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HMHS teacher to host statewide TV program for students

Starting on Monday, April 6, children throughout New Jersey will be able to tune into NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network, for NJTV Learning Live, a program featuring lessons taught by New Jersey teachers and hosted by Haddonfield’s own Kimberly Dickstein Hughes, the NJ State Teacher of the Year for 2019-20.

The initiative, designed to advance learning during the statewide school closures caused by the COVID19 pandemic, was created through a partnership between NJTV, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).

“This is a great example of how New Jerseyans are coming together, from educators to broadcasters, to help improve student learning throughout the state,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “This partnership demonstrates the kind of commitment and idealism that epitomizes throughout New Jersey’s school community.”

Each weekday, NJTV Learning Live will offer four programs for grades 3 to 6. Third-grade instruction begins at 9aml fourth-grade programming is at 10am; fifth grade is 11am; and sixth-grade instruction begins at noon.

Subjects will include English language arts, math, science, social studies, and a “special” such as art, music or physical education. Each hour-long segment features a lesson recorded by a teacher from his or her home.

The NJEA is working with the NJDOE to invite teachers to participate in the broadcasts, with the initial outreach attracting more than 200 educators who volunteered to provide instruction.

“Nothing is better than face-to-face instruction given by a teacher in the classroom, but while we are all doing our part to flatten the curve, NJEA members are also looking for every opportunity to help students keep learning,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “These lessons will provide valuable enrichment and supplement what students are already getting from their own teachers. They will also showcase the amazing work that our educators continue to do every day, even in the middle of a pandemic.”

The NJDOE reviews and selects the teachers, and NJTV will provide its services to produce and broadcast the programs (locate your local channel on NJTV’s “Where to Watch” webpage).

“At this most unique time in our state’s and our country’s history, public media is poised to help more than ever before,” said NJTV General Manager John Servidio. “NJTV Learning Live perfectly aligns with NJTV’s mission to serve our community, and only our unique broadcast reach, which reaches into all 21 counties of the state, makes this possible. We can extend lessons from teachers’ homes to students across the Garden State.”

Kimberly Dickstein Hughes will serve as host and provide the intro and outro to each segment.

“I am truly inspired by collaborating with such extraordinary educators, who are not only meeting the needs of their own their students and families, but are going above and beyond to reach all students during this unprecedented time for our schools,” said Kimberly, who will go by the name “Miss D” on the program.

NJTV Learning Live is scheduled to run until May and can continue into mid-June if needed. The on-air classroom lessons will be livestreamed and archived on the network’s website, NJTVonline.org

COVID-19 tally now at eight

The Borough Commissioners have reported that as of March 31, 2020, there are eight cases of Haddonfield residents with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement the Borough’s Facebook page, the Commissioners said, “We ask all residents to recognize the critical importance of social distancing. While we may be physically isolated, we are together in spirit — including gratitude for all those on the front lines of this crisis, and the desire to keep our family, friends & neighbors safe.”

Information about COVID-19 is on the Borough’s website.

Spring Cleanup starts April 6

The Borough’s annual Spring Cleanup will begin on Monday, April 6.

For four weeks – until Friday, May 1 – the Borough will relax the rules with respect to the amount of trash that residents may place at the curb for pick-up on their trash day. (The normal limit is six items.) Other rules remain in force.

Spring Cleanup is intended to encourage residents to clean out attics, basements, garages, and yards. For additional details, see HERE.

COVID-19 hits home

The Reverend Chris Heckert, pastor of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church, reported today that a longtime parishioner, Maria Fedele, died on Monday, March 30, a victim of the novel coronavirus.

She was the mother of Rosalie Fedele, a Haddonfield resident, and had been a member of the church since 1981.

A memorial service will be held on a date to be set. Gifts “in memory of Maria Fedele” may be sent to Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield NJ 08033.

King’s Road to resume beer delivery

An executive order issued by Governor Murphy on March 16 included a provision that, for the first time, permitted breweries such as King’s Road Brewing Company in Haddonfield to deliver their beer. Previously, sales had been limited to on-premises and carry-out.

But that order was changed on March 21, and the ban was reinstated … until today, when the March 21 change was rescinded.

In response to the ban, King’s Road had reduced its days of operation to Thursday through Sunday. Managing director Bob Hochgertel said that, for some breweries, the ability to deliver could make the difference going under and weathering the COVID-19 storm.

New days and hours for delivery and curbside pick-up at King’s Road are likely to be Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 6pm.

Two more residents test positive

Camden County officials have added a Haddonfield man in his 20s and a woman in her 30s to the list of county residents who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. This brings the Haddonfield total to date to four.

School District News: March 27, 2020

OFFICIAL from the Haddonfield School District, March 27, 2020

In addition to a message from the Superintendent, the March 27 issue of School District News includes the following items:

District News

  • Current Information and FAQs for School Closure
  • District Donates Surplus Personal Protection Equipment
  • Project Team Formed to Research our Secondary School Grading System
  • Internet Accessibility in Haddonfield Households

School News

  • Remote Teaching and Learning
  • #HSDWeAreInThisTogether

Board Meeting Dates

  • Board Meeting, Work Session — April 23 at 7pm
  • Board Meeting, approval/adoption of 2020-21 Budget — April 30 at 7pm

All 2020 Board Meeting Dates on our website.

