Middle School Parent Message
Aug 26, 2020
Superintendent’s Message To NB Parents:
On Monday evening, August 24th the NB Board of Education approved revision to the 2020-2021 school calendar. These calendar changes will provide the additional time necessary to better support the safe and successful return to school for our faculty and our students. Certainly, this September, our return to school will be like no other.
At this time, the critical areas of concern include staffing, facilities preparedness, and PPE supplies for our faculty and support staff. To address these areas, the 2020-2021 school calendar is being revised to reflect the following:
Our teachers will return to campus the week of September 8th for four days of preparation and readiness. This includes moving into many newly constructed classroom spaces in the High School.
Our students will begin their school year on Monday September 14th in a 100% remote model. Students will be 100% remote for the first two weeks of the school year, that is the weeks of September 14th and September 21st.
On September 21st I will report to the Board of Education the progress being made and as to our ability to open for in-person instruction on Monday September 28th.
The plan is to start in-person hybrid instruction the week of September 28th.
If all is going as planned, we will have two weeks of in-person instruction at 25% student capacity (Week of September 28th and October 5th)
The week of October 13th we begin at 50% student capacity and we’ll stay in that model until further notice.
We continue to follow NJSIAA guidelines regarding sports and activities. I am pleased to report that all is going well with these programs. We will be following the NJSIAA ‘black-out’ period and there will be no activities the weeks of August 31st and September 7th. We are prepared to start back with our athletics and activities on September 14th.
The building principals will be in touch with the parents and students to share revised calendars and more specific information to our families. Dr. Uszaki, athletic director, will continue to keep all advised as to the schedules and plans for athletic and after school activities.
The Board of Education and I would like to thank all members of the NB Community for their patience and understanding during these challenging times. We’d also like to recognize and thank the administration, faculty and support staff, for all they have been doing to prepare for the upcoming school year. We thank all of the parents who have been working alongside the faculty and administrators to develop our strategic plan for a safe and successful school year. As we redefine how instruction is delivered in the region, the support and patience of parents and students are greatly appreciated. This has been a 24/7 effort. This is not easy. There is still much to be done.
Sincerely,
James Sarruda, Ed.D.
COVID-29 Information: As we approach the start of school in September, we remind everyone of the steps we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Handouts with this information can be found on our website.
Cohort Assignments: As you know, we are preparing to implement a remote model of instruction that was presented at the board meeting on August 24th. Beginning September 28th, we will be implementing our hybrid program of instruction. Those students who are part of the hybrid program will be assigned to different groups based on what days they will physically attend school. With the start of school being pushed back a week we will now release the cohort assignments next week. Once finalized, the cohort/group your student is assigned to will be available in PowerSchool.
Student schedules will be available on Power School beginning the week of September 7.
Opening of School Forms: The typical opening of school forms that had to be completed by hand are now available to complete through PowerSchool. Please log on to your Parent PowerSchool account and complete the two electronic annual forms:
Parent Consent Form and
Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical form.
If you cannot access your Parent Portal account, please contact your child’s counselor for assistance. Thank you!
Yearbooks: For those students who were in the middle school last year, the yearbooks are in! If you were unable to pick up your yearbook this past week, please contact Ms. Gierman to make alternate arrangements. kgierman@nburlington.com
Chromebooks: Chromebook distribution began Monday, August 24th and will continue through tomorrow, Thursday August 27th. Each student will be issued a Chromebook for use during remote / virtual / or in-person instruction. If there is an issue with your child’s Chromebook, please contact Ms. Russo at 609-298-3900 x 4013 or prusso@nburlington.com.
Everyone will need to pick-up a Chromebook and must sign up for a time slot in the ChromeBook Link. Pick-up of Chromebooks will happen in the Middle School Media Center. A parent or guardian will enter through the Island Road entrance and park in the Middle School Bus Lot and enter the Middle School Media Center that way. The parent or guardian will need to wear their facemask to enter.
It is important that students have the chromebook and are ready to start school Monday, September 14th.
Please be sure to read the outlined procedure below prior to coming to the school
Read NB One to One Technology use form on school website, under parent/student resources
You will need to acknowledge on the Student/Parent Consent form that it has been read, which will be available through Powerschool (see “Opening of School Forms” above).
On the designated date and time, parents will drive to the Middle School Bus Lot and come into the Media Center through the entrance door(which will be marked). Six feet social distancing markers will be placed on the sidewalk leading up to the entrance.
The parent or guardian will enter the Middle Center through the labeled door and Chromebook(s) will be distributed.
Exit through the exit door that is marked
It is imperative that you come at your designated time, follow all procedures for pick-up and drop-off of items and practice social distancing.
Start of School: As the district has planned for the start of school in September, the school web page has been the main place for information on the plans and what the upcoming school year will look like. If you have not done so already, be sure to check the web page, www.nburlington.com, for information and the latest updates.
Middle School Sports: Middle school sports will be scaled back as a result of the pandemic and, unfortunately, we will not be able to offer interscholastic competitions. While not certain, we are hopeful to be able to offer informal, intramural type competitions after school and transportation may need to be provided to and from. The tentative start date would be September 21.
Students who want to participate will still need to complete the sports physical packet that can be found here. Families may wish to consider community sports as an alternative, based on availability.
Important Dates:
September 14: First Day of School for ALL Students: REMOTE
September 28: First Day of Hybrid Schedule
Have a good afternoon.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal