New Rules Allow Normal Prom, Class Trip In Moorestown: Officials

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The recent easing of restrictions on indoor gatherings in New Jersey has made it easier for the Moorestown Public School District to hold its end-of-year activities, according to Superintendent of Schools Scott McCartney.

“The news is welcomed, and we will now be able to run our traditional Junior/Senior prom,” McCartney said in an email to Patch on Wednesday. “The prom had been scheduled to be separated for each class, and now it will be combined. As for the senior trip, we are moving forward with that as well.”

No immediate details for either event were provided, but districts across the state are finding that a return to normalcy is coming sooner than later. On Monday, governors in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut announced capacity limits at restaurants, stores, offices and other areas of life are set to be lifted by May 19. Read more here: ‘Major’ COVID Reopening In NJ: Here’s What’s Planned

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Then on Wednesday, Murphy said that the state aims to have the rest back in person by the end of the 2020-21 school year. Read more here: Nearly All NJ Schools Back To In-Person Instruction: Gov. Murphy

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has said proms must adhere to the protocols for indoor and outdoor dining. Dance floors will also be permitted to open, with mask-wearing and social distancing in place. Read more here: NJ Eases COVID-19 Rules For Proms, Graduations, Other Activities

This week, the Moorestown Public School District also updated its COVID-19 guidance on when to stay home, as the region moves from “high” risk to “moderate” risk for the coronavirus. The updated guidelines can be found here.

The disease's impact is reflected in the state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly. The most recent report, released Thursday, says Burlington County is in the "yellow zone," meaning the county has a rate of 1 to 10 cases per 100,000 people.