As a Matter of Fact!
SOMSD Newsletter: Vol. 3, Issue 8 | 1.28.22
Superintendent's Message
It's hard to believe that the first month of the New Year is already coming to a close. We began the school year with a four-day virtual District pause after Winter Break (due to Omicron variant). I am pleased that thanks to the work of so many, including our Lead Nurse Porter, the Departments of Health (DOH), our Principals, School Nurses, Teachers and so many others that we were successfully able to meet the plan that was released prior to winter break and return our students/staff to school for in-person learning.
I want to also thank the many parents and staff members who took advantage of the additional COVID-19 testing opportunities that we were able to provide during our four-day pause. I would also like to encourage you to review our COVID-19 dashboard that is available on our website, it gives a weekly view of the positive cases (both students and staff) in our schools.
Finally, as of January 19, 2022, the NJDOH as per CDC recommendations have changed the close contact quarantine guidance. This means that individuals age 12 and above who have not received a booster shot, will once again be impacted and will now need to quarantine after being identified as a close contact. We are working with our School Nurses and our local DOHs on the intricacies necessary to bring this latest shift to fruition and will send out a more detailed communication once logistics are finalized.
As of today, we continue to encourage all eligible students and staff to get your booster shots as soon as possible (when you are eligible). One last caveat, if your child has received their booster, please wait for further communication from the District before you upload your child’s booster information to the "Student COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form" on the District website. Be safe and well.
Educationally yours,
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor
SOMSD Implements 5 Day Isolation/Quarantine Guidance
As of January 10, the NJDOH announced that it is now applying the shortened “5-day” Isolation & Quarantine timeframes for K-12 schools. While further NJDOH school-specific guidance is still forthcoming, in collaboration and with the guidance of our local departments of health, the District will has adopted this new “5-day” guidance for Isolation (for laboratory confirmed positive cases) as well as a 5-day Quarantine (for close contacts of positive cases) effective as of Monday, January 10 for grades K-12 (PreK students/staff follows the original guidance, click here for information: bit.ly/3rimtLx)
What this means for students/staff:
- Isolation : Students/staff members who test positive via laboratory PCR or rapid test must isolate for 5 full-days (day zero is the date of the positive lab test or date of symptom onset whichever is first) This pertains to anyone who tests COVID-positive with a LABORATORY CONFIRMED PCR OR RAPID ANTIGEN test (vaccinated and unvaccinated).
- Quarantine: UNVACCINATED students/staff, close contact quarantine is now 5 full days from the last date of exposure (day zero).
- Important Note: **If an individual has symptoms during the 5 full-days quarantine, please get a laboratory PCR or rapid test and stay home until the result is received. If positive, email the principal and follow isolation guidelines
Read the full communication here: bit.ly/33pSHMi
SOMSD Community Sign-Up to Receive Text Message Updates & Reminder to Update Contact Information in School Messenger
Opt-In For Text Messages
In order to participate in the text messaging service, you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages to your phone, even if you received text messages this year. You must do this whether you have a child in the school system or belong to a community organization that wants to keep up-to-date with our alerts.
To learn more about signing up for SMS text messaging visit: website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/district-news/2019/12/16/sms-text-message-communications-from-the-district/
REMINDER! Update Contact Information for All Parties Via School Messenger:
In order to communicate with you through School Messenger, it is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information available for all parties.
- Parents/Guardianss, if you have not yet completed the annual online parent portal forms, we are requesting you do so as soon as possible. More information for parents is found here.
- All staff members are asked to communicate any telephone number changes to the Human Resources department using the “Change staff contact information” form found on the Human Resources website.
