Volunteers are needed to help with the Farmers to Families free food distribution taking place behind Hartwell First United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 27. 1100 boxes of fresh food will be given out that day. We need volunteers to help with traffic control and help load boxes into cars. Volunteer times are from 8 am to Noon and from Noon to 3 pm. Please contact Mike Everett at 678-231-2499 or [email protected] if you can help us with this great community project.
St. Mary’s Sacred Hospital-Visitor Policy Changes
Press Release January 7, 2022
COVID-19 cases are rising faster than ever in our area. To keep our patients and visitors safe, St. Mary’s Health Care System has updated restrictions on visitation at all three of our hospitals beginning at 7:00 AM Thursday, Jan. 6. These restrictions are in place for the protection of our patients and colleagues.
– 1 visitor per patient per day
– Visitor may stay overnight
– 2 parents/guardians for children under 18
– Birthing centers – 1 visitor per STAY
– Visitor must pass temperature, symptom and exposure screening
– No visitors for COVID patients unless approved by care team
Please see our full guidelines and suggestions for virtual visiting at https://bit.ly/3jT2e2t
We appreciate your understanding of these necessary and vital actions during this unprecedented outbreak. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to slow the spread of COVID in our communities.
FY22 Hart County Charter System COVID-19 Protocol
Bulldog's Corner, Community January 5, 2022
Updated 1/4/2022
Cleaning Procedures
Enhanced cleaning procedures, including the use of electrostatic sprayers, will remain in place in schools and on buses. In addition, classrooms will continue to be equipped with hand sanitizer stations.
Masks
Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks while on Hart County Charter System (HCCS) properties.
Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for employees or students. However, all staff members are encouraged to get vaccinated. Vaccinations remain available and accessible at various locations within the community.
Contact Tracing
HCCS will continue reporting positive cases to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Contact tracing will continue to be the shared responsibility of DPH and HCCS.
If a student is exposed to COVID-19, parents will be notified via SchoolStatus. Exposed students will be required to wear masks at school and on buses for 10 days. Masking will allow continued participation in in-person learning, extracurricular activities, and school-sponsored events.
If a student chooses not to mask, he/she will quarantine at home for the 10-day period. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
Diagnosed Individuals
Students/staff diagnosed with COVID-19 will follow DPH guidelines. Current guidelines are as follows: quarantine for 6 calendar days (onset date of symptoms plus 5 days) and mask for 5 days. School attendance is expected for the 5 masked days assuming symptoms have improved, and the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
Students choosing not to mask for 5 days will quarantine at home. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
Quarantines/Isolations
Students residing in homes containing COVID-19 positive individuals will quarantine for 6 calendar days (onset date of symptoms plus 5 days). If no symptoms emerge within those 6 days, students may return to school on day 7 and remain masked for 5 days (day 7-day 11).
Students choosing not to mask for 5 days, will quarantine at home. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
COVID-19 Symptoms/Testing
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not attend school. When any household member undergoes testing for COVID-19, all students within the home will quarantine until test results are known. Parents will notify school officials of these situations.
Second Year of the Gre4t Initiative for HCCS
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Education, Featured News, Press Release June 28, 2021
Second year of the Gre4t Initiative for Hart County High School.
The Hart County Charter System is excited to announce that Hart County High School is now one of 53 schools in the state selected to join the second year of The GRE4T Initiative: Georgia’s Pathway to Personalized Learning.
GRE4T is an $18.5 million federal grant to expand virtual and personalized learning in the state.
In furthering professional learning opportunities, Hart County High School plans to develop a team within the school to work with officials from the Georgia Department of Education. The goal is to expand personalized learning techniques, so the needs of every student are met in the classroom.
“We’re excited about partnering with the Department of Education on the GRE4T Initiative and really looking at personalized learning for our students to make sure we’re meeting the needs of all students,” Hart County High School Principal Kevin Gaines said.
While Hart County High School already implements personalized learning strategies, such as utilizing targeted advisement groups with advisors who meet with their at-risk students and daily “Bulldog Time” for student enrichment or remediation, the school is always seeking new ways to support each individual student.
“This three-year grant will ensure long-term vision, leadership, and success using research-informed strategies for personalized learning,” said Dr. Caitlin McMunn Dooley, GaDOE’s Deputy Superintendent of Teaching & Learning.
Georgia’s schools will use GRE4T funding to improve the professional learning available to leaders and educators on personalized learning, expand student connectivity, and improve the infrastructure of – and expand access to – the Georgia Virtual School (GaVS). The initiative supports new, innovative ways to access education with an emphasis on meeting students’ needs during the coronavirus national emergency.
“In Georgia, we are committed to building a more personalized and connected educational system, and continuing to leverage virtual learning more effectively, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and long-term,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These funds will help us build that system and expand personalized learning opportunities for our students.”
Unauthorized Car Makes Traffic Stops in Hart County
Announcements, Community, Police & Government, Press Release April 1, 2021
On March 31, 2021 at approx. 07:00 AM a black or darker colored unmarked Dodge Charger with only a dash mounted blue light performed a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a female on Royston Highway at Old Hwy 29 Road in Hart County. The female described the person as a white male in his late 20’s to early 30s, average height, muscular build, wearing a tan or beige long sleeve button up shirt, jeans, and a light blue surgical mask. The female stated that the male had short brown hair that was cut in a military style.
The male told the female said she was speeding and asked her to pull off on the side road so that he would not get hit by a car. She stated the male told her to cut the car off, take the keys out of the ignition, and to get out of the car. The female asked the male for his badge number and he stated he was new and would have to go back to his car for that information. She stated that when the male got back into the car, he took off quickly in the Royston direction on Highway 29.
If anyone is being pulled over by an unmarked car matching this description, turn on your four-way flashers and call 911 immediately. Do not stop!!
If anyone has been pulled over by a vehicle like this or has any information, please contact the Hart County Sheriff’s Office at 706-376-3114.
Volunteers Needed To Help With Food Distribution
Announcements, Community, Press Release February 4, 2021
If any student civic groups need volunteer hours or just want to be more involved in our community, this is a great opportunity to do just that! #OneHartBeat
January Newsletter From Hart County Schools
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Press Release January 27, 2021
Hello, Hart County Schools and Hart County community! Here, please find the new newsletter regarding recent events and happenings in our school system. This newsletter is a monthly item sent out to our schools and community to share the great things happening in our schools, and with our school partners.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your school staff, your neighbors and anyone invested in our school system. This newsletter will also be featured on social media.
If you have any questions, or suggestions for next month’s edition, please email Community Relations Director Anna Hall at [email protected]. As always, we are #OneHartBeat!
Students to Resume Face-to-Face Learning
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Education, Press Release January 14, 2021
We are happy to announce that face-to-face learning will resume on Tuesday, January 19th. Please remember that Monday, January 18, is a holiday for all students and staff members.
In an effort to slow the spread, masks are required of elementary students when social distancing is not possible. It is difficult to social distance on school buses so masks need to be worn while riding buses. For now, masks are required of middle and high school students in all school settings. If this is concerning to you, reach out to your child’s principal via email or phone prior to Tuesday.
Please do not send your child to school sick. Sick includes very mild cold-like symptoms. Many children do not run fevers when positive for COVID. Keep school officials informed of your child’s symptoms.
If or when your child has direct exposure to a COVID positive individual, keep him/her at home. Then contact school officials for further guidance.
Thank you in advance for helping us keep our staff members and our students well! We sincerely want the opportunity to remain open for those needing face-to-face learning. We look forward to opening our school doors on Tuesday, January 19th.
Hart County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 1/3 – 1/9
Arrest Reports, Police & Government January 12, 2021
Arrest report provided by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 35-01-18) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Hart County Georgia. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Free Wifi Locations Available for All Hart County Students
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Education, Press Release January 7, 2021
The Hart County Charter System will offer free Wireless Internet access at Smartbus locations as students and staff transition to distance learning during current school closures.
The locations are:
– Bowersville Baptist Church: 980 W. Main Street, Bowersville, 30516
– Goldmine Church of God: 6970 Royston Hwy, Canon, 30520
– Flat Rock Church: 5595 Cokesbury Hwy, Hartwell, 30643
o (Note: At Flat Creek Church, there will not be a bus, but the WiFi Connection is “Flat Rock” and no Password is needed.)
– Reed Creek Baptist Church: 116 Boleman Hill Road, Hartwell, 30643
– Providence UMC: 2395 Providence Church Road, Lavonia, 30553
– Zion CME: 416 Zion CME Church Road, Hartwell, 30643
– Mt. Olivet Baptist: 2973 Mt. Olivet Road, Hartwell, 30643
– Hart County High School: 59 5th Street, Hartwell, 30643
– Hart County Middle School: 176 Powell Road, Hartwell, 30643
– North Hart Elementary School: 124 Ankerich Road, Bowersville, 30516
– Hartwell Elementary School: 147 College Avenue, Hartwell, 30643
– South Hart Elementary School: 121 E&M Dairy Road, Hartwell, 30643
– Hart County Library: 150 Benson Street, Hartwell, 30643
o (Note: this location is for the parking lot only.)
– Booty’s Fish House, 180 Hill St Royston, 30662
The WiFi Connection is “Kajeet Smartbus” and the Password is “Smartbus”.
The Wireless Internet Smartbuses will be available to all Hart County students to assist with distance learning, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until further notice. Parents and students are advised to stay in their vehicles while at these Smartbus locations.
For issues or concerns with Wireless HotSpots or Chromebooks, please contact su[email protected] or Call Technology Support at 706-856-1264.
Please note: Live Video from Google Meet sessions will not work on these devices. These devices are intended to allow students and parents access to their Google Classroom to download homework and lessons. Sorry for the inconvenience but these devices are limited.
Hart County Delays Return to Face to Face Learning
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Education, Press Release January 4, 2021
After consultation with numerous professionals, including local doctors and Department of Public Health representatives, the Hart County Charter System has decided to delay face-to-face instruction for all students.
Staff members will report to work on Tuesday, January 5, as originally planned. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will pick up Chromebooks on Wednesday, January 6. Principals will provide specific times in their weekly callouts. Students in grades 3 through 12 will participate in virtual instruction from Thursday, January 7, through Friday, January 15.
Parents of students in pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade will pick up work packets on Thursday, January 7. Again, principals will provide specific times in their weekly callouts. Work packets will carry students through Friday, January 15.
A meal distribution schedule will be advertised within the next 24 hours. The school district hopes to resume face-to-face instruction on Tuesday, January 19, due to Martin Luther King Jr observance on the 18th. Please use this time to monitor your health and the health of your children. To the greatest extent possible, stay home and refrain from socializing with those that do not reside in your household. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding!
Hart Chamber Offers Programs to Advise Small Businesses
Business, Community, Education, Press Release December 28, 2020
Join us for an overview of the proposed SBA funding programs for small businesses affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We will discuss the proposed components and features of the recently passed legislation concerning the Second Draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the changes to the SBA Debt Relief Program. We will also provide recommendations for actions to take now in order to best prepare to take advantage of these programs once the SBA releases the guidelines (expected in January 2021).
DATE/TIME OPTIONS:
Tuesday, December 29 at 10AM
Wednesday, December 30 at 10AM
Wednesday, December 30 at 2PM
REGISTER NOW to learn about how this can help you and your business.