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Superintendent’s Reopening Update to Families, July 31, 2020: Taskforce Updates, New Learning Management System, Canvas; Return to School Instructional Model Options; Back to School Planning

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July 31, 2020

Dear Parents / Guardians, Students, and Community Members,

I hope this correspondence finds you and your family well.  I am writing to follow up on my letter to the community from July 15 (bit.ly/3j8ivQw) and to share a few updates on our Reopening efforts. 

As we continue to work on finalizing our district’s Reopening Plan, please know that we are committed to adhering to behaviors that prevent the spread of COVID-19.   Our goal is for all students to be in school as much as possible while preserving the safety of all students and staff in the school environment.  However, our plans are guided by the provisions of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) which reflect recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and are informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.   To note, cloth face coverings for students and staff will be an important part of our plan as well as six-feet social distancing, hand hygiene, and regular cleaning and disinfecting of buildings and classrooms.  

Also, creating a plan for a situation that may shift is very challenging.   Therefore, in order to best prepare the community for what the future may hold, the final Reopening Plan that we share with the community will be fluid and will change as necessary based on guidance from the state, CDC, and considerations to our students, staff, families and community. We obviously don’t want to have a COVID-19 case at one of our schools in the fall but it is a possibility, and we will be ready to react if and when it happens.

In this correspondence, I will:

  • Provide updates on the work that the Reopening Taskforce has been engaged in;
  • Provide updates on the instructional model options that we will be providing to families;
  • Share information on a “Return to School Preference” form which will be sent to families early next week;
  • Share information on the new learning management system, Canvas that will be used starting in fall 2020 to support all virtual instruction;
  • Share the important “Back to School Preparation Checklist” for families.

These continue to be very challenging and unpredictable times, but we will get through this together! Thank you for your partnership and we will be sending more detailed information on our scheduling framework in addition to our district’s Reopening Plan shortly.

Please feel free to email any feedback or concerns to: info@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us.

Educationally Yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

Superintendent of Schools

Reopening Taskforce Updates:

As shared in our July 15 communication, to engage multiple voices and perspectives in our planning process, we established the SOMSD Rethink-Reopen Taskforce to weigh state recommendations, identify reopening strategies across the world, identify community concerns and needs, and to make realistic recommendations for reopening. The Taskforce is composed of 14 sub-committees and consists of over 100 members of our District community.  The District continues to monitor updates from the NJ Department of Education as information is released and as we get closer to school reopening. Below are key updates:

  • The District is in compliance with the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) timeline for local Reopen Plan completion (one-month before schools reopen);
  • The Taskforce continues to meet Tuesday’s and Thursday’s with a final review of the draft plan set for Tuesday, August 4;
  • The return models being recommended will address students’ developmental and learning needs;
  • The District has purchased a new virtual learning platform (more information is below) and the first stage of training on this platform is scheduled for next week.;
  • Each district school has established a pandemic response team to monitor implementation of the district’s Reopen Plan;
  • Dr. Taylor continues to obtain feedback on plan specifics from key stakeholder groups among them:
    • Multiple virtual meetings have been held with the BOE members to review and discuss the draft Reopening Plan
    • Parental Voices:  The first parent panel focus group with the Superintendent and Parenting Center was held on 7/29 with parents/guardians and key learnings and insights were brought back to the Taskforce; a follow-up meeting will be held on August 5; multiple meetings have also been held with the President’s Councils and PTA, as well as other stakeholder groups in the past two weeks to hear concerns and address questions that parents have.
    • The return to school survey for families was sent out to all District families on July 7, 2020; 5,454 responses were collected between July 7 - 24. 
    • Student Voices: The return to school survey for students was sent to all CHS students and middle school students and their parents/guardians on July 16;  1,496 responses were collected between July 16 - 24.
  • A more user-friendly  School Reopening and COVID-19 Information microsite is being developed to help families/staff/students find information more easily and will be launched when the Reopening Plan is shared with the community.

Instructional Learning Options:

First, we know that school will look different and many families are apprehensive about sending their children back to school during this pandemic. Knowing this, we will be offering options for instruction for all students.  

As per the recent state guidelines, we are providing two instruction options for families. Parents will have the option of choosing between an all-virtual or hybrid instruction for their child(ren).  Special Services instruction summary is also provided.

  • Option 1:  Virtual Instruction (online/remote):
    • Selecting this option means your child will learn at home. Virtual instruction will be provided online via the District’s new learning management system, ‘Canvas.’ Students will be provided virtual lessons with teachers and classmates, as well as self-paced activities, projects, and assignments. Daily attendance will be taken and students will have a full course-load of instruction.  Teachers will use Canvas to provide distance learning for students.
  • Option 2: Hybrid Instruction (combination in-person/online):
    • Selecting this option means your child will attend school in person two* days per week on an alternating schedule and will learn from home virtually using Canvas during the remainder of the week. This will allow for much smaller class sizes to meet the social distancing requirements. Students would be assigned specific days to attend each week. SOMSD will make every effort to schedule students from the same family on the same days.  In both hybrid and virtual learning models, your child will have access to live support and conferring sessions with SOMSD instructors.

*Due to the complexity of high school master scheduling and our desire to continue offering our CHS students the robust and diverse course offerings that have made Columbia a unique institution, we are considering modified methodologies.  More details will follow with the District’s Reopening Plan.

  • Special Education Information:
    • Special Education programming will be based on each child’s IEP and may entail supplemental and extended programming. IEP’s will be implemented to the greatest extent possible.  The focus on IEP implementation is to provide as many in-person opportunities as possible for our most vulnerable students. The Special Services plans address both in-person/virtual models.
      • In addition to the scheduling considerations in the Elementary, Middle, and High School level, students with the highest IEP needs will be provided additional in-person instruction, as feasible
      • Related Services (Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies as well as paraprofessional supports) will be provided virtually and in person, as scheduling allows
      • Evidence-based Reading (EBR) will continue to be provided virtually and in person, as scheduling allows

Return to School Preference Form for Families:

To best prepare for your child, early next week the District will send via email, a Return-to-School Preference form to all families.  This form needs to be filled out for each child that will attend school for the 2020-2021 school year to indicate your choice for each child’s instruction. This will help us with our staffing needs and instructional planning.

Canvas Learning Management System: 

At the July 2020 Board of Education meeting, the District approved the purchase of a new Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. Canvas will be used by all students and teachers in the South Orange Maplewood School District. Using the new LMS, students will be able to interact during classes, actively engage in assignments, take quizzes, collaborate with peers, communicate with teachers, and more.

All courses will be housed in Canvas. This includes core content, as well as electives and specialized courses. This will enable us to shift to fully virtual instruction if additional school closures are required. Canvas will be for every student, every day regardless of their selected mode of instruction. Face-to-face students will participate in blended learning through the system while fully remote students will be able to access all coursework. Teachers will be able to host their lessons through district-provided web conferencing platforms (Cisco WebEx, Google Meets, etc.) and house them in Canvas as well as document attendance, assignments and all communication to students and parents. Canvas offers one location for parents to check student's work and associated grades. Many of the online resources that our teachers use are compatible with Canvas, seamlessly integrating with the platform. 

In the coming weeks, more information will be provided about the District's journey launching Canvas and the next steps for families. Please take a moment to watch this brief video regarding Canvas: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2GMkW7OPQE

Back to School Preparation Checklist for Families

Below are some actions to take or things to consider from our District nurses and the CDC to help you prepare your children to take care of themselves and others if you choose the hybrid model (which includes in-person instruction) for back to school.  

Checklist
Face Masks
  • Begin to create face coverings/masks endurance with your children. Model proper wearing of face covering: make sure it covers your nose and mouth, keep hands away from face. To remove, stretch ear loops/strings forward and hold by loops/strings, then fold outside corners together.  Clean your hands after removing face covering.
  • Have multiple cloth face coverings so you can wash them daily and have back-ups ready (if possible, at minimum have at least 2 reusable face masks ready for your child for back to school)
  • Label your child’s cloth face covering clearly in permanent marker so that they are not confused with those of other children
  • Find reusable/washable face coverings that your child is comfortable wearing and gradually build up the amount of time they can tolerate wearing them (especially for our younger students). 
  • Begin conversations with your children, explain the importance of masks and how it protects others from getting sick
  • Consider talking to your children about other people who may not be able to wear cloth face coverings for medical reasons
  • If you have young children, help build their comfort wearing a cloth face covering and become comfortable seeing others in face covers. Consider drawing pictures of people with face coverings as well as putting face coverings on stuffed toys, dolls, and action figures.
  • As always, remind your child to sneeze or cough into a sleeve or elbow, even when wearing a face covering.
Thermometer 

