOLS - FALL 2020 REOPENING COMMUNITY SURVEY: The survey is still open. Please take the time to voice your opinion on our school system's reopening this fall. This survey is open to all community members, parents/guardians, students, and employees to participate in. We would greatly appreciate your feedback as we try to make preparations for these uncertain times. We hope you are enjoying your summer break and we hope we can all be together again soon! Survey Link: https://forms.gle/hUDCSMWaihNgWNFY6

VAN BUREN COUNTY SCHOOLS - FALL 2020 REOPENING COMMUNITY SURVEY: All Van Buren County Schools stakeholders, Please take the time to complete a brief survey regarding your opinion on our school system's reopening this fall. This survey is open to all community members, parents/guardians, students, and employees to participate in. We would greatly appreciate your feedback as we try to make preparations for these uncertain times. We hope you are enjoying your summer break and we hope we can all be together again soon! Survey Link: https://forms.gle/hUDCSMWaihNgWNFY6

Tennessee families are now eligible to receive financial support for their children’s nutritional needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This support is provided through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Under the new P-EBT program, families of children who receive free or reduced meals at school or attend a Community Eligibility Provision school may receive financial assistance to replace school meals during the months of March, April and May due to COVID-19 school closures. The program will provide parents with $5.70 per child for each day that child qualifies for P-EBT. Parents who already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits currently, do not need to apply. The funds began arriving on the EBT card they already use beginning June 12. Parents who do not receive SNAP benefits, but whose children do qualify for free or reduced school meals, will need to apply for P-EBT online here beginning June 15. The application period will end June 29, 2020. Both Van Buren County Schools are Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which means every child that attends Van Buren County Schools is eleigible to recieve these benefits. To apply click on the following link: https://tdhs.service-now.com/relief?id=relief_registration For more information from the state press release follow this link: https://5il.co/hcb6

Van Buren County Schools weekend graduation ceremonies will be aired live on BLTV, and live-streamed on the Ben Lomand Connect and Van Buren County Schools Facebook pages tomorrow. -Van Buren County kindergarten graduation will air LIVE at 3:00 on Saturday, June 6th on BLTV Channel 6/306. -Van Buren County High School graduation will air LIVE at 6:00 pm June 6th on BLTV Channel 6/306.

GRADUATION INFORMATION for JUNE 6, 2020 Attention Juniors, Seniors, and Parents: Senior Graduation is to take place on Saturday, June 6 @ 6:00 P.M. If there is a weather issue, graduation will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 7 @ 5:00 P.M. All juniors must wear dress/church attire. No blue jeans or work boots are allowed. There will not be a rehearsal for students. Guests and parents will enter thru the gate by the preschool. Staff members will be located at designated spots to direct guests and parents where to walk. Juniors and Seniors must arrive by 5:00 pm. All juniors and seniors will park at the auxiliary gym. To help with parking, traffic will enter from the square. Parking in the front of the school will be reserved for handicap parking. Due to limited parking, it is recommended that juniors and seniors should carpool with their guests. Reminder that juniors are allowed 2 guests and seniors are allowed 4 guests. Once juniors and seniors park, they must come to the front entrance of the high school. A staff member will escort them to the designated location where juniors and seniors will line up. Guests will not be allowed to congregate at the front entrance with juniors or seniors. All family members must enter at the same time for their designated spot. Guests must wear masks and temperatures will be checked. Guests please bring your own mask. If you do not have a mask one will be provided. Due to Covid-19 regulations we will allow guests to start entering at 4:30 P.M. NO canopies will be allowed. Guests will be allowed to bring their own chair. Once the graduation ceremony concludes, please exit as quickly and safely as possible. Pictures may be made once you leave. Thank you in advance to all our students, parents, and guests for helping us to make our graduation ceremony of 2020 a safe and successful endeavor.

SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM: The summer feeding program will begin on Monday, June 1st and run through Thursday, June 25th. Pick-up will only be available Mondays-Thursdays between 9:30am-10:30am. Pick-up will not be available on Fridays. This program is open for all children 18 years of age and under. Food pick-up locations are: High School Front Entrance Cedar Grove Fire Dept. Mooneyham Church of God Piney Fire Dept. Billingsley Street Greenbriar

From the Van Buren Co. High School Alumni Association: Each year the Van Buren County High School Alumni Association gives a $1000 scholarship to a high school senior at VBHS. This scholarship fund was started by Mevolyn Delong Haston, Vida Pearl Hillis Parker, Anna Pearl Dodson McNeal, and Ealon Martin. The alumni association traditionally meets the first Saturday in May for a dinner, auction, and the accepting of donations to support the scholarship. Due to the COVID-19 we were unable to meet this year. This lack of annual meeting means a decline in the number of donations that were received. We wish to continue to provide the scholarship and are asking for donations to help support the scholarship fund. If you wish to donate to this scholarship, you may send your donations to VBCHS Alumni Association Fund, ℅ Citizens Tri-County Bank, 489 Spring St., Spencer, TN 38585

To any girl that will be in grades 5-8 for the 2020-2021 school year that is interested in trying out for middle school softball please text coach Leshuana Woolard via text at 931-239-5724. Coach Woolard will contact everyone regarding try out dates and times.

Second Harvest Food Bank has brought a delivery of food that will be available for pick up behind the high school tomorrow, Friday, May 22, from 9-11 am. The food will be available on a first-come first-served basis until it’s all gone.

This is a reminder about tomorrow’s pick-up for student report cards: Report cards can be picked up from each school between 3:00pm-6:00pm tomorrow, May 19th. If you are just picking up your student’s report card then stay in your car and a staff member will assist you. If you have not returned school items (textbooks, uniforms, etc.) you will need to do so tomorrow night. You may also pick-up your student’s belongings if you have not done so. If you need to pay fees you will need to park your vehicle and go to the front door of the school building. Staff will assist you there. AR rewards can be picked up in the building – a separate call will go out for those recipients. Also, the summer feeding program will begin in June for pick-up only locations. More information will be shared at a later date.

SENIOR CELEBRATION PARADE - Good afternoon Van Buren County Families. This message is to let you know about a parade for our senior class. On May 15, 2020 There will be a parade honoring our 2020 Graduates. This parade will take place at 7pm starting on HWY 111 at Spencer Funeral Home and ending at the HWY 30 OVERPASS. Please make a sign and come out and support our class on the original graduation date. Cars will be allowed to park on the sides of HWY 111 during the parade. You may stand outside your car at parade time but please be aware that we will continue to practice social distancing and congregating will not be allowed. Please remain beside YOUR vehicle at all times. Please come out and support and celebrate our graduating seniors.