News

VPK Registration 2020-21

April 16, 2020

2020 Voluntary Pre-K Registration Information

THIS IS THE PROCESS FOR ALL 4 SCHOOLS (Bethlehem, Bonifay K-8, Ponce de Leon Elementary and Poplar Springs) IN HOLMES COUNTY

1.     Parents will log in to  https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/Account/LogOn

Parents must have a valid e-mail address to complete this procedure.

Families must upload (scan & send) the child’s birth certificate and proof of Florida residency as prompted during process.  Everything has to be completed online. 

2.     The Early Learning Coalition will email the certificate to the parents.  Then families will complete the HDSB online registration form (found on the HDSB website), and email their certificate of eligibility to the VPK lead instructor for each school:

BHS                 [email protected]

BK8                 [email protected]

PDLE               [email protected]

PSHS               [email protected]

Limited space is available.  It will be first come, first served. The slots will be assigned based on the date and time the registration form is submitted. Remember, certificates of eligibility must be emailed to the school VPK contact in order to complete the registration.  Only complete applications will be considered.  VPK registration will open online on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.  There is no deadline for registration, but when our slots are filled additional student registrations will be placed on a waiting list.

VPK is free from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. There is a $10 daily fee for students to stay after 11a.m.  This fee must be prepaid each week or month. Please contact Carmen Bush at 547-9341 x 1253 or Danielle Suggs, ext. 1228 for more information.  Email:  [email protected]

Kindergarten Registration 2020-21

April 16, 2020

Holmes County Kindergarten Registration 2020-2021

Registration for Holmes County students who will enter Kindergarten in fall of 2020 will begin Monday April 20, 2020, and will continue through April 30, 2020.  Parents or legal guardians should register the child online at www.hdsb.org and select the school that they would like to attend (Bethlehem, Bonifay K-8, Ponce de Leon or Poplar Springs).

The following information will need to be provided at each school when you are contacted after school campuses reopen:

  • Birth certificate
  • Certificate of immunization
  • Copy of physical from a physician on a Florida physical form
  • Social Security Card (Copy will be kept sealed in the student’s permanent record and is not mandatory, but does help our school system with tracking important information for funding.)
  • Two proofs of residence (driver’s license, power bill, voter’s registration card, etc.)

To be eligible to enter kindergarten this fall, a student must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2020. 

School of choice is dependent upon enrollment capacity.  If you are outside of your school of choice zone, please complete the online Controlled Open Enrollment applications located online at www.hdsb.org.  All out of zone applications will be reviewed in May and a letter of acceptance or decline will be mailed to the address provided as soon as the review is complete at each school.

It is very important that children be registered so that staffing plans for the 2020-21 school year can be made. 

Meal Distribution Schedules

March 29, 2020

Updated 4/3/20:

In response to the Governor's Executive Order, and to meet social distancing guidelines to ensure our employees' health and safety, we will be transitioning our meal distribution to school pick-up only.  There will be no bus distribution or community pick-up points.  

Meals will be distributed on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the following locations:

Bethlehem School
Bonifay K-8 School
Ponce de Leon Elementary School
Poplar Springs School

Paper work packets for those who requested them in advance will be available during Wednesday's pick-up.

Updated 3/30/20:

Beginning March 30, 2020 HDSB will implement curbside drive-through meals for all children 18 years and younger and all children 21 years and younger with special needs at the following 4 school sites’ car pick-up areas Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00-11:00 a.m.  Breakfast and lunch meals will be served/delivered at the same time.

School Sites:

Bethlehem High School
Bonifay K-8 (middle school drop-off area)
Ponce de Leon Elementary
Poplar Springs High School

Bus deliveries to other distribution sites in the county will be made on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:15-11:00 a.m. (Schedule is below.)

Monday deliveries will contain meals for 2 days (2 breakfasts/2 lunches).  Wednesday deliveries will contain meals for 3 days (3 breakfasts / 3 lunches).

Meals provided during this emergency school closing will not be packaged using food allergy considerations.  Parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring any food allergy.

