From Dr. Bagwell:

The approach of Hurricane Delta as a major hurricane will necessitate the closure of all schools and offices of the St. Mary Parish School Board on Thursday, October 8. Students will be scheduled for distance learning in lieu of attending school on campus October 8, which will foster a continuation of instructional activities while families make preparations for the impending hurricane. 

All offices and schools of the St. Mary Parish School Board will be closed on Thursday, October 8, and schools and offices will remain closed for the previously scheduled “fall break” on Friday and Monday. Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Additionally, the St. Mary Parish School Board meeting will be cancelled on Thursday, October 8, and rescheduled to Thursday, October 15, at 5:00 PM in the Evans Medine Board Room. An updated board agenda will be publicized prior to the meeting.

Parents should monitor school and district websites for ongoing coverage of the response to Hurricane Delta as events transpire. The safety and security of students and staff is of deepest concern, and we ask that all citizens take every precaution in preparing for this storm. 

Dr. Bagwell recently announced administrative changes at the school and district level.

• Ms. Michelle South:  Principal, Morgan City Jr. High School
• Ms. Carmen Lagarde: Elementary Coordinator for Special Services
• Ms. Alexis Rack: Assistant Principal, Morgan City Jr. High School 
• Ms. Lydia Duval: Facilitator of School Health and Nursing Services

View Press Release

Please note: 

The deadline for enrollment into the St. Mary Parish Virtual Learning Program was Monday, Sept. 21. Parents who enrolled their children by that date will receive Welcome letters between Sept. 25 and 27. Letters will be sent to the email address listed on the application and to the student's email address.

Students who were enrolled after the deadline as the result of extenuating circumstances will be enrolled after Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the order in which their enrollments were received. 

Beginning Monday, October 5, 2020, Virtual Meal Pick-Up will be available at each school on Mondays from 9:00 AM- 10:00 AM. There will be no Virtual Meal Pick-Up on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 as we transition to Phase 3 guidelines.

• Parents of students enrolled in virtual learning who would like packets consisting of 5 breakfast and 5 lunch meals must submit a request each week to reserve a packet. 

The Reservation Form links can be found on our website at http://www.stmaryk12.net/mealpickup.

• Forms must be submitted by Wednesday at noon (12:00 PM) for pick-up on the following Monday. The form will reopen each Monday at 6:00 PM.
• Adults picking up meals must bring the student's Lunch Card and/or student ID badge for verification.
• Meals must be picked up between 9:00 and 10:00 AM on Mondays at the child’s school he/she would attend.
• The reservation form must be completed each week for each child.

St. Mary Parish Schools began this school year under COVID-19 Phase 2 restrictions. For the safety and security of our families, we implemented a virtual option for students, a hybrid schedule for grades 6-12, and classroom and bus capacity limits.

On September 11, Governor Edwards announced a move to Phase 3. This action allows buses to transport students at 75% capacity, and classrooms can accommodate a few more students with social distancing measures in place.

In Phase 3, St. Mary Parish Schools can begin making plans for all students to return to school campuses for daily instruction.  Beginning on Monday, September 28, all students in grades K-5 and those in grades 6-12 will attend face-to-face classes on a daily basis.  The hybrid schedule will be discontinued for grades 6-12 as students return to a daily instructional schedule.

Parents who have chosen an all-virtual option for their child should contact the school to discuss possible Phase 3 alternatives that would best promote their child’s continued learning.

The school system is very aware of special circumstances facing families during this extraordinary time. Our goal is to provide consistent instruction throughout all pandemic phases. St. Mary Schools strictly follows all guidance issued by the Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Education, and Centers for Disease Control regarding wellness protocols throughout its schools and offices. The movement to Phase 3 still requires that students participate in a wellness screening each morning, wash hands throughout the day, and adhere to social distancing and face coverings.

Under Phase 3 guidelines, the district is confident that students can return to a safe learning environment with daily instruction designed to meet the needs our students. Educating children in a time of ongoing change is a challenging task, but it is worth our efforts to ensure that all students receive an exceptional education in St. Mary Parish.

We look forward seeing our students once again for in-person learning on Monday, September 28.

View full press release

Additional new items can be found on the District News Archive page.