2020 - 2021 Virtual Instruction Guidebook & Schedules for Families
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Seth Boyden Elementary School

District News & Announcements

SOMSD Return to School Updates, Preference Forms & Upcoming BOE & Town Hall Events

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October 16, 2020

Dear SOMSD Community:

I hope this correspondence finds you well. Allow me to start by thanking every member of our District Family and acknowledging the efforts put forward to move us successfully through the first 6 weeks or so of our school year. Our start has not been perfect but it has been unequivocally a success.

As we announced this summer in concert with Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 175, our current plan remains in place to offer in-person educational opportunities beginning on November 12th.  The health and safety of our students and staff is our #1 priority; to that end, we have invested significantly in preparing our buildings for our reopening.

To gauge where our District families currently stand, we are sending a revised version of the “Return to School Preference Form” sent in August 2020.  We understand that some families may still be apprehensive about sending their children back to school during this pandemic. Knowing this, the District would like to provide parents/guardians with flexibility, but also needs to plan in advance for scheduling purposes and ensure we are abiding by social distancing requirements.  Please note, for this round, PreK – 8 and CHS will have two separate preference forms – final responses will be due by Wednesday, October 28th @ 6 pm.

  • PreK – 8 “Return to School Preference” Form: https://bit.ly/3lRg2dU (the form link will also be sent to families via email/SMS on Monday, October 19).
  • CHS “Return to School Preference” Form: An email will be sent to CHS families/students on Monday, October 19th with the link to the preference form as well as additional sign-in information for the CHS Town Hall event.

To help families make a more informed decision on whether your child will attend school in-person (hybrid instruction) or continue with all-virtual instruction we are inviting the community to join us for a few upcoming virtual events. We encourage families to attend these events.  If you are unable to attend, all presentations will be sent to families via email and WebEx recordings will be posted to the District website.

Date Event Link
Mon., October 19 @ 7:30pm Virtual Board of Education Meeting:  Superintendent Taylor will share a robust comprehensive presentation regarding the details of the District’s re-entry plan.

 

 

 Join By Computer / Smartphone
www.somsd.k12.nj.us/webmeeting
Meeting ID: 173 376 2021
Meeting PW: RTS2021Join By Phone
Telephone Number: 408-418-9388
Meeting ID: 173 376 2021
Meeting PW: 7872021 from phones

 
Mon., October 26 @ 7:30pm PreK-8 Virtual Return to School Academic Update Town Hall

 

 WebEx Link:   https://bit.ly/2FAi7eR
Tues., October 27 @ 7:30pm CHS Virtual Return to School Academic Update  Town Hall WebEx Link:  https://bit.ly/3lTLMir (additional event information will be sent via email)

 

 

Yesterday, as a courtesy to our teachers and staff, we shared an internal letter regarding their return to building dates.  As of Monday, October 18th, all District buildings will be open and available for staff to return on a voluntary basis, in order to visit and set-up their classrooms and to give them a few weeks/days to test out teaching virtually from their classrooms before students return.  All remaining teaching staff will return to their school buildings by November 9th, in preparation for the start of hybrid instruction on Thursday, November 12th.

New Jersey COVID-19 Travel Advisory

Also, of utmost importance, please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related travel to high incidence areas within the last 14 days.  Under the 14-day quarantine travel advisory announced by the Governors of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, individuals traveling to or returning to New Jersey from states with increasing rates of COVID-19 are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. This includes travel by train, bus, car, plane, and any other method of transportation.  If your family plans to travel to any of these locations prior to the start of hybrid instruction, they will need to quarantine (continue to learn via virtual-instruction) until after the quarantine period is over.