at home
  • If possible, please ensure that you have a working thermometer in your home
  • If this is a hardship, please email Karen Weiland at kweiland@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us Please include your name and phone number and we will contact you with details.
  • Please note that the definition of a fever is 100 F according to NJDOH and CDC guidelines for schools.  If your child has a fever of 100 or greater, your child should not come to school.
Personal Supplies/Hand hygiene
  • Consider having personal supplies of hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol-based) and a packet of tissues included in your child’s bookbag.
  • Practice hand hygiene:  wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds: remember wrists and thumbs! If washing with soap and water is not possible, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/wipes.
Six-feet Social Distancing
  • Practice social distancing.  An outstretched pool noodle is a great visual for what six feet looks like.
  • Practice ways of greeting and feeling connected with thumbs up or waving instead of high-fives.

We are also including a PDF attachment of the CDC’s, “Back to School Planning for In-Person Classes” checklist.  It includes additional actions to take and points to consider regarding mental health & social-emotional well-being, ensuring your child(ren)’s information including emergency contacts are updated/current, reinforcing concepts of social distancing, transportation considerations and more.

SOMSD Extends School Closure through April 17, 2020 – Letter to Community

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March 25, 2020

Dear SOMSD Staff & Family,

I hope that this correspondence finds you, your families, and your loved ones (both near and far) safe and healthy.  Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work together as a community to keep everyone safe. I appreciate your efforts at home in helping provide our students with a continuity of education during this closure period.

School Closure Update:
On Friday, March 13, 2020, as you know, we closed all schools in order to protect the health and wellness of our students, our staff, and their families. We wanted to do our part in the nationwide movement to exercise the practice of “Social Distancing” to limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The following week, Governor Murphy issued an executive order mandating that all NJ public, private, and parochial preschool programs and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, would close by Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and would remain closed as long as the order stood.

With Governor Murphy’s executive order still in effect, South Orange & Maplewood School District has extended its distance learning through Friday, April 17, 2020, with students tentatively returning to school on Monday, April 20.  As we share often, this is a fluid situation, and we continue to partner with the Governor’s Office, the NJ Department of Education, local health agencies, and our educational leaders to ensure that our future plans meet the needs of our greater community. We believe the extension of distance learning through April 17 is a realistic and logical adjustment that is aligned with the recent steps taken by our Governor for the protection of our citizens.

Since our distance learning period began on March 18 and was tentatively slated to last two weeks, this extension will formally begin on Wednesday, April 1 (as a reminder, the first two days of school closures, March 16 & 17, utilized the District’s unused calendar-embedded emergency school closure dates).  As we continue distance learning into April, we will move into our normally scheduled Spring Break from April 10 – 20.  During this break, we will provide optional high-quality supplemental instructional enrichment opportunities for our students/families to engage with if they wish.

This new arrangement will provide our administrators and staff with an opportunity to take a deep breath and prepare (we hope) to return to our normal operations.  The District will be sending a more detailed communication providing additional guidance on the continuation of our distance learning platform to our families via email by end of day tomorrow, Thursday, March 26.

I would also like to remind you that we have a district “Coronavirus Updates” webpage dedicated to our communications on this matter: www.somsd.k12.nj.us/coronavirusupdates. This page includes resources that can support your student (and family’s) mental health needs during this time of uncertainty.  We are keeping the needs of ‘the whole child’ at the forefront as we move forward together.  Thank you again for your partnership.  Be safe and well.

DOWNLOAD:  SOMSD School Closure Extension, 3/25 Letter to Community

Sincerely,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

 

Mental Health & Counseling Resources

Additional Resources:

Family Resources

Family Resources

South Orange Maplewood School District recognizes the vital importance of the home-school partnership. Our students and their families come first. We are here to support all of our students as they discover and develop their propensities!

