Dear Parents,
As you begin your final countdown to summer break, I want to share a few important updates with you about our school district’s next steps as we prepare for summer and fall.
READy for Excellence
First, thank you for your support throughout this lengthy school closure. I know it has not been easy. Not for our students. Not for our families. Not for our teachers. Most days, it’s been hard. Really hard.
As parents, you are our most important partners in your child’s education. You are your child’s first teacher, and I cannot thank you enough for your efforts to support learning at home during the past nine weeks.
I know you are tired. If you haven’t already, take a break. But let’s not stop learning just because it’s summer.
Help your child be READy for excellence in August and encourage him/her to read this summer. If you don’t do anything else this summer, read with your child. It is the single most important thing you can do to support learning at home this summer.
Need a book? Check out our FREE Little Libraries located at Greensboro Center, Starkville Sportsplex, McKee Park and Patriot Park.
Family Technology Survey
As we prepare for summer and fall, it is extremely important that we have accurate information about your family’s access to electronic devices and internet service. While we continue to plan for in-person instruction, we must also be prepared if another school closure forces our school district to quickly implement distance learning.
Please click on the link below and take five minutes to complete this survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRRN9U3RArFL7g9aj_cOV5S4dZgnmC1k_4MPGem-AenLkPZQ/viewform
Excellence Counts
Excellence COUNTS during the 2020 Census because everyone counts!
There are 5,000 students and their families in our school district, and we need to do our part to make sure each one of them is counted!
A kindergartener counted in the 2020 Census this spring will be starting high school when the next census comes around in 2030: That’s 10 years of school funding for prek, technology resources and much more!
This is your opportunity to help ensure every child in our school district has a bright future. Remember all Census data is confidential.
Complete your Census at www.2020census.gov!
Returning Student Registration for 2020-21 School Year
Returning student registration for the 2020-21 school year is scheduled to open July 8.
At the request of the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi State Auditor has waived the requirement for two proofs of residency verification for returning students who do NOT have a change of address. Parents will be required to sign a form indicating their address has not changed from the previous year.
If your address has changed, you will be required to provide two new proofs of residency for the 2020-21 school year.
All new students must also provide two proofs of residency as required.
Dress Code for Armstrong Jr. High
As the District prepares to reconfigure grades 6-12 for 2020-21 school, 8th & 9th grade students at Armstrong Jr. High will follow the same dress code as 10th – 12th grade students at Starkville High School.
Students in grades 8-12 will not be required to adhere to the school color, t-shirt style, khaki/black pants, and other clothing specific “student uniform” requirements. Students in grades 8-12 are, however, required to adhere to ALL dress code requirements including length of shorts and skirts, shoes, etc.
No warm up pants, wind pants, cargo (multiple large pockets) pants or cargo shorts, biking shorts, gym shorts, basketball shorts, stretch pants, pajama bottoms, or leggings are allowed as pants. Leggings and tights must be worn with shirts or skirts/skorts that are no more than 3” above the knees.
Partnership Middle School Nears Completion, Scheduled to Open for 2020-21 School Year
Construction of Partnership Middle School is nearing completion, and we look forward to welcoming our 6th & 7th grade students to their new school in August. We are planning for back to school events, including open house dates and school tours, and we will share those details with parents when finalized.
Meanwhile, our middle school counselors are preparing class schedules for the 2020-21 school year. If your child will be a 6th or 7th grader at the SOCSD-MSU Partnership School for the 2020-21 school year, please click on the appropriate link below to complete your child’s schedule request.
6th Grade Schedule Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMUTnx1tTw0TbFKodA3YlZP4QTgzToO1x0ZSQfMBNI_Hl_pA/viewform
7th Grade Schedule Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkhGe8MV1avj-MntWAVTM3dDdrLmvSXZIMVg2nP0BgzMmgNg/viewform
Meals 2 Go Program Closed May 25-29
Our meals 2 go program which currently serves students on Mondays and Wednesdays will be closed May 25-29.
Our summer meal program is scheduled to resume on June 1.
As future plans for summer and fall are finalized, we’ll be connecting with you to share those details and keep you informed.
While Covid-19 is not over, we made it to May, together!
Best,
Eddie Peasant