December 22, 2020
Dear Ridgewood Public Schools Community,
As we have done every school year, we must continue to take every measure to provide a safe environment for our students and staff. We understand that the next few weeks will be a challenging time to remain
vigilant about limiting group gatherings and travel. Therefore, in consultation with the local health department and out of an abundance of caution due to the expectation of a rise in COVID-19 cases, the
Ridgewood Public Schools will pivot to all remote learning effective January 4, 2020 through January 15, 2021.
We anticipate all schools to return to a hybrid instructional schedule on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Your child’s principal will send an all-remote learning schedule with further details.
Please note the following:
Daily attendance will be taken based on your child’s participation in virtual classes.
If your child receives special education and/or related services and you have questions regarding
this change, please contact your child’s teacher(s) and case manager for assistance.
If your child is having difficulty with technology, please complete the Chromebook support form.
Athletics and all co-curricular activities will continue with modifications, unless otherwise
directed by the NJDOH, NJDOE, and/or the NJSIAA. Details will be provided by the Athletic
Director, coaches, and/or advisors.
If someone in your household is medically confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus, please let your principal and school nurse know as soon as possible so that we can get direction from state and
local health officials and follow up with your family.
Now is also the time for our students to socialize through technology. If we are truly going to contain and mitigate this virus, we have to keep our children from congregating together. We must do our part to keep
them safe and to protect the entire community.
Stay healthy and informed.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Gorman, Ed.D.
Acting Superintendent of Schools
Dr Gorman’s most important quote from his letter follows:
“…. If we are truly going to contain and mitigate this virus, we have to keep our children from congregating together. We must do our part to keep them safe and to protect the entire community….”
So Ridgewood parents, instead of complaining that the schools should be open, due your part so that the schools can open safely. Thanks Dr Gorman for stating the obvious that all too often Fishbein could not or would not say publicly. During Fishbein’s tenure all that he would say was how great everything and everybody was in Ridgewood and recently he even used other school district closures as an excuse if the Ridgewood school district was to close because of internal Ridgewood staffing issues that would result by the closure of these other school districts.
As Dr Gorman clearly stated in his Dec 22nd letter to the parents of all ridgewood schools, it is up to you Ridgewood parents to act responsibly and protect the entire community so that we can safely open the schools on Jan 19th, 2021.
Thank you Dr Gorman for having the courage and leadership skills to act appropriately and to highlight the role Ridgewood parents need to assume.
Gorman pandering to Snowflakes and the REA