2020-21 School Year
Message from Dr. Moody
Greetings to RSS Parents,
On July 14, 2020, the NC Governor Cooper announced that districts across the state will follow Plan B guidance for the return to school. Additionally, the Governor is requiring face coverings for all students in grades K-12 and for staff, with some medical exemptions. More detailed information on the mask requirement will follow later.
For RSS students and families, the following Plan B will be enacted:
RE-ENTRY PLAN B: A DAY-B DAY MODEL
Students are divided into two groups (Group A & Group B). Students attend school face to face two days per week and learn remotely three days per week. Wednesdays are used for universal cleaning. Principals are reaching out to families with more information. Accommodations will be made for families with children in different grade spans, students with special needs, or issues related to work schedules.
A Day-B Day Model Schedule:
- Monday-Tuesday: Group A (Face to Face); Group B (Remote)
- Wednesday: Group A & B (Remote Learning)
- Thursday-Friday: Group A (Remote Learning); Group B (Face to Face)
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Group A |
In Person |
In Person |
Remote |
Remote |
Remote |
Group B |
Remote |
Remote |
Remote |
In Person |
In Person |
In light of the Governor’s announcement of Plan B, we understand that each family has a unique set of circumstances and beliefs. We know parents need to make individual decisions for each child’s best interest.
It is our duty to follow any Executive Order by the Governor of NC and any laws enacted by the NC General Assembly. In addition, we also consult with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the NC Department of Public Instruction, the NC State Board of Education, and our local health department for guidance and safety. We will do our best to keep families informed as we make plans to implement laws, policies and plans for the upcoming year.
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you on your child’s education. We know that this will be a learning process for all of us – students, teachers, families, school administrators and our communities. We will continue to work hard to ensure every child receives an extraordinary education, whether it is virtual or face-to-face.
Thank you!
Lynn Moody, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Instructional
Back to School Planning
Safety
- Face Coverings Graphic | Spanish
- Face Coverings Medical Exemption Form | Spanish
- Safety TikToks
- Safety TikToks | Spanish
- Daily Safety Checks | Spanish (Students/Parents)
StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)
The state recently released the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit for all K-12 schools.
With the health and safety of our children being vital to planning, this toolkit lays out a detailed set of baseline requirements that all public schools should follow to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19 to our students, staff and families. The toolkit also recommends practices that schools should follow to minimize the spread of COVID-19. The plan includes guidance received from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
State Guidance
RSS staff are currently aligning our work with the most recent guidance from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The specific guidance from the Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) can be found below as well as the guidance from NCDHHS.
- NCDPI Guidance: Guidance Document ‘Lighting Our Way Forward’
- NCDHHS Guidance: Guidance Document
Under the guidance from the Governor and NCDHHS, districts must create plans to operate schools under three possible options that are listed below - Plan A, Plan B, or Plan C. The Governor is expected to announce which plan will be followed across the state on July 1.
Plan A - Minimal Social Distancing
Plan B - Moderate Social Distancing (50% students in schools at a time)
Plan C - Remote Learning
CALENDAR
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education approved the adjusted calendars for 2020-2021 for the upcoming school year with students beginning on August 17. You may view both the RSS District and the RC Early College calendars on our district’s website by clicking here. These calendars contain many of the desirable elements found in our previous calendars while still conforming to the new state requirements. Additionally, the August 17th start date gives maximum planning time and alignment with districts across the state, while staying focused on safety for students and staff.
SURVEY
Parents are a vital part of this process and we want and need your input. A survey was sent to determine how you feel about your child(ren) returning to school in August - in light of the state’s guidelines. This survey is intended for staff planning purposes only and does not lock parents into making any decisions at this time.
ATHLETICS
The board also approved to begin training for fall, winter and spring sports, in addition to band and ROTC. It is important to note that state guidelines for the health and safety of our students and staff will be followed and monitored daily. Be sure to contact your child’s school for more information.