PPS will delay the start of hybrid instruction until Tuesday, January 19, the day after the Martin Luther King holiday. We need an extra week to allow students and staff to quarantine given the numbers of people who potentially have been exposed to the virus. Like other districts in Mercer County, we want to choose the prudent course by continuing with remote learning until January 19.
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District News
PPS is implementing a new procedure for Zoom meetings that will start on Tuesday, January 19. Many students are already following these procedures. Thank you to everyone who logs into Zoom through PPS link and signs in with a district account.
If you need a refresher on how to get into a Zoom class (or if your student has not been signing in to Zoom with a district account) here are instructions for iPads, Chromebooks and MacBooks.
Everybody at Westfield High School thinks they know what happened on the day of the fire. Fire Exit opens in the aftermath, as the community faces what appears to be a prank gone terribly wrong.
The Princeton Board of Education held its reorganization meeting on January 5, 2021, and we are pleased to welcome continuing members, Beth Behrend and Michele-Tuck Ponder, and Jean Durbin who joins us for her first term. Beth Behrend will return as Board President, joined by Dafna Kendal as Vice President. Betsy Baglio, Debbie Bronfeld, Daniel Dart, Susan Kanter, Peter Katz and Brian McDonald continue their service.
Please join Preschool coordinator, Valerie Ulrich, for our information session about the 2021-2022 Preschool Year
In an effort to keep the PPS community informed about the work of the Board of Education, a summary of every Board meeting is sent out following each meeting. The public is invited to participate in Board meetings via Zoom, and we hope these updates are helpful if you are unable to observe.You can watch the full board meeting on the district’s YouTube channel.
Happy New Year and welcome back!
All PPS students will be remote through January 11. Hybrid learning will resume on January 12. Please remember to fill out the online Health Screening form starting on Monday, January 4.
Want to learn to bake like a pro? We’re partnering with LiLLiPiES for an exciting LIVE event where founder and baker, Jen Carson shows you how to make her version of “pop-tarts” and how to convert the recipe to make her signature LiLLiPiE at home. Grab the family, bake virtually with your friends and have a Sunday afternoon you won’t soon forget. Tickets are $40 and benefit the Princeton Education Foundation (PEF), supporting education excellence in the Princeton Public Schools since 1995. You won’t want to miss it!
We hope you had a good snow day. Based on road conditions and the great work of our maintenance and custodial staff today, PPS will open for elementary instruction tomorrow, Friday. The middle school and high school will be remote, as planned.
On Thursday, all PPS schools and offices will be closed for a snow day. There will be no remote learning.
On Friday, December 18, we anticipate that the four elementary schools will offer a day of hybrid learning for Cohort B. We are hoping for clear roads on Friday morning based on the current forecast. A decision about the Friday schedule for the elementary schools will be shared with parents and staff by late afternoon Thursday. If travel is hazardous, we will opt for remote learning.
BOARD SUMMARY/December 15, 2020
Please note: These highlights are an unofficial summary of actions taken and topics discussed during the public session of the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education on December 15, 2020. They are intended to provide timely information to our community, but they do not represent an official accounting of the meeting. Official minutes will be approved by the Board at its next meeting.
Stephenie Tidwell came to education by way of banking, so she knows a lot about applications of mathematics in the financial sector. That knowledge of the uses of mathematics in the real world will help her as she sets about a curricular review in Princeton’s mathematics program intended to broaden participation by creating new course opportunities, particularly at the high school level.
Comprised of 138 students, the Princeton High School Symphonic Band performs two pieces that were remotely recorded from students' homes. Please enjoy this virtual concert, which will be premiered on YouTube at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
Celebrity interviewers have a dream line-up for tonight's episode of the World-Wide Window: a veritable litter full of felines whose internet antics have catapulted them to fame. In this fast-paced series of hilarious interviews, the interviewers uncover the story behind Tuffy's first dramatic foray into a cardboard box, learns just what makes Nelson/Nellie the Grouchy Cat so very, very grouchy, contends with the diva-like antics of Kitty Boo-Boo and her entourage, and so much more. Stay tuned! Things are bound to get a little...hairy
The Princeton High School Choir joins Princeton Symphony Orchestra for its annual Holiday Pops Concert. This virtual concert is FREE and easily available by visiting the orchestra’s website. There are 10 possible days/times to access the concert during the month of December. Please be sure to visit the website and register for one of the viewings.
