Dear Red Bank Families,

First, a special congratulations to our Rocket graduates. The Class of 2021 walked proudly across the stage Wednesday evening in a beautiful ceremony culminating their journey through the Red Bank Borough Public Schools. Their achievements and their smiles will resonate forever throughout our hallways and in our hearts. We wish each graduate all the best as they continue to chase their BIG Dreams!

This is our final Community Update of the 2020-2021 school year. After almost 30 updates this year, we look forward to better days ahead for our families, our staff and our greater Red Bank community. Make no mistake, this has been a challenging time for all of us. Each of us has been impacted by COVID-19 - academically, economically, medically, emotionally and physically. But, with the health outlook looking better each day and more people receiving the vaccine, we are on the road to recovery. As we have said before, this year has also resulted in many small victories and silver linings. Over the past few weeks, we have had numerous celebrations as our students are Moving Up, Moving On and Graduating. We congratulate them all on persevering and navigating through such a unique school experience. We thank our entire staff for their dedication to our students, not just academically but also socially and emotionally. We thank our families for their constant support and cooperation. The 2020-21 school year was a true community effort!

In September, we anticipate returning to a full-day schedule for all students. Full remote-learning will not be an option. Our schedule will include breakfast, lunch and regular special area courses. We also plan to offer before and after care at Red Bank Primary School and possibly at all of our Preschool Sites/Providers. Over the summer, we will continue to share any additional guidance received regarding social distancing, face coverings and other health-related guidelines. Continue to check our website for important updates.

Please review the important reminders below.

• The last day of school will be Friday, June 18, 2021. Please refer to our District Calendar for 2021-2022.
• We will offer “Grab and Go” meals Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30 at Red Bank Primary School from July 5 through August 4, 2021. Any child that lives in Red Bank 18 years or younger is eligible to receive these FREE meals.
• If you registered for any Summer Learning 2021 offerings, be sure to check your home email. If you have not heard anything to date, contact us at 732-758-1510.
• Please review our draft Safe Return Plan. Public comment will end on Sunday, June 20, 2021.
• Except for current Grade 8 students or those students transferring out of the District, students will keep their Chromebooks over the summer. Families are responsible for the safety and security of this device as per our One to One Device Program Agreement. 
• If you plan to move over the summer in or out of Red Bank or change your phone number, please alert us immediately. This is important for communication, emergencies and transportation.
• This summer, we anticipate re-certifying residency requirements for many of our families. Shortly, you may receive a mailing requesting proof of residency, lease agreements and/or other required documents necessary as per Board of Education policy. If you have renewed a lease or moved within Red Bank since July 1, 2020 we ask that you please  contact Ms. Lemus at 732-758-1510 immediately to update your paperwork.
• If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

Please enjoy the summer. Take the time to reconnect and recharge. September will open new doors on this #RBBisBIA journey and we will enter with renewed spirit and boundless energy. I look forward to seeing you on September 9th!

All the best,

Dear Red Bank Families,

June is around the corner and so is the close of what has certainly been a unique school year. While challenging, due to our collective response this year has also resulted in many small victories and silver linings. Our students and staff put their best foot forward and the support from our families and greater community matched these efforts. We are excited for the final 14 days of school, celebrating our successes, acknowledging milestones and enjoying all that summer has to offer.

As you know, we recently eliminated the mandatory use of face shields in our buildings. With all other safety protocols remaining in place, as well as the reduction of COVID-19 cases statewide and increased number of vaccinations locally, this change has not compromised the safety of our students and staff. The Governor’s recent Executive Order related to public mask wearing does not apply to the school setting. We anticipate additional guidance regarding masks and social distancing in the near future. However, until then, we will continue with all current practices including school buses, indoor and outdoor events. In the meantime, we will incorporate mask breaks as needed, especially during outdoor activities. Please continue contacting our School Nurses or Main Offices for ANY health-related issues.

In September, the full-remote learning option (Cohort D) will no longer be available. We anticipate returning to a full-day schedule for all students which will include breakfast, lunch and regular special area courses. At this time, we do not have specific guidance regarding social distancing for school settings regarding September. Once these guidelines are available, we will make any necessary accommodations in order to maintain normal daily operating procedures.

Please review the important reminders below and reach out to your child’s school with any questions.

• The District will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.
• As you begin making plans for the new school year, please refer to our District Calendar for 2021-2022.
• Summer Learning 2021 information can be found HERE. Please note, the deadline is June 1, 2021. No students will be accepted after the deadline.
• Information will be communicated from your child’s school regarding End of Year Activities. All health and safety guidelines will need to be followed, including limited capacity.
• Grade 8 Graduation will be held at Count Basie Park on June 16 at 6:30 PM (Rain Date: June 17).
• The last day of school will be Friday, June 18, 2021.
• Except for current Grade 8 students or those students transferring out of the District, students will keep their Chromebooks over the summer. Families are responsible for the safety and security of this device as per our One to One Device Program Agreement. 
• We plan to continue offering “Grab and Go” meals throughout the summer. More details will follow.
• If you plan to move over the summer in or out of Red Bank or change your phone number, please alert us immediately. This is important for communication, emergencies and transportation.
• This summer, we anticipate re-certifying residency requirements for many of our families. In June, you may receive a mailing requesting proof of residency, lease agreements and/or other required documents necessary as per Board of Education policy. If you have renewed a lease or moved within Red Bank since July 1, 2020 we ask that you please  contact Ms. Lemus at 732-758-1510 immediately to update your paperwork.

If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

Be well,

Dear Red Bank Families,

We are entering the final stretch of this particularly long school year. Your support, the dedication of our entire staff and the resilience of our students have contributed to a successful year and will certainly make our transition to September 2021 easier.

After consulting with our Leadership Team, School Nurses and Restart Committee and reviewing the updated CDC guidance, the Monmouth County Activity Level Report, the local health statistics, and the number of COVID-related incidents within our schools, we have decided to suspend the mandatory use of face shields for students and staff effective May 19.

Any parent of a child in Preschool-Grade 5 who would like their child to continue wearing their face shield should contact their homeroom teacher. Grades 6-8 parents should contact the main office of Red Bank Middle School. Please note, all staff and students will be required to wear masks indoors and out until further notice. We will be particularly cognizant of safe and appropriate mask breaks, especially during outdoor activities, as the weather grows warmer.

We are excited for the remaining 23 days of school and although they might look slightly different, we look forward to celebrating with many of our usual end of the year activities.

Be well,

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

This is a particularly special week as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week here in Red Bank and across the country. While not all of our staff members have the title of “teacher,” they collectively contribute to the success of our students and school district as a whole. Under normal circumstances, our staff members are an incredible resource to our students and families, and a driving force behind the #RBBisBIA mindset. Today, more than ever, I am honored and privileged to work alongside such talented, compassionate and professional colleagues. Our students enjoy robust programming, access to technology and safe, inviting facilities, yet our staff remains their greatest resource. Together, we look forward to our remaining days of school and celebrating the unique journey we travelled in 2020-2021.

Looking ahead, please continue to communicate with our School Nurses or Main Offices for ANY health-related issues. We remain steadfast in our safety protocol implementation but over the next couple of weeks we will reassess specific procedures based on updates to NJDOH guidance. Any changes or modifications will be communicated in our next update.

Please review the important reminders below and reach out to your child’s school with any questions.

• The District will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.
• End of Year Activities are currently being finalized. Information will be communicated from your child’s school. Please remember all health and safety guidelines will need to be followed, including limited capacity.
• Grade 8 Graduation will be held at Count Basie Park on June 16 at 6:30 PM (Rain Date: June 17).
• The last day of school will be Friday, June 18, 2021.
• Except for current Grade 8 students or those students transferring out of the District, students will be keeping their Chromebooks over the summer. Families are responsible for the safety and security of this device as per our One to One Device Program Agreement. 
• We plan to continue offering “Grab and Go” meals throughout the summer. More details will follow.
• If you plan to move over the summer in or out of Red Bank or change your phone number, please alert us immediately. This is important for communication, emergencies and transportation.
• This summer, we anticipate re-certifying residency requirements for many of our families. In June, you may receive a mailing requesting proof of residency, lease agreements and/or other required documents necessary as per Board of Education policy. If you have renewed a lease or moved within Red Bank since July 1, 2020 we ask that you please  contact Ms. Lemus at 732-758-1510 immediately to update your paperwork.
• Summer Programming details will be forthcoming and sent to specific grade levels/groups via our Remind text messaging system. We are collaborating with several outside groups to provide different experiences this summer. We also expect to bolster our after school program in September with in-person opportunities.
• If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in our school community, and to those that are like second moms to our students!

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We hope you all enjoyed Spring Break and time with loved ones over the holidays. While we are hopefully seeing some light at the end of this very long tunnel, please remain vigilant in your efforts to keep your family and our community safe. Continue to communicate with our School Nurse or Main Office for ANY health-related issues. Erring on the side of caution is far better. As of today, over 200 staff members and Preschool provider staff are partially or fully vaccinated. Regardless, we must remain steadfast in our safety protocol implementation and proceed with caution.

After Friday, April 23, 2021 we will no longer accept cohort changes for students in Cohort D (Full-Remote). These students will need to remain in Cohort D for the remainder of the school year. Please contact the main office of your respective building if you wish your child to return to in-person instruction. We anticipate ALL students returning to full-day, in-person instruction in September 2021. To date, under 13% of our students remain in Cohort D.

As a reminder, students who are healthy and part of Cohort C should attend school daily for in-person instruction. Remote instruction is offered for families who have opted out of in-person learning (Cohort D) and for those in-person students who must be temporarily excluded from school. We do not have the personnel or capacity to offer remote instruction on random days for Cohort C students. This hinders our operations and compromises our overall effectiveness. Healthy Cohort C students must attend in-person instruction unless otherwise directed by school personnel. Students will be marked absent, even if they attend virtual class. The only exception applies to a COVID related issue that was not previously communicated to the school.

