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Special Services: Preschool Update, July 6, 2020

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July 6, 2020

Dear SOMSD Pre-K Parents/Guardians:

We hope that you and your family are well.  Thank you for your patience and understanding as the District finalizes plans for the 2020-2021 school year.    In an effort to keep all lines of communication open with our families and community,  please see below for an update of the District’s Preschool Education program and registration for the 2020-2021 school year.

While the district is eager to move forward with the placement of more students from our lottery waitlist, we are currently still awaiting final budgetary decisions from the New Jersey Department of Education, in addition to updated guidance from the federal, state and local levels as a result of the impact of Covid-19.   We remain hopeful that we will be able to place the more than 100+  students on our waitlist, and the Preschool Department will provide another placement update in late July.   

We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time.  Please email us at  prekregistration@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us with any questions. Be safe and well.

Sincerely,

Melody Alegria, Ed.D
cc:  Leroy Johnson III, Supervisor, Preschool Education Program

Welcome to Kindergarten: 2020 – 2021 Kindergarten Supply Kit Orders

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Hello Parents/Guardians,

Important note from the District for incoming kindergarten parents/guardians:  Please note all registered incoming Kindergarten parents should expect to receive their assignment letter from their schools by end of this week (latest early next week).  Marshall parents/guardians will receive assignment letters the week of June 29.

2020 – 2021 Kindergarten Supply Kit Orders

Every year, our elementary school PTAs offer families the ability to order school supply kits. The list for supplies comes straight from our teachers, so you won’t have to worry about shopping in the fall!

You can follow the links below for your school. Enter your school code and choose the kindergarten box. Unless noted otherwise, school kits will be shipped to your address.

We’re also including the web address for your school PTAs. We encourage you to check yours and sign up for the regular eblasts. It’s a great way to know what’s going on at school and how to get involved!

It’s good to note that in addition to these school supplies, it is recommended that your child has a backpack or other bag for school (big enough to hold standard folders and books), a reusable water bottle, and a lunchbox or bag if they will be bringing lunch.

Clinton
https://www.shopttkits.com | Code: 88821
Deadline: 6/21/20
PTA Website: https://clintonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/

Marshall
https://www.shopttkits.com | Code: 50094
Deadline: 6/26/20
PTA Website: https://marshall-pta.membershiptoolkit.com/
*NOTE: These supply kits may be delivered to one location and distributed. The PTA will let you know!

Seth Boyden
https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=67892
Deadline: 7/1/20
PTA Website: http://www.sethboydenpta.org/

South Mountain
https://www.shopttkits.com | Code: 89248
Deadline: 6/19/20
PTA Website: https://southmountainpta.membershiptoolkit.com/

Withdrawals/Transfers Out of the District

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If your child will be attending a private school in September or if your family will be moving out of the District at the close of the school year, you must officially withdraw your child(ren) from the District.

Please contact your building secretary for assistance with the withdrawal process and to make arrangements to have your children’s academic and health records forwarded to your new school.

If you are in possession of a District issued Chromebook, arrangements will be made for the safe return of the device. Please advise us of the need to return the device during the withdrawal process.

  • Preschool and elementary school families should email the building secretary directly.
  • Middle school students must email the guidance secretary for assistance. Michaia Brown (mbrown@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us) at Maplewood Middle School and Bonnie Hellstern (bhellste@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us) at South Orange Middle School.
  • Columbia High School students should email Sheila Bellini (sbellini@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us) in the counseling department, for assistance.

Superintendent Taylor: CHS Culminating Activities Update (6/12)

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Hello SOMSD Family,

I hope this correspondence finds you and your family well.  As we approach the end of the school year, and in light of the Governor’s updates over the past couple of weeks, we want to clarify our current position and provide some rationale regarding the graduation process and plans for our District.

We are specifically focusing on Columbia High School, and will address other students in our district who are being promoted from a ‘milestone grade.’ Over the last month, Governor Murphy has released information and guidance to districts regarding outdoor graduations after July 6th and in subsequent communications has shared the regulations that districts will have to comply with in order to hold graduations.  We have reviewed these guidelines and the links are shared below.

I understand that we all yearn for a return to what we view as normalcy, including our much-anticipated rites of passage and culminating activities. However, I am confirming in this communication the following: Our virtual graduation and promotional activities will be moving forward as our official ceremonies for the 2019-2020 school year. The health and safety of our students and staff continue to remain our highest priority. It is a sobering fact that as of last Thursday, 6/4, 12 positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed at the countywide testing site in Maplewood. 

With that being said, our Maplewood Health Officer, CHS Leadership Team and I will be having discussions with the CHS Class of 2020 student representatives and the CHS Home School Association (HSA) to talk about what is creatively possible in terms of celebrating this very deserving group. Of course, per the Governor’s Executive Order, this (or these) event(s) would occur after July 6th, acknowledging the many obvious variables and limitations (i.e. lack of staff during the summer, gathering capacity limitations, social distancing, etc.,).

Lastly, this planning will be limited to the Columbia High School Class of 2020.  We celebrate and appreciate all students who are preparing for a transition to a new school, however, we do not have the capacity to take on this planning for all district culminating activities. The final caveat is that this planning is fluid and could be impacted by changes in COVID-19 data, or Governor’s decree.

Governor’s Office and New Jersey Department of Education Communications:

Yours in Education,


Dr. Ronald G. Taylor 

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