Ware Shoals School District 51

Friday, May 7th, will be a regular school day for all. All high school staff and students are asked to park in the back of the school because of the Farmers to Families food box distribution in front of the school.

Tomorrow (May 6) will be an eLearning day for WS High students due to a water main break. WS Primary and Middle schools will operate on a normal schedule. High school students in need of counseling due to today's tragedy may go to the Larry Traynham Center between 8-12 or may call 864-456-7500 to speak to a counselor. We appreciate your support in helping your child remain strong during this this time of sadness and loss! Hug your children tightly tonight!

Shortly after 8 o’clock this morning, the high school was placed on lockdown due to an isolated incident in the parking lot. EMS and law enforcement were contacted and are currently investigating. We have remained in frequent communication with parents regarding this situation, and we remain focused on maintaining a safe learning environment the rest of the school day. The Ware Shoals Police Chief has reported that a student has suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and is in critical condition. The incident is under investigation by SLED. This information was just shared at a media briefing. Our next briefing and a press release will occur at 11:30AM.

Farmers to Families food distribution will be at Ware Shoals High School this FRIDAY, May 7 starting at 9AM. No proof of income or identification is required, limit 2 boxes per family. We will distribute about 1,100 boxes, packed with poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. We are excited about this opportunity to provide food for our employees, students, and community! This is a USDA program in partnership with farmers, ranchers, and other food producers and distributors. This program helps businesses, prevents waste, and helps families have access to fresh, healthy food. Officers and employees will assist with traffic control, showing you where to enter to get in line. Share this message - help us spread the word. We don't want any leftover food!

Our after school program at Ware Shoals Primary made Save the Children's National news! Every Friday, a report from the field discussing how Save the Children impacts local communities and families is published and sent throughout Save the Children USA. Thanks to Dr. Kem Owens, Director, and all Save the Children staffers at WSP for doing such a great job providing after school learning opportunities for our children. Read the story here: https://bit.ly/3gZ9muS

Current COVID cases in our schools: WSP: 6, WSM: 1, WSH: 1. Many have been quarantined as close contacts out of an abundance of caution. All precautions remain in place at schools: masks, plexiglass, hand washing, social distancing, and regular surface cleaning. We shared our numbers and procedures with DHEC today, and they said we're doing a great job. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to call us.

Please use the links below to see the Bass Team Results! Middle School : https://5il.co/s23b High School : https://5il.co/s23d

We have been asked to share the following from "New Foundations Connections Foster Care Program." Contact information is provided. Have you ever thought about becoming a Foster Parent? Did you know New Foundations Connections Foster Care Program in Anderson is always looking for families to provide temporary care to children in surrounding communities? Beyond just Anderson! Did you know just a caring heart and an open door may be the beginning of a life of love and support to a child in need? Did you know that Foster Parenting can be another income stream? Curious? Interested? Check us out at: www.ConnectionsFosterCare.com Call Nirmala Bruce at Connections: Cell 864-581-9966 Email: nbruce@newfoundationschildren.com

Please click the link below for more information about our next Farmers to Families food drive. https://5il.co/rqx1

Farmers to Families food distribution will be at Ware Shoals High School this FRIDAY, April 23, from 9:30-11:30 or until the food is gone. No proof of income or identification is required, limit 2 boxes per family. We will distribute about 1,100 boxes, packed with poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. We are excited about this opportunity to provide food for our employees, students, and community! This is a USDA program in partnership with farmers, ranchers, and other food producers and distributors. This program helps businesses, prevents waste, and helps families have access to fresh, healthy food. Officers and employees will assist with traffic control, showing you where to enter to get in line. Share this message - help us spread the word. We don't want any leftover food! https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box https://www.usda.gov/media/press-

Getting ready for Relay for Life, held at WSHS in honor of Ms. Brown and Mackenzie! We hope to see you there today from 7-9, rain or shine! If rain, we will be in the gym and baseball stands, if shine, we will be in front of the high school. These are some of the luminaria bags IHO and IMO staff, students, and alumni of WSSD51.

You're invited to : "LIGHT the NIGHT" at Riegel Stadium and Lou Brissie Field. Come out to enjoy baseball and the great REVEALING of the "new" light towers and LED lights....TODAY! The JV team plays Whitmire at 5PM. At 7PM we will have the ceremonial lighting of the towers for all to behold! LIGHT the NIGHT...POWER the TOWERS! The varsity team will then face off against Whitmire. Go Hornets!

