Communications
SDOC COVID-19 Update
 Through the first 12 weeks of school, the School District of Oconee County has had a total of 143 cases of COVID-19 among students and staff. Over that time, 12 classrooms and one grade level were transitioned to distance learning for 2 week periods to mitigate the spread of the virus. Through this targeted approach and careful contact tracing, the vast majority of students were able to remain in face to face instruction. The district will continue to use the targeted approach to address future clusters if they occur. However, in light of the increase in cases, we would encourage all families to develop contingency plans for students in case there is a need to transition the entire district to distance learning for a period of time. The decision to transition to distance learning will be made by district leadership in consultation with the SDOC Board of Trustees, the district nursing supervisor and officials from DHEC. During a period of distance learning, students will continue learning through remote instruction via district-issued technology devices or learning packets. Communication will come through the method regularly used by teachers such as email, Class Dojo, Google Classroom, or Canvas. No on-campus activities will be held. All sports practices and competitions will be suspended until a return to in-person instruction. We continue to maintain safety protocols within our schools. However, our best chance to continue face-to-face learning is for our families and the community at large to be mindful of safety precautions. We encourage everyone to be diligent in wearing masks while in public; to maintain social distancing, particularly at gatherings; to stay home when sick; and to get tested if symptoms of COVID-19 develop. Please note: a transition to distance learning will not impact SDOC@Home instruction. However, any in-person activities or classes attended by SDOC@Home students will be suspended until the district returns to in-person learning. |
SDOC@Home Students - November Meal Pick-up Schedule
 Meals must be pre-ordered each week. When ordering, please give the student's full name, school, and date of pick-up. Meals must be ordered by 12pm (noon) on Monday to be picked up on Thursday.
Pick-up Location and Time Meals will be available for curbside pick-up on Thursdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Bountyland Education Campus (former Hamilton Career Center) located at 100 Vocational Drive in Seneca. Parents will not enter the building; meals will brought to cars. Students do not have to be present, however; parents will need to present identification when picking up meals. | ||||||||||||
SMS Chorus Places Many in All-County Group
 The Seneca Middle School students who qualified by audition for the 2020 All-County Chorus are: James Adams, Nyterious Bradley, Avery Butler, Lillian Cook, Nora Coutu, Kaitlyn Day, Grant Duvall, Sadie Goodroe, Olivia Gray, Hayden Haas, Brighton Hamilton, Claire Hart, Emily Ivey, Ava James, Tyler Johnson, Kylie Kalchthaler, Riley Maney, Riley Martin, Sawyer Moss, Meg Nation, Anna Campbell Nations, Noah Odom, Cole Palmer, Sydney Parkhurst, Kaitlyn Patterson, Campbell Roberts, Chloe Sayres, Avery Smith, Trinity Traynum, Macie Ellen White, Nation Williams, and Caleb Zeller.  Thirty-two members of the Seneca Middle School chorus program were named to the 2020 All-County Chorus. |
District Cross Country Teams Compete at State Qualifiers
 In 3A action, the 2-time defending state champion Seneca Girls Teams, seeded 2nd, won the 3A "Even" race, with Carson Towe (2nd), Lexi Ransom (4th), Nicole Feagan (6th), Ava Nimmons (7th), and Micayla Collins (8th) all finishing in the top 8 runners. The 8th-seeded West-Oak Girls Team finished in 4th place, led by Sarah Jacobs (5th) and Kaylee Potts (15th). The Seneca Boys Team, seeded 7th, finished 6th in the boys "Odd" race. They were led by Tristan Wood (17th). All three teams will compete at next week's state championship. In 4A action, the 7th seeded Walhalla Girls Team finished 3rd in the "Odd" race, led by Emily Arenas (2nd) and Abby Thorsland (17th). The Walhalla Boys Team finished in a tie for 6th place, led by Elijah Poore (6th) and Chance Bloodworth (10th). While the girls team will move on to compete at the state championship, the boys team was edged out by Irmo in the tie-break. However, both Elijah Poore and Chance Bloodworth will compete individually. The SCHSL State Championships will be held at Sandhills Research and Education Center in Columbia on November 5-6th. Spectators will be allowed to attend. Race times are below: 3A Girls: 9:00 am 3A Boys: 9:30 am 4A Girls: 11:30 am 4A Boys: 12:00 pm |
DHEC Children's Flu Clinic - Rescheduled
