Russell County Schools today announced its policy for providing free meals to all students served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. All schools in the division will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as implemented under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Students attending a participating school will be provided a nutritious meal for breakfast and lunch each day at no charge to the household. Households will not be required to submit a meal application form to receive meals at no charge. Each household will receive a letter informing them of the program, including contact information for any questions. To view the Media Release, go to: https://5il.co/3mqop, and to view the SNAP Flyer, go to: https://5il.co/3mqol
Ballad Health Telemedicine Services
Ballad Health Digital Care is excited to partner again with Russell County Public Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year. Please review the information below:
Online Consent Forms Now Available
Digital consent forms are now available for every school through the School Telemed portal: https://schooltelemed.balladhealth.org
Using the online forms is the easiest and fastest way to ensure student/staff packets are complete and accessible for scheduling and provider access. The forms are:
• Simple and mobile-friendly
• Available in English and Spanish
• A time-saver for school nurses—no need to send packets before appointments
Updated Rates for 2025-2026
• $55 per visit
• Lab test rates
o Flu: $12.60
o Strep: $6.30
o Covid: $6.30
Ballad Health Digital Care is excited to partner again with Russell County Public Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year. Please review the information below:
Online Consent Forms Now Available
Digital consent forms are now available for every school through the School Telemed portal: https://schooltelemed.balladhealth.org
Using the online forms is the easiest and fastest way to ensure student/staff packets are complete and accessible for scheduling and provider access. The forms are:
• Simple and mobile-friendly
• Available in English and Spanish
• A time-saver for school nurses—no need to send packets before appointments
Updated Rates for 2025-2026
• $55 per visit
• Lab test rates
o Flu: $12.60
o Strep: $6.30
o Covid: $6.30
New Statewide Cell Phone Policy
Effective January 1, 2025, Virginia has enacted a "bell-to-bell" cell phone-free policy. To learn more, go to https://5il.co/3m9ua
Vaccination requirements for children entering Kindergarten, 7th, and 12th Grades:
The Southwest Regional Adult Education Program is offering two free Cohorts ~
SMAW - Welding Certification, please click: https://5il.co/3kbbu for more information.
CNA 13-week Course, please click: https://5il.co/3kbbv for more information.
Free Meals for Pick-up and/or Delivery for Russell County Children. Please select pickup or delivery; then, complete one survey per child.
Click on the link: https://forms.gle/Ytc9VzDKmHk5hEHR9 and complete the form to give your permission to receive food delivered directly to your home through the efforts of Feeding Southwest Virginia, Amazon, and Russell County Schools. If you live in the following zip codes, you may participate in the food delivery: 24224 (Castlewood), 24225 (Cleveland), 24266 (Lebanon), and 24280 (Rosedale).
Click on the link: https://forms.gle/SBXjraBLfoRdH38E7: and complete the form to pick up meals at one of the designated locations. Food will be available for PICKUP each week beginning the first Monday in July through the first Monday in August. Please note, if you live in the following zip codes, 24237 (Dante), 24260 (Honaker), 24649 (Swords Creek), meal pickup is the only option available at this time.
Summer Food Service Program.
School is out soon, summer meals are in! Russell County Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including
gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, or age, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times listed below. Children must remain on-site while consuming their meals. Summer Meals will be available June 2- June 27, 2025.
For more information, go to https://5il.co/3h8iq
Virginia SUN Bucks helps eligible families with the cost of groceries during summer break when most schools are not in session. Each school-aged child who meets the program requirements receives a one-time payment of $120. Benefits will be issued either on a family's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card or a pre-loaded Virginia SUN Bucks card that looks just like a debit card.
For more information, go to https://virginiasunbucks.com/
To prepare all children for kindergarten, and in response to state law, Virginia has developed the Unified Virginia Quality Birth-to-Five System (VQB5) to measure and improve the quality of all publicly-funded birth-to-five classrooms and support families to choose quality programming across all types of programs. Please read the entire flyer by clicking this link: https://5il.co/33emk
RCPS Medications in Schools: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW. This document covers * Prescription Medication * Non-Prescription/Over the Counter Medication *Self-Administration of Medication * Self-Administered Asthma Medication, Auto-Injectable epinephrine, and Diabetic Medication. Please go to https://5il.co/30d51 to read the entire document.
Top 10 Tips for Student Success. 1) Attendance Matters – Everyday 2) Partner with your Child’s Teacher and Set Learning Goals 3) Practice Math & Reading 20 Minutes a Day 4) Limit Screen Time 5) Build Healthy Sleep Habits 6) Start the Day with a Good Breakfast at Home or at School 7) Get Moving and Play! 8) Talk with your Children about the Dangers of Drugs and Alcohol 9) Support your Child’s Mental Health 10) Talk with your Child – Anywhere You Can.
Russell County Public Schools is releasing its Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for parents and guardians. The SRP outlines specific actions that students and staff should follow during lockdowns and evacuations to ensure safety and security during emergencies. To view the entire documents, click https://5il.co/2x23f
