School District of Newberry County

WHAT ARE PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES? Personal electronic devices are referred to as “device,” means any device utilized to access the internet, wi-fi, cellular telephone signals, or to capture images or video. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices. WHAT ARE PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESSORIES? Personal electronic device accessories are referred to as “device accessories,” include any wired or wireless accessory or wearable technology that connects to a device and any other accessory commonly used in conjunction with a personal electronic device. WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE SCHOOL DAY? The school day is defined as the period of time that a student is present on the school campus from their arrival (i.e., tardy bell) until afternoon dismissal through the end of the instructional day. This policy may also apply to school buses, field trips, and athletic events. The applicability of this regulation to these activities will be determined by the school district. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM “ACCESS”? Access is defined as viewing, holding, wearing, or otherwise using a device for the purpose of communication, internet access, gaming, recording, or any other function commonly associated with devices. During the school day, devices should be powered off and stored in bookbags. Exceptions granted for medical necessity, authorized for classroom use, or other authorized reasons should be in writing and are not considered violations of this definition. HOW DO I CONTACT MY CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY? Parents or guardians needing to reach their child during school hours should contact the school’s main office. If a student needs to get in touch with a parent or guardian, they may use the phone provided in the main office. HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF AN EMERGENCY? Each school has a detailed emergency plan. Parents will receive timely updates and notifications regarding emergencies through the school or district communication systems. To ensure effective communication, parents and guardians are encouraged to verify that their contact information in PowerSchool is current and that they have enabled text messaging for district alerts. WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT VIOLATES THE RULE? The student will be subject to progressive consequences in the SDNC’s Code of Conduct. WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT REFUSES TO SILENCE AND PUT AWAY THE DEVICE? If a student is instructed to power off, silence, and put away a cell phone or electronic device but refuses to comply, this will be considered an act of defiance. Such behavior will be addressed according to the SDNC’s Code of Conduct. WHAT IS THE “FREE TO FOCUS” INITIATIVE? The South Carolina Department of Education’s Free to Focus program aims to promote a phone-free school environment to enhance learning by eliminating electronic distractions. Research indicates that reducing or removing student cell phone usage at school contributes to improved academic performance, decreased disruptions and conflicts, better mental health for students, and increased school safety. For more information and research about the Free to Focus initiative, visit the South Carolina Department of Education’s website.

Due to the threat of winter weather and the resulting hazardous road conditions, the School District of Newberry County will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, 2025, with schools and offices closed. All activities are canceled for January 10. Teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on this day. Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments during school on Thursday. Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments. Additional information regarding eLearning guidelines and expectations can be found at https://bit.ly/426hmBW.

SCDE responds to PowerSchool Data Breach Jan 8, 2025 Late Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) was informed by PowerSchool of a cybersecurity breach involving its PowerSource portal. This was an international incident over which the state and local districts had no control. This breach resulted in unauthorized access to certain customer data from PowerSchool’s Student Information Systems (SIS), including data from multiple states and school districts across the country. During a meeting with PowerSchool’s senior leadership, they confirmed that personally identifiable information (PII) was compromised. The SCDE is currently working to understand the full scope of the breach. PowerSchool has stated that this breach has been contained and has informed the SCDE that it has taken steps to secure its systems, engage cybersecurity experts, and is also coordinating with law enforcement to address the breach. The SCDE is actively communicating with PowerSchool, legal counsel, and local districts to assess the full impact on South Carolina schools, students, and educators and to determine next steps. The SCDE is also in direct communication with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Attorney General’s office and has notified the Governor and legislative leaders. Commenting on the seriousness of this incident, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said, “The protection of our South Carolina students’ and educators’ personal data is non-negotiable. We fully recognize the anxiety this raises for them and their families.” She continued, “While PowerSchool has taken accountability for this breach, our Department will take uncompromising action to ensure we uncover the complete extent of this incident. We will insist that PowerSchool not only notify affected individuals but also provide them with credit and identity monitoring services." The SCDE will continue to engage and support districts and schools throughout this process as more information becomes available. https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/scde-responds-to-powerschool-data-breach/

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees Legislative Breakfast and Special Called Board Meeting on January 10, 2025 will be held at the District Office at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be open to the public with a limited seating capacity. Public forum will not be available.

