Dear Families and Students,

 

As you are aware, an important part of our effort to keep everyone safe and healthy was to screen student and staff temperatures at the start of the school day.  To accomplish this in an efficient and safe way, the district ordered five walk-through units in early July.  We were assured that the delivery date would be no later than Saturday, September 5.

 

Unfortunately we received an update today that the delivery date has been moved forward to Saturday, September 12.  We anticipate that this will require the delay of the start for in-person learning to Tuesday, September 15.  

 

Remote learning will be in place for all students, starting Thursday, September 10 through Monday, September 14.  We will follow the normal hybrid bell schedule with 50-minutes classes starting at 8:00 AM.  Please remember that Thursday is a “B” Day.

 

We share your disappointment in this news and appreciate your patience and understanding.  As has been noted previously, the safety and health of everyone will continue to be our first priority during this school-year.

 

Additional updates to assist everyone will be shared with all RBR families on Wednesday, September 9.

 

Sincerely,

 

Louis Moore
Superintendent

Dear Colleagues, Families, and Students,

 

Since late June, we have collaborated with colleagues, local and state officials, and parents to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the guidelines developed by the NJ Department of Education.  Our strategy benefitted from the input of staff, families, and students gathered through surveys and meetings.  In addition, the School Restart Committee met on July 15 and July 28 to share ideas and concerns.  On July 22, the framework for reopening school was presented to the Board of Education and the final version will be shared at our meeting on August 5.

 

A key component of the plan is a hybrid master schedule that combines in-person instruction with remote learning.  We anticipate starting the school year with the version outlined below under “Current Conditions.” To reduce the possibility of virus transmission, we chose not to have a sit-down lunch period and instead provide “grab and go” meal service.  We can rapidly implement a full-day schedule that includes meal service and 70-minute classes in the event that conditions improve.  If health conditions worsen, we can also scale-up remote learning to reduce in-person contact.

 

Normal Conditions	Conditions Improve	Current Conditions	Conditions Worsen	Worst Case
Full School Day	Full School Day	Early Dismissal	Early Dismissal	Full Remote
82 Minute Classes	70 Minute Classes	50 Minute Classes	50 Minute Classes	50 Minute Classes
100% In-Person Instruction	Hybrid Master Schedule	Hybrid Master Schedule	Hybrid Master Schedule (Reduced In-Person)	100% Remote Instruction
Lunch In-School	Lunch In-School	Grab and Go Lunch	Grab and Go Lunch	Grab and Go Meals

 

Students who choose to attend school in-person will be organized into cohorts alphabetically and will come to school for two days and participate in their classes virtually from home on two days. On Wednesdays, all students will follow a remote learning program, with dedicated sessions for each class. (Full-remote instruction will be provided for all families who make that request.  See the FAQ below for more details.) Regardless of whether they are attending school in-person or virtually, students will follow a structured schedule each day.  We selected this model for a number of reasons.  First, a regular meeting cycle will help everyone in planning for family and work responsibilities.  Second, a consistent bell schedule will support academic achievement and emotional health.  The schedule will also have time allocated for individual academic assistance and counseling. 

 

Hybrid Master Schedule Framework

Monday “A” Day 7:30-12:30	Tuesday “B” Day 7:30-12:30	Wednesday Remote	Thursday “B Day” 7:30-12:30	Friday “A Day” 7:30-12:30
Cohort 1 attends in-person Cohort 2 participates   virtually	Cohort 2 attends in-person Cohort 1 participates virtually	Most Students Follow the Remote Schedule Below	Cohort 1 attends in-person Cohort 2 participates   virtually	Cohort 2 attends in-person Cohort 1 participates virtually

 

Bell Schedule

	Monday-Tuesday; Thursday-Friday  (in-person and virtual)		Wednesday (remote)
7:30-8:00	Screening and Homeroom		9:00-9:25 - MOD PE	11:30 - 11:55 - LUNCH
8:00-8:50	Block 1		9:30-9:55 - BLOCK 1A	12:00 - 12:25 - BLOCK 1B
8:55-9:45	Block 2		10:00-10:25 - BLOCK 2A	12:30 - 12:55 - BLOCK 2B
9:50-10:50	Block 3		10:30 - 10:55 - BLOCK 3A	1:00 - 1:25 - BLOCK 3B
10:55-11:45	Block 4		11:00 - 11:25 - BLOCK 4A	1:30 - 1:55 - BLOCK 4B
11:45-12:25	Staggered Dismissal/Lunch Pick-Up

 

In this unprecedented crisis, the health and safety of everyone must remain foremost but we will also ensure that all students have access to a high quality educational program as well as robust mental and emotional support.  Teachers and administrators will continue to meet this summer to ensure we are ready to meet district and state standards, ensure academic rigor, and maximize the hybrid instructional model.  Your ideas and questions have been integral and we have created this “FAQ” that will be revised as needed to address your concerns.

 

What to expect next:

 

-The full restart and recovery plan will be presented at our Board of Education meeting on August 5.  We will post it on the website next week.

-A welcome back letter and packet will be sent to all RBR families in August.  This will include schedules for class meetings as well as other important opening information.

-We are planning on holding a remote community information session before the start of school in August to provide additional information to students and families regarding our instructional program.

 

Throughout this crisis, the entire RBR community has responded with courage, determination, and compassion.  I know that things will be getting better and that we will continue to support and care for each other.  All the best everyone and Go Bucs!

 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

Louis Moore

Superintendent