Listen to the Principal's Weekly Message
At-Risk 4K Application for 2021-22 is January 11 through March 10, 2021
To comply with new procedures and protocols, the 4K preregistration and screening process has moved to an online format. We will not hold the face-to-face screening scheduled for March 24-26, 2021 as this process is now part of the 4K Application, so 4K students will attend school as normal on these days.
To be considered, children must turn four years old on or before September 1, 2021. Parents can apply online at https://bit.ly/3mHuiH9 or call 864-452-0437 if they do not have internet access. Completing the application does not guarantee that the child will be enrolled. Notification of acceptance will be sent to parents via email by April 1, 2021. Children selected for 4K programs must demonstrate academic or developmental needs and/or risk factors such as low family income and low parent education level. A child’s primary custodial parent/legal guardian can submit the application. The GCS Virtual Program is not available to 4K students.
Click here for more information.
Detailed information can be found here.
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.”
Taylors Elementary students are collecting gently worn shoes for the World Wear Shoe Project.
This is a win-win for our school and for those less fortunate individuals who need shoes. Our school will receive .55 per pound for the shoes we donate. In turn, shoes will be made available to people living in developing countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and others. We have collection boxes in the main hallway for your donations. We are collecting all types of shoes for men, women, and children. Shoes do need to be in very good condition. Thank you for supporting this service project!
The links below will help you with solving technology issues at home.
Wondering what to do if you have problems with your child's device while learning at home?
Click here to find out how to get help.
Hi Taylors Families! Thank you for your patience as we have been working on Supply Lists. Two helpful items will be a personal water bottle and earbuds/headphones. We will only have bottle refill water stations (no traditional water fountains). We would recommend personalizing the bottle with your child's name (tape and/or Sharpie style marker works great!) The second is Earbuds/Headphones.
As always, if you need any assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Rhodes or one of our school counselors.
Click here for the 2020-2021 supply lists.
Due to moving the students’ start time to 7:45 AM, elementary schools’ office hours will be 7:00 AM – 3:45 PM beginning this fall.
Hours for students will be 7:45 AM to 2:15 PM.
