WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Students in Houston County have two options for the upcoming school year -- online or in-person learning.
Kaththea Darmento says she is opting for online learning for her daughter.
"I was relieved actually to see that they had the distance learning option," says Darmento.
She says some of her family members are immune-compromised, so learning at home is the best thing for her children.
"If they did not have that, I was honestly going to pull her and home school her."
For Houston County students who choose in-person learning, that means:
- Masks are encouraged, but not required
- Scheduled times for students to wash their hands
- Parents are asked to take their child's temperature daily at home before coming to school
- There will be no large gatherings, like assemblies
- Directional hallways, where possible
- Limiting parent and visitor access
- Scheduled cleaning in each of the schools
- Normal class sizes, with desks spread three to six feet apart
- Students will be kept with their cohort as much as possible, including at recess and lunch
- Water fountains will be closed and bottled water will be provided
- The school schedule remains the same
- School buses will continue to run
- No further action is required before the first day of school
For students who choose online learning, that means:
- Elementary students can enroll in distance learning Monday through Friday using Google Classroom
- Middle- and high-schoolers will use Odysseyware
- Students must register for this option by July 13th
- Students are still eligible to get school meals. The school system's website says more information on that will be sent out at a later date.
- Must stick with online learning until at least the end of the semester
- Schools are not providing devices
- Students cannot participate in extracurricular activities on campus
- They are ineligible for Valedictorian or Salutatorian unless they physically attended high school on campus for four semesters
The reaction on social media is mixed about the options.
Logan Sims says her kids are excited to return to campus, but Karen Barrett says she is choosing distance learning for her kids.
Cheryl Milton says no way is she letting her child go back to the classroom.
Others say they are frustrated that students who opt for online learning cannot be considered for Valedictorian or Salutatorian or participate in after school activities.
To register for online learning or to learn more about both options, you can visit the Houston County School System website here.
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