2021 - 2022 FAQs

Yes, students will be wearing school uniforms this year. The Lindenwold School District will be returning to as many "traditional" (a.k.a. "normal") practices as we can during this school year. Our uniform policy can be found on our district website (Policy 5511). You can also find information regarding our school uniform policy on the District Uniform Policy #5511 page.

ALL students will return to school on Thursday, September 9, 2021. Students will return to school and will learn in person during the 2021 - 2022 school year.

According to the CDC, vaccinations are currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccinations are not required to return to school; however, they are strongly encouraged for all staff and students 12 and older.

However, on Monday, August 23, 2021, Governor Murphy stated that he would be signing an Executive Order requiring all staff to be vaccinated or engage in bi-weekly or weekly testing. The District is waiting for more information to determine how to proceed. It appears this process/procedure must be in place by 10/18/2021.

The District encourages our families and staff to speak with their primary physician regarding any questions they may have. Individuals who are vaccinated and who wish to follow protocols for vaccinated individuals, proof of full vaccination will be required.

Although we wish we could predict the future of the virus and guarantee how we will proceed throughout 2021 - 2022, the status of the virus will dictate the terms of our reopening plan for the 2021 - 2022 school year. The Lindenwold School District will continue adhere to Executive Orders, follow guidance provided by the NJDOH and the CDC, and do our very best job to balance the safety of our students and staff alongside our dedication to remain open for our students.

Yes, we will continue to implement extra cleaning protocols such as more frequent cleaning of rest rooms, the use of electostatic sprayers, hand sanitizers in classrooms and common areas, social distancing reminders in our hallways, partitions on round shared tables used as desks in our early elementary classrooms, etc.

No. The guidelines have changed and the new recommendation is a 3 feet social distancing guideline. The District will adhere to the 3 feet social distancing guideline to the best of our ability whenever possible. However, we acknowledge we will not be able to meet the 3 feet social distancing guideline in every situation. We will not be able to adhere to the 3 feet guideline on the school bus or during lunch in the school cafeterias.

Busing: Social distancing on school buses would require the district to - at a minimum - duplicate our busing routes. Not only can the District not staff these routes due to limited drivers and bus availability, it would also require the district to double its transportation costs.

Lunch: The District does not have the ability to social distance during scheduled lunch periods in most of our schools due to our current overcrowding issue in our buildings. In addition, the schools already maximize the total number of lunch periods they are able to offer while still being able to schedule required physical education classes. Lunch and PE are offered in the same space. Due to our overcrowding issues, there are no additional spaces to offer PE and all other related arts content areas in our lower elementary schools deliver instruction on a cart. They do not have designated classrooms of their own.

The District currently enrolls approximately 750 more students than we have identified seats. The District is in the process of hosting community meetings to discuss the construction of a PK, K, and 1st grade early elementary school building.

Students will be required to wear a mask on all school buses and whenever social distancing can not be maintained.

Exceptions will be provided ONLY for documented, pre-existing health conditions which prevent the wearing of a mask. (Medical documentation from a treating physician will be required.) Exceptions will not be made on the basis of personal preference or concerns about negative consequences of wearing masks. If masks are required it will be based on recommendations made by the NJDOH and/or the CDC. In doing so, the NJDOH and/or the CDC will have deemed the benefits of wearing a mask to outweigh any negative consequences. (Please note that vaccinated individuals will also need to wear a mask in school if they are required again.)

Similar to last year, the general rule this year will be the same for all staff and students: “If you feel sick, stay home.” Student temperatures will be screened each morning as they enter the schools. If a child has a fever of 100.4° F or higher, or if your child shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (or other illness) as noted on the 21 - 22 Screening and Quarantining Protocol page, your child should not come to school and should visit a physician.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. All schools will also monitor visitors to the school, as well as faculty and staff, for these symptoms.

Quarantining guidelines will continue to be in effect this year. Parents may review the guidelines by visiting the 21 - 22 Screening & Quarantining Protocols page.

If your child is identified as a close contact, he/she will not be required to quarantine. However, it is recommended that ANY vaccinated individual be tested 3 - 5 days after a close contact exposure. Vaccinated individuals have experienced breakthrough cases and STILL can test positive for COVID-19. If a vaccinated individual tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must follow quarantine protocols. Vaccinated individuals will still be required to stay home when they are sick.

The District strongly recommends COVID-19 testing take place when a child displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to ensure he/she is not COVID-19 positive. However, if a family chooses not to have their child tested, the District will act as if there is a positive presumption and longer term quarantining protocols will be applied. Information can be found on the 21 - 22 Screening & Quarantining page.

The District could also require COVID-19 testing to attend larger scale events similar to what was required for the 2021 Prom and the 2021 Senior Trip. In this instance, students who opt not to be tested will not be permitted to attend the event.

The Lindenwold School District will continue to consult with the New Jersey Department of Health for decisions regarding school closures. However, if there are multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a school, the school may determine, in consultation with the NJDOH, that it is advisable to temporarily close to control further spread of the virus. In addition, all schools may be subject to an order to close due to substantial progression of the virus in the region or state. If these circumstances occur, students will transition to remote learning.

It depends. The District will allow students who have received a COVID-19 positive diagnosis and who has been identified as a "close contact" to engage in remote learning during the identified period of quarantine. In this instance, live streaming will be provided. Students will need to engage in learning during the school day from their home location. This is considered a temporary learning accommodation and will be accepted to count toward the 180 day legal requirement of schooling. Due to the complexities of transitioning to remote learning, temporary live remote learning will not be available for students who are home sick for non-COVID related reasons, for students who travel, or for any other reason.

Yes. The YMCA will be providing before and after school care for preschool, School 4, and School 5 aged students.

Unfortunately, Executive Order 175 has ended; therefore, public schools who receive state funding may not count a full-time remote learning model as part of the 180 day schooling requirement. Therefore, the Lindenwold School District will not be offering remote learning as a permanent learning model option this year. A temporary learning option may be offered to a child who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who has been identified as a "close contact."

The District will continue to notify our district and school communities if and when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19. The communication will continue to take place in the form of a letter and it will be shared via our telephone/email/text communication system. However, we will NOT share the identity of any student or staff member; this information will remain confidential.

This District is also establishing a COVID-19 2021 - 2022 Dashboard which will be posted on our District website. This database will remain up-to-date and share current and cumulative information with the community at large.

The District will continue to utilize an Isolation Room for students exhibiting COVID-19 "like" symptoms. Students who may skin their knee at lunch and students who may be feeling ill due to a fever, sore throat, etc. will be separated.

Please feel free to contact your child's Principal, the District Director of Special Services, the District Business Administrator, or the District Superintendent. Any one of our administrators would be happy to assist you in any way we can!

● The District has temporarily "paused" approving field trips that involve bus trips longer than 15 minutes for students who can not receive the vaccination due to age. This will be revisited in 2022.

● Walking, outdoor trips may be considered during the 2021 - 2022 school year. Each proposal will be reviewed and voted upon by the Board of Education based on its individual merits.

● Students who are of age to receive the vaccination, with parent permission, may be offered field trip opportunities. Each proposal will be reviewed and voted upon by the Board of Education based on its individual merits.

We will have "traditional" class sizes. We aim to have classes under 25 student; however, that is not always possible.

Check Real Time on Tuesday, 9/7/21. (Schedules may actually be available as early as Friday, 9/3/21). You should be able to access your schedule and homeroom online at that time. LMS will give students their physical (paper) schedules in homeroom on Thursday, 9/9/21.

If you did not get a bus pass and you need one, please contact Ms. Jen Jackson, Director of Transportation (jjackson@lindenwold.k12.nj.us).

Yes. Due to Covid-19, our drinking fountains are not accessible. Therefore, students may bring a water bottle to school to drink. Each building will establish their own protocols and procedures regarding water bottle usage. However, ALL students may bring water bottles so they may stay hydrated throughout the day.

Please expect significant transportation delays during the first two weeks of school. Delays should also be anticipated on inclement weather days, too. In the event your child's transportation is delayed more than 15 - 20 minutes, the District will communicate with you. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in Real Time.