Messages from Victor Valeski 2021-2022 School Year

June 21, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.  Happy official first day of summer!

Tomorrow is our last day of school and graduation for the East Brunswick High School Class of 2022.  Congratulations to all our graduates and their families who are celebrating graduation.

I am incredibly proud of the entire staff of East Brunswick Public Schools and your volunteer Board of Education.  On top of all the COVID related issues thrown at us this year, we continued to carefully pursue multiple paths of improvement…to make our Blue Ribbon schools cutting edge and provide the best experiences to our students in Academics, Athletics and the Arts.  

Among those improvements is something we started working on in late 2014; later and healthier start times for our secondary students.  Beginning September 2022, our student start and end times will change.

• Grades K-6 will be slightly different.  They will start at 9:00 AM and conclude at 3:35 PM
• Grades 7-12 will start at 8:00 AM and conclude at 2:45 PM, giving many students a later start time than in previous years.

Pre-K start and end time information will be sent to families with children in those programs.

Finally, I want to say thanks to the entire East Brunswick Community.  Earlier, I told you that if we worked together we would successfully navigate this school year.  As a school community, you delivered!  Thank you for your support.

I sincerely wish everyone a safe, happy and restful summer break.  

May 30, 2022

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 31st, East Brunswick High School only will follow a single session schedule because of the forecasted high heat and the lack of air conditioning in that facility.  It will be a full workday for high school staff.

All other district schools and facilities will continue with a full day schedule because they are air-conditioned.

May 24, 2022

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Minutes ago I was informed of another tragic school shooting in Texas.  My heart is heavy tonight with the senseless loss and I immediately felt compelled to reach out to all of you.  

We have spent years building our armed school security team, all who are retired law enforcement personnel and some with specialized training.  They are augmented by physical barriers as you enter each school, video surveillance and security software.
Our security goes beyond the personnel and hardware…it’s about the relationships our School Security Officers have with their students.  Our EB school community provides another layer of protection for our students.  If you see something, please say something. 

Thank you for supporting our security efforts and complying with our ongoing safety measures.

May 12, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Over the past three weeks, we have been monitoring our increasing COVID positivity trends among both students and staff.

If anyone in your household is sick, even with what appears to be seasonal allergies, please have your school-aged children tested for COVID before sending them to school.  This will help us keep classrooms open.  If you need a rapid testing kit for your child, please contact your school nurse.  One will be provided to you free of charge.  Masks continue to be available in our schools for anyone who needs one.  

Thank you to the entire EB school community for your collective efforts to keep schools open so far.  We are in the home stretch and together we can contribute to safe end of the school year experiences for all students and staff.  

 

March 25, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a few important updates.

For the period Friday, March 18th through Thursday, March 24th, we had the following positive COVID cases:

• 9 students 
• 13 staff members 

The number of COVID infections is higher than we have seen in the prior weeks.  I share this information as a reminder that COVID is still among us but maintaining our safe practices will ensure our long term success.  Many symptoms are presenting as cold or allergy “like”.  If your child is sick, please keep them home until they can be examined by a physician.  

Our COVID Dashboard is updated weekly on Thursday.  Link to COVID Dashboard

Since we have not used all of our emergency closing days, Monday, April 18th will be a non-school day for students and non-work day for 10-month staff.  Enjoy the additional day! 

Finally, there will be no community access to the East Brunswick High School stadium beginning Monday, March 28th as the project to replace our turf field begins.  Our track will only be used by our athletes for practice and competition and will not be available to the public during this reconstruction phase.  I sincerely appreciate the community’s patience.  When we are finished, you will once again have access to “your” new track facility.   

March 2, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

I was reading to a class earlier this week and was asked about running the school district.  I responded that it takes a team.  That team includes the families of all our students.  Thank you for all you have done to support our ongoing efforts to return some sense of normalcy to your child’s EB experience.  It has been a journey that has covered nearly two years with some starts and stops along with plenty of bumps in between.  Now, we are ready for the next important step.

After evaluating the changes in mask wearing guidance recently released by the CDC and the State of New Jersey:

Beginning Monday, March 7, 2022, masks will be encouraged but optional in East Brunswick Public Schools.  District staff and students, along with students' families, will have the option to decide if they will wear masks on school buses or inside school properties.

East Brunswick Public Schools retains the right to reimpose a requirement to wear masks in schools, including while participating in sports or activities where increased exhalation occurs, to mitigate COVID transmissibility in the following circumstances:

• During periods of elevated community transmission
• During an active outbreak
• After returning from isolation or quarantine
• When illness occurs in school  

Masks will continue to be mandatory in all school facilities and events through this Sunday evening, March 6th, including our Board of Education meeting tomorrow evening.

 

February 24, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.  

