INFORMATION REGARDING P-EBT BENEFITS

The federal Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) program was launched in the spring to help support food-insecure families purchase food for their children while schools were closed to students. The program provided a benefit on an EBT card that could be used to buy food at authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. The NCDHHS announced a brief extension of P-EBT benefits. Under the new federal guidelines, many families that received P-EBT benefits in the spring may not be eligible to receive benefits this fall. Hoke County Schools' families do not qualify for the "new" P-EBT benefits.

Children are eligible for the fall P-EBT program if they meet these criteria:

• Received P-EBT benefits last school year (2019-2020); or have been Directly Certified for free meal benefits for the current school year (2020-2021); or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) School for the current school year (2020-2021); and

• Their school district or charter school is approved to participate in the National School Lunch Program during the 2020 – 20201 school year; and,

• Their school district or charter school utilized virtual learning for all students for at least five consecutive school days between August 17^th and September 30^th.

If you have questions regarding the P-EBT card, you should call the NC EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141.

HOKE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TO PAUSE FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION

Hoke County High School will temporarily move all of its students to online instruction (September 17-September 28) as a precaution after two Hoke County High School staff members tested positive for COVID-19. These two cases are isolated to Hoke County High School and have not impacted any other schools in the district. Hoke County Schools’ district leaders have been in contact with the Hoke County Health Department and are following all guidelines and recommendations.

While we believe there was minimal contact between the two staff members who tested positive and others in the school, we feel it is in the best interest of our students, staff, and community to err on the side of caution and pause face-to-face instruction at Hoke High. For the next 11 days, Hoke County High School will be closed for all students and staff, and deep cleaning will be completed.

Hoke County High School will operate on a remote learning schedule during this time. Attendance and instruction will continue. Students should report to their classes at their scheduled time to ensure they are receiving online instruction and keeping up with their assignments. Students will return to school on September 28, which will be an A day. Students should continue to check their morning notes for updates.

It is critical that we continue practicing the three w’s: wash your hands, wear a face covering, and wait six feet apart. We would like to thank our parents for continuing to work with us to keep all of our students and staff safe, this includes keeping students home if they are sick and letting school leaders know if you have concerns or questions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to do all we can to educate our students while protecting their health and well-being.

HOKE COUNTY CLASSES RESUME AUGUST 17

As Hoke County students prepare to return to the classroom, whether in-person or virtually, we recognize that there are questions and concerns regarding the opening of school this fall. District and school leaders have spent the summer preparing for the return of students on August 17. Throughout the entire school year, Hoke County Schools will follow guidance from state and local health department officials regarding school opening or possible closures. This year's return to school will come with some new protocols and procedures in order to keep everyone safe and healthy. We encourage everyone to visit the Hoke County Schools website and review the district’s re-entry plan. While our new procedures, such as daily temperature checks, mandatory face coverings, increased disinfecting and social distancing, will alter certain aspects of the school day, our goal is to maintain a normalized environment where all students will receive a quality education.

Hoke County Schools will reopen schools for students under Plan B, which allows parents to choose how they would like for their child(ren) to return to school. The first option is for child(ren) to learn virtually this fall through HCS Online. These students will attend class online each day in a virtual setting that will mirror face-to-face instruction. Students will need to participate, complete assignments, and communicate with teachers each day in order to be marked present. Grades will also be given in the same manner as a traditional class. We ask parents to support these students during their online learning by encouraging their child(ren) to stay on task, creating a structured learning environment at home, and setting routines much like a typical school day. Any device (hardware) concerns should be reported to the school's media coordinator. Students and parents who need assistance with logging in or have questions about software/apps not loading should contact the Digital Teaching and Learning Department at 910-322-4174 or 910-556-9698.

Parents also have the option to allow their child(ren) to attend school for face-to-face instruction. This option will allow students to attend school two days per week, with remote learning three days per week. With our face-to-face classes, students will attend school with much smaller class sizes which will be conducive to social distancing. For example, at Hoke County High School there are typically 2,000 students on campus. This fall, half of these students have selected remote learning. Only 1,000 students at this school will attend in-person classes. These students are divided into two groups. This means only 500 students will attend class on Monday and Wednesday, and another 500 students will attend class on Tuesday and Thursday. Having 500 students per day on a campus that normally holds 2,000 students will allow staff to more easily monitor social distancing among the students.

As we open schools for in-person instruction, it is important that everyone recognizes the role they play in protecting themselves and others. It is absolutely imperative that if anyone experiences flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, chills, nausea, etc.) they stay home. Each school will place a heightened emphasis on facility sanitation, including the regular cleaning of high traffic areas and surfaces, as well as disinfecting with industrial sprayers at the end of each school day. Hand hygiene is critical. Hand sanitation stations have been placed throughout our schools and students will be encouraged to regularly wash their hands as a way to remove germs, avoid getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others. Students and staff will receive temperature checks each morning before entering the school. Parents are asked to remain in their vehicle when dropping off students. Visitors, including parents, will not be allowed past the front office of any school, and any person entering the school must receive a temperature check. The school district will provide face coverings for students and staff, or they may choose to wear their own. Face shields may also be worn along with face coverings. All visitors will also be required to wear a face covering. These simple things like consistent hand-washing, staying home when sick, face coverings, social distancing and limiting close interactions will become our best defense against the virus and help keep everyone safe. Now that we know much more about how this virus spreads, we must govern ourselves in ways that will limit the spread.

Additionally, we would like to reassure our families that as we make our way through this school year, we will continue to put the health of our HCS family first by monitoring the trends of this virus, as well as listening to guidance from local and state health officials. If at any time we feel it is in the best interest of our students and staff to make the switch to 100% online learning, we will work with the Hoke County Board of Education to promptly make that transition.

The overall success of this school year will require each of us working closely together, listening to one another's concerns and doing our part to contribute to a positive, healthy and safe school experience.

STUDENTS EXCITED TO MAKE LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO SCHOOL

ABC 11 VIDEO

RAEFORD, N.C. (WTVD) -- It's back to school for some students in Raeford. Even during this pandemic, officials have said that getting students back into the classroom is about re-establishing a sense of normalcy in the safest way possible.

The school day at SandHoke Early College starts with temperature checks. Masks are enforced throughout the day as well.

Students head to class in one-way hallways marked with stickers to remind them to maintain their distance. Inside each classroom is a hand sanitizer station with desks spaced six feet apart. These are all big changes for sophomore student Hayden Logan who says it makes her feel safe.

"At first, I was nervous due to the circumstances that we're going through. Now that we got here, it's all good and I'm excited," Logan said.

Hand sanitizer stations are set up throughout the school and inside each classroom. Students are expected to practice social distancing even during lunch on the quad. Red markers help keep students like sophomore Clayton Baker on track.

"There's many procedures you can take to protect students and faculty. There's always that chance of somebody slipping and not wearing their masks and not practicing social distancing," Baker said.

More than half the students who attend this school have returned to the classroom. School officials have implemented a hybrid learning schedule to reduce the number of students on campus at one time.

Students are expected to attend school Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. They learn from home on the days they aren't in school.

Hoke County Schools Spokeswoman Jodie Bryant told ABC11 these precautionary measures are in place to keep COVID-19 at bay. According to Bryant, returning to school provides students with the structure they are used to.

"Our students are used to having summer break. They've been out since March. They haven't had much interaction with friends and teachers. It's very important for their social and emotional health to come back into the school."

SANDHOKE EARLY COLLEGE RETURNS TO IN-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

WRAL VIDEO

WRAL FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO

By Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

RAEFORD, N.C. — Face-to-face classes begin Wednesday at SandHoke Early College High School, the first public school in central North Carolina area to start in-classroom learning.

The first day of class was scheduled to be Monday, but Hurricane Isaias postponed those plans.

The students' first stop was a temperature check.

Michael Rattley said it was important for his daughter to get back in the classroom and off the home computer.

"Online is good," he said, "but I would rather be in the classroom. That way I can get one-on-one training with the teachers."

About 300 students are registered for face-to-face learning. Half will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, the other half on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Desks have been spread out to support social distancing, everyone wears masks, and hand sanitizer is everywhere.

Brandon Payton, a teacher for six years, was glad to be back in class with students with tough rules in place to battle COVID-19.

"Rules are put in place for a reason. It is for the safety and protection of everybody. So my concern would definitely be that if someone is not following what they're supposed to do, then that effects everybody," he said.

In July, Hoke County Schools released an extensive video showing the inside of Hoke County Middle School and some of the measures the district will put in place to make sure schools are safe for on-campus learning.

Additionally, custodians and maintenance workers were trained over the summer on how to properly disinfect the school. The school will be disinfected each afternoon after everyone leaves.

Hoke County is one of a few counties in central North Carolina that opted to start the school year with in-classroom learning. Many counties, including Wake, Durham and Orange, will begin the first few weeks of school all-online and will reassess based on coronavirus numbers.

HOKE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN USING PLAN B

SandHoke Early College High School classes resume Monday, August 3, 2020. All classes will be online Monday and Tuesday, August 3-4 (due to Hurricane Isaias). Face-to-face classes will begin Wednesday, August 5.

WHAT WILL SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE THIS FALL?

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR

HOKE HIGH FINDS SUCCESS IN DRONE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM