Big Sandy ISD

Hello Big Sandy Family! Last night, the school board approved an adjusted 2020-21 Academic Calendar that will allow the district to start school earlier and bank more instructional minutes in case the need arises to close school during the school year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Also, since our students have been away from school since early March, getting them back in school sooner should help them get back on track academically. The first day of school in Big Sandy will be on August 12, and students will still be finished with the school year before Memorial Day Weekend (May 27). While changing the calendar this late isn’t ideal under normal circumstances, as we all know, this Pandemic has made life anything but ordinary. I appreciate all of your patience as we navigate through this crisis. As we get more guidance from the Texas Education Agency on starting school, we will continue to communicate with our community. Thanks, Mike Burns Superintendent

Class of 2020 Graduation has been uploaded to YouTube. https://youtu.be/pJzrsAlBqzA

Just a reminder...all guests will be COVID-19 screened prior to entering the stadium for graduation this evening. Masks will be optional, but encouraged for guests. Please remember that the 2020 Graduation Ceremony will be live streamed on Big Sandy ISD's Facebook page. Also, a professional photographer will be at the graduation tonight to capture each graduate's special moment along with a class picture of all graduates. Thank you!

BIG SANDY HIGH SCHOOL IS SO EXCITED TO HOST THE 2019-2020 GRADUATION CEREMONY TOMORROW EVENING (MAY 29TH) BEGINNING 8:00 P.M. AT WILDCAT STADIUM. THE GRADUATION CEREMONY WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON BIG SANDY ISD'S FACEBOOK PAGE. Click on the following link to access the ceremony: https://www.facebook.com/BigSandyWildcats/ Required Guidelines from Governor Abbott for a Safe Graduation Ceremony • Closed to public. • Everyone must have a ticket to be admitted. • ONLY handicapped parking will be allowed behind the school at the stadium. Handicapped designation must be visible to be allowed into parking area. • Gates will open at 7:15 p.m. • There will be two gates, one at either end of the home stands. • Visitors must be COVID-19 screened and cleared to enter and then submit ticket for admission. • Social distancing is required. Please be aware of designated areas to sit. • Seniors will be allowed to go onto the football field at the conclusion of graduation to throw their caps. • Unfortunately, the tradition of family and visitors leaving the stands and going onto the football field is PROHIBITED this year. Once the ceremony is concluded, please exit the stands and the stadium and make your way to your vehicles. • There cannot be bystanders in the parking lot or along the fence. • If it rains, the ceremony will be moved to the following day, Saturday, May 30th in the stadium at 8:00 pm. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR SENIORS ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS AND THANK YOU GOES TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED COORDINATE THIS SPECIAL EVENT!

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a one-time food benefit for families who lost access to free or reduced-price meals due to school closures. Eligible P-EBT families will receive application instructions from schools in late May. The P-EBT application will open the first week of June. P-EBT food benefits are for children who received SNAP food benefits for March 2020 and children who are certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-20 Texas school year. For more information, visit: hhs.texas.gov/PEBT

Please welcome Mr. Mike Burns as our new Superintendent. His first official day in the district is Monday, June 1, 2020. Mike Burns is entering his 19th year in education. He started his career as a high school English teacher in Malakoff ISD. After six years in Malakoff, he taught English and Social Studies in Coppell ISD at New Tech High @ Coppell, a school that used Project-Based Learning as its primary method of instruction. After four years at New Tech, Mike went back to his alma mater, UT Tyler, where he served in several roles for the Edgenuity Center, including an Instructional Coach and Principal of the University’s charter school. In 2015, Mike returned to Malakoff to become the district’s Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology. Mike earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from UT Tyler and holds teaching certifications in English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Journalism. He also holds Principal and Superintendent administrative certifications. Mike is married to his wife Molly, and the two have three children. His step-son Layne McGuire (11) is entering 6th grade, his daughter Bridget (5) is starting Kindergarten, and his son Matthew (3) is enjoying his time at home with Molly before he starts school. Mike enjoys cooking, spending time on the lake, watching sports, and spending time with his family in his spare time.

Junior High students we know you have worked hard and want to recognize those who have earned academic awards. Tune in today, May 27, 2020 at 6:30 pm on YouTube for the premiere of our Virtual Big Sandy Junior High School Academic Awards 2020. https://youtu.be/L04ioc7TQKk

High School students we know you have worked hard and want to recognize those who have earned academic awards. Tune in today, May 26, 2020 at 6:00 pm on YouTube for the premiere of our Virtual Big Sandy High School Academic Awards 2020. https://youtu.be/VB8N75CFSsQ

Just a reminder-Our buses will depart this morning at 10:00 to make our final meal delivery since Thursday is our last scheduled day of school. We want to thank all of our families for participating in our meal program throughout this spring. Hope you all have an amazing summer!

Meal delivery will be on Tuesday with buses leaving the school at 10 am. Since Thursday is the last scheduled day of school, it will be our last meal delivery. Thank you all for participating in our meal delivery program this spring!

Just a reminder...There will be a cart in front of the high school for secondary students to turn in textbooks and library books on Tuesday, May 26th from 9:00-7:00. Also, students should turn in their completed work at that time as well. Thank you so much for your hard work!!!

