Ask Alex : Should I report the coach?
Just For Fun, Lifestyle April 25, 2021
Hey Alex!
Recently my daughter told me that she heard a rumor that her soccer coach was sleeping with one of the girls on the team. I asked her who she heard it from and if she thought it was true. She told me that she didn’t know if it was true or not. I’m struggling with whether or not I should say something to the school. He has been her coach for the entire four years of her high schooling and always seemed like such a nice man. I don’t want to damage or ruin his reputation over a rumor. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Torn
Hey Torn!
This is one of those situations where you can’t worry about ruining someone’s reputation. You need to report this to the school. This is a person who has been hired not only to coach but to also look out for the well being of the children he comes in contact with.
Report it in a discrete manner to the administration of your daughter’s school. The school should in return conduct a discrete investigation into the matter.
If it is found to just be a rumor with no credibility then things should carry on as usual with most being none the wiser to what was said about this coach.
While I’m sure a rumor of such nature could be very hurtful to the coach on a personal level, also consider that if he is innocent of the allegations he would want to address it and clear his name.
A teacher or coach chooses their profession and it is expected of them to uphold their respective duties to the highest degree. They have a great influence in shaping our children and preparing them for life. Any coach or teacher should be one that not only the children can trust but that the parents can trust as well.
Sincerely,
Alex
You can check out more of Alex’s advice by clicking here : Ask Alex : Adrenaline Junkie
If you enjoy reading Alex’s advice, send in your questions or situations to [email protected]. Each week, Alex will answer a new question or provide some friendly advice on issues we deal with every day. Whether it’s
West Fannin Spelling Bee
Community, Rebel's Corner, West Fannin Elem December 27, 2020
Congratulations to Abby Pickard for placing first place in our West Fannin Spelling Bee. Congratulations to our runner up, Elaina Davis.
Mrs. Rice with 5th grade: Bea Painter, Trinity Parker, Abby Pickard, and Tucker Griggs, Mrs. Danner. Front row 4th grade: Mahlon Lunsford, Kaydee Parris, Elaina Davis, and Ava Curtis.
The spelling bee went seven rounds and the winning word was combed.
Abby Pickard and Elaina Davis
Abby will be competing in our county-wide spelling bee at the PAC on January 14th at 1:00.
More time, more training needed for learning platform
Featured Stories November 8, 2020
Photo by Susan Kirkland
Aaron Holland, the newly appointed BOE member listens to presentations from staff.
More time and more training on the online learning platform was a consistent mantra at a Pickens County Board of Education special called meeting today. Teachers and staff have been busy learning to use the new platform for virtual learning. ItsLearning, the new learning management system for schools to use when schools close unexpectantly, was put to quick use when Pickens County made the decision to close all of their schools on Oct.26 after a jump in positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines.
The new system, not to be confused with the Pickens Virtual Academy where students are enrolled specifically for virtual learning, provides teachers a way to continue teaching their normally face-t0-face classes.
Most of the comments were good and most were satisfied with the system, but all agreed they needed more time to get use to the platform and more training to make learning and teaching more efficient.
“We’ve had to teach ourselves some things,” said Anita Walker. “But our teachers have been wonderful to share what they know.”
While the teachers said they would benefit from more training, some expressed concern over parents. In a survey about teachers’ perception of the program in regards to teaching, their students, and parents, they rated parents as mostly uncomfortable with the system. Rated on a 1-10 scale 48 out of 57 or 84-percent of teachers at Pickens High School, 34 out of 44, or 77-percent of teachers at Pickens Junior High School, 23 out of 31, or 74-percent of the teachers at Jasper Middle School, and 52 out of 82, or 63-percent of the combined elementary school teachers scored their parents at five or less on being comfortable with the program.
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For special education, the concern was greater.
All the teachers said they could see an improvement over when they first started using ItsLearning, emails and calls have decreased as students, and parents, became more comfortable.
“We can certainly accommodate that,” Townsend told the staff. “The teachers are the backbone of our system-we don’t want to break their backs.”
COVID-19 outbreak and returning to school
Schools will reopen on Monday barring a significant change, Steve Townsend, superintendent said.
Hill City Elementary was the first to close with four, students and staff, were in isolation and 52 were in quarantine, but the rest of the schools quickly followed as the numbers of those who had symptoms increased.
