Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

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It’s been a very challenging and complicated year. We are looking forward to a return to normalcy in the fall. In the meantime, during the final month and half, we have prepared a plan to return all students on all grade levels as quickly as possible. We redesigned scheduling and are following the distancing guidelines set forth by the CDC. The following information outlines our plans in general terms. Detailed scheduling information will be provided by principals.

In-person/Hybrid for PreK-5

Distancing parameters will be reduced to three feet as of May 17. Resource Room students will attend five days a week for pull out and inclusion with general education class instruction at this time. Related Services for students and the CST staff will be in-person five days a week beginning May 17. The CDC guidance requires teachers to keep a distance of six feet from students. When children are having snacks inside because of inclement weather, we will aim for 10 feet of distance.

In-person/Hybrid for Middle Schools

We are now using three feet distancing beginning May 10. Three rotation groups will be in effect the first week; however, we are working on the details to collapse to two rotation groups. We are planning for in-person instruction for all Resource Room students, in-person Related Services and CST staff to begin May 17, four days a week and moving to five days on May 24. Our Buildings and Grounds team will be cleaning and sanitizing on a regular basis and we are moving to in-person Wednesdays on May 24.

In-person/Hybrid for High School

The plan is to have High School students begin in-person/hybrid learning before the year is out. We will bring our freshmen back first and our Buildings and Grounds team is preparing the George Inness Annex. On Monday afternoon we will send out the start date for in-person freshmen. Our plan is to open quickly but safely. Please stay tuned for information on start dates for upperclassmen.

As we are making adjustments, please follow our communications and watch for principal updates as to scheduling changes.

Reminder: On days your child is attending in-person, please complete the health screening form which is accessed through the Genesis Parent Portal.

Opening September 2021

Our goal is to have all grades PreK-12 in-person, full time, five days a week when schools open in September. We are eager to begin the school year anew and welcome everyone to the buildings. The 2021-22 Calendar was approved at the Board Meeting this Wednesday and our first day of school for students is September 9.

We will follow guidance from the CDC,  NJDOH, and Montclair Health Department at that time. Additionally, we will continue to conduct consent-based, pooled testing to monitor and address any positive cases of COVID-19 expediently.

Thank You MPS Team

This week I would be remiss if I didn’t extend thanks and appreciation to our entire Buildings and Grounds team who has been doing a fantastic job working in the buildings night and day and addressing all concerns. I also thank the Montclair Education Association leadership for taking the time to walk buildings with administration. This time consuming task sometimes means nights and weekends. Even our principals have been working on weekends to ensure a smooth transition to in-person. I thank them for their support and tireless energy as we strive to open our buildings.

Update on Complaint

I also want to address the complaint the district received involving Buildings and Grounds. Please know we are taking it very seriously and all allegations will be investigated. Due to the nature of the complaint, an outside entity will lead this work.

Meet our Newly Appointed Administrators

At the May 5 Board of Education meeting the following appointments were approved:

• Frances Aboushi – Principal at Bradford, effective May 6 and supporting Glenfield throughout May
• Mike Chiles – Interim Assistant Principal at Glenfield, effective May 6
• Major Jennings – Principal at Buzz, effective August 1
• Nisha Gandhi – Assistant Principal at Buzz, effective July 1
• Jill McLaughlin – Director Elementary Education, effective July 1
• Frank Sedita – Acting Principal at Nishuane, effective July 1

The district will conduct a comprehensive search for a Renaissance principal who will uphold the ideals of the school and the district. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition of leadership with all of our new appointments and look forward to a successful new school year.

Pooled Testing for PreK-5 

Pooled testing was completed in all elementary schools with second grade Mountie cohorts on Tuesday and Bulldog cohorts on Thursday. Students were cooperative, independent and self-swabbed. Thank you to staff who were ready for the nurse testing team and helpful throughout the process. Please prepare your children by showing them this instructional video. We are hopeful that this mitigation step will be a tool that will help us curtail the spread of the virus.

District Equity Team

Thank you to all who applied to be part of the District Equity Team. We received more than 100 applications that are currently being reviewed.  All applicants will be notified no later than Friday, May 14.

Food Service
Meals will be available on Mondays and Thursdays for in-person students upon dismissal from the Elementary Schools. For those who are remote, parents/guardians can pick up meals on Mondays and Thursdays for one hour at any Elementary School starting one hour after school dismissal time. For those parents/guardians who cannot pick up meals at an Elementary School during the afternoon hours, please pick up meals at the High School on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 PM.

Next week food distribution begins for Middle Schools. Meals will be available at Middle Schools at dismissal for those in person and for remote students one hour after dismissal. For those parents who cannot pick up meals at Middle Schools, the High School will have them from 4 to 6 PM.

Important Information and Reminders from Nursing Services

Medical Forms: Elementary, Middle and High School: Medication and medication forms, as well as Action Plans (doctor’s orders) for health conditions, must be delivered to the nurse prior to your child’s return in-person. Please contact your child’s school as soon as possible to make arrangements.

Please note: There are no changes or grace periods to NJ Immunization Laws due to COVID-19. All immunizations must be up-to-date and submitted to your child’s school nurse.

New Jersey Administrative Code requires all children entering Grade 6 in September 2021 be in compliance with the following vaccinations:

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Vaccine
All incoming 6^th grade students who have had their 11^th birthday, are required to have a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine prior to September 1, 2021.

Meningococcal Vaccine

All incoming 6^th grade students who have had their 11^th birthday, must have one dose of Meningococcal vaccine prior to September 1, 2021. Vaccines given prior to the 10^th birthday will not be accepted.

Students with birthdates of August 1 – December 31 must submit documentation of receiving these immunizations within 30 days of their 11^th birthday (Send to Middle School Nurse).

Failure to submit documentation of immunizations may result in exclusion from the first day of school in September 2021.

All documentation should be sent to your child’s elementary school nurse as soon as your child has received booster shots. Please keep a copy of these immunizations for your records.

