Back to School Updates
Fall 2020
Welcome
Several schools have received requests from parents to transfer their children from virtual to hybrid. The last day to make such requests will be Thursday, September 3. After that, students may switch from virtual to hybrid only at the beginning of the second marking period.
If you have a student in second grade through eighth grade and have not picked up his or her Chromebook, please contact the school office to make arrangements for pick up.
I wish you and your children a wonderful school year.
School Hours and Extended Arrival Times
The school times for our initial opening are listed below. We have extended our arrival times from 10 minutes to 20 minutes to maximize social distancing. Walkers and car riders must arrive in the first ten minutes after the doors open. Buses will be unloaded in the last ten minutes of the arrival window.
Barkalow and Eisenhower
Doors Open: 7:20 AM
School Begins: 7:40 AM
Dismissal: 11:40 AM
Applegate, Donovan, and West Freehold
Doors Open: 8:05 AM
School Begins: 8:25 AM
Dismissal: 12:25 PM
Catena and Errickson
Doors Open: 8:40 AM
School Begins:9:00 AM
Dismissal: 1:00 PMECLC Doors Open: 9:00 AM School Begins: 9:20 AM
Remote Instruction - The First Two Weeks of School
Connected Approach - September 21 and Beyond
Example - the teacher provides a formal lesson with follow up discussion (synchronous) followed up by an independent activity (asynchronous)
Example - the teacher provides a minilesson in writing (synchronous) and then students write independently (asynchronous). While students are writing, students rotate meeting with the teacher for a small group strategy lesson and/or individual writing conferences (synchronous)
Example - the teacher uses station rotation for a math lesson. Students are working in cooperative groups (synchronous), then rotate to independent work (asynchronous), then to a small group lesson with the teacher (synchronous)
Benefits of the connected approach include:
Students remain in their home schools with their originally assigned teachers regardless if virtual or hybrid
Relationships are established between all the students in the class and between the students and the teacher to facilitate a smooth transition back to a traditional school day/setting
Students who choose to transfer from virtual to hybrid can do so with ease and not change teachers
Students who are quarantined or absent can still “attend” school virtually
Small group instruction and cooperative groups can occur between students in school and students at home via Zoom breakout rooms
Staff do not require reassignment, possibly teaching a new grade level
The district will be properly staffed for reopening, avoiding the possibility of being remote for lack of staffing.
After dismissal staff and students will get time for a break and lunch. Then, elementary students may be asked to meet with their teachers for personalized instruction and conferences. One day per week elementary students will have a related art outside of the four hour school day. Middle school teachers will have office hours for students to receive instructional support. Students may also be assigned follow up assignments or ongoing projects to complete after the four hour day as well.
A Note About Assessments Administered at Home
Student Attendance
A Note About Masks
Student Lunch Purchases and Free and Reduced Lunch
For the 2020-2021 School Year, Freehold Township BOE will be accepting online applications for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. For a paper application and our district policies regarding lunch purchases, please check the district website by clicking here.
https://www.mymealtime.com/Apps
Please call or email with any questions.
Ali McKee
Determining Official for Free & Reduced Lunch Program
732-462-8400 x8809
Neal Dickstein, Superintendent of Schools
Email: ndickstein@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us
Website: http://www.freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us
Location: 384 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-462-8400
Twitter: @FTS_NDickstein