When schools closed, 584 were in quarantine and 27 in isolation.
Projected numbers, based on latest data, indicate the school district as a whole will have two in isolation and seven in quarantined.
Breakdown by school of quarantine and isolation cases related to COVID-19 from Oct. 26 until school resumes on Nov. 9.
Pickens Virtual Academy
The Pickens Virtual Academy, which gives students a chance to do a fully online school, is separate from the online platform that face-to-face students use during unscheduled breaks, has 906 students enrolled in November. This is down 294 students from the 1,200 students who enrolled in August.
Of those, about one-percent or three students moved to another district, four-percent, or about 12 students switched to homeschooling. The remainder, 279 returned to traditional school.
They expect 450 students to attend the virtual academy when the second semester starts in January. Most of those will be returning students for some will be new.
Photo by Susan Kirkland
Principals give updates on distance learning as the system prepares to reopen on Monday.
For those continuing in the virtual academy for the second semester, academy staff plan a more proactive approach.
Kelly Flatt, PVA coordinator, said they are asking families for their opinion and they have created a fake student profile so parents can preview the platform. She said as the semester goes on, they are seeing fewer problems and parents are even assisting other parents via social media.
Misti Moore, the contact for kindergarten through fourth grade, said they have started face-to-face tutoring for grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Although each grade has a day specifically for it, they do not turn away anyone who needs help.
“Some come to not get help, but to just see their teachers and other students,” she said.
Ask Alex : High School Rumors
Lifestyle September 13, 2020
Hey Alex!
I broke up with my boyfriend and he is starting nasty rumors about me. I don’t know who all has heard the rumors but I feel like people are treating me different and talking about me. It’s so bad that I don’t even want to go to school! I keep begging my mom to just let me stay home, but she is making me go anyway. How can I make her understand how bad it is?
Sincerely,
Scared
Hey Scared!
I can tell you with a lot of confidence that what you are facing has been faced by almost every single person in the world. Whether it is embarrassment from untrue rumors or humiliation from a mistake. So know that you are not alone and take this knowledge with you when you hear something about someone else. Remember your feelings in this moment and try in the future to not be a part of making someone else feel this way.
I wish there was a way to let you know how insignificant this moment in your life will end up being. It will pass and the less importance you place on it, the quicker it will go. All gossip becomes old gossip when something new occurs and something new will always occur.
Your mom is right in having you just face it head on. The more you show that these rumors don’t hold any power over you, the less power these rumors have and the less likely people are to believe them.
Keep in mind those that know you, know the truth and who you are, and those that choose to believe what they hear, don’t matter.
Sincerely,
Alex
You can check out more of Alex’s advice by clicking here : Ask Alex : Accidental Text
If you enjoy reading Alex’s advice, send in your questions or situations to [email protected]. Each week, Alex will answer a new question or provide some friendly advice on issues we deal with every day. Whether it’s serious, fun, interesting, or you’re just stuck, send in your questions to Ask Alex for a little bit of outside perspective on life.
Ask Alex : Covid-19 and Schools
Lifestyle August 16, 2020
Hey Alex!
I know for a fact that a member of the school board where my children attend school is positive for Covid-19 but he refuses to get tested or seek medical treatment. His wife tested positive last week and now he’s running a fever and can’t get out of bed. How can I be comfortable sending my children back to school if adult members of the school board are so childish that they won’t take responsible actions to keep others safe?
Sincerely,
Concerned Parent
Hey Concerned Parent!
I totally understand your concern for your child’s health. Our children are our most precious asset in life. With that being said, I think you might be being quick to get upset because your child in a roundabout way is involved.
From what you have described it doesn’t sound like the school board member is not taking responsible actions. If his wife tested positive and now he is sick, it is probably safe to assume that he contracted Covid-19 as well. Being tested would only confirm the assumption, and if he is treating it as though he has it and has let people know that he was in contact with Covid-19, then there is no reason to get tested.
The vast majority of Covid-19 cases to date have resolved themselves on their own without any kind of medical treatment. The fact that he hasn’t sought medical treatment isn’t an irresponsible action.
Now, if he is still out and about coming in contact with people or denying that his wife had tested positive, then that is a whole different ball game and parents should voice their concerns over his actions to other members of the school board and the superintendent.
The truth is, the Covid-19 pandemic is an ever evolving situation, one that most of us have not faced before. Information is constantly changing and most officials are just trying to make the best decision with the most current data they have. You are the parent of your child and you will have natural instincts that no official can replace. Ultimately, you need to listen to your gut instinct and make the decisions that are best for your family.
Sincerely,
Alex
You can check out more of Alex’s advice by clicking here : Ask Alex : Photos of Exes
If you enjoy reading Alex’s advice, send in your questions or situations to [email protected]. Each week, Alex will answer a new question or provide some friendly advice on issues we deal with every day. Whether it’s serious, fun, interesting, or you’re just stuck, send in your questions to Ask Alex for a little bit of outside perspective on life.
Scoring Points: Athletics in NCHSAA hands: Good or bad?
Just For Fun July 19, 2020
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper held a press conference earlier today, where he announced that school systems will be operating on Plan B which is a split, virtual and in-person, system this fall. School districts are also allowed to operate under plan C, which is strictly virtual online learning. Regarding sports, he announced that he is leaving the decision about whether or not to have upcoming athletics seasons to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).
Cooper stated, “The NCHSAA will be making the decisions about high school sports and what they’re going to engage in.” He went on to say, “I love fall sports and enjoyed playing them in high school. I know a lot of our student-athletes want to get back into playing sports. The NCHSAA will be consulting with public health experts, including our staff here at the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s my understanding that they will be making specific decisions a little bit later on in the process.”
I’ve been thinking about this decision since I listened to Governor Cooper’s press conference on Tuesday morning, trying to weigh the good and the bad.
In my honest opinion, I think that since Cooper left it up to the NCHSAA to decide, they, in turn, will leave it up to school districts to decide whether they want to play or not. I think that the NCHSAA will give the go-ahead initially, but a lot of things will have to fall into place for sports to be played at their full potential. All in all, I do not think that it was necessarily a bad thing for this decision to be left up to Que Tucker and the NCHSAA board, but it does now present them with even more unanswered questions since the school systems will be operating at basically a fifty percent capacity.
It feels like, with every press conference and news release we get, more questions are left at the end than there were before. Hopefully, when the NCHSAA meets in two weeks we can get a plan of attack and know what to expect going forward.
Check out more of Jake West’s Scoring Points by reading last week’s article: New GHSA shot clock rule good for the game. Also remember, in sports, points are scored by both sides, so send in your opinions on sports to [email protected] and see them in our next Sunday Edition.
The BOE Recognizes The Hard Work of The Staff and Community
Fetching Featured June 21, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Last night, during the Union County BOE Meeting, Superintendent Hill expressed his thanks, appreciation, and gratitude for the staff of Union County Schools.
He recognized the school nutrition staff, who have served a total of 132,000 meals. Children in Union County will continue to receive meals until June 25th.
Hill also acknowledged the police department’s efforts. The officers gave out 600 twenty-pound boxes of produce to the community.
The superintendent stated that the entire faculty and staff went “so far above and beyond.” He acknowledged their long hours working for the students. Their efforts weren’t limited to meal service, education, or sanitization. Coach Corey Garrett developed an online workout program for students.
Lastly, Hill commended staff who completed the summer preparation early. He also acknowledged Union County High School Principal C.T. Hussion for hosting “the best graduation in the United States.”
Superintendent Hill said, “I couldn’t be more proud of our staff. Every single employee in this district has done more than we’ve asked.” The BOE plans to honor and recognize all the hard work from the entire staff. Hill states that once social distancing is lifted, the BOE will need to have a meeting in the fine arts center to recognize everyone’s hard work. This meeting will be, as Hill adds, ”a long, but a good one.”
The BOE also voted unanimously to renew the Union-Towns contract for Alternative Education. This allows alternative students from Towns county to attend Union County Alternative School.
Additionally, the BOE unanimously voted to renew the Family Connection contract for the 2021 fiscal year. Family Connection has provided students with anything they need such as shoes, food for the weekend, or a trip to the health department.