Hey Wildcat Families: Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a one-time food benefit for families who lost access to free or reduced-price meals due to school closures. Eligible P-EBT families will receive application instructions from schools in late May. The P-EBT application will open the first week of June. P-EBT food benefits are for children who received SNAP food benefits for March 2020 and children who are certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-20 Texas school year. For more information, visit: hhs.texas.gov/PEBT

FYI-Meal delivery will be on Tuesday next week at the same time instead of Monday due to the observance of Memorial Day. Since Thursday is the last scheduled day of school, it will be our last meal delivery. Thank you all for particpating in our meal delivery program this spring!

Guidelines from Governor Abbott for a Safe Graduation Ceremony to be held on Friday, May 29th 8:00 pm at Wildcat Stadium... • Closed to public. • Seniors get 4 tickets – issued the week of graduation. • Will be live streamed…details released next week. • Practice is not allowed. • ONLY handicapped parking will be allowed behind the school at the stadium. Handicapped designation must be visible to be allowed into parking area. • Staff and employees CANNOT be invited this year. We can ONLY have enough staff to run the ceremony so if you are attending, you must be assigned a job as an employee or you must have been issued a ticket from a senior. • Gates will open at 7:15 p.m. • There will be two gates, one at either end of the home stands. • Visitors must be COVID-19 screened and cleared to enter and then submit ticket for admission. • Social distancing is required. Please be aware of designated areas to sit. • Seniors will meet in visitor stands (cannot go into buildings) with senior sponsors. • Seniors will be allowed to go onto the football field at the conclusion of graduation to throw their caps. • Unfortunately, the tradition of family and visitors leaving the stands and going onto the football field is PROHIBITED this year. Once the ceremony is concluded, please exit the stands and the stadium and make your way to your vehicles. • There cannot be bystanders in the parking lot or along the fence. • If it rains, the ceremony will be moved to the following day, Saturday, May 30th in the stadium at 8:00 pm. (Big Sandy High School is so excited to be able to host an "in person" graduation ceremony this year and wants to thank everyone for helping us keep our students, staff, and families safe by following Governor Abbott's guidelines and Executive Orders.)

High School Students - if you are interested in taking dual credit classes for the 20-21 school year, please contact our secondary counselor Ty Anne Tapley at ttapley@bigsandyisd.org

Just a reminder...our buses will depart this morning at 10:00 to deliver meals. Please make certain that someone is at the bus stop to receive the meals. We want to thank all of our families for participating in our program. Have a wonderful day!!!

Hey Wildcat Class of 2020 we have a sign out at the school just for you! Feel free to come and take photos with the sign. It will be up until May 31st. We love our Seniors.

Important information for secondary students to drop off items that belong to the school and pick up personal items. A staff member will be available May 18-21 (Mon-Thur) to accept all library books AND textbooks at the following times: Monday and Wednesday: 9am-12 noon. Tuesday 9am-7pm. Thursday from 9am-4pm. Please drop them at the main entrance by the office. Athletics will be open on Tuesday from 9am-7pm or Thursday from 9am-4pm for students to turn in equipment and uniforms. They will also be allowed to clean out their locker and retrieve personal property. Ag Shop will be open on Monday and Wednesday from 9am-12pm for students to retrieve personal items. Teachers will be cleaning out personal items from classrooms and bagging those up for students to pick up during the above times. If there is something specific in a classroom that you want to be sure gets back to you please call the high school office at 903-636-5287 ext. 221 and leave a detailed message of who you are and what classroom its in.

On the following dates, students at Big Sandy Elementary are scheduled to pick up personal belongings, awards and school supplies. They also need to drop off school issued materials including library books. Monday, 5/18 - Pre-k and Head Start 8:30-11:30 Tuesday, 5/19 - 1st Grade 8:30-11:30, 2nd Grade 12:30-3:30, Wednesday, 5/20 - 3rd Grade 8:30-11:30, 4th Grade 12:30-3:30, Thursday, 5/21 5th Grade 8:30-11:30.

Big Sandy High School is excited to announce GRADUATION PLANS for the Class of 2020. The Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 29th, 2020, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Big Sandy. Both Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath have addressed specific graduation guidelines. Due to a change posted by the Texas Education Agency late yesterday, Big Sandy High School graduating seniors will be able to keep their original graduation date of May 29th. Specific safety guidelines have been outlined for all Texas schools to follow in order to provide protection for our families, students, staff, and friends. Due to the 25% maximum occupancy required by the State, each graduate will be allowed four (4) guests to attend the graduation ceremony at the stadium. If the maximum occupancy changes prior to graduation, we will revise the number of guests. Tickets will be issued and checked at the gate. Big Sandy will be live streaming the entire graduation ceremony; therefore, we encourage those family members and friends who are considered “at-risk” to watch the ceremony remotely. Information for the live stream will be communicated to the community at a later date. The home side of the stadium will be open for seating. Please practice social distancing guidelines. Please remain in close proximity to your immediate family and practice CDC guidelines when seated near those outside of your family. The Governor recommends a 2 seat separation by family unit. The Home side of the stadium will be for the 4 guests for each graduate. In order to be in compliance with state guidelines, guests will not be allowed on the field after the graduation ceremony. All guests and graduates will have to exit the stadium as soon as the ceremony concludes. Masks will be optional, but encouraged, for guests and graduates. Restrooms will be continually monitored and cleaned throughout the night by BSISD staff members. Again, we want to send a thank you to all of our families for your understanding and patience as we work to provide a memorable commencement experience for all of our 2020 graduating seniors while ensuring graduation safety guidelines are followed. Additional guidelines will be forthcoming prior to May 29th. If there should be any graduate that is not comfortable in participating in a large group graduation, they should contact Big Sandy High School to schedule an individual graduation ceremony.