Media Releases 2019-2020

HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SEEKS PARENT INPUT VIA SURVEY REGARDING RETURNING TO SCHOOL DURING PANDEMIC

HAMILTON, GA (JUNE 18, 2020) – As the Harris County School District (HCSD) develops a reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, input from parents is being requested via a survey.

“As we devise plans to re-open, we would like as much parent survey participation as possible. We want to better understand what is most important to them to ensure that Harris County students continue to receive a great education,” said Roger Couch, HCSD superintendent.

Feedback is being collected through both online and paper submissions.

Through Friday, July 3, an online form is accessible at www.harris.k12.ga.us/btssurvey.

For those without online access, paper forms can be picked up and returned at the food distribution locations from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22; Wednesday, June 24; Friday, June 26; and Monday, June 29. The locations are:

• Park Elementary School in Hamilton (13185 US-27)
• Bethesda Baptist Church in Ellerslie (3830 GA Highway 85)
• Dollar General in Fortson (22 Kennon Road)
• Pine Lane Apartments in Pine Mountain (134 South Church Street)

Couch added, “This is our first organized step in gathering feedback from parents regarding sending their children to school during this time. We anticipate that this will be a multi-step process as plans are developed.”

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves nearly 5,700 students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga)

DONATION FROM THE SOUTHERN COMPANY AND GEORGIA POWER CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

HAMILTON, GA (JUNE 23, 2020) – The Computer Science Academy at Harris County High School (HCHS) recently received a generous donation from the Southern Company and Georgia Power providing interested students the opportunity to engage in a new Game Design course.

“Students will learn how to develop games using the Unity framework and C# scripting while working to earn industry certification as a Unity Certified Associate. Since the beginning of the computer science program three years ago, students have been begging for this opportunity,” said Stephen Childers, who currently serves in the Harris County School District Instructional Technology department and as a HCHS computer science teacher in the CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education) program. “This certification can be a student’s first step toward a career in gaming or a strong foundation for continuing education.”

On May 22, 2019, at the Southern Company Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Southern Company invited Harris County students to share their academic talents and then graciously provided a $10,000 donation to Harris County’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) program. The funds will be used to continue to grow the various STEM projects through the affiliated class instruction and club activities, such as this one.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia.  For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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Pictured (left to right): Stephen Childers, HCSD computer science teacher with HCHS students Rachel Benge and Jasiah Wilkins. This photo was taken during the Annual Meeting of Stockholders for Southern Company and Georgia Power.

About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves nearly 5,700 students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

FREE FOOD PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN EXTENDED THROUGH JULY

HAMILTON, GA (JUNE 23, 2020) – The Harris County School District (HCSD)’s Seamless Summer Feeding Program, managed through the School Nutrition Program (SNP), has been extended through July.

“Our original end date was Monday, June 29. Today, we are announcing that - while the program will pause June 30 through July 5 – the Summer Feeding Program will resume Monday, July 6, and will operate on the three days a week schedule through Friday, July 31,” said Shelia Baker, assistant superintendent of support services.

Any child age 18 and younger will be given meals at no cost. Meals will be served each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the following locations: 

• Park Elementary School in Hamilton (13185 US-27)
• Bethesda Baptist Church in Ellerslie (3830 GA Highway 85)
• Dollar General in Fortson (22 Kennon Road)
• Pine Lane Apartments in Pine Mountain (134 South Church Street).

Children can pick up meals at any of the four sites regardless of where they reside in the county. 

Each child will receive two breakfast and two lunch items on Monday and Wednesday and three breakfast and three lunch items.

Baker added, “We are so glad to be able to continue providing food for students three days a week through July.” At this time, school is expected to resume the previously set date of Friday, August 7.

Community agencies and churches can coordinate with the SNP staff to pick up meals from Park Elementary. To coordinate, contact Theresa Gainous at 706-628-5814. The contacts will need to be prepared to provide the number of children serving by 9 a.m. each serving day.

SSFP is a federally funded program that provides free meals to children ages 18 and younger during the summer when National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program meals are not available.

To receive additional information or to ask questions, contact Director of School Nutrition Shantal Strozier at 706-628-4172 or strozier-s@harris.k12.ga.us.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia.  For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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Note to Editor: Logo attached. Photos Available Upon Request

About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves nearly 5,400 students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

NEW ONLINE RESOURCES PREPARE KINDERGARTNERS FOR SCHOOL

HAMILTON, GA (JUNE 25, 2020) – Rising kindergarteners in Harris County now have online access to information to ensure they are prepared to begin their academic career. The Harris County School District (HCSD) has launched the Kindergarten Readiness Resources webpage.

“We are excited to launch this new page to share information that will help students and families understand some things they can do to prepare for kindergarten,” said Dr. Dave Dennie, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “While some students were able to attend Pre-K to experience going to school, kindergarten is really the start of their academic career. We want to support every student in being as best prepared as possible. Mamas and daddies, grandparents, and older siblings can help ensure they are ready with these skills – such as spelling their name and knowing their numbers.”