After monitoring forecasts for ice and sleet early in the morning, we will have a delayed opening tomorrow, Friday, February 25th. 

Since we have not had a delay in quite some time, important delayed opening start times are provided:

 

Delayed Opening Schedule	Hours
East Brunswick High School	9:26 AM to 2:12 PM
Churchill Junior High School	9:26 AM to 2:12 PM
Hammarskjold Middle School	10:03 AM to 2:50 PM
Hammarskjold Morning Start and ELA Early Morning Programs	Begins at 8:50 AM
Elementary Schools	11:10 AM to 3:25 PM
Elementary Early Morning Program	Begins at 9:00 AM
Early Learning Academy (ELA)	Full Day: 10:30am-2:30pm Half Day AM: 10:30am-12:00pm Half Day PM: 1:00pm-2:30pm Mid-Day Extension: 12:00pm-1:00pm

 

For the period Friday, February 18th through Thursday, February 24th, I have the following 12 positive COVID cases to report:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Frost Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School

 

February 17, 2022

February 14, 2022

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

A shortage of bus drivers this morning will cause delays throughout our routes this morning and possibly this afternoon.  I am sorry for this inconvenience.

February 11, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. 

For the period Friday, February 4th through Thursday, February 10th, I have the following positive COVID cases to report:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 5 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 6 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 6 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School 

February, 4, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. 

For the period Friday, January 28th through Thursday, February 3rd, I have the following positive COVID cases to report:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School 
• 6 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 
• 3 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 3 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

2 staff members positive at East Brunswick High School 

January 28, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

I want to remind our community that we will begin removing snow from all our facility sites as soon as measurable snow begins to accumulate tonight.  That work will continue throughout the weekend as we prepare for our schools’ reopening on Monday. 

I know this snowfall will encourage a lot of people in our community to get outside but we want our students and their families to remain safe.  Please do not come onto district sites while snow removal is proceeding. 

Enjoy the weekend, whether it is out in the snow or watching it from inside.     

For the period Friday, January 21st through Thursday, January 27th, I have the following positive COVID cases to report:

• 2 students positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Central Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 3 staff members positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 2 students positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 6 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 7 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 2 staff members positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 
• 5 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 9 students positive at East Brunswick High School
• 4 staff members positive at East Brunswick High School 

January 20, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. 

We were very excited to welcome our students and staff back for in-person instruction this week. 

As I previously reported, the Department of Health changed their quarantine guidelines to allow students and staff, who are no longer symptomatic of COVID, to return to school on what would have been their 6th day of quarantine. Our Nursing Department coordinated a centralized screening center at our Administration Building.  As we continue to transition next week, those students wishing to return between days 6-10 of their quarantine will be screened at their school building by their school nurse.  Parents should communicate directly with their School Nurse for specific information and requirements regarding student re-entry screening after 5 full days of quarantine.    

Now for your COVID reporting update: For the period Thursday, January 13th through Thursday, January 20th, I have the following positive COVID cases to report:

• 2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 4 staff members positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Central Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
• 6 students positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Frost Elementary School 
• 4 students positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School 
• 3 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 8 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 3 staff members positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 18 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 
• 13 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 4 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 18 students positive at East Brunswick High School
• 8 staff members positive at East Brunswick High School 

January 14, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community.

It’s Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, again with a quick reminder for any family with children impacted by COVID quarantine.

If your child has already been in quarantine for five full (5) days, they may be eligible to return to in-person instruction.  

Our COVID Re-entry Form is linked here (https://forms.gle/CDtSNiS5oVusCQ12A) and is always available on the homepage of our website.  It is the first step in the re-entry process for students choosing to return after five (5) full days of exclusion from school.  The next step will be an assessment by a nurse, in our Administration Building at 760 Rt. 18, before your child will be permitted to rejoin in-person instruction.  

Parents should plan to wait with their child to either transport them to their school or return them home if our nurse determines a longer exclusion from school may be necessary.

Please be patient with us.  This is an entirely new process that has been designed to safely return your child to school faster.

January 13, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with critical information to share over the next few minutes.

All our schools are positioned to open Tuesday, January 18th.  You can see our updated and refined COVID Dashboard on the homepage of our website.  Based on our reported numbers across all facilities, we have moved past our staffing shortage caused by COVID.  Over the Winter Break we saw over 1,100 students and over 300 staff report COVID related issues that would have prevented them from attending or working in schools.

We have adopted the recently revised CDC and New Jersey Department of Health quarantine reduction recommendations.  In most cases, this reduces the exclusion period to 5 days with an opportunity to re-enter school on day 6, following our revised protocols attached to this email.  

A nurse will oversee the re-entry of quarantined students and staff with a medical assessment scheduled at our District Administrative Office.  We will make every available accommodation to distance students while eating, when masks are removed.  I want to make sure our community knows that alternative lunch spaces will be used only for the protection of the schools' populations.

