January 5, 2022
Greetings Irvington Township Public School District Staff, Families, and Caregivers,
As the omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to surge; we strive collectively to engage our scholars and community to provide quality education. This entails a cognitively challenging curriculum delivered in a differentiated manner. Our committed staff at Irvington Public Schools continues to work closely with students to ensure the safety of all of our stakeholders. Bearing this in mind, the following return to in-person instruction will be as follows:
Students will return on January 18, 2022, for in-person instruction after the Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day (though synchronous instruction will continue daily through January 14, 2022.) Please note this amended date is being implemented in an abundance of caution and in consultation with our Local Health Officer. The school day will be the full length of the instructional day.
Staff will return on January 11, 2022, and teach from the district. This will allow the staff time to prepare for in-person instruction as students return on January 18, 2022.
Central Office will continue to remain open (for in-person support) for questions and support that families and staff may need.
Essential Staff: All essential staff i.e. administrators, custodians, security, counselors, HSSCs, nurses will be in-person to assist both scholars and the community during this period of remote instruction.
Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch in the morning for students to pick up Times: 7:00 AM to 8:15 AM, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM. This will allow students to pick up items during lunch periods as well. Further, students can report as we did last year, to any of the locations listed:
- Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch are as follows: All scholars and families may continue to retrieve meals from their respective schools.
Support for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers: On the website, a letter for download will be available for parents regarding the extension of virtual learning through January 14, 2022, for the parent, guardian, or caregivers’ employer.
Testing: Students and staff must take a PCR test prior to returning to the district. Testing for students began on January 3, 2022, and teachers on January 6th. For those that had to quarantine due to direct contact, the district would like the results from the PCR to provide supports to students and staff upon their return as shared in the letter sent when the quarantine period was initiated. Several testing locations and times have been shared from School Messenger and the Irvington Public Schools website.
Attendance: Students MUST have their cameras on for the duration of classroom instruction. Further, students must be online to be marked on time and present for their classes. Attendance will count, as we must complete 180 days of instruction. The instructional staff will provide live instruction and it is vital that students are a part of the lessons prepared.
Where to Find Links: All instructional links can be found on the teacher’s website as they were last year. Please visit the school website through the district website irvington.k12.nj.us. Once you select your child’s school, select Teacher Pages to find your child’s teacher, where all instructional links will be found. Furthermore, when you see your teacher’s Dojo or receive School Messenger from Central Office or your child’s school, please listen carefully for important information. As always, we want you to be aware, for planning purposes.
Throughout the course of this year, the Reopening/ Safe return plan has remained intact in order to answer questions that you may have during this unique experience. While email responses are often returned within hours of sending, please allow 24-48 hours for an email response. It is very important to keep staff and families informed, particularly during these times.
As we adjust to our new norm, I know we will get through these unprecedented times together, as we continue to “build our community, one student at a time.”
Educationally yours,
Dr. April Vauss
Superintendent of Schools