20 March 2020
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Thank you for your collaboration and patience with us during the first week of e-Learning. Throughout this week, your feedback has been very helpful to us. As we continue to implement e-Learning Days, you will begin to see increased opportunities for teacher-student interaction. While we know these more interactive experiences will not replace actual classroom life, we do recognize how important it is for students to hear instruction from their teachers and for teachers and students to connect with each other. Even though we hope these weeks of e-Learning will not continue for too long, we are forward-planning and thinking otherwise, given the uncertainty of this evolving situation.
As you know, our schools will remain closed for a minimum of two (2) weeks and until further notice. Once I receive more information on the closure’s timeline, I will be certain to share that with you. To date, there continue to be no known cases of COVID-19 among our students, faculty, and staff. If this were to change, the Health Department would notify me, and I, in turn, would send notification to you as quickly as possible.
Despite no known cases of COVID-19 among our students, faculty, and staff, it is imperative that you and your child(ren) continue to practice social distancing (keeping 6 feet from others around you) throughout this school closure. Here are some reasons why:
- You may be carrying the virus and not know it. Even if you or your child(ren) do not show symptoms of COVID-19, you could be a carrier of the virus to others. In other words, you can give the virus to another without being sick yourself.
- You and your child(ren) may feel well now, but the virus could take time to develop and present itself. In other words, you can be contagious before getting sick.
- Everyone has to do his/her part to help this situation get better. The more we do now, the better it will become. In other words, getting together with friends and/or having play-dates may cause the situation to worsen.
- As more testing becomes available, we may learn that there are known cases among us. We must try to remain calm, do what we can to “flatten the curve,” and follow the advice of our healthcare professionals.
In my last correspondence, I encouraged you and your children to consider alternate means of staying connected with others. Thanks to an idea shared by a parent, who oversees the 20 New Jersey CareOne Assisted Living and Senior Living facilities, she suggested that if children and adults want to practice their letter-writing skills, the CareOne healthcare workers and CareOne residents would be grateful recipients of letters (digital, of course)! The healthcare staffs are working long, long hours to care for the elderly in these facilities, and the elderly cannot accept visitors. If you and/or your child(ren) are interested in joining me in this thoughtful effort, please:
- Write a letter of appreciation to a CareOne healthcare worker and/or write a thinking of you letter to a CareOne resident. Click here for some ideas for salutations, content, and closings.
- Send the letter(s) to me, digitally, at [email protected] by next Friday, 3/27/2020.
- I will digitally send all collected letters to our CareOne parent-contact, who will deliver them to the facilities’ staffs and residents.
- Please note that I will not forward your e-mail address or your name, unless you and/or your child include it in the letter’s closing.
Hopefully, this weekend you will have some time to step away from the computers and enjoy some fresh air. I think we all could use it! But, if you are looking to go on a virtual adventure with your child(ren), click on this link to explore our country’s amazing National Parks. These 360-degree views of volcanoes, caverns, and fjords will take the children away from our current reality for a bit and bring them to the beauty of America’s geographic landscapes.
As we think about embarking on the second week of our school closure, please know that the principals and I continue to be available to answer your questions and to hear your thoughts. We have a collaborative spirit! Please email any of us, and we will get back to you quickly. Also, I will continue to be in the Board Office every school day from 8:00 AM – 12 noon.
I will continue to communicate with you, as new information becomes available and to share resources with you.
Be well.
Respectfully,
Danielle M. Da Giau, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Old Tappan Public School District