The first day of school for students is rapidly approaching and we are excited to welcome our new ninth graders--the Class of 2024--as well as those who have transferred into Vernon Township High School over the summer. We are also eager to welcome (back) our tenth and eleventh graders--and the Class of 2021--our senior class!

Whether your children are exclusively virtual or using the hybrid model as we begin the new school year, we are delighted to welcome each and every student to VTHS for the 2020-2021 school year! We look forward to working collaboratively with you and your children throughout the year.

The high school administrative team remains the same for the upcoming school year, with Dr. Pauline Anderson proudly serving as the principal, Mr. Nick Demsak serving as the assistant principal for the juniors and seniors, and Ms. Jacquelyn Van Orden serving as the assistant principal for the students in our freshmen and sophomore classes. Please be sure to encourage your children to stop by all of our offices to say hello; our doors are always open!

Our faculty and staff members are dedicated professionals who have been working diligently to ensure that we are prepared for your children as we embark on a unique--but nonetheless exciting--educational journey together.

As we begin the 2020-2021 school year, education as we traditionally know it will be changed. However, but we can ensure you that all VTHS students will receive a quality educational experience as we embark on a Blended Learning journey! Blended Learning is an approach that balances different types of instruction in order to teach students whether they are in attendance in the school building or learning remotely at home. Blended Learning provides each student with an integrated learning experience.

Just as in a traditional classroom setting, students will be exposed to various methods and approaches that our professional practitioners utilize in order to deliver content.

Students will be engaging in both synchronous (live) and/or asynchronous (independent) learning experiences throughout the school day.

VTHS students who are exclusively virtual and/or hybrid learners will be asked to follow their assigned class schedule during the remote learning experience. There will be a variety of different learning experiences in students’ classes.

The article below explains some of the types of Blended Learning your child may experience this year:

In an effort to keep everyone safe and accommodate the large number of visitors who traditionally attend the Vernon Township High School Back-to-School Night, this event will be virtual this year. Back-to-School Night is now scheduled for Friday, September 4th at 5:00 pm so you can be better informed before the opening of school. A link to access your children's teacher(s) will be made available on the main VTSD website prior to that evening.

• All students must wear face coverings while in the school. Face coverings must be worn at all times at the bus stop, on the bus, while awaiting a temperature check, in the halls, classrooms and restrooms, etc. Please see page 37 in the Student/Parent/Guardian Handbook for further information. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action. Face coverings are recognized as a valid tool in the fight against the COVID-19 spread. Face coverings will be constructed of solid fabric cloth and formed in a manner that allows for full coverage of a person’s mouth and nose. Face coverings will not cover a person’s face above the nose, nor will they restrict visibility. Face coverings with any design or symbol must be school appropriate and consistent with our current district dress code, 5511.

• Face Covering Exceptions: Please note that consistent with The New Jersey Department of Education guidance on face coverings, that while all students are required to wear face coverings, exceptions include students with a documented medical condition or disability, as reflected in an IEP, that precludes the use of a face covering. Consistent with this guidance, please be aware there may be students present in school buildings and on district transportation who are unable to wear face coverings.

  
  

  For more information on face coverings and complete list of exceptions please refer to:

  Update to Conditions of Learning, Health and Safety, “Critical Area of Operation #5: Screening, PPE, and Response to Students and Staff Presenting Symptoms” and “Critical Area of Operation #3: Transportation.”

  
  

  https://www.nj.gov/education/reopening/updates/docs/RestartUpdateFacecoverings080320.pdf

• Students are asked to maintain social distancing when arriving to school to await their temperature check, passing in the hallways, and sitting in classrooms.

• Before entering the building each day, students' temperatures will be taken as they arrive to school each morning.

• If a student must be absent because they are ill, parents/guardians should call the main office of VTHS at 973-764-2960 or report the absence through the Genesis portal.
  

• Student lockers will not be assigned until we return to school full time.

• All "Hybrid" students will receive a school ID and a blue or gold lanyard--depending on their "team"--on their first day of school. IDs must be worn at all times throughout the school day. ("Virtual" students will be assigned to a team and will receive an ID and lanyard when they return to school.) If a student loses their lanyard and/or ID, they will be charged a $5.00 replacement fee.

• Students will be required to "scan" their IDs upon visiting the nurse, their counselor, the main office and/or the restroom. Turnstiles will be available for student use at all of these locations and will eliminate the need for students to "type in" their student ID numbers. (This will assist in case of the need to "contact trace" following a positive COVID test.)

Every VTHS student must bring their fully-charged Chromebook to school each day. Chromebooks may not be left in school overnight.

Spare (loaner) Chromebooks will not be provided for students this year.

Due to the ongoing challenges faced by educators due to COVID-19, the Vernon Township School District will be following a unique schedule, as we journey on "The Road Back to the Reopening of VTHS". Details about that schedule are as follows:

• The Blue/Gold/Virtual Schedule is the same whether students are at home or in school.
• The schedule for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday begins at 7:15 and ends at 11:20 am.
• On the Two Virtual Wednesdays, September 16th and September 23rd, VTHS students will follow a 9:00 am -1:00 pm schedule.
• Teachers will have one hour set aside for office hours each day--Monday through Friday.
• Schoology will contain the information for all courses, all updates and all materials.

• Materials for all of the exclusively virtual students will be collected before the start of the school year. A School Messenger will be forwarded to all parents/guardians regarding the procedure for retrieving your child's materials before the opening of school.

• If a parent/guardian drops off a "forgotten" item for their child during the school day, it will be secured in the lobby and the student will be notified to pick it up via email.

The Reopening Calendar has been included for your convenience:

If you have a question about your child's schedule, please contact your child's school counselor.

• Ms. Mary Jean Ryerson: A - De and GATE students

• Mr. Raymond Loughren: Df - K and VSA students

• Mrs. Carol Gonzalez: L - Riv

• Mrs. Laura Merck: Rod - Z

• Tuesday, September 15th - Blue Team - during school hours

• Tuesday, September 15th - Exclusively Virtual Students - from 12:00 - 3:00 pm

• Friday, September 18th - Gold Team - during school hours

• Friday, September 18th - Exclusively Virtual Students - from 12:00 - 3:00 pm

*further information will be forthcoming!

Senior Portraits** for the Class of 2021 will be scheduled on the following dates and times:

• Monday, October 5th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm

• Tuesday, October 6th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm

• Wednesday, October 7th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm

• Thursday, October 8th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm

• Friday, October 9th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm

**appointment times will be made available shortly!

All eligible juniors and seniors will be permitted to park on campus if they complete and/or provide all of the necessary Parking Registration materials listed below, including Random Drug Screening and attendance at the Share the Keys presentation. All eligible drivers are welcome to begin driving to school beginning the first day of school, but must begin the process of registering their vehicles so they can receive a parking pass for the 2020-2021 school year.

In conjunction with the Vernon Township Police Department and the Vernon Township Board of Education, we are proud to continue our Safe Driving Initiative for the 2020-2021 school year. Student safety continues to be a priority to us at Vernon Township High School; therefore, we will be offering the Share the Keys program to Vernon families virtually this year.

Student safety is of our utmost concern and students driving on campus poses potential hazards to our students, staff, and visitors. We feel having you attend this program with your child will help instill a sense of importance and responsibility that comes with sitting behind the wheel, whether driving to campus or anywhere else.

Each eligible driver must present the following information in order to obtain a parking decal to be permitted to park on campus:

• A completed PARKING REGISTRATION form (see below)
• A COPY of a valid DRIVER'S LICENSE
• A COPY of the CURRENT REGISTRATION for the car
• A COPY of the CURRENT INSURANCE CARD
• A signed copy of the RANDOM DRUG TEST form (see below)
• Proof of participation in the SHARE THE KEYS' Program (see letter below)

The deadline for receipt of all materials for receipt of a parking pass is Friday, September 18th.

We look forward to working with you and your child during the upcoming school year. If there is anything we can do to assist you or your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.