Month: July 2020

SES Open House

What:  Smackover Elementary School Open House

When:  Thursday, August 20, 2020 (3:00 – 7:00pm)

Parents & Students,

Due to limiting the number of people in the building, we are changing our process for open house. We are offering open house between the hours of 3 and 7:00pm.  Please view your students current grade level and follow the process for a great afternoon and evening as we meet our students. We ask that everyone ages 5 and up wear a mask into the building.

Kindergarten Students Only

  • Teachers will be in their classrooms awaiting students and their parents.
  • Parents may bring their children to SES to meet the teacher in their classroom.  Please enter through the front entrance only.
  • We ask that ONLY one parent accompany the kinder student into the building to meet their teacher.
  • Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies.
  • All students, staff, and parents must wear a mask inside the building.

First Grade

  • Teachers will be located outside on the Kindergarten car rider pick up and drop off area.
  • We ask that you pull through the car rider line to meet your teacher.
  • Students are encouraged to have their school supplies in a bag, labeled with their name and teachers name.  The teacher will greet you, collect your supplies, as you give her a BIG smile and hello.

Second through Fourth Grade

  • Teachers will be located outside on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade (Lisbon Road) car rider pick up and drop off area.
  • We ask that you pull through the car rider line to meet your teacher.
  • Students are encouraged to have their school supplies in a bag, labeled with their name and teacher’s name.  The teacher will greet you, collect your supplies, as you give her a BIG smile and hello.

School will begin Monday, August 24.  SES doors will be unlocked at 7:20am with no drop offs prior to 7:20am.  ONLY kindergarten students may have 1 parent walk their student to the classroom on the 1st day of school.  1st – 4th grade parents will not be allowed to walk into the building.  You are welcome to walk them to the entrance of the building.

 

Football Updates

As of the most recent update from the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), there has not been a change to any of the directives for the current restrictions on football.  We will stay in contact with you via the blog and Remind to keep you updated on the current situation.

Monday, August 3, was the original start date for football practice in helmets.  Until more information arrives, that is on hold.

We will continue having practice to be prepared for the season.

All practice times will stay the same from last week until we receive further directives from the AAA.  The only exception being 7th grade football will come in at 11am.

The current workouts are providing our athletes with an overall strength and conditioning program that will prepare us for the upcoming school year.  The workouts will continue to follow the current guidelines requiring mask, check in and social distancing.

Your player’s health and safety is our main concern during this time.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me at david.osborn@smackover.net .

Football Practice Schedule (all practices are at Smackover)

  • Sr High-  9am-11am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
  • Jr High (7-9th grade) 11am-12:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Practice times on Thursday and Friday will be announced early next week.  Times will depend on any changes by the AAA and teacher in-service.

Smackover Fishing Team

The 2020-2021 Smackover fishing team will have a mandatory meeting on Monday, August 3, at 6 pm at the Smackover City Park amphitheater.

Students in 5th through 12th grade are eligible to fish.

Pleas let one of the following people know if your child would like to fish, but can’t make the meeting:

  • Chad McNeely – 501-7251
  • Glenda Darden – 814-9762

 

FAQs Regarding Ready for Learning Plan

The Smackover-Norphlet School District posted a survey on its Bucks Landing Page for parents to submit questions regarding our Ready for Learning plan.  Due to the limited number of questions received, the district will not be hosting a town hall meeting.

Below are a list of responses to questions which were submitted.  If you have additional questions, please submit your question at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRw3NA9trkxdVZcsjWhupKLtHq8W_zkV-My8I1X3TpACGYWw/viewform

REGISTRATION

How do I register my kids?

ONLINE REGISTRATION

The Smackover-Norphlet School District is pleased to announce that we will be using online registration for ALL students this year!  This will eliminate the majority of the beginning of the year paperwork which parents had to complete annually for every child they had in the district.

Parents/guardians can register their students on the district’s website.

If you have questions regarding online registration, please call your child’s school.

VIRTUAL SEAT IN THE CLASSROOM REGISTRATION

Any parent opting for their child to have a virtual seat in the classroom will need to complete the online registration above as well as the following:

If you have questions regarding registration for Virtual Seat in the Classroom, please contact the principal or assistant principal at your child’s school.

 

VIRTUAL SEAT IN THE CLASSROOM

How long will my child be online daily if I choose the Virtual Seat in the Classroom?

Students who will be using a virtual seat in the classroom will be given a regular schedule and are expected to be online from 7:55 – 3:05.  These students will have short breaks between classes when students are changing classes, lunch, and recess (if applicable.)