The concert will also include pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton, dancers from the American Repertory Ballet, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra musicians led by Maestro Rossen Milanov.
The racial literacy curriculum adopted this year for pupils in Princeton’s pre-kindergarten through first grade classes has a strong foundation in pedagogies developed to advance social justice, cultural responsiveness, and multiculturalism.
“All of these are predicated on the belief that any work that you do starts with yourself,” says Keisha Smith-Carrington, supervisor of humanities for grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. “The focus begins with understanding our identities, and understanding that each of us has multiple identities through which we experience the world. As part of that, we begin to understand and value others’ identities that are not like ours.
“By developing an appreciation for others, we begin to see the benefits of diversity,” she adds.
Princeton Public Schools will have a week of remote learning after Thanksgiving. PPS will follow the regular hybrid and remote learning schedule through November 25. After Thanksgiving, there will be one week of remote learning for all students and with a return to the hybrid schedule on Monday, December 7.
Parents are now able to access our Canvas Learning Management System.
If a member of a student's household has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is showing symptoms, the students should not attend school beginning as soon as the parent(s)/guardians become aware of the illness and exposure. All students in the home of an individual who is diagnosed with COVID-19 must quarantine based on the NJ Dept. of Health and CDC guidance listed below:
Please enjoy as members of the Princeton High School Choir showcase their voices in solo and ensemble performances. The concert is free and is appropriate for the entire family.
October 23, 2020
Dear Staff and Parents,
A Princeton High School student had a positive test for the coronavirus on Friday and while the district waits for more information, and confirms whether others were affected, we would like our teachers and students to learn from home for the first two days of next week. There will be no in-person learning at Princeton High School on Monday or Tuesday. All staff and students are asked to participate in remote learning. On Tuesday, the district will reassess the situation and announce the plan for Wednesday. PHS will have the remote start time of 9:25 on both Monday and Tuesday.
The school year is progressing well, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. The district's youngest learners--who are in need of the most guidance from teachers and staff--have been attending school in person for two weeks.
Students in Princeton High School are the next to return to school for the first time since March They have been separated into groups, known as cohorts, and will follow a hybrid model, alternating in-school days with remote learning. The first group, Cohort B, will return to the classroom on Monday, October 19.
Princeton Public Schools has received 93 requests from staff to work from home because of concerns about the coronavirus. To date, PPS has granted "work from home" assignments for 20 staff members. An additional five teacher requests were approved but not utilized. In total, 25 "work from home" administrative home assignment have been approved as of October 13. PPS has also made a new form, Accommodation Reconsideration Medical Certification, available for staff members who request to work from home.
We have made the decision today to suspend soccer practice for a week as a precaution because one of our PHS soccer players has been exposed to an individual with confirmed COVID-19. The student lives in a household where an individual tested positive for COVID. The decision to suspend soccer practices and games for a week affects 36 players on the boys' soccer team as well as their coaches and athletic trainers. The coaches and athletic trainer will work from home for the next week as a precautionary measure.
For those of you who have signed up for hybrid learning, we have some good news. Subject to approval by the Board of Education on Tuesday, we will begin our phased re-entry plan in October. As part of this plan, we will welcome back Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grade 1 students on Monday, October 5 at 8:30 AM. Bus transportation will be available.
Princeton Public Schools announced recently that it has entered into an agreement with two internet providers, Comcast and T-Mobile, to will provide approximately 200 Princeton families with unlimited wireless data in their homes for the school year.The companies are offering discounted internet service for qualifying families and PPS will cover this cost as a result of a generous grant from an anonymous donor.
Princeton Public Schools is working to set-up the Canvas parent accounts. We anticipate the accounts will be available by the end of next week.
Dear Parent:
We hope that you and your family are well and that, despite ongoing concerns over our current health emergency, you’ve been able to enjoy time with those special to you. During a break from that time, we hope also that you’ll respond to our “Re-Entry Commitment Application” wherein we request information about which schooling model (hybrid or all-remote) you prefer for your child(ren), if you’ll take advantage of or waive your transportation privileges, and whether or not you’ll need childcare for your youngsters in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Having accurate data enhances our ability to plan effectively.
Princeton Public Schools will open on September 14 with all students learning remotely. Your school principal will provide information about schedules and class placement. There will also be an update soon about the distribution dates for student devices.
Here is some information about technology:
PowerSchool and the Parent Portal
Though the district is moving away from PowerSchool Learning as the district LMS, we will still be using PowerSchool as our Student Information System (SIS). Parents can access the Parent Portal to see their children’s attendance and grades.
Canvas is the district’s new learning management system (LMS). We will be using Canvas to support all remote learning. Click here to view a series of video tutorials to become familiar with this new platform.
Canvas is the district’s new learning management system (LMS). We will be using Canvas to support all remote learning. Click here to view a series of video tutorials to become familiar with this new platform.
Princeton Public Schools announced on Tuesday, August 18 that the district will begin classes in September in a fully-remote mode. No in-person classes will be offered until October, when the district hopes to begin a phased-in plan to bring some staff and students back to school buildings in person.
After two public forums where Princeton Public Schools heard from a wide range of people including community members, students, alumni, and PPS staff, the Board of Education approved a name change for John Witherspoon Middle School.
Going forward, it will be known as Princeton Unified Middle School (PUMS), an interim name that will be used until a permanent name can be chosen. The resolution passed by the Board requires a permanent name to be selected by June 30, 2021. The renaming process offers a unique learning opportunity for PPS students, and plans are underway for their participation.
The recently installed plexiglass dividers in the Princeton High School cafeteria came in handy Thursday morning when students arrived to take the scheduled math advancement test. Each cafeteria table now has plexiglass dividers and masked students sat one-per-table to take the examination. The district is installing plexiglass as needed in all six schools and the administration building on Valley Road.
Princeton Public Schools has named Cecilia X. Birge Acting Assistant Principal at Princeton High School. Ms. Birge, a teacher of Special Education and Mathematics, has been the head coach for the PHS Speech & Debate Team at PHS since 2015. She has also been the assistant coach of the PHS Girls Volleyball Team and the coach of the Girls JV Volleyball Team.
"We are very pleased that Cecilia Birge will be an assistant principal at Princeton High School," said Interim Superintendent Barry Galasso. "She is an outstanding teacher and accomplished educator."
Princeton Public Schools has created a plan for reopening schools in September as required by the New Jersey Department of Education. This reflects planning as of the last week of July and there will be changes and updates. To view the plan, click here.
Thank you to the more than 100 people who participated in the Thursday morning meeting about a possible name change for John Witherspoon Middle School. We heard the voices of many articulate community members, students and teachers. A particular note of thanks to Shirley Satterfield who, as always, provided helpful historical information and insightful comments.
We are proud to announce that PHS Studio Band’s first, full-length studio album was officially released on Friday, July 17, 2020. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London in December while the Studio Band was on tour.
Did you know that Princeton Public Schools staff have been working on a series of short slideshows that will help students and parents adjust to some of the changes that are coming in September? Here is a preview of the first slideshow and there will be more to come.
Princeton Public Schools recently approved two significant technology purchases, a one-to-one computer and tablet initiative and a new Learning Management System (LMS). A study of technology and implementation over the last few months revealed that both devices and delivery systems needed to be replaced. The cost for the new devices falls within the technology department's existing budget due to low-interest financing.
Dear Community Member,
As we look ahead to planning for the fall and reopening our schools, the top priority of the Princeton Public Schools is to assure that all students and staff are safe and healthy. While there is still much “in progress” in order to meet that goal, one thing that we are projecting is that we may need to partner with our community members in order to help make this happen.
To this end, I would invite you to consider becoming a Board of Education approved volunteer where you can help be a part of the solution during these difficult times. If you would consider this, I know that an obvious question would be “What is it exactly that I am volunteering to do?” The answer to that question is not easy as the COVID-19 situation we all find ourselves in seems to change from week to week. However, there may be circumstances under which we need help with keeping students socially distant, entering the schools upon arrival, or things that we have not even thought of as of yet.
Princeton Human Services is seeking donors for its annual backpack and school supplies drive. The drive benefits Princeton children who are low-income and in need of school supplies and new book bags.