Covid-19 Testing & County Megasite Testing/Vaccination Sites in Livingston, Newark & West Orange
District MediMobile Weekly COVID-19 Onsite Testing
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Ages 5 -11
Essex County COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Locations
Upcoming Academic Events for 8th - 11th Graders
Kean Scholar Academy Virtual Information Night for Parents/Guardians of 8th Grade Students: Wed., February 2 @ 7pm
Families of Current 8th Grade Students are invited to join the Curriculum & Instruction Department and the Kean University, Scholar Academy program lead on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 7 pm for a virtual parent information night to learn more about the District's dual-enrollment opportunity with Kean University for qualified 8th grade MMS and SOMS students.
Click the link for more information: bit.ly/3rMlT8T
CHS Counseling Department: Upcoming CHS Virtual Course Selection & Other Events for 8th – 11th Grade Students
The CHS, Counseling Department invites 8th – 11th grade families/students to attend some upcoming key events related to course selection for the 2022-2023 school year and CHS preparation for incoming 9th grade students (class of 2026). We look forward to seeing you virtually and to answering any questions you may have. Click the link for more information: https://bit.ly/3KyWiZV
- CHS Course Selection Night (ONLY for current 9th – 11th grade families/students) | Tuesday, February 8, 2022 7:30 pm
- Preparing for CHS (We’re ready for you Class of 2026!) – ONLY for current 8th grades families/students | Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 7:30 pm
Activities Around SOMSD!
Around MMS!
Advisory/Peer Connections
MMS MLK Peace Walk
Spongebob the Musical @ MMS
Renovated Space at SOMS Welcomes New Lunch Clubs
At SOMS, an empty space off the cafeteria has been transformed into the school’s cheerfully decorated Club Room, where social work interns oversee weekly meetings of newly formed groups devoted to social justice, feminist issues, board games, popular culture, and more.
The Achieve Foundation awarded School Social Worker Alison Steiner a grant this fall to renovate the formerly dreary, unused location. Ms. Steiner put the grant toward cozy bean bag chairs, strings of fairy lights, and other amenities to make the space more welcoming. The SOMS HSA donated additional furnishings and décor, including storage shelves, tablecloths, and rolls of yellow and green wallpaper. Together, the social work interns, HSA volunteers, and Ms. Steiner turned the room into a café-style space.
Now students gather here at lunch for weekly club meetings where they brainstorm about ways to uplift underrepresented communities, play Battleship, or discuss the latest episode of Boba Fett.
“The Club Room in the Cafeteria has been an amazing addition,” Ms. Steiner says. “For years we’ve been trying to make lunch clubs work at SOMS, but finding a space to run them was the stumbling block. We have such a beautiful space now, and the students are loving it! Thanks so much to both Achieve and the SOMS HSA for making this possible.”
Around CHS...
CHS Alum Give Back
CHS Stays Winning
CHS Activities in Full Swing
34th Annual High School Emerging Artist Art Exhibit: Congrats to Represented CHS Students
FROM THE OFFICE OF VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
Students from across New Jersey have produced a wonderful collection of artwork showcasing their amazing talents!
Two students from Columbia High School are represented this year:
Samuel Taber-Kewene (Ms. Kandice Stewart, Art Educator) and Quinn Raines (Mr. Jon Fisher, Art Educator). Access the gallery and view the students' work from the link below.
All are also welcome to join us for the 2021-2022 Emerging Artists Awards Ceremony, taking place on January 30th at 1:30pm.
- Zoom Meeting Link - https://mtps.zoom.us/j/89291057387
SOMSD 2021-22 Upcoming Events
- February 1: Early Dismissal (PreK - 12) - Teacher PD Day
- February 8 : Course Selection Night for Current CHS students & Parents 7:30pm (Online Only)
- February 21: President's Day - District/Schools Closed
- February 22 - Preparing for CHS Night for current 8th Graders & Parents 7:30pm (Virtual Event Only)
- February 24 : BOE Public Meeting, BOE Building, 7:30pm
Additional Information & Resources for the Community
The School District of South Orange & Maplewood
Email: communications@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: www.somsd.k12.nj.us
Location: 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-762-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somsdk12
Twitter: @SOMSDK12