Princeton Schools To Begin Hybrid Learning Earlier Than Planned

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Public School administrators on Thursday said they plan to bring students back for the hybrid learning model earlier than scheduled.

According to the new plan, students from pre-K, kindergarten and first grade who opted for the hybrid track will return to elementary schools on Oct. 5 at 8:30 a.m. That's a week earlier than planned.

The plan is yet to be approved by the Board of Education, the district told Patch.

Meanwhile, there are no changes to other schedules. As planned, students from second through fifth-grade will be back to elementary schools on Oct. 12. And on Oct. 19, students will return to the middle school and to Princeton High School.

An overwhelming number of parents in the school district had voted for in-person classes to resume, Superintendent Barry Galasso told Patch a week ago.

School principals and teachers are expected to share schedules with parents soon. It will detail times and days for the two hybrid groups and remote learners.

All elementary parents have been invited to Zoom meetings with school principals to answer questions. Students have been assigned a group, which determines which days of the week they will attend school in person, and on which they will receive remote instruction.

The morning learning sessions at elementary school will end at 12:30 p.m., except on Wednesday when all students will be remote. School day will end at 1 p.m. for all students, but will continue remotely until 3 p.m. on the other four days.

Parents have also been given an options for fee-based childcare provided by the YMCA. Childcare scholarships are also available.

There will be daily YMCA enrichment options for students with IEPs, special needs, and those who work with specialists. The sessions have been set up so that children from Group A and Group B do not mix.

Once students are back, masks are required at all times in school buildings and on the bus.

Children will have their temperatures taken with touchless thermometers every morning, and parents must submit a COVID-related symptoms assessment each day for each child.

Here’s what the current schedule looks like:

• Oct. 1-2 - Riverside Autism Program (25 students will attend morning orientation on Thursday and Friday).
• Oct. 5 - Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 will return to elementary schools (hybrid students, groups A and B on different days)
• Oct. 12 - Second through fifth grades return in cohorts
• Oct. 19 - Middle School and Princeton High School students return in cohorts

Last week, some teachers expressed concerns after the school district denied their work-from-home leave requests. Superintendent Barry Galasso told Patch that granting all requests would mean schools would not reopen in the foreseeable future. He also expressed concern for vulnerable students.

The district said it will reach out to teachers and will be conducting meetings with staff to inform them of their options.

Read More Here: Princeton Teachers, Admin Clash Over Work-From-Home Requests

Bus transportation will be available for students, said the district. This new plan will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the Sep. 29 meeting.

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