Metter College & Career Academy

The Candler County School District (CCSD) and the Candler County Sheriff’s Office continue to collaborate for the safety of our community’s students, teachers and staff through trainings and drills. Sheriff’s Office personnel, School Resource Officers, Metter Fire Department and the Candler County Emergency Management Agency have been working with the school administrators on planning important safety drills, which include Fire Drills, Weather Drills, and Intruder Drills. Fire Drills are planned once a month, while Weather Drills are scheduled depending on the season. An Intruder Drill will be conducted prior to October 1 as required by House Bill 147, which also requires that school systems conduct at least one each school year. “While these types of events are extremely rare nationwide, our focus remains on the safety of our children and staff and we want to be prepared in the best way possible for any event that might occur,” says CCSD Superintendent Bubba Longgrear. Fire and EMA, along with School Resource Officers, will conduct the Fire and Weather Drills. The Candler County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the Intruder Drill and have trained school staff on best practices in order to keep themselves and their students safe. “We want to inform the community that this is a drill and there is no reason to be alarmed,” says Sheriff John Miles. “Our deputies will be on campus to conduct the drill and to evaluate procedures so we know we are prepared for any emergency.” Candler County School District works daily to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff. In the event of an actual emergency, school administrators will work in collaboration with the Candler County Emergency Management Agency, the Candler County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency management personnel. In the event of an actual emergency, parents can obtain information about their child’s school by downloading the Candler County School District app on cell phones to receive notifications from the school, checking the school website, following the school on social media, as well as, accepting phone calls from the school’s automated phone system. “When the actual drill takes place, our communications team will send alerts through the website, the app, and social media, just as they would in a true emergency,” says Longgrear. “We ask parents to avoid coming to the school to ‘check on your child’ in this drill or in a real emergency. One concern noted by professionals with an event like this is that when people start racing to the school it interferes with the number of officers who can deal with the actual situation because officers are then needed to manage crowd control and secure the building from visitors." The Candler County School District would like to thank all of the local emergency agencies for their proactive approach to school and community safety.

ESOL Parent Night! Thursday, September 19 at 6 pm at the K8 Complex Noche para padres de alumnos de ESOL: jueves 19 de septiembre a las 6:00 p. m. en el complejo K8 Learn what it means to be an English learner and how you can support your child (children who are learning English at school. Videos and resources will be available in English and Spanish. Información Sobre lo que Significa ser un estudiante de inglés y cómo puede apoyar a sus hijos que están aprendiendo inglés en la escuela. Los videos y recursos estarán disponibles en inglés y español.

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.

🚩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

🚨 **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!

This afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the Candler County School District will meet with Georgia Emergency Management (GEMA) and other local agencies. At 5:00 p.m., we will post an update on school operations on our social media pages, website (www.metter.org), and app. If you haven't already, please download our app from the Apple or Android stores and enable notifications. This app is essential for receiving timely updates during emergencies.

At this time, we are planning on having school tomorrow (Monday, Aug 5). However, we are monitoring the weather and this could possibly change. Please download the app “Candler County School District” on the Apple or Google Stores. Emergency Closing Notifications will come out through it and through text, phone and email as you provided in your Infinite Campus portal during registration.

ATTENTION parents of NEW Students: Welcome to Candler County Schools! We are so glad you are here. Thank you for starting the online registration process with the Candler County School District. The email address you submitted should have received an email containing a link that will lead you to the official registration page. Please complete this registration as soon as possible so your child can be issued a schedule for the upcoming school year. Please be sure to check your spam/junk mail folder if you do not receive the email. ATTENTION Parents of returning students: We are glad you are returning. We are working diligently to process returning student applications. Please be patient as we transition to online registration. Rest assured that your returning child(ren) has been scheduled. It will take us a few days to get the applications processed. If you don't hear from anyone regarding online registration, there is no cause for concern. We will contact you if there is any issue with your registration/application. We are looking forward to another great year of winning at everything! Thank you for entrusting your children to us.

UPDATE: We are opening up Booster Parking (turn left at the tennis courts and turn right into the stadium just past the tennis courts) for tonight's Midnight Madness for EVERYONE to park so you can be inside the stadium. Let's have some fun and GO TIGERS! Take a nap this afternoon and then join us for midnight madness with the Metter Tigers football team tonight/tomorrow morning at 12:01am! 🌙 Experience the excitement of a full workout under the stars as our Tigers prepare for the season. This event is open to the public, so bring your friends and family for an exciting night of football. 🎟 Admission is free, so don't miss it! The only thing it might cost you is some sleep, but supporting our Tigers will be worth it! See you there! 🐅🖤🧡

Freshman First will be held on August 1 from 1-3 pm at MHS/MCCA. This is a chance for the upcoming 9th graders to tour the school and learn all about high school!

Don't forget! 🐅🖤🧡 PEP RALLY FOR JULY 25 HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE METTER MIDDLE SCHOOL!! 5:30 pm Metter Marching Tiger Pride Band kicks off the night 5:40 pm MMS Cheerleaders Routine 5:50 pm Welcome and Booster Details - Vicki Bowen 5:55 pm Coach Chayton Todd -- Introduction of MMS Softball Team 6:00 pm Coach Eric Verbel -- Introduction of MHS Softball Team 6:05 pm Coach Taylor Kyle -- Introduction of MMS Cross Country Team 6:10 pm Coach Jenae Lloyd -- Introduction of MHS Cross Country Team 6:25 pm Coach Katie Collins -- Introduction of MHS Flag Football Team 6:30 pm Coaches King and Keller-- Introduction of MMS Cheer Team 6:35 pm Coach John Mark Sweat -- Introduction of MMS Football Team 6:40 pm Coach Lee Shaw -- Introduction of MHS Football Team 6:55 pm Door Prize drawings begin for those who have submitted Booster Membership Forms 7-7:30 pm Visit with the players/coaches and vendors Tiger Gear Vendors: Myss Tee Papa and Nana’s Stuff Simply Bree Metter Graphics IHS Pharmacy & Gifts Food Vendors: Hobbs Big Boy BarBQue Touch of Class Catering Cool Kats Cuisine Wavee Shavee Ice Fiesta Creations & Rentals Jonny Boy Cookies Lobster Dogs Tuckers out Bac Cafe