
SOMSD Schools will reopen on January 19, 2021, for hybrid in-person instruction.
Important Reopening Resources & Plans Shared w/ SOMSD Community:
- Resources for January 2021 School Reopening
- Return to School Phased-In Plan - 10/19 BOE Presentation (10/19)
- Elementary & Middle School (K-8) Schedule Adjustment (9/18)
- 2020 - 2021 Virtual Instruction Guidebook for Families (9/2/20)
- Shift to All-Virtual Instruction - BOE Presentation to SOMSD Community (8/17/20)
- NJ Restart & Recovery SOMSD Reopening Full Plan (8/8/20)
- NJDOE Mandated: SOMSD School Health-Related Closure Plan SY19/20 (5/22/20)
Weekly Updates From February 2019- June 2020
Updates for the week of June 22:
- SOMSD Year-End Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (6/26)
- SOMSD Distance Learning EOY Presentation Update (6/22)
- SOMSD Moving Up & Graduation Ceremonies (6/23)
Updates for the week of June 15:
Updates for the week of June 8:
- SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (6/12)
- Superintendent Taylor: CHS Culminating Activities Update (6/12)
- New! Summer Food Support Programs (6/12)
- Letter to Elementary School Families: Retrieval of Student Belongings (6/11)
Updates for week of June 1:
Updates for week of May 25:
- SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (5/29)
- NJDOE COVID-19 Update: New Jersey Commencement Ceremonies (5/28)
Updates for week of May 18:
- SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (5/22)
- NJDOE SOMSD 2020 School Health-Related Closure Plan (5/22)
- Maplewood Township: Declaration of Local Emergency Face Coverings Required in Town Parks (5/21)
- Special Services: Distance Learning Update (5/20)
Updates for week of May 11:
- SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (5/15)
- 2020-2021 Preschool Program Registration Update (5/8)
- Maplewood Township COVID-19 Resource Portal
- South Orange Village COVID-19 Info Portal
- Face Mask Protection Guidelines for COVID-19
- NJ State at Home Order Guidelines
Updates for week of May 4:
- SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact (5/8)
- SOMSD Expands Food Support to District Families; Programas de apoyo alimentario de SOMSD;
Pwogram Sipò pou Manje yo (5/7) - SOMSD schools closed for the remainder of 2019-2020 school year and 4th Quarter Grading Protocols (5/4/20)
Updates for week of May 1:
Updates for week of April 20:
- SOMSD Weekly Wrap-Up: As a Matter of Fact Newsletter (4/24)
- Superintendent Taylor's Weekly Wrap-Up Video (4/24)
Updates for week of April 13:
Updates for week of April 6:
- SOMSD Special Newsletter: Mental Health Check & Wellness Check for Families & Staff (4/8)
- SOMSD Schools Closed Indefinitely - Distance Learning to Continue Until Further Notice (4/7)
- Free Online Weekly ZOOM Support Group for Parents at Home with Children during COVID-19 Online Schooling (provided by SPS)
Updates for week of March 3o:
- SOMSD Updated Food Distribution Times & Locations (4/1)
- SOMSD Social Distancing PSA Reminder (Lead Nurse, Julie Porter)
Updates for week of March 23:
- Week Wrap-Up: Superintendent's Video Message to the SOMSD Community (3/27)
- Student Services Update (3/26)
- Letter to Community: Online Planning Guide for Parents and Students (3/26)
- Letter to Community: SOMSD Extends School Closure thru April 17, 2020 (3/25)
- Maplewood Township Coronavirus Updates (3/22)
- State of NJ: COVID-19 Information Hub
- New! Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Provided by trauma experts at Child Trends and the Child Trauma Training Center at the University of Massachusetts)
Updates for week of March 16:
- Distance Learning Guideline Letter to Parents & Students (3/17)
- Distance Learning FAQs for Families/Students (3/17)
- New Page! Technology Information & Resources for parents and students (3/16)
- Food Support & Meal Distribution Plan during School Closure (3/16)
Updates for week of March 9:
- Special Education and Preschool Programs - School Closing Information Regarding COVID 19 (3/15)
- Important Message from Superintendent Taylor on COVID-19 SOMSD School Closures, Effective, March 16 (3/13)
- South Orange Village Coronavirus Updates (3/12)
- SOMSD Coronavirus Update Letter to the Community (3/10)
- South Orange Village Coronavirus Update (3/10)
- Maplewood Health Department PSA (3/9)
- Maplewood Public Health Division Announcements/Updates (3/9)
- South Orange Village Public Health Division - Coronavirus Updates (3/9)
- CDC Briefing Room: COVID-19 Update and Risks (3/9)
Updates for week of March 2:
- SPECIAL EDITION: SOMSD Coronavirus Update #3 - March 5, 2020
- Spanish Translation: Actualización del coronavirus SOMSD para las Familias
- Haitian Creole Translation: Kreyòl Ayisyen: SOMSD Coronavirus Mizajou pou Fanmi yo
- Maplewood Township Public Health Division - Coronavirus Updates (3/2)
February Updates:
- SPECIAL EDITION: SOMSD Coronavirus Update #2 - Superintendent's Message - February 28, 2020
- SOMSD Guidance - Coronavirus Update - February 4, 2020
- General Information Regarding the Novel Coronavirus
- NJ DOE Coronavirus Update - February 3, 2020
- NJ DOE Coronavirus Fact Sheet - February 3, 2020
Resources for Families: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus:
- Parent and Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Coping During COVID-19 - Resources for Parents - Child Mind Institute
- Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus - NPR
- Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- How to Talk to Your Anxious Child About the Coronavirus – Psychology Today
- How to talk to your kids about the coronavirus (and ease their fears) – NBC News
- Coronavirus and the Playground: Let's Talk to Our Kids - Today Parenting Team (Online Community)
- How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus - Keeping your own anxiety in check is key - New York Times (Parenting Section)
Video Resources:
-
BrainPOP Coronavirus video (recommended for Gr3+)
- BrainPOP Washing Hands video (K-2 students)
Coronavirus Resource Overview:
- CORONAVIRUS: Symptoms
- CORONAVIRUS: Prevention & Treatment
- CORONAVIRUS: Information for School Administrators
- CORONAVIRUS: How it Spreads
- CORONAVIRUS: Frequently Asked Questions
- CORONAVIRUS: Downloadable Fact Sheet
- CORONAVIRUS: Information for School Nurses
- CORONAVIRUS: What to Do if You are Sick
Community Resources & Guidelines:
- New Jersey 24-Hour Coronavirus Hotline: The 24-hour statewide hotline for answering questions about the novel coronavirus is (1-800-222-1222). This hotline provides updated, factual information. New Jersey is continuing to work closely with the CDC and local health partners to monitor the situation and will provide updates accordingly.
- Coronavirus Stop the Spread of Germs Flyer
- CDC YouTube Video: What You Need to Know About Handwashing
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary in the US
- After Travel Precautions for those from Countries with Widespread Sustained (Ongoing) Transmission Arriving in the United States
- Maplewood Township Coronavirus Updates
- South Orange Township Coronavirus Factsheet
- NJ Department of Health Coronavirus Webpage