Middle School Parent Message
December 4, 2020
Important Dates:
December 7-9: Remote Instruction for All Students
December 9: Parent Forum
December 23: Mid Marking Period for Q2
December 23: Early Dismissal
December 24 through January 3: Winter Break: School Closed
Week of January 4: All Students Remote
January 13: Early Dismissal of Students/Staff Development
January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: School Closed
Good Afternoon:
Message from the Superintendent
As a follow up to my last message, NB elected to remain fully remote this past week to mitigate the potential risk of transmission following the Thanksgiving holiday. I’m writing to share that, after careful review of the data in our region, I have found it appropriate to revise our plan, extend the 100% remote status for our Middle School and our High School, and remain 100% remote through Wednesday, December 9th. Please note that the revised date to return to in-person instruction is Thursday, December 10th. This extension provides the full 14 days of separation from the Thanksgiving Day holiday and will enable us to closely monitor the case rate in our community the next five days. Moreover, this provides us all the valuable full 14 days of separation from in-person instruction so that we all will have greater confidence in bringing students and faculty back into the buildings.
Since we anticipate that transmission will continue to be a concern for the foreseeable future, the current plan is to extend our window of remote instruction following Winter Break as well, through Wednesday, January 13th. In-person instruction is now scheduled to resume on Thursday, January 14th.
A reminder that on Wednesday December 9th, the administration will host its 2nd “Parent Forum.” The forum is a virtual conference and it is scheduled to start at 6:30 PM. The Zoom Meeting link is here. Please feel free to join us. This forum provides a nice opportunity for administrators to speak with parents, discuss programs, and share ideas.
I appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we continue to work to provide a safe learning environment for our students, faculty, and staff. It is clear that this year continues to demand that we remain agile and willing to adjust to ever-changing circumstances.
Sincerely,
James Sarruda, Ed. D.
Picture Day POSTPONED for Cohorts A, B, and E: As a result in the delayed reopening of in person instruction, class pictures have been postponed for cohorts A and B as well as remote students. Students in Cohorts C and D will have their photos taken during PE/Health class on Thursday, December 11, and Friday, December 12.
As soon as a make up date has been scheduled for the students in cohorts A, B, and E, we will share that information with parents.
This is the link to the page where orders can be placed at www.mylifetouch.com. Our Picture Day ID is EVTSG374J.
Travel Advisories: Did your student leave the tri-state area over the break? During the holiday season, the CDC and Governor Murphy have encouraged us all to limit travel whenever possible and to keep celebrations to immediate family members. However, in the event your family is traveling to one of the many states on New Jersey’s quarantine list, please plan to have your child quarantine for 14 days. Students are able to attend all of their classes virtually during that time, even if they are in the hybrid model. In the event your child will be quarantining and attending school virtually during that time, please notify your child’s counselor. Please do not hesitate to contact our school nurse with any questions regarding the quarantine process. A link to travel advisories is included below:
New Jersey’s Travel Advisory Form
COVID Cannot test out of Quarantine
COVID-How-Long-Isolate-Quarantine
Parent Forum: On Wednesday, December 9 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm parents are invited to join district administrators for a virtual discussion to review instruction practices and strategies to improve the programs. The format will be a Zoom conference and questions will be taken from those submitted in the ‘Chat.’ We look forward to meeting with parents and sharing ideas and information.
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82846297201?pwd=T1QzbUhzUkl2Z2R0TEFxMFNCeVRudz09
BCIT Presentation: Next week there will be a video presentation in homeroom to 8th grade students about the Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT). Application to BCIT is one of the options our students have for high school. After the presentation, students who are interested or have questions should contact their school counselor.
Calendar for Second Marking Period: The calendar for the second marking period can be found at this link.
Parent Teacher Student Connection (PTSC): Please remember to become a member of our organization this year. If you are already a member, thank you! You can access our link through the Northern Burlington site. Payments of $10 per family are accepted via check or through Paypal. It is important that we receive your contribution as this money is channeled back to our students in the form of mini grants, awarded to teachers for use in their classrooms, as well as Scholarships granted to seniors. If you have a senior graduating in 2021 please make sure that your membership is received by us no later than February 26th, 2021 in order to be eligible. We can always be reached via email at nburlingtonptsc@gmail.com. Please stay safe!
