The Herald
Hoboken Public School District
Superintendent's Daily Message (Day 8) - March 25, 2020
I hope that this email finds you and your family well. I continue to have to pleasure of speaking with many families. Today, I have begun jumping into Zoom Sessions with teachers and their classes. Please remember, if you have specific questions about your child and his/her daily academics, the best thing to do is to email the teacher or principal directly. There is a complete directory at the bottom of The Herald. You may also contact the Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Rodriguez Gomez at srodriguez@hoboken.k12.nj.us in regard to any remote learning questions. I am available for anything that you may need and can certainly direct you to the right person. My email is cjohnson@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
Based on the Governor's address, schools will be closed for an extended period of time. Therefore, we will not be back to school on Monday, March 30th. We are planning for required remote learning plans week by week. I will continue to issue The Herald on a daily basis (Monday through Friday). As soon as we receive notification that schools can reopen, I will inform our entire school district community. Additional remote learning plans will be added to the website this week.
Over the past few days, I have received questions about statewide testing, graduation, and assistance with placing order into the school day for children.
- In regard to statewide testing, you will see the Broadcast that finally came out from the NJ Department of Education regarding standardized assessments. The decision to eliminate this stressor by the NJ DOE was to enable staff to focus specifically on students' academic, social and emotional needs during this time away from school.
- I know that a very large question that is looming over the heads of our Class of 2020 is Graduation. The Hoboken Public School District, just as all districts and colleges across the state and nation, understand that graduation and moving up ceremonies are so important to students and their families. Please be assured that we are thinking of a number of ways to address this issue if school closures happen to take us to the end of the year. However, we are only in the second week of remote learning. We would prefer waiting a little while longer to announce any possible alternative graduation plans, since our first choice of course would be to return to school and have a traditional graduation ceremony.
- Ms. Rodriguez Gomez, Assistant Superintendent of Schools has fielded some calls and emails about the use of Zoom and if there is any way that a bit more structure can be created for students. Ms. Rodriguez Gomez and the principals have created some guidelines and expectations around the use of Zoom, Google Classroom, Class Dojo, etc. in order to generate consistent contact with staff. If you have any further questions about this, please feel free to reach out to your child's principal or our Assistant Superintendent.
On Friday, March 27th, at 3:00 p.m. Dr. Cecilia D'Elia, Director of our School Based Youth Services Program, will be hosting a Zoom sessions for all students titled "Zoom in on Students". The purpose of this session will be for Dr. D'Elia to respond to any questions that children of all ages may have about this current situation or to provide suggestions about how they may be feeling. The invitation is below:
Cecilia D'Elia is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/340316668
Meeting ID: 340 316 668
In the meantime, if you or your child would like to submit a question or a comment to Dr. D'Elia ahead of her session, please do so by emailing her at cecilia.delia@hoboken.k12.nj.us. Be sure to use "Zoom in on Students" in the subject line.
Parents and Guardians, please remember that we will continue to distribute "grab and go" meals out of Hoboken High School's Cafeteria on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. If getting to the high school each day is too difficult, please let the food service workers know and they will package multiple days of meals together for you at once. I am happy to announce that any remaining food and milk that we have is being donated to the shelter.
In today's edition of the Herald, I have included a daily video from each of our Principals and Supervisor of Early Childhood. There are also some additional videos featuring stories, theater exercises, healthy tips and fitness, yoga and relaxation techniques.
I encourage you to take time to review The Herald. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook too. I will be checking in with my Hoboken School District Families each day via the Herald. I hope that you will also check in with me. If you would like to send me photos of your children hard at work, please do so. I will include them in The Herald.
Stay well. I assure you that I will keep you updated every step of the way. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Johnson
Directions to Access Our District's YouTube Channel: HPS Video Highlights
- Google YouTube
- Click on Videos
- Type in the Search Box: HPS Video Highlights
- Click the red box to subscribe
Daily Videos from our Supervisor of Early Childhood Learning and Principals
A Video From Calabro Early Childhood Learning Center
Special Series On The Growth Mindset By Chris DellaFave, Director of Innovative Programs
Ms. Miller's Daily Drama Activities for Families
Stories with Staff
Namaste with Dr. Allgaier, School Psychologist at Hoboken High School
Dr. Allgaier's Summary of the Supporting Student Stress, Anxiety, & Mental Health During COVID19 Webinar
Parents/Guardians of Adolescents should practice:
- Patience
- Tolerance
- Reinforcement
It is crucial for parents/guardians to continue to practice:
- Self care
- Adequate Sleep
- Connection to others (calling, Facetime)
- Breaking from news and social media
- Routine
- Capping "purposeless" screen time to 2 hours; purposeless equates to social media/non educational/youtube; it does *not* include Facetime for social connection and remote learning
- Repeating to self and family: “I can only control what I can control; this is our plan today."
