FROM THE DESK OF Phyllis Alpaugh



SUPERINTENDENT'S
NEWSLETTER

Rockaway Borough Schools
December 2020
THE BID PROCESS OPENS FOR OUR 2021
REFERENDUM PROJECTS
RAMS CORNER

For more information regarding these or other topics, feel free to contact me at pa@rockboro.org
Dear Parents and Families,

As we embark upon our Holiday break, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family the very best for the holiday season and the coming year.

The past few months have been difficult to say the least with building closures, social distancing, wearing masks, and quarantining becoming our new norm. It's amazing how these terms, words and actions have become part of our daily lives as well as taken on new meaning in our current pandemic world.

No matter what, I hope you know that we have tried our best to navigate these unchartered waters and will continue to do so moving forward in 2021. Many decisions we make are not always the most popular, but have been necessary to keep the overall school community safe and student learning moving forward. While unfortunately, the Corona virus is still a force to be reckoned with, I am still hopeful that by working together, following prescribed directives and looking for the positive, we can get through this and do what's best for Rockaway Borough as we are so fortunate to have supportive and understanding parents along with staff members who are dedicated, hard working and committed to their students.

Please take the next week to unwind, relax and enjoy all that is good in the world with best wishes for the Happiest of Holidays and the hope of a very Happy and maybe Corona Virus free New Year.

Phyllis Alpaugh
Superintendent of Schools
PLEASE READ THE LATEST UPDATE REGARDING OUR RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IN JANUARY


ROCKAWAY BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT



Dear Rockaway Borough Parents and Families,

I hope this correspondence finds you and your family healthy and safe. The purpose of this letter is to keep you abreast of our plans for in-person instruction as of the first of the year.

As of now, we have decided to move forward with our previously announced plan to reopen school for in-person instruction on Monday January 4th with our modified hybrid model that we put into effect after Thanksgiving.  This decision was made in consultation with the local Board of Health and the Board of Education after reviewing recent data which shows a decrease in our actual number of positive COVID-19 school cases as well as potential cases that we have been monitoring. The data also indicates that the majority of cases reported did not originate in our school buildings nor were transmitted on campus.

If, over the next week, our CALI scores change, or reported school related cases rise, and/or there are issues with quarantining and staff coverage, we may need to reassess and switch back to virtual instruction for the first two weeks in January.  If that is the case as the situation is fluid, you will receive an additional notification confirming our change in plans by Thursday December 31st.  For now, please review the parent letter on the the website that contains a chart that summarizes the return of our cohorts for the first two weeks of January.

Also, I must remind all families that if you plan to travel during the holiday break, your child(ren) will need to quarantine and take advantage of virtual learning for the 14 days recommended by the CDC. In addition, as requested before, please continue to share any pertinent health information about your child(ren) or your family regarding COVID like symptoms or contact with potential positive cases with our school nurses so they can update district records and can keep local health officials informed as all this information is critical in our determination about reopening for in-person instruction .

So as always, thank you for your continued support and please have a safe and wonderful holiday.

Sincerely yours,
Phyllis Alpaugh

Phyllis Alpaugh
Superintendent
This issue's FEATURED ARTICLE...
Comfort and Joy During the Holiday Season
While the 2020 Holiday season will certainly be like no other, it can still be "the most wonderful time of the year", and probably a much needed relief as the Corona virus still continues to spread among us. Whether you are a parent, a student, a staff member, an administrator or even the Superintendent, a little comfort and joy may be just what we all need in the upcoming weeks after dealing with COVID-19 since the early spring. Obviously, following safety protocols and directives like wearing masks, keeping proper social distancing, and restricting large gatherings need to take priority, as do all guidance from local and national health officials, but that doesn't mean we all can't take a break from the stress around us and a enjoy a little comfort and joy.

After reading some advice from experts, here are a few tips to keep in mind for the upcoming weeks to support yourself and others and make this very unique holiday season as happy, stress-free and positive as possible.

  • First of all, acknowledge this year will be totally different from past holiday seasons and it's OK to celebrate in new and different ways.
  • Give yourself time to prioritize self-care whether it involves physical or mental relief.
  • Take little moments each day for yourself and encourage your family to do the same. Exercise, read a favorite book, catch up with television show, or even try a new recipe. Even better, do it responsibly with a family member or friend.
  • Try your best to maintain healthful sleep, exercise and eating habits whether you are following new or old holiday traditions.
  • Moderate your expectations so disappointment is minimized as the pandemic has clearly taught us that there are no rules and things can change in a moment's notice.
  • Connect with loved ones, family and friends in new and creative ways, but don't let the pandemic keep you away from keeping in touch with others.
  • Lessen unnecessary screen time and exposure to negative news and social media.
  • Try to think of ways to help others as many around us could use both encouragement and support.
  • Savor the season and remember the joyfulness of the holidays and the hopefulness of the coming months by focusing on the positive and not the negative, and always remembering there is much to be grateful for even in the midst of a pandemic.