Since the start of the 2020-2021 school year our goal has been to reopen our district for in person learning safely and responsibly. To that end, we have faithfully implemented and continually refined all aspects of our plan that remain under our control in order to mitigate the transmission of the coronavirus inside our schools. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 activity outside of our schools continues to rise.

With each new case that is brought to our attention, our nursing staff and healthcare professionals have been hard at work with our school administration to determine the extent of the possible direct contacts and to discern the origin of each case to be sure that it is not emanating from within the school. In several instances, cases involve family members or others with whom our students/staff may have had close contact. Such instances also take time to investigate further. All together, these inquiries take countless hours and, as we have experienced, can occur any day of the week or time of day. We understand the impact that quarantining has on our families, thus we do not make those recommendations lightly or without direction from the health professionals.

To date, our decisions to close the district and/or a school have been directly connected to our need to do so for the safety of our students and staff by reducing the transmission potential of the virus. Furthermore, as of today, all of our schools are open for business. However, that may certainly change at any moment and as time progresses which is why we maintain close and constant contact with the Health Department. When determining the status of our schools we will follow their lead based upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, local health data regarding community rate of infection, the potential for an increased infections, the need for multiple staff and students to quarantine, and the recommendations of the Orange designation on the Regional Risk Matrix.

In the meantime, while our schools remain open for in person learning, our families still retain the opportunity to transition their children to full remote instruction if they are uncomfortable sending them to school at this time. Please reach out to your principal if you would like to discuss that possibility further.

In closing, I wish to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time. Your continued support and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Stay Safe,

-Dr. G.

According to the COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix, Bergen County has now been identified as a “orange/high risk” region, which requires public schools to follow new protocols. Below is updated and important information from the Department of Health that all staff, parents, and students must adhere to effective immediately.

Students and staff must stay home and notify the school nurse if they have:

• Tested positive (viral test) for COVID-19

• Exhibit COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Daily COVID-19 Home Screening Checklist for Students

  • Daily COVID-19 Home Screening Checklist for Staff

  • Potential exposure to COVID-19: Close contact* with a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

*Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

• Travelled to an area with high levels of COVID-19 transmission in the past 14 days:

  • NJ travel advisory list

  • International travel advisory

• If someone in a student or staff member’s household exhibits symptoms, students/siblings/staff member must also stay home from school until the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result. If the symptomatic individual tests positive, the students/siblings/staff member will need to self-quarantine and must contact the school nurse for further instructions.

OUT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS:

Traveling Out of State:

• Families traveling to an area on the NJ travel advisory list will be required to have their child(ren) quarantine for 14 days upon their return to NJ.

• Please notify your building administration if you will be traveling to such an area so that your child can be set up for temporary remote instruction.

Receiving Travelers:

• Families receiving guests from an area on the NJ travel advisory list are not required to quarantine their children.

• Students only have to quarantine if someone in the house, resident or guest, becomes symptomatic and tests positive.

• However, as a precaution, parents may choose to proactively self-quarantine their children.

• Anyone who proactively chooses to self-quarantine must notify their school immediately.

If you have any questions on these protocols, please contact your school nurse directly as they are the most knowledgeable members our staff who can answer your health and safety questions.

Last, but not least, to assist us with our contact tracing, if the school or local health department calls, please answer and provide any requested information to help identify anyone who may need to quarantine and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and community.

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, N.J. 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:

• Tuesday, December 1^st 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Thursday, December 3^rd 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Saturday, December 5^th 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Monday, December 7^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

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

• Thursday, December 10^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Monday, December 14^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 16^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Thursday, December 17^th 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Saturday, December 19^th 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Monday, December 21^st 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 22^nd 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• 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.

Westwood Regional School District is proud to be partnering once more with the non-profit YouthTruth to gather feedback from parents/guardians, staff, and students in grades 6-12. The upcoming anonymous feedback surveys will ask questions on topics like engagement, relationships, and culture. We look forward to learning directly from our community about what is working well at our schools and how we can improve, so that we can continue to enhance learning for all students. This year's survey will include additional questions aligned to our district goals regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as items related to hybrid and remote learning.

Between January 4-22, 2021, grades 6-12 students will take the brief online survey during a designated class period, staff members will take the survey during a Monday meeting, and parents and guardians will receive an invitation via email to provide their feedback via the online survey.

In the meantime, our schools will be sharing their executive summary highlights from last year's survey results so you can see the feedback for yourself. For additional information, feel free to reach out to your principal.

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING: DECEMBER 17, 2020

New Resources for Parents/Guardians