Announcements

Letter to our DCS Families

March 10, 2020

Dothan City Schools is in close communication with the Alabama Department of Public Health and will continue to follow their guidance and recommendations regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. At this time, there are no confirmed or suspected cases in Houston County or Alabama, and the risk for COVID-19 remains low for Houston County.

Although the risk is low, we would like for Dothan City Schools to remain vigilant and prepared for the safety of our students and staff. The US Center for Disease Control recommends the following precautionary measures to reduce risk:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

The practices identified above are taught as part of our health curriculum to help protect students from common illnesses such as cold and influenza. Our teachers will review these strategies at school, and we encourage parents/guardians to review these strategies with your child as well.

If your child is ill, keep them home from school and notify the school of your child’s absence. A child with a heavy cough and cold, vomiting, and/or fever should stay home. A child must be fever-free, without fever-reducing medication, for 72 hours before returning to school. We encourage parents/guardians to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional should your child have a fever, cough and/or shortness of breath.

Additional measures are taken by Dothan City Schools include:

Canceling all out-of-state school-sponsored field trips and sporting events
Temporarily discontinuing student self-service and ‘share tables’ in participating cafeterias.

We will continue to watch the developments surrounding COVID-19 with the assistance of the Alabama Department of Public Health and related agencies. If needed, we will communicate additional steps necessary to protect the health of all of our students, families, and staff. Dothan City Schools has also established an Urgent Update Center at dothan.k12.al.us/covid19

The safety, health, and well-being of our staff, students and school community will, as always, continue to be our priority. We will continue monitoring the development of COVID-19 and plan accordingly in partnership with local, state, and federal health and government officials.

Learn More about COVID-19:

CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus

CDC Coronavirus Fact Sheet

CDC Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions

Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Dr. Phyllis Edwards

Superintendent

Instructions on how to protect yourself and others from the virus

This is the second sheet of the infograph to protect yourself from the virus

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                                                        The Girard Way, All Day, Every Day!

GIRARD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in candidacy                             Principal:   Beth Bouchard

600 Girard Avenue, Dothan, AL 36303                                                                                   Assistant Principal: Dr. LaVonda Senn

334-794-1426

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     THE GIRARD GAZETTE

                                                                                                                                    March 2020

March has arrived and with it comes new learning opportunities for our students! We will participate in and celebrate Read Across America Week, March 2 - 6. Local celebrities will be visiting the school and reading to our students. Students and teachers have decorated their classroom doors – the building is On Beyond Zebra creative and beautiful! A special thank you to Mrs. Braswell for coordinating this special week.

Students explored Black History Month in February with special events such as a Black History Month Museum Tours within our hallways with students presenting their research and knowledge. Displays will continue to be highlighted in our school entrance “Exhibit” showcase area. Thank you to the grandparents and parents who visited the school during Ancestor’s Day and enjoyed a family lunch together!

The Outstanding Poetry selected for Black History Month were awarded to: Sixth Grade Students - Krystian Maness, Elizabeth Ealy, and Johnnie Holliday; Fifth Grade Student - Destiny Gilbert; and Third Grade Student - Jalonni McMillon.

The Outstanding Posters selected were awarded to: Sixth Grade, First Place: Ma’Ziyah Vickers; Honorable Mention: Sixth Grade: Gabriel Yelverton, Queanna Coleman, and Elizabeth Ealy; Fourth Grade Student - Serenity Casey; and Third Grade Student - Danehia James. Congratulations to these students for their creative expression and talents! Their work is currently displayed in the school.

Friday Enrichment Activity Clubs continue, and students attended a 30-minute enrichment activity. Students gain knowledge and skills from their participation in the enrichment club activities. Students have club options specific to their grade level.

Maylee Lancaster, (age 12-13), Meyunni Griffin (age 10-11), and Braylin Jones (age 8-9) competed at the “Alabama Hoop Shoot” in Bessemer on February 15^th.   In the state finals, Maylee finished second, Meyunni finished third, and Braylin finished third! We are so proud of our GIS students!

The Dothan Red Team of the Mite League won the Daleville High School Basketball Tournament on February 29^th.   Fifth grade student Sebastian Medeiros plays the wing position on the Dothan Red team.   The Dothan Red Team moves to the state tournament in Birmingham on March 13^th.   We wish Sebastian and his team “The best of luck”!

Important Information:

Girard Intermediate t-shirts are available for $5.00. Again, thank you to the Girard Intermediate School Parent Organization for making this happen!

Attendance and On-time Arrival to school are very important to the success of your child’s education. Be sure to notify your child’s teacher and the office if your child is absent.

The Parent Organization for Girard Intermediate School will meet on Thursday afternoon, March 19th at 3 PM in the Media Center. Some of the future projects include a school food pantry, clothes closet, and mural paintings. Parents are encouraged to attend.

We continue to implement our new snack program “Healthy Food for a Happy World” to address childhood nutrition through a Healthy Food Initiative and the DCS Wellness Policy for Snacks and Special Events. We appreciate your support by providing healthy snacks for your child.

Please remember that students do not attend school the week of Spring Break: March 23 – 27.

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Letter from Dr. Edwards regarding the Coronavirus

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