May Recognitions

We acknowledge Jewish American Heritage Month and pay tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society. As a district we encourage our staff and students to be sensitive to all cultures as it is in the blend of cultures that we learn to live in harmony. During this annual celebration, we recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. Learn more.

Counselors continue to offer guidance and support to help students who are displaying signs that they are experiencing social emotional stress. It is fitting that we recognize  Mental Health Awareness Month which began in the United States in 1949 and was started by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help. We encourage anyone experiencing mental health struggles to ask for support.

We continue to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. In Nishuane’s virtual library one can find books showcasing it.  Also view a lesson from Nishuane on AAPI geography and traditions.

REMINDERS

Technology

We continue to distribute technology to our families every Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 1 to 3 PM at Hillside School (Entrance B on Hillside Ave. side). Please contact your child(ren’s) school so a work order can be placed. Once the work order is placed, someone from the Technology Office will reach out to you and coordinate a date and time for pickup.

To everyone celebrating Mother’s Day, I wish you a joyous weekend and a wonderful, special day!

Sincerely,
Dr. Jonathan Ponds
Superintendent

 

Dear Families/Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF of this email

Based on regional risk factors and in close consultation with the Montclair Health Department, our school doctor and medical team, we are unable to commence in-person instruction on November 16. Unfortunately, the data I received this morning demonstrates an increase in community spread of COVID-19. It is with a heavy heart that we must continue with fully remote instruction for all students until it is safe to change course. The health of our community, students and staff is paramount and pausing our hybrid plan at this time is in the best interest of public health due to the increase in the rate of infection.

 

Until this morning, it was still considered safe to begin in-person instruction. I know this change is disappointing news for many of you. I understand your concerns on both a professional and personal level, as schedules and routines are being disrupted. Rest assured that we will continue to do everything in our capacity to keep our work on schedule for when it is safe to conduct in-person teaching and learning. Of course, we will continue to work with our Montclair Education Association to meet the needs of our most at-risk children. Likewise, we will continue the fall sports season, as circumstances permit, following safety and health procedures.

 

Unfortunately, I cannot predict when the risk factors will be at a level which would allow for safe in-person instruction. However, December 1, I will be reevaluating the situation and will keep everyone in the loop.

 

Thank you for your patience in these trying times. Please remember the best way to lower our local infection rates is to follow best practices that we know help prevent the spread: wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing. I remain steadfast and determined to implement the hybrid model as soon as it is safe to do so.

 

Please see my video message

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

CORRECTION: Middle School and High School hybrid date is Nov. 30.

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF version of this email

As some of you already know, a confirmed case of COVID was reported this week in the Watchung Elementary School. Watchung families were informed of the cleaning steps and staff members in the building are in self-quarantine. As a result, we have moved our hybrid reopening date for PreK-Grade 5 until November 16 and for Grades 6-12 until November 30. Although disappointing, this decision reflects our best judgment regarding the health and safety of all concerned.

 

Our Buildings and Grounds team along with outside contractors are focused on preparing our hybrid classrooms. We are endeavoring to answer your questions and address your concerns as quickly and efficiently as possible. Likewise, we understand that even after in-person classes begin, new questions and concerns will arise. We appreciate your patience as we prioritize tasks and communications and remain confident in our plans for a safe and engaging learning experience.

 

The details provided below will help you understand the scheduling and logistics for the classrooms in PreK-Grade 5. More information about the Grades 6-12 hybrid reopening will be available in the next update.

 

Arrival and Dismissal

School principals will communicate to their families specific guidance for the arrival and dismissal of students with a focus on the fulfillment of all safety protocols. Earlier we indicated that students could arrive 10 minutes before the bell, but that procedure has changed. Please do not drop off students until each school’s designated start time. This will allow the teachers time to enter the building and follow their own safety procedures before student arrival. Our apologies for any confusion.

 

Hybrid and Remote Teaching and Learning – A peek into the classroom

The district’s  Department of Equity, Curriculum and Instruction, working with colleagues in the Department of Technology, have been researching best practices to create a model for teaching all of our students—those who choose to come into the school buildings for face-to-face instruction and those who opt to learn remotely. Their research included consultations with educators from other districts, including Livingston and Princeton, as well as a site visit to the Millburn Public School District.

 

The model in brief: PreK-Grade 5 classroom teachers will work with both an assigned district laptop and additional device to engage students learning remotely even as they interact with those at their desks. Both in-classroom and at-home students will see the same Smartboard—life-sized in the classroom, screen-sized at home. Teachers will be fully trained in this mode of instruction by the time doors open.

 

For a glimpse of this teaching model in action, a video will be available on Monday.

 

Changing from Hybrid/Virtual

You may request to change your child from hybrid to virtual at any time by notifying the teacher and the principal. A change from virtual to hybrid is only allowed at the end of a trimester in Grades PreK-5 and at the end of marking period in Grades 6-12. Please note that we are making a correction to the date for switching from virtual to hybrid for elementary students.

• Elementary schools: The first trimester ends on December 10, and if you wish your child to return to hybrid for the second trimester, you must notify your principal by December 1.
• Middle Schools and High School: The date remains the same. If you wish your child to return to hybrid for the second marking period, you must notify your principal by January 6.

 

Mounties and Bulldogs

All families will be notified through Genesis of their children’s placement in the Mountie or Bulldog cohorts. We are currently balancing the groups.

 

Transportation

You will be notified of your children’s bus stop the week prior to school reopening for the hybrid model.

 

Before and Aftercare

The YMCA of Montclair, working in partnership with the Montclair Board of Education, is committed to providing before and aftercare programs for the Montclair School District beginning November 30. A YMCA satellite program will be in all elementary and middle schools provided a minimum enrollment is met and space is available. Space will be limited due to new state guidelines and rooms available in each school. More information will be forthcoming.

 

Online registration will begin November 16, and you can find further information on the YMCA website.

 

Facilities

The work on mechanical systems in our buildings continues as we move toward opening the elementary schools on November 16.

 

Our schools—including Charles H. Bullock, our newest building—have both mechanical and natural ventilation.  Areas in which the sole source of ventilation is natural or where repairs are still in progress will be supplied with air purifiers. If  mechanical ventilation is working properly, air purifiers are not needed.

The Montclair Police Department will be increasing patrols around all of our schools as an extra security measure, as we will have windows open in certain rooms.

The proposed medium-term project of bi-polar ionization is currently in the design phase and will take several months to complete. The long-term, more involved projects will take longer. A timeline is currently being developed and this will not affect the reopening of schools in a safe manner.

For your convenience we have put together a Facilities Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document  which is posted to the COVID page on our website.

Health and Wellness
As we approach re-entry, please make sure your child’s required health records have been submitted to your child’s school nurse. The nurse can answer your questions regarding these records.

Before students return to hybrid, families will be required to complete a COVID-19 health and wellness contract which will be available in Genesis in the coming weeks.

Reminder: With Halloween approaching, the state has provided guidance for celebrating safely.

 

Reminder: Addressing positive cases of COVID-19
While we are in the hybrid model, we will be addressing positive cases of COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis. We will follow all guidelines from the CDC, Montclair Health Department and our medical team with respect to contact tracing, notification, quarantine periods, and class and/or school closure. If someone is excluded from school because of COVID, we will require several factors to be met before allowing return, such as symptoms, quarantine time, and medical clearance note.  The school nurse will be your point of contact should the need arise. As always, your health and safety are of utmost importance.

 

Food Service

Please be advised that based on the new dates for the hybrid opening, a revised food service schedule will be released in the coming weeks. Food service is available for every child regardless of free and reduced meal status.

 

Technology

If you are in need of a device or a hotspot, please email your child’s principal as we are only a few weeks away from our hybrid opening. We will continue to distribute devices/hotspots to our students and families  in need. Anyone who is having technical difficulty should contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3 PM.

 

Reminder: Devices are distributed at Hillside School on Tuesdays, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

 

At this time, I’d like to thank Ms. Terry Trigg Scales for her support and hard work as Montclair High School’s Interim Principal since September. Officially, her last day is today; however, we know that she will always be a Mountie at heart. The families, students, and staff of Montclair High as well as our entire district truly appreciate her service, especially during these challenging times. We wish her the best. Ms. Eileen Gilbert, currently Assistant Principal at Montclair High, will be taking  the helm as Acting High School Principal on November 2. High School parents will be receiving an update about next steps for the high school leadership later today.

 

As we gear up for the cooler temperatures and wonder how we will cope with limited outdoor time, I’d like to share an article that one of our counselors brought to my attention. Taking care of our emotional health is just as important as our physical health. 

 

Please remember the district is closed Tuesday, November 3, for Election Day; and Thursday and Friday, November 5 and 6, for the NJEA convention.

 

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and relaxing week.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

 

All Kids can Learn  ~  All Kids are Special

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF of this email

Now that our questionnaire responses for choosing either hybrid or remote learning has closed, our administrators are busy analyzing the data for each school and preparing to fully support both options. We have about 60% of families choosing hybrid and 40% choosing remote. These preliminary numbers will allow us to have two cohorts, the Mounties and the Bulldogs.

Building walk-throughs are taking place ensuring that signage is posted on hallway walls and floors, desks are placed safely, and charging areas are ready for devices among a few of the physical procedures  to ensure proper social distancing for a safe return. A summary of our ventilation repairs as reported at the Board Meeting this past Monday is below. After November 9 for PreK-5 and after November 23 for Grades 6-12, please remember that if you choose the hybrid model for your children and later decide that you wish to change them to remote, you may do so at any time by notifying your children’s teachers and principal. Once you choose remote, if you want your children to switch, it can only be done at the end of a marking period.

Hybrid and Remote Teaching and Learning

As I mentioned last week, I had hoped to have a video ready to display what a hybrid classroom would look like. However, it is still under production and we are excited to get it to you next week. The video will simulate the experience that both the hybrid and remote student will have and how the teacher is able to move around the room still using a laptop and screen.

Live, synchronous instruction has been our biggest area of focus this fall and we will continue to implement it with integrity. Ongoing professional development to support our teachers and paraprofessionals is also paramount.

I am confident that we will execute a robust hybrid plan with no loss of integrity for the remote model. As in the case of all new systems, we will have an adjustment period; however, we are ready and eager to begin this in-person teaching and learning.

Addressing positive cases of COVID-19
While we are in the hybrid model, we will be addressing positive cases of COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis. We will follow all guidelines from the CDC, Montclair Health Department and our medical team with respect to contact tracing, notification, quarantine periods, and class and/or school closure. If someone is excluded from school because of COVID, we will require several factors to be met before allowing return, such as symptoms, quarantine time, and medical clearance note.  The school nurse will be your point of contact should the need arise. As always your health and safety are of utmost importance.

Health and Wellness
Reminder: All routine, required medical forms must be on file with your child’s school nurse prior to returning to in-person learning. These include immunization records, medication, and other pertinent health forms for the 20-21 school year. Students in K, Grade 6 and new to the district may not re-enter without up-to-date immunizations and physical exams. All forms are located on the district website. Please call your child’s school nurse with any questions.

The New Jersey Department of Health has released an easy-to-use health status checker and health actions to protect you and your family.

With Halloween approaching, the state has provided guidance for celebrating safely.

Facilities

As a summary of the information presented at the October 19 Board Meeting, work continues throughout the district to address the HVAC issues at all the schools.  The focus of the effort right now is on the elementary schools. Please note that only rooms where ventilation systems are working properly will be used.

An additional 200 Envioklenz mobile air purifiers were approved by the Board and are on order, expected to be delivered in time for the planned November 9 opening of the elementary schools.  Air purifiers will be provided in areas where there is either a) only reliance on natural ventilation or b) the mechanical ventilation is still in need of repair.

Bridging the gap between our short-term and long-term solutions, the Board also approved a proposal to move forward with a bipolar ionization strategy to further enhance the means to deliver outside air and proper ventilation to the classrooms and other spaces. Long-term, the strategy to introduce mechanical ventilation to all classrooms is currently in the works.

Food Service

Next week we will provide details about the grab and go meals that will be available once we start the hybrid plan.

Technology

We continue to distribute devices and hot spots to our students and families in need. Anyone who is having technical difficulty should contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.

Devices are distributed from Hillside School every Tuesday during the hours of 9 am to 12 pm. Please place your technology request with your children’s school.

For up-to-date information, check the COVID-19 page on our website. The administrative team and I at Central Office and your Principals welcome your feedback. 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here to see a PDF version of this email

I hope you have had a chance to review the Return to School Plan and evaluate which mode of instruction will be best for your family, either fully remote or hybrid. Many of you have emailed questions, and my administrative team and I are working to get you answers. Please note that we are extending the time for submitting the hybrid versus remote survey to October 22. If you choose hybrid and later decide you wish your child to return to remote, you may do so by notifying the principal and your child’s teacher at any time. However, switching from remote to hybrid will only be allowed at the end of a marking period. Due to the feedback we received on our early November in-person start, we are going to begin our hybrid instruction on November 9 for Grades PreK – 5. We will monitor our progress and provided the health concerns remain stable, approximately two weeks later, we will bring in Grades 6 – 12. This will meet the return-to-school mandate.

Hybrid and Remote Teaching and Learning

Please note that school start times are not changing. All students will begin classes at their schools’ regularly scheduled time and will have live instruction for four hours. Snack times will be incorporated during this four-hour block as well as needed breaks. Regarding devices in schools, although children will sometimes use their devices in the in-person classroom, they will have more flexibility with screen time as they can look towards their teacher in the room and away from the screen and still benefit from the lesson. Having laptops in the in-person classroom is to limit the  sharing of instructional materials.

Fully remote students will be getting the same instruction as the hybrid, in-person students with the same teachers. The integrity of the remote learning will not change and teachers will be actively engaged with their in-class students as well as their remote students. Like all new systems, there will be a learning curve with this; however, I am confident that our teachers will provide an engaging learning environment and we will continually adjust and adapt when necessary. A video displaying the classroom setup showing actual teaching and learning will be released next week.

As remote and in-person students will be attending the same classes at the same time, this structure provides all students the opportunity to experience a classroom with their peers. Afternoons for both hybrid and remote students will be more flexible with time for related arts, asynchronous learning, and small-group instruction. Each school principal will be able to answer questions regarding specific scheduling in their buildings.

Special Education – ABA Plan

We welcomed ABA students to Bullock School on Thursday and Friday. Families and students reported having a positive experience. We are delighted to be able to return our most vulnerable learners to an in-person environment.

Health and Wellness
Our certified school nurses have been in their offices since the first day of school in September. They are preparing for a safe and welcoming re-entry for students and staff members. If your child’s school nurse has not yet reached out to your family, please feel free to call with any questions or concerns.

Required Medical Forms for Re-entry

All routine, required medical forms must be on file with your child’s school nurse prior to re-entry. These include immunization records, medication, and other pertinent health forms for the 20-21 school year.

 

Parents of students in K, Grade 6 and new to the school district, please note that students may not re-enter without up-to-date immunizations and physical examinations.

All forms are located on the district website. Please call your child’s school nurse with any questions.

 

Influenza vaccinations (flu shots) are recommended for all students and staff.

 

Facilities

Our engineering firm, EI Associates, and our Director of Buildings and Grounds, Anthony Bispo, will be presenting at the Board Meeting this Monday, October 19 at 7:30 pm. Please refer to our website for information on how to attend the virtual meeting. They will provide an update on remediation to our current HVAC system and how we are utilizing both mechanical and natural ventilation for our return to school.  As stated in previous updates, we have short- and long-term solutions. We are doing all we can to mitigate the potential risk of virus transmission. We have our facility and safety information in our Restart and Reopening Plan that we submitted to the state. Please know that our goal is to return all staff and students to the safest educational environment.

Technology

We continue to distribute devices and hot spots to our students and families in need. Anyone who is having technical difficulty should contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.

Devices are distributed from Hillside School every Tuesday during the hours of 9 am to 12 pm. Please place your technology request with your children’s school.

Thank you for your inquiries regarding the Return to School Plan. While we can’t always respond immediately, please be assured we are considering and addressing all of your questions and concerns as we fine-tune our plans. Please note that COVID-related information is posted to our website.

We will continue to provide weekly updates and appreciate your patience.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a copy of this email in PDF format

We have heard from many families and all have varying opinions about returning to school or remaining remote. There is no one-size-fits-all for a learning environment during this pandemic. What I can say is that we have structured two models that will meet the needs of those families who want their children to return to the classroom and those wishing to stay fully remote. The hybrid plan is for those students who will be returning to in-person classes for a half day with the remainder of the day remote. For our fully remote learners we will continue with live instruction and work to enhance our engagement with students.

Please note that my communications are posted on the district website. These communications along with other parts of the website can be translated into your preferred language. To change the language, click in the top bar of the website above the blue logo using the arrows next to the word “Language.”

 

 

Special Education – ABA Plan

Our ABA students are scheduled to return for in-person learning on October 15 at the Charles H. Bullock School. We are mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education to provide an in-person model. Our facility and safety plan at Bullock has been reviewed by the Montclair Department of Health and our internal medical team as we take the safety of our students and staff seriously. All parents/guardians of students in our ABA program have been called by case workers and administration to review the plans and ascertain whether or not they wish their children to return to school.

 

Hybrid Plan

Parents can expect to receive the reopening hybrid plan early next week along with a survey asking if they want to remain totally remote or return to school. The hybrid plan encompasses both in-person and remote learning. This plan will contain details regarding schedules, start and end times, academics, and all safety protocols. We are on target for reopening in-person for the week of November 1. Please be sure to carefully review the plan before completing the survey so that you may make an informed decision about your children’s continuation of learning. Your responses to the survey will allow us to plan effectively for students who will remain fully remote and those who will attend school following the hybrid plan.

We are mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education to provide an in-person model. Be assured that all decisions regarding the return of students to the classroom are made in consultation with our district medical team.

