Due to impending weather conditions, all schools and offices will be closed, tomorrow, Friday, September 27, 2024. Twelve-month employees follow Code 0, do not report.
A tree fell on a power line causing the alarm to go off at the high school. We were trying to avoid drills and alarms until the Snapchat threats are calmed. Fire and police responded. All students and staff are safe and back inside. The superintendent, school administration, and top law enforcement officials are meeting today to generate solutions around this. Please report, do not repost any threats you may see. There is no credible threat at this time.
HCPS is aware that spam messages continue to surface. None of them are credible at this time. Please DO NOT repost the messages. Report them to school officials and law enforcement.
Interim reports for the first nine weeks are available for viewing on the Campus Portal. If you need assistance with the portal or need a paper copy of the report, please contact your child's school.
HCPS Families and Staff,
As you are aware from previous communications this week, HCPS has been investigating rumors of threats and social media posts that look like threats of violence to our schools. Together with law enforcement, we have looked into each of these accounts. Our investigations have revealed that none of these threats have been targeting schools in Halifax.
We received an email from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) addressing the mass distribution of a SnapChat image combined with an added on-screen text being distributed across North America via TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Analysis of this image and the mass reproduction indicates this is a spam Snapchat image and is not specific to any school or division.
These are obviously frightening messages and are designed to cause panic and disruption in communities.
So, what should you do if you see something concerning like this?
1. Immediately contact law enforcement and/or school officials to share what you have seen. We will investigate EVERYTHING that comes to us and we want people to share concerning messages so they can be investigated fully.
2. Report, don't Repost- Reposting these images instead of reporting them directly to officials is delaying our investigation and response to the concern. Reposting is causing panic and disrupting our schools and community before the legitimacy of the concern can be determined. If it is reported to us and is determined to be a legitimate threat, we will take immediate action and you will be informed about what we are doing to keep everyone safe.
Halifax County Public Schools and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department are diligently working to investigate every concern in an effort to keep our students and staff safe from any threat of violence. We need your help in these efforts. Please continue to communicate with us directly when you see or hear concerns.
Thank you.
Amy D. Huskin, Superintendent
Please save the date for the second annual CTE Showcase on Thursday, October 17, 2024. This event provides an opportunity for all students and families, including elementary to learn more about Career and Technical Education in Halifax County. Participants will be able to tour lab spaces and participate in live demonstrations. The first 100 attendees will receive a voucher to one of the on-site food trucks. Doors open at 5:15 PM, and the kickoff is at 5:30 PM. For more details and to register, please visit the Halifax County Public Schools website and Facebook page. View more details and register online at https://www.svhec.org/showcasecte/.
The Halifax County School Board will have a work session on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 9:00 AM. The meeting will take place in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the School Board Office.
Students at PACE had their first volunteer session today at the People's Pantry. Throughout the year, they will be assisting to unload food trucks to help families in need throughout Halifax County.
Lexia® is proud to partner with families and the Virginia Department of Education to help fulfill the state’s ALL In Tutoring priority! We are excited to announce we are now offering information sessions specifically designed for Virginia families. Click on the link below to learn more information.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zIhLUlBU1XY4-nLs0Vq1XOaCII4jgQDb/view?usp=sharing
The Halifax County School Board will meet Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:30 PM at the Mary Bethune Office Complex Public Meeting Room. The open session of the meeting will also be available on YouTube at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I1ITeqbYZI
What is a literacy screener? Have you heard about VALLSS? Click on the link below for an informational sheet for families.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oJjA4ir1O-Ydg5SOuiqWKfEnf3spzMTI/view?usp=sharing
As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed Monday, September 2, 2024 in observance of Labor Day.
Due to the high heat index for today and the safety of our students, all outdoor activities are cancelled for this afternoon.
In compliance with Virginia State Law and the Virginia Department of Education’s Frequency of Fire and Lock Down Drill requirements, students in Halifax County Public Schools will participate in required fire and lockdown safety drills during the next two weeks.
Thank you to Southern Piedmont Land and Lake Association of Realtors Public Relations Committee for the donation of school supplies.
The 2024 General Assembly passed House Bill 1473, which requires the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Health to work collaboratively to develop a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet and make this resource available to each school board for distribution to all grade 9-12 students within the first two weeks of the 2024-2025 school year.
Please keep this in mind as our buses will be back on the roads in the morning!
Please click on the link for more information about CoverVa,
https://coverva.dmas.virginia.gov/learn/coverage-for-children/back-to-school/?utm_campaign=b2s2024&utm_content=2advocates3eng2024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Due to the tornado watch, we are ending elementary open house at this time. Please be safe.
The Halifax County School Board will meet Monday, August 12, 2024 at 6:30 PM at the Mary Bethune Office Complex Public Meeting Room. The open session of the meeting will also be available on YouTube at the following link:
