March 27, 2020

School Closure Grab and Go Meal Orders

Trussville City Schools will be offering one drive thru pickup location at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School March 30, April 1 and April 3 between the hours of 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. You can pick up food for ANY child in your home age 18 years or younger. Meals will include a lunch for that day and a breakfast and lunch for the following day. Fill out this order form before 5:00 PM the day before pickup.

https://forms.gle/XyZ7c3S1k5GzkSpz7

Enter the HTMS front small Visitor parking lot for drive thru pick up. If your child has a food allergy, the packaged meal will be labeled accordingly. Only submit this order form once. Do not attend if you or someone in your family is sick. If you have questions, email Morgan Bean at morgan.bean@trussvillecityschools.com or call 205-228-3034.

* Required

Thank you,

TCS

Message from the Superintendent - March 26, 2020

COVID-19 School Closure Update for Trussville City Schools:

Today, March 26, 2020, the Governor announced that Alabama schools are closed through the end of the school year to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  This includes sporting events, field trips, and extra-curricular activities.  Safety is our first priority! 

The TCS calendar ends May 22 but all Alabama schools can provide online instruction through June 5 as needed.   TCS faculty and staff will rise to meet the need for a new instructional delivery system that will create a “new normal” for students for the end of the 2019-20 school year. We will meet the challenge to redesign teaching and learning in the form of online instruction. Co-teaching and alternative methods of instructional delivery  will also be available in some circumstances.

March 30 – April 3 will be planning time for teachers and staff to prepare for the start of online classes April 6, 2020.  We are using a Classroom to Cloud platform to deliver instruction for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Alternative instruction may occur for some students. 

Important Information for Instruction and Meals

Instruction:

Friday, April 3, look for the link to be sent through our mass communication system with instructions to get started Monday, April 6 in the Classroom to Cloud platform and other alternative instructional delivery methods from your child’s teachers. 

Meals:

Friday, March 27, information will be sent out through our mass communication system for meal orders for March 30 – April 3 for pick up at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.  Thereafter, the link for meals will be sent each Friday by the mass communication system for the following week.

On a personal note,  please stay well and healthy.  We are in an unprecedented time of rapid change as we navigate the educational impact of the COVID-19 virus.  So, I encourage you to practice social distancing, patience, and kindness as we adapt to these uncertain circumstances.  Parents are part of our team and this is a transformational time to become better, wiser and stronger on the other side of this pandemic.   

Dr. Pattie Neill, Superintendent

Trussville City Schools

March 21, 2020

TCS Families,

We have a unique opportunity for you if you are looking for something meaningful to do with your family during this time. If you wish to participate, adults and students can write letters of encouragement to healthcare workers, draw or color a picture for them, and then drop them in the mail to the addresses below. The letter below is from a hospital administrator that gives a glimpse into the experiences of healthcare workers during this time.

Dear School Leader,

I hope each of you are navigating this COVID 19 well, both personally and professionally. I certainly appreciate all you are doing to help "flatten the curve" by keeping our school children home. It has helped reinforce to so many parents how serious this virus can become. As I help lead this hospital through this challenge that is COVID-19, I can't help but think we have a unique opportunity to partner with you and the kids you teach toward some truly meaningful work. 

 My ask is simply, would you be willing to ask the children you teach and lead to consider writing a short letter of encouragement to the healthcare workers who are now on the frontlines of this battle vs COVID-19? 

 As a leader of these associates, I cannot begin to explain the strength, love and wisdom I witness each day. But I also know many are tired, and at times scared. This battle is unpredictable and may last much longer than any of us want to consider, so letters from the children would provide much needed nourishment to the souls of our teams (many of whom have children in your school systems). While these associates are here working in such uncertain times, someone else is caring for their kids. The guilt of not being home with their kids is real. 

 Please consider this request, as I know the impact of these letters on our associates will be profound. Please feel free to forward this message. 

Send letters and drawings to any or all of the following addresses: 

St Vincent's Health System

ATTN: Human Resources

810 St Vincent's Drive

Birmingham, AL 35205

Grandview Medical Center

ATTN: Human Resources

3690 Grandview Parkway

Birmingham, AL 35243

UAB Hospital

ATTN: Teri Poe

500 22^nd Street South

Birmingham, AL 35233

If you participate, we would love for you to share a picture of your family showing gratitude to healthcare workers during this time. Send pictures of your letters and drawings to sandra.vernon@trussvillecityschools.com or tag TCS on social media.

Thank you!

TCS

Message from the Superintendent

March 20, 2020

TCS Community:

I am proud of your vigilance and cooperation in working with TCS during this difficult time. Thank you!

I would like to use this platform to reach out to you as needed but no less than each Friday during this school closure just to say hello and update you on the school system. 

Today, State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey announced that President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy Devos have created an expedited waiver process for standardized assessments and related accountability reporting.  Dr. Mackey will apply for this waiver and expects a very quick turnaround time of 24 hours approval.  This is great news for school systems.  We are very thankful for Dr. Mackey’s leadership during this difficult and stressful time.

Our  TCS faculty and staff have united in a common goal of safeguarding the health of our community, sanitizing buildings and ensuring the continued delivery of food service for those in need of food.  Our teachers really miss seeing their students every day and they are attempting to reach out as much as possible. The concern for our students and families is immeasurable and I am so proud of the strength of our Trussville City  Schools community. 

Education and support to our students are at the forefront of our thoughts each day and most of the night.  I’m grateful for the many ways that everyone has adjusted with us to care for academic, emotional, and physical needs in the absence of our regular school day. As we settle in to a new routine, I want to draw your attention to a few things:

• Please check our TCS app, website and Facebook for general updates. 
• Our mass communication system via phone call, email and text will be used for informational and operational messages. 
• Stay tuned for information on plans for the remainder of the school year. As of today, we are still expecting an April 6 return date, but as you know, that could be extended.  

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow, it is imperative that we remain determined in our efforts to reduce its spread.  Based on the latest guidance from the CDC and the Alabama Department of Public Health, you should:

-Call your health care professional if you have COVID19 symptoms. 

-Stay home if you or someone in your household is sick.

-Avoid social gathering in groups of more than 10 people.  

-Avoid discretionary travel.

-Continue to practice good hygiene (wash hands frequently).

-Practice social distancing.

We will continue to hope for a prompt return to school. Take care of each other and please let your children know that we are thinking of them and we greatly miss seeing their smiling faces each day. 

Please stay safe and well,

Dr. Pattie Neill, Superintendent

Trussville City Schools 

March 16, 2020

School Closure Grab and Go Meal Orders

Trussville City Schools will be offering one drive thru pickup location at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School from March 18 - 20, 2020 and March 30 - April 3 (not including Spring Break and weekends) between the hours of 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. 

You can pick up food for ANY child in your home age 18 years or younger. Meals will include a lunch and a breakfast for the following morning.  Children must be present to receive a packaged meal.

Fill out this order form before the day of pickup. We will need your reservation completed by 5:00 pm before the day of pick-up.   

Enter the HTMS front small Visitor parking lot for drive thru pick up. If your child has a food allergy, the packaged meal will be labeled accordingly.

https://forms.gle/n4QPY6cpgnpxPVQy8

 The menu and order form for the week of March 30th will be opened Thursday, March 26.

 If you have questions, email Morgan Bean at morgan.bean@trussvillecityschools.com or call 205-228-3034.

Thank you,

Trussville City Schools