IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING CLOSURE

IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING CLOSURE

Michael Novak

March 13, 2020

March 13, 2020

 

Dear Lakeland Family and Friends,

 

After consultation with our local superintendents, county health officials, and our local Public Health Nurse Supervisors, I have decided that in the best interests of our students and faculty that Lakeland Regional High School will be closed as of Monday, March 16th. We will return to school on March 30th. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached a pandemic level across the world and has forced us to take unprecedented measures to keep everyone associated with Lakeland safe and healthy. Our district offices and phones will be available for any questions that you may have during this school closure. All school related events and activities are postponed until further notice.

 

Our students have been given school work during this closing which is expected to be completed so that the district can meet the 180 days required by New Jersey Department of Education. Please encourage your student to complete the work daily. It is important that instruction and learning takes place during the time of this school closure.

 

More information will be disseminated throughout the next two weeks. You will be informed of all school decisions as we constantly assess the situation. I thank you for your patience and understanding. Please follow the guidelines established by the CDC for simple things you can do at home to stop the spread of the virus

 

Please take time to review each bullet as it contains important information regarding your child’s academic progress.

  • The Lakeland Regional High School District plans on utilizing online instruction programs for our students for the delivery of instruction to continue the student’s academic progress.  These days will count toward the state mandated count of 180 instructional days and we do not anticipate having to extend the school year. 

 

  • The online instruction programs shall meet the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the requirements of the district Board of Education.

 

  • All appropriate faculty members have posted their Classroom/Program Closure Preparedness Plans to their online platforms and have communicated the location to their students:
    • GoogleClassroom or
    • TeacherPages

 

Please note: Above is where the students can find their coursework.

 

 

 

  • Students are expected to work on their online instruction programs during the time frame in which they would normally have the course:

TIME FRAME

A-DAY

B-DAY

7:30-8:50

Block 1

Block 1

9:00-10:20

Block 2

Block 2

10:25-11:05

Block 3A

Block 3A

11:05-11:45

Block 3B

Block 3B

11:50-12:30

Block 4A

Block 4A

12:30-1:10

Block 4B

Block 4B

1:15-2:35

Block 5

Block 5

 

  • We will follow our normal A-Day/B-Day schedule.  Monday, March 16 will be an A-Day

 

  • Faculty members will be available via email during the time frames that would correspond with their schedules.  If your learner has any questions, they can correspond with their teacher via email during their normal class time. 

 

  • The Classroom/Program Closure Preparedness Plans include both course progression curriculum work (i.e., moving from the World War II to the Cold War in US History II) and work that is supplementary in nature.  The supplemental work includes review, reinforcement, re-teaching, and extension activities. 

 

  • The Classroom/Program Closure Preparedness Plans include online instruction programs two weeks in length.  If there is a public-health related closure, additional plans would be posted to online platforms.

 

  • Due to the fact that we are committed to ensuring equitable access to instruction for all students, the following steps have been implemented:
    • On March 10, 2020, the district sent a letter home to parents/guardians inquiring about accessibility to devices, internet connectivity, or any other socio-economic barriers to virtual learning. 
    • Based on returned responses, the district provided students who responded with a district owned ChromeBook.
    • If you did not respond to the survey and still need a device, please e-mail Ken McCurnin at kmccurnin@lakeland.k12.nj.us and he will coordinate pickup or delivery of the device.

 

  • Communication
    • The Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent will send notice to staff and parents about updates on the situation.  The notice will be sent by phone message and through email.
    • We will continue to utilize all social media platforms through Apptegy to have a cohesive message.

 

  • For a student with disabilities, the online instruction program shall be consistent with the student's individualized education plan (IEP) to the extent appropriate and shall meet the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
    • All required modifications and accommodations will be met by the classroom teachers.  Case Managers and School Counselors will periodically check in with their case load to ensure that students have an additional point of contact.  
    • If you have any questions regarding your learner, please contact their case manager or Ms. Poggioli directly at apoggioli@lakeland.k12.nj.us or (973) 800-3188.

 

 

 

School Counseling Department

  • School counselors will be available from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, for students and parents to contact them via email with any requests or questions.  
  • Students can reach school counselors via email.
    • School counselors will plan to periodically check-in with their caseload to ensure that students have an additional point of contact.       
      • School counselors have posted on the Teacher Page their “School Counseling Program Closure Plan”
  • In the event of an emergency at home (physical or mental health), call 911.  
  • If you have any questions regarding your learner, please contact their counselor or Mr. Conway directly at tconway@lakeland.k12.nj.us.

 

Child Study Team and Related Services

  • Case Managers will be available from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, for students and parents to contact them via email with any requests or questions.  
  • Letters will be sent via Naviance to parents/guardians regarding the following:
    • Specific information on how case management will occur remotely during the closure.
    • Scheduling of current and future IEP meetings and IEP events.
    • How related services will be managed during and after the closure.
    • Plans for Shared-Time instruction.
    • Course of action for out of district placements.
  • Case Managers will be monitoring their emails for contact from their students/parents during the course of the hours of the regular school day. 
  • Case Managers and the Director of Special Services will be available to assist with Out of District concerns via email or the Director of Special Services’ work cell phone (973) 800-3188.
  • Student Assistance Counselor services will be conveyed via email.
  • School Psychology Services (SPS counseling) will be made up upon return.  Parents/Guardians and students will be reminded of the importance of contacting 911 services or utilizing Passaic County Mobile Response in any emergency situations.

 

Shared-Time

  • LRHS will provide up to 10 school days of extended hours (until 4pm) during the finals week in June to assist students at Empire if the students need additional hours (contact Ms. Poggioli, Director of Special Services).
  • Eastwick and HoHoKus Paterson will need to provide lessons/activities which students may do remotely in the case of a health-related closure (contact Ms. Poggioli, Director of Special Services)
  • MCVT will need to provide lessons/activities which students may do remotely in the case of a health-related closure (contact:  Mr. Conway, School Counseling Department).

 

Home Instruction

  • Students currently on home instruction will not have in-home instruction at this time.  Virtual/on-line instruction will be implemented.
  • Each student’s home instruction will be monitored by the student’s teachers and the administration for student progress.

 

 

Questions & Answers:

 

Is my child expected to be online during a certain time?

 

While we recommend that your learner follow their normal schedule in order to keep consistency, our plan does not require a child to be online during a certain time of day, our teaching and administrative staff will be primarily available during normal school hours. Therefore, we suggest establishing a routine with your child to be online during the school day. However, the structure of our home instruction does allow for students to access their instruction/materials and resources at any time. This level of flexibility may work best for some of our families and students.

 

Is the amount of work going to be the same as when my child is physically in school?

 

This format of learning is something new and unprecedented in public schools. Our teaching staff has been instructed to begin slowly, allowing for large amounts of time and providing ample support. All instruction and materials will be aligned with the New Jersey Standards, follow the course curriculum, and employ a variety of effective instructional strategies. A key part of the district’s plan is our teachers’ ability to provide support and feedback.

 

What if we do not have a device at home?

 

We sent out a survey on March 10 and are working to ensure that all of those students will have devices.  We disseminated devices during the school day today to those who needed. If you still need a device, please e-mail Ken McCurnin at kmccurnin@lakeland.k12.nj.us and he will coordinate pickup or delivery of the device.

 

What if I as a parent have a problem/issue/who do I call/contact?

 

For classroom related questions, we suggest reaching out directly to your child’s teacher. For other questions or concerns, we suggest reaching out to the area supervisor (see page 6). If you have any questions regarding anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to Michael Novak, Assistant Superintendent at (973) 557-5825.

 

 

 

 

 

Important contact Information on the next page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Contact Information:

 

 

If you have any questions regarding anything, please do not hesitate to call our main line at (973) 835 1900 or reach out to Michael Novak, Assistant Superintendent at (973) 557-5825