COVID-19 Update

***Update ***

Friday, March 27 - 6:30 PM

This afternoon at 4 PM, Governor Roy Cooper issued a stay-at-home order for North Carolina effective Monday at 5 PM or sooner if possible. This order directs you to stay at home unless you need to leave for essentials, such as your job, food, medicine, outdoor exercise, or to help someone. It bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to stay at least six feet away from each other. The order allows essential services to continue and directs that those businesses that need to remain open use a strong social distancing policy. This order is enforceable with a class II misdemeanor if violated.  

We have been extremely fortunate as Alexander County does not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19.
School employees will work from home as much as possible during this stay to continue to provide educational opportunities for your children.

We expect more directives next week. The school system will keep you updated through posts on the website, social media, and through our phone notification system. These messages are posted on the district’s website along with links to ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. You can also text COVIDNC to 898211 for alerts and news. Remember it is very important to stay home as much as possible. Wash your hands often. Cough into your elbow.  Throw used tissues into the trash immediately and clean your hands with sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Thank you for your patience.  Be safe and do your part to stay well. 

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Monday, March 23 - 5:30 PM

Earlier today, Governor Roy Cooper and the Department of Public Instruction announced that North Carolina Public Schools will be closed through May 15. Although the executive order stated all “in person” instruction will be suspended, schools will continue to provide remote learning and/or work packets to our students and we will continue to provide meals for our students.

Parents were cautioned not to treat this as an extended break, but to start or continue a routine with their children including a set bedtime schedule, planning outdoor activities while keeping social distancing in mind, and to engage children in remote learning as much as possible.

Teachers and school staff will continue to be in contact with students and parents as this mandate continues. Also, the state board voted to request a waiver for required testing and accountability to be waived for the rest of the school year. I will update you as we know the response to this request.

These messages are posted on the district’s website along with links to ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. You can also text COVIDNC to 898211 for alerts and news. Remember it is very important to stay home as much as possible. Wash your hands often. Cough into your elbow.  Throw used tissues into the trash immediately and clean your hands with sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

If you need any kind of support during this time, please contact your child’s school and the appropriate staff will work with you.

Thank you and stay well!
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Thursday, March 19 - 5:30 PM

Many of our families have been taking advantage of free student meals this week. Today, we distributed 1,093 meals at the seven approved school sites. Tomorrow’s Grab and Go meal will also include breakfast and lunch for Saturday, Sunday, and breakfast for Monday! Any child in Alexander County is eligible and children do not have to accompany the parent to the pick-up site. 

If your child or children are in need of meals but you do not have transportation to pick up the meals, please call your child’s school and let the receptionist know your need.

I would like to thank all of the child nutrition and school staff members for their work this week to provide meals to children throughout the county. 

Monday will be the first day of our second week of the statewide school closure. Your child’s school should have already contacted you or your child with instructions for the coming week’s assignments. If you have questions, please contact your child’s school.

We will keep you updated through posts on the website and through our phone notification system throughout the weekend.  Stay safe and healthy!

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Monday, March 16 - 5:30 PM

Alexander County Schools is providing free student meals beginning Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 30, unless otherwise announced.  

The school system established a “grab & go” style student meal encouraging those picking up the meals to remain at the pick-up table to reduce the potential transmission of the coronavirus.  Any child 18 years old or younger will be eligible for meals. Unlike the summer feeding program, the federal government provided a waiver that allows parents to pick up the meals to take home to their children.

The locations are determined by the USDA guidelines for eligibility.  A student or parent can pick up lunch each day Monday through Friday along with a breakfast bag for the next day. Meals will be available weekdays 10 AM – 1 PM at the seven locations listed below.

• Alexander Central High School

• East Alexander Middle School

• Hiddenite Elementary School

• Stony Point Elementary School

• Taylorsville Elementary School

• West Alexander Middle School

• Wittenburg Elementary School

 Additional information and details regarding the student meal program provided by our child nutrition department will be posted on our website as we start this service and work to refine the process.

Click here for larger display: Free Student Meal Announcement

Sunday, March 15 - 6:30 PM

Schools are closed for students March 16 through March 30. There will be no formal instruction this first week. We will use this time to develop a plan for instruction for the remainder of the time that we are out of school. Kindergarten screenings will be rescheduled. Decisions about how we will provide meals to students will be determined and communicated later this week.

This is a rapidly changing situation. We will keep you updated through posts on the website and through our phone notification system. Please know that your children are very important to us. Please be patient as we work this week to develop instructional plans that are appropriate for their learning.

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Saturday, March 14 - 5:30 PM

Based on the announcement Saturday afternoon from Governor Cooper, Alexander County Schools along with all other North Carolina schools will be closed for two weeks. School buildings will be open on Monday, March 16, as a teacher workday for teachers and students to collect any needed items.
There will be a conference call with the governor’s office and district administrators tomorrow afternoon. After which we will be evaluating this new order and determining directives for our students and staff during this timeframe. All staff members should report to work on Monday.

An additional call with more information will be made tomorrow afternoon.

Friday, March 13 - 6:45 PM
Click here to read the end-of-week message from Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Hefner

Friday, March 13 - 11:00 AM
Beginning Monday, March 16, all out-of-county field trips are suspended until further notice.

As the virus progresses and directives change from federal, state, local leaders and health officials, we will respond accordingly with updates. We will continue to post any additional information or changes on our website in the designated area with a date and time stamp. Please note, changes may be made often.
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This message is to reassure you that our school system is taking action in this time of rising concerns and uncertainties.
The Alexander County School system continues to follow the guidance of local, state, and federal health officials regarding communicable diseases including the Coronavirus. We are closely monitoring these sources for updates and recommendations to keep our students, families, and staff safe and healthy during this time.
Our intent is to notify you of precautions that the school system is taking to prevent the spread of all illnesses. We recommend that you follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for additional resources and updates. Please do not rely on secondhand information from social media or other sources.

Thursday, March 12 - 6:00 PM

• There are no confirmed cases in Alexander County at this time.
• Schools are not being closed at this time.
• The school system custodial department has a hospital-grade disinfectant that is used districtwide to routinely clean surfaces, including but not limited to door handles, water fountains, furniture and other areas of the school that require attention.
• We are suspending travel for students and staff (field trips and professional development) to destinations out of the state, and in counties east of the Greensboro area beginning Monday, March 16, until further notice. 
• We are suspending all athletic events including practices, workouts, and contests as recommended by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) beginning Saturday, March 14, and going through April 6. This includes all travel and recreation games and practices. The NCHSAA will re-evaluate this decision each week.

Any additional updates will be posted here.