As we move forward in preparation for in-person learning, we continue to remind our community/families that this situation is fluid.  While we believe it is important to begin to have our students return to modified in-person learning, we are also being very cautious in our planning and continue to be led by insight from our local health departments, as well as state and federal guidelines. We look forward to sharing our plan with the community in the next couple of weeks.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Educationally yours

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

 

2020-2021 Free & Reduced Lunch Applications Now Available & Due October 20th (English, Spanish, Creole)

2020-2021 Free & Reduced Price School Meal Applications  Now Available & Due by October 20

The 2020-2021 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals is a family/ household application. Therefore, only one application per household needs to be completed and submitted. This year’s application must be submitted by October 20.

A new application must be completed and submitted before October 20, 2020. If you qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the 2019-2020 school year, your child’s benefits will continue only until October 20, 2020, or upon processing a new application. A new application must be completed each school year.

In order for Food Services to process your application as quickly as possible, please return only one application per household to the Administration Building.  Applications are available in English and Spanish.  Click HERE to complete the 2020-21 Free & Reduced Price Lunch Application.

Ways to Submit Applications: 

  1. Mail-in:  Download the application from the website and mail it to the Administration Building, Attn:   Attn: Business Office, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (faxed applications will not be accepted)
  2. Fill out Application Online:  https://f-r-lunch.somsd.k12.nj.us/ 
  3. Pick-Up:  Families can pick-up paper applications at Columbia High School or Seth Boyden Elementary from 12pm – 2:15 pm during Grab and Go lunch pick-ups

Solicitudes para Comida Escolar gratis y a precio reducido 2020-2021 están ahora disponibles y se han de entregar antes del 20 de octubre. 

Las solicitudes para comida escolar gratis y a precio reducido del 2020-2021 son una solicitud por familia/hogar. Por lo tanto, solo se ha de cumplimentar y entregar una solicitud por hogar. La solicitud de este año debe enviarse antes del 20 de octubre.

Se ha de completar y entregar una nueva solicitud antes del 20 de octubre, 2020. Si usted calificó para comidas gratis o a precio reducido en el año escolar 2019-2020, los beneficios de su hijo sólo continúan hasta el 20 de octubre, 2020, o al procesar una nueva solicitud. Debe completarse una nueva aplicación cada año escolar. 

Para que los Servicios de Alimentación procesen su solicitud lo más pronto posible, por favor envíe sólo una solicitud por hogar al edificio de Administración. Las solicitudes están disponibles en inglés y español. Clique AQUÍ para completar la solicitud para comida escolar gratis o a precio reducido. 

Formas de presentar las solicitudes:

  1. Por correo postal: descargue la solicitud de la página web y envíela por correo postal a  Administration Building, Attn:   Attn: Business Office, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (no se aceptarán solicitudes enviadas por fax)
  2. Complete la solicitud en línea  https://f-r-lunch.somsd.k12.nj.us/ 
  3. En persona: se pueden conseguir solicitudes en papel en Columbia High School o Seth Boyden Elementary de 12 del mediodía a 2:15 de la tarde durante la hora de recogida de almuerzos “Grab and Go”

2020-2021 Gratis & Pri Redwi Aplikasyon pou manje lekòl la kounye a disponib & dwe remet 20 oktòb

Aplikasyon 2020-2021 pou manje gratis ak pri redui se yon aplikasyon fanmi / kay. Se poutèt sa, se yon sèl aplikasyon pou chak kay ou bezwen ranpli epi soumèt. Aplikasyon pou ane sa a dwe soumèt a pati 20 oktòb.

Ou dwe ranpli yon nouvo aplikasyon epi soumèt li anvan 20 oktòb 2020. Si ou kalifye pou repa gratis oswa a pri redui pandan ane lekòl 2019-2020 la, benefis pitit ou a ap kontinye sèlman jouk 20 oktòb 2020, oswa lè w ap trete yon nouvo aplikasyon. . Ou dwe ranpli yon nouvo aplikasyon chak ane lekòl.

Nan lòd pou Sèvis treteman aplikasyon ou pi vit ke posib, tanpri retounen yon sèl aplikasyon pou chak kay nan Bilding Administrasyon an. Aplikasyon yo disponib nan lang angle ak panyòl. Klike la a pou konplete aplikasyon pou manje midi gratis ak pri redwi 2020-21.

