MORRIS COUNTY — In response to new state guidelines for higher education, the County College of Morris (CCM) has updated its Fall 2021 Return to Campus Plan. When the new guidelines were published and released from the New Jersey Department of Health, CCM administrators engaged faculty, staff, and students to update its Fall 2021 Semester operating plans.

CCM’s operating plan was developed at the beginning of the pandemic by its employees and students with support from public health officials. The operating plan is updated when new guidelines are provided by federal or state officials. It has been deemed highly successful as evidenced by the fact that there have been no campus outbreaks and the college has demonstrated an ability to quickly and effectively support students and employees infected with the virus.

The college remains committed to maximizing the safety of its employees and students and minimizing risks related to COVID-19. As such, CCM has decided to begin the Fall Semester with the majority of its courses being held remotely. The college plans to offer instruction in this manner through October 26, 2021, the end of its first seven-week term. In its newly updated plan, the college continues to require everyone on campus to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.

Effective October 27 CCM will also require new protocols for everyone coming onto the campus. As of that date, new protocols require all individuals (students and employees) to be vaccinated, and if unvaccinated to have a weekly negative COVID-19 PCR test in order to be on campus, or be granted an exemption because of medical or religious reasons and have a weekly negative COVID-19 PCR test. Wearing masks when social distancing is not possible will continue unless medically exempted. These measures were developed after nearly a dozen meetings with employees and students as well as consultation with public health officials.

CCM is excited about the Fall Semester and eagerly looks forward to welcoming its faculty and students back on campus later this fall. Faculty have been instructing remotely or in an online format, except for a small number of classes that require in-person instruction, since the start of the pandemic.

The college also acknowledges that it will continue to adjust and make decisions based on federal, state, and local officials’ recommendations and guidelines. Students who are enrolled in courses that fall into an exception and will take place on campus will be contacted by a college official.

To provide ample opportunity for students and employees to become fully vaccinated before new requirements are in effect, CCM has partnered with Atlantic Health System to open a temporary vaccine center on its campus for employees and students. The college plans to keep most offices on campus open, with only a few areas operating remotely. The updated Return to Campus Plan can be found by clicking here.

Hello, Families!

I hope this letter finds you making the most of these last weeks of August. The district is preparing for a positive and safe return to school for all students in September. All schools have scheduled special orientation programs for new students and last year’s remote learners to welcome them to the school setting and reacquaint them with our educators. There is a lot of positive excitement building about being back in school.

We have a lot to be proud of. There were many districts in NJ and nationally that never opened for students – or opened for only the last few months of the 2020-21 school year. Parsippany schools opened on time, were consistently open, and ended the year with a full-day schedule. We provided several summer programs for our students to strengthen their literacy, math, and social skills. And, most importantly, we kept children at the center of our decision-making.

Even with those accomplishments, it is understandable that this new school year may still hold some concerns for you. COVID hasn’t dissipated as we hoped it might. The Governor’s Executive Order 251 requiring masks for all individuals in public, private, and parochial/charter schools has created unfortunate dissention in communities. We have created a new Question/Answer document to address some of the questions you may have about the start of the year. The full Return to School Plan will be reviewed by the Board of Education at the end of the month and posted to the district website.

All of us are here to support you and your children. Please speak with your school principal or school counselor should you need special assistance. We are returning to school with a renewed commitment to our mission and our students. Let us help and support each other in this important work of teaching and learning.

Wishing you well,
Barbara Sargent, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s Police Athletic League has some great programs getting ready to start up soon, and you won’t want to miss the fun competition and fun for the whole family.

Fall/Winter Competition Cheerleading
Parsippany PAL’s Competitive Cheer Team welcomes new cheerleaders! The Competitive Cheer Team season will begin practice starting September 13, on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Competitions will power through the winter and end in late February/early March. Tryouts take place on August 30 at 6:00 p.m., and a parent meeting to discuss details of the program will take place on September 2 at 6:00 p.m.
More information and registration for tryouts can be found here.

Parsippany Flag Football League
From September 12 to November 21, Parsippany PAL will host Flag Football! Convenient game times with practice and gameplay are usually on the same day. The league will consist of six regular-season games, playoffs, and a championship game under the lights! There will be four divisions based on grade level: K-1; 2-3; 4-5; 6-7-8. Game Start times will range from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All games will be played on TURF Football Field at Smith Park. Register as an individual or as a team, and volunteer coaches are welcome to join!
More information and registration for tryouts can be found here.

For more information, contact the Parsippany PAL here.

MORRIS COUNTY — As parents start to plan for a new school year and address all the details involved, Table of Hope is helping to make things a bit easier with a free backpack distribution event at County College of Morris (CCM).

The Backpack Giveaway takes place Saturday, August 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Parking Lot 1 on CCM’s campus at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Visitors are asked to use CCM’s Center Grove Road entrance when coming to campus.

The partnership between Table of Hope and CCM has benefitted the community throughout the ongoing pandemic. CCM has hosted three previous events with Table of Hope to assist those in need. This latest distribution event to provide backpacks filled with school supplies – consisting of pencils, rulers, glue sticks, notebooks, and more – is sponsored by Alstede Farms, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Bethel Church of Morristown, Cable Communications, Fully Promoted, Hope One, Market Street Mission, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Parsippany Police Local PBA 131 and PCNY.

Shortly after the pandemic struck New Jersey, Table of Hope began operating monthly mobile food distribution programs in Morristown, Parsippany, and Dover, along with other grocery supply events in Morris County communities. Its first event at CCM was held in June 2020. Serving as volunteers at that event were New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, State Senator Anthony M. Bucco, and County Commissioners John Krickus and Steve Shaw.

To volunteer for the Backpack Giveaway or to make a donation click here and click “Volunteer” or email volunteer@springstreetcdc.org.