Update Center: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)Information

Schools Closed - Monday, March 16, 2020 - Friday, April 17, 2020
[All South Orange & Maplewood School District facilities are closed and all extracurricular,  registration, athletic, and social activities are postponed/canceled until further notice]

The South Orange & Maplewood School District is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are continuing to receive and share further guidance from the state, local and federal agencies as it relates to COVID-19.

Updates for week of March 3o:

• SOMSD Updated Food Distribution Times & Locations (4/1)
• SOMSD Social Distancing PSA Reminder (Lead Nurse, Julie Porter)

• Maplewood Township COVID-19 PSA - How to deal with COVID-19 w/ Mayor Frank McGehee and Public Health Officer, Candice Davenport

Updates for week of March 23:

• Week Wrap-Up:  Superintendent's Video Message to the SOMSD Community (3/27)
• 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)
  • Espanol: Mensaje Importante del Superintendente Taylor Sobre el Cierre de las Escuelas por el COVID-19
  • Kreyòl Ayisyen: Mesaj Enpòtan nan Sipèentandan Taylor sou COVID-19 SOMSD Lekòl Fèmen, Efektif, Mas 16
• 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:

• 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)
• BrainPOP Coronavirus video (recommended for Gr3+)
• BrainPOP Coronavirus video in Spanish (Gr 3+)
• BrainPOP Washing Hands video (K-2 students)
• 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)

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