Madison Community Members,
I hope this message finds all of you encouraged by the decline in COVID rates and enjoying the warmer temperatures!
The week ahead is particularly celebratory; in addition to Cinco de Mayo, and Mother’s Day, the next seven days will host National Teacher Appreciation Week with Tuesday, May 4, being Teacher Appreciation Day. After reviewing this update, please set a reminder for sometime next week to thank our dedicated teachers and faculty members. They are the heart and soul of our schools and even a simple email of thanks would be a profound investment in them.
The latest CALI report rates our region at “Moderate Risk” for the first time in 8 weeks.
These rate decreases appear to be reflected in Morris County data and our school data. While this is encouraging news, all parents and students must continue to prioritize the following critical measures:
DO NOT attend in-door gatherings where mask wearing, ventilation, and distancing are not in place.
DO NOT send your child to school if someone in your household is sick or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 - If this occurs, call your school nurse for guidance.
If you are vaccinated, follow NJDOH Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Persons in Non-Healthcare Settings.
The majority of cases that we experience among our students are the result of transmission between unvaccinated individuals within households or at unsafe indoor gatherings. These simple measures can greatly support the continuity of school operations.
TJS, CAS and KRS have successfully transitioned to their Phase 3 extended day model.
All in-person elementary school students are now experiencing in-person, live instruction for all core subjects and special classes. They are also able to attend school until 2:15pm, after which there are no further virtual learning obligations. Please take a moment to thank our elementary faculty, staff and administration for their effort in designing and implementing the third schedule transition of the 2020-21 school year. Their commitment to maximizing in-person learning for our youngest students is to be commended.
MJS will shift to Phase 2 on Monday, May 3, per NJDOH Guidance.
Now that our region is at the “Moderate Risk” level, the NJDOH guidance recommends that secondary schools operate with full enrollment. Accordingly, all in-person students will be permitted to attend school everyday starting Monday, May 3. Please note that the arrival and departure times for MJS students will remain unchanged in Phase 2. Further information regarding this transition has been provided by the Junior School.
MHS will begin introducing Phase 2 days on an intermittent basis starting in the week of May 3.
MHS is currently providing five days of in-person learning for many students that have not thrived in the hybrid environment. Therefore, we are very concerned that under Phase 2, many of these students may be forced to quarantine if exposed to a positive case. Accordingly, MHS will proceed cautiously adding Phase 2 days to their schedule on a periodic basis. Further information regarding the scheduling of Phase 2 days will be provided by MHS. Hopefully, local rates will decline to such an extent that we can hold Phase 2 days on a regular basis in the near future, without forcing many students into quarantine periods. In the meantime, any parent or student that is concerned that they are not thriving in a hybrid schedule can contact their guidance counselor for consultation to determine if a five day schedule is appropriate for them at this time.
MPS welcomes Acting Principal Brooke Phillips as the new permanent Principal of MJS.
Thank you to all community members and staff members who played a role in our process, whether by participating in interviews, contributing to our Thoughtexchanges or sharing sentiments in emails, phone conversations, and/or meetings. After an exhaustive search which yielded many experienced candidates including supervisors, assistant principals, principals and central office administrators, it is my pleasure to share that Acting Principal Brooke Phillips excelled above the other candidates. Throughout all rounds of the process, Ms. Phillips illustrated her vision of an inclusive school community in which stakeholders are united in the purpose of ensuring that all students are able to flourish. Further, in the interview process, Ms. Phillips was able to repeatedly demonstrate the technical understanding and prior record of success necessary to further this vision on behalf of MJS students.
Ms. Phillips was appointed by the Board of Education on Tuesday, April 27, with an effective start date of July 1, 2021. Ms. Phillips had been serving as the Assistant Principal prior to assuming her role as Acting Principal. She is now leading a search for a new MJS Assistant Principal.
Thank you and Happy Mothers Day!
Thank you for taking time to read all of this information. To all of the mothers reading this message and to everyone that is blessed enough to have a mother in their lives, I wish you all a Mother's Day full of love and gratitude.
Stay healthy and Madison Strong.
Upcoming Events:
- Tues, May 11 - Regular Board Meeting, 7pm
- Wed, May 12 - Superintendent Coffee (with District Goal Update), 7pm
- Mon, May 31 - SCHOOLS CLOSED for Memorial Day
- Tues, June 1 - SCHOOLS CLOSED for Unused Snow Day
- Tues, June 1 - Special Board Meeting for Personnel Matters, 7pm
- Wed, June 2 - SCHOOLS CLOSED for Staff In-Service Day
- Tues, June 15 - Board of Education Meeting, 7pm
- Wed, June 16 - Superintendent Coffee, 7pm
- Fri, June 18 - Last Day of School / MJS Promotion / MHS Graduation