August 14. 2020
Faith Family,
Due to so many important questions that we have answered over the last few weeks, you may want to look back at previous emails to review information since there are so many details included from week to week. We have not included much of the information from the last couple of weeks but have created links on our website, if you should need the emails. On our Faith Ministries home page, you will find an icon for "Coronavirus / School Updates." Each of our emails can be found there. Please continue to let us know how we can help you. We appreciate your prayers, and we are praying for your families as we embark upon the new school year this coming week.
Open School Schedule
Friday, August 14 - Ramseur Preschool – 4-6 pm floating
5K, 2nd and 3rd - 3-7 pm floating
Monday, August 17 - 1st, 5th and 4th - 3-7 pm floating
Tuesday, August 18 - 6th through 12th - 3-8 pm floating
Basic Open School Reminders
Only come for the time assigned for each child.
Please, only bring child(ren) assigned to that time.
Please, only parents or guardians of child(ren) attend.
We will screen anyone coming to the Open House. This screening will be a temperature check and the basic screening questions: 1) Have you been exposed to Covid-19? 2) Are you experiencing symptoms of Covid-19? 3) Have you had fever? If there is a fever or these questions cannot be answered no, we will have to ask the individual to come another time.
Take all the pictures you need at Open House instead of the first day of school.
We are limiting visits in the room to 10 minutes. Please be mindful of how many are in the building at one time.
At MS/HS Open School, students may visit their rooms. Teachers will be available outside, or in the event of bad weather, teachers will be in the gym. The only class meeting that night will be for seniors in the gym at 7 pm. Videos for other high school classes will be coming by email to replace normal high school meetings.
Dual Enrollment Reminder for Juniors and Seniors
Dual Enrollment classes begin on Monday. Students who registered for these classes should login to their accounts and make preparations to begin on Monday, August 17.
First Days of School
Wednesday, August 19 – 6th-12th only in attendance - 12 pm dismissal
Preschool begins at Ramseur location - 12 pm dismissal
Thursday, August 20 – K5-5th only in attendance - 11:30 am dismissal
Preschool begins at Bennett location - 12 pm dismissal
Friday, August 21 – All students full day
Please be reminded that parents may come inside the school on the first day to drop off their children and then exit the buildings using the traffic flow arrows.
After the first day, children will need to be dropped off at the front of the school.
Lunch Information
This year the school will be using the FACTS SIS Lunch System. It is similar to our past systems. In your Family Portal, under the "Financial" tab, you will see that you have a PRE-PAY account. At any time you may add money directly from your bank account or credit card to your PRE-PAY Lunch Account. You have two options for ordering lunch: 1) You may order through the Family Portal Lunch calendar; or 2) in the morning at homeroom. The lunch orders will be deducted from your PRE-PAY Account. Your PRE-PAY account in ready at this time to begin receiving payments. We'll be providing more information about the lunch program in the coming days.
Water Fountain
Each student should bring his/her own water bottle. Our water fountains are only available for water bottle filling.
Face Coverings
FCS has spent a lot of time and energy in seeking to best answer this question. We have sought guidance from many different sources, such as public school guidance, CDC, pediatric guidance, other non-public school guidance and health department guidance. One of our best sources of guidance is our alumni medical team. The team consists of a respiratory specialist, cardiac cath lab supervisor, case manager for a women’s and children’s center, nurse practitioner/pediatrics, public health department nurse, ER nurse and a hospital infection prevention director. We are thankful for these alumni. They have assisted and given helpful guidance in these important matters. After reviewing the information available, the school administration and school committee are implementing the following guidelines. The school color level determines the specific use of face coverings.
Green Eagle School – No face covering will be required.
Blue Eagle School – Face covering to be used at the discretion of the individual.
Yellow Eagle School – No face covering for preschool, K5 and 1st; 2nd and 3rd will be encouraged to wear a face covering and instructed how to; 4th through 12th will be required to have a face covering. The rule will be “When you are up, the face covering is up; when you are down, the face covering may be down.” So, when the student is at his/her desk in class and at meal times, the mask may be down. When the student is in common areas and moving around the room/campus, the mask will have to be up.
Red Eagle School – No face covering for preschool, K5 and 1st; 2nd through 12th will be required to wear a face covering throughout the day. Face covering breaks will be given during the day, if at this level.
FCS will be starting school on Yellow Eagle School.
Our desire is to go back to school and stay at school. If the face covering helps allow this goal, it is a step that we will take together. The use of face coverings does allow more normal activities at school such as chapel, etc. Without the use of a face covering, school days require more isolated activities. It does also add another layer of protection to what we are doing. FCS will be providing each student with a neck gaiter with the school logo. The neck gaiter may be pulled up and down easily. Whatever a student wears, we encourage that it only be worn one day and put in with the dirty clothes for that day. We ask that face coverings have acceptable logos and slogans. Please let us consider one another and pray together that Covid-19 will soon be gone. Compliance will be expected with whatever level we are on.
Sports Questions
What about sports? Varsity soccer and volleyball practices for high school students are on Monday evenings. Soccer begins at 6 pm, and volleyball begins at 7 pm. Once school begins, practices will be on a more normal schedule, and our middle school grades will begin their practices.
According to the NCCSA, our athletic association, games may begin on September 8 because we are in Phase 2 of our state's restrictions. As far as practices, all coaches and students must be screened for signs and symptoms and the results recorded prior to each workout. With a temperature of 100.4, a person will be isolated. A person must be fever, symptom and medicine free for at least 24 hours. Indoor practices are limited to 20 people at a time, and 40 people only may gather for outdoor practices. Locker rooms may be used with 6 ft. between individuals. Workouts should be in pods of 5-10 and the same people always working out together. Hand sanitizer must be used often. Students should wash clothes each evening, and they may not share any personal items or clothing. All equipment must be cleaned intermittently during practices. Athletes must practice good hygiene, such as the use of soap/water and hand sanitizer, avoidance of touching face, sneezing or coughing into a tissue or in elbow. Those not feeling well should stay at home. Face coverings are best when being transported to places. Further guidelines will be given from the NCCSA concerning games.
Also, game schedules will be available the beginning of September.
Wilds Trip
Has FCS decided on the annual Wilds trip? We will make a decision on Friday, August 31. There are two possibilities in consideration. If we are able to go on the original planned dates, September 8-11, Grades 10-12 only will be going, and Grades 7-9 only will go to The Wilds Camp on November 10-13. The other possibility is that Grades 10-12 would go November 10-13, and Grades 7-9 would go in spring 2021. Since The Wilds trip is an important part of what we do at FCS, we will do our best to make one of the scenarios work based upon the conditions at the time.
Afterschool Care
After we are able to get the school year started, we will assess the conditions and possibilites on Friday, September 4, and then make a decision if afterschool care can be provided.
Please let us know how we can assist you further.
Looking Unto Jesus,
Mr. Todd Daniel, FCS Administrator
