Winter Weather Update:
Wednesday, February 12th, 2025
Due to power outages and trees falling across the county, Stokes County Schools will be closed for students and operate on an optional teacher workday.
Staff will report on a 3 hour delay.
Weather Announcement:
Due to the latest forecast, Stokes County Schools will have a remote learning day on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
February 2025 EOM Announcement:
Mr. Rafael Santana has been selected as the Stokes County Schools February 2025 Employee of the Month.
Rafael has been with us since March 2022 serving as a custodian at London Elementary School. With 17 years of experience in the custodial and grounds keeping field, he came to us from Novant Health. He has amazing expertise, and tremendous work ethic.
We are very thankful for his hard work and commitment to London Elementary and Stokes County Schools.
PowerSchool Cybersecurity Update:
We are writing to update you regarding the recent cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool, the software vendor that provides our Student Information System (SIS).
PowerSchool initiated the process of notifying individuals whose information was determined to be involved.
As previously mentioned, PowerSchool has engaged Experian, a trusted credit reporting agency, to provide complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services to current and former students and educators that had information exfiltrated from PowerSchool SIS. PowerSchool is doing this regardless of whether an individual’s Social Security Number was exfiltrated. In the coming weeks, Experian (on behalf of PowerSchool) will be distributing direct email notifications to involved individuals (or their parent/guardian, as applicable) for whom PowerSchool has sufficient contact information.
Additionally, PowerSchool has worked with Experian to set up a dedicated, toll-free call center to answer any questions associated with these offerings and the incident. All the information regarding the activation of and access to these services will be included in the email sent to you by Experian. Whether or not you receive an email, you may also visit PowerSchool’s website to learn how to activate the offering from Experian, linked here: http://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/.
Protecting our students and teachers remains our top priority. Thank you again for all of your support and understanding during this time.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) informed the Stokes County Schools of unauthorized access to student and staff data contained in PowerSchool, the student information system (SIS) used by most school districts in North Carolina. This incident impacts school systems across North Carolina, the nation, and the world.
We are working closely with NCDPI and PowerSchool to determine the specific nature of the data involved. If PowerSchool determines that personal data has been compromised, it will contact the affected individuals directly and provide specific details and guidance.
PowerSchool reports that the incident is contained, that they have taken steps to secure the data, and that there is no indication potentially compromised information has been shared or made public to additional parties. Federal law enforcement, NCDPI, and PowerSchool are monitoring the situation closely.
PowerSchool has assured us that its systems are operational and that it has implemented additional security measures to prevent future incidents. It is important to note that this incident occurred at the PowerSchool company level, and neither the Stokes County Schools nor NCDPI data systems are involved. NCDPI has stated publicly that neither it nor any North Carolina school district could have prevented this incident.
Protecting personally identifiable information of our students, families, and staff is critically important, and we take this matter very seriously. We will share updates as additional information becomes available from NCDPI and PowerSchool. We are committed to providing clear information about the steps being taken to address and mitigate any potential impact. Our priority is to keep our community informed and supported throughout this process.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through this situation alongside other North Carolina school districts and school districts worldwide.
School Counselor Week (February 3-7, 2025)
School counselors play a vital role in student success, offering guidance, support, and encouragement every step of the way. During National School Counselor Week, we honor their dedication to helping students navigate academics, careers, and personal growth. #SchoolCounselorWeek #ThankACounselor
Love the Bus Month
School bus drivers do more than just transport students—they create a safe, welcoming start and end to each school day. February is Love the Bus Month, a time to recognize and thank the dedicated drivers who keep our students safe on the road.
#LoveTheBus #ThankABusDriver
Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for success in high-demand careers by equipping them with real-world skills and hands-on experience. This month, we celebrate the impact of CTE programs and the educators who inspire future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
#CTEMonth #CareerReady #StokedToLearn2425
Honoring the legacy of Black pioneers in science, medicine, and space exploration!
From groundbreaking astronauts to innovative scientists, these remarkable individuals have made history and paved the way for future generations.
#BlackHistoryMonth
Project Child Find is a North Carolina initiative designed to locate, identify, and evaluate children from birth to age 21 who may have disabilities and need special education services. It helps families and educators connect with resources, assessments, and early interventions to support children's educational needs. Services are free and available through local school districts and community agencies. Parents, guardians, and concerned individuals can refer a child for evaluation if developmental delays or learning difficulties are observed.
