LEAPS After-School Applications Due Tomorrow, September 2! Please remember students must be registered to attend because there are a limited number of students who can participate at each grade level!
The LEAPS After-School Guidelines Letter and Application is being sent home with students today! There are new guidelines which have been set forth in order to help us keep students healthy in the after-school program. There are limited spots available, and students MUST have an application on file and be registered for the days which they will attend. Please be sure to read the new guidelines and to return the application by Wednesday, Sept. 2, if you would like for your child(ren) to participate. Applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis, and parents will be notified to let them know if their child has a spot. A waiting list will be created if there are more applications than we have spots available. The LEAPS After-School Program is scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 8, from 3:00-5:00 P.M.
Parents: Please be sure to check on your child's health before school each day. Remember, now more than ever, your child should not attend school, if he or she: has high risk COVID symptoms (new cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, or a fever of 100.4 or higher), is vomiting or has diarrhea
Parents should also watch for low risk COVID symptoms (congestion, runny nose, nausea, sore throat, headache, or body aches). If these symptoms are not normal for your child due to allergies or other health conditions, it is recommended that you do not send your child to school until they are symptom free for at least 24 hours.
EARLY BIRD PRESCHOOL HAS OPENINGS!
Online registration is still open for Van Buren County Schools - Early Bird Preschool Voluntary Pre-K programs. It is not too late to register your child. Visit our school website at www.vanburenschools.org to register online. Click on the "Menu" tab and click the "Pre-K & Kindergarten Online Registration" links.
Please refer to our school website for COVID-19 questions concerning symptoms, positive test results, isolations, and quarantines for students and employees. Our school website address is vanburenschools.org.
In an effort to reduce traffic congestion in front of our schools, we ask all parents that are dropping off their students to enter the schools from Sparta Street by the bus garage. You will be required to exit the schools going south toward the square. If you have elementary, middle, and high school students, please drop off the middle/high school students first. Student drivers need to follow this also. We ask for your patience as we work out our traffic situation. Thank you!!
Information regarding P-EBT Food Assistance can be found by going to the Van Buren County Schools website or by following this link: https://5il.co/jct2 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. The application period will end on August 14, 2020 at 4:30pm CT. (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 as Partners Tip #4 can be found by going to the Van Buren County Schools website or by following this link: https://5il.co/j56n
This a reminder that registration is tomorrow but for NEW students only. Students can pick up their schedule tomorrow at 8 am at the auxiliary gym. Buses will not run tomorrow.
Students that plan on riding the bus need to listen closely to this next part. This will take effect Friday, August 7. Before students board the bus, a staff member will step off the bus to check the students’ temperatures. A parent or responsible adult needs to be present at the bus stop until their children have their temperatures checked and cleared to board the bus. If a child has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, then that child is required to stay home. Someone from the school will the child’s family as to when the child can return to school. Siblings will be required to sit together whenever possible. Buses will be disinfected daily.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Please be patient with us as we try to make returning and staying in school possible.
This weekend is a great time to pick up back to school supplies. The Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, July 31 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 2 at 11:59 p.m. Clothing, school supplies, and art supplies with sales price of $200 or less and electronic devices, including but not limited to, computers and TVs, with sales price of $3,000 or less are all sales tax free this weekend!
Parents as Partners Tip #3 can be found by going to the Van Buren County Schools website or by following this link: https://5il.co/inc0
Remember to drive thru to pick up your FREE backpack and school supplies at this year's BAM event! It's tomorrow, Saturday, July 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at White County High School. Children receiving items must be present with an adult with a valid driver's license.
Remember to drive thru the BAM Backpack & Supply Giveaway on Saturday, July 24, at 9 a.m. at the White County High School for White and Van Buren County students! Each child receiving items must be present with an adult with a valid driver's license.
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.