Fason pou soumèt aplikasyon yo:

  1. Posté: telechaje aplikasyon an sou sit entènèt la epi poste li nan bilding administrasyon an, Attn: Attn: Biwo Biznis, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (aplikasyon ke ou faks yo pap aksepte yo)
  2. Ranpli Aplikasyon sou Entènèt: https://f-r-lunch.somsd.k12.nj.us/
  3. Al Chèche: Fanmi yo ka al chèche aplikasyon an papye nan Columbia High School oswa Seth Boyden Elementary soti nan 12pm – 2:15 pm pandan nap ale ak pran manje midi.

 

 

 

 

SOMSD Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

The South Orange & Maplewood School District celebrates the positive impact that Hispanic Americans have left on our country.  We especially want to recognize and celebrate all of our staff, students, and community members of Hispanic/Latin ancestry.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America,” according to the official government website. It takes place from September 15-October 15 every year.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson.  In Presidential Proclamation 3869, available via the Library of Congress, President Johnson wrote, “Wishing to pay special tribute to the Hispanic tradition, and having in mind the fact that our five Central American neighbors celebrate their Independence Day on the fifteenth of September and the Republic of Mexico on the sixteenth, the Congress by House Joint Resolution 1299, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.”

The observation was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

 

SOMSD Shares “Parent/Guardian Virtual Instruction Best Practices”

Download:  Parent/Guardian Virtual Instruction Best Practices

Dear South Orange & Maplewood School District Families,

We have completed our second-week of virtual learning and as shared in previous communications, we anticipated a learning curve and we will continue to adjust as necessary to meet the needs of our students, staff, and families.  As we enter into week three, we want to provide some clear best practices to parents/guardians as you help your child(ren) navigate their virtual learning experience.

Below is a “Parent/Guardian Virtual Learning Best Practices” that will help to guide families in the virtual learning setting.  Following these best practices will ensure that teachers are able to teach students effectively in a safe environment; and will provide all students with the comfort and safety to express themselves freely with their instructors and peers during their live instruction.

SOMSD 2020-2021 Virtual Instruction Guidebook & School Schedule for Families

*2020 – 2021 Virtual Instructional Guidebook for Families

[*Last edit: 9/2/20: Updated Preschool program information and revised SOMS full-day schedule]

Important Community Resources:

Dear SOMSD Families,

As we head into the 2020-21 school year, I want to welcome you back.  Although the return to school is not as we anticipated, school administrators, teachers, and staff are putting in hard work and long hours to ensure that the first day of school is special for students.

As you can imagine, we are welcoming back 7,000+ students into a virtual school environment. So we anticipate that there will be technology glitches, device issues, internet connectivity issues, and an overall learning curve as students and teachers alike begin working together in our virtual environment.  Therefore, to prepare and make accommodations, for the first two weeks of school, September 8 – 18, we will operate on an early dismissal schedule.  This will allow time for teachers and students to acclimate to the new learning management system Canvas and provide additional time in the afternoon for continued professional development training for teachers.  Starting on Monday, September 21, we will transition to a full-day virtual instruction schedule.

This instructional guidebook provides information on:

  • Assessment, progress report and report card schedules;
  • Virtual class schedules by grade-level; (starting on page 15)
  • Special education services to students;
  • Teacher and student expectations;
  • Information on Canvas as well as upcoming training webinar dates for parents;
  • Emotional, Health and Wellness Support;
  • And more.

Please note that our guidebook is subject to change. As guidelines and orders change from local, state, and federal authorities, our District will adjust. But rest assured, our focus will always remain on doing what’s best for students and staff.

I look forward to seeing each of you, albeit virtually as we begin the school year and hope to be reunited with students and staff soon.   The best of luck to our students, staff, and families as we begin the journey together in 2020-21.

Educationally Yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

 

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