South Plaquemines High School

34121 Highway 23

Buras, LA 70041

Phone (504) 595-6435

Fax (504) 391-8975

Welcome back! We have been preparing for your return and are looking forward to another year of teaching and learning. While we know this school year will be different than any other, it will not dampen our dedication to provide an “A” rated education. Whether you have chosen virtual or face-to-face instruction, classes will begin on August 17.

We realize that you likely have questions regarding the expectations for the first day of school. The questions and answers below should provide some clarification, insight, and what to expect as the school year begins. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Gagnon at lgagnon@ppsb.org.

Breakfast will be eaten from 7:00-7:20 in your first block class. Classes will begin for in-class and virtual students on Monday, August 17. School hours are 7:25-1:35. Virtual learners may access their courses at any time during the day. You must check in with each of your teachers by 11:59 p.m. of each school day to be marked present.

Students attending face-to-face classes will meet in classrooms with no more than 18 students and will receive an orientation to SPHS Safety and Sanitizing Expectations and Procedures throughout the first day of school and reviewed as needed thereafter. Students will receive a temperature check and sanitize their hands upon arrival and prior to departure from campus, upon entering each class, before and after eating breakfast and lunch, and before leaving the restroom. Due to social distancing guidelines, students will eat breakfast and lunch in classrooms. Classrooms will be sanitized before and after students eat breakfast and lunch as well as before each class enters the room. The entire campus will be sprayed with disinfectant on a daily basis.

Yes. You may pick up lunch and breakfast under the school building in the car rider lane from 10:00-10:45 daily. Please complete and turn-in the lunch consent form that was included in the information packet you received to the cafeteria manager when you pick up your first breakfast and lunch. If you have students at two different schools please consult with the cafeteria managers to work out which location you will use for pick up.

The supplies that will be needed for each of your classes will be listed on each class' course syllabus.

Virtual students will not be paying fees at this time.

You may return your school forms in a drop box behind the flag pole at the front of campus starting on a Tuesday, August 18th. The box will be out for the entire first week of school 24 hours a day. We will empty the box daily.

You will report to the first period class indicated on your class schedule. If you were unable to pick up your class schedule, you may ask any teacher on campus for assistance. Each teacher has been provided a list that contains the location of each student's first period class.

• Whether you ride a school bus or are dropped off on campus, your temperature will be taken by one of several teachers on duty. If your temperature is 99° or greater, you will be asked to report to the school nurse at a nearby table so that she can verify your temperature. If the nurse verifies that you indeed have a temperature of 99° or greater, you will be required to call your parents/guardians to tell them that you have to be checked out of school.
• If you pass the temperature check, you will report to the hand sanitizing table to sanitize your hands prior to entering the building.
• After sanitizing your hands, you will enter the building and observe social distancing while climbing the stairs. When you arrive at the top of the stairs, you will grab a bagged breakfast and immediately report to your first period teacher's classroom.

You may wear any mask, provided it does not contain any political messages, endorsements, or inappropriate language or images.

You should report to your bus stop from 6:00 - 6:30. Please remember to wear your mask and to observe social distancing at the bus stop.

If you are being dropped off at school, you will be dropped off under the school building. Temperature checks will not begin until 7:00. If you arrive to school early, you must remain in the vehicle until your temperature is taken. The tardy bell for first period will ring at 7:25.

Yes. It is also highly recommended that your parents/guardians thoroughly sanitize your book bag each night.

You may change from face-to-face to virtual instruction at any time. However, you may not change from virtual to face-to-face instruction.

Teachers prepared supply bags for virtual students to pick up during the week of August 10-14. One of the supplies provided in the bag is a welcome letter/course syllabus that contains the instructions for accessing each course on Google Classroom. The instructions for contacting your teachers will be provided within those documents. If you are still unsure about how to contact your teachers, please use these following protocol:

• email your teacher
• reach out through another app set up by your teacher
• call the school and leave a message for your teacher

The school district has established open wireless Internet access at each of the district's school sites.

Since the water fountains on campus have been turned off, you are encouraged to bring a NON-GLASS water bottle filled with water. The school district has also purchased bottled water that will be available during the school day.

You will be given a copy of the student handbook on the first day of school in your first period class.

All students, whether face-to-face or virtual, must follow the Plaquemines Parish School Board Attendance Policy as well as the policy set forth by the court system. The attendance policy is contained in the student handbook that you will receive on the first day of class in your first period class. You may also learn more about district's truancy policy in a YouTube video produced by Plaquemines Parish School Board and the Plaquemines Parish District Attorney's Office. To access the video, click on this link: https://youtu.be/nlgoT033NNw.

Your parents may call the South Plaquemines High School Virtual Hotline from 1:35 - 2:35 Monday through Friday.

Middle School Virtual Hotline - (504) 595-6342

High School Virtual Hotline - (504) 595-6433

Essential visitors are individuals who must enter schools or early learning centers in order to conduct visits in accordance with Louisiana law or policy. Essential visitors include, but are not limited to, individuals who:

• conduct observations
• observe teacher candidates as part of the teacher preparation quality rating system
• provide essential supports and services including, but not limited to, early intervention services, special education services, or mental health consultation