2020-21 School Year COVID Information

4-26-21

Updated Vineland Public Schools travel guidelines for staff and students returning from any U.S. state or territory.

4-1-21

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Vineland is back in the high risk category. After discussion with the Vineland Health Department, the Mayor’s office, and Board of Education President and Vice President, the decision has been made to extend remote instruction.

The following are our new dates:

Spring Break - Friday, April 2 - Friday, April 9

Remote instruction for all students and staff: Monday, April 12 - Friday, April 23.

Food distribution will continue on Monday April 12 and April 19.

On Monday, April 26, all hybrid students in cohorts A, B, and C will return to in-person instruction for four (4) legal attendance days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesdays will remain virtual for deep cleaning in all buildings.

Attached is a letter in both English and Spanish from Dr. Gruccio, Superintendent.

https://bit.ly/3cEA1uG

3-19-21

New Jersey strong discourages all non-essential interstate travel at this time. In light of the upcoming holiday and spring break, Dr. Gruccio released a letter to all staff members today outlining proper procedures for those who must travel out of state before the return to full in-person instruction on April 19.

Letter

A letter was also sent to employees providing information regarding staff return to work on April 19. All staff, barring medical documentation, will be returning to in-person instruction/work for the full four-day work week. The letter can be found below.

Return Letter

3-12-21

Dear parents and guardians,

When we return from spring break on April 12, everyone will be virtual for the week of April 12-16 to ensure quarantining requirements. Beginning April 19, all hybrid students in cohorts A, B, and C will return to in-person instruction for four legal attendance days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesdays will remain virtual for deep cleaning in all buildings. Virtual instruction will continue for students in Cohort D.

If you are interested in moving your child to in-person instruction, you must notify your school principal no later than March 19 or they will remain virtual the rest of the school year.

The safety of your children is our top priority. All efforts are being made to ensure that appropriate PPE is in place.

If you have any further questions, please contact your child’s principal.

Please click the following link for Dr. Gruccio’s letter: http://bit.ly/3vhQ1d8

2-5-21

Attention parents, staff, and students:

Vineland Public Schools will be returning to our in-person hybrid model as planned on Tuesday, February 16.

As a reminder, your child's cohort designation can be found in their Genesis portal. Students assigned to Cohort A will attend in person on Mondays and Tuesdays and be remote the remaining days, those assigned to Cohort B attend on Thursdays and Fridays and will be remote the remaining days, and those in Cohort C attend on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and will be remote on Wednesdays. All students and staff will be virtual on Wednesdays so that all buildings can receive a deep cleaning and disinfection. Cohort D students will remain on all virtual instruction.

For those students in cohorts A, B, or C, the following 4 hour daily schedule will be utilized:

Vineland High School 7:33AM - 12:03 PM

Camelot Academy 8:00AM - 12:00PM

Middle Schools & AMSA 8:25AM - 12:40PM

Elementary Schools 9:10AM - 1:15PM

PreSchools 9:20AM - 1:20PM

Transitional first grade students and self contained special education students will be attending school four days a week.

Other important information:

- Students in grades Kindergarten through 12th will eat breakfast in their classrooms when they arrive at school and will receive a bagged lunch as they leave school for the day to eat when they go home.

- Food distribution will continue to operate during our hybrid schedule. There will be a distribution site at each school. All VHS students should pick up at the South building. Depending on their cohort status, all students will either receive a 3 or 5 day supply of meals as students attending in person will be provided their meals on their in person days.

-Masks are required to be worn at all times by students and staff, including on the bus. This is NOT an optional policy.

- All students and staff will have their temperatures taken upon arrival each day. All parents and guardians must sign off on the health questionnaire located in the parent portal prior to their student attending school in person. You only have to sign this once. Your acceptance of this comes with an understanding that you will abide by this daily.

- Students attending in person must wear their school uniforms. If any family needs uniform assistance, please contact your child’s school.

- Before and after school care will be provided by AlphaBEST Education, Inc. this year. For more information about their services and to register your student, please visit their website at www.alphabest.org/vinelandnj.

It is our hope that we will be able to eventually bring students back four days a week this school year. This will depend on our county numbers, but we are hopeful we can do this sometime after spring break.

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we navigate this process.

1-8-21

Dear Parents & Guardians,

In our last communication on November 20, 2020 we made the decision to move to all virtual learning until January 19, 2021. This decision was made based on the fact that we were in the high risk category. Since that time we have moved upward into the very high risk category. Therefore, in conversation with fellow Superintendents and the Health Department we have made the decision to remain virtual until at least Monday, February 15th, with the intent to return to hybrid instruction on Tuesday, February 16th.

As the pandemic has worsened in our community I am hopeful that you will understand that this decision has been made to keep the safety of our students and staff as our top priority.

Food distribution will remain the same. AlphaBEST childcare services are still available at three of our school locations (Petway, Sabater & Memorial). I hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to visit our website for additional information at www.vineland.org.

Be safe and stay well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary L. Gruccio

Estimados padres y tutores:

En nuestra última comunicación del 20 de noviembre de 2020 tomamos la decisión de pasar a todo aprendizaje virtual hasta el 19 de enero de 2021. Esta decisión se tomó con base en el hecho de que estábamos en la categoría de alto riesgo. Desde entonces, hemos subido a la categoría de riesgo muy alto. Por lo tanto, en conversación con otros superintendentes y el Departamento de Salud, hemos tomado la decisión de permanecer virtuales hasta al menos el lunes 15 de febrero, con la intención de volver a la instrucción híbrida el martes 16 de febrero.

A medida que la pandemia ha empeorado en nuestra comunidad, espero que comprendan que esta decisión se tomó para mantener la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal como nuestra principal prioridad.

La distribución de alimentos seguirá siendo la misma. Los servicios de cuidado infantil AlphaBEST todavía están disponibles en tres de nuestras ubicaciones escolares (Petway, Sabater y Memorial). Espero que esta información sea de ayuda. No dude en visitar nuestro sitio web para obtener información adicional en www.vineland.org.

Esté seguro y manténgase bien.

Sinceramente,

Dra. Mary L. Gruccio

11-20-20

Dear Vineland Public Schools Community: please be advised that the District will be returning to all-virtual instruction beginning on November 30, 2020 through January 18, 2021.

Recently, our region moved from low risk (green) to moderate risk (yellow). Current data indicates our region is very close to high risk (orange). DOH protocols for handling positive, probable, and possible orange-level Covid-19 cases in schools become more stringent, as do the standards for contact tracing and quarantine. Such a scenario would create significant challenges in maintaining a healthy environment for hybrid, in-person learning. The holiday season is predicted to compound these concerns.

The District emphasizes that transmission of cases within our schools is low; however, high quarantine rates have caused staffing shortages impacting in-person instruction.

Food distribution will take place for all students every Monday from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. at all schools. The Wallace School kitchen at 688 N. Mill Road is open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. each Monday for those who are unable to pick up food in the morning. Food will include breakfast and lunch for five days.

For families with child care concerns during the period of virtual instruction, a limited number of vouchers are available to district-enrolled students to attend a licensed Vineland child care center utilizing funding from the Coronavirus Relief Act. Parents and guardians can inquire about these limited vouchers at any Vineland licensed child care center from Monday, November 30, through Friday, January 15, 2021. This service is available on normal school days only, excluding Wednesdays. A list of eligible providers is available on the district web site (www.vineland.org).

We understand the difficulty a pandemic situation causes families. Decisions which limit in-person instruction due to safety and quality are never made lightly. Please know that the health and well-being of our students, staff, and entire school community are of the utmost importance to us.

