P.E. with Coach Brinkley and Mr. Horn is always a blast!
Welcome aboard Ms. Brittany Esparza! She is our new 4th Grade math and science teacher. We are so happy to have you!
Mr. Drake's remind for parents. Please sign up for important updates.
Students lined the hallway this morning to wish our amazing principal a Happy Birthday!
Friday, September 10th will be Patriot's Day at Spurger Elementary. Wear your red, white, and blue in honor of Patriot's Day!
5th Graders working hard in Science class
Pirate Family,
At this time, we have only had four reported cases of COVID-19 present in our school since school began. We sent letters from the campuses each time to notify them of potential exposure. We understand that there have been a few cases outside of school, but they have not been on campus to create an exposure risk. We will continue to monitor this situation, and with your help, we can stay on top of this. We are continuing our cleaning regimen and fogging to drive down any virus that may be present. Also, I want to thank you for doing your best to help us keep our district as safe as possible during this tense time. I encourage you to keep your child at home if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
We now have the ability to test your child if they have symptoms or have been in close contact. If your child has been in close contact, you can keep your child at home for five days and then have them tested through the Nurse’s office. Testing will help us reduce the spread of the virus. We need your permission to test your child. The permission form for testing is available on the Spurger ISD website, and there is a QR code that will allow for a speedier testing process. The COVID-19 test is free, and results are obtained in 15 minutes. Together we will conquer this issue.
Pirate Pride, Live It, Love It
Morgan Wright
Spurger ISD, Superintendent
Junior High Science investigating bubbles.
In an effort to protect our staff, students and community we will postpone PIE Night September 2nd until further notice. Due to the rising number of COVID cases in Tyler, Hardin and surrounding counties we believe this is in the best interest of everyone. We will continue to monitor the situation to keep everyone safe as possible.
NOTIFICATION OF CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE ON CAMPUS
08/25/2021
Dear Parent/Guardian,
In keeping with Spurger ISD’s practices to respond to COVID-19, we are notifying all student families that a staff member who was lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 was present on campus on 08/23/2021. You are receiving this notice, because you or your child was present on the campus in the two days prior to the onset of the individual’s diagnosis of COVID-19. Due to privacy requirements, we will not be releasing the name of the individual or details that may identify him or her.
Any of the following symptoms indicate a possible COVID-19 infection:
Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth;
Sore throat;
New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline);
Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain; or
New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever.
If you or any member of the school community does begin experiencing any of these symptoms in a way that is not typical, we encourage you to contact your physician. We encourage anyone in the school community who is lab-confirmed to have COVID19 to please notify our school by contacting (409) 429-3464.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to huttop@spurgerisd.org or visit our website at https://www.spurgerisd.org/ .
Sincerely,
Morgan Wright
NOTIFICATION OF CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE ON CAMPUS
08/23/2021
Dear Parent/Guardian,
In keeping with Spurger ISD’s practices to respond to COVID-19, we are notifying all student families that a student member who was lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 was present on the HS campus on 08/20/2021. You are receiving this notice, because you or your child was present on the campus in the two days prior to the onset of the individual’s diagnosis of COVID-19. Due to privacy requirements, we will not be releasing the name of the individual or details that may identify him or her.
Any of the following symptoms indicate a possible COVID-19 infection:
Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth;
Sore throat;
New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline);
Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain; or
New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever.
If you or any member of the HS School community does begin experiencing any of these symptoms in a way that is not typical, we encourage you to contact your physician. We encourage anyone in the HS School community who is lab-confirmed to have COVID19 to please notify our school by contacting (409) 429-3464.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to huttop@spurgerisd.org or visit our website at https://www.spurgerisd.org/ .
Sincerely,
Morgan Wright
A Reminder for Families:
If your household experienced a reduction in income after June 30, 2021 or did not complete an household application in SY 2020-2021, now is the time to complete the household school meal application to determine eligibility for the Summer P-EBT benefit. Submit this form to your child nutrition department before August 28, 2021, to demonstrate eligibility for Summer P-EBT.
Summer PEBT provides a $375 to supplement a family’s food budget during the covered summer period with a EBT benefit card.
Eligible families are encouraged to demonstrate eligibility for a one-time summer Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefit by submitting the household school meal application before August 28, 2021. P-EBT for the 2020–2021 school year (August 2020 to June 2021) was for families with children who were certified for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and families with children born after Aug. 1, 2014, who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits. Eligibility for these benefits has already been established and cannot be updated at this time.