We recommend families do not travel beyond the immediate region (NY, CT, PA & DE). Students who do will be excluded from all in-person instruction for the 14 days following their return. Continue to keep us informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information, including illness and/or travel. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick.

Each year, students in Grades 3-8 must take the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) in Literacy, Math and Science (Grades 5 & 8). Recently, the US Department of Education responded to New Jersey’s assessment waiver request. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the NJSLA has been cancelled and replaced with the Start Strong assessment in September/October 2021 (Grades 4-8 in Literacy and Math and Grade 5 in Science). More information will be communicated in September. The requirement to administer ACCESS for ELLs (English Language Learners) or the DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps) was not waived. The families of those students impacted will receive a letter with more information.

We plan to finish out the 2020-2021 School Year maintaining a Minimum School Day schedule. A transition at this point in the year would require significant change and a serious implementation dip. We believe the system we have in place is instructionally sound and offers our students the best opportunity for comprehensive growth. We continue to work on planning various End of Year Activities. Grade 8 Graduation will be held at Count Basie Park on June 16 at 6:30 PM (Rain Date: June 17). Our National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held in-person on May 19 (families involved will be notified). We have yet to receive updated guidance from the NJ Department of Education and all in-person events will be handled within the parameters of our current health situation which includes face coverings, social distancing, etc.

If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

We look forward to the final two months of school!


Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

Spring is certainly in the air as the weather begins to improve, daylight lasts a bit longer and the sounds and smells of a new season surround us. While these changes cause us to be hopeful, we are cognizant of the recent uptick in COVID cases in Monmouth County and New Jersey. Please continue to remain vigilant in your efforts to keep your family and our entire community safe. We have all worked too hard to take a step backwards. As of today, over 150 staff members and Preschool provider staff are partially or fully vaccinated. Regardless, we must remain steadfast in our safety protocol implementation and proceed with caution.

Spring Break begins on Thursday, April 1 and ends on Tuesday, April 6. As stated in our last Community Update, we will pivot to full-remote instruction for all students and staff on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (April 7, 8 and 9). Meal services will be available on Wednesday, April 7 from 9:00-11:00 AM at Red Bank Middle & Primary Schools. These “Grab & Go” meals will include breakfast and lunch for all three days.

We are excited to welcome back students to in-person instruction on a daily basis. To date, 15% of our student population is part of Cohort D (Full-Remote). If you would like your child to return to in-person instruction, contact your school's main office a minimum of two weeks prior to the desired effective date.

Students who are healthy and part of Cohort C should attend school daily for in-person instruction. Remote instruction is offered for families who have opted out of in-person learning (Cohort D) and for those in-person students who must be temporarily excluded from school. We do not have the personnel or capacity to offer remote instruction on random days for Cohort C students. This hinders our operations and compromises our overall effectiveness. Healthy Cohort C students must attend in-person instruction unless otherwise directed by school personnel. Students will be marked absent, even if they attend virtual class. The only exception applies to a COVID related issue that was not previously communicated to the school.

While we recommend families do not travel beyond the immediate region (NY, CT, PA & DE), please note that students will be excluded from all in-person instruction for the 14 days following their return. Continue to keep us informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information, including illness and/or travel. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick.

Looking ahead, on April 12 we will have 100% of our certificated staff back on campus. With these additions and the flexibility offered by improved weather, we anticipate expanding instructional programming and also fortifying instructional support in specific areas. However, we will be maintaining a Minimum School Day schedule until further notice. We continue to work on planning various traditional End of Year Activities. We are happy to announce that Grade 8 Graduation will be held at Count Basie Park on Wednesday, June 16 at 6:30 PM with a rain date of June 17. More information to follow. Again, we have yet to receive updated guidance from the NJ Department of Education and all in-person events will be handled within the parameters of our current health situation which includes face coverings, social distancing, etc.

If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

We wish you and your family a peaceful, happy and safe Spring Break. Continue practicing social distancing and implementing all the necessary safety precautions. Together, we will get through this and certainly come out stronger!

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

Regarding Red Bank Primary School, we have received the necessary information to open Tuesday, March 16 for in-person instruction for all classrooms excluding three specific classrooms. These families have already been notified.  All test results relative to any other classrooms came back negative.

Regarding our First Baptist Church Preschool site, we will return two of the three classrooms. One class will remain on remote instruction until we have additional information. At our United Methodist Church Preschool site, one classroom will transition to remote for at least Tuesday (3/16) and Wednesday (3/17). These families have already been notified.

Additionally, our Preschool partner, Monmouth Day Care Center will fully transition to remote instruction for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. One of their district classrooms will remain excluded for the required 14-day period.

It is clear the Peninsula is experiencing an uptick in COVID-related situations. To make matters more complicated, we are also seeing an uptick in allergies and other illnesses. We will continue to implement short-term transitions to remote instruction as needed in order to make sure we have all of the information necessary to maintain a safe environment for all. Please remember, our actions are meant to be proactive and as a result, should be reassuring and comforting. These temporary “closures”, in theory, should make you more confident in our practices and not heighten your sense of concern.

Please continue to keep us informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

*** UPDATED SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 ***

Out of an abundance of caution, First Baptist Church Preschool and the Primary School will remain on remote instruction for Monday, March 15.

Unfortunately, we currently have 2 excluded classrooms at Primary, plus the potential for 5 additional excluded classrooms between First Baptist Church Preschool and the Primary School, as well as multiple staff members unavailable for COVID-related concerns and other planned absences. The remote day tomorrow will give us additional time to regroup and hopefully collect current lab results. We do expect most classrooms to return on Tuesday, March 16 and will follow up tomorrow evening with a subsequent update.

Please continue to keep us informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Red Bank Families,

Today is March 13, 2021. On this date one year ago, we faced many unknowns as we transitioned to remote learning. As students and staff left our school buildings on that Friday afternoon, no one could anticipate the extraordinary challenges ahead. As a school community, we have continuously overcome many hurdles created by the pandemic with grit and determination. We have not been perfect but we have grown and improved daily while persevering with the support of our BIA mindset. Today, with spring on the horizon and increased availability of vaccines, we have many reasons to be hopeful.

As of today, over 130 staff members and Preschool provider staff are partially or fully vaccinated. Regardless of our progress with staff vaccinations, until further notice we will continue to implement current safety protocols and proceed with caution. Thursday, March 11, was the largest group of staff vaccinated in one day - over 40! We anticipate a large number of absences after their second vaccination appointment which is scheduled immediately following our Spring Break. As a result of these anticipated absences along with travel and social gatherings that may occur as a result of the holidays, we will pivot to full-remote instruction for all students and staff on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (April 7, 8 and 9).

To date, 20% of our student population is part of Cohort D (Full-Remote). If you would like your child to return to in-person instruction, please contact your school's main office a minimum of two weeks prior to the desired effective date. Overall our food services program is going well, with Preschool, Kindergarten and Self-Contained Special Education Classes having lunch and all other classes having breakfast. As the health climate improves, we will continue to evaluate all of our food options. The change in weather will also provide more opportunities for outside dining and student activities.

We are currently working on planning a variety of traditional End of Year Activities including but not limited to Middle School Spring Sports, Moving Up Ceremonies, Field Days, Grade 8 Graduation, Grade 8 Dance and more. Next week we will be sending out a survey specifically for Grade 8 families asking for their input on future activities and the anticipated level of participation. Please keep in mind that although we are in the planning phase, many of these events are tentative as we have yet to receive updated guidance from the NJ Department of Education. Furthermore, all events being planned that are in-person would be handled within the parameters of our current health situation which includes face coverings, social distancing, etc.

If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration. Our next Virtual Preschool Information Session is Thursday, March 18, 2021!

Please continue to keep us informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick.

Prior to March 2020, we were a thriving school district built on a sturdy combination of values and programs designed and implemented by a dedicated staff and enjoyed by our students and families. This platform provided us a strong foundation which enabled us the flexibility to redesign our instructional programming for what was ahead. As a school district, the pandemic caused a multitude of hardships; however, our unified response as a community will result in a bright future. We fully expect an expeditious recovery as we progress through the spring and reimagine the next chapters in the #RBBisBIA story!


Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We hope you each enjoyed a few days away from technology and were able to disconnect. While all the pre-pandemic activity options are not currently possible, it is always great to recharge with your loved ones. We are happy to report that as of today, over 50 eligible and interested staff members have received their first vaccination shot, some even their second. We look forward to the day our entire Red Bank community has this option available.

All things considered, we have enjoyed a successful school year thus far. With many reasons to be optimistic and 77 school days remaining, we are beginning to plan for our traditional spring and end of year activities and summer programming. With that being said, these programs will certainly be designed to meet the required health and safety protocols.

SCHEDULE INFORMATION - UPDATED FEBRUARY 24, 2021

• On March 1st, students will be returning to five days of in-person instruction, thus eliminating Virtual Wednesdays. We plan to continue our current Minimum School Day structure until further notice and potentially through June 18th.
• On March 1st, we will also begin serving breakfast in Grades K-8. (Preschool and Primary School LLD/MD/PSD classrooms will continue serving lunch.) In reassessing our food services plan, we realized serving breakfast in school instead of lunch provides the most benefit. These benefits include the natural staggered arrival time frame, hand sanitizing already included as part of morning procedures, desks already clean from the previous evening and the added bonus of ensuring students start the morning off well-fed. Lunches will continue to be sent home daily.
• We will also be considering other options moving forward such as adding back a snack or switching to lunch service as the health climate continues to improve. We enjoyed successful classroom based-meal services in September and October, and although enrollment is higher, we have an added layer of protection with everyone wearing shields.
• COVID-19 cases in Red Bank continue to decline and the recent NJDOH COVID-19 Activity Level Report shows half of the counties have moved into the Yellow (Moderate) category. We will be prepared to adjust accordingly.
• If necessary, we will also be prepared to implement full-remote learning for April 7, 8 and 9 after Spring Break. Please be prepared for this possibility.

If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration. Our Preschool Information Sessions are just around the corner!

It is extremely important for us to remain informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. Immediate communication will allow us to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Continue to take the appropriate precautions regarding gatherings outside of school, face covering usage and frequent hand washing. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick. We appreciate your support and look forward to the spring!

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We hope this correspondence finds you and your loved ones healthy and in good spirits. It is hard to believe that we are approaching the one year mark since the pandemic directly impacted our school community. As we have said in the past, we are certain these challenging times will ultimately result in us becoming stronger and more resilient than ever. Frustration and stress continue to persist for us all - students, staff and families - but we cannot let these challenges define us or overwhelm us. There is reason to be hopeful and optimistic. We must continue to support one another on this journey with kindness, empathy, and compassion at the forefront. Thank you all for your continued patience, flexibility and understanding. Although not perfect, our efforts have created a productive school year in light of the circumstances. Remember, some school districts have been remote since March 2020. Let’s continue our partnership to make the remaining months of the 20-21 school year the best they can be!

We are happy to report that as of today, eligible and interested staff members 65 or older have received their first vaccination shot. Between our VNA partnership and staff receiving the vaccine in other ways, we have 22 staff members partially or fully vaccinated. We are elated that the VNA has also opened up the opportunity for our High-Risk 1B Group staff members to be vaccinated which represents over 40 additional staff members. We anticipate them receiving their first dose within 7-10 days. As staff receive their second dose of the vaccine, we may see a higher than normal amount of staff absences due to possible side effects. If this is the case and our staff absences increase significantly, we may need to temporarily transition to full remote instruction.

SCHEDULE UPDATES

• Beginning March 1, our intention is to expand our four days of in-person instruction to five days, thus eliminating Virtual Wednesdays. We plan to continue our current Minimum School Day structure until further notice and potentially through June 18th. (Acelero Preschool will return to five days of in-person instruction on February 24th.)
• The addition of in-person Wednesdays does not compromise health and safety from a cleaning perspective.
• On March 1, we will also resume in-person, classroom-based lunch for all students, Preschool - Grade 8. We will be implementing various safety procedures and protocols involving lunch services in the classroom. We are hopeful by March 1, more staff will be vaccinated and the change in weather will permit some outdoor lunch seating - we are ordering outdoor tables and seating for various sites.
• We plan for March with optimism due to a variety of reasons. We are also excited that the cases in Red Bank have dropped significantly since December and the recent NJDOH COVID-19 Activity Level Report shows ⅓ of counties have moved into the Yellow (Moderate) category. Of course, all plans are subject to change. In the event things change for the  worse, we will be prepared to adjust these timelines accordingly.
• Based on our current District Calendar, we will be closed for Winter Break on February 22 and 23, 2021. Please plan accordingly.
• Finally, if necessary, we will also be prepared to implement full-remote learning for April 7, 8 and 9 after our planned Spring Break. Please be prepared for this possibility.

Recently, our Board of Education approved our 2021-2022 District Calendar. Our current calendar (revised in July 2020) was designed intentionally with COVID in mind. It must be viewed as an entire product and not in isolated segments. We are fortunate to pivot to full-remote instruction on inclement weather days as per the Governor’s Executive Order. For 2021-2022, our intention is to reinstate traditional snow days. As you know, we are unable to implement Delayed Openings this year due to our Minimum School Day schedule. When we return to a full day of instruction, we will have the option of running a Delayed Opening schedule in an emergency situation. Without built-in emergency days, the use of a true “snow day” would require staff and students to come to school beyond Friday, June 18th.

As we look forward to the 2021-2022 School Year, we are gearing up for our Preschool Information Sessions & Registration. If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Grades K-8 in September, please share the link to our Central Registration.

As a reminder, even while students remain home on a full-remote schedule, it is still extremely important for us to remain informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. Immediate communication will allow us to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Continue to take the appropriate precautions regarding gatherings outside of school, face covering usage and frequent hand washing. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick. We appreciate your support.

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We are sending this alert to inform you that we must temporarily switch to a full-remote schedule for ALL Red Bank Primary School students effective immediately. Our intent is to reopen Red Bank Primary School for in-person instruction on Thursday, January 28, 2021. Additionally, a Grade 4 section at Red Bank Middle School will need to close on Thursday and Friday while we await certain results. Impacted families will receive a phone call. All other Red Bank Middle School classrooms and Preschool sites will remain open. *** Updated 8:55 PM - ALL Grade 8 Students and Santos/Velastegui at Red Bank Middle School will switch to a full-remote schedule and return for in-person instruction on Thursday, January 28, 2021. ***

Please know we do not take this decision lightly. Since day one our focus has been on the safety of our entire school community. Some of the reasons for our closure include:

• Numerous students and staff home with COVID-19 symptoms
• Multiple presumptive positives (students and staff)
• Several positive cases (students and staff)
• Difficulty in being able to conduct contact tracing in a timely manner
• Delays in COVID-19 test results 

We remain committed to in-person instruction and we believe this short-term transition to remote instruction will provide us the best  opportunity to resume and maintain an in-person instructional schedule for the long-term. On Thursday, January 28, we anticipate all students at the Primary School returning to a four day in-person schedule, including Grade 3 students, originally scheduled to return on Monday, January 25.

FREE Grab & Go Meals will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Thursday (January 21) and Monday (January 25) at both the Primary School and the Middle School.

Even while students remain home on a full-remote schedule, it is still extremely important for us to remain informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any information. Immediate communication will allow us to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

We realize the timing of this news may cause some level of inconvenience. However, there is nothing more important than the safety and health of our students and staff. Your cooperation is always a key factor in our success.

Continue to take the appropriate precautions regarding gatherings outside of school, face covering usage and frequent hand washing. As always, please keep your child home if they are sick AND keep them home if someone else in your household is sick. We appreciate your continued support.

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

Happy New Year! We are hopeful as we enter the new year and eager to reopen our doors on Monday, January 11, 2021! Please review the schedule below and contact your school’s main office with any questions. 

• Grades 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 students will return to their previous A, B or C cohort schedule. 
• Preschool, Grades K & 4, In-Class Resource Students and Specialized Populations will begin 4-days of in-person instruction on Monday, January 11. 
• We will remain on a Minimum School Day schedule with Full Remote Instruction each Wednesday.
• We will continue to expand our in-person instruction by specific grade levels as per the chart below. 
  
  

Of course, this timeline is fluid and dependent upon local, county and state health data. At any point, we will be prepared to transition to short-term full-remote instruction if circumstances warrant. This may be done for specific classrooms, grade levels, and/or school sites. We will continue to consult with the Monmouth County Health Department and the COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools. Additionally, two specific circumstances will likely result in a temporary transition to full-remote instruction for the District.

1. Movement into the Very High Risk (RED) category of the NJDOH’s COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix. 
2. A confirmed transmission within one of our school sites. 

In case you are unaware, the COVID-19 Pre-Registration Vaccination website is now available. New Jersey will roll out COVID-19 vaccines in a phased approach to all adults who live, work, or are being educated in the State. Within six months, New Jersey aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population.

Important Changes - Breakfast, Lunch & Snack:

• FREE Grab & Go Meals will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Thursday (January 7) at both the Primary School and the Middle School.
• Preschool: Students will eat lunch in school. Breakfast for the next day will be taken home.
• Kindergarten - Grade 5: Students will receive a snack and eat in small, socially distant waves. Breakfast/Lunch will be taken home.
• Grades 6-8: Breakfast/Lunch will be taken home. Snacks will not be provided.
• If you are not interested in receiving meals, email Nicole Tate (taten@rbb.k12.nj.us).

Important General Reminders:

• Students may still be part of Cohort D (Full Remote Learning). If after reviewing our plan you would like to change your child’s placement, contact your school's main office a minimum of two weeks prior to the desired effective date.
• If you are having Chromebook issues, ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Many issues are a result of home devices losing connection. Also, please restart your device and try again before reaching out to staff.
• Visit our Remote Learning Dashboard and Special Area Courses Website

Important Schedule Reminders: Please adhere to the delineated times for your child’s location.

• Arrival Schedule:
• First Baptist Church, United Methodist Church & YMCA: No Entry Prior to 8:30
• Monmouth Day Care Center & Acelero Learning Center: Assigned Start Times Per Class
• Primary School: Bus Students (8:30-8:45 AM) & Drop-Offs/Walkers (8:40-8:50 AM)
• Middle School: All Students - No Entry Prior to 8:05 AM
• Minimum School Day Dismissal Schedule:
• First Baptist Church, United Methodist Church & YMCA: 1:15 PM
• Monmouth Day Care Center & Acelero Learning Center: See Individual Sites
• Primary School: 1:15 PM
• Middle School: 12:55-1:15 PM

It is extremely important for us to remain informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Please contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any necessary information. Consistent and immediate communication of this information will allow us to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Also, please check your child’s temperature each morning and monitor your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. We also ask that you keep your child home if they or a household member exhibit any signs of illness. Please refer to our 2020-21 Family Health Guide for additional information.

On another note, last evening, the Board of Education held their Annual Reorganization Meeting. Congratulations to Dr. Stone and Mr. Kalorin on their reappointment as BOE President and Vice-President, respectively. A warm welcome to new Board of Education member Ellen P. McArthur and congratulations to our reelected Board of Education members, Jennifer H. Garcia and Laura P. Camargo. We look forward to working with them to write the next chapter of the #RBBisBIA story!

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2021!

