Candler County School District

Metter Elementary School will host a 2024-2025 Parent Meeting & Showcase on Thursday, September 12. The Annual Title 1 Meeting will begin at 5 pm and the showcase at 5:30 pm. Come hear what we have planned for a great school year and see the work our students have done so far this year!

MHS JV Football will play Thursday, September 12 at 5 pm at Southeast Bulloch High School. Tickets are available on GoFan only, or credit cards will be taken at the gate.

The deadline for the required online registration for your child is quickly approaching (this is the typical "first day of school packet" but all rolled up into one electronic file, which can include siblings as well)! Online Registration Link for Returning Students is https://candlerga.infinitecampus.org/campus/K12_Custom/cParent/index.jsp?appName=candler&fbclid=IwY2xjawETtIdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbD6xgsR5nQnxsQ8MZjHC-wsRTg8ngChW1rO3Tk5bOek5Ow6W2Kh6X2z-w_aem_vo5FnyRMOCVK8Z8clvzAwg If you need support, please email icsupport@metter.org.

Each year, the Candler County Education Foundation makes a tremendous impact by awarding grants to our dedicated teachers and staff. These grants, totaling over $38,000 for the 2023-2024 academic year, empower our educators to create innovative learning opportunities or strengthen academic programs that enrich the lives of our students. Here are just a few examples of the grants awarded: MES for the Lego Robotics Competition MES for the Math Mania Competition MMS for the Robotics set, Engage Club, and Jr. Beta Club MMS for the Amazing Shake Competition MHS for the Science Olympiad MHS for the Performing Arts Conference MCCA for Forklift Training These initiatives are made possible through contributions from our own staff via monthly payroll deductions and generous donations from our community members. Learn more about grants or how to donate here: https://www.metter.org/page/candler-county-ed-foundation

This morning, a post on a popular social media platform mentioned a "targeted" list of schools, which led to some confusion among students at the high school. A student then "googled" a "List of targeted schools" found a Title 1 Targeted Schools list, which included Candler County because it is a Title 1 school system. Unfortunately, the student misunderstood the information and shared it, causing unnecessary concern at the school. Candler County Sheriff Office deputies arrived quickly and confirmed that there was no cause for alarm. We urge you to talk with your children about the potential consequences of spreading unverified information. Such rumors can cause undue panic and disrupt our learning environment. We appreciate your support in helping to maintain a safe and focused school atmosphere.

Our Elementary and Middle School students recently participated in a valuable Bus Evacuation Training led by Ms. T Collins and Mr. Lake Blackburn from the Transportation Department. This training equipped students with essential skills for quickly boarding the bus in case of an off-campus evacuation and safely evacuating the bus during an emergency. At Candler County Schools, we are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff. Regular trainings and drills play a crucial role in our preparedness for any potential emergency. Throughout the school year, we will conduct several drills, including fire drills, weather drills, and an Intruder Drill, which is mandated by House Bill 147 and must be completed by October 1. We encourage parents to discuss these drills with their children to help them understand their importance and to alleviate any concerns. Thank you for your support as we work together to ensure the safety and well-being of our school community.

Metter Middle School will host its 2024-2025 Parent Meeting on Thursday, September 12 at 5 pm. Please join us at this annual Title 1 Meeting to hear what we have planned for a great school year!

CHANGE OF GAME TIMES: The entire Town of Portal is experiencing electrical issues. The Portal High Athletic Director has asked us to move the high school Varsity softball game to 4 pm and to play the JV softball game immediately following in the event that darkness impedes the game from finishing. Admission is $7.

🚩No active shooter situation in Candler County!🚩 Early this morning, there was a potential active shooter situation reported in Barrow County. One of our students mistakenly saw the Barrow County Tiger mascot and thought it was the Metter High School Tiger and contacted the school administrators, prompting Candler County Schools to go on a "soft lockdown" while we confirmed the situation. We want to reassure everyone that our priority is the safety and security of our students and staff. We take these situations very seriously and are committed to keeping our community informed. Candler County Sheriff's Office was on school property and verified that the situation was not in our county and we appreciate their swift response. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation and we will keep Barrow County Schools in our thoughts.

Candler County Schools name Mrs. Ashlee Lott as the District Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Ashlee is a PIP teacher at Metter Elementary School! Congratulations!

Monday, September 2 (Labor Day) is a school holiday for students and staff. Tuesday, September 3 is a Professional Learning Day for staff, but a holiday for students. Students return to school on Wednesday, September 4. Have a great long weekend!

Athletic cancellations: MHS Softball vs. Islands for Wed, August 28 cancelled. MHS JV Football vs. Claxton for Thurs, Aug 29 cancelled.

