MMS HSA News - Week 29

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MMS HSA News - Week 29 MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Dear MMS Families:  We are entering uncharted territory as we start our first week of school closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  Things are changing very quickly and we'll try to keep you updated as best as we can.  To that end, we just received word that to increase social distancing, effective 6 a.m. on Monday, March 16, the Township of Maplewood is closing all public playgrounds and enclosed recreational court facilities (basketball courts, paddle tennis courts, and tennis courts) until further notice. Appropriate signage and fencing will be added to enforce this decision.    Also, as you'll read below, distance learning starts Wednesday.  If you don't know much about Google classroom, we're sharing this helpful Google Classroom Tutorial.  We do have a great community and we suspect we'll be relying on each other more than ever in the coming weeks.  The NJ Department of Health has set up a hotline to answer questions from the public about COVID-19. It is open 24/7 and available in multiple languages. Call 1-800-222-1222. For more information visit: NJ Department of Health Centers for Disease Control By Friday, March 27, the Administration will make a decision regarding either the resumption of school and after-school activities for Monday, March 30 or the continued closure of school.   We will continue to provide updates when we have them.  Veronica and Kelly Distance Learning Planned Distance learning via home instruction will begin Wednesday, March 18.  All students will have access to Google Classroom and teachers will provide assignments for two weeks. Parents will be receiving letters early next week with information on accessing the classroom portals. If you do not have Internet access and need a hard copy of assignments, please contact your child’s teacher via email or contact our District office with your child’s name, school, grade, and teacher name at info@somsd.k12.nj.us or (973) 762-5600. All field trips, athletics, school-based activities/events, and ancillary programs are canceled effective March 13 until further notice. While schools are closed, there will be no access permitted into the building, except to select personnel and approved visitors.   School Lunch Service To Continue For students who receive free or reduced lunch, packed lunches will be distributed every school day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on Wednesday, March 18 at: • Seth Boyden School • Maplewood Middle School • South Orange Middle School • Columbia High School Every School Day No one will be denied a meal. If your family needs additional food support … If you feel that you will need food support during our school closure, please let us know and we will arrange for a food delivery for your family. Call Karen Weiland at: 973-762-5600, X1850 or email at kweiland@somsd.k12.nj.us Please leave your name and phone number and we will contact you with details. Please speak slowly and clearly & please repeat your phone number twice. If you request food support we will share your contact information with a community volunteer who will make a food delivery to your home.   If you are able to help ... ... our friends and neighbors with a food donation, please add your name to the SignUp Genius linked below. Families are in need of shelf-stable foods such as pasta, soups and more. The Parenting Center has linked a list of needed foods on the SignUp Genius and will reach out to you with an address to deliver the groceries.  Donate Food Building Closures in Maplewood In case you missed it, Mayor Frank McGehee declared a state of emergency in Maplewood which has a number of implications including reducing the number of people coming into our community for gatherings and minimizing the number of people from going out to gatherings. The following buildings are closed until March 31: The Woodland, The Burgdorff, De hart Community Center, 106 Burnett Senior Building, and 1978 Springfield Ave Art Center. Year end is quickly approaching and we have just four months left until our 8th Graders say goodbye to MMS. Activities can get expensive for our eighth graders  -- that’s why we have some dedicated fundraising efforts this Spring.  First up, we have the  MATCH Madness fundraiser.  For every dollar you donate, a generous group of 8th grade parents has agreed to match it dollar-for-dollar up to $500 total! Please click HERE to help raise at least $1,000 for our 8th grade events. This event will start immediately and run through March 31. Plans are under way for a second fundraiser in late April. We'll be back with details in a few weeks.   In the event that any planned 8th grade activities are canceled, we will return all donations collected.   CHECK YOUR MAILBOX A Census postcard with an ID number for your household should arrive in your mailbox early next week. Be sure to look for it! If you have questions, go to https://2020census.gov. Remember to include your children and any other individual currently living with you. If you are asked for information like your Social Security Number or bank account number, this is NOT the official U.S. 2020 Census, and may be fraud. Click here for more information.  HSA Meeting The next HSA meeting will be a virtual meeting. The date has not yet been determined. Join The MMS HSA YouthNet HSA News Submission Form No Frills Fundraiser MMS Makerspace Team Sites

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