Message from the Superintendent November 8, 2024
Dear Fayette County Public Schools Families, Students and Staff,
Fayette County Public Schools is dedicated to creating a learning environment that supports every student's growth and success. To enhance focus and minimize distractions, the Board of Education will implement a new district-wide cell phone policy beginning January 8, 2025. Cell phones have?many benefits for communication and learning, but they also can bring disruptions into the classroom. The goal is not to discourage technology use but to establish a balanced approach that prioritizes a focused learning environment. Setting clear and consistent guidelines for cell phone use can foster classrooms where students can fully engage and excel academically. Under the new policy, students will turn in their cell phones at the start of the school day and collect them at the end. This change will support academic success and contribute to students’ mental and emotional well-being.??
Good handwashing is essential because it is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. For young children, who often come into close contact with each other and tend to touch everything around them, hand hygiene helps protect not only their health but also the health of others. Teaching children proper handwashing habits from an early age can significantly reduce the transmission of common colds, flu, and more serious infections, keeping them healthier and reducing absences from school. Additionally, it instills a lifelong habit of hygiene that can help them avoid illnesses as they grow older.
The phrase "Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow" emphasizes the importance of regular school attendance for academic success. When it comes to absences, even missing just two days per month—around 18 days in a school year—can be considered chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism can impact learning, as students miss crucial instruction, skills, and social interactions. Research shows that students with chronic absences are more likely to struggle academically, fall behind their peers, and, in some cases, have a harder time graduating. While a few absences here and there are often unavoidable due to illness or emergencies, missing more than 10% of the school year (about 18 days) is generally too many and can impact a student's long-term success.
Dr. Versie R. Hamlett
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Dates to Remember
·????? November 14: Wear blue to support Diabetes Awareness Month
·????? November 21: School Board Workshop @ 6:00 PM CAB - Board Room
·????? November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
·????? December 5: Regular School Board Meeting @ 6:00 PM - CAB - Board Room
·????? December 20: 1/2 Day for Students and Teachers
·????? December 23-January 3: Winter Break
·????? January 6-7: Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
·????? January 20: Dr. M.L. King Day (No School)