Here's How Woodbridge Schools Will Operate This Fall

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Woodbridge public schools released their plan for how the fall re-entry will go, with the student population divided into two groups who will attend school on rotating half days.

Also worth noting is that the school district is planning for everything to return to regular, pre-COVID schedules by December. That means all students back in class full time.

"Some students want to be in school as much as possible, and some students do not want to come to school in person until a vaccination is available," said Woodbridge superintendent Dr. Bob Zega in this July 24 letter sent home to parents. "We need to have a plan that will accommodate all of the individual student situations."

Also, the district purchased more than 1,000 iPads for grade 8 and 1,100 Chromebooks for grade 9 for students to use in distance learning. The funds to purchase them came out of the federal CARES Act.

Woodbridge school district will also continue to supply WiFi hotspots to families who need them.

"The district will continue to provide devices to student upon request to ensure 100 percent of our students have a device and connectivity at home to eliminate any digital divide," said Zega. "Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their student(s)’ principal if they need a device for every student in the household. We do not want students to share devices."

Read the district's full plan here: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/815250/Re_Entry_Plan_5C.pdf

Here is what to expect this fall in Woodbridge schools:

Phase 1: September, 2020
a. Rotating half day schedule with half of students reporting to school each day. Afternoons will include a one-hour session for teachers to be available to students for extra help, questions or review. The rest of the afternoon will be for planning or professional development for teachers.

i. Monday Group A in-person half day; everyone else remote
ii. Tuesday Group A in-person half day; everyone else remote
iii. Wednesday Group B in-person half day; everyone else remote
iv. Thursday Group B in-person half day; everyone else remote
v. Friday Remote instruction for all
vi. Fully-remote Virtual instruction Monday through Friday
i. Friday is a look ahead day to introduce new content and plan the week for both in-person
and remote learners

"At the end of September we will reassess the progress of the plan and the health conditions of our community," said Zega.

Phase 2: October/November 2020
a. Rotating full-day schedule for the two groups; students attend the same days, but they will be full days.
b. At the end of October we will reassess the progress of the plan and the health conditions of our
community.

Phase 3: December 2020
a. Return to regular schedules for all students and teachers.

Masks must be worn by all students and teachers. Students will provide their own face coverings. Students who can prove a special need or circumstance will not have to wear a face covering.

In-person students will be certified by their parents that they: Are free of any symptoms, have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive and have not traveled out of state in the last 14 days. All teaching staff will certify the same.

Social distancing will be maintained at all times, and hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes will be supplied in each classroom, lavatory, exit doors, and gathering areas.

Hand washing periods will be built into the daily schedule. Younger students will be supervised when hand washing. Middle school and high school students will be required/taught to wipe desks with sanitizing wipes at the beginning and end of each class. Students will also be required to wipe devices regularly.

Busses will be sanitized at the end of each run by school staff. Students will social distance while on busses. If the bus is filled beyond social distancing capacity, face coverings will be required on that run. Meals will be available for pickup every day.

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