Dr. Paula Davenport states, “Anyway they can help they find a way to do it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4SyL5XJVNc
Scoring Points: GHSA Gives OK For Sports To Resume
Just For Fun May 24, 2020
The Georgia High School Association plans to reopen high school sports activities beginning June 8th, after Robin Hines (director of the GHSA) and his board of trustees came to the unanimous decision on Thursday afternoon.
Much like what I wrote about last week when North Carolina came to their decision to reopen, Georgia will do so with many restrictions. Restricted voluntary workouts under their coaches’ direction, that will fall under the guidelines of the current state order.
Hines said Thursday, “It’s time for us to get back to a sense of normalcy, These kids have already been away from their fellow students for two-and-a-half months. They’ve already missed proms and honors nights. They’re ready to get back, and that’s been made clear to me from the hundreds of emails I’ve gotten from parents saying, ‘Please let our kids get going.’ It is time to get going.’’
Currently the workouts are for conditioning only, which means no bats or balls or equipment will be shared at all. On the bright side at least all the kids will be able to get back together and see some normalcy in their life. A little bit ridiculous that football players can’t even throw a football around if you ask me, but I understand it’s for everyone’s safety and that the board has the best interest of the students in mind.
Another shining light in all this is that Georgia isn’t the only state to start pushing towards reopening school sports. States such as North Carolina, Texas and Iowa are also looking forward to starting back up. Iowa is even set to begin softball and baseball games toward the end of the month of June. Things seem to be looking pretty good on the horizon, and hopefully everyone will be safe and as diligent as possible so we can continue in the right direction.
Check out more of Jake West’s Scoring Points by reading last week’s article: NC sports return on the horizon. Also, remember, in sports, points are scored by both sides, so send in your opinions on sports to [email protected] and see them in our next Sunday Edition.
Optimists show signs of care for Gilmer Graduates
Fetching Featured May 24, 2020
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County’s 2020 graduates have had more than a few setbacks in their senior year due to COVID-19, from missing half a semester, one quarter of their entire senior year, to cancellations of their graduation and prom before rescheduling.
Many school districts in Georgia are trying their best to provide a little extra recognition for their graduates this year due to quarantining practices shutting down the entire state’s school system.
Gilmer is no different as the Board has rescheduled both prom and graduation in addition to providing a digital graduation this Friday. But the community of the county still didn’t think this was enough to make up for months of separation and a lack of closure to the grade school lives.
The Gilmer County Optimist Club pushed forward with a new project this week, and if you’ve driven down Industrial Blvd. this week, you’ve seen the roadside parade of handmade signs that the club has donated and erected to honor these students.
Also recognized at this weeks BOE meeting, the project is getting great appreciation from both the school board and community driving past with honks of appreciation as the project was completed.
The project lead, Lisa Salman, who is also Tourism Director for the Gilmer Chamber, said the idea came together through watching other counties and districts through social media and listening to our own community.
All in the span of about two weeks, Salman pitched the idea to Superintendent Shanna Downs and received approval from the city for a sign permit, then gathered volunteers and donations to buy the materials and hand craft the signs you see on the road. Early Saturday morning, May 16, 2020, volunteers gathered before noon to put up the completed signs. This is the original planned week of graduation.
Graduates each have their own sign recognizing their work and efforts. Salman said that she knew the school was doing things, but said their was meaning in people doing something by hand for the extra recognition. Different volunteers have painted and created different signs, so not all the signs are the same either.
This project is not completed however. Maintenance continues through the week as heavy winds and passing cars have seen a few signs blow down. Salman said they are continue during the week to repair and maintain the project through graduation day.
When asked about the importance of projects like this, Salman said, “We’re friends of youth. Children are so important and I want them to be recognized… I want to make sure they are recognized and t hey could see their name as people drive by and honk.”
The project went up this week to the surprise of all the students as Salman said they spoke with Downs and the City privately to keep this as a Graduation week surprise for the students.
The project saw donations from 35 people and time from 7 volunteers to complete the designs, construction, and finally completion of putting the signs up on the road.
(Photo and video provided by th Gilmer County Optimist Club.)
Tate Elementary School Have a Special Message for their Students!
Lifestyle April 5, 2020
Tate Elementary teachers wanted to share some love with the community. Teachers are heartbroken that they are not returning to school this year and they still want the students to know they are loved.
