News

District Update--6/5/20

June 5, 2020

Graduation Week

This week has been a wonderful time of celebrating our 2020 seniors.  I have truly enjoyed seeing the look of pride on each graduate’s face and sharing in our students’ accomplishments.  Collectively, our graduates have been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships.  Many of our graduates have also attained industry certifications through our career and technical programs which will give them an edge when they enter the workforce.  The future is full of opportunities for the Class of 2020!  Tonight we conclude our week of graduations at Ponce de Leon High School.  Please visit the PDLH Facebook page for details regarding tonight’s ceremony.

 

2020-21 Reopening Survey

On Wednesday, we published a short survey regarding plans for the reopening of schools.  At this time, we are scheduled to  begin the school year on August 12 as planned.  It is vitally important that we hear from our families as we plan for the upcoming year!  If your family hasn’t completed the survey, please visit https://forms.gle/WtR7Mhq57NpwE3bNA to complete it by Monday, June 8.  Only one survey is required per family, and it should only take about 5 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your input! 

What will school look like when we open in August?  Honestly, we’re not 100% sure, as we are still in the early planning stages.  Those plans will be further refined as we  receive more guidance from the Florida Department of Education and the CDC throughout the summer.  However, we are certain of one thing.  We will be doing everything we can to ensure a safe environment for our students and employees!

 

Phase II

Governor DeSantis has announced that Florida will be moving into Phase II of reopening beginning today.  While we know that everyone is anxious for a return to normalcy, we strongly encourage you to continue to follow CDC guidelines, including social distancing and good hygiene habits, to help ensure the safety of our community!

 

Summer WINGS Program

The WINGS 21st CCLC virtual summer program will begin on June 8th and continue through July 16th. Daily lessons will be provided for the students and supplies for the week will be passed out on Mondays starting June 8th. This is a virtual program, so you will need access to the internet and a device to use. Links to the content are available on each school’s website.  We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to serving our families.

 

Pandemic-EBT Benefits

On May 27, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Florida’s request to implement the Pandemic EBT program across the state. Because Holmes District Schools meet the requirements for the Community Eligibility Program, which provides free breakfasts and lunches to ALL students, Holmes County students will receive $313.50 per child due to school closures. If a family already receives EBT benefits, it will be added to their funds for the month. If a family does not receive benefits, it will be mailed to the address on file when enrollment information was submitted to the state. Benefits are scheduled to be paid by June 30. For more information about this benefit, please visit this link from the Florida Department of Agriculture.  https://www.fdacs.gov/Food-Nutrition/Nutrition-Programs/National-School-Lunch-Program/Pandemic-EBT-for-National-School-Lunch-Program

 

The last couple of months have brought unprecedented changes to life as we know it, including our schools.  If you have any concerns or questions regarding your child’s education, please feel free to contact us!  May God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America!

 

Terry L. Mears
Superintendent of Schools

 

Holmes County Students Qualify for Pandemic-EBT

June 5, 2020

On May 27, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Florida’s request to implement the Pandemic EBT program across the state. Because Holmes District Schools meet the requirements for the Community Eligibility Program, which provides free breakfasts and lunches to ALL students, Holmes County students will receive $313.50 per child due to school closures. If a family already receives EBT benefits, it will be added to their funds for the month. If a family does not receive benefits, it will be mailed to the address on file when enrollment information was submitted to the state. Benefits are scheduled to be paid by June 30. For more information about this benefit, please visit the Florida Department of Agriculture's website.

2020-21 School Reopening Survey

June 3, 2020

We are actively making plans for the reopening of school on August 12.  Please complete the following survey to assist in planning.  Your responses are extremely important as we make reopening decisions.  Please complete the survey by Monday, June 8.

https://forms.gle/WtR7Mhq57NpwE3bNA

Student & Parent Surveys

May 29, 2020

As we close out the school year, we want to hear from you!  Parent and student surveys provide valuable data as we reflect on the 2019-20 school year and prepare for 2020-21 and beyond.  Please take a few minutes to complete the appropriate survey for your school. 