Beginning now, my top priority is reopening all schools and continuing to keep them open for the remainder of this school year.  The health of our facilities has been demonstrated throughout the pandemic.  Our cleaning and sanitizing protocols and procedures have been effective in supporting building health.  Please keep your children home if they or any household member are sick.  Please contact your school’s nurse for guidance.  Students cannot access remote instruction under non-medical circumstances and our established attendance policies will be enforced.

Per the Governor’s Executive Order, masks are still required in all school facilities.  School districts are not permitted to offer hybrid learning and can only move to remote instruction for limited times under specific conditions.

East Brunswick Public Schools will be hosting a vaccination first dose clinic on Friday, January 28th as well as a booster clinic on January 28th and February 18th.  Please schedule an appointment through the links below. 

• To Schedule a Vaccine Appointment:  https://forms.gle/ZBXb3aooZAmVQg7e6
• To Schedule a Booster Appointment: https://forms.gle/w6L5JeKf8P4FFjx56

We look forward to welcoming students and staff back to in-person instruction. 

Attachments:

messages/attachments/0613937a5e73f7156436c61858664039/Covid_Protocl_Updates_as_of_1132022.pdf

January 5, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with critical updates.  

Our remote status has been necessary because of the shortage of staffing caused by COVID quarantines.  After reviewing our COVID self-report data, quarantines that have affected staffing will begin expiring mid to late next week. 

Anticipating that we should be in a reasonable position to staff all our facilities, we will return to full district operation and in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 18th. This allows anyone entering quarantine, as late as this Friday, January 7th, to stay out of work or school for the required 10 day period and still return on January 18th.  

Confusion still exists about quarantines. The recently announced CDC recommendation to reduce quarantines to five (5) days does not currently apply to K-12 schools. 

I want to reinforce that my intention is to open all schools.  Only if it is necessary after January 18th, and if staff quarantines can be reduced to 5 days, we will assess our ability to operate, staff, and transport on a school by school basis.  

Current COVID protocols information can be found in the COVID Updates tile located on the District homepage (www.ebnet.org)

Technology that was distributed to our K-2 students will stay with them for the remainder of the school year.  To receive support for district devices or services, parents can email parentsupport@ebnet.org or call 732-613-6777.  The Help Desk is staffed on business days from 7:30 AM until 4:00 PM.

Beginning tonight, we are returning our facilities to community use as long as personnel are available to oversee the activity or event.  The same will apply to student performances at all our schools.  They will be scheduled as long as we have staff to oversee them.

Our Remote Learning Center at Hammarskjold Middle School will continue to operate until January 14th, during regular school hours.  Students who are currently enrolled in the Early Morning Program and the After School Kids/Encore Program will be permitted to attend those hours at the Remote Learning Center location.  Please submit the Google form https://forms.gle/2HP8TFyW1oYeY8Ng6 for each child attending by tomorrow, Thursday, January 6th, at noon.

If your child is already enrolled in the Remote Learning Center, you do not need to fill out a new form.  Space is limited.  All participants will receive a confirmation email with details by Friday, January 7th, at 12:00 PM.

Due to the district’s current remote status, the Child Nutrition department will be offering Grab-N-Go breakfast and lunch meal pick-up. Breakfast and lunch meal pick-up will start tomorrow January 6th. Visit the District website for pick-up days, times and locations.

 

January 1, 2022

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important message that I had hoped I would not have to make.

After analyzing the data from our self-reporting Staff and Student COVID form this morning, I have determined that we will not have the human resources necessary to reopen any of our schools this coming week.

I had hoped that some of our schools could remain open for in person instruction but that evaporated quickly over the past 12 hours and we still have two more days for individuals to report.  

Our district will shift to remote status beginning Monday, January 3rd., through Friday, January 7th.  We will continue to reassess our staffing impacts based on quarantines and school safety based on transmission rates among our various school populations.  I want to be candid with families that this could affect the week of January 10th, as well.

I know from our own Middlesex Department of Health and medical professionals I have spoken with, Emergency Rooms visits and hospitalizations are increasing.  Additionally, Urgent Care and other facilities cannot keep up with current testing demand.

I also know this is an extreme burden for some families however it is the only option that optimizes the safety of students, staff and the community at this moment of time.  We know from experience that protecting household safety is paramount to our quick return to face to face instruction throughout the district.

For those unable to secure child care for their elementary students, we will offer a Remote Learning Center at Hammarskjold Middle School Cafeteria for parent drop off.  We ask that you pre-register at this link https://forms.gle/fvumGr1uiG9SB2yx9 so we can be prepared.  There is no cost for this child supervision program.  It is not an instructional or tutoring program, so students should come prepared with their devices and materials for remote learning.

Distribution of elementary K-2 technology will occur during this coming week and will be coordinated with a separate communication to only our K-2 families.

Athletics will continue under our established health/safety protocols.

For Monday, January 3rd. only, students will follow their schools’ Delayed Opening Schedule and should be available for instruction at that time.  Our schools’ schedules are:

Delayed Opening Schedule	Hours
East Brunswick High School	9:26 AM to 2:12 PM
Churchill Junior High School	9:26 AM to 2:12 PM
Hammarskjold Middle School	10:03 AM to 2:50 PM
Elementary Schools	11:10 AM to 3:25 PM

 

December 30, 2021

 

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

As we prepare for our return to school next Monday, January 3rd., I am calling with a quick reminder to fill out our Student and Staff COVID Reporting Form (https://forms.gle/872Cmu49RPuVDKLW9 ) if you are an unvaccinated close contact with someone positive for COVID, are symptomatic for COVID or have tested positive for COVID, either by a rapid test or a PCR lab test, during the break.

You can navigate directly to the form by opening our website, then click the “HERE” hyperlink in the "Important Message" Box that appears.

Beginning Monday, our nursing professionals will be contacting individuals who may need to take additional steps before returning to school. 

I wish all of you safe holiday gatherings and a great New Year.

 

December 23, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.  I wish each of you and your families a restful, peaceful and safe Winter Break.  While schools are closed you may access the Student and Staff COVID Reporting Form at this link https://forms.gle/872Cmu49RPuVDKLW9  to report COVID status.  It will also be readily available on our website.  There is no need to call your school nurse during the break.  We will sort and share each school’s information with nurses upon our return.

Please also be on the lookout for important messages from me during our closure.  I will update the community at any point before our return on Monday, January 3rd, if it becomes necessary.  

Please take time to review our EB The Road Forward document, Appendix I, in the tile labeled “Important School Opening Guidance for the 2021-2022 School Year”, on the homepage of our website.  It has been updated with refined COVID quarantine procedures for vaccinated individuals that will be effective beginning January 3rd.

Now for your COVID reporting update:

For the period Friday, December 16th through Wednesday, December 22nd, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 2 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 3 staff members positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School  
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 7 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 3 staff members positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 
• 6 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 5 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 24 students positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School with 10 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School with 1 close contact
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 12 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 7 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School with 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 13 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 2 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 30 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 11 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 16 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 17 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 22 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 16 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 10 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 7 close contacts

December 17, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday update.

For the period Friday, December 10th through Thursday, December 16th, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School 
• 1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 7 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 4 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 4 students positive at East Brunswick High School
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School 
• 5 staff members at Support Operations
• 2 staff members positive at our Administration Building 

In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 3 close contacts 
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive  at Frost Elementary School with 11 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School with 2 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 12 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 16 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 8 close contacts
• 2 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 21 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 12 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 2 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  10 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  2 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with  4 close contacts

 

December 16, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important community message.

Today, we are aware of information being shared on social media platforms that alludes to threats of school violence across the country tomorrow, December 17th.   I can assure you that no direct threat has been made against East Brunswick Public Schools but we will maintain the same high level of security vigilance that you have come to expect from us.  

By now you have all become familiar with our School Security Officers assigned at each of our facilities.   We continue to work hand in hand with the East Brunswick Police Department and Township to maintain a safe environment for our students, staff and community.

December 10, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday update.

For the period Friday, December 3rd through Thursday, December 9th, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Frost Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 1 staff member at Memorial Elementary School 
• 2 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 4 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 3 students positive at East Brunswick High School

 In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School with 21 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 7 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School with 11 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 7 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 24 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 17 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 26 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with  1 close contact

 

December 3, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday update.

For the period Wednesday, November 24th through Thursday, December 2nd, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 2 staff members positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Irwin Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 3 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School

 In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 4 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 7 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 3 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 15 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 6 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 5 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 10 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 6 close contacts 

November 24, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your pre-holiday update.

For the period Friday, November 19th through Tuesday, November 23rd, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 
• 2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School

In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 8 close contacts
• 3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 14 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 close contacts 
• 1 contracted staff member, with assignments at multiple schools, resulting in 32 close contacts.

In spite of these numbers we continue to make progress. 

I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday.

 

November 24, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important message.

We have been notified of a planned parent demonstration that involves placing children’s shoes on school premises. Please be advised that any use of school premises must comply with District Policy and Regulation 7510 – Use of School Facilities, which regulates the use of school property by students, teachers, and the general public to ensure everyone’s safe and orderly access to the District. 

Anyone who wishes to use school facilities, for any reason, must make a request using the Facility Use Application found on our website and comply with the requirements set forth in District Policy 7510, which includes the purchase of adequate insurance coverage for the event and the removal of any material brought to or used during the event. The full District Policy and Regulation 7510 – Use of School Facilities can also be found on our website.