For a full copy of the letter in both English and Spanish, click here: https://bit.ly/3nMfHKj

10-29-20

Please be advised that the regulation attached regarding quarantining after travel for students and staff is now in effect following approval from the district’s Policy & Personnel Committee.

The regulation recommends staff and students who travel to any impacted state/territory/country listed on the Travel Advisories (included in the regulation document) to quarantine for 14 days upon return and work remotely or participate in virtual learning.

In addition, students and staff members who have been identified as a direct contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 are advised to quarantine for 14 days, or for a period determined by the Vineland Health Department. Students and staff who have a household member diagnosed with COVID-19 are recommended to quarantine for a period determined by the Vineland Health Department. In both cases, testing does not reduce the quarantine period.
Please view the regulation for more information: https://bit.ly/3mAtxPn

10-15-20

Food distribution update:

Vineland Public Schools will continue to distribute free breakfast and lunch for all students on Monday’s. Distribution will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at all middle schools and the high school, and from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at all elementary and preschools.

In addition, beginning on October 19, the Wallace kitchen, located at 688 North Mill Road, will be open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. for parents who are unable to pick up food during the allotted times. Again, these times are for Monday’s only.

Please be sure to wear a mask and abide by social distancing guidelines.

10-2-20

Important update regarding in-person instruction:

Cumberland County has moved from the moderate level to the low level for Covid-19 transmission and as a result, we are excited to prepare for our return to partial in person instruction with our hybrid schedule on Tuesday, October 13.

For those students in cohorts A, B, or C, the following 4 hour daily schedule will be utilized:

Vineland High School 7:33AM - 12:03 PM

Camelot Academy 8:00AM - 12:00PM

Middle Schools & AMSA 8:25AM - 12:40PM

Elementary Schools 9:10AM - 1:15PM

PreSchools 9:20AM - 1:20PM

Other important information:

- Food distribution will continue to operate during our hybrid schedule. On Tuesday, October 13, the distribution will be held from 9:00AM - 10:30AM for middle and high school students and from 10:00AM - 11:30AM for elementary and preschool students. There will be a distribution site at each school. On Monday, October 19, 2020, regular distributions will continue at your child’s school. All VHS students should pick up at the South building. Depending on their cohort status, all students will either receive a 3 or 5 day supply of meals as students attending in person will be provided their meals on their in person days.

- Bus passes will ONLY be available electronically through the parent portal in Genesis. They will be available on Tuesday, October 6. If you have difficulty logging in, please contact your child's school.

- Lockers will not be issued upon return to school. Please make sure your child has a bookbag.

- Masks are required to be worn at all times by students and staff, including on the bus. This is NOT an optional policy.

- Students attending in person must wear their school uniforms. If any family needs uniform assistance, please contact your child’s school.

We look forward to a safe and successful return to school. This cannot be accomplished without the cooperation of the entire community. If your child is ill, please keep them at home. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.

Please click the following link for a copy of this letter in both English and Spanish: https://bit.ly/36tOKFR

9-15-20

Dear parents and guardians: please be advised that when we return to a hybrid model, a four-hour instructional day will take place. The following schedules will be utilized:

Vineland High School: 7:33 am - 12:03 pm
Cunningham School: 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Middle School & AMSA: 8:25 am - 12:35 pm
Elementary School: 9:10 am - 1:10 pm
Preschool: 9:20 am - 1:20 pm

All students K-12 will eat breakfast in the classroom upon arrival and take a bagged lunch home as they leave. Preschool students will eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms.

Bus passes can be found on the Parent Portal in Genesis. No lockers will be issued at any schools due to COVID precautions. Please see the attached letter in English and Spanish, which is also available through the Parent Portal, for more information.

Parent Letter

9-2-20

The USDA has announced that the free summer meal program has been extended, and all Vineland Public School students will continue to be eligible for free breakfast and lunch.

The district will distribute meals on Sept. 3rd and 4th from 7am-11am.

Food distribution will take place from 7am-11am on the following dates in all buildings:

Tuesday, Sept 8

Mondays Sept. 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5th

You are asked to bring your child’s identification number to his/her school when you pick up food. If you have children in different schools, please go to the school of your youngest child.

For students in the VHS North, Cunningham and Johnstone schools, food will be available for pick up at VHS South. All preschool families can pick up food for their children at one location: Dallago Preschool (240 S. W. Ave. - 6th Street entrance).

If your child attends an out of district school and you would like access to breakfast and lunch please stop by one of the schools listed below:

All schools will be open on Mondays from 7AM - 11AM for food distribution.

Barse - front entrance

Dallago - front entrance (6th street)

D’Ippolito - front entrance

Durand - front entrance

Memorial- bus entrance SW area

Mennies - front entrance

Petway - front entrance

Pilla - bus entrance area - NW area

Rossi - front entrance

Sabater - front entrance (Blvd. side)

VHS Campus including Johnstone - South cafeteria entrance

Wallace - front entrance

Winslow - front entrance

8-19-20

Consistent with the great majority of Cumberland County districts, Vineland Public Schools will re-open on Thursday, September 3 with entirely remote instruction. We anticipate a hybrid model of in-person teaching to resume on October 13. Your child’s cohort can be found in their Genesis portal. If you have questions about how to log on to your Genesis account, please contact your child’s school. The Genesis Parent Portal can be found here: https://parents.genesisedu.com/vineland/parents?gohome=true

Attached you will find a letter in both English and Spanish with more information regarding our plan for the following six weeks. Included in the letter is a list of child care providers for your reference.

As always, please remember that guidelines from the Governor’s office often change. We will keep you updated with any revision. We greatly look forward to welcoming your students back in person at the appropriate and safe time.

Letter: https://bit.ly/34jbF60

8-6-20

Please see the Vineland Public Schools Reopening Plan, approved at last evening's Board of Education Meeting, attached below. The VPS reopening plan is subject to change in order to comply with applicable COVID-19 governmental requirements. Pending decreasing statistics in Cumberland County COVID-19 cases, the VPS would increase in-person learning.

https://bit.ly/3hwPU6m

Breakfast/Lunch Information

Breakfast and lunch will be available at 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. at your child’s school on Tuesday, September 8 and Monday, September 14, 21, 28, and October 5.

This distribution is available for free and reduced lunch students only. Students who do not receive free or reduced lunch have the option of paying for the week's worth of meals at normal lunch prices - $2.90/day for elementary school and $3/day for middle and high school. Parents can pay directly to food service by cash, check or online at paypams.com. You are asked to bring your child’s identification number to his/her school when you pick up food. If you have children in different schools, please go to the school of your youngest child.

If your child attends an out of district school and you would like access to breakfast and lunch please stop by one of the schools listed below:

All schools will be open on the dates listed above from 7AM - 11AM.

Barse - front entrance

Dallago - front entrance (6th street)

D’Ippolito - front entrance

Durand - front entrance

Memorial- bus entrance SW area

Mennies - front entrance

Petway - front entrance

Pilla - bus entrance area - NW area

Rossi - front entrance

Sabater - front entrance (Blvd. side)

VHS Campus including Johnstone - South cafeteria entrance

Wallace - front entrance

Winslow - front entrance

AlphaBest Before and After Care

AlphaBest Education will be offering before and after school programs in the Vineland Public School District starting the 2020-21 school year. AlphaBest's programs are designed to give you peace of mind when your child is not in school. Experienced, caring, and licensed staff ensure your child is safe, engaged, and happy! The program includes an hour of enrichment every day at no additional charge! Coding, Robotics, Art, Drama, Spanish, Mandarin, Sign Language, Fitness & Sports, and Engineering/Maker Activities to name a few. Snacks, homework help, recreation, and student-choice clubs round out each day, and always in a secure and caring environment.

For more information, please visit their website at alphabest.org/vinelandnj

Helpful Links: