specialized handbookproviding this specialized handbook that includes information related to covid-...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

COVID 19 4

Health and Safety 4

Technology 6

Visitors 8

Personal Property 8

Meal Distribution Info 8

Student Attendance 9

GRADING/REPORT CARDS 10

REFERENCES 11

Our Core Values:


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Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

The 2020-2021 school year brings a unique set of challenges as well as

opportunities to learn and grow. In addition to our regular handbook, we are

providing this specialized handbook that includes information related to COVID-

19 as well as information regarding our revised grading system.

Our administration, faculty, staff, and Board of Education remain committed to

providing a quality education in a safe, positive environment. We appreciate

your patience and support throughout our planning process and as we begin

the school year.

Please take time to review the information in this handbook and discuss it, as

appropriate, as a family. A parent/guardian needs to acknowledge this

handbook via an electronic signature in OnCourse.

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] or

609-748-1250, ext. 1016. Thank you and best wishes for a healthy, productive

school year!

Sincerely,

Annette C. Giaquinto, Ed. D.

Superintendent of Schools

Updates as of 9-24-20 are highlighted.


mailto:[email protected]

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COVID-19

Health and Safety

Ensuring our students, staff, and schools are safe is always a priority. This year, the

implementation of COVID-19 related procedures and guidelines are a critical part of

our efforts. For our full Restart & Recovery Plan for Education visit our district website

www.gtps.k12.nj.us.

Daily Health Screening

All parents/guardians are required to perform a daily “COVID-19 Health Screening” on

their child(ren) before they leave for school. This is required by the Galloway Township

Board of Education in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Health

Guidelines. Students who experience symptoms, as detailed in the screening, should

stay home from school. Parents/guardians must contact the school to report the child

absent and follow the additional instructions regarding the contact to your healthcare

provider or local health department.

See Reference Pages for “COVID-19 Daily Screening for Students” document.

Health and Safety Protocols

See Reference Pages for our district’s “Health and Safety Protocols” which includes:

❖ Washing your hands

❖ Cover your cough and sneeze

❖ Wear your mask

❖ Stay home when you are sick

❖ Practice Social Distancing

Face Coverings

All students are required to wear a mask in school and on the bus. Below are

recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for the use of appropriate

masks that apply to our schools:

❖ Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19

❖ Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure under your chin.

❖ Masks should be worn by people two years or older.

Considerations for Exemption for a Face Covering are for the following categories:

❖ Students with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.

❖ Students with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual

and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns

or tactile sensitivity.

http://www.gtps.k12.nj.us/

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If your child meets one of the listed exemptions above and you would like to request

the district’s consideration of exempting your child from wearing a face covering while

attending school, please contact your building administrator. Please note that a

doctor’s note will be required for district consideration.

Note: Parents/Guardians of students who refuse to wear a mask will be contacted.

Continuation of the refusal to wear a mask will result in the student changing from

hybrid to virtual instruction.

Students will be provided face covering breaks throughout the day. Face covering

breaks will only occur when social distancing can be maintained and ideally outside, or

with windows open. Students should also be at least 6 feet apart during these breaks.

For additional information: See Reference Pages for “Recommended and Prohibited

Face Coverings”

Quarantine and Isolation Information:

Students are expected to follow all “Quarantine” and “Isolation” guidelines set forth by

the CDC and the DOH. To quarantine means to keep someone who was in close

contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others. To isolate means to keep

someone who is sick or tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms away from

others, even in their own home.

For additional information: See Reference Pages for more details on when to

“Quarantine” or “Isolate”.

School Nurse Contact Information:

School School Nurse Phone

609-748-1250

Email

Pomona

Preschool

Colleen Smith x4405 [email protected]

Arthur Rann Lauren Hepkin x4366 [email protected]

Reeds Road MaryAnn Steinmann x1511 [email protected]

Roland Rogers Melissa Finnegan x2040 [email protected]

Smithville Morgan DiPietro x4606 [email protected]

Middle School Jessica Barrett

Ashlee Peifer

x5029

x5040

[email protected]

[email protected]

Float Nurse Jennifer Hiller [email protected]









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Technology

Our district has a Responsible Use Policy (RUP) that provides guidelines regarding use of

district technology. The RUP is one of the documents you will electronically sign in

OnCourse. Additionally, families that received a loaner Chromebook were provided

with guidelines specific to its care and use.

All students will be involved with virtual learning either every day if they are part of our

virtual learning model or three days per week in our hybrid model. OnCourse Classroom

is our district’s learning management system (LMS). Teachers may opt to use a Google

Classroom within OnCourse. Your child’s teacher will notify you if this is the case. Please

see this link to a guide called “Navigating OnCourse Connect” that can help you with

OnCourse Classroom.

A link to our OnCourse Parent/Guardian Portal is located on the district website. After

logging in with the username and password, a video explaining the program is

available to view by clicking on the icon in the top right. Please note that the

parent/guardian credentials for the portal are different than the child’s credentials.

