Watchung Hills High School Pivots To Half Days Amid COVID Surge

WARREN, NJ — Amid the rise in positive COVID-19 cases in the state, Watchung Hills students are being dismissed early this week to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Superintendent Elizabeth Jewett sent a note to the community announcing the early dismissal for all students and staff, which is in addition to already scheduled early dismissal on Thursday, Dec. 23.

"We have not come to this decision lightly, but are making this short-term adjustment in our schedule in response to several recent factors," said Jewett. "Up until two weeks ago, our positive COVID cases and number of quarantined students and staff had remained relatively low and manageable. Our region’s movement from moderate to high CALI (COVID Activity Level Index) score on Dec. 3 has meant stricter guidelines for close contacts and quarantine, requiring an increased number of students and staff to stay home for longer periods of time."

Jewett said implementing an early dismissal schedule next week will allow the district to do the following:

• Utilize one afternoon for collaborative planning time among our teaching staff to plan for increased zoom usage once we return from break to improve the instructional experience of our quarantined students.
• Utilize two afternoons for teachers to provide virtual, personalized instructional support to our currently quarantined students.
• Eliminate our lunch period for the duration of next week, thus, decreasing opportunities for close contacts to occur of any positive COVID cases prior to the holiday break.

While the high school is having an early dismissal, athletic and co-curricular activities will continue as scheduled, commencing at 2:40 p.m. each day. Students participating in these activities should leave campus at 12:05 p.m. and return for the start time of their practice/game/activity.

"While we are aware this is only a short term solution to mitigate the current increase in required quarantines, our goal is to utilize the afternoons next week to prepare for meeting the needs of our in-person and growing number of quarantined students and any other unexpected disruptions to learning which may confront us," said Jewett.

As of Wednesday, Jewett said the district has no plans to go virtual after the winter break.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters