Help your school by joining Fountain Inn Elementary PTA! This year membership is done online only through Memberhub! No cash or checks need to be sent into school. Being a member of our PTA has many perks like keeping you informed, helping improve the school, and many more! Please go on the school website for the link and membership for your family is only $5. https://fountaininnpta.new.memberhub.store/store
As COVID cases in Greenville County and the State of South Carolina continue to rise, Greenville County Schools is asking students, parents, and the greater community to help ensure the return to in-person school in the district is not derailed by rising numbers. GCS is asking all citizens to follow DHEC guidelines to help reverse the current increase: wear a mask when in public, avoid large gatherings, frequently wash or sanitize hands and high-touch surfaces, stay home and away from others when sick, and seek medical advice when running a fever, developing a new or worsening cough, experiencing shortness of breath, or losing the sense of taste or smell.
Thanks to the cooperation of employees and students, who have complied with established COVID-19 protocols while at school, the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 remains lower in our schools than in the community as a whole. In fact, based on statistical analyses using DHEC community spread data and internal GCS reporting, the risk of getting COVID-19 for those who attend or work at a public school in Greenville County is about half the rate of the community as a whole. Still, the Superintendent cautioned today that even if schools continue to be a less risky environment than the surrounding community, there is a point at which the district could be forced to return to 100% eLearning if the number of employees and substitutes available to work was insufficient for the proper supervision and instruction of students.
“In addition to normal employee absences, we are currently averaging over 150 vacancies each day as a result of isolation due to a positive COVID diagnosis (avg. 40) or quarantining due to direct exposure or possible symptoms (avg. 110),” said Superintendent Burke Royster. “By comparison, 29 employees were in isolation and 66 in quarantine on November 1. We want to keep schools open for in-person instruction, move forward with our plan to return middle school students to full-time face-to-face, and increase high school in-person attendance, but we need the cooperation of the community.”
Teachers who quarantine or experience only mild COVID symptoms can teach remotely from home, but schools must still have a responsible adult in each classroom to provide supervision and ensure students stay on task. With a significant number of substitutes who have refused all offered assignments this year, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill in for absent teachers. Media specialists, school counselors, instructional coaches, and administrators are all being called on to help supervise classes, but at the expense of their usual duties and responsibilities.
Earlier this week, principals were instructed to have teachers prepare eLearning lessons in case a spike in cases over the upcoming holidays required GCS to revert temporarily to 100% eLearning. “We are not planning to go backwards on our Roadmap, nor do we wish to do so,” said Royster, “but it would be irresponsible of us not to prepare for that possibility, given the current trend.”
Virtual students who are in first and second grade will be taking MAP tests for Reading and Math on Tuesday, December 1. Students can be dropped off at the cafeteria at 8:00am and should be picked up following testing at 10:30am. Please bring fully charged Chromebooks, and masks. First Grade students will also need to bring headphones. Thank you!
On Friday, December 11, 2020, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., GCS Virtual Program students in Grades 3-8 are invited to take the SC ACT-142 TE21 Post-assessments at their home-based schools. Virtual students who participated in the SC ACT-142 Pre-assessments during LEAP Week (August 17-21) are encouraged to contact their home-based schools and RSVP to take the post-assessments on December 11. Virtual students who participate in the post-assessments at their home-based schools on December 11 will not be counted absent from their virtual classes that day. On December 11, virtual students must bring their Chromebooks and provide their own transportation to and from the home-based school location.
Students registered at Fountain Inn Elementary will receive a link to a google form to RSVP to attending testing. Please drop students off at the cafeteria door between 8:00 and 8:30am with their chrome books. They may be collected at 10:30 from the front entrance of the school.
If your student is participating in each of these opportunities and still performing below expectations here are some strategies of support.
The student registration timeline for the 2020-2021 school year has been revised. For more information please see the 2020-2021 Student Registration Timeline.
Parents, please remember NO transportation changes will occur without a WRITTEN AND SIGNED note from the parent. We will not take transportation changes over the phone or via email/dojo or other online way. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
Backpack is a one-stop shop to apply for special programs or check grades, assignments, lunch balances, graduation progress, scores on the SAT and ACT, and other information. Now parents have the same access, and can also use Backpack to change contact and demographic information, update the list of individuals allowed to pick up their child from school, and ensure they receive important alerts and notifications from the school or district. Parents will also be able to invite others (i.e. grandparents, babysitters, etc.) to have viewing rights to their child’s information without giving them access to change any data or pick up rights. If you don't already have a Parent Backpack account, click here to set up Parent Backpack.
Student Chromebook Repairs
District Chromebook Information Site
Student Chromebooks that require repair can be swapped out for another device at one of our four Career Centers.
Chromebook Repairs – Face-to-Face/eLearning Students
On days that students physically attend school, students may turn in their Chromebook for repair at their school and receive a loaner device. Once repaired, the Chromebook will be returned to the school which must then be returned to the student.
On days when students participate in eLearning, students may bring Chromebooks to the nearest career center (Mon-Thu, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) for repair and receive a loaner device. Once repaired, Chromebooks will be returned to the student’s home school and must be returned to the student in exchange for the loaner Chromebook.
Chromebook Repairs – Virtual Students
Virtual students may bring Chromebooks to the nearest career center (Mon-Thu, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) for repair and to receive a loaner device. Once repaired, Chromebooks will be returned to the student’s home school. The school staff will then contact the student to notify them that the Chromebook is available for pickup.
Career Center Locations
Donaldson Career Center
100 Vocational Drive
Greenville, SC 29605
Enoree Career Center
108 Scalybark Road
Greenville, SC 29617
Golden Strip Career Center
1120 East Butler Road
Greenville, SC 29607
Harley Bonds Career Center
505 North Main Street
Greer, SC 29650
(Use Main street entrance)
https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/Parents/main.asp?titleid=virtualprogram
Take home meals will be available at this time.
Please see below for information and registration for our Extended Day Program.
Fountain Inn Elementary Extended Day Program
Below you will see the return to school plans for Greenville County Schools. The final announcement has not yet been made as to which plan we will adhere to August 24, but as soon as it is announce we will be sure to let you know.
The following documents are addressing Greenville County Schools Re-Opening Plan in response to COVID-19. Portions of the plan are subject to change if their implementation as written is not effective or sustainable for our community.
You may also need the following information, please see below: