EAMS Student Services

Welcome All!

Welcome to the East Alexander Student Services page. We have designed this site to help students and families during the distance learning time that North Carolina is experiencing. We hope to provide updated information and mental health support during this uncharted learning experience.

Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Calhoun, Mrs. Starnes and Ms. Jones

Student Service Workers are available during the hours of 8 am to 3:30 p.m. Please email or fill out the google form below and an appointment will be scheduled for you.

To request a conference with the School Counselor, or School Nurse please click on the associated link. If you need to speak with the School Social Worker, her immediate contact information is listed below.

Jaimi Jones, Certified School Social Worker is available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm

Work Cell: 828-502-3065 (text is fine) or email at jjones@alexander.k12.nc.us

School Social Worker Helpful Information

Food Assistance *Please note that some of these hours may change based upon need

Christian Crisis Center ~ 215 5th Ave SW, Taylorsville, NC ~ 828.632.0022 ~ Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church ~ 9379 NC Hwy 127, Hickory,

NC (Alexander Co.)~ 828.495.8251 ~ Monday 3-5 p.m., Friday 1-3 p.m.

Hiddenite Community Helpers ~ 45 Fire Dept Ln, Hiddenite, NC ~ 828.632.7456 or 828.320.5269 ~ Tuesdays & Thursdays 4-6 p.m.

They will be offering child friendly foods to families in need. This will be in addition to the monthly pickup that is allotted.

Mobile Cafe (serves free meals)

Monday-Friday ~ former First United Methodist Church campus

(across from Taylorsville Police Dept.) Bag Lunches from 11 a.m ~ 12 p.m.

Tuesday ~ Stony Point Christian Ministries ~ 12-1:00 p.m.

Wednesday ~ Christian Crisis Center ~ 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Thursday ~ Hiddenite Community Helpers ~ 4-5 p.m.

Free Student Meals

McDonald’s- 561 W Main Ave, Taylorsville, NC 28681

Providing select free lunches to children birth to age 12 on weekdays between the hours of 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Children must be with the parent/caretaker.

Schools- Any child birth to 18 will be eligible for a free meal on weekdays beginning Tuesday March 17th through Monday, March 30 (unless otherwise announced) between the hours of 10 am and 1 pm. The meal will be “grab-n-go” and people picking up are encouraged to only briefly remain at the pickup table. Note: parents are allowed to pick up and take home to their children. If you do not have transportation, contact your closest school and request delivery. The participating schools are listed below:

• Alexander Central High School

• East Alexander Middle School

• West Alexander Middle School

• Taylorsville Elementary School

• Wittenburg Elementary School

• Hiddenite Elementary School

• Stony Point Elementary School

Other Household and Financial Benefits during the Declaration of the State of Emergency

Duke Power- Duke Energy will not disconnect any customer’s service for non-payment, in order to give customers experiencing financial hardship extra time to make payments. The company will continue to read meters and send bills. Customers should pay what they can to avoid building up a large balance that will be harder to pay off later. There is currently no ending date set for this, customers will be alerted "in ample time" before disconnects begin again.

Energy United-States that they understand that the coronavirus pandemic may pose a financial burden to many families in our communities, therefore they will not be disconnecting service to any of their electric members or propane customers due to non-payment through the end of March. At this time, they will reevaluate the situation and determine if this suspension should be continued.

Evictions and Foreclosures-NC courts have announced, as of March 16th, a 30-day halt on foreclosure and eviction hearings. This means that if an eviction is served, your court date will not be scheduled until April 17th at the earliest, and you have the right to stay in that home until the time of your court date. Once your case is heard, you have 10 days to appeal the decision. This matter is subject to change depending on whether courts are allowed to resume normal functions on April 17th.

Unemployment Benefits- In the same March 17th Executive Order that closed/limited restaurants, the State of North Carolina has also expanded the access to unemployment benefits:

"The Department of Commerce... is directed to ensure that individuals who, as a result of COVID-19, are separated from employment, have had their hours of employment reduced, or are prevented from working due to a medical condition [quarantine or isolation directives] caused by COVID-19 or due to communicable disease control measures, shall be eligible for unemployment benefits to the maximum extent permitted by federal Law"

For the time period that NC is under a Declaration of a State of Emergency regarding COVID-19, The following requirements have been waived, as appropriate:

• the one-week waiting period for benefits

• the able to work and available to work requirements

• the work search requirements

• the actively seeking work requirements

• the "lack of work" requirement of the unemployed provisions of NC

You may begin your Unemployment Application online Here. Note, the website and call center are experiencing higher than normal call volumes, do not be discouraged, they are processing as quickly as possible, and are currently reporting that once approved, they are aiming for recipients to begin receiving checks within 2 weeks.

Need to connect to the internet? Please refer to the following list:

ACHS: available in front parking area of auditorium and cafeteria ( Teacher Parking Lot)

AEC: available in the front parking area

BES: available in the parking area adjacent to the walking track

EAMS: available in the front parking lot of school (Building Entrance Area)

EES: available in the front parking lot area as well as parking near the baseball field

HES: available at both the front parking area and the rear parking area

SPES: available at both the front parking area and rear area where buses pick-up and drop-off

SLES: available in parking area closest to media location

TES: available in parking area closest to 4-5 pod (near entrance to softball field) as well as parking area adjacent to cafeteria

WAMS: available in parking area at back of building

WES: available in the front parking area of building

Please do not leave your vehicle and congregate while utilizing the wireless connection.

Student chromebooks will automatically connect with no interaction required.

The locations where devices not owned by the district can connect are as listed: Board of Education Office front parking lot, ROTC parking lot closest to building

Comcast is offering free WiFi for two months to low-income families. The company also opened its Xfinity WiFi “Free for Everyone,” which grants people access to their Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country.

Charter is offering two months of free internet for K-12 and/or college students who are not already subscribed to Spectrum broadband. The company is also opening its WiFi hotspots for the public. Installation fees are waived for new student households. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395.

AT&T is offering unlimited internet data for their consumer home internet wireline (which uses cables or data lines to connect service) and Fixed Wireless Internet customers. For low-income households, internet access is $10 a month. Additionally, universities, schools and business can connect through conference calls via Cisco Webex Meetings for three months free. Their WiFi hotspots are open to the public, as well.

Verizon is offering unlimited data for teleworking or remote learning through its home broadband plans. Wireless consumer and business customers’ unlimited plans include WiFi hotspot capabilities. Additionally, the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Connection website includes resources for students who are now working online. Check out resources from Verizon’s partner, Digital Promise.

Sprint is offering unlimited data to current customers, and, as of Tuesday, March 17, allowing all handsets to set up hotspots for two months with no additional charge. By Thursday, March 19, customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for two months at no additional charge, according to the company. Current customers will also receive an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for two months at no additional charge.

T-Mobile is currently working with customers on a case-by-case basis to manage account issues.

The Hope4NC Helpline 1-855-587-3463 connects North Carolinians to emotional support and help with coping strategies to stay resilient during times of crisis. Call Hope4NC day or night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; call responders are waiting to talk with you. Translators and 711/TTY are available. Find hope. Find help.

The Hope4Healers Helpline 919-226-2002 to access free confidential brief therapy for health care professionals, childcare providers, emergency services and first responders. Call Hope4Healers day or night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Translators and 711/TTY are available.