For the past eleven years, the Princeton Human Services Commission, Princeton University, municipal employees, local businesses, organizations and residents have donated book bags and school supplies that have benefited many Princeton children. The items are distributed to children from low-income families who attend the Princeton Public Schools and are entering kindergarten through sixth grade.
Riverside News
We look forward to welcoming many of our students back to in-person instruction this week after a long stretch of remote learning along with the winter break. A few key reminders as we head back to school tomorrow:
* First, it is imperative that all families and staff members follow all guidelines related to travel, quarantining, and contact tracing as those measures are essential for us in maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment. Should you have any specific questions about protocols -- specifically when your child(ren) may need to stay home -- please reach out to our school nurse Sarah Gooen-Chen.
Dear Riverside Families,
I am writing primarily to highlight the email from the district yesterday evening about logging into all Zoom sessions directly through the student's PPS email account.
We hope everyone had a fantastic Winter Break. All students are remote from January 4 through January 11. Hybrid learning will resume on Tuesday, January 12. Here is the schedule for the next two weeks:
Dear Riverside Families,
As we head into the long holiday weekend, I have a few important announcements and reminders to share...
* Next week (November 30 - December 4), all PPS schools will operate entirely remotely, and our daily schedule will be reverting to the one that we used in September and early October before launching the hybrid model. Your child(ren)'s teacher(s) will be providing the information that you need for their classes that week.
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child (parents) or yourself (high schoolers). You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Based on our experience, we’re making minor changes in our system.
October 20, 2020
Dear Riverside Families,
First and foremost, I am writing to share the good news that our COVID case that came to our attention last Friday evening has turned out to be a “false positive” from a rapid test. Over the last couple of days, the child has now tested negative with two separate follow up PCR tests (those that take longer but are more accurate), and we received final confirmation of that news late last evening.
Dear Parents,
Riverside's Virtual Back to School Night will be Thursday September 17. If you didn't receive a Zoom link please check with your child's teacher or with Principal Shelley.
Riverside Elementary School
Back to School Night – September 17, 2020
Principal Shelley's letter to families.
Johnson Park News
Johnson Park looks forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, January 19.
Dear JP Parents and Families:
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed your winter break and are looking forward to 2021!
Just a few reminders as we begin a new week:
A very large weather system of rain and wind is approaching Princeton on Thursday and Friday this week. The forecast is calling for heavy rain at our peak times of arrival and dismissal.
This is simply to serve as a reminder of care and caution when dropping off your child or picking them up from JP. We will screen our students as quickly as possible so that they can get in the building safely. My concern is for dismissal. For Thursday and Friday, we are going to release all of our bus riders from class first. We are going to load our bus riders on the buses first and we are going to move the buses along quickly.
Si un miembro del hogar de un estudiante ha sido diagnosticado con COVID-19, o ha estado expuesto a alguien que ha sido diagnosticado con COVID-19 y muestra síntomas, los estudiantes no deberán asistir a la escuela tan pronto como los padres / los tutores tengan conocimiento de la enfermedad y la exposición. Todos los estudiantes pertenecientes al hogar de una persona a la que se le diagnostica COVID-19 deben ponerse en cuarentena según el Departamento de Salud de Nueva Jersey y las pautas de los CDC que se enumeran a continuación:
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child. You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Based on our experience, we’re making minor changes in our system:
Starting October 19, JP will celebrate the Week of Respect and School Violence Awareness Weeks with a daily Upstander challenge.
An Upstander is someone who stands up and speaks out when someone is being hurt. Upstanders treat others with kindness and care. Upstanders create a warm and welcoming JP community. At JP we believe every student can be an upstander!
This is a quick message to notify you that your child’s cohort assignment is available on PowerSchool. Please be sure to check it as soon as possible. If you are having difficulty finding the assignment, please reach out to your classroom teacher or call the main office at 609-806-4240.
Back to School Night will be held (virtually) for Johnson Park families starting at 6:30 PM. Parents will receive Zoom links via email. Here is an overview of the evening:
September 13, 2020
Dear Johnson Park Families:
The first day of the new school year is finally upon us! I hope that you share my excitement although I recognize that there is some worry. This year, we open our school year in a very different way. Our staff members and teachers have worked tirelessly to prepare for our opening, and I can assure you that their warmth, enthusiasm and creativity will shine—even through a screen.
Dear Johnson Park Parents and Guardians,
It is with great pride and excitement that I write to you as the newly appointed Acting Principal of Johnson Park Elementary School. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school that is nothing but exceptional! I have worked in the Princeton Public School district for more than 20 years, beginning as a Special Education Teacher in 2000. I transitioned into Administration in 2005 as the Supervisor of Student Activities, served for 10 years as the District’s K-12 Supervisor of Guidance, and from 2017-2020, worked as an Assistant Principal at Princeton High School. I am excited to continue my career in a district that prioritizes teaching and learning, supports all student learners and embraces parent and community relationships. I am eager to develop partnerships with all JP families in a collective effort to ensure your child's success.
In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, Johnson Park School’s P.T.O. created a video presentation to celebrate all staff members at our school.
Fourth-grade teacher Emily Reeg of Johnson Park reached out to the rest of the Johnson Park staff to create a wonderful collage forJohnson Park students and families.
The Arts News
Everybody at Westfield High School thinks they know what happened on the day of the fire. Fire Exit opens in the aftermath, as the community faces what appears to be a prank gone terribly wrong.
Join us this year for a virtual "Jammin' With Santa" event that will be broadcasted via YouTube on Saturday, December 19th! The link and broadcast will also be available on this site soon!
Comprised of 138 students, the Princeton High School Symphonic Band performs two pieces that were remotely recorded from students' homes. Please enjoy this virtual concert, which will be premiered on YouTube at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
Celebrity interviewers have a dream line-up for tonight's episode of the World-Wide Window: a veritable litter full of felines whose internet antics have catapulted them to fame. In this fast-paced series of hilarious interviews, the interviewers uncover the story behind Tuffy's first dramatic foray into a cardboard box, learns just what makes Nelson/Nellie the Grouchy Cat so very, very grouchy, contends with the diva-like antics of Kitty Boo-Boo and her entourage, and so much more. Stay tuned! Things are bound to get a little...hairy
The Princeton High School Choir joins Princeton Symphony Orchestra for its annual Holiday Pops Concert. This virtual concert is FREE and easily available by visiting the orchestra’s website. There are 10 possible days/times to access the concert during the month of December. Please be sure to visit the website and register for one of the viewings.
The concert will also include pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton, dancers from the American Repertory Ballet, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra musicians led by Maestro Rossen Milanov.
Please enjoy as members of the Princeton High School Choir showcase their voices in solo and ensemble performances. The concert is free and is appropriate for the entire family.
We are proud to announce that PHS Studio Band’s first, full-length studio album was officially released on Friday, July 17, 2020. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London in December while the Studio Band was on tour.
The PHS Visual Art Department is happy to present our *Virtual* End-of-Year Art Exhibitions! Each Studio class is represented with a slideshow of work they produced during remote learning. Although we cannot gather in person, I hope you join us in celebrating the students' accomplishments!
High School News
Please be reminded that Tuesday will be an E Day with COHORT B returning to the building. Start time is 8.20am.
As Mr. Warren stated on Friday, the remainder of the January calendar has been modified due to PSAT on Jan 26. Office hours will be tied to each day of the week. Number days are gone.
Please click here for the revised January calendar, and here for February calendar, and here for revised PHS Bell Schedule 2021. Instructions and schedules on January 26 will be modified to accommodate those who have signed up to take the test. More information will be released this week.
Please be reminded that all MUST complete the COVID Health Assessment in Power School before arrival. Please make sure you are logged into your Power School Portal on your phone or your device as you approach the building. We no longer take screenshots as proof.
The Princeton High School PTO will have a meeting at 7 PM on Thursday, January 14. Principal Jessica Baxter will give her last monthly update.
Princeton High School Program of Studies premiere event Wednesday January 13th at 7pm.
The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) has named PHS’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach John Torrey its State Coach of the Year for New Jersey. This award is given annually to a high school strength and conditioning coach in recognition of achievements and passion for the profession. Award winners, selected from among the top coaches in each state, receive an award certificate and recognition at the National Conference Awards Dinner, to be held in Minnesota in June.
Update: PHS will be all remote until January 19. Hybrid learning will resume on Tuesday, January 19. There is no school on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 18.
“We call them ‘social justice warriors’,” says Princeton High School Principal Jessica Baxter of the students who have taken the school’s racial literacy course, an elective taught by Joy Barnes-Johnson and Patricia Manhart. “Nobody leaves the course as they enter it. They want to do more.”
For junior Faria Majeed, doing more meant working with fellow students to found a social justice club called C.A.R.E., for Cultural and Racial Equity. CARE gives students opportunities to discuss and advance perspectives gleaned from the class and from students’ own research. “Our goal is to educate within the PHS community,” Faria says. “Being racially literate is an essential skill that is so important for, not only present day America, but future America.”
Congratulations to PHS Latin teacher Nolis Arkoulakis and his students.
This past Saturday the upper level Certamen team (think: quiz bowl for all things related to Latin) won the winter tournament, sponsored by the NJ Junior Classical League. The achievement was especially remarkable in that the entire affair was conducted via Zoom.
The Guidance Department and our PHS College Advisor, Ms. Shah, would like to invite all 9th and 10th graders and their parents to an Early College Planning Night on Monday, December 7 at 7 PM. If you are in 9th or 10th grade and did not receive the Zoom link please reach out to Ms. Shah (NipurnaShah@princetonk12.org) or Dr. Donovan (KristinaDonovan@princetonk12.org), Supervisor of School Counseling.
Please see the attached cycle day calendars for December and January. I have attached an updated schedule for January as we will add instructional time on Fridays beginning 1/8/21. This also changes the calendar in that we will go to a 5 day E/F rotation. In a hybrid schedule, Fridays will still be remote.
I am happy to announce that at the next Board of Education meeting, Jared Warren will be recommended to serve as Acting Principal of Princeton High School as of January 15. He will succeed Jessica Baxter, who is leaving the district to become principal of a school closer to home.
District music supervisor Patrick Lenihan has done the research on Covid mitigation strategies that optimize musical performance. The masks the singers wear feature a bit more space around the mouth to accommodate breathing and articulation.
November 8, 2020
Dear PHS Families,
I am excited to welcome our Cohort A students to the building for the first time this school year. This will also be the first time our freshmen in this cohort are welcomed to the building, and my staff is looking forward to meeting them in person. Please have your child bring a printed copy or a screen shot of their schedule. There will be staff available to help all student find their classrooms. We have great students as well who are always willing to help a peer find their room so please encourage your child to ask for help if needed...we are here to help!
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child (parents) or yourself (high schoolers). You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Based on our experience, we’re making minor changes in our system.
October 22, 2020
Dear Parents,
Friday is the final PHS distribution day for student laptops, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Please sign up for a slot to pick up your devices. After tomorrow, it will be difficult and time consuming to schedule individual pickups due to various COVID-related constraints. As you know, without a functioning device, your child will have a hard time receiving instructions properly. Here is the signup: www.tinyurl.com/PHSDevOct23.
Hello PHS Families
This is just a friendly reminder to login to the PowerSchool student or parent portal to fill out the Covid Screening Form between 12:00am and 7:30am each day. It is not accessible the night before. In light of the connectivity issues we had this morning it would be great if your child could screen shot (showing the day's date) the green completed screen in order to speed up the morning process at PHS. I have also attached the form if you wish to print it out. It may also be helpful for students to screenshot their schedules so they can find their rooms quickly.
October 15, 2020
Dear PHS Families,
Monday, October 19 begins our Hybrid Schedule. School will begin at 8:20 am for both in person and remote learners.
Cohort B will report in person while Cohorts A & C will learn remotely. Please check PowerSchool to see your assigned cohort.
Princeton High School will be transitioning to a Hybrid learning model on October 19th. Below are frequently asked questions about hybrid learning, Schedules, and calendars for the first two months of hybrid learning
Dear PHS Families,
I hope the school year is off to a good start for you and your children. Although we are currently teaching and learning remotely, we will still have a Back to School Night this Thursday, September 24.
Friday Daily Attendance and General Attendance Procedures.
September 12, 2020
Dear PHS Students and Families,
School will begin remotely for all students this coming Monday, September 14 at 9:25 am.
Many resources, including schedules, can be found here https://www.princetonk12.org/princeton-high-school/phs/back-to-school-information
Students will follow the E schedule on Monday. Students will login to Canvas and go to their 3rd period class at 9:25am , followed by period 1, then lunch, period 7, and finally period 5. On Tuesday, students will follow the F schedule (periods 4, 2, lunch, 8, 6). See an example schedule below. Students can see this matrix view of their schedules in PowerSchool.
Princeton High School faculty are excited for the new school year and showing their spirit in this welcome back dance video.
September 9, 2020
Dear PHS Students and Families,
School will begin remotely for all students on Monday, September 14. Here is the Remote Learning Schedule.
Please see the attached documents about the first day and first weeks of school as well as the recording from today's student information session.
Students submitted questions over the last week and questions were compiled and answered in this one hour webinar. Learn about what a day looks like, when and how we will join clubs, about technology, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated August 31, 2020
GENERAL
Now that we are going all remote, are we expecting the same kind of instructions as the spring?
No. There will be several important changes:
The U.S. History 1 classes in Princeton High School often take on some complex issues in our history. This year, students in Ms. Dineen's and Ms. Young's history classes created a series of exhibitions that show the enduring legacies of division.
Brought to you by member of the PHS Class of 2023, each student’s exhibit was designed to share the learning they have acquired in the past year, analyze the lasting legacies of past injustices, conflict, and triumphs to the present day, and help visitors learn more, get involved, or show their support for meaningful causes.
While some of us may be at home watching different crime TV shows on Netflix to pass the time, students in Mrs. Alexis Custer’s Forensic Science course are studying it at home as part of the newly expanded popular course. The hands-on course, which was converted to a full-year course this year, provides students with a wide range of projects and activities that allow them to explore multiple facets of forensics, including crime scene investigation, DNA in forensics, lip print analysis, and so much more.
Princeton Unified Middle School News
Happy New Year and welcome back! Princeton Unified Middle Schools will be all remote January 4 through January 11. The hybrid schedule will resume on Tuesday, January 12. Here is the January calendar.
Here are a few photos of the recent renovations at Princeton Unified Middle School.
Congratulations to the Princeton Unified Middle School PTO and all the families that made the Great Thanksgiving Pie Event a huge success!
November 19, 2020
Dear Princeton Unified Middle School Families:
We are one week from Thanksgiving and I wanted to take this first opportunity to express my best wishes to all of our families. This is a reminder that next Wednesday, November 25th, we will be remote but will remain in our "hybrid" schedule...the day concludes at 1PM.
As you may already be aware, Princeton Public School District has made the decision to shift to all remote learning beginning Wednesday, November 30th through Monday, December 7th
There are students once again in the halls in all of our buildings, with masks and six feet apart, but they are there. As I was scanning temperatures last week, asking students to remove their hats, move their stylish hair, and check that they did not have fevers, I felt a familiar happiness. I was making eye contact, smiling, saying hi, and telling students to have a fantastic day. It struck me once again how powerful human connection is. How a simple smile and have a great day can completely change your mood trajectory. It didn’t matter that it was raining, and the rain ruined my hair. It didn’t matter that I wore open toed shoes only to find out the temperature high was 59 that day. What mattered was that we were together.
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child (parents) or yourself (high schoolers). You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Here are the calendars for October and November that indicate what day it is at #PrincetonUnified!
Welcome to the first ever Virtual Club Fair at Princeton Unified MS!
September 12, 2020
Dear PUMS Families!
We have enjoyed meeting with families and holding student orientations last week.
We are absolutely ecstatic to have connected with over 700 students during the week's orientations.
Ms. DiCarlo has been reminding everyone that it is important to give yourself some grace as we adapt to the opening of the school year. Some things will be new and confusing at first but we are here to help.
Due to the current circumstances, Princeton Unified Middle School is unable to accept visitors until after August 24.
At that time, all visitors must visit by appointment only.
When arriving to the building for your appointment, you should make a phone call to the main office in order to alert staff of your arrival. You will then be directed to enter the building through the security vestibule at the main entrance only.
Community Park News
Monday, January 18 -- Schools Closed, M.L. King Jr. Holiday
Tuesday, January 19 -- Cohort A Day*, follow Tuesday hybrid schedule
Wednesday, January 20 -- In-Person A Cohort A Day, follow Monday hybrid schedule
Thursday, January 21st -- Cohort B Day*, follow Thursday hybrid schedule
Friday, January 22nd -- Cohort B Day, follow Friday hybrid schedule
Dear CP Families -
Hope you had a great winter break. Here is the schedule for the beginning of January. The week of Monday, January 4 will be remote for all students.
