As schools nationwide struggle with reopening during the pandemic, one school in New Jersey drew on the resources of the community to make a safe reopening.
Gottesman RTW Academy, a Jewish community day school in Randolph, was able to marshal a quarter-million dollar investment from the community and a number of grants to reopen safely. Learning right now is outdoors with each grade, K-8, under its own tent.
The dean, Cheryl Bahar, says the kids don’t even mind wearing masks. “I think our anxiety about mask-wearing, because it’s mandatory when you’re in the building was very, we were a little nervous,” she said, “however, it’s been absolutely seamless for them, even the two-year olds."
The school also offers early childhood learning.
With the money, Gottesman has been able to install updated air filtration, technological advancements, space enhancements, have a school nurse, and two full-time social workers. Bahar said that was critical. “We really wanted to integrate this social-emotional curriculum and program for our students,” she said, “because the academics and the health and safety are certainly important but the emotional health of our students is right up there.”
Bahar says there were donations from the community ranging from $18 to $18,000. The school also got $25,000 grants from The Health Care Foundation of New Jersey and the local Jewish federation.