Cucinella Weekly Wrap-Up #18

Week Eighteen:

Last week was a very short one with the unexpected closings, delayed opening, and early dismissal. Even with those unexpected events, the building was still full of learning for both our teachers and students in the shortened week.

Monday our staff had a professional development day full of engaging learning sessions for our dedicated teachers. Our Fourth and Fifth grade teaching staff finished up sessions focused on the Responsive Classroom approach. Now all teachers in the district from Kindergarten through Fifth grade have received training, wrapping up a district initiative started three years ago.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that emphasizes the connection between academic success and social-emotional learning. It centers around creating a positive and engaging classroom community, fostering a love of learning, and nurturing students' social and emotional growth. During these professional development sessions, our teachers learned responsive classroom strategies, how to strengthen classroom management skills, strategies to build positive teacher-student relationships, and how to teach students self regulation and social skills that promote emotional growth.

Other staff members engaged in professional development focused on math and reading instruction, data analysis and special education topics. These dedicated days of professional development provide our staff with the opportunity to acquire the latest and most effective instructional practices, ultimately aiming to enhance student achievement in the classroom.

When we finally returned on Wednesday, teachers caught up with their students and shared stories of the extra long weekend. Once the learning started, students fell back into the routine. Friday's early dismissal capped off our weather interrupted week. Before we left, we completed safety drills with our students in Kindergarten and First grade. Our new SRO Sgt. Jim Burns helped lead our littlest learners in safety drills and emphasized the importance of remaining calm and listening to the adults during an emergency. We thank Sgt. Burns for his help with these important lessons.

OUTDOOR RECESS: Please keep in mind that even when the temperatures are very cold, we still make every attempt to get our students outside for recess. In conditions of extreme cold, we may not stay out for our full recess period, but we will take the students outside for a few minutes in order to provide them with much needed fresh air and some physical activity. Please be sure that the students are coming to school dressed appropriately. Sending students with coats, hats, gloves and other winter apparel is greatly appreciated.

We appreciate your ongoing support, and stay tuned for more exciting events and updates from Cucinella! If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me at cperruso@wtschools.org.

Christopher J. Perruso

Principal

RELATED ARTS SCHEDULE: Monday starts our Related Arts schedule on a DAY 2.

• Tuesday 1/23 SEPAG Meeting, 7:00PM In-Person @LVMSPAC and Virtual : https://meet.google.com/hwq-gqrp-zqs

• Wednesday 1/24 Illusion Maker Assembly

• Tuesday 1/30 Responsible Use of Technology Assembly for Parents @ LVMS PAC 7:00PM

• Monday 2/5 PTO General Meeting- 7:00PM BAC Library

• Monday 2/12 PTO Sponsored Spirit Day

• Monday 3/11 Harlem Wizards Fundraiser Game

Online Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 SY, is now open!

If you are the parent/guardian of a child eligible for kindergarten, or know of any township residents with eligible kindergarten children for the 2024-2025 school year, please note the following:

• Child must be 5 years of age on or before October 1, 2024 – no exceptions.

• Child’s original birth certificate showing that he/she is five years old on or before October 1, 2024.

• Four (4) proofs of residence. One (1) of the following; deed or a rental/lease agreement and three (3) of the following; property tax bill, voter registration card, drivers license, homeowner insurance bill or utility bills.

• Immunization records for measles, mumps, rubella, DPT, polio (including one dose of DPT and polio vaccine on or after the child’s fourth birthday), varivax, hepatitis B, and HIB vaccinations.

Register ONLINE HERE.

Should you have any questions, you may contact the school your child will be attending.

• Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School - (908) 850-3161

• Flocktown-Kossmann Elementary School - (908) 850-1010

• Old Farmers Road School - (908) 876-3865

At anytime, enrollment forms can be downloaded from our website by clicking HERE.

What is SEPAG?

It stands for "Special Education Parent Advisory Group" and it's a group of parents and educators collaborating to enhance various special education programs in the school district and beyond.

Who can join us?

• Caregivers of those receiving special services
• Caregivers of general education students
• Former students from our school district that received special services

When is the meeting?

DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 23

TIME: 7:00PM

LVMS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

In person or join the virtual link here: https://meet.google.com/hwq-gqrp-zqs

For more info, read this flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YxsJuVwt7bSbIyxWjgDAybGDzIeBSk8z/view?usp=sharing

-Attention 5th grade parents, the yearbook is still in need of toddler pics of your kid between the ages of 1 and 3. Please submit the photos to Liz Schwartz by this Friday January 26th!

The yearbook is still in need of a handful.

The yearbook apologizes for the inconvenience that the upload site has caused as only a handful of families were successful in using it. Thank you to those that have submitted so far.

Help us begin our recycling initiative with Terracycle! Labeled bins will be located within the main vestibule inside the school. We will begin by collecting Spin Master toys including used toys and packaging from newly purchased toys from the holidays. Find all the Spin Master's brands that we can recycle here: https://www.spinmaster.com/en-US/brands/

All toys from this company can be recycled in addition to all packaging (plastic bits, zip-ties, blisters, cardboard, clamshell cases, inner packaging).

For any questions please reach out to Lindsey Mason (lindseymason.m@gmail.com). Thank you!

www.longvalleytrack.com

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions:

longvalleytrack@gmail.com

201-919-8152

Best regards,

Long Valley Track & Field

PickUp Patrol has been in effect for the past year and we are very happy with the positive feedback we have been receiving from the community. PickUp Patrol is used not only for drop off and pick up procedures, but also for recording your child's absences.

Please click here to review how to use the program to record absences.

Click here for more information about Pickup Patrol

If you have not received a "Welcome" email with details on how to download the app and set up your account, please contact our school secretaries and ask for a new one to be resent. If you have not downloaded the app or set up your account yet, please do so as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the secretaries, Mrs. Deanna Dargel or Mrs. Boomi Varathrajan.

If your child is missing something - coats, sweatshirts, hats, water bottles, etc. - please remind them to check our ever-growing lost and found. It is currently overflowing with items. The lost and found is currently located outside of the main office, near the main entrance. We are happy to help students if they are looking for something in particular. Please notify either your child's teacher or the main office secretaries if you need assistance.

Nellie's News Flash: Click here for this week's version of Nellie's News Flash.

Next General Membership Meeting:

Monday, February 12th @ 7pm

BAC Library

Memberships 2023-2024 School Year

PTO Memberships for the 2023-2024 School Year are still available! Follow the MemberHub link below to pay for a Family or Staff Membership. We are looking forward to another fantastic year!

https://www.cucinellapto.com/membership

Email: cperruso@wtschools.org
Website: https://www.wtschools.org/o/bac
Location: 470 Naughright Road, Long Valley, NJ, USA
Phone: (908)-850-3161