Bartlett City Schools

Information

BCS Information Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

April 02, 2020

BCS Families,

The Tennessee Department of Education is launching its partnership with PBS Monday, April 6. This partnership will deliver two hours of programming with high-quality instructional content from 10 a.m. to
12 p.m. CST. Four hours of content will also be streamed overnight, which viewers can watch live or record. This content will be available locally through WKNO. We are excited because this meets a critical need to ensure all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities, regardless if their home has internet connectivity or capable devices.

BCS began distributing packets this week to families during our meal distribution hours as a way to provide resources to students without internet or appropriate devices. We will continue to distribute packets through Monday, April 6 or while our copies last. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we address this unprecedented event and protect the health of our community.

Please continue to follow the guidance from our local, state, and federal health officials.

For ongoing information on COVID-19 and what we have been communicating to our BCS families, visit our
special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19.

March 31, 2020

Bartlett City Schools Families,

Have you visited our Bartlett City Schools COVID-19 (coronavirus) page? This page is updated regularly with resources for our families. If you need free internet access, some links are posted. Optional learning opportunities were posted last week to provide our students with resources to maintain their learning. While these are still optional activities, teachers will be able to provide feedback to students on their participation if the resource allows. BCS is making these activities optional for many reasons. The major one is out of respect for the different situations our families are facing. Some students have a strong support system, while others are in unfamiliar settings. Our first concern is to be sure we are protecting the safety and health of our students. We are also awaiting guidance from the Tennessee Department of Education and other agencies on how certain situations should be addressed. One of these is grading.

BCS general education and special education teachers have been working together to create opportunities for all students who wish to participate. Tomorrow, April 1st, we will go live with a new format that will list grade-level specific, teacher-created opportunities for our students. If your child has an IEP with accommodations, and you have any questions regarding those accommodations, please reach out to your child’s special education teacher. While these opportunities are optional, parents are encouraged to expect students to participate. BCS will be providing a copied packet for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. These will be available at our meal pick-up site at Bartlett High School (5688 Woodlawn, Monday-Friday from 11am-1pm). These are intended for our families without internet access.

Even though the learning opportunities are posted on the BCS resources page, teachers will still be connecting with their classes individually. You should be receiving communications from your child’s teacher. New routines are being established to support our families. If you are not receiving these communications, please reach out directly to the specific teacher or your building principal.

Please take care of yourself and your families and continue to follow the guidance from our local, state, and federal health officials. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we address this unprecedented event.

For ongoing information on COVID-19 and what we have been communicating to our BCS families, visit our special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19

March 27, 2020

UPDATE: Extended Dates for our Free Meal Program

BCS remains committed to providing free meals to students in our community while protecting the health and safety of our students and families. We have made the decision to continue our free meal pick-up program through our extended school closure of April 24.

Breakfast and lunch meals will be available for pick-up at Bartlett High School (5688 Woodlawn) Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 24 (there will be no meal pick-up on Friday, April 10 due to the Good Friday holiday).

Meal Pick-up Information:
* Drive thru service at the main entrance of Bartlett High School
* Please use the front drive off of Woodlawn

* March 30-April 24 (Monday-Fridays only) from 11:00am-1:00pm

* Menu for the week of March 30-April 3:

* Monday/Wednesday/Friday: cold sandwiches | Tuesday: hot chicken patty sandwich | Thursday: hamburger

Please note that any student 18 or under may obtain free breakfast and lunch at the location mentioned above or at any other school meal location within Shelby County. This program is for meal pick-up only and is not to be consumed on site.

March 24, 2020

BCS Families,

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we have been in ongoing discussions with our local and state government and health officials. Just today, Governor Lee has encouraged all schools in Tennessee to extend their closure through April 24. Therefore, Bartlett City Schools will follow the guidance provided from Governor Lee and we will extend our school closure through April 24. During this closure period there will be no school sponsored activities or events.

This extended closure will provide opportunities for continued social distancing and other recommendations made by our local and state health officials. We ask that families continue to follow the warnings of our health experts and limit your social interactions during this time to help prevent the spread of the virus.

In the coming week, we will communicate our plans regarding our remote learning resources to our students and parents. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate these challenging circumstances.

For additional information on the coronavirus and what we have been communicating to our BCS families, visit our special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19.

March 20, 2020

BCS Families,

Bartlett City Schools continues to closely monitor the unfolding situation related to the COVID-19
pandemic. BCS’s first priority is the health and well-being of our students, families, and staff. After considerable deliberation and input from stakeholders, Governor’s office, TN Department of Education (TDOE), and our local and state health officials, we have made the several decisions which are outlined below.

School Closure
BCS is following the guidance provided by Governor Lee and the TDOE that all schools in Tennessee should be closed through March 31. During our closure period there will be no extracurricular or sporting events, nor will IEP meetings be held. Please understand that this situation is changing rapidly and further closures may be necessary.

We are using this extended period of school closure like snow days (stockpiled days). Therefore, regular instruction will not occur. Teachers will be using this time to plan for remote learning activities if needed. If our closure period is extended we will provide additional information regarding our remote learning resources to students and parents.

Work Schedules for Principals & Central Office Employees
BCS will continue to allow our principals and Central Office employees to work remotely during normal
operating hours during our school closure period. Please know that these employees are still available to help
you via email or phone.

We ask that families do not simply view this as an extended Spring Break or additional vacation time. Families should heed the warnings of health experts and limit your social interactions during this time to prevent the spread of the virus.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to work through these unique circumstances. We will continue to seek the advice of health professionals as developments occur and make updates as necessary.

For additional information on the coronavirus and what we have been communicating to our BCS families, visit our special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19.

March 19, 2020

Our first priority is the health and safety of our Bartlett City Schools (BCS) family. Therefore, BCS is committed to providing free meals to students in our community while protecting the health and safety of all.

Breakfast and lunch meals will be available for pick-up at Bartlett High School (5688 Woodlawn) beginning Tuesday, March 24 through Friday, March 27 (additional updates will be provided if dates are extended).

Meal Pick-up Information:
• Drive thru service at the main entrance of Bartlett High School
• Please use the front drive off of Woodlawn
• March 24-27 from 11:00am-1:00pm

Please note that any student 18 or under may obtain free breakfast and lunch at the location mentioned above or at any other school meal location within Shelby County. Also, each student must be physically present in the vehicle to receive the meals. This program is for meal pick-up only and is not to be consumed on site.

An additional resource for families and communities is how to find the meal service that is closest to your home. You can search the School Meal Finder website by clicking here.

March 13, 2020

BCS Families,

Information Regarding: Coronavirus-related Cancellations

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, and we have been closely monitoring the situation. After serious and considerable deliberation and input from many stakeholders, the six municipal Shelby County superintendents in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington have made the collective decision to cancel classes, extracurricular activities, and sporting events through the week following Spring Break.

At this time, we are closing schools through Friday, March 27th. This will provide opportunities for social distancing, thorough disinfection of schools and buses, and contingency planning in case prolonged closures are required at some point in the future. We ask that families do not simply view this as an extended Spring Break or additional vacation time. Families should heed the warnings of health experts and limit your social interactions during this time to prevent the spread of the virus.

Thank you for your support as we navigate this challenging situation. We will continue to seek the advice of health professionals as developments occur and make updates as necessary.

For additional information on the coronavirus and what we have been communicating to our BCS families, visit our special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19.

March 12, 2020

The six municipal Shelby County superintendents in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington are aware of the decision of Shelby County Schools to cancel classes starting Friday, March 13th through March 30th. At this time, neither the Shelby County Health Department nor the Tennessee Department of Education have made recommendations to close schools to contain the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19. As such, there are not plans to close municipal schools at this time, though the situation is fluid and we will make decisions on school closures as new information emerges. We will continue to consult with the Shelby County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Education to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students and staff.

March 11, 2020

BCS Families,

This week the Shelby County Health Department confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Shelby County. As concerns grow, we want to assure you that Bartlett City Schools (BCS) continues to take guidance from the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD), the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Shelby County Health Department has advised us that there is no immediate risk to the general public in Shelby County, and there is no expected risk to school-age children at this time. However, BCS remains proactive in our precautionary response plan for all of our schools. We continue to work with our Coordinated School Health department, school nurses, and custodial crews to ensure proper protocols are happening at each of our schools in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

Our goal remains to keep our students, families, and our staff safe. We are taking steps to ensure that our schools are properly prepared. These steps include the following:

• Working with our custodial crews to continue properly cleaning each school every night;
• Ensuring all bathrooms are stocked with soap and paper towels and we continue to encourage students
and staff to wash their hands frequently;
• Working with our Coordinated School Health department to ensure principals and school nurses have
the resources needed to detect and report symptoms exhibited at school and provide approved health
guidance for any affected individuals;
• Forming an internal Health Response Team comprised of multiple BCS departments, selected by the
Superintendent, and continuing to follow our BCS Emergency Operations Plan;
• Ensuring that our classrooms and schools are thoroughly cleaned over Spring Break;
• Working with Durham Bus Services to ensure all our buses are thoroughly cleaned every day;
• Continuing to gather resources for our remote learning resources in the event we are required to close
schools;
• Continuing to review all out of town school-sponsored field trips, athletic events, and performances on a
case by case basis; and
• Working in close partnership with the SCHD to update our protocols as the situation evolves.

Presently, there is no guidance from any health expert to close schools. The decision to close will not be taken lightly and will only be made after BCS has consulted with our local and state public health officials. We also wanted to make you aware that on March 10th our Bartlett City Board of Education, in a special called meeting, suspended the excused attendance portion for final exam exemptions.

As we monitor the situation, we will continue to follow the guidance of our local and state health officials. We also want to remind our students and families the importance of following the recommended guidelines from the local health department:

• Stay home when you are sick. Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching an illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, please contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes, then dispose of the tissue. When a
tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Avoid wearing masks and gloves while at school. The CDC only recommends wearing face masks or
gloves if you or your child is sick. Masks and gloves can also raise the level of concern and anxiety among
other students and families.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work,
and school, especially when someone is ill.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds. Washing hands often under clean, running water can help prevent the
spread of germs. For more guidance see the CDC: When and How to Wash Your Hands https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html If you cannot wash your hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60-95% alcohol.
• If you travel over Spring Break be cautious. After travel, if you are not feeling well, seek medical attention, and tell your principal where you traveled. Continue to follow all CDC travel guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to work through these unique circumstances. We are providing consistent communication to all of our school leaders to ensure they have the latest facts in case any questions arise. Please know, BCS will continue to collaborate with the SCHD and the Tennessee Department of Education and will update parents as more information becomes available.

For additional information on the coronavirus, visit our special website at: https://tinyurl.com/BCSCOVID19.