Noblesville East Middle School moves to virtual learning with 20% absence

In consultation with the Hamilton County Health Department, all Noblesville East Middle School (NEMS) students moved to virtual instruction on Tuesday.

Over 20 percent of the NEMS population is currently absent due to illness, including 50 confirmed positive COVID cases reported last week and 12 more as of Monday. This 20 percent does not include COVID direct contacts. It does include other illness absences in addition to COVID.

  • Team Wake Forest will return to school on Thursday, Aug. 26.
  • Team DePauw will return to school on Monday, Aug. 30.
  • All other NEMS teams return to school on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
  • If the school nurse has given you a different specific return date due to your personal medical situation, follow that guidance. 

Noblesville Schools officials say they have moved to this short-term, temporary virtual instruction to slow the spread of illness. Officials say they believe students learn best in school and they want the community to know they did not make this move lightly. The spike of illness NEMS is currently experiencing is significant, rapidly spreading, and, according to officials, is like nothing the school has seen before.

Teachers are providing live instruction and students should log into class via Canvas and Google Meet links following their normal scheduled class times, including on Wednesday (no late start for NEMS). Teachers will provide further instructions.

NEMS athletics and other after school activities are canceled through Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Please carefully monitor your student’s health and avoid social gatherings outside of school when possible.

If your child develops symptoms of illness and/or receives a COVID test result during this virtual instruction time, please continue to report this to the school nurse.

If you need assistance with breakfast and lunch during virtual instruction, please register here. If you need help completing this form, please contact your school social worker or secretary.

For more information on quarantines, contact tracing and other COVID protocol, visit the district’s COVID Resource Area.