Superintendent's Message

Dear Parents/Guardians,

One week from today your child will have experienced their first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year. Although this global pandemic has challenged us all in so many ways, thanks to the amazing efforts of our administration, custodial staff, teaching staff, support staff, PTO, Board of Education, and the support of so many parents and community members we are able to look forward to this being an amazing year.

This year “Back to School” photos will be dotted with masks, parents will be adding hand sanitizer to their children’s daily morning routine, and a kiss on the forehead of your child as you send them off to school will be preceded by a few swipes on our screening app. While things will be different you can be assured that we have taken all the care to ensure your child will be safe, supported, and academically successful during their school days. This effort has been an ongoing one all summer and we are happy to share that it has been supported and guided by the Hackensack Meridian Health Assist Program for Reopening America.

More than ever, you will be entering into this school year with many questions, anxieties, and uncertainties. In an effort to help you navigate this guidance the following information will be coming over the next few days:

1. District Hybrid Handbook for Parents created by our Principals, Ms. Feeney & Mrs. Gibbons

2. Student Schedules for In-Person Days, Virtual Days, and Full Remote Students released by our Principals, Ms. Feeney & Mrs. Gibbons

   • PreK-5 Homeroom Teachers on or about Friday, August 28th

   • 6-8 Student Schedules on or about Friday, August 28th

   • Full Remote Student Schedules on or about Monday, August 31

   • PreK-5 Virtual Day Schedules on or about Tuesday, September 1

3. District Guide to Virtual Learning created by our Supervisor of Curriculum, Mrs. Ridoux

4. A Reopening Virtual Tour of our buildings created by me

I know you have been very patient in waiting for this information and we appreciate this a great deal. The planning behind what you will read and see has been a monumental task and it is bringing us “down to the wire” to have it all ready!

I know there has been much anticipation about what the first days of school will look like. This has been a question we have been pondering and working through ourselves as a school district. In the best interest of all of our K-8 students, we are announcing that our first days of school, September 3rd and 4th will be virtual with both Cohort A and Cohort B together. Our full remote students will begin the year the same way within their full remote homeroom. Pre-Kindergarten classes will begin their school year in-person on September 3rd at their regularly scheduled times.

The reasons for this virtual start for our K-8 students are as follows:

• Bringing Cohort A and B together will start the year off with a sense of community. In this community they can build a relationship across cohorts, celebrate their return to school, and establish routines and procedures for their in-person and virtual days.

• Doing so virtually allows students to see their teacher for the first time without a mask, see each other with the giant smiles the first day brings, and get them prepared for seeing their teacher and classmates once in school with masks on. In addition, before students enter the school, the teacher can prepare them for the entry procedures and classroom routines so that students will feel more comfortable with what they will be doing and experiencing.

• Bringing Cohort A and B together and doing so virtually allows for equity of both groups. For the support of our children’s social and emotional well being, having neither group be the first group and countering perceptions of who came on “real first day of school” is important.

• In preparing for Tuesday, September 8th the teachers can get Cohort A ready for their first day in school and Cohort B ready for their first virtual day through virtual breakout sessions.

I In preparation for this, we will have students pick up their Chromebooks and chargers on a schedule to be set for September 1st (full remote students) and September 2nd (all other students in the district). Specific instructions will be sent out from the building principals regarding the schedule for this pick up. We ask that Chromebooks for all students in the district are picked up at the designated time.

With students entering the school buildings beginning on September 8th for Cohort A and September 9th for Cohort B (except for PreK, which will all enter on September 3rd), we will begin our screening processes with students. This will be inclusive of parents completing a screening app before 7:45AM each day for each child and children being thermally scanned as they are entering the building. Parents will be sent instructions for downloading the screening app from their phone’s app store as well as instructions on how to complete the CDC-based questionnaire in the app early next week.

This year we continue our effort in “Igniting Potential”; the potential of each student as an individual and all of the students collectively as a school community. Soon, after we get the school year started, I look forward to providing you with an update on the many great things occurring in our schools for the 2020-2021 school year, including updates on our referendum construction.

As you close out your last few days of the summer season, I urge you all to do what you can to table your anxieties and fears for a moment, and cherish your families and children. Enjoy that day on the beach, bike ride through town, or BBQ in the backyard. The school year will be there after you awake from your focus on creating great final summer memories with family and as partners we will move through this school year together...resolutely, safely, and successfully!

With pride,

John E. Bormann

John E. Bormann, Ed. D.

Superintendent

June 8, 2020

Dear Parents,

As the 2019-2020 school year comes to a close we are all forced to think about the past few months and wonder about the months to come. A deep reflection about these times conjures up two words:

resilience /rəˈzilyəns/ noun

1. the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

"The remarkable resilience of the students, teachers, staff, and parents of the Rumson School District enabled teaching and learning to occur during the COVID-19 health closure.”

uncertain /ˌənˈsərtn/ adjective

1. not able to be relied on; not known or definite.

“The Rumson School District, like all other schools in New Jersey, is uncertain of what the opening of school in the fall will look like under the COVID-19 health closure.”

These words provide all we need to hold on to as we enter the summer months. In the uncertain times ahead, our resilience has proven that we will continue to ignite the potential of our students academically, socially, and emotionally. I am so proud of what we have done through this unprecedented time in education. Field trips, field days, band concerts, classroom and school celebrations, classroom instruction, parent academies, and so much more...they all still occurred despite not being together physically. While putting a strain on all of us, in many ways COVID-19 gave us the opportunity to prove what we are capable of. My hope is that we continue to remember this in the months and years ahead.

To our teachers and faculty, I hope you remember what you have accomplished. It is you who broke down the barriers of your screens and keyboards and entered into the hearts and minds of your students, allowing them to continue to grow as learners. I urge you to carry your new skills and abilities into the future no matter the classroom setting. For our retirees; Mrs. Julie Lipton, Mrs. Arlene Troynousky, Mrs. Anne Zimbile, and Mr. Thomas Smith; although not a last year of service you ever imagined, I urge you to remember your greater time and impact in our schools. You will be missed!

To our parents, take a moment to appreciate the chance you have had to be so intimately involved in your child’s education. You have leapt from a cursory report from your child of their day to now see the magic that happens with your child as he or she learns to read, solve a math problem, or inquire into a newly experienced topic. I urge you to hold on to these memories, as you may never have as clear a window into your children as learners ever again.

To our students, you are nine years worth of students that have had an educational experience unlike any other in the past or, hopefully, in the future. Although it has challenged you, it has built a level of grit and resilience not known to others outside of that span. I urge you to internalize what you have accomplished and draw upon these traits well into the future in both your academic and personal lives.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” These words, written by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, map out the job ahead. It is time for you to “live forwards.” Enjoy your families and friends through the summer months. As the world opens back up, treat each new opportunity as a treasure, and safely take advantage of it. You won’t be able to help wondering about the opening of school in the fall, but leave that to us and trust in how far we have come.

Over the past weeks, the administration and I have attended numerous webinars, engaged in regional discussions, and done extensive research on the reopening of school. It is about as nebulous as can rightfully be imagined, but so too was the idea of shutting down schools in the first place. As we get information from the New Jersey Department of Health, New Jersey Department of Education, and Governor Murphy’s office, we will define our reopening plan. In doing so we will keep you informed regularly. Both student and staff safety and the assurance that students are educationally equipped will be the guideposts for our planning. Additionally, we are excited to include in our correspondence updates on the many exciting things happening this summer at Deane-Porter and Forrestdale School related to new programming, referendum work, and other facility improvements.

● Referendum projects to begin June 2020

● New furniture (Thank You REF) in grades 6-8 for September 2020

● Additional greenhouse and agriculture facility and program upgrades (Thank You REF) for September 2020

● New furniture in our cafeterias (Thank You PTO) for September 2020

For now, however, I’m putting the last period on this letter and preparing to jump on to the back of our district truck to begin delivering diplomas to our eighth graders. As I hand each diploma to our students,I will be reminded that in these uncertain times our resiliency as a community has prepared each of them for their high school years. For this reason, the graduation of this Class of 2020 symbolizes all the best qualities the school year has demanded of us. In each of their journeys forward we will see what success looks like no matter the uncertainty of the times from which they have come. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful summer!

With pride,

Dr. John E. Bormann
Superintendent of the Borough of Rumson Schools

May 20, 2020

Dear Parents,

With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, our sense of honor for those who have protected our country and our anticipation for the fun days of summer are joined by a new wonder for what the close of the virtual school year will look like. I hope this letter serves to fill that wonder with information you can use to make plans for your own families as you enter the summer months. Our last day of school will be Friday, June 12, 2020 and it will be an 8:30am -10:30am day!

Moving on Up Ceremony- The third grade team has been working with Ms. Feeney to organize a great day on June 12th to virtually celebrate this honored tradition for our third graders moving from Deane-Porter to Forrestdale School. Further information will be shared from the third grade teachers.

Graduation- With the support of the PTO, the eighth grade team, Mrs. Zifchak, and Mrs. Gibbons have an extraordinary series of events planned to celebrate and honor our 8th grade graduates. Thanks to the support of the Rumson Police Department we will be delivering diplomas to graduates at their homes from June 8th through June 11th. On June 11th, a link to our virtual graduation ceremony will be shared with you to watch with your families at 7:30pm. Having previewed the events, I am so excited to celebrate our graduates and give them an end to their years at Forrestdale that will live in their memories forever! An invite was sent out to the families of graduates and further information will be shared with the community by Mrs. Gibbons.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up of Materials - Over the past few days, our teachers have been coming into the building to close out their classrooms. You can officially inform your children they do not have to worry; in doing so they have also packed up your child’s belongings. When coming to pick up your child’s materials in a rolling car line fashion we ask that you:

• adhere to the schedule below,

• refrain from exiting the car,

• wear appropriate PPE,

• drop off any school materials, including textbooks, library books, Chromebooks, Chromebook chargers in a bag labeled with your child’s name, grade and homeroom.

Students needing technology for summer programs will be given the opportunity to keep their devices over the summer.

More specific details and time slots by homeroom will be sent at a later time, however, please use the information below to save the date!

Friday, June 12 - 11:00am-1:30pm
Grade 7 - Narumson 4th Grade Loop at Forrestdale
Grade 8 - Forrest Ave Front Loop at Forrestdale

Tuesday, June 16 - 9:00am-11:30am
Grade 6 - Narumson 4th Grade Loop at Forrestdale
Grade 1 - Blackpoint Front Loop at Deane-Porter

Wednesday, June 17 - 9:00am-11:30am
Grade 5 - Narumson 4th Grade Loop at Forrestdale
Grade 2 - Blackpoint Front Loop at Deane-Porter

Thursday, June 18 - 9:00am-11:30am
Grade 4 - Narumson 4th Grade Loop at Forrestdale
Grade 3 - Blackpoint Front Loop at Deane-Porter

Friday, June 19 - 9:00am-11:30am -
Kindergarten & PreK - Blackpoint Front Loop at Deane-Porter

We are doing this after school closes to ensure students have access to their materials through and including the last scheduled day of school on June 12th.

Some parents have inquired about the best way to get gifts to their child’s teacher. If you have non-perishable gifts for your teachers, please ensure they are clearly labeled and drop them off at the scheduled times above. We will ensure our staff gets them!!!!

Summer Programs- All programs this summer will be virtual. Further details will be provided by our Supervisor of Special Education, Mr. Snyder and our Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Mrs. Ridoux.

Extended School Year Program - M-Th July 6th - August 4th
This program services our students with disabilities.

Summer Title I LEAP Program - T/W July 7th - August 19th
This program services students who are currently receiving intervention services.

Virtual Learning Summer Program - T/W July 7 - August 19th
This program services students who are not receiving intervention services currently but who have been identified as needing some additional support through our virtual learning gap analysis.

“Skill a Week” Program - July 13 -August 17th
This pre-recorded video, self-paced program will be available to all students who opt to keep their skills fresh over the summer months.

In addition to these programs, the Curriculum Office will also be sharing the grade level summer work in mathematics and English Language Arts we annually provide to students.

Once again, a long letter filled with a lot of information. After reading and digesting all this we can all enjoy a relaxing Memorial Day weekend knowing what the end of our 2019-2020 school year will look like. Please remember school will be dismissed on Friday, May 22 at 10:30am to begin the weekend and school is closed on Monday, May 25th for Memorial Day. As you enjoy some socially distanced BBQ’s and beach visits this weekend, take a moment to remember those who have given their life to serve their country and in the current climate those who have lost their lives to a battle with this invisible virus. Then turn to family and friends and give them an air hug and blow a kiss from six feet away!

With pride and wishing you good health,

Dr. John E. Borman
Superintendent of the Borough of Rumson School District

May 1, 2020

Dear Parents,

With the announcement of New York schools remaining closed for the remainder of the school year, I was holding out on sending this letter to you in hopes that I could have more concrete information to share. After listening to Governor Murphy’s address at 1:00 pm today, we have all learned that we will know more early next week. I look forward to sharing further information soon after.

As part of our planning for the remainder of the school year, our teachers and administration have used their recent time to carry out three tasks.

1. Analyze the curriculum through a “gap analysis” to identify areas that may need revisiting as students enter the next grade level,

2. Analyze individual student performance through a “gap analysis” to identify areas those students may need support with as they enter the next grade level, and

3. Transition to a grading system that will support us with items one and two, ensure equity in comparison to the first and second trimester and from home-to-home, and hold to a degree of accountability that both supports growth and caters to mental wellness.

While these are practices we use every school year we are doing so this year with the potentially acute impact of this unprecedented virtual learning environment in which we are working. In spite of the challenges posed through this virtual environment, we strive to ensure our students are as successful in their next phase of schooling as any other school year.

Across the state and country, educators have been actively engaged in what grading should look like during virtual teaching and learning, and the Rumson School District has been no different. One question has been central to our thinking: how do we ensure the success of our students while acknowledging that learning environments at home do not provide the same consistency from student to student? This dialogue has guided us to decide that grading should not look the same for the third trimester. To this end, at the April 29th Board of Education meeting, the board approved the following changes to grading, due to virtual learning:

Grades Pre-K - 4

Students will be scored on the standards presented, using the same report card template. However, the rubrics that have been used in the past do not reflect the scores teachers will use. Instead, teachers will use the following marks:

Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science

• • A “1” will indicate that the student has made incomplete progress in the defined grade level standard.

  • A “2” will indicate that the student has made appropriate progress towards meeting the grade level standard.

  • An “NA” will indicate that this standard was not taught during Trimester 3.

Related Arts / Specials (STEM, Art, Phys Edu, Health, Music, World Lang)

• • A “P” will indicate that the student has made incomplete progress in the defined grade level special subject area.

  • An “M” will indicate that the student has made appropriate progress in the defined grade level special subject area.

Grades 5-8

Students will be scored on the standards presented, using the same report card template. However, the teachers will not be entering numerical grades. Instead, teachers will use the following marks:

Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science, Health, World Lang

• • A “1” will indicate that the student has made incomplete progress in the defined grade level standards for this subject area.

  • A “2” will indicate that the student has made appropriate progress towards meeting the grade level standards for this subject area.

  • A “3” will indicate that the student has made excellent progress towards meeting the grade level standards for this subject area.

  • Final Year-End Averages will be an average of the first and second trimester only

Related Arts / Specials (STEM, Art, Phys Edu, Music)

• • A “C” will indicate that the student has made incomplete progress in the defined grade level special subject area. This does not translate to a letter grade.

  • A “B” will indicate that the student has made appropriate progress in the defined grade level special subject area. This does not translate to a letter grade.

  • An “A” will indicate that the student has made excellent progress in the defined grade level special subject area. This does not translate to a letter grade.

*Please note that a score of a “1”, “C”, or “P” does NOT indicate that a student will be considered for retention, but will rather provide staff with important information about the learning plan the student may need moving forward to reteach these skills.

The staff’s professional time today allowed for teachers in Gr 5 - 8 to make the necessary Gradebook conversions in Genesis to represent these changes. On Monday, you will note all prior work has been combined into one cumulative score, entered as a “Test / Large Project” score defined as “Virtual Learning March - April.” This score will be listed using the rubric above (“1,2,3”). Moving forward, all individual work will be scored using 1,2,3 in Genesis Gradebook, and Trimester 3 final grades will reflect 1,2,3 as well. The current grading weights, by assignment category, will remain the same:

• Classwork / Homework - 10%

• Test / Large Project - 40%

• Quiz / Small Project - 50%

The purpose of the new rubric is to track specific standards and skills found within assignments to ensure we can provide the necessary support for each student as they enter their next grade level. This information will be valuable to teachers in the next grade level so they may ensure such skills are addressed prior to the teaching of new material.

Our staff has engaged in many passionate conversations during our meetings this past month about grading and how impressed they are with the students’ work. Furthermore, they have been cognizant of how difficult it may be for some of our students and families to maintain the pace of virtual learning instruction. The teachers feel that some students have felt added stress related to the “snowball” effect when they are missing assignments. Should the Governor confirm that our schools will not reopen, beginning next week (beginning May 8), we will be taking each Friday as a Flexible Friday. Flexible Fridays will be structured to allow for the following:

1. Teachers will post a message / Morning Meeting to kick off the day, with a list of items for students to complete for the day.

2. No new work will be posted. This day is for the completion of missed work or the practice of previously learned lessons. Specific guidance will be provided to students by their teachers.

3. Students will submit any missed work in their core subjects and specials by the end of the day Friday.

4. Students will ask teachers any questions they may have via email (Gr 6, 7 & 8) and/or Google Classroom (in all grade levels), as teachers will be on-call to provide more individualized assistance, as needed.

5. If a staff member has scheduled a hangout with a student, the student must be sure to attend it!

6. Students can participate in enrichment activities such as those on the Wellness Menu (see: Wellness Month Menu) and/or any provided by the staff!

7. During this time teachers will be working with administration and colleagues on the gap analysis of the curriculum and student performance, placement for the 2020-2021 school year, and other end-of-the-year tasks that have become difficult to complete without being together in person.

Information about placement for the 20-21 school year will be forthcoming from the Curriculum Office; however, please note that the staff will not be viewing the Trimeter 3 work in the same way in making these decisions, as the grades will look different and represent a different body of work based upon each individual student’s home learning experience.