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

As noted previously, we will remain on full-remote instruction through Friday, January 8, 2021. We will return to our original hybrid schedule on Monday, January 11, 2021. In addition, we will initiate the expansion of in-person instruction to four days based on the chart below. The timeline is fluid and dependent upon local, county and state health data. At any point, we will be prepared to transition to full-remote if circumstances warrant. We will continue to consult with the Monmouth County Health Department and the COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools.

Students in Cohorts A and B will not participate in 4 days of instruction until the specified reopening date.
Students in Cohort C will continue to follow their previous schedule.

Students are still able to be part of Cohort D (Full Remote Learning). If after reviewing our plan for in-person instruction you would like to change your child’s placement, contact your child’s Main Office a minimum of two weeks prior to the desired effective date.

Our commitment to providing a Co-Teaching environment for nearly all students has played a huge role in our successes, therefore, we expect to continue this practice until at least March 22, 2021. The impact of the Spring 2020 forced closure and the current hybrid instructional schedule has definitely resulted in some challenges. We believe maintaining the Co-Teaching model will best support the needs of our students.

Important Changes - Breakfast, Lunch & Snack:

• FREE Grab & Go Meals will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Monday (January 4) and Thursday (January 7) at both the Primary School and the Middle School.
• Preschool: Students will eat lunch in school. Breakfast for the next day will be taken home.
• Kindergarten - Grade 5: Students will receive a snack and eat in small, socially distant waves. Breakfast/Lunch will be taken home.
• Grades 6-8: Breakfast/Lunch will be taken home. Snacks will not be provided.
• If you are not interested in receiving meals, please email Nicole Tate (taten@rbb.k12.nj.us).

Important General Reminders:

• Report Cards for Grades K-8 are available via Parent Portal.
• If you are having Chromebook issues, ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Many issues are a result of home devices losing connection. Also, please restart your device and try again before reaching out to staff.
• Visit our Remote Learning Dashboard and Special Area Courses Website

Important Schedule Reminders: Please adhere to the delineated arrival times for your child’s location.

• Arrival Times:
• First Baptist Church, United Methodist Church & YMCA: No Entry Prior to 8:30
• Monmouth Day Care Center & Acelero Learning Center: Assigned Start Times Per Class
• Primary School: Bus Students (8:30-8:45 AM) & Drop-Offs/Walkers: 8:40-8:50 AM
• Middle School: All Students - No Entry Prior to 8:05 AM

It is extremely important for us to remain informed about household illnesses, positive COVID-19 cases, and exposures. Please contact your School Nurse or Main Office to report any necessary information. Consistent and immediate communication of this information will allow us to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Also, please check your child’s temperature each morning and monitor your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. We also ask that you keep your child home if they or a household member exhibit any signs of illness. Please refer to our 2020-21 Family Health Guide for additional information.

On a final note, remember we are here to support you. Do not hesitate to contact our School Counselors to request any assistance you and your family may need. If we cannot help you directly, we will connect you with an appropriate resource.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season and all the best 2021 can offer.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

After consultation with the Monmouth County Health Department and in accordance with the recommendations on Page 3 of  COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools we have opted to remain on full-remote instruction through Friday, January 8, 2021. Although frustrating and disappointing, we determined this is the right decision for the short-term and the long-term.  In assessing the short-term benefits, we believe this will offer continuity of instruction, maximize student attendance, and protect our students and staff for the upcoming holidays. Looking ahead, we believe this will also provide the path of least resistance to an expansion of in-person instruction beginning on Monday, January 11, 2021. We are wholeheartedly committed to returning on January 11, 2021 and also increasing in-person instruction for specific grade levels and specialized populations. It is our intent to have all students back on a 4 day schedule by the end of January. Information will be distributed prior to winter break delineating the schedule of returning students/grade levels. We will continue to operate on a Minimum School Day schedule for in-person instruction as well as maintain our full-remote Wednesdays.

Once again,  although things may not change drastically in January from a numbers perspective, it is our steadfast intention to return to our hybrid schedule on Monday, January 11, 2021 AND begin our phased expansion to 4 days of in-person instruction. You can expect our next update the week of December 21, 2020 with additional information.

Please continue to contact your child’s school IMMEDIATELY should your child or any member of your household test positive for COVID-19 or show any symptoms. This data is critical in order to ensure our entire community remains healthy and safe. Here is a list of important contacts.

Important Reminders:

• Report Cards for Grades K-8 will be available via Parent Portal on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM. A Remind message will be sent along with a helpful video on 12/21/20.
• Parent-Teacher Conference information will be communicated by each school/site.
• If you are having Chromebook issues, ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Many issues are a result of home devices losing connection. Also, please restart your device and try again before reaching out.
• Visit our Remote Learning Dashboard and Special Area Courses Website
• Visit our website (Preschool | Primary | Middle) and Virtual Backpacks

Meal Services:

• FREE Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Mondays (December 14 & 21 and January 4) and Thursdays (December 17 & January 7) at both the Primary School and the Middle School.

Wishing you all the best as we approach the holiday season. Be safe and stay #RBWell!

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

As you are aware, since Friday, November 13, our students have been engaged in full-remote instruction. Our intent was to return to our hybrid schedule on Monday, December 7, but unfortunately, the circumstances in our local community do not support that possibility at this time. The month of November resulted in 269 new positive cases in Red Bank and although we have avoided school-based infections, the high community spread poses an unpredictable threat to our school community. We are currently aware of nearly 50 students and staff who remain in quarantine due to a recent exposure to COVID-19, predominantly through household contacts. Additionally, we are aware of approximately a dozen students and staff that have tested positive since our transition to full-remote on November 13, 2020. Considering the likelihood of a post-Thanksgiving surge over the next few days, these numbers are concerning.

On Thursday, November 19, 2020, Monmouth County was placed in High Risk (Orange) and remains so as of this update. In accordance with the NJ Department of Health document titled COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools, this category delineates that school districts should consider implementing full virtual learning. After a careful assessment and consultation with the Monmouth County Health Department, our School Nurses, Leadership Team and local districts, we will remain on full-remote instruction through Friday, December 11, 2020.

This decision was the most challenging I have faced while serving this district and community. We - our students, our families, our staff, our leaders - have successfully worked together thus far and we must remain unified and positive moving forward. Things may become more challenging in the coming weeks but better days are on the horizon.

• We are fully committed to maximizing our opportunity for in-person instruction.
• We strongly believe in the protective measures we have implemented. 
• We are excited for our remote schedule redesign.
• We are disappointed that we must delay our return.
• We understand the frustration we are all experiencing.
• Yet we remain hopeful that we will not only return to in-person instruction sooner than later, but also expand the format for in-person instruction as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

You can expect our next update the evening of Thursday, December 10 with the hope that the situation has improved sufficiently for us to resume in-person programs on Monday, December 14. However, under the present circumstances, I must recommend that we all prepare for the possible extension of full-remote learning.

Please continue to contact your child’s school IMMEDIATELY should your child or any member of your household test positive for COVID-19 or show any symptoms. This data is critical in order to ensure our entire community remains healthy and safe. Here is a list of important contacts.

Meal Services:

• Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Monday, December 7 and Thursday, December 10 at both the Primary School and the Middle School.

General Reminders:

• Visit our new Remote Learning Dashboard and our Special Area Courses Website!
• Visit our website (Preschool | Primary | Middle) and Virtual Backpacks for notices, including many about Health & Safety.
• Families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For help, see our guides (English | Spanish).

Wishing you all the best as we approach the holiday season. Be safe and stay #RBWell!

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

Just last week, we planned on releasing information detailing a slow expansion of in-person instruction; however, the recent uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, Monmouth County, and Red Bank forced us to reconsider. Additionally, we also opted for a temporary transition to full-remote learning out of an abundance of caution. Our temporary closure was specifically implemented to protect the long-term viability of our in-person instructional program. We hoped to return to our hybrid model tomorrow.

While our current safety protocols and preventative measures greatly minimize the risk of a COVID-19 positive entry or an on-site transmission, the climate outside of our facilities is becoming an unquantifiable threat to our educational environment, students and staff. After discussions among our leadership team and school health personnel, and in collaboration with the Monmouth County Health Department, we will remain on a full-remote learning schedule through Friday, December 4. We expect to return to our hybrid model effective Monday, December 7 with Cohorts A & C for in-person instruction. Again, this is not a result of on-site exposures but a precaution based on the data collected regarding community exposures connected to our schools. 

At this time we are also delaying our plans for increasing in-person instruction. We do not plan to make significant changes until January 2021. Cohort D (Full-Remote) students will be able to return and be part of Cohort A or B beginning Monday, December 14, 2020 as per our adopted BOE Policy. Those families will receive a survey sent to their email address (if you do not receive an email within 24 hours, please contact your child’s school).

The challenge ahead requires teamwork. We need your help in reporting ANY member of your household that exhibits ANY COVID-19 symptoms or receives a Positive COVID-19 test result. The Monmouth County Health Department will not be contacting any households so it is imperative for you to contact your child’s school nurse immediately so that we may initiate the contact tracing process. Please continue to take the appropriate precautions regarding gatherings outside of school, the use of face coverings and frequent hand washing.

Meal Services:

• Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank from 9:00-11:00 AM on Thursday, November 19, Monday, November 23, Monday, November 30 and Thursday, December 3, 2020 at both the Primary School and the Middle School.
• Meals are not provided for days that are holidays and weekends (for example, Thanksgiving).

General Reminders:

• Visit our website (Preschool | Primary | Middle) and Virtual Backpacks for notices, including many about Health & Safety.
• All families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For help, see our guides (English | Spanish).
• Here is a list of important contacts and our District Calendar is HERE.
• Visit our Special Area Courses Website

Wishing you all the best as we approach the holiday season. Be safe and stay #RBWell! 

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Updated November 12, 2020 - 7:45 PM.

Dear Red Bank Families,

Unfortunately, since the long weekend, we now have experienced several positive cases of COVID-19 across the district. Fortunately, only one of the cases directly impacted our middle school community and due to cohorting, the impact was minimal. It is important to note that the source of each case was identified as the household. Additionally, the families of any child that was considered to be in close contact with a student who tested positive have already been notified. At this point in our school year, we have no evidence of any transmission occurring in our schools.

We have taken exhaustive measures to provide a safe environment for students and staff since our reopening. However, the recent increase of cases in Red Bank, combined with our intent to preserve the long-term viability of in-person instruction, leads us to an unfortunate conclusion. We must transition to a full-remote schedule beginning tomorrow, Friday, November 13, 2020 through Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Our intent is to return to in-person instruction for Cohorts B & C on Thursday, November 19, 2020. 

Meals (including breakfast and lunch) will be available for any child 18 years or younger that lives in Red Bank in a “Grab and Go” format from 9:00-11:00 AM on Friday, November 13 and Monday, November 16 at both the Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School. Our Monday meal distribution will include meals for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Again, we appreciate your continued support. We realize the timing of this news may cause some level of inconvenience. However, there is nothing more important than the safety and health of our students and staff. Your cooperation was a key factor in our success throughout September and October and will continue to be moving forward. Please continue to take the appropriate precautions regarding gatherings outside of school, face covering usage and frequent hand washing.

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Posted November 12, 2020 - 10:00 AM.

Dear Red Bank Families,

I hope this brief update finds you and your family well. Unfortunately, the return to school in New Jersey after the long weekend has created a variety of concerns locally and across the State. As a result, this short delay in distribution was required to ensure we are sharing the most accurate and up to date information available.

Since our opening of school, we have continually assessed our hybrid, in-person instructional model making adjustments for improvement where needed. More recently, we have designed and reviewed several models of expansion for our in-person instruction. We are certainly eager to have all students in school as often as possible. In doing so, we must also consider the preservation of a healthy school environment for students and staff as well as the long-term viability of our educational model. With that being said, at this time we are unable to commit to any schedule changes. We are hopeful that we will have an additional update shortly with more detailed information including any potential changes to our instructional schedule.

We appreciate your continued support. Your cooperation was a key factor in our success throughout September and October and will continue to be moving forward. Please continue to practice the health and safety habits that have allowed us to enjoy 40 days of school thus far.

 
Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We have learned a lot over the first six weeks of school and continue to make adjustments to improve health and safety protocols, as well as our in-person and remote instructional platforms. With the onset of winter and the flu season, we encourage you to remain steadfast with social distancing and other best practices for limiting the spread of illness and specifically, COVID-19. As you know, New Jersey has seen a rise in positive cases and we need to exercise healthy habits in order to maintain the instructional environment we have established. 

Looking ahead, we are preparing tentative plans to increase in-person instruction should the climate permit. These plans will be designed with the physical and emotional health and safety of our students and staff in mind. Additionally, any changes to our operating schedule will be implemented deliberately and methodically. Trimester 2 begins on Monday, December 14. We do not anticipate any major structural changes to our schedule prior to that date. Any planned changes will be shared in our next Community Update which we have scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. This will offer you the benefit of nearly 5 weeks to prepare for any potential changes.  In addition, on November 11 you will also be asked to complete a brief form indicating your child’s preferred method  of instruction (full-remote or in-person) for Trimester 2.

At this time, extra-curricular activities including Athletics are still on hold. We are preparing for a winter athletic season in the event the climate permits. We are also planning to add other extra-curricular activities as part of our in-person expansion plans. Again, all changes will be pending our ability to do so in a safe manner.

Be on the lookout for our new Special Area Courses website. The site will offer a wide variety of weekly activities in the areas of Physical Education and Health/Mindfulness, Art, Music, Financial Literacy, World Languages and Project Lead the Way. We anticipate launching this website through your child’s Google Classroom. Please check it out and encourage your child to do the same! 

Additionally, in an effort to further protect your child from illness, we are piloting a new safety practice beginning Monday, October 26 at each grade level.  Every student will be provided with an appropriate-sized  face shield to serve as an additional protective barrier. As noted, with the flu season and winter upon us, we are taking extra precaution to keep everyone safe and keep our schools open.

Important Reminders About Breakfast & Lunch:

• If you have not completed an application for Free and/or Reduced meals, complete one immediately (English | Spanish). Forms are required for ALL students, even those on full-remote (Cohort D). These applications are used to determine the financial aid we receive from the State. 
• Meals are served only on days that school is in session. Therefore, no meals are provided on days the District is closed.

Important Reminders About Schedules:

• Week of November 2, 2020
• ALL COHORTS FOLLOW A VIRTUAL SCHEDULE - Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4
• District CLOSED - Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6
• Please adhere to the delineated arrival times for your child’s location. As the weather grows colder we will be unable to open our doors for early arrivals. 
• Arrival Times:
• First Baptist Church, United Methodist Church & YMCA: No Entry Prior to 8:30
• Monmouth Day Care Center & Acelero Learning Center: Assigned Start Times Per Class
• Primary School: Bus Students (8:30-8:45 AM) & Drop-Offs/Walkers: 8:40-8:50 AM
• Middle School: All Students - No Entry Prior to 8:05 AM

General Reminders:

• Visit our website (Preschool | Primary | Middle) and Virtual Backpacks for notices, including many about Health & Safety.
• Information regarding Halloween costumes and procedures will be sent directly from your child’s school/site. We will not be able to accommodate parades this year at our schools. Face coverings will also need to be worn, even if a child is in costume.
• All families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For help, see our guides (English | Spanish).
• Here is a list of important contacts and our District Calendar is HERE.

We must remain unified in protecting the long-term viability of our school schedule. Please continue to do your part by checking your child’s temperature each morning and monitoring your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. We also ask that you keep your child home if they exhibit any signs of illness. Please refer to our 2020-21 Family Health Guide for additional information. Furthermore, please be sure your child and family are practicing healthy habits on days off and during our November school closures, including Thanksgiving break. 

Regarding holiday travel, please consider New Jersey’s Travel Restrictions and quarantine responsibilities related to certain destinations. Anyone traveling to an area of high community transmission as listed by the NJDOH Travel Advisory will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return to New Jersey. Parents should contact the Nurse with any questions. Students returning from any of the states listed will be assigned remote learning for the duration of the quarantine. Adherence is necessary to keep our school community safe as we continue to provide in-person instruction. Please notify the school if you will be required to quarantine so staff have ample time to prepare for the transfer to all remote learning for your child.

On a final note, please remember we are always here to support you. Please do not hesitate to contact our School Counselors to request any assistance you and your family may need. If we cannot help you directly, we will connect you with an appropriate resource.

I have never been more proud of our students, staff and school community. Our response during these trying times exemplifies the #RBBisBIA mindset. Let’s continue to strive to be the Best In America so we can be certain we are the Best for Red Bank. 

All the best to you and your family.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

As of today, we have completed 18 days of the 2020-2021 school year. We are off to a strong start while addressing the minor bumps in the road. Currently, our buildings are at 42% capacity and all of our buses are under 50% capacity. Our staff continues to work tirelessly on providing a robust remote instructional experience for all students. And you, our parents and guardians, continue to be your child’s first teacher during this new normal. Our successful opening led to a visit from Governor Phil Murphy and the Interim Commissioner of Education, Kevin Dehmer during which both complimented our students, staff, facilities, and the safety protocols implemented in the District. We invited both for a return visit in the spring when we hope to showcase in more depth the #RBBisBIA story.

Our Virtual Back to School Nights are in full swing. Individual sites/schools have communicated information about these events. As always, visit our websites (Preschool | Primary | Middle) and Virtual Backpacks for important notices, including many about Health & Safety.

As indicated in our Community Message on Sunday, October 4, we dealt with a positive COVID-19 test within our school community. Temporarily pivoting to virtual instruction is not a step we take lightly, but one that is necessary in order to guard against the spread of COVID-19. The decision to close is not one made in isolation. In response to this situation, we worked in conjunction with the Monmouth County Health Department to ensure we adhered to all recommended health and safety guidelines. (For more info, visit the New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools.) Our research and contact tracing concluded the possible existence of two close contacts. As a result, we responded with an abundance of caution by transitioning to full remote learning for all Grade 6 students and staff with an in-person return date of Monday, October 12. The decision to do so was rooted in health and safety while minimizing long-term risk to the instructional schedule we have implemented.

You may see other local districts and districts throughout the State dealing with similar situations. Please note, comparing district responses is not a fair assessment. Districts are separated into specific regions by the NJDOH. Red Bank is categorized in the Central East Region. The Current Activity Level in the Central Region as of today is rated as Moderate. 

When responding to a COVID-19 scenario, the district’s assigned region will play a significant role. The COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix provides data and public health recommendations for local health departments and schools to consider based on the level of COVID-19 transmission in their region. The matrix is for the LHDs in collaboration with the local school districts and the Communicable Disease Service. Regional risk levels are just one tool that local health departments and schools can use when assessing COVID-19 risk. Local health departments have additional knowledge of COVID-19 in their jurisdictions that can inform local planning and response actions. Implementation of these public health recommendations should be guided by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs of each community. Additionally, the matrix provides public health recommendations regarding the type of instruction (in-person, hybrid, remote), response to ill staff or students, exclusion criteria, and activities that involve interaction with multiple cohorts.

We have begun to reevaluate our current status in regards to expanding in-person instruction but no decisions have been made at this time. Again, we will continue to assess the situation keeping health and safety as our number one priority. Our secondary goal is to offer as much in-person instruction as possible; however, we will do so deliberately so we do not jeopardize the platform we have constructed or require the need for extended remote instruction for all students. If adjustments need to be made to our schedule we will provide as much advance notice as possible. Continue to do your part by checking your child’s temperature each morning and monitoring your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. We also ask that you keep your child home if they exhibit any signs of illness. Please refer to our 2020-21 Family Health Guide for additional information.

BELOW ARE IMPORTANT REMINDERS.

• Tuesday, November 3, 2020 and Wednesday, November 4, 2020 will be Virtual Days for ALL STUDENTS.
• All families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For help, see our guides - English | Spanish.
• Here is a list of important contacts.
• Our District Calendar is accessible HERE.

One final note. We are very fortunate in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools to have a collection of remarkable staff members. With that being said, it is time for the annual Governor's Educator of the Year Recognition Program. Here is the 20-21 Nomination Form. Recipients from the past five years cannot be considered based on the guidelines (click HERE for a list). The form closes on Sunday, November 8, 2020. All forms submitted will be shared with nominees after the selection process. Please take a few moments to nominate a deserving staff member (or two).

We cannot thank you enough for your continued support and patience during these past 7 months. Let’s continue to ensure everyone remains healthy and safe in our school community.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families:

This letter is to inform you that an individual at Red Bank Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19. We are working closely with public health officials and following CDC, state, and local health department guidance in order to assure the health and safety of our community. Those individuals deemed to be “close contacts” were contacted by the school and the Monmouth County Health Department. The individual will spend the required time in isolation and the close contacts will be subject to a 14-day quarantine. Cleaning and disinfecting of the building were completed on Friday evening as per our normal schedule. In addition, with an abundance of caution, we cleaned and disinfected specific areas of the building on Sunday. Furthermore, GRADE 6 staff and students in the following homerooms will participate in remote instruction from Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9: Mrs. Lynch, Ms. Coco, Mr. Cuddihy, Mrs. LoCascio, Mrs. Pape, and Ms. Hartman. All five days will follow the schedule of our standard “virtual Wednesdays”.

• Cohort A Grade 6 students will return for in-person instruction on Monday, October 12.
• Cohort B Grade 6 students will return for in-person instruction on Thursday, October 15.

As needed, we will update you with any forthcoming information. In the meantime, we encourage parents and students to continue following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention promoted safeguards, such as:
Staying home when you are sick;

• Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;
• Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks, and utensils;
• Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart);
• Wearing a face covering while in school; and
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms.

As always, we appreciate our community’s support and cooperation. You can assist us by remaining vigilant but sensible in your approach to dealing with this health concern. Should you have any questions about this situation, please feel free to contact your school nurse.


Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Red Bank Families,

We are approaching the end of Week #2 and by all accounts we are off to a successful start on our journey. Thanks to the cooperation of our families, the dedication of our staff, and the resilience of our students we have experienced only minor glitches which we expect to address as we continue to refine our hybrid model of instruction. Although we did an admirable job last spring during our sudden forced closure, our staff is working tirelessly to provide a more robust remote instructional experience for our students this school year.

As you are aware, we are conducting temperature checks each day at all locations for students, staff and visitors. We do ask that you continue to do your part by checking your child’s temperature each morning and monitoring your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19.  We also ask that you keep your child home if they exhibit any signs of illness. Students are required to wear face coverings on school buses and throughout the school day. We do have a supply of extra face coverings on hand but if possible, please send in an extra face covering(s) with your child in the event of an emergency. Please refer to our 2020-21 Family Health Guide for additional information. We continue to rely on our partnership to keep our entire school community safe and make our school year a success for all.

Additionally, we are now working directly with the Monmouth County Department of Health to ensure we continue to implement best practices for health and safety. In the event, any health concerns exist within our school community we will communicate the necessary information swiftly and through multiple platforms. In these circumstances, we believe clarity and responsiveness will be of the utmost importance.

As of today, it is too early to reevaluate our current status and we do not foresee any major changes to our school schedule coming in the near future. We will continue to assess the situation keeping health and safety as our number one priority. If and when adjustments need to be made to our schedule we will provide as much advance notice as possible. Currently, we are preparing for Back to School Night. Information regarding this event will be shared by your child’s individual school. 

Below are several important reminders.

• Our School District is CLOSED for students and staff on Monday, September 28 for Yom Kippur.
• All families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For directions and contact information if you are having difficulty, see our guides - English | Spanish.
• Here is a list of important contacts.
• Review our Top 20 Facts for Parents (English | Spanish) highlighting important details of our Restart & Recovery Plan and our User Friendly Guide for Families & Staff to The #RBBisBIA Road Back (English | Spanish). 
• For a complete version of the required NJDOE Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools, click HERE. 
• View our Virtual Backpack for important Health & Safety notices which need to be followed on a daily basis.
• If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com.  If you are in need of financial assistance for WiFi, call 732-785-1510. 

Thank you again for your support in the successful reopening of the Best School District in America! As a community, let’s keep up the great teamwork to maintain a safe learning environment for our students and staff. 

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

Our entire staff and I are excited to welcome your children back on Monday, September 14, 2020. Although we will not all be physically together, we will be able to connect that day with all students and continue on our #RBBisBIA journey.

Below are several important reminders. Please review carefully.

• If your child is in Cohort B or D, information will be forthcoming through Remind and/or via email from his/her teacher with directions on how to connect on Monday.
• All families should be accessing our Parent Portal. For directions and contact information if you are having difficulty, see our guides - English | Spanish.
• Bus passes, teacher assignments and important Health and Safety information was mailed Friday. If you have not received a packet, contact your child’s school. Here is a list of important contacts.
• For Chromebook Distribution Information and WiFi assistance, click HERE.
• Review our Top 20 Facts for Parents (English | Spanish) highlighting important details of our Restart & Recovery Plan and our User Friendly Guide for Families & Staff to The #RBBisBIA Road Back (English | Spanish). 
• For a complete version of the required NJDOE Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools, click HERE. 

We look forward to opening our doors for students on September 14. Please remember to do your part and check your child’s temperature each morning and monitor your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. More than ever, we are counting on our partnership to keep our entire school community safe. View our Virtual Backpack for important Health & Safety notices which need to be followed on a daily basis.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

In order to maximize our home-school communications, we are looking for 100% Parent Portal participation. The Portal will include report cards, handbooks, forms, grades and more for ALL students. If you cannot access Parent Portal, click HERE in lieu of calling the Main Office. Use the FORGOT MY PASSWORD feature on Parent Portal if you need to reset your password. At this time, the only information posted are cohort assignments. Here are directions (English | Spanish) on how to retrieve your child’s cohort.

Please review the information below in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year which begins Monday, September 14, 2020. Additional information including bus passes, teacher assignments and directions on how to retrieve Welcome Back information in Parent Portal will be mailed home the week of September 7, 2020.

DEVICE DISTRIBUTION (Kindergarten - Grade 8 Students):

• Cohort A & C: Students will receive their device Monday, September 14 or Tuesday, September 15 at school.
• Cohort B: Students may pick up devices on September 8, 9 or 10 from 9:00-11:00 AM or 1:00-3:00 PM at the Red Bank Middle School (Gym Door #4). 
• Cohort D: Students may pick up their devices and other materials for full remote learning on September 11 from 8:30-12:30 PM at the Red Bank Middle School (Gym Door #4). 

IMPORTANT: ALL students MUST have WiFi as students in Grades K-8 regardless of cohort will be on a Full Remote Schedule each Wednesday. If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com. If you are in need of financial assistance for WiFi, call 732-785-1510. 

MEAL SERVICES: “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch for all Red Bank children 18 or younger ends on Thursday, August 27th. Meal services will resume on our first day of school, Monday, September 14. More information will be provided regarding students needing meals that are on full remote learning.

Our next update is Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Please review our Top 20 Facts for Parents (English | Spanish) highlighting important details of our Restart & Recovery Plan and our User Friendly Guide for Families & Staff to The #RBBisBIA Road Back (English | Spanish). For a complete version of the required NJ Department of Education Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools, click HERE. 

We look forward to opening our doors for students on September 14. Please remember to do your part and check your child’s temperature each morning and monitor your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. More than ever, we are counting on our partnership to keep our entire school community safe. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school. Visit Contact Information for important numbers and emails.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

We are sharing a Top 20 Facts for Parents (English | Spanish) highlighting the most important details of our Restart & Recovery Plan. Don’t forget to visit our User Friendly Guide for Families & Staff to The #RBBisBIA Road Back (English | Spanish).

SEPTEMBER 2020 COHORT ASSIGNMENT: Here are directions (English | Spanish) on how to retrieve your child’s cohort assignment via Parent Portal. At this time, the only information posted is cohort assignments. Please check the email address utilized at the point of registration as a message was sent to that account earlier today. If you cannot access the information or never submitted an email address, click HERE to submit a form in lieu of calling. Use the FORGOT MY PASSWORD feature on Parent Portal if you are unsure about your specific information.

All students are assigned to one of four cohorts which is noted in Parent Portal.

• Cohort A: In Person Instruction Mondays & Tuesdays. Full Remote Learning on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays.
• Cohort B: In Person Instruction on Thursdays & Fridays. Full Remote Learning on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
• Cohort C: In Person Instruction on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays. Full Remote Learning on Wednesdays. Cohort C is only for students in self-contained special education classes (PSD, MD & LLD).
• Cohort D: Full Remote Learning

MEAL SERVICES: “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch for all Red Bank children 18 or younger will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30-11:00 AM at RB Middle School on August 20, 24 and 27. After August 27, meal service will not resume until our first day of school, September 14. More information will be provided regarding students needing meals that are on full remote learning

DRESS CODE: A uniform dress code will continue to be required for ALL students (Preschool - Grade 8). Students are to wear tan khaki colored bottoms (pants, shorts, skirt, skort or jumper) with a solid color red, black, or white collared shirt, blouse, short or long sleeved polo shirt, turtlenecks and/or sweaters. Clothing may be purchased at any store. If you need assistance please contact the Main Office of your child’s school. (This does not apply to Acelero Learning or Monmouth Day Care Center.)

In future updates, we will provide details regarding specific student schedules, teacher assignments, sample pictures of classrooms, bus information, Chromebook distribution schedules (all Grades K-8 students), meal information, safety guidelines/procedures and more. Moving forward, much of this information will be posted via Parent Portal, including all report cards for students in Grades K-8.

