District News and Stories

Join us for “Social Media: Strengthening Caregiver Connectivity – Part 2”!

The second installment of this workshop series with ESS will focus on the increasing trend of children and adolescents using social media. Attendees will gain insights into how children fulfill their needs online and explore strategies to guide them toward fulfilling those needs offline.

By enhancing parent-child connections, participants will foster a desire in their children to reduce online time and engage more in offline activities.

Webinar topic:
Social Media: Strengthening Caregiver Connectivity – Part 2

Date and time:
Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Join link:
https://somsd.webex.com/somsd/j.php?MTID=m904f1bab907f7a75c15e76a72d9a4c9a

Webinar number:
2334 337 7588

Webinar password:
ThumbsUp24! (84862787 when dialing from a phone or video system)

We look forward to seeing you!

We are thrilled to announce that our district will be celebrating Inclusive Schools Week from December 2-6, 2024! This year’s theme, “Every Voice Matters,” highlights the importance of creating environments where every student feels heard, valued, and empowered to succeed. First launched in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week is an event celebrated internationally during the first week of December. It was designed to raise awareness and promote effective inclusive practices in schools. This is an important week as we in the South Orange-Maplewood School District are truly committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all our students.

We are excited for students to participate in various activities this week.  Each school will be celebrating in its own way.

We have developed the following questions that are intended to allow you to continue the conversations your children are having at school when they are at home:

Exploring Inclusion and Belonging

• What does it mean to you to feel included at school or in a group?
• Can you share a time when you helped someone feel included? How did it make you feel?
• Why do you think it’s important for everyone at school to feel like their voice matters?

Understanding and Appreciating Diversity

• What are some things that make you unique? How can we celebrate those differences?
• What have you learned about someone at school who is different from you?
• Why is it important to understand and respect people with different abilities, cultures, or perspectives?

Taking Action for Inclusion

• What’s one way you could make a new classmate feel welcome?
• How can you be an ally to someone who might be feeling left out?
• If you were designing an “inclusive classroom,” what would it look like, sound like, or feel like?

Reflection and Growth

• Has there ever been a time when you felt left out? What would have made the situation better?
• What can we as a family do to promote inclusion and kindness in our community?
• What does “Every Voice Matters” mean to you, and how can we apply it in our daily lives?

Thank you for your continued partnership in building an inclusive school environment where every voice truly matters.

We hope that your children will share their ideas and the experiences they have had at school. We also encourage you to ask your child about the specific lessons and discussions they have participated in during the week.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to create a more inclusive learning environment during this Inclusive Schools Week through your participation at home.

Your partner in education,

The School District of South Orange & Maplewood

Are you passionate about education and financial transparency? Do you want to help the district allocate its resources to ensure the biggest benefit for students? The South Orange & Maplewood School District has formed a Budget Advisory Committee, and we need YOU!

The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is a new essential advisory group that collaborates with the District to review, analyze, and make recommendations about the budget to the Superintendent. The goal is to ensure that the district’s financial decisions align with the strategic plan and meet the needs of our diverse students, staff, and community.

Roles and responsibilities of committee members:

• Review and Analyze
  Examine the district’s budget, revenue sources, and expenditures to understand financial trends and projections.
• Provide Input
  Offer feedback and recommendations on budget priorities, cost-saving measures that minimize the impact on student learning and staff welfare, and revenue enhancement opportunities.
• Engage
  Serve as a liaison between the district and the broader community, sharing information and gathering input from stakeholders.
• Collaborate
  Work with other committee members to develop practices that support the district’s educational goals.

We are seeking a diverse group of members to ensure comprehensive representation across our district, including parents and community members.

The BAC will meet four times, with additional meetings as needed and recommended by the Superintendent. We ask that members commit to attending at least 75% of meetings and actively participate in discussions and subcommittees.

Members may be asked to review data and documents or participate in community engagement outside of regular BAC meetings. Apply today!

This committee’s application window will close on December 20th, 2024.

Learn more about the Budget Advisory Committee.

Now in its 27th year, the South Orange & Maplewood School District’s Parenting Center & Rent Party’s Annual Toy Drive provides gifts for children in our district. Last year, our toy drive benefited over 400 children in our two communities. This year, we are once again counting on you to help us bring the spirit of the holidays to those in need in our community. Contributions/donations are being accepted via:

• Make an online tax-deductible contribution at: https://gofund.me/81826e70
• Donate an item from the wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XA0R5BKXQ90G?ref_=wl_share
• Drop off a new toy at one of our drop-off bins at any district elementary school (11/25-12/13)
• Buy one, Donate one at Sparkhouse Toys

A special thank you to Tons of Toys, Sparkhouse Toys, Ricciardi Brothers, South Mountain YMCA, and the SOMSD PTAs & HSAs for their support!