District News & Announcements
SOMSD “As a Matter of Fact” Newsletter, August 21 – Virtual Instruction Recaps, YMCA Childcare Need Survey, Student Virtual Code of Conduct and More.
South Mountain YMCA to Offer Childcare Support to District Families/Staff
Childcare: South Mountain YMCA Collaboration
We understand that this is a shift from our original reopening plan; however, the changing landscape has warranted a pivot to full virtual learning. We also understand that this instructional change creates significant challenges for working parents and staff in our district; therefore, we are collaborating with the South Mountain YMCA to make necessary accommodations to offer childcare support. In addition, we will be working to train the YMCA to train their staff in using Canvas.
Through collaboration between the South Orange & Maplewood School District and the South Mountain YMCA, we are pleased to announce scholarships and financial assistance for families in need. We are also working with the Y to plan for possible expansion of their capacity utilizing targeted space in our schools if necessary. It is our priority to ensure equitable access to programming and the Y for All Financial Assistance Program is available to ensure scholarships are available to families who need our programs the most. District families can email Karen Weiland at kweiland@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us for support in accessing financial assistance. To reach the Y directly, please contact James Goodger at jgoodger@nullmetroymcas.org.
Below are links to the YMCA’s child care needs survey for the fall. If you are a current YMCA member and have already completed a previously emailed School Age Child Care survey, there is no need to complete this one.
- YMCA Survey for Parents: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMYSACC
- YMCA Survey for District Employees: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOMADistrict
SOMSD Announces Shift to All-Virtual Learning for fall 2020 School Reopening
August 14, 2020
Dear South Orange & Maplewood School District Staff, Families, Students and Community:
As shared in our Reopening Plan communications last week, we are living in unprecedented times that require us to remain flexible. Our top priority and planning for this school year continue to be the health and well-being of our students, staff, families and community. Our current plan was based on the most recent data available, and was submitted to the County for review; we also shared that we may need to make adjustments as new data or guidelines are released.
Most recently, on Wednesday, August 12, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced and issued Executive Order 175, stating that school districts may delay in-person learning related to concerns about safety standards and provide remote-only instruction in the fall. The South Orange & Maplewood School District is making adjustments to the Reopening plan shared on August 8th based on several factors:
- The state’s EO 175 announced 8/12; as well as the New Jersey Department of Health’s new guidelines released yesterday, 8/13;
- Review of the district’s “Return to School Preference” form (to date over 70% of district families have submitted responses)
- Staff medical leave submissions received due to concerns about the ability to ensure the health and safety of staff/students within some of our aging facilities;
- Consultation with local agencies and partners; and,
- Review of the instructional shift that many districts across our county, region, and state have announced recently to fully virtual openings, due to current data regarding the uptick in young people contracting the virus.
The district will be moving forward with an all-virtual start to the school year for students in Pre-K through the 12th grade, delaying the start of a hybrid-in-person option, through the first marking period, November 12. Ideally, we would like to provide an in-person learning environment beginning this September; however, we are facing a situation that is far from ideal. We prefer to err on the side of caution and begin the year with significant improvements to our virtual-learning model under our new learning management system, Canvas. Also, after reviewing the survey results, we feel that this shift will allow for far more live instruction/student-teacher engagement for all.
Although district staff has worked extremely hard over the last several months, there is still much work that needs to be done to ensure the safety of our students and staff. The District began implementing costly safety measures throughout our school facilities. However, due to high demand, safety supplies are on backorder and shipments are delayed across the state (i.e. antiseptic wipes, plexiglass for common areas, some nursing supplies, and air purifier equipment). At this date, critical supplies the district ordered in May/June to replenish and increase our stockpiles will not be available until the end of September or early 2021. In addition, the aging infrastructure in some of our schools, as well as ventilation concerns (airflow, window repairs needed, carpeting that still needs to be removed), poses risks and challenges that will not be resolved for the start of the school year.
Stringent safety measures have been put in place in the areas of: transportation, screening, cleaning protocols, and staggering school schedules to support the start of in-classroom instruction. However, the uncertainty of this pandemic at this time lies in the fact, that even with all these measures in place, the threats posed are far too great for us to comfortably reopen schools for in-person learning (even in a limited capacity).
Childcare: South Mountain YMCA Collaboration
We understand that this is a shift from our original reopening plan; however, the changing landscape has warranted a pivot to full virtual learning. We also understand that this instructional change creates significant challenges for working parents and staff in our district; therefore, we are collaborating with the South Mountain YMCA to make necessary accommodations to offer childcare support. In addition, we will be working to train the YMCA to train their staff in using Canvas.
Through collaboration between the South Orange & Maplewood School District and the South Mountain YMCA, we are pleased to announce scholarships and financial assistance for families in need. We are also working with the Y to plan for possible expansion of their capacity utilizing targeted space in our schools if necessary. It is our priority to ensure equitable access to programming and the Y for All Financial Assistance Program is available to ensure scholarships are available to families who need our programs the most. District families can email Karen Weiland at kweiland@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us for support in accessing financial assistance. To reach the Y directly, please contact James Goodger at jgoodger@nullmetroymcas.org.
Below are links to the YMCA’s child care needs survey for the fall. If you are a current YMCA member and have already completed a previously emailed School Age Child Care survey, there is no need to complete this one.
- YMCA Survey for Parents: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMYSACC
- YMCA Survey for District Employees: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOMADistrict
We invite the community to join us for the next virtual BOE meeting on Mon., August 17 @ 7:30 pm, where we will provide some additional context on our shift to an all-virtual instruction start to the school year. For more information visit: www.somsd.k12.nj.us/board-of-education/board-meetings
Specific details about individual student schedules, the structure of the all-virtual school day, and additional professional learning are in development and will be communicated shortly.
Educationally yours,
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
SOMSD “Return to School Preference” Form for Families – Submit by Friday, August 14
- Click Here: SOMSD Return to School Preference Form
- Haga Clic Aquí: Distrito Escolar de South Orange & Maplewood Formulario de Preferencia de Returno a la esculea [https://bit.ly/3agBaFY]
As instructional plans for our District have been finalized, we continue to be led by the guidelines set forth by the Governor, New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health departments, including social distancing and daily health checks.We know that school will look different and many families are 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. Therefore, after reviewing the District’s “Reopening Plan Summary” located here: [ bit.ly/31xdp8H ] please let us know by Friday, August 14, if you would like your child to attend school in-person or all virtual (remote) by completing this form.
Although parents can always change their minds to opt for virtual instruction, a requested move to in-person instruction will be honored and should be expected to be implemented on the following dates:
i. Mid-quarter – October 9th
ii. End of quarter – November 12th
All requests will be processed at the school level.
Again, we will try to be flexible, but there are a lot of moving parts and we need to make sure we are monitoring section sizes, social distancing requirements, and creating smooth transitions.
Please complete the form by Friday, August 14, 2020. PLEASE NOTE AS A REMINDER: If you have multiple children in the school district, complete one and only one form for each child.
SOMSD Announces Reopening Plan
2020-21 School Reopening
We are excited to welcome our students and staff back to school in September, whether we see you in-person or virtually. We are working to ensure a safe and productive environment for all. See below for current information regarding plans for reopening schools. Please note that details are subject to change based on guidelines from local, state and federal authorities.
Key details
Reopening School Plan
The 2020-21 Reopening School Plan is a valuable resource which contains details about learning models, training, procedures, safety requirements and more.
- SOMSD Restart & Recovery Plan for Reopening Schools
- SOMSD Reopening Plan Summary (for our families, we have condensed the larger plan into a summary that provides information regarding key areas such as scheduling, instructional models, health & safety procedures, curriculum, learning gaps and more).
Restarting school transition: remote for the first two weeks.
For the first two weeks, from September 8 to September 18 all students will attend school remotely, get to know their new teachers, readjust to “school hours”, and learn to use a program called Canvas.
Families who select hybrid learning will begin attending classes at school on Monday, September 21, 2020.
All extracurricular activities, with the exception of some athletics, will be significantly diminished to the fullest extent possible to allow for proper cleaning time; social distancing and hygiene protocols will be maintained by these groups under the supervision of their coaches and activity leaders.
In addition, SOMSD will cancel field trips, assemblies, and/or other large gatherings. Finally, external community organizations that use school/district facilities will not be allowed.
Two learning options for students – which is right for you?
SOMSD families will be required to select from two options that will begin after the two-week virtual (remote) start. You will have the opportunity to choose the best option for each child.
On Monday, August 10, all families will receive an email that contains a “Return to School Preference” form to select the learning option that you feel is best for your child(ren).
- Hybrid Model (PreK, Elementary & Middle):
Students will be split into three groups – A, B, and C. Each group will have at least two days of in-person learning (4 hours each day) and three days of at least 60 minutes of live virtual interaction with a teacher along with three additional hours of remote learning activities. Group C will have additional in-person learning opportunities per English Language Learner and Special Education programming needs. - Virtual Only Model (PreK – 12):
Students will have 5 days of virtual instruction which will include a mix of: live virtual instruction, pre-recorded instruction, teacher-led small-groups, and independent practice. (CHS Virtual-only students will follow along with the hybrid students and receive synchronous, direct learning from their teachers four days a week, but will not attend the weekly check-ins at the school.) -
Hybrid Model: Mostly Virtual Phase-In: Columbia High School:
CHS students will begin the school year with a “mostly virtual” phase-in approach. Students will have synchronous, direct instruction with teachers every day when not in the building. Students will be divided into cohorts and will have check-ins to meet with their teachers in person once every two weeks. Group C will have additional in-person learning opportunities per English Language Learner and Special Education programming needs. Learn more about the CHS Hybrid Schedule from Principal Sanchez: bit.ly/CHSGHybrid