As the weather warms up and the virtual version of spring fever and “8th-grade itis” sets in, know that our goal is to ensure your children are prepared for their next phase of schooling. I commend our staff for their commitment to our students and you for your commitment to our teachers and schools. I hope that a little bit of lightness on our Flexible Fridays lends to a little less stress at a time of year to which we all look forward.

Sincerely,

Dr. John E. Bormann, Superintendent of Rumson Schools

April 24, 2020

Dear Rumson Community,

Let me begin by sharing how incredibly proud I am of the Rumson community. In these unsettling times, our community’s potential has been fully ignited. Teachers, administrators, parents, students, borough employees, police officers, and small businesses have all rallied together to overcome these uncertainties. This can be felt when experiencing a birthday “parade,” noticing autism awareness ribbons hanging in windows, finding your PTO Bulldog sign while taking a walk, receiving gifts from local businesses during virtual bingo games, or scrolling through social media and YouTube to find virtual Earth Day festivities carried out by our students and teachers, parodies sung by staff members, and many other activities that would normally be confined within the walls of the classroom. This is all evidence that our community knows how to “turn lemons into lemonade!”

While we all make the best of this situation, we wait for further guidance on New Jersey’s blueprint for beginning to reopen the state in the most responsible and healthy manner appropriate. As part of this blueprint, by May 15th, Governor Murphy and Education Commissioner Repollett will include guidance for schools. As we wait for this guidance, we plan. With the support of the Rumson Board of Education, administration and staff have worked together to plan for the remainder of the school year. What follows is a brief update on various events. More information will follow.

• Field Days - The PTO and our Physical Education/Health teachers have worked together to put together an amazing series of events. The Deane-Porter and Forrestdale Field Days will be held virtually this year on May 15th, with events leading up to this date.

• Moving on Up Ceremony - Ms. Feeney and the third grade team are working on putting together a virtual celebration that will be followed with additional activities in the Fall, once our third graders have crossed the path to Forrestdale and are in fourth grade.

• Camp Bernie - This year’s sixth grade will be continuing the tradition, and going to Camp Bernie in the Fall.

• Grade 8 Washington, DC Trip - Unfortunately, schools throughout NJ will not be partaking in this tradition this year. We look forward to providing you with further updates once conversations with our travel company are finalized. In the meantime, the 8th-grade teachers are putting together a virtual field trip.

• Grade 8 Graduation - Decisions on 8th-grade festivities are on hold until May 15th. In the meantime, Mrs. Gibbons, 8th-grade teachers, and 8th-grade parents are working on a series of alternatives for this celebration. Based on what I have seen thus far, this year’s graduation is sure to be remembered!

In addition to ensuring our students have the opportunity to continue with honored traditions in our district, we are also preparing for the transition of other end-of-year items to the virtual format. One area of focus regards grading and placement. While our teachers and students are doing an incredible job in their virtual classrooms, we realize it is no substitute for the classroom instruction that occurred in a more typical fashion during our first and second trimesters. As a result, it is important that teachers and administration work together to ensure grading and placement be appropriately modified to accommodate this difference. To support this important work, Friday, May 1st will be a 2-hour instructional day. Teachers will provide instruction and assignments from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM only. After 10:30 AM, teachers will be engaging in professional work to support grading and placement revisions for the third trimester and the end-of-the-year. This will include a “gap analysis” of skills and standards in the curriculum. This analysis will allow us to determine areas in the current curriculum we will need to focus on to ensure readiness for the curriculum in the next grade level. This will include analyses for individual students and for the grade level as a whole. More information will be provided to parents.

Despite the need to wait for further guidance on many items, the one area we have been able to proceed with relates to facilities. Entering this pandemic era, the district was preparing for many exciting facility renovations and I am pleased to report we are on track with these.

• Energy Savings Project - This project is near completion with a new boiler at Forrestdale, new lighting throughout the district, greater insulation in both buildings, and completion of the installation of solar panels for the district.

• Cafeteria Renovations - Due to the generosity of the PTO, both Forrestdale and Deane-Porter cafeterias will be getting renovated. This idea was spurred by Ms. Humbert’s 5th-grade class and renovations have already begun in the Forrestdale cafeteria.

• Referendum - Our referendum is on track and work is scheduled to begin on or about June 12th. Adjustments may be made in this start date pending the school closure status and contractor timelines.

In closing, I am reminded of the many bumper stickers and car magnets I see on any given drive around the state - Jersey Strong! Despite the challenges of all and unfortunate circumstances of some during this pandemic, we have shown we are representative of the best of “Jersey”...as mighty as this tiny little virus may be, it is no match for the strength of our community!

