Back to School (Soon!)
Office of the Superintendent
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Dear West Long Branch School District Families,
I hope this message finds you well and happy, and still in the thick of enjoying a restful and fun summer break with family and friends. While we are certainly not looking to rush anyone through their enjoyment of summer, this week marks the two-week countdown to school reopening, and we can't wait to welcome our students back!
I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some important updates and information to know as we head toward a brand new school year.
I hope that everyone continues to enjoy a fun and fantastic summer, and I sincerely look forward to welcoming your children back for another amazing year of learning together!
Sincerely,
Christina Egan
Updated Health Curriculum
The state's recent revisions to the NJ Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health have raised concerns among some families. We believe that full transparency regarding health and family life instruction is a critical part of our partnership with West Long Branch families.
Our district has worked hard to source and, where necessary, create age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate resources for our students, which also meet the requirements of the state standards.
Please see the links below for full access to the curriculum, lessons, and specific supplemental resources that will be utilized in the instruction of health for the 2022-2023 school year.
This is the main curriculum website for our district. Each subject area and grade level is linked here for your review.
Health Standards Overviews
If you want more information about the standards, these documents show how the banded standards have been "broken up" into what will be addressed at each grade level.
Textbook Access
Upon request, the district can provide temporary online credentials to view the student edition of your child's health textbook. Or, families may schedule a time to come and review physical copies of the textbooks, if preferred. Requests may be sent to Mrs. Lori Skibinski at lskibinski@wlbschools.com.
Although we encourage families to participate in the health lessons in the curriculum, the district respects parent/guardian rights to exclude their child(ren) from any lesson or portion of the family life curriculum if it is conflict with their conscience, moral, or religious beliefs.
For easy reference, we have numbered each lesson in the curriculum documents. Please review the curriculum for your child's grade, and use the grade-level form to indicate your preferences for their instruction.
To assist in planning and communication, we request that you make any selections you wish on the forms by September 16, 2022. After that date, the forms will be closed, but families will still be able to make requests as needed by contacting Mrs. Skibinski and their child's Building Principal.
22-23 COVID-19 INFORMATION
The New Jersey Department of Education has not yet distributed any specific COVID guidance for the new school year. However, as you may be aware, the CDC recently streamlined its guidance regarding COVID-19. Please click the link below to review the details:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html
- School operations will return to pre-pandemic protocols, including classroom and lunchroom seating.
- Contact tracing and public family notification of positive cases will not take place.
- For confirmed positive cases, 5 days of isolation from the first day of symptoms OR positive test, whichever is earliest. If symptoms have resolved, individuals may return to school on day 6.
- As with any illness, staff and students should remain home when sick.
- As a service upon request, the district still has a supply of self-tests available for families.
We are thrilled to welcome your children back to school for the 2022-2023 school year!
IMPORTANT HIB LAW UPDATE
Here are some changes which may be important to you and your family:
- The findings of a confirmed case of HIB resulting in discipline will now be placed in a student's record on the first, and each subsequent, offense. We want you to be aware of this change from past practice, as previous guidance did not require placement of findings in student files.
- All families will have access to an anonymous, standardized HIB reporting form on the main page of the district website (under development by NJDOE - a temporary form has been placed on the website for now)
- Districts shall post the NJ FAQ about HIB for families (under development by NJDOE) to the main page of the website.
- The State has created the new position of School Climate State Coordinator within the DOE, whose role will be to serve as a resource to parents, students, and educators. This person's contact information, once appointed by the NJDOE, will also be posted on the website.
We highly encourage that families speak to their children about the critical importance of everyone feeling safe and welcome at school. We will continue doing our part to recognize and encourage a kind, bully-free learning environment in the West Long Branch School District.
FREE MEAL PROVISIONS EXPIRING
***REVISED 9/6/2022 - Free Meals EXPIRED, beginning Thursday 9/8/2022
IMPORTANT NOTE: The below is no longer accurate. Please see correspondence dated 9/6/22
This year, those provisions are expiring at the end of September 2022.
Beginning on October 3, 2022, only those families with valid free/reduced lunch applications will continue to be provided with free or reduced lunch prices.
After October 3, 2022, all students will have the opportunity to purchase breakfast, lunch, and snack with cash. Alternatively, families have the option to send money into school or credit their child's account through PaySchool Central.
Breakfast: $1.75
Lunch: $2.90
Snack: A la carte pricing
Please look for the free/reduced lunch forms and more information in your child's Back-to-School mailing, and feel free to contact the main office of your child's school for assistance.
FYI - BACK TO SCHOOL TAX HOLIDAY
School Supply lists for FAS are linked below.
There are NO required school supplies for BME.
In case you missed it in the news, we just want to let you know that the State of New Jersey will offer a tax break for 10 days this summer. The tax holiday includes purchases such as computers, sports equipment, and school supplies.
August 27, 2022 - September 5, 2022
8/31/2022 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2:00 PM, BME
9/06/2022 - First Day of School! (Early Dismissal)
9/13/2022 - Strategic Plan Community Presentation, 6:00 PM, BME Gymnasium
9/15/2022 - FAS Back to School Night, 6:00 PM
9/20/2022 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM, BME Gymnasium
9/22/2022 - BME Back to School Night, 6:00 PM
9/26/2022 - Schools Closed (Rosh Hashana)