Wyckoff Schools Schedule Parent Town Halls Prior To Fall Semester

WYCKOFF, NJ — Wyckoff Public School's Pandemic Response teams navigated spotty Wi-Fi and intermittent power outages last week to continue working out the kinks of the district's September reopening plan.

Though Monday's Board of Education meeting — which would have featured a vote to approve the reopening plan — has been postponed as power outages in the area persist, the district announced a different set of meetings for parents at the end of the month.

A series of Parent Town Halls will begin on Aug. 24, when the district — via Google Meet or Zoom — will provide updates to the district's planned restart, and field questions.

Staff meetings will also be scheduled to provide updates to teachers and staff prior to the start of the semester.

The Town Hall dates are:

• Coolidge School, Lincoln School, Washington School
• Monday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.
• Sicomac School
• Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.
• Eisenhower Middle School sixth grade
• Tuesday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
• Eisenhower Middle School seventh grade
• Wednesday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Eisenhower Middle School eighth grade
• Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m.

For incoming sixth graders, live guided tours for students will be offered on Sept. 9. Team one will receive a tour at 10 a.m., team two at 11:30 a.m. and team three at 1 p.m.

The tours replace the sixth grade scavenger hunt, which was originally scheduled for Aug. 31.

Parents have been emailing in questions to the district, and an FAQ page has been created to view how the district responds. Read them here: https://bit.ly/2XMV4Dz

So What's The Plan?

All Wyckoff Public Schools will open on Sept. 1 for teachers, and Sept. 10 for students. At the four elementary schools, daily in-person half days will be implemented, with live, small group virtual instruction taking place in the afternoon. (Students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m.)

Eishenhower Middle School will be open for full days at 50 percent capacity, with students attending class on an "AA/BB" schedule. Students will view livestreamed classes during their remote learning days.

The reopening model was determined through the input and guidance from the state, healthcare professional and parent and staff surveys.

All students and staff will wear a face covering upon arrival and dismissal from school, and will follow social distancing protocols.

School nurses and designated staff will administer temperature testing at school entry points. According to the district, if a student or staff member appears ill, they will be "discreetly" moved to another area where they can be further assessed by a school nurse.

Other health measures include:

• Socially distanced classroom setups, complete with desk shields
• A decrease in the use of shared objects
• No assigned lockers, meaning students will keep their belongings with them throughout the day
• Hand sanitizer throughout the building

Like throughout the rest of the state, if a parent or guardian determines that their child won't take part in any in-person learning, remote learning accommodations will be made for that student.

Read the full plan here: https://bit.ly/3kspRzf