Dear #CCSDfam,
Our entire CCSD family continues to impress me as we navigate through this storm together.
Online teaching and learning continues to strengthen, as our teachers gauge success and trade best practices, and as our students and families adjust to this challenge and develop new routines. We continue to loan technology to students in need and provide technology and Canvas support. We know online teaching and learning isn’t easy – we are here to help you succeed.
We’re feeding more students in need through #CCSDserves – this week’s total grew to 3,833 children and more than 34,000 meals– and your financial donations to support the program have topped $40,000! CCSD community partners have generously donated bags and umbrellas, which further reduces operating costs. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, as we expect the need for these meals will increase in the coming weeks.
Over the last week, our school counselors have been hard at work preparing a newsletter of social, emotional and mental health resources to help you and your children during this challenging time. The CCSD Counselor Connector newsletter is posted on our resource webpage at https://www.cherokeek12.net/content/bulletin-board
We care about every child’s academic success, but we care even more about their well-being – and we also care about your well-being.
Some of you have asked me to issue guidance on staying home, out of concern over parents allowing their children to have play dates, sleepovers, go out to eat and shop. In response, I would ask that everyone in our community please follow the Governor’s direction to avoid unnecessary contact with others, so we can slow the spread of COVID-19. In recent days, we all have heard reports of healthy children and parents becoming critically ill. Even if you are not showing symptoms, you may be infected and able to infect others.
And that brings me to the question we are asked every day: when will schools re-open? Just as we looked to public health and state officials for guidance as to when to close, we will do the same in deciding when to re-open. I cannot tell you if schools will re-open before the school year is scheduled to end, and I cannot tell you if we will hold graduation ceremonies in person. This is a time when we all must plan for the worst and hope for the best, and I am praying for the best.
We will continue to keep you informed of any developments. We are all in this together.
Thank you for everything,
Dr. Brian V. Hightower
Superintendent of Schools
RESOURCES
Technology support: If your child needs a computer to complete Digital Learning Day assignments, please email your child’s teacher so he or she can make a technology request. Receiving this technology will require bringing your child to our Technology warehouse in Canton for an appointment set by our staff. If the CCSD laptop your child already is using is not working properly, please check our support help page at https://bit.ly/DLDfaq; if you still need assistance, please ask your child’s teacher to make a technology help desk request. Comcast is offering free Internet access, and information is posted on our resource page at https://www.cherokeek12.net/content/bulletin-board
Canvas support: If you are having issues accessing or using Canvas, please first check our webpage at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/canvas for answers; if you still need assistance, please email our Canvas help desk staff at canvas.support@cherokeek12.net
#CCSDserves To-Go Meal Distribution: Distribution is scheduled to continue on Mondays through April 6; the full list of sites and schedule of delivery times is posted at http://bit.ly/CCSDserves
Support #CCSDserves: You can make an online donations at http://bit.ly/CCSDgiveonline; give by check, mailed in using the online form at http://bit.ly/CCSDdonate (school staff signatures are not required); or transfer unspent funds in your child’s account by using the form at http://bit.ly/CCSDpayfwd (choose “Pay It Forward” and email it to us).
MUST Ministries food pantries at CCSD Schools: MUST Ministries will be distributing food from its food pantries at Cherokee HS, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy and Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy to families already served by those programs. If you are not already participating in one of those schools’ food pantries, please contact MUST (https://www.mustministries.org/) about picking up food from its main food pantry in Canton.
Other information and resources: We are continuously updating our webpage at https://www.cherokeek12.net/content/bulletin-board with information and resources.