Loftis Middle School

We wanted to clarify any confusion around masks in light of today’s news. As previously communicated, Hamilton County Schools will continue with our SAFE Pledge and face coverings are required through the end of the school year. 1/4

Today, our county experienced 600+ new cases and a record high of 4,233 active cases. We must commit to following the healthy behaviors outlined in our HCS SAFE Pledge to slow the spread of COVID-19. Please share & encourage everyone to do their part to protect our community.

Due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in our community, we feel it is best at this time to transition to a Phase 1 learning schedule for all students beginning Monday, Dec. 14, through Friday, Dec. 18. youtube.com/watch?v=Ae7J50N4…

As we enter the Phase 2 schedule, the district would like to remind families of the process for student meals. On-campus students will be offered the opportunity to take home 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches to cover the days they are learning virtually. More: hcde.org/.../school.../meals…

Schedule Reminder: Beginning Monday, Nov. 30, grades 9-12 will follow an A/B hybrid learning schedule through Dec. 17. K-8 students will remain on a full-time schedule until Dec. 4. We will make a decision next week about K-8 for the remaining two weeks of the semester.

The below Phase Tracker is based on numbers as of last Wednesday from the Health Department, which was their last release of data. The most current data will be used to make decisions about the K-8 schedule for Dec. 7-Dec. 18. We anticipate sharing our plans tomorrow, Nov. 30.

HCS sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rick Smith after his passing. Smith served as superintendent of HCS from 2011 to 2016, and worked as an educator in Hamilton County for 33 years. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.

FOLLOW THE DATA: The current 5-day average for active cases is 1,444, which is an increase of 74 since yesterday. We will continue to track the trends & proactively share info w/families in case a phase change is warranted. Be prepared. Be SAFE. Make a plan.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 31, Hamilton County Schools will follow the Phase 3 schedule based on the criteria set by the School Reopening Task Force. Schools will be open five days a week for on-campus learning and follow the normal bell schedule. More info: facebook.com/HamiltonCountyS…

The gating criteria in our #HCSReopening plan establishes thresholds for each phase. Below is our tracker based on the latest numbers from the HC Health Department. We currently have 1,838 active cases, which would make us ready to move to Phase 2 if schools were open.

Yes, teachers will get a PPE kit, and students will be provided with face coverings. However, students and staff are welcome to provide their own face coverings that follow the district face covering guidelines, which will be included in our detailed guidance on July 31.

The district has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document to address staff and community questions about our HCS Reentry and Continuous Learning Plan. #HCSReopening View the FAQ here: bit.ly/HCSReopeningFAQ