Friday, October 30th, 3pm to 6pm Oconee County Health Department Drive-thru in the parking lot 609 N. Townville Street, Seneca, SC 29678  |
SDOC will observe eLearning Day on October 29, 2020
 Students will not come to school buildings. Assignments will be posted by 10:00 am. Teachers will be available for office hours from 10:00 to 11:00 am and 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Students will have 5 days upon returning to school to turn in assignments. If assignments are not completed and turned in by Friday, November 6th, students will be marked absent for October 29th. For those families who have pre-ordered SDOC@Home meals, pick-up will remain as scheduled. |
SDOC Receiving DHEC Recycling Grant
 The grant will provide two water bottle filling stations for 17 school sites including all elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the Bountyland Education Campus. The units have a traditional water fountain (currently covered up due to COVID-19) in addition to sensor-activated water bottle filler. The first units were installed last week at Seneca Middle School. When asked about the stations, Dr. Darrell McDowell, principal of Seneca Middle, said, "The new filling stations will provide safe and convenient hydration opportunities for the students and adults at SMS. These will serve our school well long after COVID-19 is a distant memory." Each unit tracks the number of "water bottles saved" based on a standard size disposable water bottle. In the first week of operation, the two stations at Seneca Middle School saved 750 bottles, an average of 150 bottles per day. If all 17 schools average that for each day of the school year, SDOC students and staff will save more than 450,000 plastic bottles in a normal school year. Units have also been installed at Keowee Elementary, Walhalla Middle, West-Oak Middle, West-Oak High, Orchard Park Elementary, and Westminster Elementary. The remaining stations will be installed as they are delivered in the coming weeks. SDOC has received this grant in the past. Projects have provided recycling containers for all classrooms, as well as the needed equipment to establish "Share Tables" in each school. Share tables allow students to place specific food and beverage items that they choose not to consume on a designated table or cart. This provides an opportunity for other students to take the items at no cost. This strategy, encouraged by the USDA, helps feed hungry children and prevent food waste. |
DHEC Children's Flu Vaccine Clinic
 Thursday, October 29th 3:00 - 6:00pm Oconee County Health Department Drive-thru in the parking lot 609 N Townville St, Seneca, SC 29678 The flu vaccine offers the best protection against getting the flu. When most people in a school get the flu vaccine, the flu can’t spread as easily. You can get your flu vaccine from your doctor, local health department or pharmacy (depending on age). Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every flu season. |
November 25th eLearning Day
 The School District of Oconee County will observe an eLearning day on Wednesday, November 25th. Students will not come to school buildings on that day. Assignments will be posted by 10:00am. Teachers will be available for office hours from 10:00 to 11:00am and 2:30 to 3:30pm. Students will have 5 days upon returning to school to turn in assignments. If assignments are not completed and turned by Friday, December 4th, students will be marked absent for November 25th. |
SDOC eLearning Day October 16, 2020
 To help students and families be prepared for inclement weather eLearning days, students have participated in two mock eLearning days at school Students will have a final full mock day at-home practice on Friday, October 16, 2020. The SDOC eLearning Mock Day Guidelines will assist students and families in knowing what to do to prepare for a mock eLearning session, what is expected during a mock eLearning session, and what is expected after the mock eLearning session has concluded.  SDOC eLearning Conversation Tuesday, October 13, 2020 @ 6:00 pm The School District of Oconee County would like to clarify concerns about eLearning along with providing families the opportunity to ask questions. Families may submit questions using this form by midnight on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The School District of Oconee County will then answer the submitted questions on Tuesday, October 13th @ 6pm through the district's Facebook page as a live event. The recording will be made available on the district website. Please note that questions or comments submitted during the Facebook Live will not be addressed. |
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