Archives for March 2021
SOMSD Spring 2021 Food Support Programs & Information
Cougars Varsity Girls Basketball Team named Essex County Team of the Year and Coach Keegan named Coach of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHS, Cougars Varsity Girls Basketball Team named Essex County Team of the Year and Coach Keegan named Coach of the Year by Sideline Chatter
March 24, 2021 – The Cougars Varsity Girls Basketball team was named the Essex County Team of the Year and third-year head coach, Chuck Keegan was named Coach of the Year by Sideline Chatter an online sports page covering Essex County high school sports.
While the team played a modified schedule, playing half the number of games they normally do, the 2020-2021 season proved to be one of their best winning seasons since 2013-2014. The team was comprised of four sophomores and two freshmen among the first eight players to usually see the floor, led by seniors Corteney Provilon-Louis and Kaijha Hall.
The team’s recent accolade, being named the Essex County Team of the Year follows the heel of their successful season. As far as teams go, Columbia’s undefeated 13-0 record including a 12-0 mark while going on to win the SEC-Liberty Division title completed their phenomenal season.
“The Columbia High School community couldn’t be prouder of these young women,” shared CHS Principal, Frank Sanchez. Principal Sanchez continued, “Thanks to the District’s streaming service, I was able to catch many of the games, and it was obvious how well-prepared they were by Coach Keegan. We also especially appreciated how close they were with each other, with the players supporting their teammates all season.”
Coach Chuck Keegan, expressed how happy he was just to be out on the court each day with his team throughout the challenging 2021 season. Keegan served as the Cougars team top assistant coach for three years, and took the reins as head coach for the program during the 2018-2019 season. He has played a key role in directing the Cougars team to one of their best seasons in many years. In addition, he has extensive experience in CHS athletics having previously served as the former head football coach and gridiron assistant. Keegan is a1988 Columbia graduate and special education Math teacher at the Maplewood-South Orange high school, he guided the team along with assistant coaches Alana Ferruggiaro and Aaron Brietman.
“We are so proud of this team and Coach Keegan and his staff,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, “in a year where things were untraditional, this team’s resilience and hard work is one that we are so proud of, and we look forward to taking all the way to county and state tournament next year.”
In a year marked by Covid-related challenges, there was no county or state tournament title to shoot for, however, the Girls varsity team 2020-2021 season was one for the books. Members of the 2020-2021 Cougars Girls Varsity team include: 0 Corteney Provilon-Louis (Sr); 1 Talia Baptiste (Fr); 2 Samiya Hill (So); 5 Kaijhe Hall (Sr); 13 Bella Galatt (So); 15 Sophia Rounsavil (Sr); 21 Allie Harris (So); 22 Annabel Callahan (Sr); 24 Reyniyah Rogers-Carter (Sr); 34 Zahra Alexander (Fr) and 35 Shana Desir (So).
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About the South Orange & Maplewood School District
The School District of South Orange and Maplewood serves more than 7,200 students in ten schools, including one early-childhood center, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The community and its schools are racially and economically diverse with more than 90 percent of Columbia High School graduates planning to attend college each year. The mission of the South Orange Maplewood School District is to empower and inspire each student to explore and imagine, to pursue personal passions, and to collectively create a better future by creating a learner-centered environment through multiple pathways; re-imagined structures, systems and supports; innovative teaching; partnering with families; and maximizing community expertise and resources.
Reminder: Middle School Math Course Selection is due by Friday, March 26 | Parent Q&A Pop-In Office Hours Available
- Math Course Selection Video: 5 min. video of what you need to know
- FAQ sheet with answers to the most frequently asked questions
- A PDF of the Math Course Selection full presentation from the March 16 Information Session
- Tuesday March 23, 6:30pm – 8pm
- Wednesday, March 24, 8am – 9am
- Wednesday, March 24, 4pm – 6pm
- Friday, March 26, 4pm – 6pm
Next Phased-In Re-Entry Date, April 19; Post-Spring Break Two Week District-Wide Virtual Instruction & Important Deadlines
As we prepare and continue to plan for a Phase 4 potential return on April 19, we want to remind families of some important information and upcoming deadlines.
Among them, we are receiving a lot of questions from families on why we've chosen this return date. It is two weeks after Spring Break, which will serve as a quarantine period for staff and families after potential travel. In addition, traditionally our building’s heating systems are taken offline on April 15th, which may allow for us to utilize many more rooms in our schools. Therefore allowing for the return of families who are selecting an in-person hybrid experience for their children.
Please note this means that following spring break, all students, across all grade levels, in all schools will have virtual/remote instruction from April 5 - 16; in-person hybrid instruction for students will begin again on April 19 (this includes all Phase 3 students, Pre-K - 2, 6 and 9 as well as any additional grade levels the District will announce for tentative Phase 4 staggered re-entry).
Any return will follow our staggered re-entry strategy and we will provide an update regarding the next grade-levels that will be allowed to return for hybrid in-person instruction as soon as possible.
Parents/Guardian Deadlines & Reminders:
SOMSD Statement on Violence Against AAPI Community, March 22, 2021
Dear SOMSD Community,
We have been following the events and senseless acts of violence that have occurred against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Georgia, New York and across our country. As a community, our hearts are broken. We are disheartened over the senseless loss of life of eight human beings, six of whom were women of Asian descent.
Over the past year, we have witnessed how words, fear, intolerance, and lack of empathy have led to a rise in hate crimes, injustice, discrimination, harassment, and bullying against the AAPI community. Hate crimes against the AAPI community have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A report released by “Stop AAPI Hate” revealed that there have been at least 3,795 hate incidents targeting the AAPI community between March 2020 and February 2021; more than 500 occurred in 2021.
The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, shared, “On behalf of the Board and District leadership, we condemn any acts that would seek to diminish the worth of any one group due to their race, gender, nationality or heritage….” The deaths of these eight people, six of whom were Asian American women, on Tuesday in Atlanta was an unspeakable tragedy for the families of the victims, first and foremost, and also for the AAPI community, who have been faced with high levels of racial discrimination.”
As a District, we stand in solidarity with our AAPI community, our staff, students, families, community partners, and any group that has faced injustice and racism. There is no place for hate and discrimination in our community and schools. The victims of this shooting were mothers, wives, daughters, aunts, friends, a grandmother, an Army veteran, and a husband. We will not forget the names of those whose lives were tragically cut short on Tuesday, March 16, among them:
- Soon Chung Park, 74;
- Hyun Jung Grant, 51;
- Suncha Kim, 69;
- Yong Ae Yue, 63;
- Delaina Yaun, 33;
- Xiaojie Tan, 49;
- Paul Andre Michels, 52; and
- Daoyou Feng, 44.
Internal Resources for Students:
We encourage members of our student/parent community to reach out to their school social workers and/or counseling department for individual & group counseling services for students.
- Elementary Schools: Click here for more information: bit.ly/SOMSDElemSW
- Middle School & High School: Your child’s Guidance Counselor can provide counseling for your child, connect you with resources available in the Secondary Schools as well as provide referrals to an outside therapist. Students with IEP’s should contact their case manager.
Additional external resources.
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Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
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How to Talk to Your Kids About the Atlanta Shootings & #StopAsianHate
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After Atlanta: Teaching About Asian American Identity and History (links to more resources included in the article)
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Teaching About Anti-Asian Racism and Xenop#StopAsianHate: Teaching Resources & Our Commitment to Anti-Racism — Pear Deck
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Gretel Perez, Assistant Superintendent, Access & Equity
South Orange & Maplewood Board of Education