back to school

Teach your kids these safety tips before they go online

With school starting up in many Georgia school districts next week, now is a good time to talk to your kids about online safety and being smart when using the Internet. The internet is an important educational tool for students, but online access also comes with risks. Before students’ head back to class, the Marietta Police Department is reminding parents to review account privacy settings, establish guidelines around internet use and discuss ways to keep them safe while online. The department is also reminding parents of the following safety tips to pass on to kids. Don’t reveal personal information including…

It’s time to talk to your kids about school safety

With schools starting back up soon, the Marietta Police Department is reminding everyone to start the year off safe by discussing back to school safety with your children. The department is asking you to ensure your children are familiar with general information that may be needed if they get lost or encounter police officers. Role playing with with your children is recommended as well as taking time to discuss personal safety and awareness. According to the Police Department, before starting the school year your kids should: Know their address, telephone number and how to contact a parent or guardian.Remain aware…

Georgia Law Enforcement: Get ready for the return of school buses

As Georgia prepares for students to return to school next month, Georgia law enforcement officials are reminding motorists to obey traffic rules about school buses and school zones. Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge says his department will be turning up the heat in school zones when school starts their on Aug. 2. The sheriff s reminding drivers to remain alert when driving in school zones or adjacent to school buses to ensure the safety of children who are being transported on roadways. Gulledge said deputies will be patrolling school zones as part of their daily operations and that they will…

Tech glitches plague start of virtual school in metro Atlanta

Students in three of Georgia’s largest school districts – in Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties – started fall semesters with online classes Monday and widespread glitches left some families coping more with tech support than learning. Rhea White of DeKalb County was on the verge of tears after spending the morning trying to get her third-grade son logged in to his virtual lessons. She was not able to log in to the system or get in touch with his school, Rainbow Elementary in Decatur, for help. “I was never able to reach the school, the number stayed busy,” she said.…

Georgia lawmaker creates whistleblower email for school concerns

Georgia students and teachers who fear retribution for speaking up about concerns they have with school re-openings now have a way to share the concerns with state officials. Georgia representative Beth Moore, a democrat from Peachtree Corners has created an email address that students and teachers can send their concerns to with the promise that she will keep their information anonymous. Moore has created the email address reportmyschool@gmail.com, so that students and teachers can send photos, videos and testimonials while Moore provides them the anonymous cover they need. So far teachers have sent testimonials about remarks made by principals, concerns…

News Blog: Atlanta Police search for liquor thief

Police in Atlanta are asking for your help locating a liquor thief. Police say on August 7, the man pictured below entered Amalfi Pizza located at 17 International Blvd, where he stole six bottles of liquor from the bar area. If anyone has any information on the identity of this suspect, please contact Atlanta Police Zone Five Investigations and reference case number 20-223-0807 or contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS where you can remain anonymous. Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North Georgia If you're seeing dark skies right now that's because there's a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 3:45 for much…

Here’s what schools in Georgia need to do to open safely

Schools in Georgia need to limit group sizes, require masks and consider shutting down if outbreaks flare amid the COVID-19 pandemic as hundreds of thousands of kids head back to class this month, an infectious disease expert in Atlanta stressed Tuesday. Parents and kids also need to mind what they do outside school settings since a young student who catches the virus can quickly spread it on buses, cafeterias and sports fields, said Dr. Marybeth Sexton, a member of the Serious Communicable Disease Unit at Emory University Hospital and a former Atlanta public school teacher. Among more drastic measures, Sexton…

Hall County delays start of school until August 24

Hall County's school system has announced it will delay the start of school one week, with school starting Aug. 24. The Hall County School District announced it will extend preplanning by one week, running from Aug. 3 through 21. The extended preplanning time will be used to ensure safety protocols for students and staff. School officials say they will share the "First 15 Days of School Calendar" in the coming days. As of Monday, Hall County had 4,924 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 625 hospitalizations and 71 people in Hall County have died from COVID-19. The County is among Georgia's top…

Teachers fear speaking out about push for in-person learning

Over 675,000 students in eight of Georgia’s 10 largest school districts will start the fall semester virtually. Those districts: Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton and Henry county schools, as well as Atlanta Public Schools and Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, represent nearly 40% of Georgia’s public students. And now the state Board of Education may decide at its Thursday meeting to push schools to delay the start of school statewide until Sept. 8, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The move would follow weeks of public debate – both here in Georgia and nationally – over whether it’s safe to resume in-person classes…

How to talk to your kids about going back to school during COVID-19

First-day jitters are common, but students returning to school this year during the COVID-19 pandemic will face all sorts of unknowns that could lead to heightened anxiety. “School is going to look very different this year, from increased handwashing to masks to social distancing,” said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension child development specialist Diane Bales. “All of the typical concerns like not having a routine and not knowing your teachers will be magnified this year.” With so many changes and unknowns, it’s important for parents to reassure their children that anxiety is normal, Bales said. “Encourage kids to talk about…

Glynn County delays start of school

School will start later than originally planned in Glynn County. The Glynn County school board voted to delay the start of school Tuesday. The school year was originally set to begin Aug. 11, but has been pushed back to Aug. 20. The school board said the change is to give our students, staff and families time to prepare for the upcoming year. The revised calendar also includes a teacher workday on Tuesday, Nov. 3, which is Election Day. The school year will conclude in Glynn County May 27, 2021. Short breaks in October, February and March for teacher workdays and…

Fulton, Cobb and Marietta school systems to start the year 100% virtual

In response to rising COVID-19 infections, three metro Atlanta school systems announced that they will begin the school year using a 100% virtual learning model. Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, who has been saying for weeks that the school system's decision would be based on community spread of the virus and the course of the virus, said the data was moving in the wrong direction and that Fulton Schools would start virtual learning August 17. Below is Looney's official announcement. https://youtu.be/b606Zok61HM Marietta City Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera also signaled his intent to begin schools virtually. Cobb County Schools Superintendent…

As COVID-19 cases rise, Georgia updates return to school guidance

Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in Georgia as educators grapple with how to safely return to school next month. Today, the Georgia Department of Education released an update of its reopening guidance. While state education officials say this update should not require changes in already-developed plans by local school districts, the update does provide clarifications on issues like mask use. According to the update, masks and face coverings are not state-mandated but are strongly recommended, particularly in settings where social distancing is difficult, such as during class changes, drop-offs and pickups. The updates add a requirement for…

Fulton School Superintendent: Have kids practice wearing masks

As the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise in Georgia and in Fulton County and schools prepare their reopening plans, Fulton County School Superintendent Mike Looney says it may be time to start practicing mask-wearing with school-aged children. Looney, who has been outspoken on social media about the need for the community to take COVID-19 seriously, took to Twitter over the weekend to remind parents that with one month to the start of school, it may be time to start having school age children practice wearing masks. Looney said the school system's plan has always been contingent on the…

Long County delays start of school until August 10

The Long County School District announced Thursday that it would delay the start of school until August 10. According to the school district, the decision comes after considering parent survey results and the safety of students and staff. Under the current reopening plan, on-site school will begin August 10. The school system will offer a virtual option for families who wish to receive instruction through an online platform. The Virtual School Option will be available to families who do not feel it is safe to return to the traditional classroom. Students who participate in this option will begin Monday, August…