Children do not have to be school age to receive meals, but must be present to receive a meal per USDA regulations.

All individuals preparing and delivering meals will follow CDC guidelines.

If you are in need and do not receive a meal, please call 850-768-8007 or 850-768-3039

Bethlehem Area:

Pittman Fire Department, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
New Hope Fire Department, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Poplar Springs Area:

Noma Park, 8:45-9:20 a.m.
Esto Park, 9:30-10:05 a.m.
East Mt. Zion Methodist Church, 10:20-11:00 a.m.

Ponce de Leon Area:

North Route--
Hickory Hill Baptist Church, 9:00-9:20 a.m.
West Pittman Baptist Church, 9:30-9:50 a.m.
Hurricane Creek Baptist Church, 10:00-10:20 a.m.
Leonia Baptist Church, 10:30-10:50 a.m.

South Route--
Bridge Creek Baptist Church, 9:00-9:20 a.m.
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 9:30-9:50 a.m.
Pineview Holiness Church, 10:00-10:20 a.m.

COVID-19 Update--Thursday, March 12

March 12, 2020

March 12, 2020

 

Based on the most current information from the Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Holmes District School Board would like to provide an update regarding COVID-19, schools staying open, and Spring Break travel.  First and foremost, the health and safety of our students is our priority.  There are no reported cases of the virus in our community and we plan to follow our school calendar for the remainder of the school year.  Friday, March 20th is an early release day, March 23rd -27th is Spring Break and we will resume classes as scheduled on Monday, March 30th.  We will continue to follow our preventative everyday practices regarding cleaning, sanitizing, handwashing and staying home when students or staff are sick. Please refer to the Question and Answer guide for more information regarding COVID-19. (Available below in the Related Files section.)

The following guidelines will be implemented after today’s date, based on CDC travel recommendations:

According to the CDC, the U.S. Department of State recommends against cruise ship travel. 

Any Holmes County School District student or employee traveling on a cruise will need to follow the CDC recommendations after returning from the trip. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/covid-19-cruise-ship

  • If you were on a cruise in the past 14 days:  Monitor your health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If a case of COVID-19 was reported on your ship during the cruise, stay home during these 14 days and practice social distancing.
  • Stay home if you have symptoms, such as fever, cough, or have trouble breathing and call ahead before you seek medical care.

Any Holmes County School District student or employee traveling to a Level 3 destination will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left the area.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

Students and staff that meet the guideline requirements in the recommendation to stay home should contact the school administration for information regarding, missing assignments, testing, documentation for the absences, and completing leave forms as set forth in Holmes County school board polices.

About COVID-19

• COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

• Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

• Recent reports have stated that on average, symptoms of COVID-19 develop in 5 days.

• CDC said most confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported from China have occurred in adults, and infection among children was relatively uncommon.

• CDC has said transmission of coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented. Current evidence suggests coronavirus may remain viable on surfaces for only two hours, made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.

• CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

The COVID-19 call center is available 24 hours a day 866-779-6121.

HDSB & Florida Department of Health Encourage Preventative Health Measures

March 3, 2020

In the light of the ongoing and developing situation regarding the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, the Holmes District School Board is monitoring the situation regularly, and following recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control relating to preventative measures and sanitation procedures. Providing simple access to the best advice from health care professionals is intended to arm people with knowledge to calmly take preventive action steps that can enhance the safety and health of our entire community.

The CDC recommends that individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures including:
• Wash 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.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
• Stay home when you are sick. Individuals should be fever-free for 24 hours prior to returning to work or school.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then be sure to throw it in the trash can.
• Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
• Health experts recommend getting a flu shot to reduce the chances of getting the regular flu and weakening your immune system further.

National School Breakfast Week

February 26, 2020

March 2-6 is National School Breakfast Week. Remember, all students can receive FREE breakfast at school daily!

2020-21 School Calendar

February 5, 2020

The School Board has approved the 2020-21 school calendar.  Click the Related Files link below to access printable versions of the calendar.
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