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/.
Students, faculty, and staff members at Sinai Elementary participated in Patriot Day by wearing red, white, and blue in remembrance of 9/11.
Sinai's 5th grader scientists designed and built hoop gliders this week. Their goal was to get the glider to travel at least 5 feet. They completed the engineering design process in making their gliders. Most gliders went almost 6 feet with one group achieving 9 feet, 10 inches.
Sinai Picture Day is tomorrow, September 12th! Please see flyer below for additional information!
Sinai Elementary would like to thank Ms. Pat Crew and her husband for their generous donation of school supplies for Sinai Elementary.
Third grade Sinai Scientists in Ms.. Francis homeroom recently participated in the Index Card Challenge. Students were given 20 index cards and one piece of tape to see who could build the highest tower. Students were divided into groups and worked together in their group to plan, sketch and eventually implement their design for the tallest tower. Students were given 10 minutes to complete their design. The tallest tower came in at 19 inches tall.
Tingy and her STEM lab were mobile when they visited Mrs. Davis and Ms. Emerson's 3rd grade class to build an Index Card Tower. Sinai Scientists were given 20 index cards and one piece of tape to see who could build the highest tower. Before beginning, each group had to brainstorm and hypothesize on the best way to do so. Once this step was completed, each group was given ten minutes to work together to build the highest structure. Two groups had 10 inch towers. Once completed, each group reevaluated their plan and, then their successes and failures. Each group was also required to graph how high each group built their structures to practice graphing. Not only was this an excellent STEM activity, it taught the students how to communicate and work together.
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
Please see flyer for information regarding Sinai Elementary Fall Mum Fundraiser which begins Monday, September 9th.
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
Sinai Scientists in 5th grade explored the scientific method by completing a lab on glue sticks. Students investigated three different brands of glue to determine which had the strongest hold. They used pennies to find out which brand was the strongest.
Sinai Elementary would like to thank Hitachi Energy for their generous donation of STEM Kits for Sinai’s STEM Program. These kits will provide valuable hands on experience for students to create several solar energy designs that otherwise they may not have access to. Thanks to Ryland Clark and Rebecca Saunders for helping make this donation possible. Pictured are Sinai Scientists, Darlene Ragland and Meredith Fears, Sinai Teachers and Ryan Russell, Principal.
As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed Monday, September 2, 2024 in observance of Labor Day.
Mrs. Ragland 4 th grade students are studying Scientific Method, Variables,
Qualitative, and Quantitative. The students conducted an experiment on “Shrinking
Balloons”. The students were divided into groups. Each group had an inflated
balloon, a metric ruler, safety pin, stopwatch, and safety google. Each group made
a T-Chart to record qualitative and quantitative data. The students had to record
their observations about the inflated balloon on this chart. A piece of tape was
attached at the bottom of each balloon. The students had to make a hypothesis of
what would happen when you attach a piece of tape to a balloon and prick the
taped section of the balloon with a pin? The student used their safety pin to prick a
hole through the tape at bottom of the balloon. Each group had to record
measurement every 10 seconds for 5 observations. Once they did that, the students
had to measure the balloon with their metric ruler to see how much the balloon
would shrank each time they pricked it. Each group had to make a conclusion
about what happened when they pricked their balloons through a piece of tape and
then record their conclusions in their Science Notebooks.
Don't forget our Krispy Kreme Funderaiser is still going on. End date is Friday, September 9th
Sinai Elementary School would like to send out our most heartfelt thank you to one of our most benevolent benefactors, the good folks over at Dollar General. You guys again have gone above and beyond with this generous outpouring of back to school supplies. We are honored to partner with you and we look forward to building on our relationship.
Shout out to Brittney for bridging the gap for us! Thanks DG we will put these items to good use!!!
