# data[].attributes.body
236-233-6613

# data[].attributes.body
First day 8-17-2020

# data[].attributes.body
Please enter information

# data[].attributes.body
How to wear you mask in the school building.

# data[].attributes.body
Covid 19 Information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dear Athens City Schools Families:

Athens City Schools (ACS) does NOT have a confirmed case of coronavirus in our schools. Our hearts go out to those personally affected around the globe by this virus. If this were to occur in ACS, we will notify staff and parents/guardians within the school community.

We are aware of the concerns of our community and have been following the information and guidance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The school district has the ability to allow e-learning (online) days and could use this option if needed for health reasons.

We are closely monitoring the health and attendance of our students and staff. We are also working hard to keep surfaces used often as clean as possible, and soap/hand sanitizer containers full.

ACS will continue to follow CDC recommendations to prevent any infection of a respiratory virus, which includes:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when sick. Students should remain at home until fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place immediately in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

ACS encourages families to follow the CDC's information for travel. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions. Email beth.patton@acs-k12.org or call the Athens City Schools Board of Education at 256.233.6600

Please help to keep our students and staff safe by staying informed, practicing good hygiene, and staying home or keeping children home if they have been running a fever or are exhibiting signs of a fever.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus / Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dear Athens City Schools Families: Athens City Schools (ACS) does NOT have a confirmed case of coronavirus in our schools. Our hearts go out to those personally affected around the globe by this virus. If this were to occur in ACS, we will notify staff and parents/guardians within the school community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As parents, we tend to want to make things better for our kids. But the seriousness of the novel coronavirus has forced us to talk to our children seriously about their safety and the safety of others.

Now that the CDC is recommending people wear cloth face coverings when venturing out in public, many parents are wondering if their children should wear masks when they go outside.

If they are over the age of 2, the answer is yes.

But that can be really hard for parents when kids don't understand why masks are important, and why they can't just go play outdoors and see their friends and grandparents.

Dr. Rachel J. Thornton, a practicing pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in an interview conducted via email that it's important for parents to be open and honest with their children when talking about face masks. And don't presume they won't want to wear one.

"Try to engage in open, honest, developmentally appropriate communication with your child about masks," Thornton said. "Keep the conversation and concepts simple, at a level they can understand. Find a time to start the conversation with them about wearing a mask in advance of when you need them to wear it. This approach can help insure that the child has time to ask questions and rehearse the behavior if needed."

Here, Thornton offers more tips and resources on how to talk to children about masks without frightening them.
The CDC does not recommend masks for children under age 2. What about kids under 10?
In general, we want to be sure that any face coverings worn by a child do not pose a choking hazard or suffocation hazard. As long as the face covering does not pose a choking hazard for a child older than 2 and it can be worn safety without obstructing a child's ability to breath, it is fine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has helpful information for parents, including a set of frequently asked questions about cloth face coverings for children during COVID-19, available on its parent/caregiver website.
Should children wear masks when they go on walks with their parents?
A general rule of thumb is that a face covering is advised when there is a chance that you may not be able to fully maintain physical distancing as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (that is, maintain six feet of distance from others). If a child is outdoors for a walk or play in an area where they can stay six feet away from others who are not members of their same household, guidance suggests a face covering is not needed. For example, if you are taking a family walk in your neighborhood. If it is necessary for a child to go somewhere where maintaining six feet of physical distance from others at all times is difficult, such as a necessary trip to the grocery store or pharmacy, then CDC guidelines for wearing a face covering would recommend using a nonmedical mask or face covering. It is important to note that wearing a face covering does not eliminate the need to adhere to physical distancing. It is still important, as much as possible, to stay at least six feet apart even when wearing a face covering to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and prevent the spread.
Any tips on getting a toddler/child to wear a mask without frightening them?

Even young children can be taught healthy habits such as washing hands. Use simple, age-appropriate language is helpful in teaching them health habits like handwashing. Practicing or rehearsing the behavior can also help integrate it into a child's routine. When talking with toddlers and young children about masks, try to keep the conversation calm; allow it to progress at their pace. Use language that is developmentally appropriate and direct. Encourage children to ask questions and share what they know and how they feel.

Establishing consistent routines, rehearsing and reviewing what will happen next, and giving children enough time to transition between activities can all help children with mastery and reduce their level of anxiety in new experiences.

Try to resist the urge to assume that your child is going to respond negatively to wearing a mask. Instead, introduce the idea and ask them what they think. They may be excited about wearing a mask with a fun pattern or their favorite color. It may also be helpful to give them an opportunity to practice wearing a mask at home and watch you practice wearing your nonmedical mask or face covering so they can get used to it.

Making masks at home for your family or to donate to others can be an activity that gives children a sense that they are staying safe and helping others.

It is important to note that a face covering can be distracting to children and cause them to touch their face more than usual. The guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics available at healthychildren.org suggests reconsidering the use of a cloth face mask when it causes your child to touch their face more frequently than when they are not wearing it.

Any breathing issues with kids and masks that parents should know about?
When a mask impedes a child's ability to breathe normally, or when they are unable to remove the mask on their own if needed, the CDC recommends that a face covering should not be worn. These are important factors to keep in mind. Any child who is incapacitated or unable to remove the covering on their own if needed should not wear cloth face coverings.
Do kids have any special needs, like wearing a mask with a filter?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cloth face coverings. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations are similar. For most people, these cloth face coverings would be most appropriate in a community setting where physical distancing may not be possible. There may be specific circumstances where another type of mask is recommended. For children with severe or chronic illnesses including being immuno-compromised or having significant lung disease or other conditions, you should speak directly with your child's healthcare provider for guidance on the most appropriate type and approach to wearing a face covering for their needs.
What if my child is sick and we need to go to the doctor? Are the protocols different now?

If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, you should seek emergency medical attention by calling 911 and going to the emergency department for evaluation and treatment.

If your child is sick with mild symptoms that you are able to manage at home, you should call your child's healthcare provider to discuss the specific circumstances surrounding their illness and the symptoms they are experiencing. This way, your child's healthcare provider can give specific recommendations for your child and can make recommendations about whether your child should be seen in person for care, whether a video visit or telehealth visit could be used, or whether a specific treatment would be recommended based on the illness symptoms your child has. Calling your child's medical provider with questions or for guidance can help insure your child gets the care they need in the right location and with the most appropriate precautions in place to prevent risk of exposure or transmission of COVID-19.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should kids wear face masks? We asked a pediatrician

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As parents, we tend to want to make things better for our kids. But the seriousness of the novel coronavirus has forced us to talk to our children seriously about their safety and the safety of others.

# data[].attributes.body
What teachers expect!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Most Americans expect schools to reopen in the fall, but a stunning number of teachers and students may not be there.

In an exclusive USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, 1 in 5 teachers say they are unlikely to go back to school if their classrooms reopen in the fall, a potential massive wave of resignations. Though most teachers report working more than usual, nearly two-thirds say they haven't been able to properly do their jobs in an educational system upended by the coronavirus.

A separate poll of parents with at least one child in grades K-12 finds that 6in 10 say they would be likely to pursue at-home learning options instead of sending back their children this fall. Nearly a third of parents, 30%, say they are "very likely" to do that.

The COVID-19 pandemic has recast education in the USA, prompting almost every district to send their students home and hastily adopt distance learning to close out the school year that is now ending. Those disruptions are guaranteed to reverberate into the new school year and beyond, especially for teachers who have been thrust into new roles that most say they weren't well-trained to fill.

The surveys underscore how concerns about the coronavirus will complicate efforts to resume daily routines in American life, from work to leisure to commerce, at least until a vaccine is widely available.

"I'm on a committee with my district talking about the what-ifs, because we don't have answers on what is going to happen," said J.W. White, 47, a middle school teacher from Fort Worth who was among those surveyed. "The expectation of parents and society is we're sending our children to be educated in a safe environment, and how we're going to provide that safe environment is completely unknown."
What schools will look like when they reopen: Scheduled days home, more online learning, lots of hand-washing
The challenges in the past few months have sometimes been overwhelming, the language arts teacher said in a follow-up interview. "I feel very disconnected from my students," she said, "and I feel like they're falling behind."

To explore the views of teachers and parents, USA TODAY and Ipsos conducted parallel online polls May 18-21. In one, 505 teachers of kindergarten through high school were surveyed. The other national survey polled 403 parents of a K-12 child.

The credibility intervals, akin to a margin of error, are plus or minus 5 percentage points for the survey of teachers and 5.6 points for the survey of parents with school-aged children.

"As our world has changed, almost everything we do has changed, including how we view and approach education," Cliff Young, president of Ipsos, said. "Though Americans are optimistic about a return to in-person learning, there is angst among teachers, parents and America at large about how to keep our schools safe if the virus isn't fully contained."

Among key findings:

Teachers are struggling

Almost all of them, 83%, say they are having a harder time doing their job, and two-thirds say they have had to work more than usual. Two-thirds say they haven't been able to do their job properly since starting to teach remotely, a task that most say they hadn't been prepared well by the district to do.

The newest teachers, those who have been on the job for five years or less, struggle the most with distance teaching; 6 in 10 say they hadn't been trained well for the task. The oldest teachers have the most difficulty dealing with technology. Among teachers 55 and older, 1 in 4 say it hasn't been easy for them to use the technology required.

Parents recognize how hard teachers are working. Seven in 10 say teachers are "working harder now than they ever have."

Children's progress is in peril

Three-fourths of teachers say having to rely on distance learning is making their students fall behind in their classwork, although most predict that they will be able to make up lost ground. By 6-1, teachers say they are worried about their students; half of teachers are "very" worried.

Parents are also worried about their children, but at lower levels, by less than 2-1. Parents are much less likely than teachers to say their children are falling behind; 46% of parents say that, compared with 76% of teachers.

Both parents and teachers acknowledge how difficult it has been for the other group to support distance learning. A 52% majority of parents say teachers have struggled; 85% of teachers say parents have struggled.