If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com. If you are in need of financial assistance for WiFi, call 732-785-1510. Students MUST have access to WiFi as ALL students in Grades K-8 will be on a Full Remote Schedule each Wednesday, no matter what cohort they are assigned.

Please be aware that Tuesday, November 3, 2020 will be a virtual day for ALL STUDENTS due to the Governor’s Executive Order #177. The Red Bank Borough Board of Education approved a revised 2020-2021 School Calendar (click HERE). The start date for ALL STUDENTS is Monday, September 14, 2020.

Our next update is scheduled for next Wednesday, August 26, 2020. For a complete version of the required NJ Department of Education Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools, click HERE.

REMINDERS

• Preschool and Grades K-8 Registration
• Click HERE for registration information for NEW Preschool - Grade 8. Please share with prospective families.
• Any student currently in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools does not need to register.
• If you are relocating within Red Bank or have moved out of Red Bank, call 732-758-1510.
• Counseling, Health and Educational Services
• In the event your child needs support in the area of counseling, mental health or health during this time, contact Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Parents of Special Education students with questions or needs are encouraged to reach out to their case managers, related service providers or Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• General Information
• Questions? Call 732-758-1500 and leave a message. Here is other important Contact Information.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

We hope this message finds you and your loved ones doing well and enjoying the summer. This communication is intended to keep you updated on our plans for the 2020-2021 school year. Our Leadership Team, Restart Committee, and Board of Education continue to work on developing a plan to create a safe environment for the return of our students and staff. We are guided by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), Center for Disease Control (CDC), New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission (MCRHC). 

As you may have seen in the news, some of this guidance continues to evolve, which has made it a challenging task in providing you with information that is set in stone. Therefore, keep in mind that each update may bring about some changes based on new information received. We thank you for your flexibility, patience and cooperation during this time.

We have created a User Friendly Guide for Families & Staff to The #RBBisBIA Road Back (English | Spanish). We hope this assists in your planning for September 2020. Expect more information to be shared in future updates.

 We expect our next update to be released on Wednesday, August 19 at which time you will receive directions on how to retrieve your child’s cohort assignment via Parent Portal. In addition, we will be sharing information regarding the Top 20 Facts for Parents.

Beyond that date, we will be providing details regarding specific student schedules (including students in full remote and in the hybrid model), teacher assignments, bus information, Chromebook distribution schedules (all Grades K-8 students), meal information, specific safety guidelines/procedures and more. If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com. If you are in need of financial assistance for WiFi, call 732-785-1510. Students MUST have access to WiFi as ALL students in Grades K-8 will be on a Full Remote Schedule each Wednesday, no matter what cohort they are assigned.

As an important reminder, the Red Bank Borough Board of Education approved a revised 2020-2021 School Calendar (click HERE). The starting date for ALL STUDENTS is Monday, September 14, 2020.

The health and safety of students and staff is our number one priority and has guided all decisions regarding the District’s plan. We realize that a tremendous amount of anxiety exists because of the current health situation. Please continue to take care of yourselves and know that we will get through this together. And, in the end, we hope to come out even stronger as we continue our #RBBisBIA journey.

For a complete version of the required NJ Department of Education Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools, click HERE.

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT UPDATES BELOW. 

• Dress Code/School Uniforms 

• A uniform dress code will continue to be required for ALL students (Preschool - Grade 8) in September. Students are to wear tan khaki colored bottoms (pants, shorts, skirt, skort or jumper) with a solid color red, black, or white collared shirt, blouse, short or long sleeved polo shirt, turtlenecks and/or sweaters. Clothing may be purchased at any store. If you need assistance please contact the Main Office of your child’s school. (This does not apply to Acelero Learning or Monmouth Day Care Center.) 

• “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch - All Children 18 or Younger 

• Food Services are open Mondays and Thursday from 8:30-11:00 AM at RB Middle School - English/Spanish. 

• Summer Learning Opportunities 

• Visit our Virtual Learning Website for resources. 

• Preschool and Grades K-8 Registration 

• Click HERE for registration information for NEW Preschool - Grade 8. Please share with prospective families.
• Any student currently in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools does not need to register.
• If you are relocating within Red Bank or have moved out of Red Bank, call 732-758-1510. 

• Counseling, Health and Educational Services 

• In the event your child needs support in the area of counseling, mental health or health during this time, contact Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Parents of Special Education students with questions or needs are encouraged to reach out to their case managers, related service providers or Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Visit our State & Federal Resources section for important information. 

• General Information
• Questions? Call 732-758-1500 and leave a message. Here is other important Contact Information.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

We hope this communication finds you healthy and enjoying summer. It is nearly August and with September around the corner we are certain you have many questions regarding the 2020-2021 school year. Our Leadership Team, Restart Committee, and Board of Education are collaborating to provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff while maximizing in person instructional time. Our overall plan reflects guidance provided by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), Center for Disease Control (CDC), New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission (MCRHC) as well as feedback received from family and staff surveys. It currently includes 7 distinct stages so that we are capable of seamlessly responding to any changes regarding the health pandemic. Today, we are sharing the most likely scenario for September and the main elements we hope to implement assuming things remain unchanged.

Schedule Overview & Technology Devices

• As of today (Wednesday, July 29, 2020) our intent is to open schools for students at Stage 3. While this is our plan today, it could very easily change based on guidance from local health officials and directives from the Governor and/or Acting Commissioner of Education. 
• In Stage 3, students are divided into Cohort A and Cohort B. 
• Cohort A attends school for in person instruction on Mondays and Tuesdays and participates in Virtual Instruction on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday. 
• Cohort B participates in Virtual Instruction on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and attends school for in person instruction on Thursdays and Fridays.
• Our plan is to place families with multiple children throughout the District in the same cohort. This will allow you to plan for child care in advance.
• As an example, a class that typically has 22 students would have 11 students for in person instruction. This will significantly reduce interaction and capacity in classrooms, hallways and buses while providing the in person instruction that we all know is so important.
• All in person instruction will be based on a Minimum School Day schedule for students. This schedule will provide additional time to sanitize all areas on a daily basis. It will also allow for a more intense cleaning schedule on Wednesdays which is a break between Cohort A and Cohort B. Preschool through Grade 3 student dismissal time will be 1:25 PM and Grades 4-8 student dismissal time will be 1:00 PM.
• On Virtual Instruction days, students will have assignments to complete under the direction of a teacher. 
• All students from Preschool - Grade 8 will participate in Virtual Instruction on Wednesdays. This will include live content, pre-recorded content, whole class meetings, small group meetings, small group intervention and/or enrichment as well as independent practice. More information will be provided in late August.
• On days students are assigned to Virtual Instruction, teachers will have the opportunity to check in with students at a designated time. Based on feedback, we feel it is important for every child to connect with their teacher(s) daily.
• Students enrolled in our self-contained Preschool Disability Program (PSD), Learning and Language Disability Program (LLD) or Multiply Disabled Program (MD) will attend school for in person instruction on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays. These classes will be fully virtual on Wednesdays.
• We plan to distribute Chromebooks with protective cases in early September to all students in Grades K-8. More information will be provided in future updates. If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com.

Calendar

As part of our plan, the Red Bank Borough Board of Education approved a revised 2020-2021 School Calendar (click HERE to review). The revised calendar includes 180 days of student instruction and we will continue to follow a trimester schedule. The starting date for ALL STUDENTS is now Monday, September 14, 2020. The delayed start provides several benefits:

• Six professional learning/preparation days for staff. These days are typically spread throughout the year.
• Time to distribute information and materials in lieu of our traditional September Packet Pickup.
• The opportunity to learn from the earlier start dates in other local districts.

Extra Curricular Activities & Athletics

We believe these experiences are critical, now more than ever to the social and emotional well-being of our children. While our desire is to reinstate a full array of extra curricular activities, before/after school programming and athletics, please note that all of these areas are currently on hold for September. Once we can ensure a safe return at Stage 3, we will revisit these areas and proceed.

Face Coverings

• Cloth masks will be required for all students on buses and in school until further notice.
• Staff will be required to wear cloth masks and face shields.
• Exemptions will include staff/students with medical conditions, students with disabilities, and circumstances in which appropriate social distancing can be guaranteed.
• Students should provide their own school appropriate cloth face covering. If they forget their face covering, the district will provide a disposable version for the day.

General Health & Safety Items

While our plans are subject to change, below are some points to consider. These small steps will help in the fall, regardless of the type of plan we implement. 

1. In conjunction with our custodial and maintenance staff, we are developing plans and ensuring we have all necessary resources and equipment to implement an intense cleaning schedule on a daily basis, including evenings and weekends.
2. During times when access to soap and water is not available, students will utilize hand sanitizer. Students five and under will be monitored while using this product. We ask that children under five not carry their own personal bottle of hand sanitizer.
3. While we hope to provide hand sanitizer, we anticipate asking families to donate large bottles (8-12 ounces) for general use. Please be aware of the numerous product recalls listed HERE.
4. Please ensure you have a working thermometer. Parents will need to screen their children for fevers and other symptoms daily. Students will likely be screened upon entry to the school and during the day as needed. Students with a confirmed fever or any other COVID-19 related symptoms will be isolated with supervision until they are picked up by a family member. 
5. All Water Fountains will be turned off until further notice, however, the water bottle filling stations will remain accessible. Students should bring CLEAR PLASTIC bottles to school on a daily basis for water only.

Future Surveys (Virtual Instruction & Transportation) 

• We anticipate sending out a family survey regarding transportation and virtual instruction.
• Our transportation survey will ask families to indicate if they would like to opt out of bussing for the 2020-2021 school year. We realize some families do not participate and knowing this in advance will assist us in planning.
• Our virtual instruction survey will only be required of those families choosing to participate in FULL virtual instruction, Mondays through Fridays. The Governor has now provided this option to families. Please note that if agreeing to participate in FULL virtual instruction, you may only opt back in at the end of each trimester (December 11, 2020 or March 19, 2021).
• Our desire was for families to be fully aware of our anticipated opening model (Stage 3) prior to survey distribution.

