School Closure Update 5-4-2020

Message from the Superintendent: School Closure Update 5-4-2020
Posted on 05/04/2020
Message from the Superintendent: School Closure Update 5-4-2020

4 May 2020

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Today, Governor Murphy announced that all schools in New Jersey will stay closed for the remainder of the school year. This is not the news we were hoping for, but everyone’s health and safety are the priority.

We are in the eighth week of our school closure, and, including this week, there are about seven weeks remaining until the end of the school year. Our dedicated faculty will continue to provide for the continuity of instruction through e-Learning. I am sure that our sophistication with e-Learning will continue to grow during the upcoming weeks, as we continue to gain more experience with it. We are committed to doing our best work possible for our students.

Our Old Tappan and Northern Valley administrative teams have already begun the planning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. We are working diligently, internally, and with the Bergen County and New Jersey Departments of Education to plan and to resolve our inquiries. Currently, we are working through the details regarding the following topics, to name a few: alternate and/or postponed plans for Graduation and Crossing Over, Grade 8 festivities, final field trip cancellations and reimbursements, no-fee Summer Skill-Booster Program, CDW locker clean-out/item pick-up, and TBD desk clean-out/item pick-up. As the Principals and I have been doing, we will share information with you as details are solidified.

However, right now, give yourselves a little time to process this updated closure information, since I know you are juggling so much at home as well. Help your child(ren) as he/she hears this news for the first time from you. Support each other. If you find that your child(ren) would like to talk with someone from the school, please know that the teachers, principals, counselors, and nurses are available for support. Email any of us, and we will get back to you quickly. If your child(ren), especially from TBD, asks if he/she will have the opportunity to go back to his/her classroom again, please assure him/her that we are working on a plan for that – even if it’s late summer or on one of the first days of next school year. We know how important emotional re-connection and closure are for everyone, even for our youngest students.

Thank you for your continued support, ongoing encouragement, and gracious space. None of us could do this alone. We are so fortunate to have each other.

Please give your child(ren) big hugs from all of us! Be well.

Respectfully, 

Danielle M. Da Giau, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools
Old Tappan Public School District

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.