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Local News for June 10, 2020 at noon
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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools
2020-2021 Vance County Schools Calendars Approved
Vance County Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the 2020-2021 calendars, reflecting the current requirements, as passed by the general assembly, including five remote learning days.
The early start calendar will begin for students on July 31, 2020, and end on May 21, 2021.
The year-round calendar will begin for students on July 31, 2020, and end on June 11, 2021.
Traditional calendars will start for students on August 17, 2020, and end on June 2, 2021.
The total number of days in the calendar is the same length as previous years, just allocated to include the remote learning days. Check out the VCS website (click here) to view the calendars in more detail.
Vance Virtual Village Academy
Vance County Schools wants to ensure that there is a place for every student to learn. As discussion of the 2020-2021 school year begins, the uncertainties for many families remain.
VCS has applied for a new LEA code through the NC Department of Public Instruction for Vance Virtual Village Academy (V3). This school is designed for grades K-12 and will be a fully remote option for those families that feel this is the best option for their child. The school is designed as a place “WHERE WE VALUE connectedness, engagement,
and equity.”
V3 will offer a variety of activities that serve all types of learning styles. The premise is that all teachers will need to consider Universal Design for Learning (UDL) when planning both their synchronous and asynchronous instruction, working to increase access to learning by reducing physical, cognitive, intellectual, and organizational barriers to
learning whenever possible.
At this time, VCS awaits approval from the state to move forward with V3.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Maria Parham Health
Maria Parham Health announced yesterday that it is transitioning from a zero-visitor protocol to limited visitor restrictions as the hospital gradually resumes elective and non-urgent cases and services at its facilities.
The decision was made as current projections continue to indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the region and after careful review of state and federal guidance. The updated restrictions, which will now allow most patients to have one visitor or support person per day, have been implemented effective immediately.
“Our hospital’s top priority is safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our patients, providers, employees and community,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer (CEO) of Maria Parham Health. “We continue to monitor closely the prevalence of the virus in our community as we adapt our operations to safely care for and support our patients, and we feel confident that it is safe to begin allowing limited visitors again at this time.”
As part of the updated visitor restrictions, patients are now limited to one well visitor per day, including one companion for outpatient appointments and one support person for obstetric patients. All visitors must be 18 years of age or older, will be screened upon entry and are required to wear a mask and an armband/sticker while in the facility.
Visitors who do not pass the screening at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit until they are symptom-free. Visitors are not allowed for high-risk, isolation, immunocompromised or patients who are under observation or test positive for COVID-19.
Maria Parham Health continues to screen everyone who enters the facility for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, per CDC guidelines. For additional updates on how the hospital is working to maintain a safe and supportive environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit mariaparham.com.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Office of NC Governor Roy Cooper
To hear further discussion on this press release, please go to WIZS.com and click on today’s Town Talk.
New health guidelines released Monday represent a first step to help North Carolina K-12 public schools find a safe way to open to in-person instruction for the 2020-21 academic year, health and education leaders announced Monday.
The StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12) lays out a comprehensive set of baseline health practices that public schools should follow to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for students, staff, and families. In addition to specific requirements, the Toolkit recommends practices that schools should implement to minimize the spread of COVID-19 while allowing in-person teaching to resume.
Governor Roy Cooper, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson, State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis, and NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen shared the guidance Monday.
“Getting children back to school to learn is a high priority, but they must be able to do so in the safest way possible,” said Governor Cooper. “Every child, family and public school educator in North Carolina deserve strong protection to lower the risk of virus spread.”
Schools are asked to plan for reopening under three scenarios – Plan A: Minimal Social Distancing, Plan B: Moderate Social Distancing, or Plan C: Remote Learning Only. NCDHHS, in consultation with the State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction, will announce by July 1 which of the three plans should be implemented for schools to most safely reopen. The remaining plans may be needed if the state’s COVID-19 metrics change over time.
“Opening schools will be possible if we keep working together to slow the spread of COVID-19. We will each need to do our part and practice the 3 Ws – Wear a cloth face covering. Wait six feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. These easy actions will have an outsized impact in keeping viral spread low in order to help get our children back to school,” said Cohen.
The Public Health Toolkit was developed collaboratively by DHHS and DPI with input from a range of stakeholders across the state, including local superintendents, State Board of Education members, the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council, and members of the Governor’s COVID-19 Education and Nutrition Working Group.
“We are working together to balance the need for all of our children to get back to school – especially children who rely on public schools for their education, health, safety and nutrition – while at the same time proceeding cautiously and deliberately to protect their health and safety,” said Chairman Davis. “I know meeting these public health requirements will take a tremendous effort by our schools – but I also know we are doing the right thing and that our schools will rise to the challenge.”
The StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit will be a companion to operational guidance under development by DPI that will offer strategies for how to implement the public health guidance and cover other non-health areas for reopening planning, including scheduling, instructional practice, and staff training.
“Today, North Carolinians have the important first step of returning to schools in the fall with this release of the final health guidance for schools from the NC Department of Health and Human Services,” Superintendent Johnson said. “In addition, the North Carolina education agency has already been leading workgroups, comprised of diverse stakeholders from teachers to school staff to superintendents to other support professionals, to create draft operational strategies that will help our school systems prepare for the fall. We will now seek feedback on the draft operational strategies from other stakeholders across the state to ensure that we best capture the needs of all our schools.”
The StrongSchoolsNC Public Heath Toolkit (K-12) was developed using the most current CDC guidance for schools and includes requirements and recommendations for eight areas: Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure; Cloth Face Coverings; Protecting Vulnerable Populations; Cleaning and Hygiene; Monitoring for Symptoms; Handling Suspected, Presumptive or Confirmed Positive Cases of COVID-19; Communication and Combating Misinformation; Water and Ventilation Systems; Transportation; and Coping and Resilience.
For example, it requires students and others to be screened for illness before entering school and requires floor markings to maintain social distance. It also includes sample screening symptom checklists in English and Spanish, a flow chart protocol for handling suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, and a checklist of infection control supplies schools may need. The Toolkit will be updated as new health guidance is released by the CDC and additional resources are added.
Questions about the StrongSchoolsNC Public Heath Toolkit (K-12) should be directed to StrongSchoolsNC@dhhs.nc.gov (in English or in Spanish).
Local News on WIZS – Your Community Voice
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At noon on June 9, 2020:
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-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County Schools has been named a 2020 District of Distinction by the National Beta Club. This honor was granted to only two districts in the state of North Carolina and awarded for offering the academic recognition membership to all students in all eligible schools within the district.
This national award recognizes commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and service involvement throughout every school in our district, in an ongoing mission to prepare our students for their future. The students exemplify these characteristics and qualities and stand true to the Beta motto: “Let Us Lead by Serving Others.” By cultivating service and leadership, we know we are preparing our students for tomorrow.
Beta Club advisers in our schools play a major role in the success of the program and recognition of eligible students. Those advisers include:
In addition to the district recognition, every school in our district has been recognized as a National Beta School of Merit, honoring the club’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence. Each school has members from all eligible grade levels in their individual Beta Clubs.
Vance County Schools had eight schools awarded National Beta Schools of Distinction, for increasing membership by 10%. Growth is evaluated based on student membership from the previous year. Recognized as Schools of Distinction include New Hope Elementary, Pinkston Street Elementary, Clarke Elementary, E.M. Rollins Elementary, E.O. Young Elementary, Aycock Elementary, STEM Early High and Vance County Early College.
With more than 500,000 active members and 8,750 chapters nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest non-profit, educational youth organization. National Junior Beta Club includes grades 4-8 and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12, with both recognizing outstanding achievement, promoting character and social responsibility, encouraging service involvement to school and community as well as fostering leadership skills.
Vance County Schools is proud to be recognized as a Beta Club District of Distinction and for all of our schools being designated as Schools of Merit. We are extremely proud of our Schools of Distinction and excited about Beta Club continuing to make an impact in our schools, within our community and for our students.
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WIZS, Henderson – Your Community Voice
Henderson City Council meets tonight.
NCHSAA relaxes, but does not lift restrictions on high school sports as of June 15.
Latest COVID 19 statistics.
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-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope, Inc.
If you want to help the community, please consider joining a group that has been making disposable protective gowns for hospital and nursing home workers. This project was started by First Baptist Church in Henderson, and the work was done at McGregor Hall for a number of weeks.
The project has now moved to First Presbyterian Church, and we can use volunteers to create gowns from plastic sheeting to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19.
Work for the week of June 8 – 12 will be done from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday – Friday and also 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. The work is not difficult and someone can train you quickly.
All volunteers 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All volunteers will be screened upon arrival and must have a temperature below 100, no symptoms, and no known exposure to COVID-19 (including no known exposure by anyone in their household). Please bring a mask and scissors with you.
If you would like to help, please sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A44ADAC2BA1FD0-protective1
The church is located at 222 Young Street – entrance at the corner of Chestnut and Young Streets in downtown Henderson. Please park on Young Street (most handicapped spaces are for Sunday only) or across the street in the parking lot at the Boy Scout building. Please enter using the door from the courtyard to the right of the fellowship hall.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane King at janeking1@gmail.com or call 252-432-9494.
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Please be informed of the following scheduled Vance County committee meetings. All meetings will be held in the Commissioners’ Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.
Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Taylor)
Monday, June 8, 2020, at 3 p.m.
Second Public Safety Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 3 p.m.
Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)
Monday, June 29, 2020, at 3 p.m.
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-Information courtesy Vance County Board of Elections
Filing for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor starts Monday, June 8, 2020, at 12 p.m. and ends on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 12 p.m.
The filing fee is $5. The Vance County Board of Elections office will not be closed for lunch during the filing period.
Anyone interested in filing should call the Vance County Board of Elections office at (252) 492-3730. If you would like to make an appointment before coming to file, you may do so.
You will be required to wear a mask and have your temperature taken before entering into the Board of Elections office.
One person is allowed in the director’s office and the deputy director’s office at a time. A waiting area is available in the hall. Anyone that visits the office should practice social distancing.
