Black Horse Pike Schools Prepare For Full In-Person Return

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — There will be more new faces roaming the hallways of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District’s three high schools next year in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic that shut the district down for more than a year.

“There will be two classes of students who have never experienced a normal high school schedule, nor the demands of our high schools,” the district said on its website. “Additionally, there is yet another class of students, juniors, who have only had a normal high school experience for half a school year.”

The first year of high school for the district’s rising sophomores was held mostly remotely. In March, the district returned to five days of in-person learning, but those are only half-days.

And, of course, freshmen will be experiencing Highland, Timber Creek and Triton regional high schools in any capacity for the first time in September.

The district posted this announcement after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that all school districts across the state will return to full in-person instruction with no remote option for the 2021-22 academic year. Read more here: NJ Lifts COVID Travel Advisory, Orders In-Person School Next Year

“All students should be prepared to attend school, in-person, in the 2021-2022 school year,” the district said in its statement. “If we are advised or observe that health data suggest to return to a temporary, remote-only learning model, we will communicate that decision as soon as possible.”

The school day will run from 7:20 a.m. to 2:01 p.m., and an outline of the schedule has been posted on the district’s website.

The district vaccinated 500 students, family members, and staff on Thursday and Friday last week, as part of a partnership with Inspira Health.

The second round of vaccinations take place June 10 at Triton and June 14 at Highland and Timber Creek. No first doses will be administered on these dates.

“Regionally, our percent positivity rate is in the Moderate Risk category, so there is still a risk of contracting COVID-19 within our local communities,” district officials said. “It is our hope to get as many of our staff and community members vaccinated in the coming months, so that we can work towards a greater sense of normalcy.”

Each school will host a graduation ceremony in which each graduate will be given four tickets. They will all take place in the respective schools’ athletic stadiums at 6 p.m. June 16, with a rain date of June 17.

While all spectators will be required to follow social distancing guidelines as set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they will not be required to wear masks. The NJDOE and Governor's Office have put out guidance for Graduation Ceremonies and Proms.

Last week the NJSIAA announced that coaches, student athletes, officials, and spectators did not have to wear a mask to athletic events held outdoors and after school. The district is following suit and announced it will no longer require spectators, coaches, student athletes, and game officials to wear a mask to athletic events held after school and outside.

“We appreciate everyone’s attentiveness to following the mask-wearing mandates while it was in existence,” district officials said.

The district is also no longer requiring a quarantine after travel, unless the student or staff member is showing symptoms of the coronavirus.

“We believe our community members are equipped to use their best judgment in order to keep everyone else safe if they believe they came into contact with someone with COVID-19 or been in close contact with someone who was symptomatic,” district officials said. “If symptoms emerge following travel, please seek medical diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible and inform the school of the symptoms, when they began, and if you are seeking a COVID-19 test.”

The district also praised the efforts of the school nurses throughout the pandemic.

“Our school nurses have been nothing short of amazing super-stars for the past year and three months,” district officials said. “They have been poised, patient, communicative, kind, and caring while interpreting Department of Health guidance, keeping our students and staff safe, and juggling a myriad of questions from multiple sources during a Pandemic. I will be forever grateful for their professionalism, dedication, tireless work ethic, and compassion during a time we needed it most. If you have not already, please let Mrs. Moore (Triton), Mrs. Coslove (Timber Creek), and Mrs. Trommater (Highland) know how much you appreciate them.”