September Packet Pickup Date

• Our annual September Packet Pickup has been cancelled. In future updates we will inform families when information such as Cohort/Teacher Assignments, Bus Information, etc. will be distributed. Thank you for your patience.

Once again, we will be guided by the advice of local health officials to determine the safest course of action based on local circumstances, which will change as the public health landscape evolves. The health and safety of students and staff is our number one priority and has guided all decisions regarding the District’s plan. It will be imperative for you to do your part to support a safe and healthy school environment. We expect behaviors that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 such as encouraging students to stay home when showing signs of illness; encouraging the practice of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette; and requiring the use of face coverings. Each school day, students should be evaluated at home for symptoms and remain home if necessary. Additionally, students should be encouraged at home, as they will be in school, to wash hands with soap and water frequently. Finally, students should always wear a cloth mask when social distancing is not possible.

Please continue to practice social distancing, make good choices and enjoy the summer. You can expect our next Community Update on or about August 12 which will contain additional information regarding September, including meal distribution. In the meantime, continue to Dream BIG, stay safe and be well.

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT UPDATES BELOW.

• “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch - All Children 18 or Younger
• Food Services are open Mondays and Thursday from 8:30-11:00 AM at RB Middle School - English/Spanish.

• Summer Learning Opportunities
• Visit our Virtual Learning Website for resources.

• Preschool and Grades K-8 Registration
• Click HERE for registration information for NEW Preschool - Grade 8. Please share with prospective families.
• Any student currently in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools does not need to register.
• If you are relocating within Red Bank or have moved out of Red Bank, call 732-758-1510.

• Counseling, Health and Educational Services
• In the event your child needs support in the area of counseling, mental health or health during this time, contact Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Parents of Special Education students with questions or needs are encouraged to reach out to their case managers, related service providers or Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Visit our State & Federal Resources section for important information.

• General Information
• Questions? Call 732-758-1500 and leave a message. Here is other important Contact Information.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families,

I hope this message finds you and your families well and enjoying the summer break. As promised, we are sharing this bi-weekly update to provide some general information regarding our reopening plan and provide some insight into September.

As previously communicated, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) released the Restart and Recovery Plan for Education on Friday, June 26. This document offered guidelines but also left many questions unanswered.  It did, however, communicate two points: 

1. Schools in New Jersey should reopen for some type of in-person instruction in the fall. 
2. All students will be required to wear a face covering when physical distancing of six feet is not possible (unless prohibited from doing so because of a medical condition). 

Currently, we are developing an in-person, remote learning hybrid schedule that is focused on the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. Our plans include recommendations from the CDC, the NJDOH, our local health commission, and other feedback we have received from the community and staff.

While our plans are subject to change, below are some points to consider. These small steps will help in the fall, regardless of the type of plan we implement. 

1. Items families will need for their children:
1. Face Covering
2. Hand Sanitizer
3. Thermometer 
2. While we hope to provide face coverings and hand sanitizer, we anticipate asking families to donate large bottles (8-12 ounces) of hand sanitizer for general use.
3. Students will be required to wear face coverings on buses and in school when social distancing guidelines cannot be met. Accommodations will be made for students with certain conditions that preclude the use of face coverings.
4. Please ensure you have a working thermometer. Parents will need to screen their children for fevers and other symptoms daily. Students will be screened upon entry to the school and during the day as needed. 
5. We plan to distribute Chromebooks in late August/early September to all students in Grades K-8. If you are in need of WiFi, visit www.internetessentials.com. You may qualify for this special pricing if you are eligible for public assistance programs such as Free/Reduced Lunch, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and others.
6. At a minimum we anticipate being fully virtual for all students in Grades Preschool - 8 every Wednesday.
7. We anticipate our Board of Education approving a revised calendar at their next meeting. Our projected start date for students will be later than planned as we need time for staff to prepare for in person and/or virtual instruction.
8. Any in person instruction will be based on a Minimum School Day schedule. This modified schedule will provide additional time to sanitize all areas on a daily basis.
1. Preschool through Grade 3 dismissal time - 1:25 PM.
2. Grades 4-8 dismissal time - 1:00 PM.
9. Due to social distancing guidelines and restrictions students will not eat breakfast or lunch in school. Students will be provided a daily snack and breakfast and lunch will be similar to “Grab and Go” that is currently offered.

Again, all plans are subject to any changes to the guidelines provided by the NJDOE, directives from the Office of the Governor, and the recommendations of relevant health organizations. Further information regarding instructional programming will be forthcoming, but please know we have taken measures to provide a more structured virtual schedule for students and staff.

Please continue to practice social distancing and make good choices. You can expect our next Community Update on or about July 29. We anticipate this update will include more detailed information regarding September. In the meantime, continue to Dream BIG, stay safe and be well.

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT UPDATES BELOW

• “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch - All Children 18 or Younger
  • Food Services are open Mondays and Thursday from 8:30-11:00 AM at RB Middle School - English/Spanish.
• Voter Registration & Eligibility
  • Applications - English | Spanish and  Voter Eligibility Guidelines.
• Summer Learning Opportunities
  • Summer Learning Info - English | Spanish. Visit our Virtual Learning Website for more resources.
  • Click HERE for a Summer Reading video tutorial from the Red Bank Public Library.
• Preschool and Grades K-8 Registration
  • Click HERE for registration information for NEW Preschool - Grade 8. Please share with prospective families.
  • Any student currently in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools does not need to register.
  • If you are relocating within Red Bank or have moved out of Red Bank, call 732-758-1510.
• Counseling, Health and Educational Services
  • In the event your child needs support in the area of counseling, mental health or health during this time, contact Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
  • Parents of Special Education students with questions or needs are encouraged to reach out to their case managers, related service providers or Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
  • Visit our State & Federal Resources section for important information.
• General Information
  • Questions? Call 732-758-1500 and leave a message. Here is other important Contact Information.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D

Dear Red Bank Families and Community Members,

I hope this letter finds you and your families safe, healthy, and enjoying the beginning of summer break. While it should be our priority to enjoy the summer and our families to the maximum, inevitably, questions about September 2020 will arise. Along with these questions will come speculation. Please know we will share updates every two weeks throughout the summer and more often if needed. We recommend you use these updates as your primary source of information.

Today, we are sharing our first summer update on the heels of the release of The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education by the New Jersey Department of Education on Friday, June 26. The Road Back is a 104-page document that delineates the anticipated minimum standards for creating a safe and healthy environment while providing school districts the autonomy to best meet the needs of their communities. The plan is designed in four categories: Conditions for Learning, Leadership and Planning, Policy and Funding and Continuity of Learning. Within each of these segments, the NJDOE covers topics such as face coverings, transportation, social distancing, scheduling and more. Additionally, the plan calls for the establishment of a District Restart Committee which we have already enlisted, as well as school-based Pandemic Response Teams which we are currently organizing. These teams will meet in July, in person and virtually, to assist with our reopening plan. The plan must be submitted to the NJDOE for approval by August 1, 2020.

At this time, as I am sure you realize, we still have very few answers. Our Leadership Team is working diligently to design a comprehensive reopening plan that covers multiple scenarios and offers the flexibility needed to navigate the dynamics of this situation. As we work in concert with our committees, feedback from our staff and community will play a critical role. We have already surveyed staff and expect to disseminate more staff surveys over the next few weeks. Additionally, we need feedback from our families and community. Please complete this brief survey (English | Spanish) by Monday, July 6. The information collected will provide the extra insight needed to create our plan.

No public school will create a perfect plan; however, the Red Bank Borough Public Schools will create a plan focused on safety and health while providing as much in-person instructional time as possible within those parameters. I am certain this will be a challenging process and ask for your continued support, patience, and flexibility.

Please continue to practice social distancing and make good choices. You can expect our next Community Update on or about July 15 and we are hopeful this update will include at least a skeleton reopening plan for your review. Stay safe and be well.

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT UPDATES BELOW.

• “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch - All Children 18 or Younger
  • Food Services are open Mondays and Thursday from 8:30-11:00 AM throughout the summer at RB Middle School - English/Spanish.
• Voter Registration & Eligibility
  • Visit us during “Grab and Go” Breakfast and Lunch for paper forms.
  • Applications - English | Spanish and Voter Eligibility Guidelines.
• Summer Learning Opportunities
  • Summer Learning Info - English | Spanish
  • Click HERE for a Summer Reading video tutorial from the Red Bank Public Library.
  • Visit our Virtual Learning Website for additional educational experiences for ALL students.
• District Communication System Change
  • We are implementing a new communication system for all families called Remind. Many families are already familiar with this system. Moving forward, Remind will be utilized by all teachers as well as for all district-wide communication. Our reliance on phone blasts will be reduced and the focus will be on text messages.
• Preschool and Grades K-8 Registration
  
  • Click HERE for registration information for NEW Preschool - Grade 8. Please share with prospective families.
  • Any student currently in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools does not need to register.
  • If you are relocating within Red Bank or have moved out of Red Bank, call 732-758-1510.
• Counseling, Health and Educational Services
  • In the event your child needs support in the area of counseling, mental health or health during this time, contact Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
  • Parents of Special Education students with questions or needs are encouraged to reach out to their case managers, related service providers or Mrs. Hurd at 732-758-1520 or hurdj@rbb.k12.nj.us.
  • Review our Notice Regarding Special Education Services (English or Spanish).
  • Visit our State & Federal Resources section for important information.
• General Information
  • Questions? Call 732-758-1500 and leave a message. Here is other important Contact Information.

Jared J. Rumage, Ed.D.