The VSC is a commitment of the student sitting at the computer for approximately 7 hours daily.  VSC students are viewing live content and interacting to the extent practical with their assigned classroom teacher(s) just as the child would do in a traditional classroom setting.

This option is vastly different from the remote instruction which was provided in the spring.  Some of the expectations for a VSC student include:

  • Follow the dress code in the student handbook when web conferencing (Google Meet).
  • Follow classroom rules and procedures established by each teacher.
  • Submit assignments in a timely manner.
  • Actively participate/engage in online instruction following the schedule provided.
  • Request assistance from the teacher when support is needed.
  • Participate daily in remote instruction in “real” time to the extent practical. Daily attendance will be taken.
  • Grades will be assigned based on mastery of assignments as well as the level of student engagement in the remote classroom instruction.

MASKS

If students are not required to wear a mask all day, can I require my student to wear a mask all day?

Yes, if parents would like for their students to wear a mask even when the students are able to social distance and the teacher/staff member is allowing masks to be removed for a period of time, parents/guardians can definitely make that an expectation from home.  However, it will not be the school’s responsibility to enforce that additional expectation.

CURRICULUM

How do I get access to overall curriculum so I can prepare for home schooling when it becomes necessary? I know we will have the bridge info, which is good. But need to better understand what is required for each grade overall.

The Smackover-Norphlet School District uses the Arkansas Department of Education academic standards as the basis for its curriculum.  To view the standards for the core content areas, please click on this link:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mnp97g0MVg2tlJcjpRdl5o4Ctf_YPzVx/view?usp=sharing

SMACKOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Will the elementary students change classes and if so will the desk be cleaned between classes?

Yes, Smackover Elementary School students will change classes. Desks and work areas will be disinfected with a disinfectant spray or wipe after use.

Will the elementary students share supplies as they have in prior years?

Elementary students will not be sharing school supplies.  Each student’s supplies will be kept in a safe place designated by the teacher.

NORPHLET MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SMACKOVER HIGH SCHOOL

Will the middle school students change classes and if so will the desk be cleaned between classes?

Will grades 5-12 change classes this year or will they remain in the same classroom throughout the day?

Yes, Norphlet Middle School and Smackover High School students will change classes. Desks and work areas will be disinfected with a disinfectant spray or wipe after use.

Student will be required to wear masks during class changes and will be allowed to remove masks once teacher has ensured social distancing in the classroom.

If students change classrooms who will the desks or tables be sanitized before the next group of students start class?

At the end of each class period, work areas will be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe or spray by the teacher, staff, or student.

Will students in grades 6- 12 have two sets of textbooks? One set to stay at school and one set to stay at home? If so how will the textbooks at school be sanitized?

The Smackover-Norphlet School District will continue to send home a set of textbooks for appropriate courses for students for 6th – 12th grade students since lockers are not available.

Students will be given hand sanitizer as they enter each new classroom to help mitigate the spreading of germs, and help keep hands disinfected before touching books, etc.  

 

For a downloadable copy of these FAQs, please click on the link below.

FAQ_Ready_for_Learning_Plan

 

 

Clarification on Summer Athletics Practice

The Smackover Athletic Department will reopen all practices/facilities on Monday, July 27.

During the two week off period all athletic facilities have been cleaned and further precautions have been taken.

All AAA, Department of Health, and State of Arkansas guidelines will be followed.  All athletes are to be wearing masks when they enter campus.  All athletes must be checked in before participating.  Also at this time all practices will continue to be closed.

Football (at Smackover)
  • 9-10:30 Sr High
  • 11-12:30 Jr High
  • 1-2 7th Grade
Cheer (at Smackover)
  • 9-10:30   Sr High
Golf (at Pine Hills, Smackover)
  • 9
Tennis (at Smackover)
  • Monday – 8:30-10:00 girls singles
  • Tuesday – 8:30-10:00 girls doubles
  • Wednesday – 8:30-10:00 boys

Boys Baseball (at Smackover)

  • 9 – 10 am – Strength and conditioning practice for all senior high boys athletics

Boys Basketball (at Smackover)

  • 9 – 10 am – Strength and conditioning practice for all senior high boys athletics
  • 12 – 2 pm – All grade levels practice
Girls Basketball (at Smackover)
  • 9-10 Sr High
  • 11-12 Jr High

Cross Country

  • 7:30-8:30 at Norphlet City Park