Mid-Year Reminders from the Principal

Happy New Year to our Rowanty families and students!

In preparation for our return to school on Monday, January 4, 2020, I just wanted to take a few minutes to review some key points so we can all remain healthy coming into the New Year.

1) Face coverings are REQUIRED at all times at Rowanty. All home high schools are also requiring face coverings. This will include travel to and from Rowanty on all school busses.

2) If any member of your immediate family has tested positive for COVID over the break or if you have been in contact with ANYONE that has tested positive, please email Ms. Simmers at csimmers@rowanty.us. Please include a contact number and parent/guardian name.

3) As COVID rates have increased, symptoms have been changing. The affected population appears to be expanding. Please DO NOT take any symptom for granted. In that vein, we ask that students DO NOT come to school with any symptoms that could be attached to COVID. Please note that nausea and diarrhea have been two of the most recent additions to this list.

Please review the symptoms at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.

We understand this is an inconvenience, but we want to continue our pro-active monitoring to help keep COVID out of Rowanty. We will cont

4) We have deep cleaned the school and will continue to sanitize diligently. We encourage everyone to use the hand sanitizer stations located around the building.

5) For our Rowanty drivers, we want to remind them of the documents they signed to be “safe drivers.” As of January 1, 2021 it is against the law to have your phone in your hand while driving. Rowanty’s traffic circle IS a state road. This law is in effect on our property as long as vehicles are being driven. Drivers are asked to remain parked if they need to use their phone for ANY reason.

6) The administration has had complaints from local property owners, bus drivers, and other drivers that our students are speeding in the residential area on Rowanty Road. We have also been notified of unsafe driving practices on Rte 703 heading to Dinwiddie. These practices have included speeding, tailgating, passing on double solid line, and passing a line of traffic often including busses. While we do not want any student to receive a traffic violation, we are most concerned about their safety. County (Prince George and Dinwiddie) as well as Virginia State Police have been notified by me of these complaints and our concerns. They have also been apprised of our start and ending times for each class. I am asking all parents to talk with their student drivers regarding these issues. Driving to Rowanty is a privilege and violation of these policies can lead to a suspension or revocation of these privileges.

PLEASE KNOW WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH OUR STUDENTS. Please don’t take this message as a complaint or criticism. It is just our mid-year reminder of what we need to do to stay safe in the New Year!!

Again, Happy New Year and we will be at school ready to start 2021 on January 4th!!

Cheryl Simmers
Principal
csimmers@rowanty.us