Mr. Arcurio’s Corner It is the end of August and school starts next week. Whether you have chosen for your child our in-person/hybrid model or our fully virtual model, we anticipate a wonderful September. The past months have seen a great deal of planning through changing guidance from the NJ Department of Health, the Governor, the NJ Department of Education, and the CDC; however, we have worked to continually adapt and adjust our plans to provide the safest and most educationally sound options possible. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we venture into this new world of schooling. As I said to the K and PreK parents on Tuesday, we are all like new teachers starting the school year in a brand new school opening for its first year. We will learn and grow along the way. I can assure you that not everything will go smoothly, but we will adjust. I can assure you that new challenges will arise that we’ve never addressed before, but we will adapt. I can also assure you that you (and the staff) will have questions that we have never had to ask or answer before, but we will learn and figure out the answers

together. A theme that ran through the first two days with the staff this week was, “be kind to yourself.” I encourage you as families to do the same. These times are not easy. None of us have training in parenting during these times. We are figuring it out as we go. Be kind to yourself and know that you don’t need to have all the answers and try not to beat yourself up over the things you may think you didn’t do correctly, rather focus on the things that you know are solid and true: you love your child, you want the best for them, and there is no handbook for this. With that mindset, we can all be a little more forgiving of

ourselves and those around us. As questions arise, please feel free to contact me. My email address is barcurio@lebanonschool.org. I will continue to send out Friday emails to families with weekly updates, so any questions that are pertinent to the whole community, can be addressed there. Finally, please enjoy this last weekend before school with your child and get them excited about next week. We can’t wait to see them.

Better Together, Bruce Arcurio - Lead earner/Superintendent

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Symptom Pre-Screening Pledge ● This will be resent on Sunday (8-30) and Monday (8-31) but only needs to be

completed once ● COVID-19 Pre-Screening Pledge - Please complete this Google Form ● COVID-19 Pre-Screening Checklist - Please print and hang this in a prominent place

(refrigerator, etc.) so that you remember to pre-screen your child each morning, as per the pledge. A hard copy will be sent home on the first day of school with all students if you do not wish to print.

● The Road Back guidance requires school districts to implement a pre-screening of all students and staff. A parent/guardian MUST complete a pre-screening of each child before the child comes to school. (*Students on virtual instruction who are not coming to the school for athletics do not have to complete the pre-screening.)

● LBS is using a Parent Pledge to address this requirement. You must complete the pledge above via Google Form by 8:30 am on the first day of school.

● If the form is not completed by that date/time, the student will be pulled from class and screened by the nurse. The student will not be allowed back to school the next day until the pledge is completed.

Health Office…

● If your child is going to be tardy or absent, please contact the school by 8:30 am. Please leave a message on the absentee line or the nurse's office voicemail. Messages can be left any time of the day or night.

● Additionally you can use the online reporting system available on the left hand column of our website homepage at www.lebanonschool.org.

● If you prefer to use email, please include Ms. Muia (rmuia@lebanonschool.org) , the nurse (lkosciolek@lebanonschool.org) and your child's teacher as the recipients.

● **This applies for fully virtual students who will be too ill to participate in virtual instruction, as well**

● If an option 1 (in-person) student is at home sick and is able to participate in instruction as option 2 students do, they may be considered present.

Teacher Supply Lists ● Click Here

Staffing Changes

● Mrs. Lawn has moved into Mrs. Turner’s position and will be responsible for Basic Skills, Enrichment, Technology, and AT.

● Ms. Barkel is serving as our leave replacement teacher in 2nd grade. She was an aide at the school last year and is familiar with the students. She is a wonderful addition to our teaching staff!

● Mrs. Horak is our new 4th-grade teacher. She comes to us dually certified in elementary education and special education. She attended Monmouth University and Centenary College. She has experience teaching students from 1st through 8th grade in several Warren County School Districts. We are fortunate to add her to our school community. Please take the opportunity to welcome her when you have a chance. She will be scheduling a Google Meet with 4th-grade families next week to provide an opportunity for them to meet her. For those new to our district, please check out our staff and administration page on the district website at http://www.lebanonschool.org/Administration-and-Staff.

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Quarantine Requirement

● Anyone returning from one of the listed states after August 17, 2020, may NOT come to school on the first day (September 1st) and must report this to the school.

Substitutes

● We are in desperate need of substitute teachers for this school year. Any extensive staff absences may affect our plans and our ability to continue offering the current enrollment options. If you are interested please contact Tricia Duell at tduell@lebanonschool.org.

Important Safety Videos

● Video for Children ● Video for Parents/Guardians

YMCA Before/After Care

● Registration Snacks/Parties

● A snack should be sent to school each day with students ● Please work to send a snack that will not require assistance open, etc. ● Food may not be shared. ● We will not have parties that involve food to start the year. This is not at the discretion of the

teacher. Schoolwide, there will be no food parties. Please do not ask teachers as they will have to decline the request.

● As always, please follow allergy guidelines for your class supplied to you by the school nurse/teacher

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Morning Drop-off ● Parents of 1st-floor students (K-3) will drive up Sutton Road

through the park and pull up to the sidewalk in front of the gym (stop before the green electrical transformer)

● Once stopped, let your child out of the car. We will not open doors at this time. If you need to get out and come around to help small children out of the car, do so as quickly as possible.

● A staff member will be on duty at the end of this sidewalk each morning to monitor. ● A staff member will be on duty at door #12 each morning to greet the students and monitor. ● The students will enter the building and go directly to class. ● Parents will pull up the driveway and turn right on Maple

● Parents of students in preschool, 4,5, and 6 will drop off in front of the school as we did last

year. ● Preschool students will enter the school directly through the preschool classroom door ● Students in grades 4-6 will enter through the main entrance and go directly to class. ● A staff member will be on duty at the sidewalk each morning to monitor

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● A preschool staff member will also be on duty to assist.

● Parents who have a 1st-floor and a 2nd-floor student will drop off the 1st-floor student as per above and then drive up, make a right on Maple and drop off the 2nd-floor student as per above

● Note: If an older student wishes to get out of the car with the younger (1st-floor student) they may do so and walk up the cement stairs and enter through the main entrance. They may not enter on the first floor.

Afternoon Pick-up

● Parents of 1st-floor students (K-3) will drive up Sutton Road through the park and pull up to the sidewalk in front of the gym (stop before the green electrical transformer)

● Please have a card with student name/grade in the passenger window ● The staff member on duty at the sidewalk will call the name/grade of the student on the

walkie-talkie which will be on in each homeroom. ● Once the student’s name is called s/he will exit the building immediately through door #12 and

go directly to their car. ● Parents will pull up the driveway and make a right on Maple

● Parents of students in preschool, 4,5, and 6 will pick up in front of the school as we did last

year. ● Please have a card with student name/grade in the passenger window ● The staff member on duty at the sidewalk will call the name/grade of the student on the

walkie-talkie which will be on in each homeroom. ● Once the student’s name is called they will exit the building immediately

○ Preschool students will exit the school directly through the preschool classroom door ○ Students in grades 4-6 will exit through the main entrance and go directly to cars.

● Parents who have a 1st-floor and a 2nd-floor student will pick-up the 1st-floor student as per

above and then drive up, make a right on Maple and pick-up the 2nd-floor student as per above Important Arrival and Dismissal Notes

● Maple Street is a one way street during arrival and dismissal times. Traffic flows from Brunswick to Main Street. The crossing guards flip the sign on Main Street to indicate that cars may not enter during this time. Additionally, there is no parking on Maple Street during these times.

● Do not block the driveway on Maple Street. 1st Floor Parents must have clearance to exit and turn right. ● Please do not approach staff members unless you are wearing a mask ● Any parents walking students to/from school should remember the door noted above where your child

will enter/exit the school. If you choose to do this, please be sure that both you and your child are wearing a mask and maintain 6 ft. social distance from others.

Sidewalks & Crosswalks

● Parents and children are to stay on the sidewalks and within crosswalk lines when walking to and from the loading zones. Do not walk through the parking lots or directly across Maple Street.

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Parking ● The parking lot is reserved for staff during school hours and/or

volunteers/visitors who are on campus for an extended period of time. Parking lots are not for drop-off or pick up of students. Rainy Days

● All procedures explained above remain in effect for rainy days. Dangerous Actions

● Do not make U-turns on Maple Street, in the park, or in the driveway. Cars must proceed in one direction.

● Do not wave students across Maple or the road through the park without using the crosswalks or adult supervision.

● Do not use parking lots to drop off or pick up children. ● Do not pass other cars in the car line. Wait for the traffic to move forward. ● Do not park in the car line

Staff members are there to serve as supervisors to insure the safety of your children. Please be respectful of their directions; they are here to help. Thank you for your consideration of and attention to these policies and procedures. Your support is appreciated! Let’s all continue to be good neighbors who follow all safety and traffic guidelines. Communication

● Communication between parents and school is vital. Any time you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or the Chief School Administrator. The school number is (908) 236- 2448.

● If you prefer, the school secretary can forward your call to the voicemail of any staff member. ● Also, e-mail addresses for individual staff members are available on the school's website at:

http://www.lebanonschool.org/Administration-and-Staff. ● Be sure to remain opted in for emails from the One Call Now system because that is how much

of the email communication will be sent this year. ● The school uses these methods to communicate with Lebanon Borough families:

● Email (as needed and generally each Friday) ● District and Teacher Websites ● Monthly Wildcat’s Roar newsletter regarding school activities ● Report cards and parent conferences ● Sending home samples of student work ● Back-to-School Night and Open House & Monthly PTA meetings ● ***"One Call Now" phone/text/email system

Teacher Websites

● Our teachers maintain websites. Please be sure to check them out on the staff page of our district website. They can be a great source of class specific information.

Join the PTA

● Our PTA is a wonderful organization that works in conjunction with the school to provide students with enriching opportunities that could not happen without its support. Field trips, assemblies, family events, supplies, and equipment are just a few of the many ways that our PTA supports the children of Lebanon Borough. This year may be different, but the PTA will

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continue to support our school in new ways. Please be sure to join the PTA! The Membership Form can be found on the PTA page of our district website.

Note: The picture on the first page was taken on Thursday, August 27th when Mrs. Seelig delivered the masks donated to our staff by Hunterdon Health Care. Here is an article about it: https://wrnjradio.com/hunterdon-healthcare-donates-masks-to-teachers-and-staff-in-hunterdon-county/

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