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NEWS & EVENTS
Week of April 17,
2020
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In Roxbury Township Public Schools, our students and schools are involved with more than just academics. They are active members of the community who give their time and efforts to important causes. Check out all the upcoming events happening throughout Roxbury in the coming weeks.
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ROXBURY SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS
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Roxbury we want to hear from you! We're always looking for great stories of things happening in the Roxbury Schools and around town that involve our students, staff, and families! And now we've made it even easier to submit your content! Stories, high quality pictures, and even videos can be submitted
here or by emailing
goodnews@roxbury.org.
Please remember to include first and last names of individuals pictured!
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Share your Home Instruction Stories
We know our students, staff, and families are hard at work during their Flexible Instruction Days.
We'd love to see pictures and videos of your home instruction both from our students and educators and hear your stories!
Put in the Subject Line:
#RoxburyFID
and you might just see them on our website, on our Social Media pages, or in the news!
Superintendent Communications on COVID-19 - Apr 17
Dear Roxbury Community,
We have successfully concluded our fifth week of Flexible Instruction Days (FID). With the Governor's announcement that New Jersey schools will remain closed until at least May 15th, the information in this correspondence will provide further guidance in our school district. All choral and band concerts are cancelled for the remainder of the school year. All field trips have also been cancelled and reimbursements are in process. Plans for end-of-the-year activities and celebrations are underway with more information to follow.
Again, I would like to thank all of the parents and students who are working with our amazing educators and administrators to forward their learning. I truly appreciate the parents who partook in last week's parent survey. We've compiled the data and read your comments. This information is being used to inform our decision-making, and we truly appreciate your input.
We have been in discussions about how to make the final marking period an accurate representation of student learning and growth. Letter grades will continue to be used at the secondary level and standards-based grading will continue to be employed at the primary level. Our goal is to forward learning while minimizing stress. Providing longer weekends to relax and enjoy is one way to support our students and their families. In order to maximize learning experiences and minimize undue stress, we will not be administering final exams at the secondary level. We hope that the elimination of finals will provide relief and some extra time to relax, enjoy, and catch up.
In the parent survey, we also noted that while the majority of parents are aware of the resources available to their families, the resources have not been completely reviewed. We encourage you to look over our resource pages that provide everything from fun activities to student and family counseling. During these uncertain times, it's one thing to know that there are supports in place, and another to take steps to take advantage of them. If you or your children need emotional support, a shoulder to lean on, or a safe place to vent, please reach out to our school counselors who can guide you in finding the help you need. We are in this together. I attended a webinar that may be of interest to you:
Tools for Families: Partners in Supporting our Children.
We look forward to a time when our schools will reopen, but in the meantime, we will continue focusing on the values of
compassion and
resilience. I have been amazed by the learning, innovation, emotional support, and creativity of our staff, students, and families. You are a special place, Roxbury.
You are Roxbury Strong! Let's continue to "prepare our children of today for tomorrow."
Sincerely,
Loretta L. Radulic Superintendent of Schools
Click here to stay up-to-date on the latest correspondence from Superintendent Radulic.
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Revised School Calendar for the Remainder of the School Year
Below is the revised school calendar for the remainder of the 2019/2020 school year that was board approved on April 6th.
Graduation Signs for the Class of 2020
High School seniors received an email from Mrs. McCracken on Thursday regarding graduation signs. "
We have secured a vendor to print your senior class graduation signs. All signs will be ordered directly through the company using their website and a credit card. All deliveries will come directly to your house."
COVID-19 Inspired Project #WeStickTogetherRoxbury
Two second-graders and their families from Kennedy Elementary School are inspiring their community to stick together through art. Cassidy Zeis from Erin Allen's second-grade class and her friend Olivia Van Handle from Kathy Byrne's class partnered up to show how a community can come together through art while still being apart during social distancing.
Alli Zeis, Cassidy's mom shared, "They created a
video to get a few friends to do art and created a project which is now hanging on the fence at their school. We created a
second video so we can get the rest of our community to participate and other communities to come together through art as well."
Cassidy and Olivia explained, "We wanted to prove that our community can still stick together while being apart through social distancing, so we created a virtual art project. We asked a group of our good friends to paint sticks from their yards and to leave them by their mailboxes. Our moms picked them up 24 hours later and we created our community's first work of art. Now we are challenging you to pair up with a friend or another family and get others in your neighborhood to help create and display our next community art piece. Take a video of your art piece and challenge the next group to keep our community and others connected through art."
Adding, "Here are some tips, be very clear in what you want. Keep it simple and use art items that are convenient and environmentally friendly. Be sure to follow social distancing rules. Make sure you wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes and request that your friends do the same especially when doing their art. Get permission before displaying your artwork if you mount it in a public area. Take pics #WeStickTogether and #WeStickTogetherRoxbury and most importantly, have fun! Let's stick together Roxbury!"
Click here to read this coverage on our website under "In the News".
Roxbury Students Use 3D Equipment to Make PPE
Roxbury students have taken up the challenge to help during this COVID-19 health-related crisis. Students and staff have been working hard creating personal protective equipment (PPE) of face shield frames and face mask straps to help the front-line workers.
Eisenhower Middle School STEM Teacher, Phil Moskowitz shared an update on the 3D masks. "We have been printing for just under a week and we have produced a total of 70 face shield frames and 210 face mask straps. Overall, the group I am partnered with has produced over 1,900 face masks!"
A large majority of those have been donated to University Hospital in Newark as well as other hospitals in the area.
Moskowitz shared that some of the mask straps were donated to Morristown NICU, where his son Chase was for three of the six months he was hospitalized at after his birth. "It was nice to give back!"
The mask straps take the elastic from behind the ears and hold them on the back of the head instead to make the long shifts a little more comfortable for the nurses.
"Early in the process, I had reached out to a few students who I knew had 3D printers at home and who have risen to the occasion, no questions asked; really showing the Roxbury way. Sophomore Brody Haughey, 2016 RHS graduate Matt Pergolizzi, and eighth-graders Rithik Mehta and Justin Masi all immediately said that they wanted to help. RHS Roxbotix advisor, Mark Taylor has also been a part of this process having items printed using Roxbotix equipment," explained Moskowitz.
Adding, "I was lucky to have some family members and friends who wanted to donate to our cause and was able to get rolls of plastic from these guys to help me. If more people/families in the Roxbury community would like to join us, the information can be found at
www.stemrox.org/ppe."
Click here to read more on our website under "In the News".
Jefferson School honors Essential Workers on Thankful Thursday
Jefferson Elementary School celebrated all essential workers in the community that still were going out to work on its latest Thankful Thursday.
"We thank healthcare workers, EMTs, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Grocery Store workers, bankers, maintenance workers, transit workers, delivery persons, mail carriers, and many more!" shared Jefferson Principal Melissa Cosgrove.
On Thursday's morning announcements, Principal Cosgrove's husband was introduced to the students as an NJ Transit Electrician. He shared, "We need to make sure the trains are safe so all the essential employees can get to work, especially our healthcare workers!"
Third-graders Gigi Stoia and Nate Fiore made special appearances on the morning announcements to thank some essential workers in their families. Gigi thanked her dad and all the other maintenance workers that are still going into Roxbury Schools to keep our buildings safe and working well. Nate thanked his Uncle Mike who is an EMT in NYC. Although he's working hard, he still has time to Facetime with Nate and stay connected.
Christina Gonzalez, school counselor at Jefferson, thanked her sister who is the Unit Clerk at the ER of St. Clare's Hospital. Her son Ben also thanked his grandma who is a retired nurse and is now spending her time making masks for the hospital.
In a note shared with Mrs. Cosgrove, second-grader Leo Morley said, "My mom Nicole is an ICU nurse at Morristown Hospital. I wish her good luck every day that she goes into work. She is helping all the sick people and I am so proud of her. I love her so much."
Other shout outs came in the form of pictures honoring essential workers.
Roxbury Schools thanks all of our essential workers for everything they are doing to keep us safe and healthy! Click here to read more and see the shout outs on our website under "In the News".
Kennedy Fourth Graders Thank Front-Liners at CCM Testing Site
Fourth graders in Alexis Ackerman and Sarah Goodman's classes at Kennedy Elementary School in Roxbury Township recognized and thanked the frontline workers at the COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing site at County College of Morris.
Students made colorful thank you cards and signs with inspirational messages to boost the spirits of those essential workers.
Ackerman shared pictures from her father who showed the cards mounted and hanging at the testing site.
Great job Kennedy Cougars for helping to recognize all of our health care workers! Click here to read this story on our website under "In the News".
Roxbury Review Continues Online
Mindfulness, Stress Relief, and Family Activities
We know how stressful times are right now. The district has a compiled a website of videos and resources for you and your family. We've also teamed up with Roxbury's Mindfulness Instructor, Amy Rubin to provide some well needed mindfulness, stress relief, and family activities.
Click here
to check out Amy's new video's
along with other helpful links and applications.
Three from Roxbury Named State Youth Arts Month Winners
During March, prior to the COVID-19 school closures, the Art Educators of New Jersey celebrated the state's most talented students in the national observance of Youth Art Month.
Youth Art Month is proclaimed to emphasize the value of art education for all children and encourage support for quality school art programs. Three students from Roxbury High School were selected for the 2020 New Jersey State Youth Arts Month Exhibit in Trenton.
Those students included Freshman Angelina Stigliano for her Charcoal and Colored Pencil artwork from Scott Schilling's class, Sophomore Helena Geraci for her Black and White Photography from Renee Zengel's class, and Junior Alexa Hernandez for her Pen and Ink work from Nancy Valenta's class.
Click here to read more on our website under "In the News".
Flexible Instruction Days - Tech Help
If you're having Internet Trouble or Technological difficulties during these Flexible Instruction Days, don't forget the Technology Department is here to help!
Contact Roxbury Public Schools' Tech Dept at 973-584-8121 or
click here
to complete our Help Desk Request Form.
We are also working on providing appointments for technology training for parents and students. Look for more information to follow in the coming days.
Get Your Roxbury Library Card Now!
Roxbury Public Library is having children and adults sign up for library cards. This is wonderful as there are e-books and audio books available at their finger tips. What a great way to escape your quarantine by escaping into a good book!
Nearly 1,000,000 free titles for your mobile device to alleviate the boredom (and you know, maybe learn a thing or two). eBooks, Audiobooks, Comics, Magazines, Movies, TV, Music! If you're a Roxbury resident, get a card NOW at
roxburylibrary.org/apply
#ShapeYourFuture and #BeCounted - US Census 2020
Stuck at home because of the Stay at Home Order? Thank you if you are! Have an open schedule without the kids sports and activities? Just bored of it all? Here's a small task for everyone to eat up a few minutes of your day! Complete your 2020 Census!
It's happening now!
Correct data can help in future situations like the one we are in!
U.S. Census Day was April 1st but you can still respond
online, by phone, or by mail for the next few months.
Not sure who counts? Before completing the 2020 Census, you need to know where to count yourself and who to count with you in your home.
Click here
for some FAQ's from the Census Bureau to help!
This is our one chance until 2030 to ensure that every New Jersey child gets the resources they need for a quality education. Additional Information is available at
census.nj.gov.
Discounted Hershey Park Tickets for Summer 2020 - Extended to Apr 24
The Roxbury High School Band Parents Association is once again selling its annual discounted Hersey Park and Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom tickets. Tickets are available for purchase has been extended now through April 24th.
Click here to view the Hersey Park ticket form.
Kindergarten Registration for Next Year - Franklin/Jefferson Postponed
Roxbury Township Public Schools offers a full-day kindergarten program designed to develop knowledge and skills in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive areas. Our goal is to help children develop skills and strategies that will help them learn and establish a foundation for lifelong success in education. The program allows more time for students to address curriculum in depth and allows teachers to provide additional activities in learning.