Link to Flyer explaining the wide range of benefits from completeing the application.
https://5il.co/xknq
Additional Information for Schools and Families
The deadline to apply for P-EBT benefits through https://yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/PEBT. (The link is case sensitive.) is September 13.
We are so honored to be a Distinguished High School and excited about all the things that come with that title! #wearewpiratepride #axeemjacks
BIG things are happening for Spurger ISD !
Spurger High School is recognized as a SFA Distinguished High School.
Spurger FFA would like to thank the school and community for your support of our Ag Chapter as we prepared to represent Texas at the National Level. In May the Nationals decided because of the Covid outbreak to have a virtual preliminary contest on August 11. Our chapter worked very hard to prepare, but unfortunately were not ranked in the top 18 states which will advance. We will, as a FFA Chapter, continue to work toward representing our school and community to the best of our ability.
Junior High and High School Parents!!
In order to help with our after school traffic flow, we ask that all car riders be picked up at the Minter Gym Parking lot after school. Thank you for your help in this matter.
We would like to thank Texas Farm Bureau Insurance for the donation supporting our students at Spurger Elementary and Spurger High School. We really appreciate it!
Over the last two weeks, we’ve had several businesses and community members donate to our students and teachers. We’ve received school supplies, items for our seniors and back to school teacher gifts! We are so excited about what this year holds and just want to say thank you!
Thank you to Mrs. Theresa Crosby, Shelby Frazier with Canyon Moon Photography, 515 Nutrition, Katrina Wright with American Real Estate, Mrs. Sandra Holcomb, and Mr. Pete Baker. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will not be forgotten! #PiratePride
Good Luck to the State Champion Forestry Team they started national competition today.
Strong Start 2021
Return to Learn and Continuity of Services Plan
The conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are continually evolving, therefore the District’s Return to Learn and Continuity of Services Plan will be constantly evaluated and adapted as needed. Key points are included below. To review the entire detailed plan, please visit the District website at.
1. Spurger ISD will abide by all current Texas Governor Orders and guidance provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Currently Texas is under Executive Order GA-36 issued on 5/18/21, which prohibits governmental entities and officials from mandating face coverings. Students, staff and visitors are encouraged to wear masks or face coverings but are not required to do so.
2. Spurger will continue to implement infection control measures including, but not limited to, frequent cleaning and increased sanitation measures by custodians/transportation/maintenance staff, student/staff access to disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer throughout the school day, use of air scrubbers in campus buildings, social distancing when possible, use of personal water bottles versus water fountains, etc.
3. Students and staff are expected to self-screen for COVID and other contagious illnesses each morning before coming onto campus. If sick or experiencing symptoms, students and staff should notify their appropriate campus, remain home and/or seek medical care. The District will continue to implement isolation and sanitization protocols for student and staff who become sick or experience symptoms at school.
4. Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID will follow District protocols for isolation as indicated on the back of this letter. The District will notify individuals determined to be in “close contact” with confirmed cases, however quarantining for close contact is no longer required. Parents/Guardians/Staff have the option to quarantine for close contact if they choose to do so.
5. As of the end of the Texas Legislative Session on May 31, 2021, the Texas Legislature has not approved funding for remote learning of any kind. Therefore remote learning options will NOT be offered at Spurger ISD for the 2021-2022 school year.
6. As the Texas Legislature did not provide funding for remote learning, students who must isolate due to confirmed COVID or who choose to quarantine for close contact, will be considered “absent” from school and must comply with District procedures for missed instruction and make-up work. While considered an excused absence, state compulsory attendance guidelines must still be met for credit and grade-level promotion.
7. Staff members who must isolate due to confirmed COVID or who choose to quarantine for close contact will use state and/or local leave days as designated by the District.
8. Spurger ISD will start the year restricting visitor access during the school day to only those essential for school operations. As the year progresses, we are hoping to be able to remove restrictions and begin providing limited access for special activities and events on the campuses during the school day.
9. Students who ride the bus will be picked up/dropped off at their designated location only. No other students will be allowed to ride the bus to and from school (i.e. friends going home with another student, etc.)
Please feel free to contact the appropriate campus administrator if you have any additional questions or concerns after reviewing the detailed District Strong Start Plan for 2021-2022 on the District website.