Thank you for all your support and remember to stay healthy, stay home, and stay positive!

With pride,

Dr. John E. Bormann
Superintendent of the Borough of Rumson Schools

April 3, 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope this correspondence arrives with your family well and in good spirits. Weeks into this unprecedented event, time may wear on our souls and diminish the hope of a few. It is in this reflection, however, that we must be encouraged by what we have done together to get this far.
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." (Anonymous)

As part of this uncertainty, we all ask how long virtual teaching and learning might go on. Due to the constantly evolving nature of this pandemic, there are few answers. Based on information from the Monmouth County Department of Education, state and federal press conferences, and the NJ Department of Health, I am confident in sharing that virtual schooling will occur at least through April 30th and most likely well beyond that. As a result, the Rumson School District will be delivering virtual instruction until further notice, and we must accept that the possibility exists that it will last for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Given the overwhelming survey sentiment from both staff members and parents, and upon reflection of state and federal orders focused on social distancing and "staying at home," the Rumson Board of Education is supporting the continuation of virtual teaching and learning through our spring break:

● Virtual instruction will continue through Thursday, April 9th as originally planned,

● Virtual instruction/School will be closed Friday, April 10th through Monday, April 13th,

● Virtual instruction will resume on Tuesday, April 14th and continue forward until further notice.

As a result of this change in the school calendar, the last day of school will be on Friday, June 12th, 2020. This decision brings up more to wonder about, including graduation, trips, placements, special services, etc. The staff, administration, and Board of Education are actively engaged in conversations around these and many other topics, and we will continue to err on the side of over-communication. We intend to honor these essential aspects of our educational program and community in every way we can.

Typically, the spring season is one of rejuvenation and hope. I urge us all to hold on to that more so now than ever before. Looking around and seeing life blossom into action should remind us all what the caterpillar and butterfly have to teach us. As always, we wish you and yours good health and happiness. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or your children need any support.

Be well,

Dr. John E. Bormann

Superintendent of Rumson Schools

March 25, 2020

Dear Parents,

Let me start by thanking the many parents who have reached out to administrators and teachers to provide such positive feedback about our transition to virtual learning. It is these positive notes that give our staff the vote of confidence to keep moving forward in such an uncertain time in education. As you have thanked so many of us, I want to thank you all for sharing the reins of teaching and supporting your children, our students. I can only imagine how difficult it is for both our teachers and parents to balance jobs, child-care, and education.

It is with this in mind that I want to give you as much notice as possible regarding the next steps to our school closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many mixed messages out there from state and federal decision-making, it is my responsibility to sift through this information and reflect on conversations with our Monmouth County Executive Superintendent and our Monmouth County Health Commissioner to make the most responsible decision for the health and safety of our students and staff. Upon my recommendation, the Rumson Board of Education has decided to continue virtual instruction and keep our buildings closed until at least Monday, April 20, and even this date is speculative in terms of a “for sure” return date.

• Thursday, March 26, 2020 - Thursday, April 9, 2020: Virtual Instruction will continue (please see details below)

• Friday, April 10, 2020 - Sunday, April 19, 2020: Spring Break

• Monday, April 20, 2020: TENTATIVE School Reopening. Again, all of us must be prepared for this opening to be delayed. Further information will be provided prior to April 20th.

While virtual schooling can never match the high quality of teaching and learning that occurs in our classrooms, we must aim to reach that potential each day. In that spirit, the following adjustments are set to begin Monday, March 30:

• Grade PreK/Transitional Kindergarten:

  • Instruction will continue as it has the past eight days of virtual learning with a schedule sent to students and parents each morning by 8:30 AM

• Grades K-3:

  • School hours will follow an early dismissal schedule (8:30 AM - 1:00 PM) beginning Monday, March 30. During this time instruction will continue as it has the past eight days of virtual learning with a schedule sent to students and parents each morning by 8:30 AM

  • From 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM students and staff will break

  • From 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM students will work on assignments with digital access to teachers and staff for follow up help. Also, during this time, additional services for identified students will be provided.

• Grades 4-8:

  • School hours will follow an early dismissal schedule (8:30 AM - 1:00 PM) beginning Monday, March 30. During this time students will follow their nine-period schedule according to our 6-day rotation, beginning with Day 1. Students will begin with homeroom from 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM and following their regular nine-period schedule. Information will be provided to students and parents prior to 8:30 AM each morning.
    ​Example: Students will report to their scheduled period 1 class on Day 1 through Google Classroom and receive instruction from their teacher with those students who are typically in that class when they are in school. They will then move to their period 2 class through Google Classroom, etc.

