Mask Optional March 7, 2022
A Message from the the Superintendent
Monday, March 7, 2022 begins the alignment between the NJDOH and CDC ending all public health mandates affecting students. Eastern Camden County Regional School District will be mask-optional beginning March 7, 2022, including all buildings and buses. We will continue to have available KN-95 and surgical masks for any person on campus choosing to wear a mask, and maintain the availability of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and access to handwashing. Our on-campus testing resources and schedule will also continue.
We are looking forward to the enjoyment of the full array of school-day and extra-curricular activities without mandated modifications, some not experienced without modification in three school years. We are excited that teachers and students will be able to focus 100% on in-person learning, activities, arts, theater, and athletics.
We will return to some pre-pandemic school routines, some of which will be new to approximately 50% of students.
The external option for students to walk along the front of the building between classes will no longer be available; however, students can continue to use internal breezeways during change of classes.
After-school help will be exclusively in-person, and after-school activities may commence according to pre-pandemic routines.
We will continue with four-days of after-school Academic Support: Tuesday-Thursday in-person and Mondays via Zoom.
These years have been emotional with varying levels of disruption, felt both individually and collectively. Many will choose to continue to wear a mask. Students are expected to be respectful of others who choose to wear a mask indoors. Challenges still remain. There will still be positive cases to report to our nurses. Staffing levels particularly with the lack of substitutes will continue to require daily adjustments, especially in the area of busing. But, the cooperation demonstrated by our students, parents, and staff throughout the pandemic will continue to be a hallmark as we transition to respecting individual choices consistent with a mask-optional school environment.
All need to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or are otherwise sick. Continue to report confirmed and potential COVID-19 cases through our Emergency Alert notice on our website. Our nurses will directly respond to all reports, including reports over weekends. We will continue to confer with the CCDOH, evaluate local conditions, and be prepared for any necessary adjustments.
As always, thank you for your continued support and we look forward to the pleasures of the engagement between students, parents, and staff in the springtime and end-of-year celebrations.