WRMS Weekly Update

March 6, 2020

Health Advisory

Included in this newsletter is information from the NJ Department of Health regarding COVID-19 and guidance for schools. Please especially review the selection below as it relates to helping to reduce the spread of illness.

What preventive measures should a school take to help reduce the spread of respiratory illness including COVID-19 and the flu?

NJDOH recommends that schools and childcare settings increase education on respiratory hygiene. Staff and children (as developmentally appropriate) should all be taught and asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve, not your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Use alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Stay home if you’re sick, especially with a fever.
Avoid people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Additional preventive measures include:

Continue to monitor students and staff who my exhibit respiratory symptoms.
Adhere to exclusion recommendations from public health. For acute respiratory illness; fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Doctors notes for return do not supersede public health recommendations.
Separate sick students and staff from others until they can be picked up to go home.
Provide adequate supplies, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Encourage routine surface cleaning through education, policy, and the provision of supplies.
Get a flu shot – it’s not too late to be protected!

Our nursing staff is maintaining close surveillance of all illnesses in our schools and Mrs. Penn spoke with all students yesterday to educate them about COVID-19 and general ways they can keep themselves healthy. Additionally, our custodians have been regularly cleaning desks, door handles, lockers and surfaces that might be a source of contamination. We have also received confirmation from the manufacturer of our disinfectant products that they are effective in killing the Coronavirus.

Additional Information and Resource Links:

If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Penn, Mr. Albert, Mr. Attanasio or Mrs. LaForgia. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in maintaining the health of everyone in our District.

Attendance Reminders

Thank you for emailing teachers and the nurse regarding absences. Please also include Mrs. McDonough in your communication (sharon.mcdonough@wwrsd.org). She enters attendance into Genesis and this could save you an additional phone call.

zoom_out_map

Angst

Please join us on Tuesday, March 31st from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Jr./Sr. High School for a screening of Angst: Anxiety Disorders are Real, Common, and Treatable... Let's Talk About It! Please see the flyer for more information.

zoom_out_map

PSO Information

Middle School Mingle with Military Bridge & Tricky Tray!

Looking for a fun night out with friends?

JOIN US FOR THIS YEAR'S PSO SOCIAL EVENT!

Don't worry if you don't know how to play military bridge; it's an easy game that most of us learn how to play the night of! Feel free to come solo, as a pair, or a foursome team – we will set you up at a table!

Please click here for the flyer with more information!

WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH

TIME: DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM, GAME STARTS AT 8 PM SHARP

PLACE: WESTWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER 55 JEFFERSON AVE. WESTWOOD

COST: $20 PER PERSON IN ADVANCE, $30 AT THE DOOR

Sign up today on Membership Toolkit – QUESTIONS? EMAIL- MIDDLESCHOOLPSO@WWRSD.ORG

PSO After School Athletics

Click here for information on the PSO's Spring After School Athletic Programs. The programs run 8 weeks with one free and the others $55 each. Registration starts March 9th!

Box Tops!

Download the new Box Tops app and keep earning for our school! While you will be able to clip and send them in the traditional way while products remain on store shelves, earning 10 cents for the school with each Box Top you send in (and these really add up!), we will be shifting toward individual online submission and an all-school goal. Please download the app and, you’ll simply need to scan your receipt and all such items will be recorded—with just one scan. Scanning these receipts also gets us entered in contests that win bonus Box Tops for our school!

Please visit our website for information regarding the WRMS PSO. The PSO is seeking volunteers for our upcoming events. If you are interested, please email them at middleschoolpso@wwrsd.org.

zoom_out_map

A True, 6-8 Middle School in September of 2020!

We have concluded our formal presentations regarding the upcoming middle school transition, but still welcome your feedback. Here is the presentation with updated responses to FAQs.

zoom_out_map

Westwood Summer Enrichment Program

The Westwood Regional Summer Enrichment Program provides our students with a safe, fun, and supportive atmosphere where every student explores new challenges and educational experiences. Our program is driven by appreciating the individual interests and abilities of each student. Our course offerings are built upon encouraging personal power and self-esteem while focusing upon bringing out the inventor and engineer in every child. Please consider joining us for our summer enrichment program, LEAD with STEAM 2020: Building Leaders with Excellence, Accountability, and Drive. Please see the flyer for more information.

Yearbooks on Sale Early!

Yearbooks are on sale early this year! Yearbooks are $25. To purchase, log on to the secure website YearbookOrderCenter.com.

The order number is: 4511
Confirm that you have selected Westwood Regional Middle School.
Choose "Buy a Yearbook, Yearbook Packages" on the left side of the screen.
After you put a yearbook in the cart it will ask you to "find a student". Enter your child's name and hit the search box. Once it comes up that the name can't be found click on "add your student". This will generate a list of who ordered a yearbook for distribution time.

Email Mrs. Zalarick with any questions at tracey.zalarick@wwrsd.org

Sales close May 9, 2020