As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 school year, many uncertainties remain.

The Salisbury Township School District has had many recent changes and the fact that COVID-19 is still roaming doesn’t make this school year easy to decide what road to choose for our children. Please know everyone is doing their best to make decisions that are best for their family. We need to pull together and support each other as we do best.

The district has sent out a Declaration of Intent that needs to be completed for each student in the school district. This document needs to be completed and returned no later than Aug. 6 so district administrators can continue to plan how to best accommodate the students as safely as possible.

As of now, the district will open for the school year with orientation for students in kindergarten, fifth, sixth and ninth grades Sept. 2 with the hybrid rotation in use. The students will be off for Labor Day Sept. 4 and 7 and return to the hybrid school model Sept. 8. Stay tuned for any changes and updates as this is a very fluid plan at the moment.

The next school board meeting is tentatively scheduled 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19. We know they continue to work hard with all the recent changes. There are more changes most likely coming our way. There have been talks about modifying the current school calendar as a result of the hybrid model so early dismissals do not limit the learning of those students with the last names at the end of the alphabet.

The Salisbury Youth Association is now accepting registrations for fall football and cheer teams. Practices are scheduled to start Aug. 10. Registration forms can be found online at syasports.net.

Also a friendly reminder that all Salisbury Middle School/Salisbury High School students who plan to play a fall/winter/spring sport, be in marching band or join twirling, must get a physical dated on or after June 1 and establish a Planet HS account. This requirement also includes team managers. Visit the website https://www.salisburysd.org/o/salisbury/page/athletics--936 for all the necessary instructions. If you have any issues establishing an account, contact schoolsupport@planeths.com. For questions, email Monica Deeb at mdeeb@salisburysd.org or Cherie Pennella at cpennella@salisburysd.org.

Salisbury Township drop-off centers continue to be open on a weekly rotating basis. Devonshire is open the week of Aug. 3 and Franko Farm is open the week of Aug. 10. Hours remain 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.

“If you are positive, you’ll see opportunities instead of obstacles.” Confucius