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District News
For the fall of 2021, PPS will do everything in its control to bring back all Princeton Public Schools students back to full-time, in-person instruction every day. The obstacles we face will include the status of the pandemic and whether staff and students feel comfortable in person, as well as mandates from the State of New Jersey, including the Governor, the State Legislature and the Department of Education. As a public governing body, the Board of Education is required to follow federal, state and local law, regulations and guidance.
Estimadas familias, padres y estudiantes:
Hagamos una pausa por un momento para reflexionar mientras recordamos que a mediados de marzo cumplimos un año con el coronavirus.
Enfrentamos desafíos, pero podemos estar agradecidos de que las Escuelas Públicas de Princeton están preparadas para salir del año más difícil de la historia, con escuelas que están abiertas a más y más estudiantes y con el inicio de un plan para septiembre que nos permitirá abrir nuestras puertas a tiempo completo para todos los estudiantes que quieran asistir en persona.
Princeton Public Schools recently confirmed plans to fully open all schools in September 2021.
“PPS is planning to have five-day, in-person instruction in September,” said Dr. Barry Galasso, interim superintendent. “We have discussed this in public with our parents and I would like to dispel inaccurate rumors. PPS schools will be fully open in September unless it is prohibited by the state.”
PPS announced plans this week to expand in-person instruction this spring for students who want to be back in school.
Following a comprehensive nationwide search, the Princeton Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Carol Kelley has been selected as the next Superintendent of Schools for the Princeton Public Schools. Dr. Kelley’s appointment will be voted on by the Princeton Board of Education at a public meeting tonight, February 18. Once approved by the Board of Education, Dr. Kelley will assume her role as Superintendent on July 1, 2021.
Last fall, Andrea Dinan, the district’s director of service learning and experiential programs, was in search of meaningful volunteer projects that students could undertake during the Covid pandemic when she happened across a posting on an Arabic studies listserv looking for English teachers to help Egyptian pupils with reading. When she replied to the posting to offer help, Dr. Dinan was surprised to learn there could be as many as 900 pupils from the Diwan School in Bani Serif, near Cairo, who would participate.
George Scott Presentation of Parenting During Difficult Times
Dear PPS Parents and Staff,
With the support of the Princeton Board of Education, I sent a letter today to Governor Murphy encouraging him to expedite Covid vaccinations for New Jersey educators. In this district we feel strongly that a delay in protecting teachers results in a further reliance on remote instruction, something we all hope to minimize. We are reaching out to other elected officials and continuing to work hard on behalf of PPS students and staff.
I have included a copy of our message to the Governor (below).
Barry Galasso
Interim Superintendent
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 January 26, 2021. 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.
Congratulations to our PHS drama students who participated in the STANJ Governor's Awards Competition for Theatre Arts.
The CP Dual Language Immersion program is open to all PPS incoming Kindergarten and 1st grade students.
Important information for preschool and kindergarten registration.
Click here to download the 2020-21 school calendar.
Escuelas Publicas de Princeton Calendario 2020-2021.
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.
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.
Riverside News
We have really enjoyed welcoming our bigger classes of 2nd graders back this week, and we are excited to have a number of Cohort C students in grades 3-5 rejoining us next Monday. We will then welcome back all of our classes to our four-day-per-week model starting after spring break, and as I hope that you have gleaned from several messages from Dr. Galasso, the district is working diligently on plans for five full-days of school as normal in the fall.
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
Congratulations to our PHS drama students who participated in the STANJ Governor's Awards Competition for Theatre Arts.
High School News
The Mercer Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF), organized by the Mercer Science and Engineering Club, has highlighted engineering work conducted by students for more than 50 years. Six PHS students were among those whose projects were recognized at this year's fair
At a well-attended Zoom on Wednesday night, Principal Jared Warren described the new schedule and provided information about cohort merging, Friday schedules (45-minute periods instead of 60 minutes with an emphasis on open time in the afternoons) and targeted learning periods in the afternoon. Diana Lygas, Dean of Students, talked to parents about clubs and described some of the fun things PHS students have suggested as spring activities.
Highlights of the new bell schedule:
*60 minute periods M-TH, 45 minute periods on Friday.
*20 minute break in the middle of (8:20-1:00) instructional day.
*Fridays will be in-person beginning on 3/19 (Week of 3/15).
*Targeted instruction period will remain from 2:00-3:21, Monday-Thursday. We will have an additional period from 12:00-1:00 on Friday, and an open period from 2:00-3:21 on Friday. For the open period on Friday, we ask that you communicate an appointment time with your teacher.
PowerSchool has been updated to reflect the new bell schedule. You can also view the schedules as an attachment or on our website.
The annual "Evening of Cultural Celebration" is a pre-recorded virtual experience on YouTube this year, hosted by the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) and PULSE student groups of Princeton High School.
Dear Princeton High School Families,
As the 1st semester is coming to a close, we are reaching out to see if any of our students in Cohort C would like to return to PHS for the 2nd semester.
The 1st semester ends on Wednesday, February 3 and re-entry for the 2nd semester will be set for Monday, February 8.
All Princeton High School students are invited to participate in the Family YMCA program "Paths to Success," a weekly online interview series. PHS students receive community service hours for participation.
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.
“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.
Princeton Unified Middle School News
On Wednesday, Dr. Galasso addressed all PPS families with updated plans for expanded instruction and an overview of plans across the district.
PUMS will be all remote on Thursday, February 18. We will follow our hybrid schedule. Thank you for your flexibility during this period of uncertain weather.
On Wednesday, the middle school was evacuated to PHS due to a bomb threat.
We evacuated the building at approximately 9:40 AM on Thursday. Students and staff should be lauded for executing our procedures effectively and adjusting when necessary to follow the required social distancing.
The Yearbook is now on sale for online purchase.
Dear Princeton Unified Middle School Families:
Monday will be an all remote day for all PPS schools due to weather conditions. Please remember to do the Daily Health Screening form.
AT PUMS... We will be keeping our HYBRID schedule tomorrow, so that we can observe our learning and maintain previously scheduled meetings etc. We will have our four scheduled blocks, and our day will conclude at 1PM, same as if we were attending in person.
Please stay safe in today's weather, and stay tuned to any further updates.
PUMS Hybrid Schedule and PUMS All Remote Schedule
The Middle School’s new Innovation Lab is a flexible learning space that can be configured for a wide range of uses. It can be used as a remote learning center during the pandemic and it is also suited for classes that involve collaboration, including coding classes, robotics and technology classes.
All PUMS students are invited to participate in the Family YMCA program "Paths to Success," a weekly online interview series.
Here are a few photos of the recent renovations at Princeton Unified Middle School.
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.
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 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
Community Park, Johnson Park, Littlebrook and Riverside PTOs have created a new discount card program, called Princeton Perks, to help close their fundraising gaps and bolster shopping and dining around town. The Princeton Perks card costs $25 and gives cardholders special deals from more than 40 local restaurants and retailers through December 31, 2021.
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