Schools

The recent dramatic rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Camden County, Haddonfield, and the Haddonfield public schools has led the School District to decide to return the elementary schools and Middle School to remote instruction for at least one week, beginning Monday, November 30. The High School has been in 100% remote mode since November 16.

The District sent the following message to the school community this evening (Wednesday, November 25):

“The Camden County Department of Health has communicated to us that our COVID Activity Level Index (CALI) score falls into the category of “High Risk,” which is indicated by a CALI score of 3. Additional information was provided pointing out that Camden County ranks near the highest Case Rate and Percent Positivity in the state.  The New Jersey Department of Health has asked school districts to consider additional precautions while faced with so many new cases in our area (COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix). 

“With an expected surge after the Thanksgiving weekend and with an emphasis on the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and families, the decision has been made to take a cautious approach and create an “intermediate” period of time in which to evaluate the impact of the holiday weekend. Therefore, beginning Monday, November 30, 2020, Haddonfield School District will return to full remote instruction until December 7, 2020. This applies to elementary, middle and high school students.  A review of the district and regional numbers will be made on December 3, 2020, and the status of our instructional model will be re-evaluated at that time.  Based on those numbers, we will decide either to continue full remote learning or to return to the hybrid model.  If the decision is made to extend full remote learning, considerations of best practices to support at-risk students will be implemented.

“The decision to take this intermediate step was not made lightly, but it was made with the hope that we can bring the students back to school later in December.  

“We understand and value the impact of in-person instruction. Over the next several weeks, we ask everyone to participate in behavior that is safe and includes practices to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is our hope that the regional numbers decline and return to in-person instruction occurs as quickly as possible.” 

Superintendent of Schools Chuck Klaus sent a message to parents and staff this afternoon (Saturday, November 21), advising them that although Camden County has raised the COVID-19 transmission risk from yellow to orange, the school district will remain in its current hybrid model — for the time being.

Here is the superintendent’s message:

Good afternoon, Haddonfield parents and staff,

Friday afternoon, Dr. Priolo and I participated in a conference call with the Camden County District Superintendents, the Camden County Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Nwako, the Camden County Public Health Coordinator.  The purpose of this call was to inform school leaders of the fact that Camden County COVID-19 rates of transmission have shifted from the Moderate Risk “yellow” zone to the High Risk of transmission “orange zone.”

Below is a summary of how our school district will proceed moving forward.

• For the time being, school district operations will remain in our current hybrid model. We fully understand the importance and benefits of in-person instruction, and our goal is to remain in-person, with mitigation efforts in place, as much as possible.

• However, if positive cases surge in any school, or if regional numbers continue to rise into the “Very High Risk” Category, we may have to close a building or the entire district and return to full remote instruction as indicated by the department of health.

• I will receive an update on the transmission rates next Wednesday, November 23rd, and will continue to keep you informed.

We are committed to keeping you informed of all county and/or state communication we receive related to COVID-19 rates of infection so that you can prepare for child care and family obligations. We appreciate your continued efforts to practice all recommended behaviors such as mask-wearing and hand washing and to help us to keep our children in school.

Have a good weekend, and stay safe. 

About two weeks after we launched Haddonfield[dot]Today, on March 21, 2020, we added a feature under the COVID-19 header titled “LOCAL STATS.”

We update it most week days, adding any new cases and fatalities reported for Haddonfield, along with numbers for Camden County and New Jersey, for comparison purposes.

Today, as Haddonfield experiences a dramatic rise in the number of cases reported for residents in their 10s, we added a second feature under the COVID-19 header: “PUBLIC SCHOOL STATS.” As with the Local Stats, we will update this feature whenever the stats change.

The School District reported its first case on September 22 — a male juvenile at Central Elementary. Three cases were reported in October, and 25 cases have been reported so far in November.

Faced with these rapidly increasing numbers, the School District pivoted to all-virtual learning on Monday, November 16. Details HERE:

Haddonfield Memorial High School will change its instruction model from hybrid (part in-person, part virtual) to full virtual, effective immediately and until Monday, November 30.

Superintendent Chuck Klaus sent the following message to the public school community this afternoon (Sunday, November 15):

“We have had to revisit the decision communicated yesterday as we received information about an additional positive test with no contact tracing to previous cases, several potential positive cases awaiting test results, and staffing concerns. Additional factors are the significantly decreased number of students physically in school due to quarantine and the increased request for full virtual instruction. The educational benefit with significantly more students virtual and fewer students in person also played a key role in this decision. Keeping the safety and wellness of our students and staff as our top priority, we believe implementing the full virtual is the optimum way to proceed.

“Specific details regarding the full virtual schedule, material pick up, and scheduled in-person meetings will be coming from Mrs. McHale.