FREE TO FOCUS Beginning January 6, 2025 The South Carolina Department of Education has released a policy that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. The purpose of this policy is to create a phone-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions. During the school day, students are prohibited from accessing their personal electronic devices. Students may not wear or access device accessories during the school day. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees Meeting on December 16, 2024, will be held at the District Office and open to the public with a limited seating capacity. Public forum will be available. The public can access information regarding Board meetings on the district website under Board Members and Meetings/SDNC School Board Information or https://www.newberry.k12.sc.us/page/board-members. The information available includes links to the following: • The Public Participation Request Form BEDH-E. • View Live and Recorded Meetings • Board Meeting Agenda and Packet.

District-Wide Recruitment Fair! Saturday, January 25, 2025 Mid-Carolina High School 377 Cy Shumpert Rd. Prosperity, SC 29127 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. All positions: Teacher, Nurse, Child Nutrition, Bus Driver, Instructional Assistants, and other positions.

FAFSA FRENZY with Newberry College Admissions Game Day Visit December 18 - 4 p.m. Get the expert assistance with your FAFSA application, whether it's your first time or your need extra support. After filing, enjoy free admission to cheer on the Newberry Wolves Women's and Men's basketball teams. A free snack voucher will be included! Don't miss this perfect mix of planning your future and game-day fun! Register with the link below: https://admissions.newberry.edu/register/?id=249918a5-56ba-4692-a362-a3f0caec3e16&fbclid=IwY2xjawG8PMZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZtwskKFQcgxezxNzWeTTEjg9dauyECEqB2lPbSOil3IIBczE5OBrZ38wQ_aem_1o8r2pdzZtxThkjc1m7SRA

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees Meeting on November 18, 2024 will be held at the District office at 6:00 pm and will be open to the public. Public forum will be available. The Public Participation Form BEDH-E can be accessed through the district website under Board Members and Meetings or using the link below: https://bit.ly/NCSD_Part_Form This meeting will be live streamed and can be accessed through the district website under Board Members and Meetings at www.newberry.k12.sc.us.

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees will have a Special Called Meeting on November 7, 2024 at 6:00 pm The meeting will be held at the District Office and will be open to the public. Public forum will not be available.

The School District of Newberry County Annual Meeting of the Directors for Newberry Investing in Children’s Education (NICE) will be held on October 30, 2024, at the District Office at 3:00 pm. The agenda can be accessed through the district website under Board Members and Meetings/SDNC School Board Information or at https://www.newberry.k12.sc.us/page/board-members The meeting will be open to the public with a limited seating capacity. Public forum will not be available.

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees Meeting will be held on October 28, 2024 at the District Office. This meeting will be open to the public with a limited seating capacity. Public forum will be available. The Public Participation Form BEDH-E can be accessed through the district website under Board Members and Meetings or at https://bit.ly/NCSD_Part_Form The public may view this meeting at www.youtube.com/ncsdliveevents.

The School District of Newberry County Celebrates Remarkable Achievements in 2024 State Education Report Cards We are excited to announce that the School District of Newberry County has made significant progress in the latest South Carolina School Report Card, underscoring our commitment to providing educational excellence to every child every day. Key Highlights: Several schools have earned top ratings, showcasing strong academic outcomes and student achievement. Notably, Reuben Elementary and Whitmire Community School (high school) received Excellent ratings, placing them among the highest-performing schools in the state. After two consecutive years of receiving an unsatisfactory rating, Newberry Elementary has made a remarkable leap to an average rating this year, skipping the below average category altogether. This tremendous improvement has resulted in removing its designation as an underperforming school. Newberry High School raised its rating from below average to average, dropping its underperforming label. This progress shows the hard work of students, staff, and the support of the community. Overall, from 2023 to 2024, the district saw an impressive average increase of 4 points in school report card ratings. Notable growth was exhibited by several schools, including Boundary Street Elementary (+4), Gallman Elementary (+6), Little Mountain Elementary (+14), Newberry Elementary (+9), Prosperity-Rikard Elementary (+5), Reuben Elementary (+5), Mid-Carolina High (+1), Newberry High (+6), and Whitmire Community High (+11). This upward trend reflects the district's commitment to enhancing educational quality and student performance across the board. Contributing to these successes are impressive outcomes across several critical areas. The district's performance meets or exceeds state averages in key indicators such as College and Career Readiness, Graduation Rate, Algebra I proficiency, High School Student Success, and Student Progress. Moreover, district trends in SC Ready ELA and Math scores reflect a three-year high in the percentage of students meeting and exceeding proficiency targets. These achievements underscore our dedication to fostering an environment that promotes academic excellence and prepares students for future success. Our schools remain steadfast in creating school climates that are safe, engaging, and supportive environments where all students can thrive academically and socially. Reflecting the positive climate we aim to cultivate, 9 out of 14 campus ratings were classified as good or excellent, contributing to an overall district score that surpasses the state average. Superintendent Alvin Pressley highlighted the importance of the district’s collective efforts: "Our district’s recent achievements reflect the incredible efforts of our students, teachers, and staff, alongside the unwavering support of our community. The progress we’ve seen shows what’s possible when we work together toward a shared goal of Educational Excellence Everyday for Every Student! We are committed to building on this momentum and ensuring that every student in the School District of Newberry County can succeed in a safe, supportive environment.” These successes are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our educators, students, and community partners. Together, we are building a brighter future for every student in the School District of Newberry County. For additional information, please visit https://www.newberry.k12.sc.us/page/2023-2024-report-card-data

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees third Public Community Forum will be held at Whitmire Community School on October 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm and will be open to the public. Public forum will be available. The Public Participation Form BEDH-E can be accessed through the district website under Board Members and Meetings or using the link below: https://bit.ly/NCSD_Part_Form The public may also complete the Public Participation Form at the meeting. This meeting will be live streamed at www.newberry.k12.sc.us.

The School District of Newberry County Board of Trustees Retreat will be held on October 21, 2024 at the District Office at 8:30 am. This meeting will be open to the public with a limited seating capacity. Public forum will not be available.

After we received additional guidance from the South Carolina Department of Education, we have decided to reclassify the eLearning days of September 30, October 1, and October 2 as closed due to widespread power outages and the impact of Hurricane Helene. Significant areas of our county were without power and internet, and many students were unable to complete eLearning assignments. We want to ensure students who could complete eLearning assignments receive credit and those who were unable to complete eLearning assignments are not penalized. By reclassifying the days as closed, we will now use the three calendar designated make-up days of October 11, February 17, and March 14 as eLearning make-up days. Our first make-up day is scheduled for Friday, October 11 and will be an eLearning day. Students will not report to school on October 11. No new assignments will be given. Students should complete the work that was previously assigned for September 30. Students who complete the work previously assigned for October 1 and October 2 will receive extra credit for class participation. All work must be submitted by November 1. Our first eLearning day of September 27 will remain as an eLearning day and all assignments from September 27 are due by November 1. We will post a Frequently Asked Questions document, which will provide additional information and address any queries you may have. We encourage you to consult this document for any further clarification.

The School District of Newberry County will return to normal schedule on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

The School District of Newberry County will operate on a 2-hour delay for students on Monday, October 7. This will allow for buses to travel at a safer hour to view any hazards that remain in the area. We also continue to have several areas of the county without power. We hope this delay will aid those areas in being able to come to school. The last week has been a challenge for our county. We truly appreciate all of the efforts of the power companies, local law enforcement, churches, and all organizations that have banded together to provide water, meals, power, etc. As a district, we were able to serve approximately 25,000 meals for our students. Our child nutrition department, along with many of our teachers, staff, and administrators worked together to pack the food for pick up and our bus drivers delivered food to areas of the county. We are thankful for all everyone has done for our community. We look forward to seeing our students and their families on Monday, October 7 on a 2-hour delay. All staff should report at their normal time. Please continue to stay safe and we look forward to seeing our students on Monday.

The School District of Newberry County extends our heartfelt appreciation to all of the men and women working to restore power and keeping our county safe. We continue to keep the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and their families our priority. Knowing that thousands of you and three of our schools remain without power, we have decided to close on Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4. We will not post any assignments for students for these days. Food pick up sites will continue to be at Newberry High School, Mid-Carolina High School, and the Whitmire Community Center from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We will have buses deliver foods again to select locations for these days too. 11:00-11:30- Grants, Wise Street, White’s Trailer Park, Pine Ridge Rd. Prosperity 11:45-12:15- Bethlehem, Newberry Arms, Miller St. Prosperity 12:30-1:00- Nance Forest, Church St. Prosperity All 240-day employees are expected to report to work on October 3 and 4. Please continue to stay safe and we look forward to seeing our students and staff back as soon as possible.

The School District of Newberry County was able to provide 4,628 meals today to our students. We will have pick up again Tuesday and Wednesday at Newberry High School, Mid-Carolina High School and the Whitmire Community Center from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Charging stations will also be available at Mid-Carolina High School and Newberry High School during these times. We will also have buses that will deliver food to the following locations: 11:00-11:30- Grants, Wise St., Pine Ridge Prosperity, and White's Trailer Park 11:45-12:15- Bethlehem Apartments, Newberry Arms, and Miller St. Prosperity 12:30-1:00- Nance Forest, Church St. Prosperity