Technology is working for most

Almost all parents say their children have access to reliable internet service at home that allows them to study; just 3% say they don't. Eighty-six percent of parents say their children have the software and equipment they need; 10% say they don't. Generally, parents report that the technology has been easy to use.
Coronavirus' online school is hard enough. What if you're still learning to speak English?
Lower-income families are much more likely to face hurdles in access to technology. Nearly 1 in 5 of those in households with annual income of less than $50,000 a year say their children lack necessary software and equipment for online learning.

Getting a vaccine is seen as critical

A significant share of parents and teachers, about 4 in 10, oppose returning to the classroom before there is a coronavirus vaccine. (Slightly more support returning to school without a vaccine, but in each case less than a majority.)

That day isn't close. The most optimistic predictions say a vaccine might be developed by the end of the year; the less optimistic ones say it may take well into next year or even longer.

There's a search for solutions

Roughly two-thirds of teachers and parents support the idea of returning to the classroom for two or three days a week and using distance learning the other days. About two-thirds of both groups endorse having teachers considered at high risk for the illness continue to teach online, while teachers at low risk teach in person.
'These kids are coming back':Reopened Montana school offers peek at what fall might bring
Parents and teachers show more of a split on the idea of extending the school year, starting classes earlier in the summer and continuing into the next summer. Parents are inclined to support the idea, 47%-36%. Teachers oppose it, 57%-34%.

Another divide: 40% of parents say public school teachers are paid fairly. Just 24% of teachers agree.

Social distancing at school? Good luck with that

Teachers are ready for changes in the school routine next fall. Nearly 8 in 10 teachers say they would be likely to wear a mask while teaching, and nearly 6 in 10 say they are likely to work longer hours. Nearly 9 in 10 warn that they foresee difficulties in enforcing social distancing among their students.

Parents agree. Seven in 10 would ask their child to wear a mask at school, but more than two-thirds say their child would find it hard to comply with social distancing.

"Having to be 6 feet apart is difficult for adults, and it's even more difficult for kids," said Andrea Rodriquez, 23, a Pittsburgh elementary school teacher who works with young children who are learning English as a second language. That's been difficult to do without personal interaction.

"We try to do our best, but it's not the same when they are in school so we can know that they're understanding," she said. The change was so abrupt, and teachers are still trying to figure out how to make it work. "One week we were working, and the other week everything changed. Nobody knew it would happen, what tools to use. We have learned on the way."

If schools reopen this fall, nearly 1 in 5 teachers surveyed say they aren't likely to return to teaching. Among teachers 55 and older, those with the most experience, 1 in 4 say they probably won't return.

Andy Brown, 43, who teaches at a rural high school in Mantua, Ohio, said that after 20 years on the job, he is reconsidering whether to return. "For the first time ... these last three months have felt like I've been doing a job, doing this to earn a paycheck," he said. "The engagement level with the students hasn't been there, and that's the reason I got into this career - the interaction and the engagement and the seeing and feeling their excitement."

His cross-curriculum class, tracing the environmental history of the USA, had been working on a two-year project to build an aquaponic greenhouse. The certificate of occupancy for the new building had been granted the day before the school district shut down.

There are qualms among parents as well. If classrooms reopen this fall, parents by 59%-36% say they would be likely to pursue at-home options, such as online classes or home schooling. By double digits, men are more likely than women to consider pursuing those alternatives. Those with lower household incomes are more interested than those with higher incomes, and racial minorities are more interested than whites.

Like it or not, parents and teachers agree on this: Schools are likely to reopen in the fall. Sixty-three percent of parents and 65% of teachers call that very or somewhat likely.

Despite the challenges of the moment, teachers' commitment to their jobs seems to have been strengthened, not shaken. In a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll of teachers in January 2019, 92% said they loved their jobs; now 90% do, not a statistically significant drop. Nearly half, 48%, say they have thought about leaving their job as a teacher, but that's a decline from last year, when a 54% majority had thought about it.
More strikes ahead? Teachers say they love their jobs but can't pay their bills Fact check: CDC's guidelines for reopening schools are recommendations, not rules Outnumbered school counselors struggle to keep kids safe remotely Special education families struggle with coronavirus school closures
Seventy-seven percent say if they could pick a career all over again, they would still decide to be a teacher - a tick up from the 73% who expressed that view last year, before the pandemic began.

Sara Waugh, 37, who teaches computer skills at a high school in Omaha, spent the last week of the school year in the district's mandatory training on how to teach online, so she can be better prepared for that possibility in the fall. The number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the community, in part because of outbreaks at meatpacking plants. "We have no idea what's going to go on in the fall," she said. "I can't even speculate. I've heard a hundred different rumors."

She'll be there no matter what, she said. "I love what I do, and I feel like what I do can be adapted to a remote learning environment," perhaps more easily than subjects such as English or science, she said. "I feel like it can be done."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Back to school? 1 in 5 teachers are unlikely to return to reopened classrooms this fall, poll says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Most Americans expect schools to reopen in the fall, but teachers and parents express significant resistance, according to USA TODAY/ Ipsos polls

# data[].attributes.body
Principal

# data[].attributes.body
Check your route to school!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Covid-19: 59% parents won't send their children back to school, exclusive ITV News poll reveals

# data[].attributes.body
Please do not forget to take the survey on if your child will attend school.