Additional, more specific information about arrivals and dismissals will be provided at the school level. Please ensure your contact information at the school is up to date.

Arrival

Follow any arrival processes that have been established at your child’s school.

Dismissal

Information regarding dismissals is specific to each school. Contact your respective school for additional details.

Late Arrival/Early Departure

Check in at the front desk for late arrivals/early departures. Follow any additional procedures that your child’s school has established.

High school athletics are governed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA). The NCHSAA has announced that there will not be any statewide pandemic-related restrictions this year. However, the organization has published a list of best practices but they won’t be required or enforced by NCHSAA.

Middle school athletics are governed by the NC Department of Public Instruction.

• 2021-2022 Student Academic - English

• 2021-2022 Student Academic - Spanish

• 2021-2022 Chatham Center for Innovation - English

• 2021-2022 Chatham Center for Innovation - Spanish

At their August 5, 2021 meeting, the Board of Education made the following decisions:

• schools will operate on an in-person, 5-days a week schedule for the 2021-2022 academic year;

• require universal masking for all students and staff in grades PreK-12, on all campuses;

• extend the enrollment period for virtual academies at Bennett School (K-8) and Chatham Central High School (9-12) through August 8, 2021;

• direct staff to continue working with the Chatham County Public Health Department to publicize and offer vaccination clinics for any unvaccinated persons (ages 12 years old and up).

CCS, in collaboration with the Chatham County Public Health Department and Safelle, Inc. (our custodial supplies provider), has developed a Cleaning and Disinfecting Plan that aligns with state requirements. Each school has been equipped with the supplies needed to support healthy hygiene (e.g., hand sanitizer, soap, paper towels, and disinfecting products).

Key components of the plan include:

• Daily plan - everyday cleaning and disinfecting of common touch surfaces in areas outside of classrooms.

• School bus plan - covers the daily cleaning and disinfecting of school buses performed by bus supervisors, bus drivers, and/or bus monitors.

• Classroom plan - addresses what teachers, instructional assistants and students will do to keep classrooms appropriately disinfected during the academic day.

• Evening plan - outlines tasks that custodial staff will perform once students and other staff leave for the academic day to prepare the building for the next academic day.

• Departure of symptomatic students (or adults) - disinfecting when a symptomatic individual has to leave campus.

• Confirmed positive cases plan - protocols for both before and after a member of the school community tests positive for COVID-19.
  

Some other steps include:

• Teaching and reinforcing correct handwashing techniques and encouraging everyone to cough and sneeze into their elbows or cover with a tissue;

• Increasing monitoring to ensure adherence among students and adults;

• Ensuring that all food service items are disposable or are minimally handled or washed for non-disposable items.
  

Adjustments to the plan will be made as directed or advised by local and state public health officials and/or our custodial supplies provider.

CCS has multiple ways of communicating with stakeholders, including the school system’s website and mass notification system (phone calls and emails). If your contact information has changed, please update your profile by reaching out to the data manager at your respective school. The school system also communicates through social media on Facebook and Twitter. The district’s COVID-19 page has a wealth of useful information, too.

• CCS homepage

• CCS COVID-19 page

• CCS Facebook page

• CCS Twitter feed

CCS understands that schools play an important role in helping students cope with their emotions and building student resilience to support the well-being of our school community. To address coping and resilience needs, all schools have received professional development on how to include specific lesson plans in daily instruction that address the 3 Signature Social-Emotional Practices:

1. Welcoming Activities

2. Engaging Activities

3. Optimistic Closure Activities

Additionally, all elementary schools use a published Social-Emotional Learning curriculum, Second Step. Second Step provides instruction in social and emotional learning with units on skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills, and problem solving. All elementary and middle schools use the DESSA (Devereux Student Strengths Assessment) to help determine the social and emotional strengths and needs of each student. Assessing student needs, providing instruction, creating defined behavior expectations and explicitly teaching procedures for a safe return to school are at the center of building coping and resiliency skills. Hence, all schools will outline and teach clear expectations about a safe and healthy return to school during these unprecedented times.

Hope4NC Helpline

Another self-care resource you may find valuable is the Hope4NC Helpline (855-587-3463). It connects North Carolinians to mental health and resilience supports that help them cope and build resilience during times of crisis. It is available to everyone in North Carolina’s 100 counties during the COVID-19 crisis. Hope4NC includes a Crisis Counseling Program tailored for COVID-19, which will provide immediate crisis counseling services to individuals affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Those using this service are able to speak with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CCS will use digital document delivery for sending progress reports and report cards. Please contact your school's data manager to update your email address, if needed. Information from the CCS’ Policy Manual regarding attendance and report cards can be found using the following links:

• Policy Code: 4400 Attendance

• Regulation Code: 4400-R Attendance Regulation

• Chatham County Schools Report Card Schedule 2021-2022

• Teachers and staff will monitor and discourage congregating of students during arrival/dismissal, in the hallways and restrooms.

• Hand sanitizer is provided at all entry points and throughout the building.

For additional information please reference the “Back to School Parent Toolkit” and the Academic Services and Instructional Support website.

Virtual Academy

Virtual Academy FAQs

CCS offers a fully remote option for families who do not wish to return to face-to-face instruction. Student enrollment in CCSVA is at no cost to families and requires a semester-long commitment. You can find out more information about the CCS Virtual Academy on the CCSVA Frequently Asked Questions document. The enrollment for CCS Virtual Academy for the first semester is closed. Enrollment for the second semester will open in September, with a November 12, 2021 application deadline.

All students enrolled in in-person classes for the 2021-2022 school year may eat for free at school for both breakfast and lunch. Click here to visit our School Nutrition website for up-to-date information on our meal services and menu.

At this time, PreK staff will interact daily through in-person learning.

All licensed CCS PreK classrooms are required to follow the state health guidelines as well as the NCPreK guidelines for reopening.

• NC Interim Guidance for Child Care Settings

• Interim Guidance for reopening Policies for NCPreK Programs

CCS COVID-19 Positive Cases Tracker

Quarantine

Symptomatic students should be tested for COVID. A person who has symptoms of COVID and has received a negative test for COVID, may return to school IF the negative test was either (1) a negative PCR/Molecular test or (2) a negative antigen test AND and the person has a low likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection (ie., the person has no known or suspected exposure to a person with COVID within the last 14 days or is fully vaccinated or has had a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 3 months) If they do not get tested, they will need to be out for 10 days.

Unvaccinated students without a properly fitting mask who have been within 6 ft of a person who is positive with COVID for more than 15 minutes should be quarantined for 10 days from their last exposure.

Students who are positive with COVID can return after 10 days from the date of their test.

Vaccinated students do not need to quarantine if exposed, but they do need to have a COVID test if they are symptomatic.

Chatham County Schools (CCS)

• CCS COVID-19 Positive Cases Tracker

• FAQs Virtual Academy

• Calendars

  • 2021-2022 Student Academic (English | Spanish)

  • 2021-2022 Chatham Center for Innovation (English | Spanish)

• Meals

Chatham County, North Carolina

• Public Health Department Website

• COVID-19 Information (English | Spanish)

• COVID-19 Vaccine

NC Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS)

• Latest Updates

• North Carolina COVID-19

• StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)

• StrongSchools NC Public Health Toolkit (K-12) Frequently Asked Questions

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Considerations for Schools

• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility

• Coping with Stress

Social distancing is a measure intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining a physical distance between yourself and other people outside of your home and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.

CCS will implement the following:

• Have teachers and staff monitor and discourage congregating of students during arrival/dismissal, in the hallways or restrooms;

• Minimize opportunities for sustained exposure (15 minutes or more within 6 feet distance) between students, staff, and essential visitors at all times;
  

Face Coverings/Masks

CCS is following guidance from the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit (K-12). This strongly advises all students from kindergarten through 12th grade and all teachers, staff, and adult visitors to wear face coverings. Exceptions for face coverings can be requested for a medical or behavioral condition that interferes with the ability to wear a face covering, Exemptions will need to be requested by completing a student face covering/mask exemption form and returning it to your child’s school. (Forms can be requested at your child’s school). CCS also has a supply of disposable masks for each campus should students, staff, or visitors forget one. State officials provided five washable face masks for each student and employee, which are one-size-fits-all.

Face Shields

If face shields are worn, a mask must also be worn.

COVID-19 Suspected Health & Safety Violations Reporting Form

Ensuring that everyone adheres to the established health and safety requirements is a team effort. As such, please contact your student's principal or assistant principal or use the following form to report suspected violations. This reporting form is also linked on each individual school website and the CCS homepage. The appropriate administrator will gather additional information and take any appropriate action.

Students who have symptoms of COVID-19, should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care. Staying home when sick is essential to keep infections out of schools and prevent spread to others.

For students with chronic conditions, symptom presence should represent a change from their typical health status to warrant exclusion from school. Occurrence of any of the symptoms below while a student is at school suggests the person may be referred for diagnostic COVID-19 testing or evaluation.

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

CCS’ Technology Services team provides technology access for students in the district.

• Request for a student Chromebook: English | Spanish

• Request for a hotspot for the family or household: English | Spanish
  

Guest WiFi is available at designated areas on school campuses. Signs have been posted to direct visitors to the appropriate locations. PDF maps of these school locations and other WiFi access points in the county are available.

Additional resources for various digital platforms as well as general technology tips to assist families can be found here.

Students in need of technical assistance should work with their teacher(s) for support. Teachers may be able to quickly resolve issues, especially with digital tools or student access or submit Web Help Desk requests to connect with the CCS Tech Team. If students need further technical support, families may call the District Technical Support Line on school days from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at (919) 642-5613.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to provide transportation to and from school for their student(s) to the extent possible. However, please know that health and safety measures will be implemented on all buses to help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. These measures are consistent with the current North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services requirements for public school districts.

• Face coverings/masks are required for all students and adults on buses and other transportation vehicles, except in limited exceptions stipulated by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

• Buses will be cleaned and disinfected daily after morning and afternoon routes.

• Hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) will be provided to all students as requested.

• The following additional strategies will be used to support contact tracing, timely service, and general health and well-being:

• Transportation will only be for students who have submitted the required form to his or her school.

• Students will only be allowed to ride the bus to which they are assigned.

• Parents/guardians are required to accompany PreK-3rd grade students at bus stops and should model and promote social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.

If you need additional bus-related information, contact your respective school.

In keeping with local and state guidance, maintenance staff has assessed water and ventilation systems to ensure safe and efficient functionality. Filters are continuing to be changed per manufacturer recommendations. Water bottle filling stations have been installed along with plexiglass buffers at reception areas and cafeteria registers. The bottle filling stations feature hands-free sensor activation for providing users with a sanitary, touchless solution.