The district will use all available resources to bring sanctions against individuals attempting to utilize district property without appropriate authorization.  

 

November 19, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday update.

For the period Friday, November 12th through Thursday, November 18th, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 2 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School

In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 21 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 20 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 3 close contacts
• 2 staff members positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 11 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact 

November 12, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday updates.

I want to offer thanks for your collective efforts toward maintaining the health safety in all our school facilities.  

For the period Monday, November 8th through Thursday, November 11th, I have the following positive COVID cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
• 1 staff member positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
• 3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

 In addition, I have the following positive COVID case, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact 

November 8, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a community message that may be important to you and your family.

If your child is 5 years of age or older and you would like to get them vaccinated with the recently approved Pfizer COVID vaccine, please fill out the form below.  The district is working with our partners at Walmart to host this vaccination clinic.  The first dose clinic will be held on Friday, November 19th from 4 PM to 8 PM and the second dose will be administered three weeks later on Friday, December 10th from 4 PM to 8 PM.   

Both clinics will be held at Hammarskjold Middle School located at 200 Rues Lane.  

Once you register your child, you will receive a confirmation regarding your appointment time by Tuesday, November 16th.  A guardian will be required to accompany their child to the appointment. All registration forms must be submitted no later than Thursday, November 11th at 3 PM.  

We expect a limited number of vaccine appointments.  We will allocate vaccine appointments on a first come first serve basis.  Please bring your insurance card and guardian photo ID. 

Please fill out registration form at: https://forms.gle/WLwQ4PuY6jNygSd49

 

October 29, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday updates.

Just a reminder, please keep your school aged children home if they are sick or any member of your immediate family is sick until we can help you rule out that they are not positive for COVID.  Your child’s school nurse will help you and answer your questions.  This is critically important since all of our positive COVID cases so far have originated outside of school and been brought into school.

In addition, please send your children to school with extra masks in their backpack.  We are seeing many children forgetting masks in the morning or needing to change their masks throughout the day.  It is important that they have a clean backup mask.

For the period Friday, October 22nd through Thursday, October 28th, I have the following positive COVID case, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School 
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 4 close contacts 

 

October 22, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday updates.

East Brunswick Public Schools and Effective School Solutions (ESS) are presenting a Parent University series for the 2021-2022 school year focusing on social and emotional health for our students and families.  This series will be presented virtually.

The first Parent University presentation will be next Tuesday, October 26th at 7 PM.  The topic is “Taking a Mental Health Pulse: Student Mental Health and Academic Re-Acclimation”.  Please join us as we discuss our students’ return and re-acclimation back to school and the COVID related mental health challenges that we all face.  

We know more parents than ever are transporting their students to and from school this year.  So we can ensure the highest degree of pedestrian safety please continue to follow all school drop-off and pick up procedures, as well as posted speed limits.

Thank you to everyone who reached out to their school’s nurse to discuss household health concerns before sending students to school.  We have seen a remarkable decrease in this week’s numbers.

For the period Friday, October 15th through Thursday, October 21st, I have the following positive COVID case, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School 

 In addition, I have the following positive COVID cases, with associated close contacts:

• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 10 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 11 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 2 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 11 close contacts

Attachments:
messages/attachments/963db9faa15d8c07c5f23d729b780979/EB_Community_Workshop_Series_21-22_SY_with_links.pdf (119.9 KB)

October 15, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday COVID update.  

I am going to share what I stated at last night’s school board meeting:  Please keep your school aged children home if they are sick or any member of your immediate family is sick until we can help you rule out that they are not positive for COVID.  Your child’s school nurse will help you and answer your questions. 

This is critically important since all of our positive COVID cases so far have originated outside of school and been brought into school.  This has resulted in quarantines of students and staff that could have been prevented.  

Below is a comprehensive list of the week’s positive COVID cases and a growing number with associated close contacts.  Please partner with us to keep our classrooms and schools open by keeping sick students home.

For the period Friday, October 8th through Thursday, October 14th, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School 
• 3 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
• 2 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School 
• 1 staff member at Support Operations

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Central Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 2 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 8 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 7 close contacts
• 2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 6 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 15 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 17 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 close contacts

October 8, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Friday COVID Update:

For the period Friday, October 1st through Thursday, October 7th, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 6 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 12 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 close contact

October 7, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important Parent/Teacher conference update.

I would like to apologize for the last minute reassessment.  In order to provide parents/guardians with the best possible conference experience, Fall Parent/Teacher conferences will be conducted remotely. This will provide convenience for our families and conversations without mandatory masks currently required for in-person conferences. 

Right after this phone call, elementary conferencing scheduling will open allowing you to select an elementary conference time slot.  Phone will be the primary method of contact but your teacher may invite you to a Zoom link if needed.

Secondary scheduling will open next week as originally planned. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

One final update, first responders were at Churchill Junior High School minutes ago for a fire alarm that was inappropriately pulled.  There is no fire danger at Churchill.

 

October 1, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We are aware of multiple TikToc challenges being circulated on social media sites that are prompting students to engage in inappropriate or criminal activities, either against specific groups of people or their schools.

Parents, please have conversations with your children about the importance of following our Student Code of Conduct.  We pride ourselves as an inclusive school community and that includes respect for each other, our staff members and our facilities that support student learning. 

Now your Friday COVID Update:

For the period Friday, September 24th through Friday, October 1st, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
• 2 students positive at East Brunswick High School
• 1 staff member positive at Support Operations

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 1 close contact
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 9 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 5 close contacts 
• 2 students positive at Irwin Elementary School with 4 close contacts 
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 8 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 5 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 close contact
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 close contacts

 

September 24, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Today marks the end of twice weekly phone updates.  Beginning next Friday, and continuing each Friday thereafter, you can expect an emailed EBPS Update that recaps weekly COVID cases and close contacts.  Our district COVID Dashboard will be updated to reflect those changes, as well.  I will reserve future telephone calls for time sensitive, critical information. 

Now your Friday COVID Update:

For the period Tuesday, September 21st at noon through Thursday, September 23rd, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School 
• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 18 close contacts
• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School 7 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 close contacts
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 6 close contacts
•  

September 21, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with important information:

All of our positive COVID cases have originated outside of schools.  In an ongoing effort to increase the protection of our school community, after this evening’s in-person ELA Back to School Night, we will make all elementary Back to School Nights virtual beginning next week.  You will hear more details from your elementary school’s principal.

To our high school 10th grade parents:  For the time students will be eating in the auditorium to facilitate appropriate spacing , trays are available each lunch period for their food items, whether from home or school, and students are reminded throughout the lunch period that trays are available should they need one.  

We know this alternate eating environment is an inconvenience but be assured that we continue to evaluate each day to ensure we can provide the safest possible environment for all students.  We will continue to make adjustments as conditions permit with health safety and physical safety continuing to be our priorities.

Parents of students who are fully vaccinated should send proof of their child's vaccination to their school's nurse.  This will help expedite our contact tracing.

Please continue to check our East Brunswick Road Forward, Health and Safety Guidance document in the second tile on the homepage of our website.  It is updated frequently.

Now your Tuesday COVID Update:

For the period Friday, September 17th at noon through noon today, Tuesday, September 21st, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
• 3 students positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, I have the following positive case with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 8 close contacts

Setpember 17, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, 

With your COVID Update:

For the period Tuesday, September 14th at noon through noon today, Friday, September 17th, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
• 1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

 1 student presumed positive at Central Elementary School with 2 close contacts

• 1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 3 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 6 close contacts
• 1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School with 2 close contacts

Over the past two weeks, transportation has added new students to the busing routes and have been responding to parental inquiries in the order that they have been received.  Please be sure to check your parent access for updated bus pass information.

September 14, 2021

For the period Friday, September 10th at noon through noon today, September 14th, I have the following positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

• 3 students positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, I have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

• 1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School with 8 close contacts
• 2 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 11 close contacts
• 2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School with 4 close contacts

The East Brunswick Education Association is hosting a vaccine clinic on Monday, September 20th at Hammarskjold Middle School from 4 - 8 PM for any person choosing to be vaccinated.

It is open to students, staff, and family members.  You must pre-register using this link:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/212346519520148

All three vaccines will be available while supplies last - Pfizer (ages 12+), Moderna (ages 18+), and Johnson & Johnson (ages 18+). 

Attachments:
messages/attachments/469fca535300cceb91f49bff13d03a9e/East_Brunswick_Vaccination_Events_preregister_link_%281%29.jpg (134.2 KB)

 

September 10, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Yesterday, among students who attended school we had:

• 1 student positive for COVID at Chittick Elementary School with 9 associated close contacts

• 1 student positive for COVID at Irwin Elementary School with 8 associated close contacts

I will continue weekly information reporting each Thursday afternoon and will refer to our COVID dashboard where we will house updated COVID cases and quarantines.  Our dashboard will be reactivated Monday afternoon, September 13th.  

 

September 9, 2021

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

As I traveled throughout the district today it was great to see students back in schools.

I have one critical reminder for tonight.  If your child has been tested for COVID-19, either by a physician or by your choice, please do not send them to school until you receive the results of their COVID test. 

Efforts like this will greatly reduce our close contact quarantines.

Thank you for your support.

 

September 7, 2021

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with critical information you need to know before we return to school this Thursday, Sept. 9th.

We must reopen schools for full days of instruction.  We do not have any options for single session days without lunch.