Health and Wellness
Our school nurse at Northeast, Patricia Lozito, organized a flu shot clinic for staff this past Wednesday. Fifty-four staff members, including me, braved the wind and rolled up our sleeves to get the shot.

Children and Masks

When it comes to teaching your child how to effectively put on and take off a face mask, a few pointers can go a long way. As we get closer to our return for in-person learning, take a moment to walk your children through the following steps to keep them and others safe.

1. Have your children wash their hands before they pick up their mask. This will prevent germs from getting on the mask and near your child’s eyes, nose and mouth.
2. Once your children’s hands are clean, have them grab the mask by its ear loops or ties and put it on without touching the part that covers their mouth and nose. The mask should fit snugly.
3. Some children may be tempted to play or fidget with their mask. Remind them that while they’re wearing a mask it’s important not to touch it. The outside of the mask could have germs on it.
4. When it’s time for your children to take off their mask, have them use the ear loops or ties to remove it. Then, still holding the mask by its ear loops or ties, show them how to fold the mask in half with the inside parts touching each other and set it on a napkin or tissue to keep it clean.
5. After the mask is off, remind your children to clean their hands. 

You may want to watch this quick video with your younger children which shows the five steps above.

 

English Language Learners – Technology Support
The district is offering in-person, outdoor technology support for families of English Language Learners next week.  For details see the flyers in English and Spanish. Please be sure to bring your child’s device with you.

 

Facilities

We are making excellent progress in terms of remediation to our HVAC systems and schools will be ready for a November 1 reopening. Currently the Charles H. Bullock School meets the requirements set forth in the Centers for Disease Control with respect to ventilation. Both internal buildings and grounds staff and outside contractors are repairing and installing necessary parts and equipment to address our air systems throughout the district. Air purification systems are being installed where necessary to increase air flow.

 

At our next Board Meeting, October 19, our engineering firm, EI Associates, and our Buildings and Grounds Director, Anthony Bispo, will present on the progress of our facilities throughout the district.

 

Technology

In my last update I mentioned the schools that would have Safe Check walkthrough temperature monitoring kiosks and omitted Bradford because it was not yet installed. Today I am happy to announce that not only is Bradford included but we have ordered two more kiosks, one each for Edgemont and Renaissance. Now all the schools in the district will be equipped with these devices. These units are capable of reading up to 70 staff and student temperatures per minute.

We continue to distribute devices and hot spots to our students and families in need. Anyone who is having technical difficulty should contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.

Devices are distributed from Hillside School every Tuesday during the hours of 9 am to 12 pm. Please place your technology request with your children’s school.

When students return for in-person learning and need transportation, we will have a new, expanded service ready for our high school students. The district announced it will offer expanded busing to Montclair High School students who reside between 2.25 miles and 2.5 miles away from the school at its October 7 Board of Education meeting. The district will be revising its current busing policy which only allows for students who live 2.5 miles away to be eligible for transportation.

Families have been appealing to the district to add additional service, citing an inequity among residential areas in the township. Despite not meeting the minimum distance requirement for busing, the south end is still close to an hour-long walk to the High School. Through the efforts of the transportation subcommittee, New Jersey Transit, and our transportation department, we were able to restructure routes for more efficiency and meet the 2.25 parameter at no additional cost to the district and its families.                                     

                                               

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

 

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF version of this email

Based on feedback and observations about the significant needs of our most vulnerable populations of students, we will initially bring back our Special Education students in the ABA program before November. Please read about this below. As we understand there is no perfect substitute for in-person teaching, we will be addressing the needs of additional groups of students before November as well. Please be assured that safety and health remain our utmost priority and all plans will be implemented utilizing protocols as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Health, as well as our medical team of experts; namely, the Montclair Health Department, our school physician, and our district nursing supervisor.

 

As we begin our in-person instruction, I urge you to follow safety and health guidelines at home in order to protect you and others that your children will come in contact with as they come back to the school buildings. The Road Back, to borrow a phrase from the New Jersey Department of Education, is a community effort and responsibility.

 

Special Education – ABA Plan

Students in Pre-K through Grade 5 who participate in an ABA program will be the first group slated for in-person instruction. We will use the classrooms at the Charles H. Bullock School where they are up to code. All necessary health and safety checks will be in place including temperature taking, proper mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. If a child cannot wear a mask, a safety shield will be required and the medical team must give permission on a case-by-case basis. Before the start of in-person instruction, a detailed safety plan will be shared by the Pupil Services Office as well as training in health protocols for parents/guardians before sending your children to school.

 

Special Education Supervisors will be calling parents/guardians of students in the ABA classes to ascertain specific needs next week. These individual intakes will allow us to inform teachers of experiences over the past seven months that will impact teaching and learning. Additionally, those parents/guardians who wish to have their children remain on remote instruction may do so. The remote instruction will continue with synchronous and asynchronous learning as it is currently being provided. To ensure that our remote learning meets the needs of students, we will be observing breakout rooms in Zoom to make improvements and provide more training where needed.

 

Once the intake meetings are complete, scheduling, transportation, arrival and dismissal, and other classroom details and instructions will be shared with parents/guardians.
Facilities 

Based on discussions with the Business Administrator, the Director of Buildings and Grounds and EI Associates, the engineering firm assisting us during this effort, there potentially will be classrooms that will not have mechanical ventilation circulating air. The short-term plan in these rooms will be to utilize non-mechanical ventilation to increase air flow and also to use our recently purchased portable air purification units. This will be combined with efforts to minimize classroom sizes and change filters to Merv 13, based on manufacturers’ recommendations. All of the short-term work is currently in progress.

 

Live-streamed Athletic Events
We are pleased to bring you the news that our Woodman Athletic Complex, Fortunato Field and Watchung Field have all been equipped with the capability to live stream our varsity high school competitions. The link to access the steaming and the full schedule of games can be found under the parents’ dropdown section on our homepage. Girls Soccer will be broadcast tomorrow at 2 pm.

 

Week of Respect
October 7-11 is Week of Respect, and we know your children are participating in activities and projects, as well as dressing in their school colors or wearing special, fun outfits. Take a photo and send to jfusco@montclair.k12.nj.us for inclusion in our Week of Respect article on the district website.

 

Parent/Community University

A survey will be sent out next week for feedback on the first and future installments of this tool, designed to help build families’ capacity for supporting their children’s remote learning academic outcomes. Our hope is to expand the technology offerings but also add components that deal with the social emotional aspects of teaching and learning.

 

Technology

We continue to distribute devices and hot spots to our students and families in need. This week we distributed an additional 60 devices and eight hot spots. We encourage anyone who is having technical difficulty to contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.

 

Devices are distributed from Hillside School every Tuesday during the hours of 9 am to 12 pm. Please place your technology request with your children’s school.

 

We are pleased to announce that our Safe Check walkthrough temperature monitoring kiosks have been deployed to Montclair High School (Main building and Annex), Nishuane, Glenfield Middle School, Northeast, Hillside, Charles H. Bullock, Buzz Aldrin Middle School and Watchung School. These units are capable of reading up to 70 staff and student temperatures per minute. For those schools that do not have kiosks, we will be using contactless, hand held thermometers.

 

Food Service
We are happy to announce our Food Service provider, Pomptonian, will continue to distribute meals to our families beginning Oct. 5 on Mondays for three days’ worth of meals and on Wednesdays for four days’ worth of meals at our current locations:  MHS, Northeast, Bullock, and Nishuane from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This new offering is for not only the school week, but a full seven days’ worth of meals.

 

Community Resources

A Food Drive for Essex County residents will  take place at Bullock School on October 8 from 9 am to 5 pm.

 

The New Jersey Department of Human Services is providing tuition assistance to parents/caretakers with school-age children ages 5 to 13 in need of childcare due to remote learning. Details and application.

 

Through the USDA Child Nutrition Program, nutritionally balanced, free lunches for all students are available for pickup Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm through December. The free/reduced lunch program is also available to families who qualify.

 

As we get closer to the implementation of in-person and hybrid learning, I can’t emphasize enough that we must consciously make every effort to abide by health and safety guidelines. The district will be using a multi-tiered approach to mitigate risk for our students and staff, and I want to thank all of you for being our partners in this effort. 

 

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:30 pm. A link to join is posted on the homepage of the district website closer to the date. 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF of this email

Your feedback remains a valuable resource to us. Your concerns, suggestions, and reflections on remote  or hybrid learning, utilizing tents for outdoor learning, physical education practices, technology, grappling with how to assist with related services for special needs children, and more are the kind of comments we need to serve your children well. We care so deeply about all your children, and while actions may not occur as quickly as you would like, our intention is to return students for in-person learning done safely and consistently.

 

Thank you for following our safety guidelines of mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing while we take precautions to keep each other safe. These measures are important especially as we are approaching flu season.

 

College Board Scholastic Assessment Tests (SATs)
On Wednesday, September 23, Montclair Public Schools’ staff and parent volunteers successfully administered the SAT to approximately 180 of our MHS seniors at the Charles H. Bullock School. The district is pleased that we were able to offer this opportunity to our students and extends a special thank you to all for their efforts! The next administration for MHS seniors will be Wednesday, October 14. Registration  information was sent out to the high school seniors and as a reminder registration for the next test is September 29 from 2 to 5 pm.

 

Social and Emotional Activities
As a way of making connections for students with peers and mentors, the Healthy Minds Committee has partnered with the Montclair Public Library to offer a Book Buddies Program. We will be recruiting teen volunteers who will be trained by our professional library partners on how to conduct reading sessions. Our younger children will be paired with a teen buddy. Please use this link (Reading Buddies Program) to sign up your child by October 2 to participate. Our teen volunteers will be signed up at a later date.

 

Health and Wellness

As COVID-19 continues to spread, we hope our families are following suggested guidelines of mask wearing for everyone in your household over the age of two, social distancing and hand washing to halt the spread of COVID-19. Mask wearing may be the single most important thing we can do to keep ourselves and others safe.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics and public health experts are encouraging influenza vaccinations, especially this year. Contact your healthcare providers with any questions.
K-2 Students
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with a Neuropsychologist. We spoke about the remote learning experiences and impact on our youngest learners. During remote teaching, we knew that breaks would be beneficial for all students, especially our youngest learners. I learned that the science shows that breaks used intermittently within a lesson or between lessons should be no longer than 5 to 10 minutes in length.  If  they are longer, it is difficult to regain the students’ attention back to the class. Managing break time is one small, concrete technique our teachers will be utilizing to give the students flexibility but also retain attentiveness. We will continue to review and rework our practices for the best interests of all learners.

 

Please continue to reach out to your child’s principal for specific and individualized information about your child’s schedule and daily instruction. By now you should have either picked up classroom materials to use with your children at home or received a message from your principal regarding a schedule for pickup.

 

Remote Classroom Guidelines

Online learning is new and different for students and also for parents/caregivers. We ask that parents/caregivers work with us as partners and at the same time respect the teacher’s role in the classroom. Even though instruction is taking place in your home, it is still a classroom with rules, and teachers need your courtesy. Please be mindful that the teacher is developing relationships with students and setting the tone for classroom management. We are all in this together and appreciate your consideration.

 

Special Education

Pupil Services Director Tom Santagato and his administrative team are revising their plan to meet the needs of our most at-risk students. They are working with our medical team and school district doctor. The plan will be finished by the middle of next week, and I will report out in my next update.

 

The FDU Orton-Gillingham program will begin conducting sessions with students on September 30 and continuing every Wednesday for the entire semester.  Our evaluation and testing will resume at a timelier pace.

 

Facilities 

The work continues on diagnosing our HVAC systems and ventilation across the district. Our long-term work is progressing with the assistance of our professional engineering firm (EI Associates), an outside mechanical contractor (Sanders Mechanical), and our own internal staff. We have identified parts or entire systems that need to be replaced and are inoperable.  As far as short-term repairs, several smaller problems throughout the district are being addressed as well as identifying the scope of work for further assistance from qualified mechanical contractors for larger issues. Our overall goal is to bring systems back to their intended design state. We are constantly reevaluating and resolving newly identified issues as we move forward. Most recently all 200 portable HEPA filtration units with a UV component have been delivered. These will be used for the spaces without mechanical ventilation or areas of concern. As of today, we are on schedule for a return to school in November.

 

Technology

The Office of Technology continues to distribute devices to families in need. Please contact your children’s school so that a work order request can be made.

 

We have been addressing various concerns regarding Chromebooks for sound and/or video issues and using Zoom and Seesaw. In this regard, we are pleased to share our first edition of our Montclair Public Schools Chromebook Troubleshooting Guide for staff and families. Please take a look at this resource for tips, suggestions and instructions to get your devices operating properly.

 

Lastly, we encourage anyone who is having technical difficulty to contact our Technology Support Line at 301-259-1510 between the hours of 8 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

 

Student Representative on the Board

If you virtually attended the Board of Education meeting on September 21, you were introduced  to our student representative on the Board, Ms. Genesis Whitlock, a senior at Montclair High School and Student Coalition President. We are excited to have this new addition to our Board to advocate for and represent the student voices, especially those who are marginalized. Through her conversations with fellow students, she hopes to foster community, focusing on issues of racism in and outside of the classroom, social justice, environmentalism and more. She is committed to making sure the needs of

students are met, providing resources, being a supporting voice and engaging her peers in advocacy and helping mobilize action. As we learn from these deeper conversations about racism, microaggressions and equity, we build our capacity for enacting change.

 

New Board Member

Our Board of Education is now complete with the appointment of its seventh member Allison Silverstein on September 21. Ms. Silverstein is enthusiastic about her work on the Board and serving our students and community. You can read more about her on our website.

 

Community Resources

The New Jersey Department of Human Services is providing tuition assistance to parents/caretakers with school-age children ages 5 to 13 in need of childcare due to remote learning. Details and application.

 

On Monday, September 28 from 4 to 6 pm, Essex County will be offering rapid COVID-19 testing at our George Inness Annex parking lot. The tests are by appointment only and are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456.

 

Through the USDA Child Nutrition Program, nutritionally balanced, free lunches for all students are available for pickup Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm through December. The free/reduced lunch program is also available to families who qualify.

 

Reminder: The district is closed Monday, September 28 for Yom Kippur. For those of you who observe Yom Kippur, I wish you a meaningful fast. 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

All Kids can Learn  ~  All Kids are Special

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF version of this email

The first full week of virtual teaching and learning has had its ups and downs. I understand that there were some technical glitches and that screen time seems challenging for the little ones. There simply is no perfect substitute for in-person learning. Please know we are working diligently to start our in-person model. In our in-person model, we will have measures in place to manage the contagion so that we may STAY open.

In the meantime, our first Curriculum Thursday is next week, and we will continue professional development (PD) so that teachers can share some of their best practices and have a chance to review what they learned in their initial PD before the start of school. We will continue to provide live teaching, and use virtual break out rooms to enhance student collaboration. One thing is certain our teaching pedagogy will continue to evolve as we adapt to the virtual learning spaces.

We are excited to offer our new Parent and Community University which begins next week. Please read below for more details on that and other topics.

Parent and Community University
We are pleased to announce that the district will be facilitating a series of virtual Parent & Community workshops at our brand-new Parent and Community University. These workshops are designed specifically for our parents and community members to learn more about how our children are using Google tools during their remote learning. Each day will focus on a particular grade level group; but you may attend any session throughout the week when it is offered. This new resource will begin the week of September 21.

Each day will consist of two,  one-hour sessions dedicated to your children’s grade level. Monday through Thursday will be from 5 to 7 PM and Friday, will consist of two sessions starting from 10 to 11AM and from 11 to 12 PM. Presenters will be going over topics such as : Google Classroom, Google G Suite for Education, Seesaw and Zoom. For a complete list of topics, please see the menu. Workshops are open to all Montclair Public School families and community members. In order to attend, you simply click on the link next to the corresponding topic that interests you on the given date and time. Each session is limited to 250 participants.

Health and Wellness

Coming soon we will have a health and wellness component added to our Parent and Community University. The Healthy Minds committee has been working on mental health programming and uploading videos on topics such as mindfulness, structuring your child’s day while remote learning, etc. We also hope to offer afternoon virtual clubs for students of all ages. Additionally, we want to ensure that families have the help they need. Our nurses will be making humanitarian phone calls next week checking in to see how you are doing and how we can help.

K-2 Students

We have received the feedback from families who are concerned about the amount of screen time for our youngest learners. We met with all building leaders and they are in the process of revising the daily schedule to include less screen time.  We will send an update to K-2 families by the middle of next week. We heard all of you and we appreciate the feedback and ask you to please continue to let us know of your concerns.

Special Education

Director of Pupil Services Tom Santagato and his team have presented a plan based on parent feedback for  our most vulnerable students. Teachers who are participating in the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Orton-Gillingham Program will begin working with students from Montclair in the coming weeks.  Parents of potential students will receive notification by the end of next week.  Virtual supplementary Orton-Gillingham instruction will be provided on Wednesday’s to include individual sessions starting at 4:15 and 5:15 pm.  Each selected student will have 1:1 instruction with a Montclair teacher and oversight with an FDU Professor.

The district is proud to announce a partnership with Rutgers University Professor, Dr. Judith Harrison.  Dr. Harrison comes highly regarded as an advocate of inclusion and will seek out our district trailblazers who also have the passion for inclusive educational opportunities.  Dr. Harrison will pilot a program and foster a relationship with a district coalition to support all students as well as students with disabilities.

Facilities

Our consultants are continuing with their assessment of the ventilation systems throughout the district. For schools that have had assessments completed, we have begun our repairs to the ventilation systems and window repairs are being scheduled, where necessary. In preparation for schools opening the following equipment has been purchased: MP 2 SafeCheck Walkthrough Body Temperatures; Enviroklenz U Model Air Purifiers and Rapid Curis Fogger. In addition to the equipment we have purchased cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers, hand foaming soap and various PPE supplies for the staff and students.

Technology

The Department of Technology continues to distribute devices to families in need. Please contact your children’s school if you are in need. For immediate technology assistance, please use our Technology Hotline by calling 301-259-1510. If no one answers the phone, please leave a message and include the student’s name, a number to contact you at, and what the issue is that you are experiencing. We will be monitoring this number Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. You may also register a need by putting in a Remote Learning Support ticket using Incident IQ located under the “QUICK LINKS” section on our district homepage.  

Community Resource

The Montclair Art Museum is open for business and is offering free admission to families who qualify for SNAP benefits. Tickets need to be purchased online through the art museum’s website or send an email to esander@montclairartmuseum.org.

 

To our families celebrating Rosh Hashanah beginning today at sundown we wish you a healthy and happy new year! The district  proudly recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month which runs from September 15 through October 15. Our Spanish teachers will be commemorating this month with projects and activities that pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have enriched our society. On Monday evening we will be swearing in a new Board of Education member, Ms. Allison Silverstein. Ms. Silverstein is a parent in the district, a member of SEPAC, and we look forward to her contributions on the Board. 

Remember to reach out to your teachers and principals as your first line of communication if you have any concerns about your children’s daily school work. They are here to help you not only with academics but also in the social emotional aspects of learning.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

 

All Kids can Learn  ~  All Kids are Special

Dear Families, Caregivers and Staff,

Click here for a PDF version of this email

Yesterday we virtually greeted nearly 6500 students on opening day for the new school year. It may have looked different than years past, but it didn’t take away from the smiles and eagerness of the children who were ready to “meet” their teachers and classmates. At least they didn’t have to bring umbrellas and boots on their first day as it was pouring in the morning. Thank you for sending in pictures for our opening day story on the website. The best part of my day was joining classes as a guest and meeting students and teachers who genuinely seemed so happy to be at school. Here are some comments I received from the community about the best part of their days:

As a quick note–both of my kids’ classes are going really well this morning at MHS!! Thanks to everyone for all of their extraordinary work to pull this school year off.

From an elementary school parent:… said he had a great day! It’s the most positive he’s been in months. I’m so glad it started off on a good note.

We had a great introduction to Mrs. McKeon today!  My son asked her if the class could dissect a frog, so she may have a challenging year.

From a parent to principal: I just wanted to tell you this morning you are doing a great job!!! 

Keep up the good work. Your calming demeanor is going to help many of us through this storm.

From a parent of a fifth grader: HUGE THANK YOU for an amazing start to 5th grade. We so appreciate how organized and well thought out these first two days went. The sound of … giggling from his laptop while in class has made my day and warmed my heart. 

 

Back-to-School Nights

Remember to sign in to Back-to-School Nights. Teachers will be sharing links for the events. They begin next week with Buzz Aldrin taking the first spot on September 15 and run through October 6. Principals have recorded an opening message for you which will be followed by  live zoom sessions with your children’s teachers.

 

Extracurricular Clubs and Activities 

Clubs and activity advisors have been approved at the high school and middle school level. Advisors will be conducting online activities so that students stay connected with their peers and special interests.

 

Facilities

Our consultants are continuing with their assessment of the ventilation systems throughout the district. District staff have begun repairing/replacing systems based upon the recommendations of our consultant.

 

Screen Time

We received feedback regarding remote instruction and the increased amount of screen time for our youngest learners.  Our building principals will be working with our teachers to adjust screen time to allow for synchronous and asynchronous learning.  We hear you, and we thank  you for the feedback.

Technology
Seesaw and Zoom platforms have been launched and used extensively during our first two days. We will provide ongoing professional development in all platforms as our teachers become well versed in their usage.  The Technology Department is in the process of preparing additional devices for those families who have contacted their children’s schools. Please remember to use the Technology Hotline at 301-259-1510 during the hours of 8 AM to 3 PM if you have any technology related questions.

Food Service

Montclair Public Schools will be participating in the USDA Child Nutrition Program, providing nutritionally balanced, free lunches to our students through December 2020. Beginning September 14, meals will be available for pickup Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

See flyer for details and pickup locations.

High School Counselors
All counselors have open office hours throughout the day. Links for sign ups have been sent to students and can be provided again, so please remind your children that this service is available to them. The counselors are eager to get to know your children and support them as they navigate the high school.

Athletics

Pre-season sports begin on Monday, September 14, for Girls Tennis, Field Hockey, Boys and Girls Soccer, Cheerleading, and Cross Country.  Our coaches have done a great job with being flexible and communicating with their students and families about the fall 2020 season. They have strictly adhered to all health and safety protocols. Our fall season opens up on Thursday, October 1 with Boys Soccer playing at MKA and Girls Tennis playing at Verona High School. Field Hockey will host Millburn for their season opener on Friday, October 2 and Football will travel to Bloomfield. Cross Country and Girls Soccer will open their seasons on Saturday, October 3. The Mountie Athletic Department and our athletes and coaches are excited to represent our community this fall.

We want to give a special shout out to the Girls Lacrosse team to thank them for their donation which will be used to purchase a Chromebook for one of our families.

 

Our emphasis in these opening days was on providing live instruction, and this will continue during the entire remote period. Our teachers and administrators had a tremendous task to make this happen and they worked hard during professional development to learn new platforms and create lessons with fidelity that would engage our students. I appreciate everyone’s commitment to making this experience fruitful. And while we still have to adjust and learn, each day will bring improvement. Additionally, I want to thank the parent community for your feedback and questions which were invaluable in creating our new pathways for learning.

 

As this day is one of remembrance for the brave and lost souls of 9/11, we always hope that we continue to care for one another as time is precious. Have an enjoyable and restful weekend. Please keep up your incredible energy and positivity as we head into a full week of learning. We are here to address any issues and concerns you may have going forward. Together we will get through this, and together we are stronger!

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan Ponds

Superintendent

 

All Kids can Learn  ~  All Kids are Special