​ Parent and Student Information Regarding School Closure

Alyssa Jenkins

March 15, 2020


Below is information which will help to answer some of the most frequently asked questions with regards to school closing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  This information is current as of March 15, 2020.

Dates of School Closing

Due to Governor Asa Hutchinson’s announcement, the Smackover-Norphlet School District (SNSD) will be closed March 16 – 20.  These five days will be considered AMI days.

School will also be closed the week of March 23 – 27 for Spring Break.

Reminder of General Precautions

Governor Asa Hutchinson has closed schools to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Please remember to take the following precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Practice social distancing while students are out of school.
  • Wash hands frequently.
  • Do not touch your face.
  • Cover your cough/sneeze and throw the tissue away immediately.
  • Wash hands following a cough/sneeze.
  • Avoid large crowds.

Athletics and Extra Curricular Activities

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) has suspended all spring interscholastic competitions until Monday, March 30, 2020.

All athletic practices and extra curricular activities planned by the Smackover-Norphlet School District are cancelled until school resumes.

AMI Folders

If your child’s AMI folder has been misplaced, you may access the same documents online using the following links:

Meal Programs

SNSD will provide more information regarding meal programs during the closure later this week. Please stay tuned for updates.

Smackover-Norphlet Preschool

Smackover-Norphlet Preschool has postponed the spring pictures and group pictures originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 17.

Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for March 19 will be rescheduled at a later date.

Smackover Elementary School

Teachers have previously sent home AMI (Alternative Method of Instruction) packets for students to work on over the next week.  Each student has been given 5 days worth of instructional packets.  The packets should be labeled Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5.  Students are asked to follow the schedule below:

  • Day 1 Packet:  Complete over Monday, March 16 & Tuesday, March 17
  • Day 2 Packet:  Complete over Wednesday, March 18 & Thursday March 19
  • Day 3 Packet:  Choose two of the assignments from this packet to complete Friday, March 20. At this time, spring break begins.

SES staff encourages students to continue reading on a daily basis.  Students can model for their parents what good writers they are by writing about different topics about favorite meals, vacations, hobbies, etc.

Thank you to students for being independent learners over the next two weeks.  We look forward to seeing you back on Monday, March 30.  Please stay connected to the Smackover Norphlet website, blog, and SES Facebook page for updated information as new information arises.

Norphlet Middle School

Norphlet Middle School students are asked to complete AMI assignments using the schedule below:

  • March 16 & March 17 – Students will complete Day 1 of their AMI work
  • March 18 & March 19 – Students will complete Day 2 of their AMI work
  • March 20 – Students will complete only half of their Day 3 AMI work

Spring pictures, which were scheduled for this week, will be rescheduled.

Smackover High School

Your student has been given five days of instructional work for AMI (Alternative Method of Instruction) days.  The instructional work is labeled Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5.  Please follow the schedule below for completing work in order to begin utilizing AMI days tomorrow:

  • March 16 & March 17 – Students will complete Day 1 of their AMI work
  • March 18 & March 19 – Students will complete Day 2 of their AMI work
  • March 20 – Students will complete only half of their Day 3 AMI work
  • March 23 – 27:  Out of School For Spring Break

Please continue to monitor the Smackover-Norphlet website, blog, and local news for updates as more changes could occur.

Take care of yourself and family.

High School Students Enrolled in Online Courses through Virtual Arkansas

  1. Emails will be sent early in the week to Virtual Arkansas students by Smackover High School staff to determine if the students have Internet access. Please respond ASAP to this email.  Any student not responding to the email will receive a phone call from Smackover High School staff.
  2. Virtual Arkansas students who have Internet access at home should simply continue in their courses as usual.
  3. For those students without Internet access, arrangements will be made to provide print materials for the days in which school is closed.

For schools who are out for 10 days or less, students will not need access to assessments. If a student is due to take an assessment during those 10 days or less, they will be allowed to bypass the assessment and move on to the next module. The students can then access and take the assessment upon return to school.

For High School Students Enrolled in the Secondary Technical Center or Concurrent Classes at SouthARK Community College

From Dr. Bentley Wallace, President of SouthARK Community College:

South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) is proactively extending spring break for students starting Monday, March 16, 2020 through March 27, 2020.

  • Unless the situation with the Coronavirus changes, students will return to classes on March 30, 2020.
  • It is important to note that at this time, SouthArk does not have any cases of the Coronavirus. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available.
  • SouthArk will continue to review the situation in the next two weeks and make an update no later than Friday, March 27, that will be released to the public via the College’s website, social media channels, local press, and email.

Additionally…

  • Students have been notified about the schedule change via email, social media, and ALERTUS.
  • For assignments and tests (including midterms) that were originally due this week, the deadlines have been extended until the week of March 30th.