SEASONS GREETINGS from the Superintendent

The County of Bergen, in collaboration with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has launched a new drive-thru COVID-19 testing program at Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Rd, Paramus, NJ. The program will offer antigen nasal swab rapid COVID-19 tests that provide results in 24 hours or less on the following days below for the month of December:

• Wednesday, December 23^rd 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Monday, December 28^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 29^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 30^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Testing is available to all county residents free of charge, regardless of health insurance status. Residents must schedule their test through an online portal which can be reached at www.BergenCOVIDTesting.com. Please note residents must bring their mobile device for check-in. Identification is necessary (driver’s license/ID card, social security card, passport, or birth certificate). Proof of Bergen County residency or proof of employment that you work for one of the 70 municipalities or are employed by a Bergen County public school is required (driver’s license, utility bill, employee work ID or paystub). If you have health insurance, please bring your insurance card.

The County of Bergen and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center remind all residents that mobile testing is only one way to get tested. COVID-19 nasal, saliva, and antibody testing are also available by appointment at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. To make an appointment please visit https://www.newbridgehealth.org/covid-19-testing/ for more information.

The district is in its first year of implementing i-Ready, a diagnostic and instruction program that is directly correlated to the New Jersey Department of Education's Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). i-Ready provides our teachers with important information on students' mastery of required grade-level skills. It offers teachers accurate, actionable data to help them guide their students toward continued growth.

Here are some questions parents/guardians may be asking:

In which grades are we using the i-Ready product? Are all students getting the same experience?

Students in grades 1 - 5 are engaged in i-Ready's personalized instruction; lessons are targeted to each individual’s strengths and needs. This is not a one-size-fits-all product. This is not testing for the sake of testing.

How are the lessons for my child determined?

Each student’s personalized instruction is based on his or her diagnostic performances. i-Ready pinpoints students' strengths and knowledge gaps at the sub-skill level.

When is the second of the three diagnostic tests?

The mid-year diagnostic assessment will be administered in the middle of January.

How much time is my child spending on the iReady lessons?

The time between the three i-Ready diagnostic assessments is where the learning and growth happens! Students are spending 30 minutes a week per subject on personalized instruction in reading and mathematics. Teachers in each class are monitoring student progress and have continuous, real-time data and insights into student learning. i-Ready is not being assigned for homework.

How is iReady helping my child?

Through this monitoring, teachers are able to provide meaningful support to ensure academic growth. Personalized instruction allows for differentiation to meet the diverse needs of our students. Lessons are aligned to the NJSLS, which they are learning in their daily lessons. The instructional data can provide guidance for grouping students by common areas of strength and need, addressing individual students’ underlying skill gaps, and providing strategic instruction on specific skills. Most importantly, i-Ready measures the grade-level skills the New Jersey Department of Education requires us to teach.

Why does my child's score seem low?

The beginning of the year assessment tests students on content for the current grade level, which they may or may not have mastered.

Click here for a video that explains personalized instruction and how families can support students with i-Ready. For additional information, please contact your child’s teacher, principal, or Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Kelly Hughes at kelly.hughes@wwrsd.org.