Posted On: Friday, March 13, 2020

Dear Parents:

On behalf of the Superintendent, this message is to update you on resources you may need during the two-week closure of CCSD schools from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020.

DIGITAL LEARNING DAYS

As you know, our students and teachers have been preparing for the past year to use the Canvas learning management system for Digital Learning Days in times of emergency closure. While many of our teachers use this system every day, others do not, and we know there will be challenges to overcome as we transition all teaching and learning online. We ask you to please be patient, and know that your children’s teachers also will be extending that same patience. We also ask you to emphasize with your children the importance of completing their assignments each day, as we do not want their learning to be negatively impacted. More information about Digital Learning Days is online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/digitallearningdays

Technology Devices and Internet Access: Please reach out to your child’s teacher as soon as possible today if your household does not have a computer and/or Internet access. All schools have devices that can be loaned out to students in need. As we will be closed beginning Monday, these devices, if needed, must go home with your child today.

Canvas Support: If you, as a parent, have not created a free Canvas account, please set one up today. If you need assistance with setting up an account, logging into an existing account or navigating the system, please visit our resource page that is online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/canvas. If you still need help, please email our CCSD staff who oversee Canvas at canvas.support@cherokeek12.net – this help desk will continue operating from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays during the closure.

FOOD AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS

We know the temporary closure of our schools will cause hardships for our students in need and their families. Please see the immediate resources available from CCSD and CCSD Partners noted below; we have created a list of resources on the webpage at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/bulletin-board that will be updated throughout the closure.

CCSD School Nutrition: Our CCSD School Nutrition staff will distribute to-go bags of food through drive-through stations set up from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 16, and Monday, March 23, in the parking lot or bus lanes of the schools or communities noted below. These bags will contain a week of breakfasts and lunches for a child. A child, infant to age 18, must be present in order for a bag to be provided. Children who do not attend one of the schools noted below can go to the site closest to their home. To be proactive in “social distancing,” families cannot stay at the site; do not come to a site if you are ill. This emergency service is being funded with monies set aside for our summer meal program; donations are welcome to help offset the cost and can be made by using the form here: http://bit.ly/CCSDdonate NOTE: You can submit this form to CCSD without the school staff signatures.

Carmel ES: 2275 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock, GA 30189

Cherokee HS: 930 Marietta Hwy, Canton, GA 30114

Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: 3219 Hunt Road, Acworth, GA 30102

Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: 205 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton, GA 30114

Etowah HS: 6565 Putnam Ford Road, Woodstock, GA 30189

Indian Knoll ES: 3635 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115

Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: 6118 Woodstock Road, Acworth, GA 30102

R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: 1375 Puckett Road, Waleska, GA 30183

Teasley MS: 151 Hickory Log Drive, Canton, GA 30114

Woodstock HS: 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive, Woodstock, GA 30189

**UPDATE: The to-go meals for these communities will be delivered by the CCSD School Nutrition Cruisin’ Café mobile feeding bus on Monday, March 16, and Monday, March 23, at 10:10 a.m. at Hidden Falls Mobile Home Park (6359 Bells Ferry Rd, Acworth, GA 30102), 10:35 a.m. at East Gate Mobile Home Park (6310 Bells Ferry Rd, Acworth, GA 30102), 11:30 a.m. at Canton Mill Village (Old Tippens Drive Canton GA 30114) and Noon at Canton Housing Authority (1400 Oak Side Drive Canton GA 30114).

MUST Ministries serves Cherokee County families in need through its food, clothing, utility, rent, housing and employment assistance programs at 111 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton, 30114. Info: https://www.mustministries.org/cherokee-co and 770.479.5397. MUST also operates school pantries in partnership with CCSD at Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy and Cherokee HS; these school food pantries will be open limited hours to be determined and announced on our resource webpage.

First Baptist Church of Woodstock through its CARE Ministry maintains a food bank that assists families in need. Info: www.fbcw.org and 678.494.2690

HOW TO HELP OTHERS

We already have heard from many of you who want to help students in need. Our School Nutrition program, due to government regulations we must comply with, cannot use volunteers for its meal distribution program; you can make financial donations by using the form here: http://bit.ly/CCSDdonate. We recommend reaching out to an established nonprofit organization with infrastructure already in place to meet community needs such as MUST Ministries and First Baptist Church of Woodstock … these organizations can accept financial donations and donations of food and household supplies, and offer volunteer opportunities. If you have stockpiled supplies now in short supply in our community, such as bath tissue and hand sanitizer, please consider donating some to MUST Ministries, as its shelves are in short supply and families in need have not had the means to prepare as well as you have.

We are all in this together.

Barbara P. Jacoby

Chief Communications Officer

Cherokee County School District