WRMS Weekly Update

Mrs. Penn's email, Update on COVID Guidelines from the WWRSD Health Office can be found again here if you missed it.

According to the COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix, Bergen County is an "yellow/moderate risk” region, which requires public schools to follow specific protocols. Below is important information from the Department of Health that all staff, parents, and students must adhere to.

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

• Tested positive (viral test) for COVID-19 or are awaiting results because of symptoms or a close contact

• Exhibit COVID-19 symptoms: Daily COVID-19 Home Screening Checklist for Students

• Potential exposure to COVID-19 through close contact with a person with COVID-19

• NJ travel restrictions (revised 5/19/21)

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.

Additionally, with the "yellow/moderate risk index", the following quarantine protocols are now in place:

• After Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily, or monitoring,

• After Day 7 if the individual tests negative with a viral test (molecular-PCR or antigen) between day 5-7 and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. (Note: The specimen must be collected between day 5-7 (not earlier than day 5), but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7).

• The person should remain in quarantine until the results are received and are negative. If test results are delayed, quarantine should be continued until after Day 10.
  

• The timeline begins after the last date of exposure.

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

If the local health department calls, please answer the call and provide any requested information to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and community.

Please make sure your students brings the following with them each day to school:

• 2 masks (1 on + a back-up)
• A fully charged, school-issued chromebook & charger
• Headphones
• Refillable water bottles
• Tissue packs
• Individual hand sanitizer
• Other materials according to their teachers

This year has presented a tremendous challenge with unprecedented changes to education. We have approached each one with careful planning, reflected, and learned and improved along the way. Huge praise goes to our students and staff for persevering throughout!

As we reflect on this school year, and begin planning for the fall, we need your feedback. While we still have yet to receive detailed guidance from the NJ Department of Education, the input of our community will be helpful when we do. Please complete the included survey by Tuesday, June 8th.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

We've received additional clarification on Executive Order 241, the lifting of the mask requirements in “outdoor public spaces”, as it relates to schools. Please know that this order does not include child care centers, other child care facilities, youth summer camps, and public, private, and parochial preschool program premises, and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, which continue to be governed by Executive Orders No. 149 (2020), No. 175 (2020), and No. 237 (2021), and any applicable standards issued by the Commissioner of the DOH. As such, everyone, students, staff, and guests, are still required to mask while on schools grounds, with the exception of a mask break or a drink. Thank you for your support in keeping our students, staff and community safe!

Here are specific exceptions:

1. When doing so would inhibit the individual’s health;
2. When the individual is exposed to extreme heat outdoors;
3. When the individual has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
4. When a student’s documented medical condition or disability, as reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Educational Plan pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, precludes the use of a face covering;
5. When the individual is under two (2) years of age;
6. When the individual is eating or drinking;
7. When the individual is engaged in high-intensity aerobic or anaerobic activity;
8. When a student is participating in high-intensity physical activities during a physical education class in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet from all other individuals;
9. When a student, as part of music instruction, is playing an instrument that would be obstructed by the face covering; or
10. When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task.

We're looking forward to a fun end to our school year, and honoring the first 8th grade class from the Middle School! In case you missed the emails, here is the End of Year Letter for families, as well as the information that went out from the PSO's 8th Grade Committee.

Please keep an eye on your email as more details become available!

ALL MEALS MUST BE PREORDERED USING THE DISTRICT’S PREORDER SYSTEM at Payschools Central by MIDNIGHT on Sunday before the pickup week.

EFFECTIVE APRIL 12, 2021 Meals will be distributed as follows:

STUDENTS ATTENDING 5 HALF DAYS A WEEK: Students will be able to pick up meals daily at the same locations listed below. One meal each day.

FULL REMOTE STUDENTS: Students will select to pick up their Meals at 1 of the 6 School Locations. They will be able to pick up their meals twice a week from 12:30 – 1:30. On Monday(s) they will be given meals for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday(s) they will be given meals for Thursday & Friday.

· Berkeley School: At the covered area located to the Right side of the Main Entrance

· Brookside School: Front Door of the Building

· George School: Back of the Building by the All Purpose room Door

· Washington School: Front Door of the Building

· Westwood Regional Middle School: Front Door of the Building

· Westwood Regional High School: HS Cafeteria enter through the courtyard

STUDENTS ATTENDING FULL DAY PROGRAMS: Students will be served lunch daily at the school they attend.

REMINDER – ONLY STUDENTS THAT PREORDER WILL RECEIVE MEALS

Friendly reminder that all lunches must be pre-ordered through our online system PaySchools Central. We cannot accept phone calls or messages. Please visit our Food Services website for more information. Thank you!

Pomptonian is happy to announce another edition of the Nutrition News with award-winning pediatrician, author and keynote speaker, Dr. Jill Garripoli Pedalino. Dr. Jill and Pomptonian’s Corporate Dietitian, Toni Bowman, will be discussing “The Power of Breakfast”.

Here is a link to the video: https://www.pomptonian.com/nutrition-news/

Submit Your Box Tops and Make Money for Your School!

Did you know you can submit Box Tops electronically? In fact, although you can still hand in clipped Box Tops, the system has transitioned almost entirely to electronic submission. Download the Box Tops app, select Westwood Regional Middle School, and scan your store receipt within 14 days. The app will automatically find your Box Tops products and credit WRMS.

Shopping online or getting a digital receipt in store? You can still submit your Box Tops via the app or on the website, boxtops4education.com.

Need help? Read more at https://www.boxtops4education.com/emailgroceryreceipts or contact Sue Chevrier at chevsil@juno.com.

And don’t forget to click on the special bonus offers to earn even more money for our school!

If you need help with your school-issued chromebook, please have your student email tech.help@wwrsd.org from their school account.

The Guidance Counselors are available every day to meet with students regardless of whether they are scheduled for in-person or remote learning. In an effort to maintain current safety guidelines, students are strongly encouraged to request meetings with their counselors by emailing them. Counselors will contact the student as soon as possible to schedule an online or in-person meeting. Counselors will continue to see students on an emergency basis, as well.

If your student is having difficulty, be is academic, technological, social emotional or more, please reach out to us! Our trained staff is here to support them whether we are in-person or remote!

Counselors:

• 6th Grade - Ms. Fabrocini (caitlin.fabrocini@wwrsd.org)

• 7th Grade - Mrs. Androulakis (christie.androulakis@wwrsd.org)

• 8th Grade - Mrs. Sparno (jenny.sparno@wwrsd.org)

Nurses:

• District Head and Middle School Nurse - Mrs. Penn (deborah.penn@wwrsd.org)
• Part-time nurse and RN - Mrs. Galow (kenia.galow@wwrsd.org)

Assistant Principals:

• 6th Grade - Mr. Corso (michael.corso@wwrsd.org)

• 7th Grade - Mr. Albert (barry.albert@wwrsd.org)

• 8th Grade - Mr. Attanasio (michael.attanasio@wwrsd.org)

The Westwood Regional High School National Honor Society is pleased to provide free peer tutoring throughout the academic year. The National Honor Society (NHS) is a selective organization of students who have excelled academically and demonstrated consistent character, leadership and service within their school and community.

NHS students are seniors who can provide extra help in various subjects. This year, during our Hybrid schedule, NHS students are available to meet individually with a limited number of middle school students via Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime, or phone call. Students who are having difficulty in a particular class, want to review before an assessment, or need help with a particular topic should reach out to their grade level Guidance Counselor for more information about how to get involved with the NHS Peer Tutoring program.

• 6th Grade - Ms. Fabrocini (caitlin.fabrocini@wwrsd.org)

• 7th Grade - Mrs. Androulakis (christie.androulakis@wwrsd.org)

• 8th Grade - Mrs. Sparno (jenny.sparno@wwrsd.org)

Please find a Bergen County Mental Health resource document (updated 3/1/21) for your reference and support. You can also check out the resource page on www.BergenResourceNet.org regarding resources about inclusion, social consciousness and understanding, etc. Recently, they shared with us some Self-Care Strategies for Resilience as well.

Need help buying groceries? NJ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is New Jersey's food assistance program that can help you buy groceries. Learn more about NJ SNAP at www.njsnap.gov or see their flyer for more information.

Westwood Rec's 2021 Summer Programs are open for registration!

Please click here to access an online library of electronic flyers for our community partners.

Please mark your calendars for important upcoming events...

• 6/8 - 7th Grade Choir & Band rehearsals, 9-11:30 AM
  
• 6/8 - NJHS Inductions, 6:30 PM
• 6/9 - 6th & 8th Grade Band rehearsals, 9-11:30 AM
• 6/9 - 7th Grade Concert, 6:30 PM
• 6/10 - 6th and 8th Grade Choir rehearsals, 9-11:30 AM
• 6/10 - 6th Grade Concert, 6:00 PM
• 6/10 - 8th Grade Concert, 7:30 PM
• 6/15 - Concert Rain Date
  
• 6/16 - 6th & 7th Grade Field Day - in-person and all remote students are welcome
• 6/17 - 6th & 7th Grade Field Day rain date
• 6/17 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM
• 6/22 - 6/24 - Early dismissal days, no afternoon classes
  
• 6/22 - 8th Grade Culmination rehearsal (during the school day)
• 6/22 - 8th Grade Yearbook Signing (during the school day)
• 6/22 - PSO's 8th Grade Dance @ Biagio's, 6:00 - 10:00 PM
• 6/23 - 8th Grade Breakfast, 8:30 AM
• 6/23 - 8th Grade Culmination rehearsal, 9:30 AM
• 6/23 - 8th Grade Culmination, 6:30 PM
• 6/24 - 8th Grade Culmination rain date, 10:00 AM
• 6/24 - Last day for students
• 6/30 - Report cards posted online
• 6/30 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM

Next week's schedule:

• Monday, 6/7: B Day, periods 1-5, lunch, 6-7
• Tuesday, 6/8: A Day, periods 7-3, lunch, 2-1
• Wednesday, 6/9: B Day, periods 7-3, lunch, 2-1
• Thursday, 6/10: A Day, periods 1-5, lunch, 6-7
• Friday, 6/11: B Day, periods 1-5, lunch, 6-7

Email: shelley.laforgia@wwrsd.org
Website: http://www.wwrsd.org/westwoodrms
Location: 23 3rd Ave, Westwood, NJ, United States
Phone: 201-664-5560
Facebook: facebook.com/WRMiddleSchool
Twitter: @wrmscardinals