By Charlotte Smith
Bladen County Schools announced Tuesday the district will be transitioning to a new model for instructional delivery beginning Thursday, March 19 for at-home learning. The school campuses opened Wednesday, March 18 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. to allow parents to pick-up their child’s homework packet.
Parents and guardians were encouraged to pick up packets for neighbors or other’s children in their community with transportation issues.
Each school handled the distribution a little differently. Tar Heel Middle School principal Teresa Coleman explained the differences her middle school implemented in distributing the materials were extending the pick up time until 6 p.m. and including packets of school supplies donated by Goodwill Community Foundation.
She said “We want to encourage students to continue growing in every aspect. Our PE teacher has given activity logs for students to fill out for daily activity. There is a schedule of learning for each subject in the packet, and each student is encouraged to read everyday.”
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At East Arcadia Elementary no students were allowed in the building. There were some parents that picked up the packets, but most were delivered by bus. The school services 70 students, according to Renee, who is the data manager and was on site.
Clarkton School of Discovery allowed parents to come inside the building, one family at a time, to collect the needed packets. Principal Stephaine Norris and other school staff members greeted visitors wearing gloves on their hands and smiles on their faces in offering assistance to students and parents.
Elizabethtown Primary School staff members greeted visitors curbside with helpful hands distributing the packets to the people inside the vehicles. Signs were posted with instructions on how the drive-through services would work.
Nutrition for students and parents are a concern during this time, according to Gov. Roy Cooper‘s office.
Parents are allowed to pick up grab-and-go meals for their children at the following locations. There will be no charge to the students. Schools distributing the breakfast and lunch meals are:
Bladen Lakes Primary School
Bladenboro Middle School
Clarkton School of Discovery
East Arcadia Elementary
Elizabethtown Middle School
Tar Heel Middle School
West Bladen High School
If you are unable to travel to a school to pick up meals, contact the school administrator to determine if there can be an alternative pick-up site.
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