Letter From Superintendent Osborne

September 1, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This is to advise you that schools will open as scheduled. On September 6, school is open for kindergarten through seventh grade and ninth grade students. Schools will be in session for all students, grades K-12, on September 7.

Buildings and classrooms will be ready to welcome your students to the new school year. Although Hurricane Irene caused some water damage in a few locations, the maintenance and custodial staffs have been working to have buildings ready for opening day.

New Jersey American Water http://www.amwater.com/alerts/alert16064.html has advised all Maplewood residents to consume only bottled or boiled water until further notice, due to the damage done to one of the pump stations that supplies Maplewood with water. The district has an emergency supply of potable water but would appreciate you sending bottled water (no glass, please) to school each day until the warning is lifted.

In Maplewood schools, all water fountains are covered, the food services department is following all recommended food preparation procedures, and appropriate precautions are in place in the nurses’ offices. There will be hand sanitizer in each classroom and nurse’s office, and children will be reminded to use it after they have washed their hands in the bathrooms. While the advisory is in effect, you may want to supply your child with a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Please note that South Orange homes and schools receive their water from a different water company, which was not compromised. Therefore, the schools located in South Orange are not impacted by the water advisory.

The district is working closely with the Maplewood Health Department and will communicate with you as soon as notice is received that the water is safe to drink.

The safety and welfare of your children and our staff is our main concern.

Sincerely,

Brian Osborne

Superintendent of Schools
973-762-5600 X1820
bosborne@somsd.k12.nj.us
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Public Comment Period on District Goals | July 27, 2011

To the South Orange-Maplewood school community,

The Board of Education values your input and has solicited feedback on District Goals and progress in a variety of formats throughout the year.

The Board now announces an additional comment period on SOMSD’s Draft 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 District Goals from now until 4:00 p.m. on August 12th.

If you wish to comment, please review the draft document and send your comments, questions or suggestions to:  DistrictGoals@somsd.k12.nj.us.

Comments submitted during this comment period will be read by Board of Education members in advance of its discussion of District Goals at the Board of Education’s August 22 meeting.  The Board intends to finalize and approve the District Goals at its September 19th meeting.
Thank you for supporting our 6500 great kids!

South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education

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Curriculum and Budget Time Line

Guide to the Revised ELA Curriculum (Grades K-5)- PDF Download

Budget Time Line from the Superintendent’s Budget Presentation- PDF Download

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2011 SOMSD Survey Results

On behalf of the South Orange & Maplewood Board of Education, we would like to express our sincerest appreciation to you for taking the time to answer the satisfaction survey conducted in May, 2011. We received 960 responses to the survey, demonstrating the high value our community places on the quality of its public schools. The results of the survey are posted on our website (Community Satisfaction Survey Results – May, 2011).

The survey results will be used to inform board goal discussions. As the new school year approaches we also invite you to stay involved in our schools by signing up for our SOMSD E-Newsletter, checking the district website and attending our board meetings to share your views or simply to hear what’s happening. Meetings are broadcast live on Channels 19 and 35 and on FIOS channel 22.

Thank you for all you do to support our 6,500 great kids!

Brian Osborne
Superintendent of Schools

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Registration Information for ALL Grades

The hours for accepting registration packets will be as follows:

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am – 12:45 pm · FRIDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Click Here: Registration Information & Documents: 2011-2012 School Year

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2011-12 School Year Calendar

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Message from Superintendent Osborne: 2010 NJASK Results
Dear Staff, Families, Students, and Friends of the South Orange-Maplewood School District,

Last night at the Board of Education meeting, we shared the results of the 2009-2010 state assessments. In almost every grade and measure, the results demonstrated improvement and growth in our students’ overall scores that exceed our District Factor Group (DFG).  The results also showed that in almost every grade and measure, the improvement and growth of our black students accelerated at a faster rate.

In other words, through the hard work of our students, the commitment of our staff, and the effectiveness of our district strategy, we are raising the bar for all students while narrowing the gaps between demographic groups. This is significant progress, and demonstrates that together we can move more students to grade level and at the same time move more students to advanced proficient levels.

