NEWS FLASH
Florence Twp. School District -- 2/25/2022
IMPORTANT MASK MANDATE INFORMATION:
Dear School Community,
Recently, Governor Murphy announced that effective March 7, 2022, the statewide mask mandate in K-12 schools and childcare settings will end. The Florence Township School District (FTSD) has consistently followed the executive orders of our governor, along with the guidance of the CDC, New Jersey Department of Health, and the Burlington County Health Department.
What you should know:
District survey results from staff and parents:
--55% opposed continued mask mandate
--35% support continued mask mandate
--10% unsure at this time
Daily positive cases for district students and staff have decreased by over 90%
As of Thursday, February 17, 2022, New Jersey has downgraded to level “yellow” or moderate risk
Ongoing data indicates that the spread of COVID-19 has steadily declined in New Jersey since its peak in January 2022
Over the past year, the Florence Township School District has offered multiple vaccination/booster clinics for students and staff with additional sites available in the nearby areas.
In consideration of the above mentioned, it will be presented to the Board of Education at our meeting on Monday, February 28, 2022, that the district Reopening Plan be updated to reflect that masking in all Florence Township Public Schools will become optional effective March 7, 2022.
Students and staff should exercise this choice based on their comfort and parental guidance. As a diverse, compassionate community, bullying and intimidation over the wearing or not wearing a face covering will not be tolerated. We ask that all families have an open conversation with their child(ren) on this topic.
Please be advised that the Florence Township School District reserves the right to reinstate mandatory mask-wearing should it experience a sudden increase in positive cases or a schoolwide outbreak or if the governor reinstates an executive order requiring masks in public schools.
Please note that the current federal regulations require individuals to be masked when riding school buses. School buses are subject to federal masking regulations. School districts are not permitted to override or ignore this regulation.
The Florence Township School District will continue to provide and encourage the following COVID-19 mitigation procedures:
Social distancing to the maximum extent whenever possible
Maintain cohorts to the maximum extent possible
Student desks spread apart facing one direction
Increase outdoor airflow whenever possible
Hand sanitizer available throughout the buildings and classrooms; handwashing guidance provided for students as appropriate
Encourage the use of outdoor space used when possible
Plexiglas dividers for students and staff desks are available upon request
Continuous cleaning of high touch surfaces continues throughout the day and fogging of classrooms and office areas continue each evening
Students may be provided and asked to wear a mask upon entering the nurse's office. A mask will be provided case-by-case based on the purpose of the visit.
Testing available onsite two days a week, through an outside vendor.
With the option for students and staff to be mask optional, the district will closely monitor our rate of positive cases and the number of individuals who are required to quarantine. The FTSD will follow the CDC guidance for contact tracing, which defines close contact as being within 6 feet of someone with suspected or known COVID-19 for 15 or more minutes during a 24-hour period. In certain situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire cohort, classroom, or other groups may need to be considered exposed.
As a reminder, if you are sick, displaying signs of COVID-19, waiting on test results, or have tested positive please contact your building administrator. Keeping our schools safe can only happen if we work together.
We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and flexibility.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
FEBRUARY
2/26 - Roebling STEAM Sat - Lego
2/28 - FTMHS PO Meeting; FTSD Board of Ed Meeting (7 pm)
2/28-3/4 - Read Across America Week
MARCH
3/2 -- Riverfront PTO meeting (Virtual)
3/4 -- Riverfront/FTMHS Progress Reports
3/5 -- Freshman/Sophomore MORP Dance
3/7 -- FTMHS Boys/Girls Track starts
3/9 -- Roebling PTO meeting (Virtual)
3/11 -- FTMHS Baseball/Softball/Tennis practice starts
3/11-13 -- FTMHS "Annie" Musical
3/12 -- Roebling STEAM Saturday "All about Robotics"
3/14 -- Senior Trip Parent Meeting
3/15-18 -- NJGPA Testing for 11th Graders *special schedule see note below
3/22 - FTSD Hiring Event
3/27 -- Diamond Club Fundraiser Breakfast
3/28 -- FTMHS National Honor Society Blood Drive; FTSD Board of Ed Meeting (7 pm)
APRIL
4/2-5 - Senior Trip to Disney
4/6 - Kindergarten Registration Info Night
4/8-9 - Riverfront "The Big Bad Musical"
4/9 - FTEF Night At Races Fundraiser
4/14 - Early Dismissal
4/15-4/24 - Spring Break
4/27 - STEAM & Career Night
4/29 - FTMHS Prom Fashion Show
What's Happening in FTSD:
Congrats Seniors!
FTMHS Testing Update:
***FTMHS will be administering the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) from 3/15 - 3/18 FOR ALL 11TH GRADERS. Please click on the following link to access a letter with important information regarding this assessment and the schedule that our school will be following on these days: https://bit.ly/3JxYT4E
Riverfront students happily learning and students/teachers celebrating 2.22.22:
Roebling Elementary students had a great week:
- This week in STEM, Ms. Jensen focused on Roebling students' energy! After watching videos on what energy is and how it works, MS. Jensen lead Mrs. Ando's 1st-grade class with items from the Franklin Institute Leap Into Science program that focuses on wind and light, then as a group used their own energy to jump, hop and exercise.
- Ms. Schriebersdorf, Mrs. Ridgeway, Mrs. Swanson, Mrs. Pair & Mrs. Blakely's students showed off their Tutus, Ties & Tennis shoes for 2.22.22.
- Roebling Elementary celebrates Black History Month by recognizing our very own hometown Olympian! Mrs. Muchowski and Mrs. Fox’s Kindergarten class honored our very own Curtis Thompson. Curtis made Florence history being the first resident to compete in the Olympics.
ROEBLING ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES...
DON'T MISS OUT ON MORP!
FTMHS Freshman & Sophomores -- get your tickets by Wednesday March 3 during all lunches!
Cost is $10 per person;
Questions about the event:
please email the FTMHS Parent Organization at ftmhspo@gmail.com.
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ANNIE!
$10 - Adults
$5 - Students/Senior Citizens
*plus processing & reservation fee
Buy online: http://our.show/flashpac (*beginning March 1st)
*Buy ahead to get the best rate - tickets slightly higher in-person on the day of the show!
Get Ready. Get Set...For Kindergarten Registration!
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS:
COMMUNITY NEWS:
2022 Florence Township Girls Softball Registration Now Open!
The Florence Twp. Girls Softball League is now accepting registrations. Click here to register or see the informational flyer below!
2022 Florence Township Baseball Association Registration Now Open!
The FTBA is now registering through Team Snap for ages 4 thru 14 with Baseball age being your child's age on April 30th 2022.
COST:
Registration is $70 and can be paid via credit/debit card or by check. Sometime during the season, a fundraiser will be provided for those that wish to recoup the $70 baseball dues.
The $70 can be paid all at once or in 3 installments and goes directly to the FTBA. Once the $70 is paid there is no other required fundraising except for concession stand/scoreboard duty. If there is a financial hardship or you need extra time to pay, just register now and save it without completing the payment info and we will work it out later. We can see all completed and uncompleted registrations.
It is important to register by Feb 17th to have a guaranteed spot on the roster. Teams will be formed in February.
TO REGISTER: Visit our website at www.florencenjbaseball.com -- here you will find a "2022 Registration" tab under the "Information Tab" OR
visit https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/301157/signups
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email the FTBA Board at ftba.rec@gmail.com