LEWIS SCHOOL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Spring Semester 2021 Return to Campus
Strategic Re-entry Plan (SRP)
Head of School's Letter, Monday, January 18, 2021
Extended Spring Break
MORNING AND AFTERNOON EDUCATION SCHEDULES
MASTER SCHEDULE AND TEACHERS’ “OFFICE HOURS”
Teachers and instructors will be available to students and parents during their assigned “Office Hours” for the next three weeks. Schedules may be subject to change going forward and parents will be alerted well in advance if modifications are necessary.
Guidelines for appropriate distance learning, (Phase I); remote learning norms (Phase II); and student-school security regulations will be discussed in future e-mails. We hope the following is helpful.
Our Master Schedule Covers 3 Areas of Education
A. Core Curriculum Courses and Physical Education Schedule
Monday through Friday, 7:30 am – 1: pm
B. Afternoon Extended Day, Special Programs and Home Study Schedules
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
C. Wednesday Afternoon Education and Special Programs
Independent Reading, Research and Home Study
Wednesday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
A. Core Curriculum Courses and Physical Education Schedule
Monday through Friday, 7:30 am – 1: pm
Teachers’ daily “Office Hours” are scheduled at the same time as their courses and between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They can be reached at their new Lewis School e-mail addresses.
B. Afternoon Extended Day, Special Programs and Home Study Schedules
Students should work on their education packets according to the schedules below.
AFTERNOON EDUCATION
1. Speech Articulation Therapy – Mrs. Hagstrom, Ms. Bruno, Mr. Nicotera
• Monday through Friday at 2:00 – 2:30 pm and 2:30 – 3:00 pm
• Speech Department “Office Hours” are 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, daily
• Mrs. Hagstrom and Ms. Bruno will contact parents of Speech Articulation students to confirm individual schedules. Teachers will advise students as to regular speech-language education packets and assignments.
2. Literature, Creative and Expository Writing and Poetry – Mrs. Ahmed
• Mrs. Ahmed will dovetail her schedule with homeroom teachers. Mrs. Ahmed’s “Office Hours” are 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
3. Art Education – Mrs. Owen and teachers
• LOWER SCHOOL: Monday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: Wednesday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• UPPER SCHOOL: Friday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Art Department “Office Hours” and student sessions are 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Wednesdays. Additional “Office Hours” are 9:00 am – 11:00 am M, W, F.
4. Music Education – Ms. Trudeau and teachers
• UPPER SCHOOL: Monday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: Wednesday, 2;00 pm – 4:00 pm
• LOWER SCHOOL: Friday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Music Department “Office Hours” and student sessions are 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Wednesdays. Additional “Office Hours” are 9:00 am – 11:00 am M, W, F.
5. Upper School ACT/SAT Preparation – Mrs. Hansen
• Group 1. Tuesday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Group 2. Thursday, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Mrs. Hansen will contact students to confirm ACT groupings and SAT Subject Test preparation. Her “Office Hours” are M., T., Th. from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
6. Lewis College Application Process, 2020 – 2021 – Mrs. Hansen, Mrs. Lewis; where appropriate, David Lewis, Mrs. Dark and Ms. Hermann.
• The college application process has already begun for many students with ACT/SAT preparation and parent-student interviews.
• Instruction for the next steps in the process will be provided shortly in upcoming e-mails.
• Students and their families will be contacted individually. Please be patient until you are contacted and you will be contacted.
Suggested flexible Home Study hours and guidelines will follow shortly.
C. Wednesday Afternoon Education and Special Programs
Independent Reading, Research and Home Study
*Wednesdays, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1. Sociology for College Credit – Dr. Goldstein
• Students’ sessions and professor’s “Office Hours” – *Wednesdays are 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm; college preparatory students use their prepared packets for this for-credit course.
(Lunch is a half-hour on Wednesday as the result of this college credit course.)
2. American Sign Language (ASL), Foreign Language Credit – Ms. Weiland
• Student sessions and instructor’s “Office Hours” are *Wednesdays, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm; students use their prepared packets.
• Dr. Goldstein and Ms. Weiland are preparing remote learning platforms to begin on April 22, 2020.
(Lunch is a half-hour on Wednesday as the result of this credit course.)
3. Physical Education, Sports and Athletics – Coaches Fonder and Pierson
• Coaches “Office Hours” – 7:30 am – 8:00 am; 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
• Student packets should supplement the daily physical education and athletic schedules unless otherwise directed by Mr. Fonder and Mr. Pierson.
Appropriate Distance Learning – Norms and Guidelines
Teachers have many students for whom they are responsible and their access to the children is essentially one-on-one, not as a class. This will require a great deal of time and targeted, careful management.
To facilitate the best use of teachers’ time with your children, please direct all administrative questions to info@lewisschool.org. To avoid unnecessary questions that may already be answered in prior e-mails, we ask parents to observe the following preliminary guidelines.
1. Please comply with our request to direct questions to teachers that relate only and specifically to the current daily education packets and assignments that students received on March 12, 2020.
2. Direct all other questions to info@lewisschool.org. Our staff will respond as promptly as possible.
3. Please keep our e-mails. Print hard copies as reference documents if possible, especially for use by your children.
4. Organize e-mails into folders by date, physical and/or digital.
5. Read e-mails on the largest screen you have, and please review the document on visual formatting for the computer.
Make “Absolute Social Distancing” a Way of Life!
Become the Difference of One Who Protects Many.
This afternoon, I am mindful of a young neighbor whose life is in the throes of COVID-19.
Please think of him and say his name with love and care. He is “Palm”.
Sincerely,
Marsha Gaynor Lewis
Head of School
This document and its contents are the exclusive and sole intellectual property of, and trade secrets of, Marsha Gaynor Lewis, and are developed and authored by Marsha Gaynor Lewis, and may not be duplicated in part or whole or in any way otherwise utilized without the express written permission of Marsha Gaynor Lewis.
© 2021 Marsha Gaynor Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
Coronavirus Updates
As we continue to closely monitor and assess information from federal, state and local agencies, medical experts, research sources, private and public schools, and local colleges and universities, we will provide timely information that relates to parents, students, and faculty at our school.
Important Information
Please open the topics below by clicking on the "+" button.
ACT and SAT Administration
Please review the following updated information and plan accordingly where applicable.
• Students scheduled for the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests have completed them and are in receipt of Official Reports or soon will be. Please notify us at info@lewissschool.org if you do not have official SAT results as of April 15, 2020.
• ACT college entrance exams have been postponed and rescheduled. Lewis School proctors, students and their families who are impacted by the changes have been contacted and apprised of the new schedules.
• Dates for the administration of the ACT have been confirmed and approved by the ACT testing service. The ACT begins on Wednesday, June 17 or Wednesday, June 24, 2020 respectively. Students must arrive at The Lewis School at 8:00 am promptly.
Current College-Bound Student Applications - Status and Inquiries
• Students who need guidance regarding the current status of their college applications, teacher recommendations or letters of a academic accommodation, or who have other specific questions, concerns or remaining issues to be resolved, can contact Roslind Hansen, Andrew Black or Mrs. Lewis for help and clarification at info@lewisschool.org.
Students and parents may also leave voice messages regarding college application status at (609)-924-8120. They will be retrieved daily by Annie Adams, Main Office Coordinator, and forwarded appropriately.
• As of Tuesday, March 31, 2020 students and parents may contact college advisors through their new e-mail addresses at The Lewis School.
• Delayed ACT and standardized, *End-of Year Test results (EOYT) will not negatively impact students' applications to college. Most colleges are implementing modifications or interim waivers to accommodate these pending issues.
• As reported on March 18, 2020, delayed ACT and standardized, *End of Year Testing, (EOYT) results will not negatively impact Lewis School approved college applicants who have been accepted to, or are applying to "for-credit" summer programs and internships at other private schools, colleges and universities.
• Many programs are implementing modifications because of the COVID-19 disruption. *EOYT will be discussed in detail in upcoming e-mails.
Students Applying to College for Academic Year 2020-2021 - Application Process and Preparation
• In-depth preparation for the College Application Process typically begins in earnest, the week after Spring Break in early April each year and continues until applications reflect the best character and ability in each student and all deadlines are met.
• A succession of separate e-mails detailing the step-by-step application process including how to rough-draft preliminary College Resumes and Essays will be forwarded on or before Thursday, April 2, 2020 to begin.
• Advisors Roslind Hansen and David Lewis will be available on a regular schedule to be announced and will arrange individual instruction and feedback sessions with students via e-mail, telephone and remotely where appropriate. Administrative support staff, Mr. Black and Mrs. Lewis will also be available during scheduled hours to be announced.
• Students applying to college for 2020-2021 who have fulfilled the New Jersey State graduation requirements and have completed the required preparatory Lewis education for graduation, will be contacted personally by Roslind Hansen or David Lewis, and as appropriate, by administrative support staff, Mr. Black and Mrs. Lewis.
• Homeroom teachers, Mrs. Dark, Ms. Herman and Mrs. Leiggi will also be available at regular hours for guidance and feedback with college essays where appropriate.
• The application process will remain essentially student-driven as always with reliable and increased, robust support from all of us at Lewis.
• Colleges across the country are working with schools and applicants to help accommodate and resolve any issues arising from the COVID-19 disruption.
• It is important that students and parents are aware that The Lewis School expects to administer End od Year Standardized Testing during full-day, Summer Study sessions which begin on Monday, June 22, 2020. These evaluations and test results will be forwarded to colleges if independent, out-of-school evaluations are unavailable.
All administrative questions that students or their parents may have regarding ACT/SAT reports, transcripts, deadlines or the status of a student's application must be forwarded only to the attention of Mr. Black and Mrs. Lewis at info@lewisschool.org, not to advisors or teachers.
College Advisors and participating teachers have their hands full under normal circumstances when guiding our students through the critical academic aspects of their applications - essays, resumes, other narrative responses or inclusions, and where appropriate, various portfolios. Also important is to make sure that we help our students manage the floating anxiety typically associated with going to college. This is likely to be especially challenging now as the result of distance and remote instruction and feedback.
