January 14, 2021

Updates From the Superintendent Dear Families: I hope that this letter finds you well and that the holidays were happy and healthy for you and your family. On Tuesday, January 19th the school district will resume with the hybrid instructional model and fully remote option.   Following are a few updates for your information.

HEALTH OF CHILDREN The New Jersey Department of Health and the Burlington County Department of Health have advised schools that any child with COVID-19 compatible symptoms should not return to school until they have either received a negative COVID test or they have completed an isolation period of at least 10 days since symptom onset and at least 24 hours after resolution of fever without fever-reducing medication. An alternative diagnosis is NO LONGER acceptable Do not send your child to school if they are not feeling well. Please be over cautious. Your cooperation is appreciated. If a member in the household (adult or child) is being tested for COVID-19 due to illness/COVID symptoms, all students living in that household should remain home until test results are received and are communicated to the school nurse. Siblings of a student who has symptoms and meets COVID-19 exclusion criteria should be excluded from school until the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result. If the symptomatic individual tests positive, the siblings will need to self-quarantine.  Please be sure to complete the weekly Symptom Free Assurance for your child/children by Monday at 8am each week. If school is not open, please complete the assurance on the first day the district is open for the week.

TRAVELING???? To save lives and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Governor has issued a travel advisory. If your child has traveled out of New Jersey to one of states/territories outside of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware or Connecticut they will need to quarantine for 14 days from when they return to New Jersey.

A/B CALENDAR The January and February A/B Calendar was shared and can be found on the Parent Resource Page of the District Website or by clicking on the link below. The A/B Calendar restarts at the beginning of each month. IMS January and February A/B Calendar IMMS January and February A/B Calendar

COMMUNICATIONS School Level Communications will be distributed via the weekly “Thursday Packet” and can be found under the Parent Resource Tab on the district website. The Shamong School District App is a great resource to provide you with “Everything Shamong Schools In Your Pocket.” The App provides users direct access to the most recent news, announcements, and events and will be used for emergency notifications. The App is available on both Android and Apple devices… just search Shamong Schools in the Play or App Store.

Masks The wearing of masks reduces the risk of exposure to the virus Gaiters/face coverings are not acceptable at school. If you are in need of a mask for your child, please contact the school nurse.

All previous guidelines communicated remain in effect. The school district will continue to work closely with the Burlington County Department of Health and will make modifications as advised. Thank you again for your continued support of our schools.   Stay Well, Dr. Christine Vespe