3 minute read
25 FOR
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL SQUILLACE
The organizers of the annual Jammin for Jaclyn Benefit Concert thank their sup- porters. Though they weren’t able to hold a live in-person event in Sayreville due to the pandemic, there was a successful livestream event that raised $35,260 for the two beneficiaries, Sienna Smith and the Chris Szatkowski family. The organization accepts donations year-round and is looking for new sponsors as it prepares for its April 2021 event. For more information, visit JamminforJaclyn.org or email Jammin- forJaclyn@gmail.com. Or, text “Jammin” to 202-858-1233 to donate online. njsuburban.com
Members of Diverse American Volunteer Association put together COVID kits
By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
With the goal of making society a the 2020-21 school year all-remote until Oct. 12.
The district’s re-entry task force – administrators, teachers, parents and staff, including personnel from transportation, maintenance, custodial, nurses, and food service – held lengthy meetings on Aug. 14 and 18 to discuss the state’s option to al- low school district’s to start the school year all-remote.
Schools Superintendent David Cittadino presented the re-entry task force’s recommendation to delay the proposed hybrid reopening schools plan at a Board of Education meeting on Aug. 18. He said the decision for the delay is due to the continued concerns of transportation, shortage of nursing staff and air ventilation during warmer weather days.
As part of the state’s option, Cittadino said he has to certify the district has done everything it can to ensure the safety of the students and staff.
“I have one number that concerns me always as superintendent, and that is how many staff members and how many students have lost their lives to my negligence,” he said. “At this point that number has been zero. If I can retire with that number remaining zero, that’s the most important thing to me.”
The district will hold staff professional development days Sept. 1-3. The school year will begin on Sept. 8 and 100% re- mote learning will run through Oct. 9. The hybrid reopening schools plan is expected better place, members of the Diverse American Volunteer Association continue to volunteer their time for those in need.
Jordan Glik, president of the small nonprofit organization based in Old Bridge, led a volunteer effort at Geick Park to put together 500 or so COVID-19 kits – small packages consisting of a few masks, hand sanitizer, tissues and granola bars – on Aug. 14.
“With funds from past events, we bought nine gallons of hand sanitizer from Costco and 500 little bottles from Amazon to fill with the hand sanitizer,” he said.
The COVID-19 kits were delivered to three homeless shelters in Newark – Circle of Life Shelter, New Community Harmony House, and Covenant House NJ.
The focus of the Diverse American Volunteer Association (DAVA) is community service. DAVA was founded by Old Bridge High School students in 2017 – Mohammad Sikandar, Nigel Master, Jordan Glik, Ivy
(Continued on page 14)
By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
Old Bridge Public Schools will begin
McElroy, and Sofia Ruiz. to begin on Oct. 12.
Cittadino said when the hybrid plan begins, parents and guardians will still have a choice to have their children remain in remote learning.
Hybrid in-person plan
Old Bridge public school officials pre- sented their hybrid reopening schools plan, which bring teachers, staff and students inperson three times a week.
In the plan, the 8,500 students will be (Continued on page 10)
