Ridgewood School Home School Day 11 ,Due to COVID 19

March 30, 2020

Dear Ridgewood School Community,

In response to recent updates, I have received several emails asking that we teach through the spring break. First and foremost, parents, students, and teachers are tired. This weariness is not necessarily from the hard academic work, but most likely from the stress we are all experiencing. While our intent is not to add pressure to this already difficult situation, remote learning is stressful for everyone involved nonetheless.

Canceling spring break would also mean that the school year would end the week before graduation. This date cannot change because it is set based on project graduation. If we reopen later this spring, this scenario would leave a one week gap between the end of the school year and graduation. I feel that it is dangerous for seniors to have a week to “celebrate” prior to graduation. If our community is able to come together for this occasion, I want each of our graduates to be there to be honored.

Furthermore, families of students and staff are juggling this new life we find ourselves in. We have had three weeks of stressful local, state, national, and international news along with a new education paradigm. Spring break is a time for us to strategize about our family schedules, make adjustments, and recharge our batteries. Unfortunately, we are on the front end of how COVID-19 will impact our community, state, and country, and news reports indicate that current social distancing practices could continue for the next several months.

MENTAL HEALTH: Please read the attached document from Lauren DePinto, our District Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services. We all have to stay positive, keep learning, and stay in touch. Try these helpful tips:

• Develop a working routine and stick to it, even when life throws a curveball.
• Make time to be creative. I hope you are keeping a diary/journal. It may turn into a great novel…or sitcom.
• Limit time viewing the news. It can be overwhelming.
• Get outside and stay as active as possible.
• Focus on what you have and are grateful for.

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.

SOCIAL/PHYSICAL DISTANCING: Please start thinking about how you will handle social distancing during the spring break, which is the week of April 6-10.

VIRTUAL TOURS FOR OVER THE BREAK (DON’T DO THEM UNTIL THE BREAK):

• Famous Museums: https://ymlptr3.net/248d3qwsaaaehwquaramyyadaewsbq/click.php
• Gettysburg Battlefield of the Civil War https://www.battlefields.org/visit/virtual-tours/gettysburg-360-virtual-tour
• White House Artwork https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-white-house
• Tour the White House https://www.youvisit.com/tour/aid.depoy
• Grand Canyon https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
• Mount Rushmore https://www.youvisit.com/tour/videos/mountrushmore/80795?id=74875
• Hiking during the break https://tinyurl.com/t35u6sp
• MORE WILL BE ADDED DURING THE WEEK.

REMINDER: Use the links below for important information from the Village and the district. If you have not received a phone call from Mayor Hache, you have not signed up for the Village alerts. Please do so.

• 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 12. All registered voters will be receiving vote-by-mail ballots, and there will be no polling places in the May 12, 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 done so. Information can be found here.

CENSUS 2020: It’s time for a friendly competition. Once you complete the census, send your redacted “receipt” to your principal or just let your principal know it is complete.  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 the receipt to each principal.

• Fill out the Census online at https://my2020census.gov/
• Or you can respond by phone at 844-330-2020.

Contest results as of 3.30.2020 (The contest is open until the Census 2020 closes.)

• 1st – Somerville
• 2nd – RHS
• 3rd –  BF
• 4th – Orchard
• 5th – Travell
• 6th – Ridge
• 7th – Willard
• 8th – Hawes
• 9th – GW

TODAY’S GAME SUGGESTIONS:

• Online game: Words with Friends

Other things you can do:

• Keep moving!  Since this past weekend wasn’t great for hiking, I moved this suggestion to the break. Get out early and play some yard games. You are now two weeks into your exercise routine. They say a habit is formed in three weeks.
• Here are some really cool NEW Twitter feeds. @SteveMartinToGo (Steve Martin for my contemporaries) and @StephenAtHome (Stephen Cobert for my contemporaries and younger).
• Movie/TV – Academy Award Winning Green Book. This film will lead to a great family discussion.
• Baked goods: Granola. I know it is another bird food recipe, but my daughters do a great job changing up their recipe all the time. Still not a Rolo.  https://www.thekitchn.com/granola-recipe-258376
• Home Project: Make some thankful front lawn signs for our healthcare workers, first responders, educators (had to put that in), delivery people, and grocery store employees. I have already seen some around town, and this is a great way to let people know that you appreciate them.
• Remember the Ridgewood Public Library has online resources. https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org
• Call someone. They will appreciate it. If you can make a video call, that’s even better for face-to-face connection.
• REMINDER: 41 Days – This is for dads and students only. Moms, look away! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th. If you are like me, you purchase gifts for your wife at the last minute because she sees every credit card transaction. Online banking! So, strategize now about how to pull Mother’s Day off without a florist, restaurant, or last-minute shopping trip. You do not want to mess this up when you have no place to escape!