The new webpage address is www.harris.k12.ga.us/krr. It includes Georgia Department of Education checklists for academic subjects as well as a link to a video demonstrating the necessary skills created by HCSD kindergarten teachers.

For all kindergarten students in Georgia, during the first six weeks of the school year, the teacher will implement the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) Readiness Check. It is designed to measure entry-level readiness skills of kindergarteners. This is a time for teachers to help understand and meet your child’s individual needs in all areas of development. The GKIDS Readiness will measure a child's knowledge and skills so the teacher can help plan instruction and help identify a child’s strengths and areas for growth.

Dennie added, “Without overwhelming students or parents, we hope they will review and work on these skills throughout the summer break. We want all students to be ready to achieve academic success to the best of their ability.”

For those without internet access, there are accessible public Wi-Fi points at the front of every HCSD school.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia.  For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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Note to Editor: Interviews available upon request. Logo attached. Photos Available Upon Request

About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves more than 5,500 students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASES REOPENING GUIDE AND ANNOUNCING DEADLINE FOR PARENTS NEED TO COMPLETE THE LEARNING CHOICE SELECTION FORM

HAMILTON, GA (JULY 10, 2020) – In light of the pandemic, parents and students have a choice to make regarding how they are going to attend school for the upcoming academic year. The Harris County School District (HCSD), has released the HC Reopening Guide that addresses safety, health, transportation, learning choices, and protocols for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents have an option on how their children will attend school for the 2020-2021 year: in person or virtually. We are asking that you make your choice by Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

 

“There are three options: in-person, virtual/digital, or homeschool,” said Roger Couch, superintendent for the Harris County School District (HCSD). “So that we can continue to prepare accordingly, we need every

student to have their selection made as soon as possible.”

 

The HC Reopening Resource Guide is posted at www.harris.k12.ga.us/reopening with specific details. The highlights of the three choices are:

 

In-Person School:

• Anyone displaying symptoms should stay home. While students will be responsible for any missed work, they will not be penalized for missing class.
• As a safety measure, we will expect face coverings to be used on buses.
• At roll call, students will have daily temperatures checks. If further screening is needed, the student will be sent to the nurse.
• Assigned Chromebook devices will be relied on inside and outside of the classroom to minimize sharing of devices.

 

Virtual or Digital School:

• To choose either of the digital options, parents should ensure that students have a reliable internet connection and will be able to log in during regularly scheduled school hours Monday through Friday.

○         For K-6 grade students: virtual face-to-face instruction with a HCSD teacher will occur five days per week. Parents can expect daily logins, with instruction and assignments. There is a 9-week commitment for this option.

○         For 7-12 grades, there are two programs to choose from: Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) and Edgenuity. For both options, students will be assigned a HCSD teacher to check on progress and help with any questions. There is an 18 week, or one semester, commitment for these options.

○         More information is available on both of these programs by visiting https://www.gavirtualschool.org/ and https://www.edgenuity.com/states/georgia/ or by reviewing the HCSD presentation at www.harris.k12.ga.us/reopening.

 

Homeschool:

• With this option, students withdraw from the Harris County School District.
• Families will identify and enroll in a program of their choice.

 

To complete the Learning Choice submission process, parents should login to their Infinite Campus Parent

Portal account (https://campus.harris.k12.ga.us/campus/portal/harris.jsp). If you do not have a Parent Portal account or need assistance, you need to email your school’s data clerk (see list below.) for access as soon as possible. In the email, you will need to include your child(ren)’s first and last name, grade, date of birth, and a phone number where you can be reached, if necessary. Once you are logged in, click on “Campus Parent” and enter your username and password. Click the “Today” tab on the left menu and record the “Student Number” listed under your child’s name for each of your child(ren)’s profiles. Then, return to the “Message Center” by clicking on that title on the left menu. In the middle of the page, find a tab labeled “Survey.” Click on that tab to complete the Learning Choice Selection Survey for each student. Please complete the survey by Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

 

Data Clerk Contact Information:

Mulberry Creek - Bethany Brown brown-b@harris.k12.ga.us

New Mountain Hill - Theresa Milstid milstid-t@harris.k12.ga.us; Becky Green green-b@harris.k12.ga.us

Park - Sydney Fuller fuller-s@harris.k12.ga.us

Pine Ridge - Amanda Ginn ginn-a@harris.k12.ga.us

Creekside - Terri Boyd boyd-t@harris.k12.ga.us

HCCMS - Rebecca Holt holt-r@harris.k12.ga.us

HCHS - Jennifer McCosh mccosh-j@harris.k12.ga.us

“During the Spring semester experience, we all learned a lot including that children need to see their teacher every school day,” Couch added. “While there is no right or wrong answer, we realize that everyone is trying to make the best decision they can. What we do know is that we are going to do our best to create a safe environment for everyone so that we can teach, feed, and care for our students.”