Welcome back Times Now 6:45 thousands
of students across Central Georgia head
back to school today and give County
summer choosing to learn for a truly
because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Arwani is joining us live from
Southwest high to continue all
of our back to school coverage.
So good morning 1 yay.
Well, good Monday morning Caitlin
teachers are already starting to arrive
here and staff at Southwest High School.
The students they're going to
be coming at any moment now.
Now, while some students are waking up
getting on the bus and coming to school,
some students are deciding to learn virtually
because of COVID-19 and other reasons.
Now I got a chance to speak with the
family that told me the reason why
they decided to stay at home instead
of coming back to class in person.
I went to horse camp. Right now we're up
in the mountain after a summer full of fun,
Sophia Vandyke is ready for her first day in
the 5th grade meeting my teachers
and doing scratch coding
in art. Sophia is just one of
550 kids participating in Bibb
County schools. Virtual learning
option. When VIP Academy came up,
I had been researching virtual
schools and this really is the
best of all possible worlds.
It's got the edge annuity
teachers keeping an eye on or
once a week the bib teachers.
Keeping an eye on our
everyday Sophie's grandmother, Jackie Folsom,
says COVID-19 was a big concern. Plus,
Folsom wanted greater flexibility, but
the convenience for us is just yeah
outweighs the everything else. I
think director or personalized
learning Doctor Julia Dannelley says
her staff spent the summer getting
kids like Sofia ready for the first
day of school.
We have had the vendor to come and
do sessions with our stakeholders.
I've had learning coach training
for our elementary students for
our parents because the elementary
students will need more more support.
Dannelley says.
Students in K through
12 and parents took part in an
orientation session to prepare
them for their first day.
She hopes the virtual environment
will not only be safe,
but prepare students like Sophia
for the future. They are independent
learners, they they it's pretty much
like preparing them for college and I
just don't feel like she's.
Going to drop through the cracks
in anyway because of all the.
The advantages of this school,
this particular school.
This morning we're taking a
closer look at what the school
year is expected to look like for
Bibb County students returning to
class in person to make it simple,
students who are learning in person
will come to school five days a week.
As you can hear,
it's a party out here already.
There would be one day each month
in September, October, and November,
where students will log in from
home and turn in their assignments.
You can see those exact dates on your
TV screen right now, and we'll have
more information posted on our website.
You know where to go?
We talk about it all the time.
13 W.
Mazie.com right now the Superintendent of
Bibb County schools doctor Curtis Jones.
He is live with us to talk
about the first day.
So my first question how you feeling?
I'm
feeling pretty good.
I think we're excited.
We're ready for students to come back.
We've looked at what it
is we need to prepare.
I have several new principals,
new assistant principals
and they're ready.
They're like kids.
They went and bought new clothes.
Well, you know Doctor Jones
on a more serious note,
you know we are still in the
middle of battling COVID-19.
There's a lot of students who are
deciding to come to school in person today.
For those parents or students who
might be a little worried about their
child safety and even some staff members,
what are you all doing to
make sure that they're
staying safe while keeping safety
at the forefront of our thoughts?
Will continue to learn from
the lessons from last year.
We still have an ionization
system to filter the air.
We still have touchless water
fountains for our students.
We have at least three feet
of distance between students.
Social distancing and we're going to
have them washing their hands and.
You are dumb and wearing a mask,
and I'm still encourage
everyone to get a vaccine.
I think it's the best thing you can
do. Yes, Sir, and just my last
question for you students, parents,
staff members, across central Georgia,
they're watching this morning.
What are some words that you would
give them to encourage them to have a
great year? Same word I gave to
my granddaughter who's going to
kindergarten for the first time.
Find your teacher. Find your classmates,
create a great relationship and
it's going to be a great year.
Have fun. Well,
thank you so much. Doctor Jones.
We really do appreciate you,
and I think I speak for everybody
with the Bibb County School system.
When we say that we wish every student,
teacher and staff member throughout
the district and excellent first day
of school in an excellent school year.
Caitlin, I'm going to go ahead
and send it back to you.