March 25, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
This is a very dynamic and ever-changing situation, and as expected, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 continues to rise. While I have not received any “official notice,” I am comfortable saying that we will be closed the week of March 30-April 3. Spring break is the following week, and, as in the past, it will be homework free. This will allow families time to regroup, organize home schedules, and get recharged for the resumption of probable home instruction on April 13th. Based on the trajectory of reported cases, and most unfortunately, deaths, I presume our closure will continue for a while.
As I stated yesterday, COVID-19 is impacting Ridgewood and Bergen County, which we know simply by reading the headlines. If a staff member or student is confirmed to have the virus, the local health department will investigate and determine who needs to be notified. As we move further away from March 13th, our last regular school day, the nexus to school attendance with the virus becomes a moot point. Someone would have had to show symptoms prior to the March 13th date. If you hear about someone or have someone sick in your family, please understand that you will be notified by the Health Department if they feel there is a public health issue that makes contact necessary. These people are doing a wonderful job under very intense circumstances.
The news is starting to report acts of prejudice against people of Asian descent. The Ridgewood Public Schools will not stand by and let this become part of our school culture. We will not tolerate any jokes, verbal, or physical acts against anyone. Students should notify us if they are offended, and school administrators will follow up. Let us all rise up and be kind. As a global society, we must unite and condemn prejudicial behavior. The name of this virus is COVID-19, and it is impacting countries and regions around the world.
FEEL YOU MAY HAVE SYMPTOMS: If you feel sick with COVID-19 symptoms, you should contact your physician. The physician will be able to assist you and provide the next steps. Additionally, the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) has set up the following to answer your questions:
- Call: 2-1-1
- Call (24/7): 1-800-962-1253
- Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
- Visit https://covid19.nj.gov/ or nj.gov/health for additional information
- Valley Hospital: 201-447-8000 – If you feel you have symptoms, Valley Hospital has set up a system to answer your questions.
Reminder: Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 104 is open-ended, and we will only re-open when public health officials deem it safe. This means we will most likely be closed next week (March 30-April 3), if not longer. The week of April 6-10 is our spring break. Please start thinking about how you will handle being together without the new school day structure.
REMINDER: This week, we will be having an instructional day on Friday, March 27th, instead of a professional development day. Please note this change on your calendar. Professional development days are extremely important, but the Ridgewood Education Association (REA), and I agree that the continuity of instruction is more important. The REA has been very supportive, and I appreciate their partnership during these historic times.
SOCIAL DISTANCING: Please start thinking of how you will handle social distancing during the April break.
REMINDER: Use the links below for important information from the Village and the district.
- Sign up for Village E-Notice System – https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/village-info/enotices-and-alerts-registration.
- Twitter Accounts – @RwdPub Schools and @RWDSupt
- District Facebook Page – @RidgewoodPublicSchools.
ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION: The Annual School and Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, May 12th. All registered voters will be receiving vote-by-mail ballots, and there will be no polling places in the May 12th, 2020 elections. For more information, click here to visit the website of the Bergen County Clerk’s Office. You can still register to vote if you have not already. Information can be found here. Please see the attached information document from the League of Women’s Voters.
CENSUS 2020: Don’t forget to send your redacted “receipt” to your principal. RHS is in the lead! Let’s see which school has the highest percentage of completed questionnaires. If you have multiple children in a school, each one counts. If you have children in multiple schools, send it to each principal because each student counts.
- Fill out the Census online at https://my2020census.gov/
- Or you can respond by phone at 844-330-2020.
STATE TESTING: Governor Murphy has announced that there will be no state testing, including NJSLA and Access for ELLs. Information about Advanced Placement testing will come from Ridgewood High School.
TODAY’S GAME SUGGESTIONS:
- Otrio – I am told it is Tic Tac Toe on steroids.
Other things you can do:
- Keep moving! Today is a stretch and yoga day. If you don’t have a foam roller, get one; it will change your life. It hurts, but it is a good hurt. The more you do it, the better you feel. It is almost like eating one of those M&M caramel candies. You may ask yourself, “why in the world did they improve on an M&M… are they trying to kill me?” This is from a Rollo junkie.
- These tweet feeds are addicting. Here are some really cool NEW Twitter feeds. Here is one for art @ZonePhysics and @HubNature. Check them out!
- Baked goods: Someone told me they had a problem getting flour and chocolate cookies. Oh, please don’t tell me they are running out of Rolos. I have a funny story about Rolos during college finals. Ask me when you see me. Today will be a fresh fruit day! Eat some fruit before it goes bad.
- Today is also a day you cleanse your mind, body, and soul. Have you ever cleared out your text chats on your phone? Well, today is the day you are going to do it. You will feel better about yourself.
- Remember, the Ridgewood Public Library has online resources. https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org
- Call someone you have not talked to in a while. They will appreciate it. If you can make a video call, that’s even better for face-to-face connection.
VALLEY HOSPITAL NEEDS OUR HELP: Valley Hospital has been a partner with the district and parent organizations for decades. Now, they need our help. Please drop off the following items Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the main entrance on 223 North Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood.
- N95 masks
- Surgical masks
- Face shields and goggles
- Fluid resistant isolation gowns
- Non-latex (nitrile) gloves
- NEW oral thermometers
The Red Cross is alerting everyone to blood and platelet shortage. Please donate if you can. https://www.redcrossblood.org/
Keep supporting our local businesses. Many restaurants are offering curbside pickup and delivery. Here are some helpful tips (www.today.com) if you want something besides a home-cooked meal:
- Order from a restaurant you trust
- Order directly from the restaurant when possible
- Opt for contactless delivery or pick up
- Discard all packaging
- Don’t share and wash your hands before and after.
I wish you good health!
Sincerely,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
C: Ridgewood Board of Education
Dr. Wayne Yankus, District Physician
Ms. Dawn Cetrulo, Village of Ridgewood Health Officer/Director