***NOTE: We are hopeful that we may be able to have a clothing drive in the Spring of 2021***
FROM THE YEARBOOK STAFF: The yearbook staff needs YOUR help gathering photos from this year. Photos of students working from home. Photos of students relaxing at home. Please consider helping us by uploading a photo or two each month to https://images.jostens.com/415623968. Thank you!
Link to order a 2021 yearbook: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09873596
Health & Safety Reminders:
It is important to emphasize a few points with regard to health safety. Most importantly, students should not come to school if they are sick. The remote option is available on a day to day basis if a student has any symptoms on the day he or she is supposed to attend school in person but can still attend school at home. If you have any medical questions, please contact our school nurse at extension 4030. Covid Informational Flyers.
Winter Sports:
We continue to accept Athletic Participation packets for the Winter Season. On Thursday, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, in coordination with the NJDOH and the NJDOE, released new start dates for Season 2, Season 2A, and Season 3. Northern Burlington plans to continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations established by the NJSIAA, for both our middle school and high school athletic programs. Please refer to this link for the NJSIAA directions for the start of the winter sports seasons. Please look for updates and remember that the situation is fluid as a result of the pandemic, but we are hopeful to begin practices after the New Year.
We are planning to offer informal, intramural type competitions after school since the pandemic has eliminated the possibility of interscholastic competition at the middle school. Transportation will need to be provided to and from practices and inter-squad games. For those students interested who missed the meetings on November 17, please contact the coaches directly for how to connect with the appropriate Google classroom each team is setting up for students:
Boys Basketball Mr. Ray Zirilli rzirilli@nhanover.com
Girls Basketball Ms. Karen Garibaldi kgaribaldi@nburlington.com
Cheerleading Ms. Alison Zirilli azirilli@nburlington.com
Wrestling Mr. Tom Varanyak tvaranyak@nburlington.com
A copy of the packet can be found on the district web page and at this LINK. If your child’s physical exam is current and does not expire prior to 12/1/20, please complete pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 of the packet and submit them electronically to middleschoolathletics@nburlington.com .
If your child is in need of a new physical, please contact your physician’s office at your earliest convenience to secure an appointment. Please take page 3, 5 and 6 of the packet with you so that your doctor can complete the physical forms. Please submit the entire packet (pages 1-7) electronically to middleschoolathletics@nburlington.com.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. O’Neill in the Athletic Office at moneill@nburlington.com or 609-298-3900, ext. 2093.
Ordering School Lunch for Students: Please note that Lunches are FREE through the month of June 2021 FOR ALL STUDENTS.
Students Learning Remotely: Students who are receiving instruction remotely, or their parents/guardians, may pick up meals (three to five meals at one time) for those days they are receiving remote instruction. Ordering ahead of time is required:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSCfgxym6WPcJofHaCxJa5lS1jTZzsRyr2-UUxGsXWCpnxbg/viewform
As with the Spring 2020 meal distribution, the pick-up location is near the Middle School’s rear entrance (Middle School Door C-3 that leads into the teachers’ lounge) via the Island Road entrance and taking the 1st left to go toward the back of the school. NB has established MONDAY and TUESDAY for pick up of meals. Meals may be picked up between the hours of 10:00 AM and 11:15 AM. For social distancing purposes, NB will limit the number of people entering the middle school facility at one time.
Students Present in the Building: Students attending class will order their lunch in their first class of the day via a link the teachers share in class. Orders for these lunches must be placed by 8:00 AM. Students will be dismissed to pick up their lunch in the cafetorium prior to exiting to the bus or parent pickup locations.
If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to complete the 2020 Federal Impact Aid Form in PowerSchool our window to qualify for the federal funds is coming to a close. Every response helps!
Have a good weekend.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal