DCSS announces plans for COVID-19 closure
Published 4:16 pm Friday, March 27, 2020
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With the governor closing schools statewide for the remainder of the year, the Demopolis City School System has released the following updates:
Facilities: Schools will be closed until further and school board employees will not have face-to-face interaction until further notice.
Student Feeding Program: The program will not be available the week of scheduled spring break, March 30-April 3. Beginning April 6, the services will continue at Westside and U.S. Jones elementary schools, Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “We will continue this service until we feel it becomes a danger to our employees.”
Class of 2020: Students, who will be identified by the school system, who need fourth quarter credit to graduate will be contacted. They will receive a computer and hotspot when available. These students will be contacted by the high school and will take needed course work via ACESS or some other form of state-provided method of online delivery.
Senior who were on track to graduate without the assistance of fourth quarter credit will be issued a diploma, except for those taking AP courses and dual enrollment.
A graduation ceremony will be planned when the Center for Disease Control says it is safe to host a gathering of people. Officials said it will not be before June 5, most likely in July.
School Athletics: All school athletics are canceled this spring (not postponed) as there will be no gathering of students prior to June 5, per CDC guidelines.
Academics: Kindergarten through eighth grade Critical Standards will be covered between April 13 and May 15. Online lessons on those standards will be available from each school using Google Classroom. For those without internet access, paper packets on those identified standards will be available to be picked up at each school. A “pacing guide” will be provided and only the identified critical standards will be covered.
In grades kindergarten through fifth, there will be one Google Classroom per grade-level, per subject.
Grades 9-12 course standards will be identified and those that were not covered prior to school closing will be covered between April 13 and May 15. Online lessons on those lessons will be available using Google Classroom. For those without internet access, paper packets on those identified standards will be available at the high school. A pacing guide will be provided.
Links will also be posted for free ACT Prep resources enrichment.
Dual enrollment and AP courses will be web-based and those student have been contacted by the staff.
All paper packets will be available for pick-up from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each school on April 9-10. Pick-up will be a “grab and go” and visitors are not to exit their vehicles.
At a minimum, teachers will be available via email Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teachers will set virtual office hours to support students which will be announced at each school.
Grades: Students in jeopardy of failing will be contacted by each school. For those students, completed packets and/or Google Classroom forms will be used in determining if students are promoted to the next grade-level. In order to ensure that students are prepared for the next grade-level or subject, it is imperative that these assignments/packets are completed.
Additional Support: Parents can email questions@dcsedu.com with any questions or for more information.
Social Distancing: Continue to practice good hygiene habits, avoid gatherings, and stay home if you can.