Watson Chapel School District

Early voting is open at the Jefferson County Courthouse through Monday. Election Day is Tuesday, August 9. 🖤💛🖤💛

ARESC is looking for a home-based educator to serve the families of Watson Chapel!

Food Allergies in the Watson Chapel Cafeteria: WCSD does not serve anything with peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish or fish. If a student has a food allergy we ask that a "Meal Modification Form" be filled out by their physician and provided to the school. This will help us provide nutritious foods that won't trigger their allergies. The form can be found at https://www.wc-web.k12.ar.us/page/nutrition. The main things we need to know are: (1) what the food allergy is; (2) what happens if they eat that food; and (3) what items we can provide in its place. For milk allergies, if you would please let us know if the student has to avoid all dairy products or just can't have milk to drink. For egg allergies, can they have eggs cooked in products or just foods like egg patties and scrambled eggs? If you have any questions about food allergies or meal modifications, please contact Paula Bailey MS, RDN, LD, Food Service Director, at pbailey@wcmail.k12.ar.us or 870-879-9432.

The Jefferson County Health Department will be on-site at Coleman Elementary, Tuesday August 9th from 5-6 pm during orientation. They will also be on-site at Watson Chapel High School, Thursday, August 11 from 5-6 pm during orientation. They will be administering immunizations to any Watson Chapel School District students that are not up to date with the required immunizations to attend school. The Parent must accompany the student if the student is under eighteen years old. If you have any questions you can call Nurse Sullivent at 870-550-4646. If your student has turned 11 years old or will turn 11 by September 1st they will need the T-Dap and MCV4 immunizations. If your Student has turned 16 or will turn 16 before September 1st they will need the second MCV4 immunization.

COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION SCHOOL YEAR 2022- 2023 The Watson Chapel School District is pleased to announce the district will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2022 - 2023 school year providing meals, regardless of eligibility category, at NO CHARGE for all students at the following schools Watson Chapel High School, Watson Chapel Junior High, Coleman Elementary, LL Owen Elementary and Edgewood Elementary that participate in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. CEP is made possible through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Special Assistance Certification and Reimbursement Community Eligibility Provision. Federal reimbursement for meals is based on the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) established by the District. The information used to establish the ISP will be made available only to State and Federal officials for review. All adults, e.g., visitors, teachers, support staff members, and administrators of the district must assume the full cost of the meal which is $3.00 for Breakfast and $5.00 for Lunch. Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: program.intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

We’re looking FORWARD ➡️ to the future of Watson Chapel! Your vote of YES sends a message that we are INVESTED in our community and its future place in Jefferson County education. #voteyes 🖤💛🐾

In addition to a new high school, the millage will also fund improvements at Coleman Elementary. Some of these projects are already in progress! - Improvements to cafeteria - Playground equipment - Awnings for walkways - Roof ductwork coverings - New paint & flooring in gym

SUMMER PEBT We do not need to collect any forms for Watson Chapel students for the Summer PEBT. Watson Chapel participates in a special program called "Community Eligibility" which allows all of our students to eat at no charge, and also makes all the students eligible for the Summer PEBT. I have confirmed this with the Department of Education twice. I have also gone into our system and triple checked that all of the students were marked as being eligible for free/reduced meals. DHS hasn't send when funds will be sent out yet. Questions? Paula Bailey, Food Service Director, 870-879-9432 or pbailey@wcmail.k12.ar.us.

Reminder: Arkansas Parent Initiated Applications for the School Year 21-22 Pandemic EBT are due no later than tomorrow. https://forms.gle/7k56Tn1oL2caRenx7 This for should be filled out if the student missed days last school year related to CoVid. For each day missed related to CoVid, the student may receive $7.10 on an EBT Card. I have two absentee records I can run: one shows me absentees marked as covid related and the other shows me everything else. If I receive an application and don't see the child's name on the covid related, I will contact the household to see if we can identify what days were mis-coded. We have until August 12th to work together to verify days, but the application has to be filled out no later than tomorrow. If the student did not miss days due to CoVid, you do not need to fill out the form.

Why should we do a millage increase now??

Do you know where to go to cast your vote for Watson Chapel?

Pre-K registration is open ARESC (located at LL Owen Elementary School)! Spots are open for 3, 4, & 5 year old scholars!

Did you know this? Now you do! #VoteYES #ChooseChapel

Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program designed to provide food support to families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals and missed school for COVID-related absences. It can help families pay for food when students are absent from school due to a COVID-19 related isolation/quarantine. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures for school year 2021-22. To be eligible a student must: Qualify for free and reduced priced meal, AND Have been absent from school due to COVID-19 isolation/quarantine **Benefits are allowed only on planned school calendar days. Benefits are not allowed on weekends or holidays. For students whose instruction choice was in-person, the households can contact the Watson Chapel School District, Attn: Paula Bailey at 870-879-9432 and complete the Arkansas Parent-Initiated P-EBT Application or households can complete the on-line form at https://forms.gle/g3jV1rREK3rwqzqe7. PAPER OR ON-LINE FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY, JULY 29TH. The school district will verify the absences, approve the application, and submit the student’s information to DESE. DESE will provide a file for DHS to process the benefit. Anticipated timeline: June 23, 2022 – July 29, 2022 – Household to complete the application process and submit to the district July 29, 2022 - August 12, 2022 – District to consolidate collected student information and submit spreadsheet to DESE If you have questions or need help, contact Paula Bailey at 870-879-9432 or pbailey@wcmail.k12.ar.us. Sincerely, ______________ USDA Non-Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The most important reason we are asking for your help? Our students! They deserve the best we can give them. Voting YES is a vote for the future of these students and our community.

How does Watson Chapel compare to other districts in Jefferson County? Our millage rate has been below all the others for some time. The increase would keep us lower than others.

What would the new high school look like? Here are some proposed renderings of the front and side entrances.

How will the millage increase affect you and your family?

How will money from the millage be used? The state is providing $14.5 million to help build a new high school. WC is responsible for the remaining $8.6 million. 3.7 mils from the millage will go towards that expense. The other 2 mils will go towards maintenance & operations.

Watson Chapel needs your help! We are asking for a millage increase on August 9 to help with the cost of a new, safe high school for our students. An increase would still keep us below other districts in Jefferson County while investing in our students and community!