We are absolutely up to the challenge but will count on our parents' mindful and respectful discretion to help ensure that all of our teachers and advisors can focus all of their attention on the students' preparation and needs!
Communicating During the COVID-19 Disruption after Monday, March 30, 2020
• Lewis School parents and our community stakeholders can expect an increase in e-mail communications ongoing regarding a broad range of information and support.
• Temporary e-mail addresses have been set up for all teachers and instructors at The Lewis School. Parents can e-mail their children's teachers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm beginning on Monday, March 30, 2020 through Friday, May 22, 2020, if the school is still on hiatus.
• Mr. Black, Associate Registrar and Senior Master Mathematics Instructor will forward the teachers' interim e-mail addresses to parents on Thursday, March 26, 2020.
• Faculty and instructors' e-mails are available only and exclusively for questions regarding guidance, clarification and support related to students' daily home study and work assignments.
• Teachers are ready and eager to help parents and students with schoolwork planning and management. They especially encourage students to e-mail questions of their own.
• On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, all teachers of The Lewis School will begin calling their homeroom students. We are looking forward to reconnecting with students personally to lift their spirits and to see how they are feeling generally and coping with the apprehension of unexpected change and distancing.
• There is no more powerful connection to be made between human beings than through the physical sound, emotional intelligence and reassurance of human speech and voice.
• We will all see each other again at school in the not too distant future. In the mean time, we want our students to know we are thinking about them, we love them and we are here for them. They can count on that.
• Parents of Afternoon Enrichment and Tutorial students and Extended Day students placed by districts may leave messages for Director of Extended Day Education, Cindy Stewart at info@lewisschool,org.
• Messages regarding all Main Office records and administrative requests may be left at info@lewisschool.org. We will respond as promptly as possible.
• Families calling with regard to general enrollment, reenrollment or a student's projected class placement (where determined) for academic year 2020-2021 must contact the school at info@lewisschool.org.
• Messages related district placement, financial matters, tuition payment schedules and accounts, contracts and other financial issues may be left for CFO, Ann Zawartkay at ann.zawartkay@lewisschool.org.
Admissions and New Parent Communication During COVID-19 Disruption
• New families applying to the Lewis School and those who are currently in the admissions process must direct inquiries regarding the status of applications or placement for Summer Study and Fall Semester to our voice mail at 609-924-8120.
• Parents or students wishing to speak to David Stier or Chantra Reinman in Admissions must leave messages on The Lewis School's voice mail at 609-924-8120 beginning Monday, March 30, 2020.
• All 609-924-8120 Voice Mail will be retrieved daily by Annie Adams, Main Office Managing Coordinator, and forwarded to the appropriate administrators.
Postponed, Rescheduled and Cancelled Events through Friday May 22, 2020
• End of Year and Standardized Testing, Thursday, April 2, 2020 - rescheduled for summer administration
• Open House and Coffee, Saturday, April 18, 2020 - cancelled, will be rescheduled
• Topics and Trends in Education and Earth Day, Wednesday, April 18, 2020 - cancelled, Topics and Trends will be rescheduled
• Upper School Theater Ensemble, April 24, 2020 - cancelled, may be rescheduled
• Parent-Teacher Conferences beginning on Monday, April 30, 2020 to be reorganized
• Field Day, Wednesday May 6, 2020 - cancelled, may be scheduled for summer
• Lower School Play, Thursday, May 7, 2020 - cancelled
• Upper School Prom, Friday, May 8, 2020 - cancelled
• Athletic Banquet, Thursday, May 14, 2020 - cancelled, may be rescheduled
• Open House and Coffee, Saturday, May 16, 2020 - cancelled, will be rescheduled
Graduation and Awards Ceremonies
Currently, Upper School Graduation and Awards, and the Middle and Lower School Awards ceremonies remain as scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2020 and Friday, May 22, 2020, respectively. Both of these very special events in the lives of our students may have to be reorganized if that is necessary or possible. The final decision will be made based on the unfolding impact of New Jersey's COVID-19 disruption.
What to Expect in Future E-mails
Look for COVID-19 Emergency Planning Information regarding the following:
1. Post-Extended Break Educational and Administrative Contingencies
2. Possible Modifications to School Calendar/School Year, SAIL and Summer Study
3. Academic Credit for 2019-2020
4. Graduation and Awards Ceremonies
5. Extending Summer Study to full days
6. Summer Administration of End of Year and Standardized Testing
7. End of Year and Standardized Testing and Exams
First Day Back? How to Begin on Monday Morning?
CONTENT TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS WILL BE CALLING AFTER 1:30 PM, MONDAY AFTERNOON
- See the proposed "class schedule" attached. Working on packet assignments begins (should begin) promptly at 8:30 am for all students of the school.
- "Patience over Time" is a mantra that will help set schedules and put routines in place. Don't expect too much too soon. Always expect the best and appreciate that to start.