🏈🎉 Game Day Operations We're thrilled to kick off our first home game of the season this Friday, August 23! The Tigers are ready to roar, and we can't wait to see you there cheering them on. This year, parking will be a bit different due to the construction of our new Metter College & Career Academy (and a new parking lot—no worries!). Please check out the map we’ve provided to find the best parking options. We kindly ask everyone to follow both the parking and stadium rules to ensure a fun and safe Football Friday Night for all. See you at the game, and let’s make it an unforgettable night! 🐅🏟️ Thank you! 🙌 #traditionliveson #WINatEVERYTHING

Today's (Tuesday, August 20) MMS Softball game has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.

The Candler County Board of Education has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 1.77 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the first public hearing on this tax increase to be held at the Candler County Board of Education Central Office on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at the Candler County Schools K-8 Complex on September 17, 2024 at 8:00 am and the Candler County Board of Education Central Office on September 19, 2024 at 5:00 pm. The tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 14.000 mills, an increase of .24 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 13.756 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 is approximately $14.15 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $9.76. Please visit https://5il.co/2tbcl to see the 5-year history.

The Candler County Board of Education will hold a special called Board Meeting on Friday, August 9 at 8 am to approve the tentative millage rate of 14 mils. Public hearing dates will be released soon.

Thank you for your patience as we worked through the changes to our drop-off and pick-up locations. We're happy to share that Oak Tree is now open, and we are returning to our regular drop-off and pick-up procedures effective the afternoon of 8/8 (today). We appreciate your support and cooperation during this time. We would like to encourage those with K-5th graders to use the Pond Entrance for better flow of traffic.

🚨 **Candler County Emergency Management: Damage Assessments Needed!** 🚨 Did the recent storm damage your property or structures? This could be trees in homes, flooded homes, etc. We need your help to assess the damage and seek individual assistance from FEMA. **How to Report Damage:** 📱 **Text** us at **912-844-0269** 📧 **Email** us at **damage.ema@candlersheriff.com** 📞 **Call** CCSO dispatch at **912-685-2568** Please include your name, address, and telephone number in your report. EMA Director Justin Wells will receive this information.

We hope you have fared well with TS Debby. With most of the storm passing by us at this point, Candler County Schools will be in session for all staff and students Wednesday 8/7/24. Please see details below. We are aware of many travel challenges that have occurred. Due to dirt roads being deemed "impassable for through traffic and commercial vehicles", our buses will stay on paved roads only for the near future. If you live on a dirt road and desire for your child to ride the bus to school, please contact your individual driver or Travis Lanier (travislanier@metter.org or 685-7302) to establish pickup points near your location. Once the pick up point is established, the same drop off point will be utilized Wednesday afternoon. Please be at that point, if applicable to you, by 3:20 that afternoon. (This plan might be necessary for a few days) For car riders, the back entrance of the school off of Oak Tree Road has experienced some flooding. Please access the school from Hwy 129. Those dropping off at the Pre K/Tennis Court side should travel around the south side of the K-8 building to access that area. Anyone having transportation challenges that impede their child's attendance may reach out to their school level administration to seek a request for an excused absence. Esperamos que te haya ido bien con TS Debby. Con la mayor parte de la tormenta pasando a nuestro lado en este momento, las Escuelas del Condado de Candler estarán en sesión para todo el personal y los estudiantes el miércoles 7/8/24. Consulte los detalles a continuación. Somos conscientes de muchos desafíos de viaje que han ocurrido. Debido a que los caminos de tierra se consideran "intransitables para el tráfico y los vehículos comerciales", nuestros autobuses permanecerán en caminos pavimentados sólo en el futuro cercano. Si vive en un camino de tierra y desea que su hijo viaje en autobús a la escuela, comuníquese con su conductor individual o con Travis Lanier (travislanier@metter.org o 685-7302) para establecer puntos de recogida cerca de su ubicación. Una vez establecido el punto de recogida, se utilizará el mismo punto de entrega el miércoles por la tarde. Esté en ese punto, si corresponde a usted, a las 3:20 de esa tarde. (Este plan podría ser necesario por unos días) Para los que viajan en automóvil, la entrada trasera de la escuela en Oak Tree Road ha experimentado algunas inundaciones. Acceda a la escuela desde la autopista 129. Aquellos que dejen a sus hijos en el lado de Pre K/Cancha de tenis deben viajar por el lado sur del edificio K-8 para acceder a esa área. Cualquier persona que tenga problemas de transporte que impidan la asistencia de su hijo puede comunicarse con la administración de su nivel escolar para solicitar una solicitud de ausencia justificada.

Local EMA officials are projecting 20-30 inches of rain and are cautioning against the dangers of vehicles on the road. Due to these projections, Candler County Schools will be closed for all staff and students on Tuesday August 6th. Updates regarding school for Wednesday August 7th will be decided and shared by 5 pm Tuesday. Stay Safe Tiger Nation!