Who To Contact

Calendar

Counseling and Social Work Program

Student Working Paper Forms

Registration

First Day Packet Forms

Please click here to view important information regarding first day packets.

Allergies in Schools

Please refer to the district policy manual. Reference policies:

  • 5331 - Management of Life Threatening Allergies in Schools.

Attendance Information

In order for students to learn and achieve their fullest potential, it is critical that they are in school and engaged in the learning process. Research shows that student absences impact a child’s ability to succeed in school.  Please click here to learn more about the district's attendance procedures.

Parent Portal

Parents/guardians and high school students can view attendance, in real-time; quarterly grades; mid-term exams; final-exams; final grades; teacher's comments (the same comments that print on the progress reports); historical report card grades; school bulletins; and standardized test scores.
  • If you need assistance with the parent portal, please click here. 
  • To access the parent portal please click here.

Testing & Assessment

Assessing student academic performance is one measure of determining what has been learned and how well the curriculum is serving the needs of each child. Students in all grades are assessed using multiple measures such as teacher tests, informed reading tests and other performance-based measures.  Students will be given every opportunity to demonstrate competency and be successful in all areas. Please click here for more information.

Special Education

All questions/concerns regarding your child’s program should be directed toward the child study team case manager. If you do not receive a satisfactory response please call the Department of Special Services at 973-762-5600 x1840 where you will be directed to the appropriate administrator. Please click here for more information.

The Parenting Center

The Parenting Center serves elementary school families in the South Orange Maplewood School District. The Center's goal is to be a dynamic resource in our community addressing children's needs and parent's concerns.  Its aim is to provide parents with a full range of supports as they help their children grow and develop.

Board of Education Policies

All Board of Education policies can be found here.

HSA / PTA Guidelines

Guidelines for HTA / PTA Volunteers can be found here.

Long-Time SOMSD Staff, Ann Bodnar Appointed as New SOMSD Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction 

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Superintendent Dr. Ronald G. Taylor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Ann Bodnar, a twenty plus year SOMSD employee and District alum, to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction effective immediately.  The South Orange & Maplewood School District Board of Education approved Ann Bodnar, current Director of Curriculum & Instruction, to the position of Assistant Superintendent during the August 25 BOE public meeting.

“Ms. Bodnar  brings high expectations, accountability to results and a deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction to the position of Assistant Superintendent,”  Superintendent Taylor shared.  He continued,  “Ann’s lineage as a proud product of SOMSD, as well as her legacy as an instructional leader, is well documented. Leading Clinton Elementary School out of ‘Focus Status’ (NJDOE determination for schools in need of targeted improvement) and ascending to a position on the school district leadership team (SLT), represent Ms. Bodnar’s pragmatic approach to education. All who have had the pleasure of working with Ann know that she is a ‘roll your sleeves’ up instructional leader with an equity focus. Her work in the Curriculum & Instruction Department with her predecessor and our Academic Supervisors has resulted in so many accomplishments that have benefited our students and staff. Including but not limited to, the launching of Canvas and Atlas, working with our IT Director to close the digital divide during the COVID-19 emergency closure … as well as the implementation of Amistad, LGBTQ and AAPI curricular enhancements.”      

Ms. Bodnar has been a SOMSD teacher and administrator since 1998.  A student of the SOMSD and a graduate of Columbia High School, Ms. Bodnar began her career in the District as a 5th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher where she worked for eight years.  In this role she collaborated with school social workers to ensure that all students’ social needs were met and served on building and district leadership teams, including positive school wide behavior programs and district curriculum development.    In 2011 she transitioned to the role of Assistant to the Principal at Clinton Elementary School, where she served for three years and provided leadership in the areas of data analysis, grade level meetings, technology integration, community programs and PTA activities.

In 2011 she became the Assistant Principal of Clinton Elementary School and was later promoted to Principal in 2016.  In 2019 she moved to central administration and was appointed the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the District.  During her tenure in this role she helped to spearhead and led professional development for staff, managed assessment testing, brought the  K-12 curriculum online via Atlas so that it is accessible to parents and teachers and  led a partnership w/ CodeJoy which brings coding to elementary schools via their media specialists. 