  • From 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM students and staff will break

  • From 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM students will work on assignments with digital access to teachers and staff for follow-up help. Also, during this time, additional services for identified students will be provided.

It is our intent that this schedule adds routine and structure to our students' day in preparation for their return to school. In addition, it will allow teachers to work with smaller groups of students, move forward with new skills and content in the curriculum, and differentiate instruction where appropriate.

In preparation for this transition to a new schedule, teachers will be hosting virtual instruction on Friday, March 27 from 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM only. Staff will use the remainder of this day to work together virtually to plan and organize instruction through spring break (and possibly beyond). This day will count towards the 180-day school calendar.

On a related note, Governor Murphy announced yesterday that all state tests (NJSLA, ACCESS, DLM) are canceled for the 2019-2020 school year. We will follow up in future correspondence on any impact this may have on placement and other areas dependent on testing data.

I know this is a lot of information! Below is a “List of Important Dates” for you to use to navigate this transition into “phase two” of our virtual learning plan. I wish this was not necessary and look forward to the days when we can fill our hallways and classrooms with the voices and giggles of your children. That day will come soon enough. In the meantime, we thank you for your support and wish you and yours good health.

List of Important Dates:

• Thursday, March 26, 2020: Virtual Instruction continues as it has been done the past eight school days

• Friday, March 27, 2020 - Virtual Instruction 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM only

• Monday, March 30, 2020 - Thursday, April 9, 2020: Revised Virtual Learning Schedule begins on early dismissal schedule beginning with Day 1 in the six-day cycle

• Friday, April 10, 2020 - Sunday, April 19, 2020: Spring Break

• Monday, April 20, 2020: TENTATIVE School Reopening (with the acknowledgment that this date too may be delayed). Further information will be provided prior to April 20th.

Sincerely,

Dr. John E. Bormann

Superintendent of Rumson Schools

March 20, 2020

Dear Parents,

I push out this correspondence as the halls and classrooms of Deane-Porter and Forrestdale School are empty, but the pathways of the world-wide web are filled with our students learning and teachers instructing. These are unprecedented times in education! Generations of the past are too familiar with the navigation of historical incidents like the Great Depression, World Wars, 9/11, and Hurricane Sandy and now today’s generation will reflect on this time in similar ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 the Rumson School District sadly closed its doors and classroom instruction began virtually. Over the week prior to the closure our teachers and staff continued to deliver services to students in school while building this virtual platform for teaching and learning. Ultimately, they built the plane while flying it! I am truly proud of what they have put together for the first two weeks.

So what happens moving forward? For the first two weeks of virtual instruction I have asked teachers to be cautious about moving forward with the learning of new topics. With uncertainty in the effectiveness of such instruction it is better that we use this new form of teaching and learning to reinforce past learning rather than move forward with new topics.

With the likely possibility of virtual learning needing to continue beyond these first two weeks of instruction and seeing the overall success of our first week, our faculty and administration will be working together to revise the virtual learning plans so we can move forward with teaching and learning that continues to grow our students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills within the district curriculum. After several virtual meetings to be held early next week with faculty, we will provide you with an update on these plans.

As the plans for virtual learning continue to evolve there are few things we can work on together.

1. With students being comfortable in their own homes while virtual learning, adding some routine to their day adds some stability for them. For example, getting dressed in school clothes for "school time," setting up a desk area for their school work, and treating the Google Hangout as a classroom environment with the same rules and procedures they follow in school. Your support in helping with this is greatly appreciated.

2. With our students working in the virtual cloud even more than they have in the past, I urge parents to not only monitor their children's physical wellness but also to ensure healthy practices of digital citizenship, responsible online communication, and access to appropriate websites and digital materials. With students not interacting in person it is even more important for parents to monitor children's social media access and social gaming activity. It is through these venues that students can cross the lines of digital citizenship and enter into the realm of inappropriate conduct.

3. Once the school day is "over" it is important that students have some release time. Getting outside with the weather getting warmer is the one way this may occur. In doing so please remind your children to use social distancing measures. It is extremely important that during this time parents refrain from having their children participate in play dates and other social gatherings. While independent lay is more appropriate, congregating together on the school's basketball courts and field for group play should not occur. The school's playground has been closed in alignment with the Office of Emergency Management and the Borough of Rumson.

4. Seek your physician's guidance if you have questions, concerns, or if you or your children show any symptoms of sickness. It is important to remain at home while guidance is sought. The CDC website found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html contains such guidance. Related to this, any cases of COVID-19 that occur within the Rumson community will be reported out by the Monmouth County Health Commission No. 1 found at https://www.mcrhc.org/. The schools do not have additional information beyond what the commission provides to the public and the Rumson School District will respond accordingly under the guidance of this commission.

Times like these can also lead to anxiety for both students and parents. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our administration, guidance counselors, or teachers if you need us to support your children. In the meantime, I urge you to use this opportunity to engage in your child’s learning, wish you wellness and health, and join you as we navigate these times together.

Sincerely,

Dr. John E. Bormann

Superintendent of Rumson Schools

March 13, 2020

Dear Parents,

After consideration of information shared at meetings with members of the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) and NJ Department of Education (NJDOE), the Rumson School District will be closed for students effective Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice. While it is our intent to re-open as soon as possible, timing will depend on various circumstances. We will keep you updated.

● Monday, March 16, 2020 will be a “snow day,” with no virtual learning occurring. This day will be made up on June 19, 2020 per the 2020-2021 district calendar. This day is being utilized to give everyone -staff and parents - some time to plan and organize.

● Tuesday, March 17, 2020 will be our first day of Virtual / At-Home Learning. This day and forward will be counted as part of our 180 school day calendar.

● All before- or after-school activities are cancelled during the closure of school. This closure is preemptive as there are no cases of COVID-19 reported in the Rumson School District and our risk level, as assessed through NJDOH risk guidance, is categorized as low. It is being carried out as a means to reduce the interaction of individuals and thereby reduce any possible transmission of this communicable disease in the greater community as recommended by the CDC.

As a proactive measure and in support of the purpose for our school closure, it is extremely important that during this time parents carefully consider play dates and other social gatherings. Seek your physician's guidance if you have questions, concerns, or if you or your children show any symptoms of sickness.

The School Closure Virtual & At-Home Learning Plan has been developed by our faculty, with the support of administration and our technology department. While we cannot replicate the great teaching done in our classrooms, I am confident in our teachers and the experiences they have designed. The teaching/learning will occur as follows:

1. Each morning, just before 8:45AM your child’s teacher/teachers will share the learning plan for the day via your child’s Rumson Google Calendar and/or Google Classroom. Teachers will also communicate this to parents.

2. The plan will include all the work for the day, in all subjects for that day (ELA and Math will occur daily and all other subjects will occur weekly).

3. The plan will provide a time for your child to access your teacher in real-time through Google Hangouts, as well as additional ways to contact teachers. Directions will be provided when the daily plan is sent out and students have practiced this approach in school.

4. Additional information will be provided to students/parents from Mr. Snyder, Supervisorof Special Services, to include any additional services he/she/they receive as part of their educational plan.

5. Ensure your child completes the assignments on the daily plan. Assignment completion will be used for attendance purposes.

6. Please refer to this Home Learning Guidance for Parents for some tips on at-home and virtual learning. Also, please visit our Virtual Learning Plan on the district website for additional virtual learning information.

During this time other members of our staff - our guidance counselors, nurses, and case managers - will be checking in on the needs of students. In addition, our custodial staff will be doing a deep clean of our schools and the schools will be open for administrative tasks. At all times we will be providing parents with updates on our educational services, school closure status, and the state of the Corona Virus pandemic.

This can be a very stressful time for you as a parent and can lead to anxieties for our students. If at any time you or your children need anything, please reach out to any of our administrators via email so we can provide the support you need. You may also call the schools between 8:30am-2:30pm daily beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Ms. Shari Feeney, Deane-Porter Principal sfeeney@rumsonschool.org

Mrs. Jennifer Gibbons, Forrestdale Principal jgibbons@rumsonschool.org

Mrs. Vera Ridoux, Supv of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment vridoux@rumsonschool.org

Mr. Michael Snyder, Supervisor of Special Education msnyder@rumsonschool.org

Sincerely,

Dr. John E. Bormann

Superintendent of Rumson Schools

NOTE: Hyperlinks below will connect you with outside resources

COVID-19 Website 3-26-2020

Rumson School District School Closure Plan 3-19-2020

New Jersey Department of Health main COVID-19 webpage

Center for Disease Control webpage

Local Public Health Directory

Newest Guidance from CDC - 3-13-2020

Previous Messages to Rumson Community Regarding Corona Virus

• Notice_of_Coronavirus_Letter_-_3.28.2020.pdf

• Cornoavirus Parent Letter 3.25.2020 (3) (pdf)

• Cornoavirus Parent Letter 3.20.2020 (pdf)

• Coronavirus School Closure Letter - 3-13-2020.pdf1 (pdf)

• Coronavirus Parent Letter 3-12-2020 (pdf)

• Coronavirus Update 3-09-2020 (pdf)

• Coronavirus Protocol Update - 2-28-2020 (pdf)

• District Response to Coronavirus - 2-26-2020 (pdf)