While the work our educators and support professionals do should not be reduced to test scores alone, our students’ positive outcomes are a credit to our staff’s professionalism and dedication to our students.  These achievements occurred in the context of many complex and simultaneous system-wide changes:  curriculum, professional development, special education inclusion, school leadership, formative assessments, academic interventions, technology infusion and teacher evaluation, to name a few.  Districts undergoing such far-reaching transformation often experience short-term “implementation dips” in student outcomes.  Our students’ results highlight our educators’ determination to do whatever it takes to prepare each and every student for higher learning and success in the 21st century.

The gains bolster our efforts, and yet we have a long way to go.  I congratulate and thank our students, teachers, and staff on the progress made, and this is only a beginning.  Since we now know it is possible for us to do significantly better with more of our students, together we will rededicate ourselves with a heightened sense of urgency to our mission of truly preparing all students for college and career readiness in the 21st century, and insisting that all means all.

Thank you for everything you do to support our 6,500 great kids.

Brian Osborne
South Orange-Maplewood Public Schools | Superintendent
p: 973-762-5600 x 1820 | e: bosborne@somsd.k12.nj.us

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Message from Superintendent Osborne:

Dear Parents/Guardian,

A new state law, which takes effect in November, requires every school district in New Jersey to hold two emergency drills, a fire drill and a security drill, each month in every school. Security drills are designed to resond to particular emergency situations, which according to law, must include a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation. Therefore, students will participate in a different security drill each month, repeating them as necessary to ensure that each security drill is practiced at least twice a year.

The school district has an emergency plan in place, which is consistently reviewed and updated. It includes plans for security drills and safety protocols, which have previously been practiced in schools. Therefore, we expect a successful implementation of the law and an easy transition to the monthly security drills.

The first formal security drill will take place during the month of November in all schools. Prior to the drill, procedures will be explained to all students in a manner appropriate to their respective grade levels. The safety of our children and staff is our main priority. If you have any questions, please contact the principal of your child’s school.

Sincerely,
Brian Osborne
Superintendent of Schools
p: 973-762-5600 x 1820 | e: bosborne@somsd.k12.nj.us

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Message from Superintendent Osborne:

On behalf of the South Orange & Maplewood Board of Education, we would like to welcome you to the 2010-2011 school year, and express our sincerest appreciation to you for taking the time to answer the satisfaction survey conducted in May 2010.  We received a record 1085 responses to the survey, demonstrating the high value that our community places in the quality of its public schools.  The results of the survey are posted on our website (Community Satisfaction Survey Results – May 2010).

Informed by the survey results, we are working on improving communications by providing important information via a new voice and e-mail notification system.  The system will use the phone number and email information provided to the school by guardians on the emergency notification cards.  We hope our enhanced communications system serves to help us keep you better informed about school and district news.  As the new school year approaches we also invite you to stay involved in our schools by signing up for our SOMSD E-Newsletter, checking the district website and attending our board meetings to share your views or simply to hear what’s happening. Meetings are broadcast live on Channels 19 and 35.

Thank you for all you do to support our 6,500 great kids!

Brian Osborne
Superintendent of Schools

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Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year from Superintendent Brian Osborne

Friends of South Orange-Maplewood School District,

This week marked a beautiful start to the school year. Traveling around the district on the first day of school is always the best part of year. Our schools and classrooms are sparkling, the faces of our children are bright with anticipation, and the positive energy of our teachers and staff radiates confidence that this will be a fantastic school year.

Please keep in touch throughout the year by taking the time to read our district E-Newsletter, an make sure to bookmark our website at www.southorangemaplewood.org so you can check out stories and announcements about what is happening in our schools.

Please encourage your friends and neighbors (by forwarding this note to them) to sign up for our E-Newsletter by clicking on the E-Newsletter Subscription link on the district’s website.

Thank you for everything you do to support our 6,500 great kids!

Happy New Year!

Brian Osborne
South Orange-Maplewood Public Schools | Superintendent
p: 973-762-5600 x 1820 | e: bosborne@somsd.k12.nj.us