Dear Community Park Parents,
We are planning another Spirit Week for the week of Monday December 14th. Below are the daily challenges/themes.
Elizabeth Cameron
School Counselor
Community Park Elementary
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child. You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Community Park will have its Virtual Back to School Night on September 17. Here's a preview of the schedule:
September 13, 2020
Dear CP Families,
The first day of school is such a magical day. That magic comes from our hearts and our anticipation of something new. It is a combination of yearning for the unknown and fearing the unknown.
30 de julio de 2020
Estimados padres y tutores de PPS:
El 28 de julio, la Junta de Educación aprobó mi recomendación para cambiar nuestro calendario escolar. Como resultado, el primer día de clases para los estudiantes será el lunes 14 de septiembre. Aquí encontrará el calendario escolar actualizado.
Community Park recently held its first Virtual Field Day and P.E. teacher Mr. Chorba praised all the CP students and parents who made it a success.
Here is a message from Mr. Chorba: "WOW! We had an amazing the number of participants for our virtual Field Day. I received over 100 pictures and videos. Your enthusiasm and effort was outstanding. Thank you for making it a success. Every grade was represented for pictures and videos. The grade that had most videos and pictures (and the most bonus points) was Kindergarten!"
Dear CP families,
We hope you are well and staying healthy!
Right about now, we would be gearing up for the International Fashion Show. It is such a special event at CP, one vividly highlighting our beautiful diversity, that we thought it would be a shame to cancel it. So, we have decided to forge ahead and present the event in a different way. Using FLIPGRID, we will be able to both carry on the tradition and enable CP parents to experience this wonderful event. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 10th.
We would love to know more about our CP students and families! If your child/family would like to participate, please submit a video on FLIPGRID. The Flipgrid link will be emailed via Konstella on the day of the event. The video can be made ahead of time of course.
CP teachers were happy to have a week off to re-group before jumping back into remote learning. What did the staff do over spring break? For one thing, they made this video for their students. Check it out here.
Littlebrook News
We will be reverting to our Hybrid/Remote schedule next week. The schedule will be as follows -
Monday - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
Tuesday and Wednesday - Cohort A will be in school. Cohorts B and C will be on remote learning.
We will follow Monday's schedule on Tuesday.
We will follow Tuesday's schedule on Wednesday.
We hope everyone had a fantastic Winter Break. All students are remote from January 4 through January 11. Hybrid learning will resume on Tuesday, January 12. Here is the schedule for the next two weeks.
Just a note to express deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and generosity for our Angel Tree Holiday Gift program. Thanks to your kindness, the Littlebrook staff provided holiday gifts to 22 children! The gifts included a bicycle, LEGO, clothing, a karaoke machine, dolls, and a wooden train set.
As a follow up to the email you have received from Dr. Galasso, our Interim Superintendent of Schools, please note the following from our District Administrators -
- All schools will operate on a remote schedule on Wed., Nov. 25th, the day before our Thanksgiving recess.
- All schools will operate on a remote schedule on Mon., Dec. 7th, to accommodate our afternoon professional-development program for staff members. This remote-only day will serve as the only day for remote instruction that week (Mon.-Fri., Dec. 7th-11th).
- Our elementary schools will move their Mon., Dec. 7th, hybrid schedule to Wed., Dec. 9th (which otherwise would have been their all-remote day).
As the weather turns colder, we though you might enjoy this October video from the Littlebrook School Gardens. Under the guidance of School Gardener Nancy Nicosia, each bed is a themed continent and has plants that are anti to that continent. Part One of this video includes European plants, South American plants (tomatoes) and a hint of what’s in the Asian garden (which includes loofa, a gourd). Littlebrook has donated over 200 pounds to producer to local food pantries.
Thank you for your support in completing a health-status assessment each morning for your child (parents) or yourself (high schoolers). You’ve enabled us to welcome our staff and students back to school in a safe environment.
Based on our experience, we’re making minor changes in our system.
Principal Ramirez's letter to families