Ms. Bodnar shares, “It is an honor to be named the District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction. I am lucky to have been a part of this community for my entire life and am excited to continue my commitment to our staff, families and most importantly our SOMSD students.  I look forward to bringing my equity lens into curriculum and instruction to ensure that all students are given the same opportunity to access an education where they feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger than themselves, so that they can succeed not only in school, but in life.” 

Ms. Bodnar received her Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton in 2011 and completed her undergraduate degree from Kean University in Elementary Education in 1997.  A search for a new Director of  Curriculum & Instruction will begin immediately.

South Mountain YMCA Partners with Achieve Foundation, the Parenting Center and SOMSD to Help Families Access Childcare

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For Immediate Release

South Mountain Y – Collaborative Community Commitment PR / Statement on the Community

South Mountain YMCA Partners with South Orange & Maplewood School District

to Help Families Access Child Care

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The South Mountain YMCA, the Achieve Foundation, Parenting Center, and the South Orange-Maplewood School District have formed a partnership to ensure that equity and opportunity are hallmarks of our community. The collaboration is focused on providing financial support for child care options for families who are most in need.

The Y is committing to provide up to 80 percent financial assistance to all families in the school district that are part of the free and reduced lunch program, and the Achieve Foundation is launching a fundraising campaign to support those families with an additional 10-20 percent scholarship.

“The Y is dedicated to youth development and social responsibility. This important partnership will ensure that our students and families have the resources they need to succeed,” said James Goodger, District Executive of the South Mountain YMCA.

This partnership will ensure that district students have the programs necessary to thrive in and out of the classroom and provide families with the financial support needed to navigate this challenging time.

The South Mountain YMCA, in partnership with the SOMSD, recently opened registration for school age child care programs. In order to provide flexible child care solutions to serve our families and students, the Y is offering a mix of options that include half day, full day, partial week and full week care.

Over the course of the pandemic the Y has been following state, CDC, and local health department guidelines while safely operating Emergency Child Care for essential employees, summer camp, and the Early Childhood Learning Center. The Y’s Financial Assistance program has made this possible for many families that have encountered difficult circumstances.

“Achieve is committed to educational equity and pleased to partner with the Y and the Parenting Center on this initiative. Our fundraising efforts are intended to ensure that SOMSD families who need it most have access to 90-100 percent scholarships for in-person educational support, child care and enrichment programming during distance learning this fall,” said Eileen Collins Neri, Executive Director, Achieve.

“The Parenting Center is so proud to be part of this unprecedented collaboration to support our most vulnerable families during this time of uncertainty and crisis,” said Parenting Center Director Karen Weiland. “In response to this pandemic, the SOMA community has joined together on so many fronts to help all of our families. Providing scholarships for children to attend the Y child care program will mean so much to so many families who need this support right now.”

“We are so pleased to work in partnership with the Achieve Foundation and the South Mountain YMCA to bring this great support to our students and families,” said Dr. Melody Alegria, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for the South Orange & Maplewood School District. “By linking accessible child care to families in need, and the addition of our new learning management systems (Canvas for K-12 and Tools of The Mind for preschool), we are able to provide quality instruction and supervision in a safe manner.“

For more information about School Age Child Care programs at the Y, visit metroymcas.org.

To donate to Achieve’s Y Scholarship fund visit www.mightycause.com/story/Achievefoundation.

About The Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Hackensack, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2.8 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.

About SOMSD Schools

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood serves more than 7,200 students in 10 schools, including one early-childhood center, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The mission of the South Orange Maplewood School District is to empower and inspire each student to explore and imagine, to pursue personal passions, and to collectively create a better future by creating a learner-centered environment through multiple pathways; re-imagined structures, systems and supports; innovative teaching; partnering with families; and maximizing community expertise and resources.

About Achieve

Achieve is an independent 501(c)3 organization that serves as the local education foundation for the School District of South Orange & Maplewood. Over the past two decades, the organization has raised more than $4 million to promote academic excellence and equity in all our public schools.

About the Parenting Center

The Parenting Center serves elementary school families in the South Orange Maplewood School District. The Center’s goal is to be a dynamic resource in our community addressing children’s needs and parent’s concerns. Its aim is to provide parents with a full range of supports as they help their children grow and develop.

 

 

 

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