- Taking time day by day; avoid talking about chunks of time ahead. We worry about today, not the future. We are planning for today.
- Connect w outside resources like therapists, Dr's and spiritual leaders
Parents ask our kids
1) Are you okay (w pause)? If you’re unsure if your child is suicidal/at risk for harm reach out to local hospitals, hotlines and school guidance/CST/counselors
2) How can I help? (Don’t give solutions encourage their problem solving 1st)
CST/Clinicians:
- Reference a calendar of webinars available for us and parents coming out this week
- Use zoom, phone while following state guidance.
- Maintaining your family/student relationships
- Encourage to share this webinar's PowerPoint w parents once PowerPoint received.
Trusted Resources: Only Use
- World health organization
- CDC
Meditation with Ms. Carrie Ellis, School Social Worker
Healthy Tips from Mrs. Bevacqua
Pajama Day in the Hoboken Public Schools
Crazy Hair Day in our Schools
Sports Day in The Hoboken Public Schools
Art Ideas for Families From Ms. Fasolino, Middle School Art Teacher
The Art Bar blog highlights the current status of our stay at home schooling and displays weekly Art and Play activity guides for learning at home. https://www.artbarblog.com/blog/
This link provides 125 different things that families can do at home.
https://parade.com/1009774/stephanieosmanski/things-to-do-with-kids-during-coronavirus-quarantine/
This final link details 87 indoor activities and games for the kids to play.
Johns Hopkins CTY
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth online courses will remain active throughout the entirety of the district’s remote learning plan for grades 2 - 8. Therefore, there will still be 3 - 5 hours of required coursework to complete per week in order to meet the course ending deadlines for both the three-month and six-month course options.
You will continue to receive email communications on assignment completion, feedback and grades from your child’s Johns Hopkins CTY online course instructor. If you have any questions at all, he or she will remain the first point of contact in regards to CTY curriculum and coursework completion.
Ms. Tara Donnelly will continue to monitor all Johns Hopkins CTY emails at the Middle School level. If students or parents have questions, please reach out to her at Tara.Donnelly@hoboken.k12.nj.us. For all Grades 2 through 5 questions, please contact your building principal or Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Rodriguez-Gomez at srodriguez@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
Students Hard at Work
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
As many of you know, I am a mom too. Although my daughter is 24 years old, she continues to ask me questions about the Coronavirus. I provide her with a number of resources daily to read. I fully understand that talking to younger children about the Coronavirus can be difficult and confusing based on the number of messages that are coming your way from news media. I have attached a link that was sent to me by Carrie Ellis that may help make your conversations a bit easier. Click on the link below:
Resource from the Child Mind Institute entitled How to Make a Home Feel Safe
Social Emotional Resources from the County Office
Mental Health Support
The NJ Department of Human Services operates a toll-free “warm line” which is a resource for people seeking mental health service. The warm line is activated during events that impact the mental health of New Jersey residents. The warm line is available 24 hours and has language access; (877) 294-HELP (4357). NOTE: The “warm line” does not replace 911 and is not used to report emergencies.
Emotional Health Activities
2020-2021 Approved School District Calendar
You've Asked and We've Responded
For the Assistant Superintendent, you may email srodriguez@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Below, you will find each school's directory:
Hoboken Public Schools - A District Dedicated to Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Our Vision
The Hoboken Public School District will be recognized as a premier educational choice and widely known as a best-practice model for academic growth, high quality instruction, innovative and equitable programs, engagement, facilities and personalized pathways that are essential for college, career and life-preparedness in our ever-changing, interconnected global society.
Our Mission
The Hoboken Public School District will prepare confident and resilient graduates who value academic achievement, embrace challenge, honor diversity, appreciate collaboration, and respectfully contribute to their local and wider communities.
Our District Goals
The Hoboken Public School District will implement a rigorous, relevant and responsive curriculum that meets the needs of all students, fosters personalized pathways for learning, and ensures continuous academic growth.
The Hoboken Public School District will support its diverse staff in professional growth, encourage them to serve as role models, and empower them to provide the highest quality of instruction for our students.
The Hoboken Public School District will develop and implement unique and innovative programs that promote global learning, ensure equitable access, and foster the social, emotional and academic growth of each student.
The Hoboken Public School District will engage and communicate with families and the wider community to bridge understanding and advance partnerships.
The Hoboken Public School District will operate well-maintained and safe facilities that respond to our growing student enrollment, support our academic and co-curricular programs, and promote pride across the city.
Email: district@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: www.hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 158 4th Street, Hoboken, NJ 07834
Phone: (201) 356-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HobokenPublicSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @HobokenSchools