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SOMSD Community Awareness: Threat of Violence Circulating on TikTok

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December 16, 2021

Dear SOMSD Community,

The state has notified us of recent internet chatter on social media about a concern of school shootings taking place tomorrow, Friday, December 17, 2021. This chatter is not specific to a locality or time.

We have been informed by the NJ Director of the Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning that at this point, there is no viable intelligence to support this as a legitimate threat. Messages such as this current one, circulating in numerous states, are often posted to cause confusion and heightened anxiety among members of the school community. While this threat has not been deemed a credible threat, we still encourage students, parents and staff to report any concerns they may have going forward.

Parents/guardians, we encourage you to speak with your child and let them know that the South Orange & Maplewood School District takes every threat seriously. In addition, as always, in conjunction with the county prosecutor’s office and our local police department, we remain vigilant and investigate every threat that we receive.

Please know that the safety of our students and staff is always our number one priority. We want to reiterate there are no specific threats directed toward any SOMSD School.

More information regarding the rise of unsubstantiated school threats throughout the country can be found in this nj.com article by clicking here: https://www.nj.com/education/2021/12/nj-schools-grapple-with-spike-in-threats-of-violence-shootings-on-social-media.html

South Orange & Maplewood School District

SOMSD Community Thanksgiving Break Travel/Quarantine Guidelines & Survey (Submissions Due By: Mon., Nov. 22)

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Link to: Thanksgiving Break Travel Survey

(ONLY FAMILIES WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL DOMESTICALLY (OUTSIDE OF PA, NJ, NY, CT, DE) OR INTERNATIONALLY w/ UNVACCINATED CHILDREN SHOULD FILL OUT THIS FORM)

November 16, 2021

Dear SOMSD Community,

As you are aware, the Thanksgiving Break is November 25 & 26, 2021. District schools and Central Office will be closed. Schools and District offices will reopen on Monday, November 29, 2021.

The District will collect information from parents/guardians of unvaccinated students who plan on traveling either domestically (outside of PA, NJ, NY, CT, DE) or outside of the United States during the Thanksgiving break. To keep our students, staff and community safe, unvaccinated students will need to quarantine before returning to school.

Note the following:

  • UNVACCINATED students will be asked to quarantine for a full seven to ten days depending on testing.
  • Quarantine may be seven full days if students test negative on days 3, 4, or 5 after returning from travel. If you choose not to test, quarantine is ten full days.
  • This guidance is per our local SOMA Departments of Health as informed by NJDOH and CDC.
  • If your child is fully vaccinated, they do NOT need to quarantine (unless they have symptoms).
  • If you recently opted to have your child vaccinated in accordance with the new CDC endorsement and recommendation for children 5 to 11 years old against COVID-19 with the Pfizer pediatric vaccine, please note that your child will NOT be considered fully vaccinated until TWO WEEKS AFTER they receive their second dose of the vaccine (which is after we return from Thanksgiving Break).

Everyone’s continued compliance is necessary to keep the members of our school community healthy and safe.

Please refer to the communication sent to parents on Friday, October 22 for a full description of the requirements which are still applicable. [https://bit.ly/3pqq8rk]

During a student’s quarantine period, they will receive virtual instruction. Please note that we strive to minimize the disruption to student learning during the quarantine period by having systems in place for students to receive virtual instructional support that is commensurate with their normal school day. Again, it is imperative that families of UNVACCINATED students who plan to travel during the Thanksgiving break, outside of the PA, NJ, NY, CT, and DE areas fill out the Thanksgiving Break Travel Survey by Monday, November 22.

Thanksgiving Break Travel Survey:  https://forms.gle/FtgUW8h2hk8ihRAr5

South Orange & Maplewood School District

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