Message from Superintendent Mussoline

OFFICIAL from Haddonfield School District on March 27, 2020

I am writing this message for our district newsletter from my home, and I assume most of you are reading this in your own homes. We have just completed our second week of remote learning, and our first week of the rigid, state-mandated directive about social distancing, 8pm curfews, and sheltering in place. Wow! Have any of us ever experienced anything like this, with the understanding that this is likely to continue for some time yet? Probably not.

There are inherent difficulties with the world events of today, and there will be more. Some of us are struggling with feelings of isolation, and some may still be adjusting to all the technology needed for everything from remote learning to socializing with friends to keeping up with work. And speaking of work, some of us may be out of work for a time. I believe it is fair to say that absolutely every one of us has experienced some anxiety about what is happening today and what is around the corner.

However, and I point this out with pride, our school district community as a whole has risen to most of the online learning challenges with enthusiasm, professionalism and a spirit of teamwork. Teachers, administrators, nurses, EAs, technology staff, secretaries, counselors, coaches, food service, custodians, maintenance, business office personnel, and everyone working in the district have pitched in. With just one official day of training, our talented educators have jumped into the deep end of the pool that is digital/virtual/remote teaching. I am impressed by how our colleagues continue to learn new ways to connect online, new ways to confer and plan online, and new ways to teach and learn online. They are sharing digital resources and tips as well as emotional support as we help each other to do the very best job possible to educate our children. “Building this as we are flying” is an understatement. Yet every brick and mortar K12 school district in the nation is doing the same thing.

Haddonfield families are an essential part of this team, and they have approached the complexities of sudden stay-at-home learning with a “Haddonfield Strong” attitude. Parents are posting photos and videos of their creative solutions for learning spaces; they are sharing ideas for managing a school schedule at home; offering to help those who may be hesitant to ask. All in all, they have proven to be resilient and positive during what may be the most unusual school year in any of our lives.

One of our district goals focuses on social-emotional learning, and the current worldwide crisis is certainly testing us all in this area. All five principals and assistant principals have been “checking in” with our families and students regularly. Teachers, secretaries, EAs, and other staff call families to gather feedback and to get a sense of how we are all doing. High School students have received a survey about overall well-being. The HMHS and HMS Student Council students and advisors meet to share concerns and to plan spiritbuilding activities and daily challenges to nurture the feeling that we are, indeed, in this together. One of our wonderful nurses created a new Twitter feed called @HSDBreathe, encouraging everyone to get outside and walk or run one mile every day. Counselors have established Google Hangouts and Google Classrooms to maintain regular connections to their students. Other student groups have held virtual meetings to encourage the feeling of connection, and some have worked together to create and share spectacular musical videos.

Make sure you read your principals’ communications about ways to get help, free seminars on the RULER method to help regulate emotions, TED talks about managing anxiety and much more. We have created a list of these resources on our website, and please remember our counselors are available to you and your children.

Email them at:

  • Central Elementary School, Jamie Ledford
  • Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School, Amanda LoCicero
  • J.F. Tatem Elementary School, Caroline Brown
  • Haddonfield Middle School, Danielle McKelvey grade 6, Auda Aquina grade 7, Nicole Ettinger grade 8

Haddonfield Memorial High School students should contact their particular counselor but also may contact:

  • Nurse Dana Reganata,
  • Principal Tammy McHale,
  • Assistant Principal Dan Licata or
  • Dean of Students Hamisi Tarrant

A “new normal” is emerging. We are not at all sure how it will pan out, but we are sure that we are committed to working together with all of you. Please read some of the stories shared on social media and written about below. Sign up for Twitter or Facebook, or log onto your existing accounts, to add to and benefit from the ocean of support that our community is sharing. On Twitter, please join us in posting supportive messages and using the hashtag #HSDWeAreInThisTogether.

At the March 26 Board meeting, Academic CEO Dr. Colleen Murray shared a presentation entitled “Transition to Remote Learning in Response to COVID-19 Closure.” Take a look; she covers all of the fantastic efforts by so many members of our community in some detail.

2020 CENSUS

It seems as though we can talk about nothing other than COVID-19. But I need to raise a different topic. The U.S. Census will be coming or has already come to your home. I believe Census mailings began going out on March 12. The reason this is so important is that, if we count our households improperly, the school district could lose much-needed federal money. According to estimates, close to two million children under the age of 4 were missed in the last Census. In 2010, we missed one in ten children under the age of 5 which cost states a total of $5 billion in Medicaid, CHIP, foster care, adoption, free-and-reduced lunch subsidies, federal program money for schools, and child care funds from Washington.

So here’s the message: Even though Haddonfield may have a lower risk of undercounting in the Census, please be sure to count everyone living in your household when you receive your Census form. Don’t forget grandchildren who are living with you, foster and adopted children living with you, and young children living with you. If we miss counting these people, the school district, the Borough, and the state lose federal dollars. Even our friends on Sesame Street know how important this is!

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we continue to try to do our very best for our students and staff.