Montclair Middle School Students Return For Hybrid Plan On May 10

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair’s middle school students have an official date for their return to in-person learning, district officials recently announced.

Middle school students in the Montclair Public School District will kick off their hybrid learning plan on Monday, May 10, according to a community message from Superintendent Jonathan Ponds.

A return date for the high school is expected “in a couple of weeks,” Ponds said Friday.

The district’s elementary school students returned to classrooms earlier this month. Read More: Montclair Elementary School Students Return To Classrooms

Ponds gave a shout out to the district’s PreK-5 students, thanking them for a “job well done” when it comes to wearing their face masks and following coronavirus safety procedures.

“They have shown that they are respectful of all the new rules and procedures, and I commend the parents, principals, teaching staff, and support staff for instilling the importance of following these procedures for the safety of all,” Ponds stated.

Other COVID-related updates from the superintendent included:

POOLED TESTING FOR PREK-5 – “A consent form for students is available in Genesis for pooled testing. Please be sure to complete this form if you wish to allow your child(ren) to take part in the program. The form has details for your reference and additional information can be found on the Ginkgo website. Staff will receive consent forms for pooled testing through an All Staff email. We are working out the logistics and are scheduled to begin testing the first week of May.”

SUMMER PROGRAMMING – “Dr. Kalisha Morgan, Assistant Superintendent for Equity, Curriculum and Instruction, gave a presentation at the April 19 Board of Education meeting regarding summer programming. These summer opportunities are valuable for not only instruction but also for building social emotional connections as students ease back into in-person teaching and learning.”

FOOD SERVICE – “Meal distribution will remain the same until May 10. Meals will be available on Mondays and Thursdays for in-person students upon dismissal from the Elementary Schools. For those who are remote, parents/guardians can pick up meals on Mondays and Thursdays for one hour at any Elementary School starting one hour after school dismissal time. For those parents/guardians who cannot pick up meals at an Elementary School during the afternoon hours, please pick up meals at the High School on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Once Middle Schools are in-person beginning May 10, meals will be available there at dismissal for those in person and for remote students one hour after dismissal. For those parents who cannot pick up meals at Middle Schools, the High School will have them from 4 to 6 p.m.”

COMMUNITY – “Join the MFEE Community Health Workers for an interactive discussion regarding the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines at a virtual town hall on April 29 at 7:30 pm. Reverend Dr. Craig Dunn will serve as the host, and local medical professionals, Dr. Chris Pernell, Dr. Renee Baskerville, and Dr. Tyran Mincey, will serve as panelists. Advance registration required.”

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