UPDATE 12/2/20: Please click here for an important COVID-19 message.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
ACCS Community,
We are committed to providing the Atlantic Community Charter School family with important updates regarding the Coronavirus. Please visit this page frequently for current information regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The New Jersey Department of Education has directed each school district to develop a Coronavirus (COVID-19) preparedness plan. This plan focuses on the event of a public health-related closure of schools. In preparing for this possibility, ACCS is developing a feasibility study on a distance learning model of instruction for the continued delivery of our core educational programs.
Please click here to see our ACCS Preparedness Plan to learn more about our policies and procedures during this time. It is subject to change as we continue to receive more relevant and up-to-date information.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
New Jersey Department of Health
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_community.shtml
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - A Parent Resource
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com
What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
Protect Yourself and Your Family
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/protect/index.html
Frequently Asked Questions about Covid-19 and Children
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Stop the Spread of Germs
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/stop-the-spread-of-germs.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health Coronavirus Fact Sheet
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/NCOV-web_FactSheet-FINAL-OCedits_01262020.pdf
Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources
https://mhanational.org/covid19
2nd Floor - A confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey's youth and young adults. Available 24/7 365 days a year.
888-222-2228, Text or call
PerformCare - PerformCare offers free in-home therapy for students under the age of 21 in New Jersey
877-652-7624
First Children Services
referrals@firstchildrenservices.com, 888-966-0746
Family Crisis Intervention Available to Assist During COVID-19 and Beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals and families in a variety of ways. Families who are experiencing serious difficulties in managing the behavior of children 10-17 years old for whom they are responsible can seek assistance through the Atlantic County Juvenile/Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU).
FCIU is a legally mandated program that is available 24-hours to intercede in family conflicts and help strengthen the family unit. Its services include short-term crisis stabilization, family assessment, case management, treatment planning and referrals to appropriate community-based services.
Due to New Jersey’s current stay-at-home orders and physical distancing requirements, FCIU staff is not able to conduct face-to-face meetings at this time, but they remain available by phone, fax and email to help de-escalate and resolve family conflicts.
For further assistance, please call (609) 645-5861 or leave a voice mail message at (609) 645-7700, ext. 3443. Written referrals may be faxed to (609) 645-5809. Referral forms are available online here.
Acquiring Broadband for Students at Home
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai recently issued a release referencing the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. Highlights are summarized below.
Major telecommunications providers are have agreed to the following for a period of at least 60 days:
They will not terminate service to any residential or small business customers due to an inability to pay.
They will waive late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They will open their Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.
Over a dozen companies have signed the pledge, including Comcast and Altice USA.
Comcast Customers
Comcast is offering free access to its network for 60 days. Individual households can sign up online. After the 60-day period ends, the cost will be $9.99/month. Additionally, Comcast has opened up all of its hotspots to anyone in need. Students may check to see if they are in the range of Xfinity WiFi hotspots by visiting www.xfinity.com/wifi.
Altice Customers
For households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access, Altice is offering Altice Advantage Internet solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within their footprint. Learn more.
Updates
June 16, 2020
June 4, 2020
June 2, 2020
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your heroic efforts to support your children’s schools and the learning process during closings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The New Jersey Department of Education (Department) continues preparations for the next stages of school opening, and hearing from parents is a Department priority. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at the following link: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/V8HZ2MQ. We appreciate receiving your responses by Monday, June 8th.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department’s Office of Civic and Social Engagement at civicandsocial@doe.nj.gov.
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Estimados Padres,
Gracias por sus esfuerzos heroicos para apoyar las escuelas de sus hijos y el proceso de aprendizaje durante los cierres debido a la pandemia de coronavirus. El Departamento de Educación de Nueva Jersey (Departamento) continúa los preparativos para las próximas etapas de la apertura de la escuela, y escuchar a los padres es una prioridad del Departamento. Por favor, tómese unos minutos para completar la encuesta en el siguiente enlace: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/7VM29CM. Agradecemos recibir sus respuestas antes del Lunes 8 de Junio.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor póngase en contacto con la Oficina de Compromiso Cívico y Social del Departamento en civicandsocial@doe.nj.gov.
May 14, 2020
April 3, 2020
Parents and guardians of students who receive Related Services through an IEP and/or 504 plan, click this link and fill out the information for remote Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Counseling, and Physical Therapy: https://forms.gle/CzstPm9PYRTH6Xq37
March 26, 2020
Parents and guardians in need of child care can contact the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency in their county. CCR&Rs will have the most up to date information on available care options and subsidies. Go to www.nj.gov/dcf/coronavirus.
March 16, 2020
March 15, 2020
March 10, 2020
ACCS building and instructional operations are continuing under normal conditions.
Any school closures will be directed by either the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) or the health officer of our jurisdiction.
School-sponsored field trips will continue as currently scheduled depending upon location availability.
Currently, ACCS has NO reported cases of COVID-19. If your children are sick, please keep them home.
ACCS continuously monitors New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), NJDOH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess changing conditions.
As of March 9, 2020, 12:15 PM, from the CDC’s Media Telebriefing: The greatest impacts of COVID-19 appear in older adults with underlying medical conditions.
Additionally, cleaning protocols continue to be implemented throughout the school.
Common touch surfaces are sprayed/wiped with a disinfectant, allowed to remain wet and wiped after two or more minutes, for maximum antiviral effectiveness.
Encouraging frequent hand washing with soap for 20 seconds or more during school hours.
Disinfecting common use computer keyboards.
Using a disinfectant on all classroom desks and seating surfaces, as well as, finger and hand touch areas.