Half-Day Set For As Haddon Twp. Schools Undergo Coronavirus Prep

HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Haddon Township Public School District will have an early dismissal on March 19 as the district prepares for the possibility of home-based learning due to coronavirus.

K-Club and Aftercare will follow an Early Dismissal schedule, Haddon Township Superintendent of Schools Bonnie Edwards said Thursday morning. After school activities will follow a normal schedule. The early dismissal schedule, as posted on the school district’s website, can be found below:

Early Dismissal Day Schedule
Elementary:
Preschool: AM: 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.; PM: 11:00am-12:30pm
Kindergarten: AM: 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.; PM: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Grades 1-5: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (No Lunch)
RMS: 12:10 p.m.
HTHS: noon

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Haddon Township is among a growing list of school districts that are holding half-day or in-service days to prepare for a disruption due to coronavirus. Read more here: Update On NJ Coronavirus School Closures: Here's The Latest

“Our staff members will use the time on the afternoon of March 19, as well as the previously scheduled professional development day on Friday, March 20 to take part in training and planning to provide remote learning opportunities for students in the event of a closure,” Edwards said in a letter posted on the website. “To support this process, surveys will be conducted to determine access to technology at home. For elementary parents, a survey will come home with your child. Please complete and return the survey promptly. For middle school and high school, student surveys will be completed at school.”

A plan to close schools isn’t imminent, but the school needs to plan now to be prepared for such an event, Edwards said. Parents also need to plan now for child daycare, and reach out to their school’s principal with any specific questions about their child.

“Planning is ongoing for students who are eligible to receive special services and those who are eligible for free or reduced breakfast and lunch,” Edwards said. “We will share more information regarding these plans at a later date.”

The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state's coronavirus webpage.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know