“This decision was not arrived at easily. We hoped to stay the course and continue to offer in-person instruction; however, it became evident that the best course of action is to address the current spread by taking these precautionary steps. Over the next 14 days we hope to see lower numbers of COVID+ results at HMHS so that we will be able to return to the cohort model on November 30. 

“If the numbers continue to remain at their current level, we will have to reconsider the return date. To that end, it is imperative that our students follow all safety measures while not in school.

“Please note: the elementary schools and middle school remain open in the hybrid model.“

Students at Haddonfield’s public schools managed to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the first few months of the pandemic, but things have changed.

The first case — a male juvenile at Central School — was reported to the School District by the Camden County Department of Health on September 22. In October, three cases were reported. So far in November, the total is 14 students and three adults (presumably teachers and/or staff members).

Six students (included in the 14 noted above) were reported yesterday and today alone: Four females in their 10s on Friday (one at the Middle School and three at the High School); and two males in their 10s on Saturday (both at the High School).

In each of its notifications to parents, guardians, and staff, the School District has stated, “Based on currently available information, this individual did not likely contract the virus in school.”

The Haddonfield School District today sent notices to parents, guardians, and employees, notifying them that there are three new cases of COVID-19 in Haddonfield’s public schools: a female in her 30s at Elizabeth Haddon Elementary; a male in his 10s at the High School; and a female in her 10s at the Middle School.

These new reports bring to 10 the total number of COVID-19-positive cases reported to the Haddonfield School District by county departments of health.

Previously reported were:

• September 22 — Male juvenile at Central Elementary
• October 2 — Male 10s at the Middle School
• October 9 — Female 10s at the High School
• October 23 — Male juvenile at Tatem Elementary
• November 2 — Female 20s at Haddon Elementary (Gloucester County resident, presumed positive)
• November 7 — Female 20s at Haddon Elementary
• November 8 — Female 10s at the High School

These reports do not necessarily track day-by-day and case-by-case with reports from the Camden County Department of Health (as posted most weekdays on Haddonfield[dot]Today). For example, the school district may have reported a case a day or so after the county did. Also, when a person is identified by the county as “Male 10s,” for example, that does not necessarily mean that the person is a student in the Haddonfield public schools, or even a student. He could be a 19-year-old graduate.

Today, the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania’s PolicyLab recommended “that in areas with rapidly accelerating transmission rates (such as the Philadelphia region) schools, or families voluntarily, revert students to online learning beginning Nov. 16 until 7-10 days after Thanksgiving. This move to virtual learning should be prioritized for students in middle and high school.” 

The recommendation continued: “It is likely that in the coming weeks, transmission in schools and around school-related activities will contribute to increasing community spread during the height of this crisis.”

Read the full post HERE.

The Haddonfield School District announced this afternoon that second High School student has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This brings to seven the number of members of the public school community who have contracted the disease.

Superintendent of Schools Chuck Klaus sent the following letter to parents, guardians, and staff today

This letter is to inform you that an individual at Haddonfield Memorial High School has tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Contact tracers will be using timelines based on the onset of symptoms and dates of positive test results. If there are individuals identified as close-contacts, whether the contacts happened in school or elsewhere, they will be notified by the district and/or the Camden County Department of Health, most likely within the next 24-48 hours.

Here are all of the details that we are permitted to share at this time:

• The individual is a female in her 10s in Cohort A.
• The individual was symptomatic beginning Wednesday, November 4.
• The individual was tested on November 6 and received notice of a positive COVID test on Sunday, November 8. According to guidelines, there is a “look back” period beginning two days prior to either the administration of a positive test if asymptomatic or two days prior to symptoms with a positive test. In this case, the “look back” is Monday, November 2.
• Based on currently available information, this individual did not likely contract the virus in school.

The District is coordinating closely with public health officials and following CDC, state, and local health department guidelines in order to assure the health and safety of our community.

Cleaning and disinfecting of all exposed areas are completed daily. The school is also taking extra precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of viruses and other germs and is cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily. The status of this situation is fluid, and we are monitoring it closely.

We understand the level of concern regarding COVID-19. 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;
• Wearing a face covering while in school, (additional mask guidance);
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms.

As always, we appreciate our community’s support and cooperation. We have shared all of the information that we are permitted to share publicly at this time. If there is additional information to share, we will do so under the guidance of our medical team and the Camden County Department of Health. You can assist us by remaining vigilant but sensible in your approach to dealing with this health concern. Below are some resources that might be helpful.

RESOURCES
a) NJDOH COVID-19 Information for Communities and the General Public:
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_community.shtml
b) Get the Facts about Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
c) Symptoms of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptomstesting/symptoms.html
d) Testing: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/index.html; https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing e) How to Protect Yourself: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-gettingsick/prevention.html
f) What to Do if You Are Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/stepswhen-sick.html