Calhoun County Schools

15th Annual WV Scholar Program - WV Metro News will award a full scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan.

Good Afternoon, This is a reminder students will be off on Monday, February 21st. This is a Professional Learning Day for teachers. Students will return on Tuesday, February 22nd. Thanks,

Congratulations to the following winners for Calhoun County Young Writers Fair. The judges loved the stories and wished there was more to read, another chapter perhaps? The Writers were able to help the judges visualize and feel the story. The students did not make their job easy. The Winners will have their entries submitted to the State Young Writers competitions. Grade 1-2- “A Mermaid Friend” by Rylan Arnold, AES, 1st grade Grade 3-4 “ The Beach Vacation” by Paisley Harper, PHE 4th grade Grade 5-6 “The Tale of the Scorpion Temple” by Jude Walker, LKVCS 5th grade Grade 7-8- “Expedition to Egypt” by Cameron Cottrill, LKVCS, 8th grade Grade 9-10- “The Red Eyes” by Nyla Warner, CCMHS 10th grade Grade 11-12 “ A Father’s Love” by Chase Marks, CCMHS 12th grade

Calhoun County Schools Universal Masking Policy Effective February 15, 2022 Calhoun County Board of Education voted to support my recommendation that Calhoun County Schools have a mask optional policy for students and staff effective February 15, 2022. Calhoun County Schools will no longer contact trace close contacts. Students and staff that test positive will be required to quarantine for 5 days and wear a mask for days 6-10. I recommend that we continue to notify parents if we have positive students in the schools so parents can monitor their students for symptoms. If a student or employee has symptoms of COVID-19, they need to be tested for COVID-19. I have copied the following from Wood County BOE. I found the information from Superintendent Hosaflock very relevant to Calhoun County. I spoke to him last week and also emailed him. It is the intent of the Board of Education to comply with laws while promulgating the following universal mask policy: • In the West Virginia Department of Education Updated COVID-19 Protocols dated January 31, 2022, it is stated that “Given the quick spread of the Omicron variant and its rapid clinical course, it has made contact tracing in schools impracticable when combined with the newly reduced timelines for quarantine and isolation set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” • Quarantining shall be in accordance with DHHR written directions/state code. The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department has the quarantine authority as quarantining is a codified jurisdiction of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. • Employees of the Calhoun County Board of Education are not required to perform duties outside of regular school hours or required to work overtime to assist the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department with contact tracing. Calhoun County Board of Education Employees will not perform contact tracing on behalf of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. • The policy passed by the Calhoun County Board of Education does not preclude anyone from wearing a proper health mask as long as the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department continues to recommend universal mask-wearing. • The Superintendent may make other necessary actions and may implement practices, including but not limited to mitigation measures that she deems necessary in response to the COVID-19 pandemic/endemic, provided such actions and practices are consistent with the rules and policies of the Board.

Good Afternoon, Bus 3 is running 20 minutes late due to a mechanical issue.

Calhoun County Schools will be on a three hour delay. Mechanics maintenance, custodians and administrators report at their normal time.

Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey below about the School Counseling program in Calhoun Schools. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey to best prepare our department to serve student needs. The survey is confidential. If you have further questions, please contact your child's school counselor. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNavcWYUYEI_BPipgqzY1xUD1UMlJNMzdVTTc1UElIOUxBUlpNOEM3S0JNWi4u

Good Afternoon, We received notice today that the HVAC installation for PHE will be this Friday, February 11. No school for PHE students this Friday, February 11. PHE teachers will be reporting to CMHS. PHE cooks, custodians, and secretary will be able to stay at PHE and work in certain sections of the building. No school for PHE students on Friday, February 11th.

Good Afternoon, We received notice today that the HVAC installation for PHE will be this Friday, February 11. No school for PHE students this Friday, February 11. PHE teachers will be reporting to CMHS. PHE cooks, custodians, and secretary will be able to stay at PHE and work in certain sections of the building. No school for PHE students on Friday, February 11th.

Good Morning, Calhoun County Schools will be using their virtual plan for the PLC day. Maintenance and mechanics will be notified by Mr. Fitzwater for their work assignment. Your building administrators have provided you with your professional development for today.

Calhoun County Schools has a partnership with Birth to Three Programing to support future students. Do you like working with Children Birth to 3 and their families? Employment Opportunity with Skill Builders LLC. A WV Birth to Three Service Coordination Agency is looking to hire WV Birth to Three Service Coordinators to work in Wood, Calhoun and Gilmer Counties. This position offers the ability to work from home, flexible hours that you schedule yourself, a great hourly rate and the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in your community. This position does typically require travel to family’s home in and around the areas listed above, BUT during the COVID-19 Pandemic, many services and visits are being provided virtually. This position is for day and evening work that you schedule. Strong and reliable Internet is also a requirement. A minimum of a BA degree, preferably in social work, education or a human service field is required OR being a parent of a child that has aged out of the WV Birth to Three System. Please email or call for more information regarding these positions. skillbuilders1@comcast.net or contact Susan Watson at 304-282-8554 This posting/position will remain open until filled.

Do you know a child who is not *moving *hearing *seeing * learning or *talking like others their age? If you are concerned about your child’s development, get help early. Every child deserves a great start. WV Birth to Three supports families to help their children grow and learn. To learn more about the WV Birth to Three services in your area, please call: 1-866-321-4728

Good Morning Calhoun County Schools will be implementing the virtual plan for professional development today. Please see the plan your principal shared with you. Mr. Fitzwater will notify maintenance and mechanics about their schedules. Thanks

Free Covid-19 Testing Thursday , February 10th 1pm-2:30 pm and 2:45-5pm At the Calhoun County Middle High School parking lot. Pre-registration is recommended but not required at: wv.getmycovidresult.com

Good Evening, Calhoun County Schools will have a full-day professional learning community on Friday, February 4th. No students will report to school on Friday, February 4th. Monday, February 7th will be a full day of instruction for students.

Dear Parents and Staff, Please be advised that we have had positive COVID-19 cases identified in our schools. Please monitor your student for COVID symptoms, and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nurse Trudi @ 304-354-6148 ext 219. New Guidelines: When student or staff is exposed to COVID-19 in a county/school with a universal mask policy. -Schools may discontinue contact tracing when layered prevention strategies are in place, which include a UNIVERSAL MASK POLICY -Close contacts regardless of vaccination status may continue in-person learning if they remain asymptomatic -With a UNIVERSAL MASK POLICY, contact tracing would no longer be required for times when students are not wearing mask such as during lunch, gym, or during extracurricular activities. -Parents or guardians should be notified when a positive case is reported in the classroom/school so they may monitor their child for signs and symptoms. -Students and staff should stay home and get tested if they start to experience symptoms. The new Updated COVID-19 Protocols are available on our website. Thanks,

Albert Yanni Scholarship

Summer Camp Registration

Check out the Student Services Newsletter for the month of February.

Good Morning, Calendar Changes : No school for Students on Friday, February 4th Teachers will report Friday, February 4th, an all-day PLC day changed from an OS day to PLC. The teachers would have professional development, policy training, staff meeting, and instructional planning. PHE teachers will report to CMHS. Monday, February 7th, will be an all-day instructional day. Making these changes, we will have one additional snow day to use before going to NTID days. Thanks and have a good weekend. Kelli Whytsell, Superintendent Calhoun County Schools