The weather for tomorrow is “iffy,” so we have come up with a plan for having our Relay for Life event - come rain or shine (praying for shine)! By 5PM we will decide if the event will be held on the front lawn of the high school (if "shine") or if it will be held in the gym and baseball stands (if "rain"). Public parking will be in the back parking lot of the high school, regardless of the weather. The luminiarias will be placed around the horseshoe drive (if "shine") or in the covered baseball stands (if "rain"). The event is from 7-9PM. See you there!

We had a great time at WSMS today when Scaly Adventures spoke to each grade! We learned about certain reptiles, their habits, and their habitats. We also learned valuable character lessons such as caring for each other and respecting others. Being resilient, overcoming fears, and following our dreams were other themes of the event.

In order to help solve the problem of low participation during eLearning, Mrs. Dunn is conducting a research study. Please complete the following survey for each of your students who attend Ware Shoals High School. You can access the survey from the link below: https://bit.ly/2Q8Xr2g

Good afternoon,, We need your help with getting those in the community vaccinated! Thursday, April 8th, DHEC will be hosting COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in 7 out of 11 counties in the Upstate and we want all appointment slots filled. Below are the numbers to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments: (864) 707-0060 or (864) 707-0061 You can also schedule an appointment by accessing this link: https://cvas.dhec.sc.gov/health/covidvaccinescheduling. Below are all the addresses of each clinic for Thursday, April 8th: Abbeville Health Department 909 W Greenwood St, Suite 2, Abbeville 29620 Anderson - DHEC Mobile Clinic @ Generostee Baptist Church 806 Generostee Road, Starr 29684 Laurens Health Department 93 Human Service Rd, Clinton 29325 Pickens East Pickens Baptist Church 2244 Gentry Memorial Hwy, Pickens 29671 Spartanburg VCOM Northside 220 College Street, Spartanburg 29303 Spartanburg - DHEC Mobile Clinic @ St Matthews Episcopal Church 101 St Matthews Lane, Spartanburg 29306 Union Recreation Center 115 Thomas Street, Union 29379 Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church 499 Chestnut Ridge Road Laurens 29360 Please share this information with all community partners. With your help, we know that we can reach those who want the COVID-19 Vaccine! Sincerely, K'Leasha Liles, Upstate Public Information Officer Upstate Public Health Region S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control Office: (864) 260-4133 220 McGee Road Anderson, SC 29625 Connect: www.scdhec.gov Facebook Twitter

Our district will host a Relay for Life event this Saturday, April 10, from 7-9PM at WS High School. Social distancing/sanitizing practices will be in place. Funds raised through Relay For Life directly support breakthrough research, 24/7 support for cancer patients, access to lifesaving screenings, and much more. Our event is being held in honor of WS Middle School principal, Nancy Brown, who is currently battling cancer. Events that evening include Silent Auction Baskets to bid on, musical entertainment, photo booth, and snacks. One of the highlights will be a Luminaria Walk around the horseshoe, to view luminaries placed in honor or memory of a loved one who has been affected by cancer or COVID-19. Luminarias are $5 each, and may be purchased at any school or the district office. Be sure to get yours by Friday! Decorate it with your loved one's name and a message of inspiration! Here are some ideas for decorating a luminaria bag: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/179932947589317610/ https://www.cancer.org/involved/fundraise/relay-for-life.html

Varsity Soccer vs Laurens April 6 @ 5:30

REMINDER: DSS will issue Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards by April 16 for families of students at WSPS and WSMS. The benefit amount is $6.82 for each eLearning day from 9/1/20-12/31/20.Parents/guardians are asked to validate their address in the DSS P-EBT Address Portal by tomorrow, March 19th. You have to enter your child's PowerSchool ID number, as well as name, DOB, and school name. Go to : https://benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov/#/pebt/addressverification

A free COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held on Friday, March 19 at the Larry Traynham Rec Center. The clinic is by appointment only for those 55 and older, those 18 and older with high risk medical conditions, frontline workers with increased occupational risk, and individuals who live or work in group home settings. For an appointment, call 864-707-0060 or 864-707-0061 between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. Limited doses are available, so call as soon as possible!