Gloucester Township School Districts To Start Remote Learning

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Schools in the Gloucester Township K-8 and Black Horse Pike Regional public school districts are moving to a remote learning plan due to coronavirus.

Each district announced on Saturday night that they will institute remote learning plans from March 17-30. On Monday, all K-8 schools will be closed to students so staff can have a professional development day. The township’s three high schools will have a half-day, with dismissal at 11:45 a.m.

During the single session day, high school students will learn the expectations from their teachers on remote learning, clean out their lockers, and take home any personal belongings. Read more here: Update On NJ Coronavirus School Closures: Here's The Latest

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“We plan to reopen school buildings to resume normal operations on Tuesday, March 31, 2020,” Gloucester Township Superintendent of Schools John Bilodeau said. “Because of this closure we would encourage our families to begin making arrangements and/or thinking about what you may do if the District is compelled to close down for an extended period of time after March 30. We understand, due to the abrupt timing of this closure of buildings, some students may not have all of the resources they need for remote learning from home. The parents of those students will be notified on Monday how those materials will be distributed. Please note that I will continue to communicate with all of you throughout this closure.”

“During the two weeks at home, students will learn remotely via their Chromebooks and instruction by their teachers each day,” the Black Horse Pike Regional School District said in a statement. “Students will log into their Chromebooks daily to complete their assignments because even though they are not reporting to school, learning must continue. There is a lot of information on our website if you have any questions. Parents, please be supportive and encourage your students to keep up on their learning and log in each day. If any of this changes you will be notified. Please keep watch on our main webpage at www.bhprsd.org. This entire message is on the District and Schools’ homepages.”

The closure in both districts affects all school programming, including before-and after-school activities, all athletic and extracurricular practices and competitions during this time.

All field trips for the high school students have been cancelled through April 30. Theatrical productions and all other events will be limited to 250 people, per Gov. Phil Murphy’s recommendation earlier this week.

A Chromebook service station will be set up in Highland High School's LMC between 9 a.m. and noon on Thursdays. Students can pick up loaner Chromebooks and get their Chromebook repaired if necessary.

“Most importantly, we have developed an Educational Continuity Plan that allows our learners to remotely learn using their Chromebook 1:1 devices,” Black Horse Pike School District officials said. “Students are expected to log in daily by 9 a.m. to check assignments and complete them as assigned by teachers. Over the course of a school week, students can expect a minimum of 10 hours of remote instruction/learning opportunities. Our staff will continue to check voice-mail and email, so please email us any questions or concerns. Teachers will have remote office hours and communicate them to students using email or Remind accounts.”