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South Orange-Maplewood School District

A District That Celebrates

2021-22 School Year & COVID

August 4, 2021 By Communications

Click Here to View Updated Mobile Testing & Vaccination Information
2021-22 SY Parent/Guardian Resources Expand
  • 2021-22 SY COVID-19 Parent Agreement Letter of Compliance E-Signatures

2021-22 Return to School Updates/News

June Expand
  • Preschool Community: Indoor Mask Follow-Up Update (6/10/22)

May 2022 Expand
  • Extended Memorial Weekend (District Closed):  COVID Reminders (May 23, 2022)
  • SOMSD Community COVID-19 Updates (May 13, 2022)
April 2022 Expand
  • Spring Break & COVID 19 Guidance (4/8/22)
March 2022 Expand
  • SOMSD Community "Mask Option" Update:  District Will Move to "Mask Optional" Plan for K-12 Schools, Buses and District Offices Starting on Monday, March 14th (3/10/22)
  • SOMSD Community (Parent/Guardians):  Indoor Mask Option Communication & Survey (3/4/22)
February 2022 Expand
  • SOMSD "As a Matter of Fact" Newsletter:  Supt. Message; 2022-23 & 2023-24 School Year Calendar; 22-23 SY New Student Registration; Mask Option Update; Around the District, Upcoming Events and More (2/24/22)
  • SOMSD Update: “Mask Option” In Schools Communication (2/22/22)
January 2022 Expand
  • 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)
December 2021 Expand

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 2021 Expand
  • 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 2021 Expand
  • 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 2021 Expand
  • 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)
August 2021 Expand
  • 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
LEA Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service (June 24, 2021)

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

For all previous COVID-19 school updates, presentations, and plans  (March 2020 - June 2021) click here

August 4, 2021 Filed Under: Uncategorized

South Orange-Maplewood School District

South Orange-Maplewood School District

Address & Contact Info

525 Academy Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040

Main Office: (973) 762-5600

District Title IX Information

Dr. Kevin Gilbert
Asst., Supt., Access & Equity
District Title IX Coordinator
525 Academy Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040
e: kgilbert@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1859

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)

Dr. Kevin Gilbert
Asst., Supt., Access & Equity
District HIB Coordinator
e: kgilbert@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1859

Ms. Robin Curry
Confidential Secretary to the Asst. Supt., Access & Equity
e: rcurry@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1822

More HIB Information

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Website Accessibility

The South Orange & Maplewood School District is committed to making our content accessible to all members of the public, including those with disabilities. This includes parents, students, employees, and all others associated with our district. If you need assistance in accessing materials on the district website or you would like to provide feedback or file a complaint about the website, please email the webmaster.

Our Mission

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.

525 Academy Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040 • Ph:(973) 762-5600 • Copyright © 2019, South Orange - Maplewood Public Schools. All rights reserved

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