Coronavirus Updates

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)
  • Virtual Instruction Best Practices One-Pager for Families (9/18)
• Shift to All-Virtual Instruction - BOE Presentation to SOMSD Community (8/17/20)
• NJ Restart & Recovery SOMSD Reopening Full Plan (8/8/20)
  • NJ Restart & Recovery SOMSD Condensed Summary Presentation for Families (8/8/20)
  • NJ Restart & Recovery SOMSD Reopening Plan_Appendix Only (August 2020)
• NJDOE Mandated:  SOMSD School Health-Related Closure Plan SY19/20 (5/22/20)

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Weekly Updates 

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Updates for week of December 14:

• Pre-Recorded Return to School Town Hall Video (12/17)
  • Return to School Town Hall Presentation:  Download or View PPT Slideshow 
• January 2021 Parent/Guardian Return to School Preference Form (due by Mon., Jan. 4, 2021)

Updates for week of October 26:

• Superintendent’s Message: SOMSD School Reopening Postponed to January 19th

Updates for week of October 19:

• Superintendent Taylor Video Message to SOMSD Community: November 2020 School Reopening Update being Reassessed (10/22)

• POSTPONED: PreK – 8 Return to School Academic Update Townhall WebEx- Mon., Oct. 26

Updates for week of October 12:

• Return to School Update Letter to Families (10/16)
• COVID Updates to the SOMSD Community (10/14)

Updates for week of October 5:

• As a Matter of Fact:  District Newsletter (10/9)

Updates for the week of September 14:

• Click Here:  Elementary & Middle School (K-8) Schedule Adjustment Communication to Families (9/18)
• Click Here:  Parent/Guardian Virtual Instruction "Best Practices" (9/18)

Updates for the week of August 31:

• District Newsletter:  Back to School Special (9/7)
• Click here to view:  Academic and Social-Emotional Virtual Town Hall WebEx Recording 
• 2020 - 2021 Special Education Supplemental Guide to Virtual Instructional Guidebook

Updates for the week of August 24:

• SOMSD 2020-2021 Virtual Instruction Guidebook & School Schedule for Families
• Technology Distribution for Virtual Learning (8/27)

Updates for the week of August 17:

• SOMSD, "As a Matter of Fact" Newsletter (8/21)
• South Mountain YMCA to Offer Childcare Support to District Families/Staff (8/18)
• SOMSD All Virtual Discussion - BOE Meeting Presentation (8/17)

Updates for the week of August 10:

• SOMSD Announces Shift to All-Virtual Learning for fall 2020 School Reopening (8/14)
• SOMSD “Return to School Preference” Form for Families – Submit by Friday, August 14 (8/10)

Updates for the week of August 3:

• SOMSD Announces Reopening Plan (8/7)

Updates for the week of July 27:

• Superintendent's Reopening Updates:  Taskforce Updates, Instructional Options, New Learning Management System, Canvas, Return to School Preference Form (7/31)
  • CDC:  Back to School Planning Checklist for In-Person Classes for Families (7/31)

Updates for the week of July 13:

• A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor: SOMSD Rethink-Reopen Taskforce (7/15)

Updates for week of July 6:

• SOMSD "As a Matter of Fact" Newsletter (7/10)

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:

• SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up:  As a Matter of Fact (6/19)

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:

• SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-Up:  As A Matter of Fact (6/5)

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:

• SOMSD Weekly Newsletter Wrap-up:  As a Matter of Fact (5/1)

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:

• Student Services Update (4/16)
• SOMSD Meal Distribution Location Updates (4/15)

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)

• NJTV, in partnership with the NJEA and the NJDOE, announce the launch of a new series of on-air instruction called NJTV Learning Live for Grades 3 -6

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)
• 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)
  • 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:

• 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 Coronavirus video in Spanish (Gr 3+)
• 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