_______________________________________________________________________________________

Para traducir esta página a otro idioma, seleccione "G Seleccionar idioma" en la parte superior de la página y elija su idioma preferido

આ પૃષ્ઠને અન્ય ભાષામાં અનુવાદિત કરવા માટે, પૃષ્ઠની ટોચ પર "G Select Language" પસંદ કરો અને તમારી પસંદગીની ભાષા પસંદ કરો

इस पृष्ठ का दूसरी भाषा में अनुवाद करने के लिए, पृष्ठ के शीर्ष पर "जी भाषा चुनें" चुनें और अपनी पसंदीदा भाषा चुनें

要将此页面翻译成另一种语言，请选择页面顶部的“G 选择语言”并选择您的首选语言

Para traduzir esta página para outro idioma, selecione "G Selecione o idioma" no topo da página e escolha o seu idioma preferido

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Good Afternoon Secaucus Families,

I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the weekend. Our district COVID-19 cases for this week have remained stable at 7 cases, which is relatively low following our Spring Break.

The number of positive cases in our district is as follows:

• High School:  2 students
• Middle School: 2 students
• Clarendon: 1 student
• Huber St: 2 students

These 7 cases bring our district's total to 400 positive COVID-19 cases for the school year. All of the cases reported were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. In addition, none of these cases were present in the school buildings to require contact tracing. Nevertheless, we will continue to notify anyone who has been “exposed” to these positive cases and quarantine them according to our contact tracing plan. We will also continue to ensure that our buildings are cleaned and disinfected properly, and we encourage all of our students to practice proper handwashing to minimize the spread of all contagious diseases. 

The Parent Communication Form is still open and can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/wFy9mQYpd1HdzRuk7. There is also an easy-to-use button on the www.sboe.org home page that you can click. We look forward to your questions! Below you will find the most recent “FAQs”, culminating from the questions that are asked on this form. 

Have a great weekend!

Be Well,

Dr. Daniela Riser

Acting Superintendent

____________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions, Part 16

____________________________________________________________

Our Parent Communication Form is still open! If there are any questions you would like to ask the district administration, please visit this link to ask: https://forms.gle/Xcx1QzgPN52JFH6DA

Q: When will more information about Summer Enrichment, including “Beyond the Bell” be released?

A: Registration for the Summer Elementary Academic Acceleration Program has been sent to parents on April 25th. Registration for the program will close this week and the town will be reaching out to the parents to offer them enrollment into the “Beyond the Bell” program, which will run after our program to give parents a full-day of programming for their children. Registration for our program can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yFXc12g9j1N-BtU7hqhuGLSOKksyZ1CGS82K5nrACS4/edit

Q: How are primary schools in Secaucus implementing Governor Murphy's new sex education programs for grades 2 and 3. Where can we find out more about what materials are taught to kids?

A: ALL of our current curricula are located on the www.sboe.org website, under “academics”. The content that is being taught in your child’s classroom is included in these documents, organized by grade levels and subject area. We have not updated our Elementary Health and Phys. Ed curriculum yet. This will be a project that is mandated by the State of NJ this summer. 

 Q:  I read that Gov. Murphy is having the new sex education standards reviewed because of the controversial topics being taught to the kids. https://nj1015.com/gov-murphy-pumps-brakes-on-controversial-gender-identity-lessons-in-nj-schools/  Did they give our district a new timeline of when the new standards will be starting? I read the pdf that was posted on the FAQ part 15 and am concerned with the following... Page 27: 2nd graders will list medically accurate names for body parts, including the genitals; 2nd graders will define reproduction Page 28: 2nd graders will discuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior. Page 31: 2nd graders will differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity. Page 51: 2nd graders will learn about child sexual abuse. Page 30: 5th graders will learn about romantic and sexual feelings and masturbation, 5th graders will explain the relationship between sexual intercourse and human reproduction, Page 31: 5th graders will differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity, 5th graders will learn about gender-role stereotypes, Page 33: 6-8th graders will learn about pregnancy options such as abortion, Page 34: 6-8th graders will differentiate between gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, 6-8th graders will learn the difference between romantic relationships and sexual relationships. 6-8th graders will define vaginal, oral, and anal sex. 6th-8th graders will learn about deciding whether and when to engage in sexual behaviors., 6th-8th graders will learn how to use a condom, Page 35: 6-8th graders will learn about child pornography, sexting, and sex trafficking., 6-8th graders will identify the state and federal laws related to minors' access to sexual healthcare services. Many districts are trying to figure out how to navigate these new standards. I know there is an opt-out option for parents, but since this is so controversial why not give parents an opt-in option instead? If there is a field trip, the school doesn't just take my kid unless I send a letter to opt-out of the field trip. I have to opt-in and sign a consent form if I want my kid to go on a field trip. These new standards are troubling and not all parents have the resources to make an informed decision of opt-ing out.

A:  We have not updated our  Comprehensive Health and Physical Education curriculum to the 2020 standards as of yet, but are planning on doing so this summer as part of a major curricular update in our 5-year cycle. In August, these updated curricula will be posted on the website and will include digital resources that parents can review before it is taught to their children. Please note that you as a parent have the right to excuse your children from controversial health or sex education topics that they are learning at any grade level in our school district. Parents have also been sending me sample lessons and websites that other districts have used to teach some of these controversial topics. As a district, we will develop our own lessons based on these 2020 standards that we are mandated to follow as a public school district. 

To date, we have NOT been told to hold off on any curricular updates pertaining to Comprehensive Health/Phys. Ed. standards. Despite what the governor told news reporters, we are still being required to update our curricula this summer. Also, any issues with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards should not be addressed with us. They are the product of the state department of education and approved by the governor.