This information is also available on the district website.
https://www.stokes.k12.nc.us/
Click menu, then under departments click exceptional children
Kindergarten Registration 2025:
Parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2025, are requested to call the school in their attendance area to set up an appointment to register their child for kindergarten. All children are required to have an up-to-date shot record and physical when entering school for the first time. Children will participate in an informal screening of academic skills.
Please visit the district website for more information: https://www.stokes.k12.nc.us/
The Stokes County Schools Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 traditional calendar and the Stokes Early College High School calendar.
The Stokes County School board recognized:
Elementary Christmas Card Winner
Vincent Papalcure, 3rd Grade
London Elementary
&
Middle School Christmas Card Winner
Addyson Edwards, 8th Grade
Chestnut Grove Middle
Congratulations!
#StokedToLearn2425
The Stokes County School Board recognizes the January Employee of the Month:
Sarah Smith of Pinnacle Elementary has been selected as the Stokes County Schools
January 2025 Employee of the Month. Sarah has been employed since August 2021. She has an Associate’s degree along with multiple certifications in customer service.
We are very thankful for her expertise and commitment to Stokes County Schools!
#StokedToLearn2425
Duke Energy Grant
The Duke Energy Foundation has supported Stokes County Schools initiatives for the last two years by funding 22-23 $12,000 for principal professional development around core instruction, behavioral, and social emotional learning. The 23-24 school year, the Duke Energy Foundation provided $17,500 for professional development for teachers at individual schools supporting specific school needs. This year the $17,000 will be used to partner with the Education Resource Group for professional development and to purchase “Teach Like a Champion” for administration and instructional coaches.
The Board of Education would like to thank the Duke Energy Foundation and Mr. Randy Honeycutt for their continued support of Stokes County Schools. This grant will continue to support the learning of students across Stokes County.
#StokedToLearn2425
Stokes County School Board recognizes the partnership with the Stokes County Arts Council:
In November 2024, The NC Arts Education Association Board honored the Stokes County Arts Council with the Friends of the Arts II Award for its outstanding support of arts education in Stokes County Schools. The Arts Council collaborates on various programs, including Poetry Out Loud, school tours by Bailey Mountain Cloggers, Columbia Marionette Theater, Winston-Salem Symphony, the Spring Art Student Extravaganza, scholarships, UNCG Opera, and more.
Thank you, Stokes County Arts Council, for your invaluable partnership and dedication to enriching the arts in our schools.
#StokedToLearn2425
In observance of the holiday, Stokes County Schools will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, whose vision of equality, justice, and peace continues to inspire us all. Let us reflect on his message of hope and commitment to creating a better future through kindness, understanding, and action.
We encourage everyone to take this time to honor Dr. King's legacy, whether through service, reflection, or spending time with loved ones. Together, we can continue to make his dream a reality.
#MLKDay #HonoringTheDream #StokedToLearn2425
🎉 Congratulations to Ms. Sarah Smith! 🎉
We are thrilled to announce that Ms. Sarah Smith has been selected as the Stokes County Schools January 2025 Employee of the Month!
Sarah has been a valued member of our team since August 2021. With her Associate's degree and multiple certifications in customer service, she brings unmatched expertise and a dedication that truly make a difference in our schools.
Her commitment to excellence and her passion for supporting our students, staff, and community do not go unnoticed. We are so thankful to have Sarah as part of the Stokes County Schools family!
Please join us in congratulating Sarah on this well-deserved recognition!
#EmployeeOfTheMonth #StokesCountySchools #ExcellenceInAction #StokedToLearn2425
Stokes County Schools will be on a regular schedule with limited bus routes on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Several roads that we did not allow buses to travel have improved.
Each day, schools will call the families who live on the roads that our buses will not travel the following day.
Please be safe and allow for extra travel time to school. Remember that we will not count any student late to school as tardy for the remainder of this week.
Revised school 24-25 school calendars for traditional and Stokes Early College High School. The calendars will also be available on the district website.
https://www.stokes.k12.nc.us/o/scs/page/calendars
Updated: There has been a change to the Stokes Early College High School calendar has been updated (2:30pm)