Bethlehem School

Parent                                           https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135502/5585

 

Students

Elementary (Grades 3-5 only):         https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135500/5585

Middle/High:                                 https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135501/5585

 


Bonifay K-8

 

Parent                                         https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135489/57455

 

Students

Elementary (Grades 3-5 only):       https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135487/57455

Middle:                                       https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135488/57455

 

Holmes County High

 

Parent                                            https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135493/5842

 

Student                                         https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135490/5842

 

Ponce de Leon Elementary

Parent                                        https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135514/24306

 

Student (Grades 3-5 only)         https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135515/24306

 

Ponce de Leon High

 

Parent                                         https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135498/23051

 

Student                                      https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135498/23051

 

Poplar Springs

Parent                                        https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135508/24827

 

Students

Elementary (Grades 3-5 only)        https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135505/24827

Middle/High                                  https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/135507/24827

May 15--Revised Graduation Plans

May 17, 2020

Holmes District Schools Announce Revised 2020 Graduation Plans

On Friday, May 8th, Holmes District Schools announced graduation plans for the Class of 2020. From the beginning, Holmes District Schools has been committed to honoring our 2020 seniors with traditional graduation ceremonies if at all possible, while still adhering to the guidelines set forth by the CDC. In the previous announcement, Holmes District Schools Superintendent Terry Mears stated that these plans were fluid and subject to change. In the past week we have continually engaged with our community task force in an attempt to improve the graduation experience for the Class of 2020.

At this time, based upon new data and further coordination with our community task force, the Florida Department of Education, and the Department of Health, the graduation plans for the Class of 2020 are updated as follows:

Holmes County High School will have a ceremony with all students present, with each student being able to invite four guests. The ceremony will be at Memorial Field in Bonifay on June 4th at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Ponce de Leon High School, Bethlehem High School, and Poplar Springs High School are planning to host a graduation ceremony at their campus or a community location that meets updated CDC guidelines. The dates for these schools will be as follows:

Poplar Springs High School: June 1st
Bethlehem High School: June 2nd
Ponce de Leon High School: June 5th

Specific details will be forthcoming from the individual schools.

Please know that these plans are fluid and subject to change. We are hopeful that over the next few weeks, restrictions will be lifted further, and we will be able to allow more family and friends to join us in honoring our graduates. Any changes will be posted on our mobile app and social media accounts. We appreciate your patience as we work to implement these plans in these trying times. We are thankful for a community that pulls together as a family to make these celebrations unique and memorable for our Class of 2020 graduates!

God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America!

Terry L. Mears, Superintendent

May 19 Board Meeting Location Update

May 17, 2020

The May 19 school board meeting has been moved outdoors to Bonifay K-8 School at the bus ramp.  Visitors will be asked to park in front of the school. Seats will be spaced out to maintain social distancing. There will be a workshop at 8:00 a.m., followed by the regular session at 9:00 a.m.

Graduation Plans Announced!

May 8, 2020

Holmes District Schools Announce 2020 Graduation Plans

 

Throughout the past seven weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most frequently asked questions from students and parents has been, “Will we be able to have graduation ceremonies?”  From the beginning, Holmes District Schools has been committed to honoring our 2020 seniors with traditional graduation ceremonies if at all possible, while still adhering to the guidelines set forth by the CDC.  We organized a community task force, and after many hours of discussions, research, and planning, we are excited to announce our plans for graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020.  

All graduation ceremonies will be held at Memorial Field in Bonifay.  This venue will allow the most family members to attend while still practicing social distancing, and also provide handicapped access.  The schedule will be as follows:

Monday, June 1—Poplar Springs
Tuesday, June 2—Bethlehem
Thursday, June 4—Holmes County High
Friday, June 5—Ponce de Leon

All ceremonies will be held at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of Holmes County High.  Each graduate will receive four admission tickets.  Seating will be assigned with sections for each graduate’s four guests, and placement will be determined by a random drawing.  Due to the number of graduates at Holmes County High, the class will be divided into three separate ceremonies.   Those ceremonies will be held at 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 p.m. on June 4.  Specific details will be announced by HCHS.

We know that many people want to celebrate our students’ accomplishments.  We will be providing a live stream of each ceremony on the school’s Facebook page for those who are unable to attend.   We will also have outdoor screens set up at Bonifay K-8 all four nights, and at the graduating school site on the night of graduation, for family and friends who may not have reliable internet connections to come and view the ceremony.  For example, on Monday night there will be an outdoor screening of Poplar Springs’ graduation at Poplar Springs and at BK-8, and so on throughout the week.  Each graduate will also be provided with a DVD of their ceremony, free of charge.

In addition to graduation ceremonies, each school will be honoring the Class of 2020 with a parade at the school on the evening of their originally scheduled graduation.  Schools will announce specific plans for their events on the mobile app and their social media accounts. 

Please know that these plans are fluid and subject to change.  We are hopeful that over the next few weeks, restrictions will be lifted further, and we will be able to allow more family and friends to join us in honoring our graduates.  Any changes will be posted on our mobile app and social media accounts.  We appreciate your patience as we work to implement these plans in these trying times.  We are thankful for a community that pulls together as a family to make these celebrations unique and memorable for our Class of 2020 graduates!

District Update--April 30, 2020

April 30, 2020

Yesterday Governor DeSantis announced his plans to begin reopening the state.  Although the stay-at-home orders and business closures were handed down quickly back in March, the reopening of our state will be a gradual, conservative process to ensure continued safety for our citizens. 

 

Phase I of the reopening process lifted some of the restrictions on retail businesses and restaurants.  However, the majority of the previous orders remain in place, including guidelines prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people in enclosed spaces.  Given these continued restrictions, and guidance that individuals are “safer at home”, Holmes District Schools will continue to follow the remote learning/working model that we began in March.  Employees will continue to work from home whenever possible for the coming weeks.  We will continue this model through the end of the regular school calendar on May 28.

 

I could not be prouder of the way our employees, students, and parents have risen to the challenge of implementing this new method of learning and working.  Our staff was given approximately 2 days to develop and submit an instructional continuity plan to the Department of Education.  While our employees had plans for relaxation during Spring Break, the necessities of preparing for remote learning caused the vast majority of them to spend the week hard at work on the specifics of how they would begin teaching their students the following week.  I am pleased that we were able to begin fully implementing our plan the week following Spring Break.  We have been in contact with 100% of our student population.  Our district has provided paper learning packets to approximately 41% of our student population.  These numbers have caught the attention of lawmakers and provided us the opportunity to advocate for providing our rural areas with faster, more reliable internet connectivity.   We have distributed technology to our students and teachers, including Chromebooks, laptops, and mobile hotspots, as we have been able to secure those devices.  Additionally, we have worked to provide meals to our students.  During this time, our staff has served over 45,500 breakfast and lunch meals to our students. 

 

During times of trial, small towns and communities are known for pulling together, so it’s no surprise that has been the case during this pandemic.  We’ve witnessed an outpouring of love from our employees who have gone the extra mile to connect with their students, whether by handwritten letters mailed home, Zoom meetings, YouTube videos or social media.  Our teachers have come up with new and innovative ways to present content and have embraced the role that technology can play in teaching.  As a result of this experience, I believe our classrooms and teaching will be transformed when we return to our physical school buildings.   We’ve seen our schools and communities show creativity in honoring our graduating seniors, and we are committed to provide our seniors with traditional graduation ceremonies.  More details on those plans will be announced on May 8.  More than ever though, these challenging times have cemented the fact that our schools are truly families!  I am confident that we will come through this pandemic stronger than ever!  May God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America!

Terry L. Mears, Superintendent

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