Franklin and Jefferson's Kindergarten Registration dates have been postponed due to the school closures. Revised dates will be posted once determined.
To access more details, visit
www.roxbury.org/KindergartenRegistration
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Roxbury Track and Field Senior Spotlights
Coach Bischoff is highlighting the Track & Field Seniors in his Senior Spotlights on Twitter. Follow Coach Bischoff on Twitter
@Bischoff_RHS
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Gaels Going Green - Did you know...
Since 2016, the Roxbury Township Public Schools has been striving to become more sustainable and green in its policies and practices. The Board of Education and administration made the decision to pursue district sustainability and green initiatives by creating and approving a half of dozen different policies outlining its position and efforts.
To that end, all seven schools in Roxbury Township attained Silver certification through Sustainable Jersey for Schools in August 2018. In this section, you will find various green initiatives, events, and tips to live a healthier, greener life.
Click here for more information regarding our sustainability initiative.
Help Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd with these helpful tips!
As Roxbury Schools work to become more sustainable and earn
Sustainable Jersey for Schools
certification, we want to share a few simple and easy tips that you can share with your kids to help you go green, protect the earth, save money and make every day Earth Day. You can make a difference! #BeTheChange
Amid the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, Earth Day Network, the global organizer of Earth Day, will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with the first Digital Earth Day, a global digital mobilization on April 22 to address the most urgent threats to people and the planet.
Whether online or in person, the goal of Earth Day remains unchanged: to unite hundreds of millions of people around the world to pressure world leaders to act on environmental degradation and climate change.
Click here
to find a digital earth day event near you!
Here's a few tips you can do today to help #BeTheChange
- Stop using disposable plastics, especially single-use plastics like bottles, bags and straws.
- Recycle paper, plastic and glass.
- Donate your old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out.
- Take a shorter shower and use a water-saving shower head.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room.
No official spring clean up, but Roxbury residents can still spruce up their neighborhoods
The township may not be hosting its annual
Spring Cleanup this spring, but there's still one way residents can spruce up their neighborhoods.
"As long as you remain physically distant from others (no groups), you may wish to take some time during the week of Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22) and pick up some litter in your neighborhood," said the township's web site posting.
They would be happy to supply you with bags, vests, and gloves. They would pick up the material once you've completed a clean up.
For more information, contact Kellie Ann Keyes at keyesk@roxburynj.us or call 973-448-2053. Stay safe, stay healthy! Click here to read this coverage from the Roxbury Register.
Roxbury Clean Communities Paper Shredding Day - Cancelled for May 2
Roxbury's Community Shredding Event scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 health crisis.
The next paper shredding event it scheduled for Saturday, September 26th, 2020.
For more information, contact Kellie Ann Keyes at
kkeyes@roxburynj.us
or by calling 973-448-2053.
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Roxbury Collects
Box Tops for Education
Roxbury Township Public Schools are continuously collecting "Box Tops for Education" at our K-8 schools.
This is an easy, practically effortless way to raise funds for our schools by purchasing items you buy all the time.
Clipped box tops can be sent to any of our K-8 schools district-wide. School addresses can be found on our website at
www.roxbury.org
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Check out the Virtual Backpack!
Here we will feature events of organizations, clubs, and teams throughout our communities that serve to enrich the lives of our students.
Announcements, upcoming events, documents and forms that were previously sent home via backpacks will now be included in the Virtual Backpack. (On occasion, some paper forms, and flyers and other important information, will come home with your student or be sent to you directly via email.)
This page is updated as flyers are received.
Check the backpack!
Check Your Honeywell Settings!
Don't wait until severe weather hits to check your settings! You may want to change your time settings from Midnight to Midnight and have more than one way of being contacted...i.e., phone call/text message and/or email! This way if the phone lines are down/circuits are busy, etc., you are covered! Log into your Honeywell account
here.
Click here for parent instructions on creating an account.
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Roxbury Alumni In the News
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