Zoom is the virtual meeting tool we are using. The Zoom link will be embedded in the

teacher’s OnCourse Classroom.

All Virtual Students/Virtual Mondays for Hybrid

Schedule

● Teachers will send out a weekly schedule through OnCourse.

Attendance

● Students (with help from family members as needed) will mark themselves

“present” for attendance through the student’s OnCourse account by 10:00am

daily. An automated call will be sent to those students who have not completed

this task as a reminder. Parents/guardians can call the school to update the

student’s attendance for that day if they missed the 10:00 timeline.

Instruction

● Each day, Zoom meetings will be held for each class.

● Videos will also be posted daily for each class held on that day.

○ i.e. ELA and Math classes will post daily videos.

○ Specials (Arts & Humanities and PE/Health) will post to classes on the days

they meet students in that particular class.

● Basic Schedule will follow this design:

○ Watch – a video/read something online;

○ Do - complete an independent activity;

○ Meet – via Zoom with the teacher.

● · All virtual students will receive instruction in specials on Mondays.

○ elementary students will receive two specials classes each Monday but

none the rest of the week;

http://www.oncourseconnect.com/

http://www.gtps.k12.nj.us/Navigating%20Oncourse%20Connect.pdf

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○ middle school students will participate in Arts& Humanities/PE & Health

classes every day.

● Teachers will provide written feedback weekly.

● Grades for individual assignments (including check marks for completion) will be

posted weekly.

● Families will be able to access student assignments through the student’s

OnCourse credentials.

● Parent/guardians will be able to access attendance, grading, messages, and

assignments lists using their own OnCourse credentials.

Hybrid Students on Virtual Days

(A students – Thurs/Fri B students – Tues/Wed)

Attendance

● Students (with help from family members as needed) will mark themselves

“present” for attendance daily through the student’s OnCourse account by

10:00 daily. An automated call will be sent to those students who have not

completed this task as a reminder. Parents/guardians can call the school to

update the student’s attendance for that day if they missed the 10:00 timeline.

Instruction

● Videos will also be posted daily for each class held on that day.

○ i.e. ELA and Math classes will post daily videos;

○ Specials (Arts & Humanities and PE/Health) will post to classes on the days

they meet students in that particular class.

● Basic Schedule will follow this design:

○ Watch – a video/read something online;

○ Do - complete an independent activity;

○ Meet – via Zoom with the teacher.

● Zoom meetings will occur with teachers the last hour of the day (for grades 6-8,

teachers will work out a schedule by period to meet with hybrid at home

students each day).



posted weekly.





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Hybrid Students on “in school” Days

(A students – Tues/Wed B students – Thurs/Fri)

Attendance

● Homeroom teachers will take attendance using OnCourse. Please do not login

and submit attendance on in-person days.

Instruction

● Live instruction will occur during the day in each subject.

● Students will have “recess” when they get home and be able to take a break

before completing asynchronous learning (ie independent reading, written

assignments, etc.).



posted weekly.





Note: Times may vary for special education students in order to ensure delivery of the

IEP. A consistent schedule will be shared with families which may include times between

8:45am - 3:30pm.

Visitors

Parental involvement is an important part of a child’s education. As we open school,

we ask that you understand our need to limit anyone other than staff and students from

entering our schools. Anyone who is allowed to enter school must wear a face covering

and maintain social distancing guidelines. Additionally, you will need to complete a

health screening form if you are in-school for a meeting or other reason beyond a quick

pick-up/drop-off.

Each school will provide you with procedures for arrival/dismissal and picking up your

child during the school day. Other than these instances, classroom visits are not possible

as we open school. We will be using virtual means (e.g. Zoom) to connect personally

with you. As our State moves through the stages of “The Road Back,” we will adjust our

practices and procedures.

Personal Property

Like every year, students are discouraged from bringing valuables to school, and the

school district is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

This year, students are not able to use their lockers. Therefore, all school materials and

personal belongings will be kept in the classrooms. If a student brings a phone to school,

it must be kept in the student’s backpack, bookbag, or purse. Students may not use

their cell phones during the school day except with staff permission.

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Meal Service and Meal Distribution Info

The USDA has extended a waiver to allow free meals to be served to all students

regardless of eligibility status until December 31, 2020 or federal funds expire.

Families with Children in the Virtual AND Hybrid Models

● Distribution will take place at your home school on Mondays between 10am-

12pm. Effective September 28th, hours are extended: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at all

locations.

■ Pomona Preschool will pick-up at Roland Rogers Elementary

School.

■ Garden State Academy will pick-up at Smithville Elementary

School.

● Fully Virtual Students:

■ All students are eligible to pick up 5 days of breakfast and lunch

meals free of charge regardless of eligibility status.

● Hybrid Students - Cohorts A or B:

■ All students are eligible to pick up 3 days of breakfast and lunch

meals free of charge regardless of eligibility status.

Families with Children in the Hybrid Model

Cohort A: In-person Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Cohort B: In-person Thursdays and Fridays

In-Person days food services will operate as follows:

● Breakfast and Lunch meals will continue to follow the School Food Nutrition

Guidelines. Menus are posted to our website monthly as well as on our Facebook

page.

● Students are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle to school with them to

fill at our bottle filling stations, as traditional water fountains are unavailable for

use.

● Milk and 100% fruit juice are offered daily at breakfast and lunch.

● Universal Breakfast will continue to be served to every student free of charge.

Breakfast will be served in the classroom.

■ Exception: GTMS students will pick up their breakfast from the food

service carts during homeroom.

● Lunch will be served to all students free of charge regardless of eligibility status.

● Teachers will take daily lunch orders from students during homeroom.

■ Exception: Pomona Preschool will receive orders in advance from

parents/guardians.

● Cafeteria staff will prepare, package and deliver meals to each classroom daily.

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Food Service Common Questions & Answers

Q. How do I pay for my student’s meals?

A. The USDA extended a waiver to allow for free meals to all students regardless of their

eligibility status until December 31, 2020 or until federal funds expire.

If and when this waiver expires, we will provide additional information.

Q. Can my student still bring a packed lunch from home?

A. Yes, absolutely your student is welcome to pack a lunch.

Q. Can my student purchase snacks or drinks?

A. At this time, we will not be offering snacks or specialty beverages.

Q. If my student arrives late and missed meal ordering during homeroom can they still

receive lunch?

A. Yes, the student should let the teacher know, and the teacher will email the

cafeteria to add the order.

Attendance

Documentation of student attendance is required daily for both “In-Person” and

“Virtual” school days. See Reference Pages for a “color-coded cohort calendar”

showing days each cohort of students is expected to be in-person in school. Students

will be recorded as “absent” or “present” for each day of the school year. The

information below indicates how daily attendance will be recorded. The expectations

and procedures for both “In-Person” and “Virtual” days are listed below.

In-Person School Days

● Attendance will be recorded by the teacher when a student is physically in

school.

● Students who are in-school on in-person days do NOT need to enter their

attendance into the OnCourse system.

Virtual School Days

● Students will be required to login OnCourse daily by 10:00 AM to document their

attendance on their virtual school days.

● Note: Students will automatically be marked “absent” if attendance is not

done.

● An automated phone call will be made to the main contact of those students

who have not entered their attendance by 10:00 AM. If you receive this call, use

this as your reminder to login to document your child as “present”.

Procedure to Input Attendance in OnCourse on Virtual Days:

● Login to OnCourse with Student Username and Password.

● The system will automatically ask if you are present.

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GRADING / REPORT CARDS

The reasons for the change in our grading system are based on our beliefs about:

★ the importance of accurately reporting student progress in understanding

standards and skills to students and their parents/guardians;

★ equity in terms of educational practices between and among teachers

and schools.

Our discussion about the need to change our system and practices has been occurring

informally for several years. In order to change the grading system, we needed to

change our student information system and the transition to OnCourse provided that

opportunity. We did discuss making this change during a pandemic and felt the revised

system actually is an enhanced system at all times and especially during our current

situation.

This summer, a committee of educators reviewed and refined our grading practices

based upon the Pillars of Equity.

Pillar 1: Accurate measure of academic levels

Pillar 2: Resistant to biases that might reduce accuracy

Pillar 3: Motivational for students

Based on these pillars, grades should be based on valid evidence of a student’s

content knowledge and not reflect a student’s environment. Therefore, our reporting

separates academic progress from what could be termed “soft skills” or “social skills.”

1. Grades are based on content knowledge, so extra credit would not be added to grade

averages.

2. Lateness is reported in the student skill area, not the academic area. Grades are based

on student work, not the timing of the work.

3. Homework, participation and effort are reported in the student skill area, not the

academic area.

Grades K-5 will continue to indicate student progress on a range of subject indicators

such as reading comprehension, fluency, phonics, etc.

Grades 6-8 will generate a numeric grade for each course.

All grades will rate social skills: uses time wisely and respects the rights of others. The

rating scale will be O for Outstanding; S for Satisfactory; and N for Not Yet.

All grades, K-8, will generate report cards each quarter. With the OnCourse portal,

there is no need for a mid-marking progress report as parents will be able to access

their student’s progress throughout the semester.

When it is time for the first report card distribution, we will provide you with reminders

about grading practices as well as how to access your child’s report cards.

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REFERENCES

District Student Screening Sheet

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REFERENCE

Health and Safety Protocols

REFERENCE

Recommended and Prohibited Face Coverings

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REFERENCE

Quarantine vs. Isolation

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REFERENCE

Color-Coded Cohort Calendar

specialized handbookproviding this specialized handbook that includes information related to covid-...

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