The BUZZ
Pemberton Township High School Newsletter: September 2021
Principal's Message
Dear PTHS Families,
Every September is the mark of a “new year”. When students and teachers fill the halls -- new, good, and positive things happen. We know this year is very much different than other first days of school due to ongoing issues with COVID-19. We are in a different position than we were this time last year, although we may not be in the position envisioned when we ended school in June, our goals will be to continue to provide quality in-person instruction for all students while following all health and safety protocols.
The faculty and staff at Pemberton Township High School are committed to making this school experience safe, meaningful, productive, and successful for every student. Much of that, however, depends on each individual – how our children receive the support offered, the attitude students bring with them to school each day, the focus on following all health and safety protocols, and a desire to offer their best – academically and socially -- each day.
Our school doors open for all of our students on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. This will be a regular schedule with normal arrival (7:10 a.m.) and dismissal (2:05 p.m.).
We believe a positive relationship with the families of our students is significant and crucial to the success of our children and our school. We know that participation in co-curricular activities benefits students academically and socially. An Activity Fair will be held on September 22 during the lunch periods for students to visit and be inspired to participate in an extracurricular club during the year.
Please mark your calendar for Pemberton Township High School’s Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. We are currently working on offering both an in-person and virtual option for the evening. Details of the virtual option will be communicated.
We remind families to review our health and safety protocols and be patient and flexible as plans can change. We welcome you to partner with us as we start the school year.
Yours in education,
Eder Joseph, Principal
Masks Protocols
According to the Executive Order # 251, all public schools in New Jersey are required to have all persons in school buildings, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks with few exceptions. Masks are also required on school buses. The CDC has approved the wearing of gaiters as an appropriate face covering. Bandanas and masks with valves are not allowed in school. All face coverings must fit tightly over the nose and mouth.
Cloth and Disposable Masks
Neck Gaiters
KN95 Disposable Mask
Symptomatic Students
Awaiting Testing Results
Do not send a child to school if you are awaiting the test results of a COVID-19 test due to symptoms or close contact. The district will NOT accept at-home tests to confirm a child is negative for COVID-19. If you are asked to provide a negative test result, it will need to be a laboratory-confirmed test, either rapid or PCR.
Contact Tracing and Quarantining
The COVID-19 pandemic continues and the District will continue to follow the guidance of the NJDOH regarding contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation. The best way to protect one another is for symptomatic persons to isolate and be tested. If the District becomes aware that a person who tests positive has been in our buildings, we will conduct contact tracing to identify close contacts. Close contacts will be required to quarantine for a period of up to 14 days. Vaccinated individuals will not need to quarantine based on the current guidance if they are not displaying symptoms, but they must continue to wear their masks and get tested 3-5 days after last contact with the positive individual.
Attendance Matters
Daily attendance is an important factor for your child’s success in school. When students are not in school, they are not receiving high-quality instruction to help them succeed in class. All NJ schools are required to hold full-day in-person instruction and remote options are not allowed. Students are required to attend school daily unless they are presenting with COVID-19 symptoms and or required to quarantine as determined by the school nurse. Communication with the school nurse will be important when students stay home from school.
In order for a student to receive course credit, he/she must attend school on a regular basis and have no more than 5 unexcused absences for a semester course and 10 unexcused absences for a full year course. Students who exceed the attendance policy will receive no credit (NC) for the courses regardless of current grade.
Excused Absences: The Board considers the following as causes for an excused absence:
Disabling illness (requires a doctor’s note);
Recovery from an accident (requires a doctor’s note);
Required court attendance (documentation shall be required);
Family illness (serious illness of a family member residing in the household of the student or the quarantine of the family member, family, or student in accordance with the directives of health officials);
Death in the family (death of a family member of the student, including, but not limited to, parent/guardian, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.);
Religious observance—In accordance with statute, no pupil absent for religious observance of a day recognized by the commissioner of education (found on the Department of Education website) or this Board of Education shall be charged with an unexcused absence.
Bring Your Child to Work Day
College Visits (11th and 12th-grade students only) No more than 3 visits per year (Original Documentation Required)
All absences for all other reasons shall be considered unexcused.
Synchronous Instruction
When students are required to quarantine due to COVID-19, the school nurse will communicate with families and classroom teachers. Students will be marked present and, teachers will communicate modes of instruction to the student. Google Classroom and Google Meet will be utilized during the student quarantine time frame.
If a student is absent from school for reasons that are not specific to quarantining that is confirmed by the school nurse, students will be marked absent from school. Families should call the school or provide an absence reason in Genesis the day of the absence. Students who are absent from school will have the opportunity to access assignments on Google Classroom. Students and families must email classroom teachers the morning of the absence or in advance to participate in synchronous instruction to keep pace with instruction. Students will be marked ABSENT from school regardless if they participated in synchronous instruction.
New Student Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Genesis Parent and Student Portal
The Genesis Parent Portal and Genesis Student Portal is currently open. The Genesis Portal provides up to date information pertaining to student grades, attendance, and discipline information. Please reach out to the school if you can not access your Genesis Parent Portal. Parents have access to update their phone numbers, email information and emergency contacts in the portal.
All high school students have access to the Student Genesis Portal. Students can monitor their attendance, grades, discipline records, and missing work. Students can access this account by using the information below. Passwords can be changed, but students must contact the technology department to change passwords.
Student Username: Student ID#@pemb.org
Password: 8 digit birthdate (2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year)
College Accelerated Program (CAP Courses)
College Accelerated Program allows PTHS students who take designated high school courses to obtain credit for high school and college credits at the same time! The courses are taken at PTHS and taught by PTHS staff members. Students must earn a minimum of a “C” average in the course to receive college credit. Typically, a 3 credit course at the college costs over $400.00, however, PTHS CAP students will be given a reduced rate of $150.00 per three or four credit course.
By partnering with Rowan College at Burlington County, we are able to give our students a “jump start” on their college careers. Students will receive a Rowan College at Burlington County transcript, and courses are transferable to many four year institutions. Please contact your counselor for more information.
Breakfast and Lunch Options
With the return of full-day school, breakfast and lunch will be made available. Monthly menus will be posted on the school website via Food Services. You will be able to view menus daily and check dietary information.
Due to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding, one breakfast meal and one lunch meal per day will be FREE for every student regardless of free or reduced meal status.
Even though meals will be free, we encourage everyone to fill out a free and reduced meal application as an approved application affords your family the following benefits:
Advanced placement test costs are reduced
College Accelerated Program (CAP) fees reduced for RCBC
SAT College Waivers
EPIG Character Education Kickoff Event
Parent Road Forward Plan FAQ
Pemberton Township High School
Website: https://www.pemberton.k12.nj.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=9
Phone: 609-893-8141
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pemberton-Township-High-School-515544208522093