Terra Alta/East Preston School

Following the Monday, September 27th meeting of the PCS BOE, the mask mandate was extended through November 1, 2021 and will be strictly enforced among both students, staff, and anyone in attendance at extracurricular activities. This decision came following a meeting and plan brought forth by a parental advisory committee made up of individuals on both sides of the issue. On November 1, masks decisions will be further dictated by the DHHR map, then from December 1 on, by a percentage formula on a school by school weekly basis. Masks will not be required at lunch, when active in PE and Wellness classes, and while out on recess. All other times, a mask or shield will be required. Those not choosing to comply or follow the policy, will have their parents/guardians called either to assist with the decision, or to pick the student up. Masks and/or shields will be required at all times on buses. Our goals are our kids in school and them being able to continue in their extracurricular efforts. Any questions or concerns, please contact school administration.

Superintendent, Steve Wotring's update after Board of Education meeting on Monday, 9/27/21 at 8:30PM https://youtu.be/mQMD4ZiSD60

WVGSA, WVASA and SAT Assessment Parent Reports from the Spring 2021 testing are being sent home with students in grades 3-9 and 12 today, Monday, September 27, 2021. Individual Student Interperative Guides can be found at Menu/Parent and Students/Assessments https://tinyurl.com/559bcpsp

Please logon and complete the following survey by ASAP as it pertains to and is attached to our federal funding and additional opportunities to take care of our kids. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNalDUQGKyzLtNrauYbwc04PhUMlpGV01ZS1VPUUJQOEpLUDRSMldQTE5SUi4u

Introducing… Communities In Schools of Preston County Communities In Schools of Preston County surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Our evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each school and community’s unique needs, is the key our success. Read the full article here: https://5il.co/zjep

Important Dates Monday, Sept. 27th Resume In Person Instruction Thursday, Sept. 30th Full Day of School Friday, Oct. 1st No School - Buckwheat Festival Monday, Oct. 4th No School for Students Staff in Meetings

If your child is signed up for the Weekend Food Backpack program, those food bags are available for pick-up at the school for this week starting today, Wednesday, Sept. 22nd thru Friday, Sept. 24th. You may come to the school during the times of 10am-2pm these days. We will have school supplies, extra food items, and personal items set up as well if needed.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR MEAL DELIVERY, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP AGAIN. YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE RECEIVING A SECOND DELIVERY. THIS SIGNUP IS ONLY FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO BE ADDED TO THE SECOND DELIVERY. We are taking orders for any temporary remote, homeschool, full-time virtual, homebound, or children ages 1-4 years old who live in Preston County. The shelf-stable boxes will be prepared and shipped directly to the child's home via UPS. Please complete this form to have a multiple-day shelf-stable meal box delivered to your door step free of charge. You will need to complete a SEPERATE form for EACH child in your household that qualifies. Only one request per child is permitted. The boxes will begin to ship Monday, September 20, and will arrive within the next several days. If you have any questions, please call 304.329.0580 ext. 234 or email at edoerr@k12.wv.us The deadline to signup is Sunday, September 19, 2021, at 10:00 PM. https://forms.office.com/r/JbwSPmc1xm

Meal boxes are beginning to arrive in Preston County. This picture is a sample of a high school student's box. This first box contains 4 breakfast and 4 lunch meals. The next box will have 5 of each. For those of you that missed the first sign up a new registration will be posted soon. Those of you who initially signed up will be automatically receiving the second box.

We had a successful first day of Live Online Instruction with over 60% of our students logging in to participate live. I know our Eagles can soar high and do better, but we’re very happy with this start and thank all who turned out to participate. For Elementary School, our highest percentage turnout was Ms. Hough’s 4th grade class with 72% and for MS, our 8th graders just edged out the other grades with 49%. Although 8th had the highest in the MS, time to step it up, as the littles showed who the highest flying eagles are. Our goal as a school, with the understanding of internet issues as well as others, would be 75% live and then 100% of assignments turned in by the time we return to in-person. Keep up the good work.

Just a reminder that LIVE, online instruction begins tomorrow. Please be sure to check Schoology or Seesaw for your student’s times to logon. Please be sure to login a few minutes early. If you have any difficulties, reach out to the teacher or call the school.

Covid Screening Checklist Upon Student Return to in-person instruction. Best way to combat the possibility of quarantine will always be masking up.

If you signed up your child for the Weekend Food Backpack program, those food bags are available for pick-up at the school starting tomorrow Wednesday, Sept. 15th thru Friday, Sept. 17th. You may come to the school during the times of 10am-2pm these days. These food bags are different than the meal delivery that will be mailed to your house if you signed up on that link sent out by the County Office today. We will have school supplies, extra food items, and personal items set up as well if needed.

We have been made aware of an issue getting onto TEAMS on the 1:1 K-2 iPads. The email address that prepopulates is incorrect, but it is an easy fix. Here is the video that expains what changes you need to make ONE TIME to get the issue corrected. https://youtu.be/0_yuZ6Ey8M0 If you have any questions you can contact your child's teacher or Darla Moyers via email at darla.moyers@k12.wv.us

2021-22 Preston County Meal Box Delivery (Sept. 14) We are taking orders for any temporary remote, homeschool, full-time virtual, homebound, or children ages 1-4 years old who live in Preston County. The shelf-stable boxes will be prepared and shipped directly to the child's home via FedEx. Please complete this form to have a multiple-day shelf-stable meal box delivered to your door step free of charge. You will need to complete a SEPERATE form for EACH child in your household that qualifies. The boxes will begin to ship Thursday, September 16, and will arrive over the next several days. If you have any questions please call 304.329.0580 ext. 234 or email at edoerr@k12.wv.us The deadline to sign up is September 14th at 10:00PM https://forms.office.com/r/AzghzQ3gvC

PCS will be closing schools and going to remote learning effective tomorrow September 14th. Students will return to school on Monday, September 27th. All sports and extra-curricular activities are cancelled. Teachers were notified late today and will spend Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for full remote learning which begins on Thursday, September 16th. Students may have paper assignments to complete or will have online assignments on Tuesday and Wednesday. Therefore, students should continue to login to Seesaw and Schoology to check for assignments. Students should continue lessons already assigned, practice reading and math skills on iReady (K-8) and Exact Path (9-12) and complete any other lessons assigned by their classroom teachers. Directions will follow on how to sign up for weekly meal boxes that will be delivered to your homes. Here is the link to Mr. Wotring's announcement https://youtu.be/c6GWceGvOlE

The next time you receive a text message from PCS it will come from 98900 and NOT 98901 and it will automatically send a CTIA compliant opt-in OR opt-out text with necessary disclaimers. So carefully read your next text message. (This message was not sent as a text.) If you are not receiving text messages yet it is because secretaries are in to process of changing phone numbers from the Online Information Form you filled out.

Our 4th and 5th graders, not even born at the time, were given an incredible account of the tragedy and heroics of 9/11 from someone who responded to the aftermath without hesitation as part of his sworn duty as a firefighter and first responder. Now living in Terra Alta, Tony Amato is a true testament to the story of 9/11, and we are so thankful that he continues to take the time each year to educate our students about that tragic and fateful day. May we never forget.

Protocols and expectations to follow for those students on remote learning due to quarantine.

As we further investigate and contact trace a positive case of Covid-19, the Dolphins Football Team and Mrs. Grose's 4th grade class will need to quarantine tomorrow. In addition, the football team will also be out on Monday. More information will follow, as well as if and which students may return Monday, Tuesday or later dates. Again, if your child is either a member of the Dolphins or in Mrs. Grose’s 4th grade, they are to stay home tomorrow and await further instructions from either the school or Health Department.