Parents and guardians cannot request a virtual instruction option for their children this year.

We are not taking temperature checks when students come into schools because for the entire last year taking temperatures did not reveal a single positive case of COVID-19.

All the ventilation systems in our schools, with the exception of the high school, have been replaced with upgraded classroom heating and air conditioning systems since 2015.  Each of them meets or exceeds the recommended air quality standards and industry indoor/outdoor air exchange rates.  High school classrooms have been individually evaluated.  Additional ventilation was placed in rooms that required it. 

Results of our latest Ambient Indoor Air Quality Evaluation can be found in the bottom tile on the homepage of our website.

MERV rated filtration is installed and routinely replaced throughout our schools and facilities, designed for each specific unit and its application.  Higher rated MERV-13 filtration is in our rooftop units servicing large common areas.

HEPA filtration is in our nurses’ offices and in designated quarantine rooms where ill students will be staged, with supervision, and isolated from the school population until they can be picked up by families.

Breakfast and lunch service will be tightly orchestrated.  Students will make their selections while wearing masks.  They will take their bagged and portable lunch selections to their assigned areas or seats, remove their masks only to consume their food and then reapply their masks.  Our upgraded cafeteria tables have a single seat for each student, thereby ensuring consistent spacing while eating.  Cleaning and sanitizing will continue as they did last year and especially between lunch periods.

Principals have been directed to move lunch activities outdoors, weather permitting and with safety precautions in place.  Portable canopies will not be used.  They are safety hazards in windy conditions and encourage gathering instead of spreading out.

Each principal has an alternative plan to move students into non-cafeteria indoor settings or classrooms.  We continue to recruit and hire additional cafeteria aides so as the weather gets colder we can safely continue to spread students out for lunch. 

Please remember to send your child to school with a serviceable mask and a backup, both for on the bus and in school.  We will have spare masks if they require one.

Finally, if any member of your immediate household is sick or your child is sick, do not send them to school until they have been evaluated by a physician.  Call your school nurse if you are unsure.

We look forward to welcoming students back this Thursday.  Remember that some bus routes may run slightly slower on the first two days of school.   

 

September 2, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with the beginning of new informational phone calls and emails as we start a new school year.  My routine informational calls will be reserved for Thursday afternoons at 4 PM.  The associated emails will always be labeled "EBPS Update", followed by a date.  When I call at other times it will be critical and time sensitive information that may need your attention. 

First and foremost, I want to assure the East Brunswick community that maintaining the highest level of health safety will be the foundation for every other decision we make for the entire school year.  We have already seen an increased demand for answers to specific questions and we are seeing the same questions asked by different members of our community.  We may call you if your question is family specific or we believe that a conversation is more effective than an email...especially if additional questions arise from the conversation.

We have proven that EBPS can remain safe with a layered COVID mitigation strategy and plan.  The partnership and trust between community and schools has been the hallmark of our past successes and I hope we can, once again, navigate this school year as a team.  My goal is to return all students to academic, athletic, artistic and social school experiences in a safe atmosphere.

When to Stay Home:

Please keep your child home to be evaluated by a physician if anyone in your immediate household:   

• Has tested positive (viral test) for COVID-19.
• Is sick.
• Is not fully vaccinated and has had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Call your school nurse if you have questions about your child’s illness, potential COVID exposure or a known positive COVID test or close contact.

Transportation: 

School buses are school property.  Masks must be worn by all passengers on buses, regardless of vaccination status, per CDC’s Federal Order. 

Masks:

Masks are required in all school settings, including school board meetings, by the Governor’s Executive Order 251, dated August 6th, unless an individual is exempted under certain specified circumstances identified in the Order,  Exemptions requiring medical documentation are further clarified in Executive Order 253, dated August 23rd.

The most effective fabrics for cloth masks are tightly woven such as cotton and cotton blends, breathable, and in two or three fabric layers. Masks with exhalation valves or vents, those that use loosely woven fabrics, and ones that do not fit properly should not be used.

Masks should be washed after every day of use and/or before being used again, or if visibly soiled or damp/wet.

Disposable face masks should be changed daily or when visibly soiled, damp or damaged.

Students should have additional disposable or cloth masks in case a back-up mask is needed (e.g., mask is soiled or lost during the day).  Schools and buses will have supplies of back-up masks.

Clear masks that cover the nose and wrap securely around the face may be considered in certain circumstances including for the teaching of students with disabilities, young students learning to read, or students in English as a second language classes. 

Appropriate and consistent use of masks may be challenging for some individuals, however, mask use is required for all individuals in indoor school settings with the following exceptions:

• When doing so would inhibit the individual’s health, such as when the individual is exposed to extreme heat indoors;
• When the individual has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
• When a student’s documented medical condition or disability, as reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Educational Plan pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, precludes use of a face covering;
• When the individual is under two (2) years of age;
• When the individual is engaged in activity that cannot physically be performed while wearing a mask, such as eating or drinking, or playing a musical instrument that would be obstructed by a face covering;
• When the individual is engaged in high-intensity aerobic or anaerobic activity;
• When a student is participating in high-intensity physical activities during a physical education class in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet from all other individuals; or
• When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task.

An Informational Note:

The artificial turf on our HS athletic field was severely damaged by heavy rain storms August 22nd and 23rd.  The surface is not usable and competitions have been rescheduled to other schools. We intend to secure the turf area in order that school and community use of the track may continue.

One Final Reminder:

Properly worn masks are required at tonight’s in-person school board meeting.  You will not be permitted to attend the in-person meeting without properly wearing a mask.

August 26, 2021

 

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a few important pieces of time sensitive information as we approach the opening of schools for full days of instruction, with lunch, beginning Thursday,  September 9th.

Dr. Dana Zimbicki and the East Brunswick Education Association have organized a series of COVID-19 vaccination events in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and East Brunswick Public Schools (EBPS).

Pfizer (ages12+), Moderna (ages 18+) and Johnson and Johnson (J&J) (ages 18+) will be all administered in the Hammarskjold Middle School (HMS) cafeteria beginning tomorrow afternoon.

• Tomorrow, Friday, August 27th, from 2-6 PM, anyone 12 years or older, may receive the 1st dose of a Pfizer vaccine and those 18 years or older may choose between Pfizer, Moderna (2 dose vaccines) or J&J (1 dose vaccine).

• The second dose, for those receiving either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine tomorrow, will be on Monday, September 20th from 4-8 PM, again in the HMS cafeteria.

COVID-19 boosters (those are third vaccinations for those individuals who have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna doses 1 and 2 or the J&J single dose for approximately eight months...or sooner if you are immunocompromised) will be administered in the HMS cafeteria on:

• Friday, October 22nd, from 4-8 PM and

• Monday, October 25th, from 4-8 PM

Pre-registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accepted. I encourage every eligible person to get vaccinated.  Everyone’s health depends on it.

Additionally, please continue to refer to the top left tile on the home page of our district website titled, Important School Opening Guidance for the 2021-2022 School Year.  Download The Road Forward document to activate the hyperlinks in the searchable table of contents.

This is a living document and is routinely updated to reflect clarifications to questions from members of the community, changes in Executive Order (E.O) mandates, as well as new health, safety and quarantine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NJDOH.

Attachments:
messages/attachments/db65ffc0f82be71eab23e469705f2635/East_Brunswick_Vaccination_Events_preregister.pdf

 

August 20, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

I would like to provide a few updates and school opening guidance as we approach our first day of school which is Thursday, September 9th.  Student forms that need to be completed annually are now available through Parent Access. 

All forms need to be submitted no later than Wednesday, September 1st.  If you do not have internet access, please reach out to your child’s school for assistance. 

On Friday, August 27th at 3 PM, student schedules and teacher assignments will be available through Parent Access. 

Our school opening guidance document titled East Brunswick, The Road Forward, Health and Safety Guidance for 2021-2022 School Year has been designed to make it convenient for you to search answers on specific topics surrounding our opening of schools this year.  

One final note for today – East Brunswick is a great place to work!  Please view our openings on the district website, including our Food Service job fair scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 25th.

August 14, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.  It is not normally my practice to share information on a Saturday but nothing about this past year has been normal.

I am aware of the continued community debate about the requirement for masks as we return to school September 9th.  As the Governor announced August 6th, all students, staff and visitors to schools must be masked.  This is an enforceable Executive Order mandate (E.O. 251) that began last Monday, August 9th.

Regardless of what you have seen or heard in the press about what other districts are planning to do, East Brunswick Public Schools will follow the Executive Order.  That is what I and the Board of Education are charged to do, by law and by oath.  The masking mandate applies to all public, private, and parochial preschool programs and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools.

The Governor said publicly that he hopes to be able to lift Executive Order 251 as soon as it is safe to do so.  Regardless of your beliefs, by last June the rapid decline of positive COVID-19 cases in our schools, as the direct result of masking and vaccinations, was undeniable.  

I am asking for your help - to work together, as we have always done, to mask up your children, for what we hope will be a shorter duration, to protect every student, every staff member, every visitor and every family in our school community.

Thank you. 

 

 

August 6, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

As Governor Murphy shared this afternoon at Memorial Elementary School, masks shall be worn by staff and students, grades Pre-K-12, while being transported on buses or while in district schools, regardless of vaccination status, as we open for the 2021-2022 school year.

We will post and I will communicate additional information as we approach the opening of school on Thursday, September 9th.

Have an enjoyable weekend.