Critical updates from SOMSD should have arrived in your inbox yesterday. 
1) Pre-K – 8 Return to School (RTS) Preference Form (Jan. 2021)

• English: https://bit.ly/3moN1q0
• Spanish - Distrito Escolar de South Orange y Maplewood PreK - 8 Forma de preferencia de retorno a la escuela (Enero 2021): https://bit.ly/3o7jIt9
• Haitian Creole - Distri Lekòl South Orange & Maplewood: PreK - 8 Fòm Preferans Pou Retounen Lekòl la (Janvye 2021): https://bit.ly/3mpw3s9

2) Recorded 'Town Hall' with RTS Detail: https://youtu.be/iP8Hs4wAEkw
Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction & Overview (Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent)
• 1:13 Reminder: What RTS Will Look Like (from 8/8 Restart & Recovery Plan)
• 17:30 School Closure Guidelines
• 19:11 Key Considerations
• 27:30 HVAC & Facilities Update (Business Administrator Paul Roth)
• 33:55 Health & Safety Update (Head Nurse Julie Porter)
• 45:44 Special Services Update (Asst. Superintendent Dr. Melody Alegria)
• 53:40 Technology Update (Director of Technology Keith Bonds)
• 1:08:42 Staffing Update (Human Resources Director Stacey Robinson)
• 1:10:43 Scheduling Updates (Asst. Superintendent Dr. Matt Friedman; Supervisor of Pre-School Education Leroy Johnson; Director of Curriculum Ann Bodnar; CHS Principal Frank Sanchez)
• 1:11:36 Instructional Models: Hybrid vs. Virtual
• 1:19:07 Preschool Program
• 1:22:34 Elementary Schools
• 1:25:14 Middle Schools
• 1:25:50 CHS
• 1:35:20 Closing (FAQs, Upcoming Deadlines) - Dr.Taylor

3) Live Q & A on Monday 12/21 @ 7:30 pm. You can submit questions for this event through Monday 12/21 @ 12 noon. 
https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/2020/12/17/live-qa-post-somsd-return-to-school-town-hall-webex/ 

Per the notification from the SOMSD at 7:41 pm, Wednesday night: "Due to inclement weather, the District is closed for a snow day tomorrow. All virtual and any in-person instruction or services are canceled."

The pre-recorded 12/17 Town Hall event will cover updates and provide overviews on facilities, COVID-related health & safety measures, technology, instruction models, scheduling, special services, and other important topics.

Parents/guardians can pre-submit questions and concerns via the two channels below. Questions must be submitted by Thursday, December 10.

1. Email:  communications@somsd.k12.nj.us
2. Online form submission:  bit.ly/THQuestions

In addition, the Return to School Preference form will be sent to families via email/SMS text in mid-December, and final submissions will be due to the District by Monday, January 4, 2021.

More details can be found here. 

If you are in need of food, or know someone that is, there are two food distributions in the coming days:

Today, Friday December 4 @ 1pm. Seth Boyden School @ 274 Boyden Avenue in Maplewood.
Food boxes with meat and dairy; children's coats and winter gear too. 

Tomorrow, Saturday December 5 from 8 - 10am. Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry @ 217 Prospect Street in South Orange. Food boxes with dairy.

Drive-thru. All are welcome. First come, first served. 

Can't go today or tomorrow? Here are details about upcoming December pantry distributions in Essex County. 

Monday 11/30: Board of Ed *special session* @ 7 pm (click here).
This is a special session (one not in the schedule) and in this case, they’ll start it open to the public to allow for public speaks then will go into a closed executive session to discuss mid-year review of the Superintendent. For the first time, the Board of Education will allow for submissions to be read/spoken aloud, instead of just written in. *Comments/statements must be read in three minutes or less*: “In addition to written comments, community members can sign up to provide audio comments to the Board of Education. Audio comments can be provided by connecting to the district’s Webex platform during a scheduled Board of Education meeting.” Next BOE meeting Mon.  12/14. 

Tues. 12/1 & Wed. 12/2 10 am - 2:30 pm: In addition to picking up your Tiger's school supplies, you can also RETURN LAST YEAR'S CLASSROOM AND LIBRARY BOOKS! Pick up free books to read! Donate new and gently used coats and winter gear for kids aged 0 - 18! Finally get your free Tuscan lawn sign!!! Look for signs and 'stuff' near the school supply pick up window, which is room 119 on the Tuscan blacktop. 

Tues. 12/1: SEPAC @ 7:15 pm: Focus on Behaviors and Mental Health. The SEPAC Board will also have updates on advocacy work and there will be time for open discussion. Special Guest Panelists: Cheryl Irwin, Special Education teacher and Consultant; Laura Prato, School Social Worker, Columbia High School; Nicole Stewart, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, SEPAC board member; Arelis Tapia-Vargas, School Social Worker, Clinton Elementary School. Join the Google Meet here: meet.google.com/hwe-qukd-qvt

Wed. 12/2, Thurs. 12/3 & Fri. 12/4: HALF-DAYS + Parent/Guardian - Teacher Conferences!
If you haven't yet signed up for a 15-minute time slot, please reach out to your child's teacher, today. 

Thurs. 12/3 @ 7:30 pm: The Parenting Center is providing a free, weekly parent support group to help parents cope with COVID-related difficulties this school year. Positive Developments licensed therapists will facilitate the group, and parents/guardians can connect with others, gain information, and share ideas on how to address family challenges during COVID-19. Click here to learn more and get the log in details.  

Per Mrs. Majeed's email to all families on Monday 11/23:
What: Math Workbooks for Grades K* – 5;
​          Curriculum Supplies for Grades K – 4

When: Tuesday 12/1 & Wednesday 12/2 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

Location: Room 119 (via the window on the Blacktop/Playground side of Tuscan).

As of this afternoon, 11/23/20, a significant amount of curriculum orders have not been delivered to Tuscan. Available curriculum supplies for Grades K – 4 only were secured from your child’s classroom for distribution as scheduled above. *At this point, we have received a partial shipment of Kindergarten Math workbooks. We are expecting the remainder of the order prior to December 1st.

The complete letter, with the supply list, is available as a PDF, below. 

The Tuscan PTA will also be facilitating collection of Tuscan Library books, and books and other classroom materials you still have from last Spring. We will also have the free Tuscan lawn signs available for pick up. More details to come!