2021-22 Return to School Updates/News
- SOMSD "As a Matter of Fact" Newsletter: Supt. Message; SMS/Mobile Text Sign-Up; New 5 Day Isolation/Quarantine Guidance; Around the District, Upcoming Events and More (January 28, 2022)
- PreK Families Isolation/Quarantine Guidance for Students/Staff Information (1/14/22)
- In Accordance with NJDOH, SOMSD Implements New 5 Day Isolation/Quarantine Guidance for K-12 students/staff (1/11/22)
- SOMSD Community: Back to In-Person Learning & COVID-19 Updates (1/7/22)
Post Winter/Holiday Break Updates:
- District Special Edition Post-Winter Break Newsletter: Important Covid19 Testing Updates, Lunch and Virtual Learning Updates (12/30/21)
- "Grab and Go" Student Lunch Distribution Will be Available for Pick-Up at CHS, Seth Boyden and SOMS During Virtual Learning Week (12/30/21)
- MediMobile Adds Additional Covid-19 Testing Dates Starting on Tuesday, January 4 (12/30/21)
- County Megasite Testing & Vaccination Locations Open in Livingston (Sears at Livingston Mall), Newark (Essex County College) and West Orange (Kmart) - 12/30/21
December Communications:
- Post Winter Break Virtual Instruction & Reminders for PreK - 12 Families: Accessing CANVAS, Technology, PowerSchool & Seesaw (12/23/21)
- District "As a Matter of Fact" Newsletter: Supt. Holiday Message; Winter Break Reminders/Info; CANVAS & Tech Access for Virtual Instruction; No MediMobile Testing during Holiday Break and More (December 23, 2021)
- SOMSD to Start the Post-Winter Break School Year on Jan. 4 with All-Virtual Learning and Resume In-Person Instruction on Mon., Jan. 10, 2022 (12/22/21)
- CHS School Closure and Switch to All-Virtual Learning (12/21/22)
- SOMS School Closure and Switch to All-Virtual Learning (12/20/22)
- SOMSD Health Message Video: Seasonal Flu & COVID 19 Information for Parents/Guardians (12/16/21)
- IMPORTANT SOMSD COMMUNITY UPDATE: High Transmission Essex County CALI Score Leads to Increased Quarantine Period for Unvaccinated Individuals (12/9/21)
- SOMSD Student Covid Vaccination Status Form: Now Open For Elementary & 6th Grade Students (Ages 5 – 11) - (12/9/21)
- SOMSD: American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Plan (12/1/21) [Summary: On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It is an unprecedented $1.9 trillion package of assistance measures, including $122 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund. Funds are provided to State educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Nation’s students.]
- November Edition: "As a Matter of Fact" District Newsletter: Superintendent's Message, Thanksgiving Break, No MediMobile Covid Testing During Break, Vaccinations and More. (11/23/21)
- SOMSD Community Thanksgiving Break Travel/Quarantine Guidelines & Survey - Submissions Due By Mon., Nov. 22 (11/16/21)
- MediMobile Adds Wednesday as Additional Covid Testing Date for the District and Community Members (11/9/21)
- Vaccinations for Children Ages 5 -11 Now Available Through Essex County (11/9/21)
- October Edition: As a Matter of Fact District Newsletter: Supt. Message, Fall Break Travel & Survey Quarantine, November 2 Elections, BOE Elections, Asst., Supt., Special Services, Events and more... (10/22/21)
- Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Plan 2021-2022 (presented/approved at 10/18/21 BOE meeting)
- September "As a Matter of Fact" District Newsletter: First Two-Weeks in Review; 2021-22 Student Assessment Info; Counseling Services for Elementary and More (9/24/21)
- SOMSD Transportation & Bus Service Update (9/23/21)
- As a Matter of Fact: Back to School Special Edition Newsletter (9/10/21)
- Confirmation: All District Schools Across All Grade Levels (PreK - 12), First Day of School, Mon., September 13 (9/8/21)
- Important SOMSD Update: New School Reopening Date for All Students, Monday, September 13 (9/6/21)
- SOMSD Community Guidebook: Fall 2021 SOMSD Return to School (9/1/21)
- Fall School Reopening: Health & Wellness and Lunch Update Video Presentation (8/30/21)
- SOMSD Community Letter: Upcoming Mobile Testing & Vaccinations at SOMSD & Vaccination Importance (8/26/21)
- Download Letter PDF
- Spanish: Haga clic aquí para leer la carta en español: https://bit.ly/3mFGsDf
- Haitian Creole: Klike la pou li lèt la an kreyòl ayisyen: https://bit.ly/38fiCWn
- District “As a Matter of Fact” August Newsletter: Reopening Message from the Supt; 21-22 SY COVID-19 Parent Agreement; Travel & Quarantine Guidance; Tech Updates and More (August 19, 2021)
- Return to School: CDC Travel Quarantine Guidelines for the Unvaccinated (8/18/21)
- Spanish Translation: bit.ly/3sqa1tc | Haitian Creole Translation: bit.ly/3sp4kvy
- COVID-19 Onsite Mobile Vaccination Clinic Available at CHS on Aug 17 & Sept 7: Open to SOMA Residents Age 12+ (8/5/21)
- Fall 2021 Safe Return to School Update Letter from Superintendent Taylor (8/4/21)
- View/Download Safe Return to School PPT Presentation
- Watch Fall 2021 Return to School Video Presentation - https://youtu.be/-rrCSHbpVv8
- Spanish: Haga clic aquí para leer la carta en español: https://bit.ly/3xtsFkK
- Haitian Creole: Klike la pou li lèt la an kreyòl ayisyen: https://bit.ly/3xpZA9Y
SAFE RETURN PLAN (2021-22 SY)
VIEW/DOWNLOAD: Safe Return Plan (English) | Haga clic aquí para ver el plan de regreso seguro a la escuela (Spanish) | Klike la a pou wè Retounen an Sekirite nan Plan Lekòl la (Haitian Creole
Through the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, an additional $122 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) is being provided to states and school districts to help safely reopen, sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s students. The purpose of this funding is to support local educational agencies in preparing for and responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on educators, students and families. Each school district must plan to use at least 20% of ARP ESSER allocations to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions to respond to students’ academic, social and emotional needs. The District shared a survey with stakeholders seeking feedback. SOMSD's Safe Return Plan incorporates the federally-required components of the state of New Jersey’s template and was submitted to the state on June 24, 2021. The questions in the template have been included in the ARP ESSER Fund application.
On an important note, the District's goal, and the Governor's mandate is to return to pre-Covid normal operating school procedures (this includes lunch/snacks and normal operating hours) with all students in school at the same time. As we work on finalizing and fleshing out the nuanced details of our September reopening, the District is solely following state guidelines (with input from our local health department), and unless the mandate changes, we are moving forward with preparation to have all students in school full-time (five days a week). At this point, there will be no virtual option provided, all instruction will be in-person and students will be required to wear face masks. The details regarding how snacks/lunch will be served, how we will manage full classrooms if social distancing is still mandated are being finalized via the reconvened task force and will be an evolving situation as we continue to receive guidance from the state and our local health departments. As we continue to monitor our Covid rates at the local and state level, if there are any major changes mandated the District will respond accordingly.
Safe Return Plan (Haitian Creole