Principal’s Weekly Journal

January 15, 2016 Anthony M. Grosso Principal

Principal’s Note

Follow us on @WatchungSchool2

Telephone 973-509-4259

Watchung School 14 Garden Street

http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/WebPage.aspx?Id=298

Watchung School

Upcoming Events No School-Day of service MLK Day 1/18 PTA/SAT Meeting 1/19 9:15 AM PTA 10:15 AM SAT Winter ASE begins 1/26, 1/27 No ASE on 1/28 due to Early Dismissal Movie Night 1/22 STEAM Presentation 1/27 @7:00 PM Abrreviated Day 1/28 @ 1:40

Reminders If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the absentee line (973-509-4259 option #1) Please be reminded when picking up your child to kindly wait in the office. Your child will meet you in the office for pick up.

Dear all, Today the students of Watchung participated in a celebration of Dr. King’s life’s work. The event took place in the auditorium and was filled with music, the written word, personal experience and a guest speaker and artist. Monday is a day off of school, but try and make it a day of service to our community or others in need. This embodies the true essence of bringing people together for a cause and making a difference no matter how big or small in the lives of others. Have a wonderful day off and enjoy your weekend! Today’s performance will be aired on Channel 33 and 34, as well as on our website, in one week.

Announcement

Please be reminded that dogs are not allowed on school property. Thank you!

Don’t forget to sign up for remind to receive reminders from

Watchung’s Main Office. Scroll down below to see how it done!

Please click on the attachment in the email for information about dental care from Nurse McShane.

Classroom Close-up

Congratulations to Colleen Markham as being selected as Watchung School’s Educator of the Year! We wish Ms. Markham good luck in the next steps of this great honor.

Please join Mr. Boote and several 5th grade students on January 25th at 7:00 pm in the High School Annex for a presentation at the Board of Education Meeting. This presentation will showcase several selections of musical interpretations for a night of enjoyment and Watchung Pride!

Please join us Tues., morning, Jan. 19th at 9:15am for our monthly PTA/SAT meeting. Important topics include Watchung's 2015 PARCC scoring results, school fundraising plan for the spring, and a review of the work our SAT committees are implementing. The meeting will be held in the school cafeteria.

Congratulations to our 2013-2014 Annual H.I.S. Calendar Contest winners! Boris Borrisov. Qassam Mohammad Brianna Scorzetti Brianna Manzo Shakira Zheng Ashley Torres Natalie Escobar Brianna DeBari Gianna Gargurevich Caelen Mahoney Mackenzie Juliano Caroline Poskrobko.

Counselor’s Corner We will be using the Dignity & Respect Campaign . The theme is Take the Pledge ! Everyone deserves dignity and respect . Each morning through Wake Up Watchung , we will use 30 tips , one for each day of the month . Dignity and Respect are crucial to building and sustaining an environment in which everyone feels included valued and appreciated . Every day we have an opportunity to test our commitment to dignity and respect through our behavior . The 30 tips encourage us to be mindful of how we treat others and to commit to treating others the way we want to be treated . By practicing a tip every day we can all work to achieve a more inclusive community . At the end of October we will celebrate by putting our painted handprint on the center basement hallway which we will call the PATHWAY to REPECT Everyone at Watchung will participate.

Counselors Corner

Dear Parents and Caregivers: Just a reminder to please send in your permission slips if you would like your child to participate in the Family Matters Group outlined in last week’s newsletter. (see letter below) On the subject of feelings, please read this lovely excerpt from the book called Aarvy Ardvark Finds Hope (see below). Have a wonderful weekend. Miss Polizzano Excerpt:

Aarvy remembered the evening that he and Ralphy had talked about feelings.

“Lots of animals don’t trust their feelings, or they’re scared of them,” Ralphy had said. “But I think feelings are a gift. They are friends that can help us. And they’re always there –because they live right inside us. They might be painful or shake us up at times, but, if we listen to them, they will tell us what we need so we can heal and grow.”

“The thing to do with feelings” said Ralphy with a twinkle in his eyes, “is to invite them to come outside in the open so we can dance with them.”

MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

WATCHUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 4 G A R D E N S T R E E T ~ M O N T C L A I R , N E W J E R S E Y 0 7 0 4 2

W W W . M O N T C L A I R . K 1 2 . N J . U S

DEBRA A. POLIZZANO, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, QCSW, DCSW Certified School Social Worker Student Assistance Counselor January 6, 2016 Dear Watchung Families, We will be offering a group called Family Matters. The goal of this group is to provide a supportive group, which I will facilitate for children who have been affected by family separation and divorce, death or issues related to loss. The setting for the group is as follows. A small group of children will meet in my office for approximately 30-40 minutes once a week. The group will meet for eight weeks. Enrollment numbers will determine if I need to facilitate more than one group per session. We will have ongoing sessions during the school year. If desired by a parent/guardian or child, the child may rejoin the group. If you need further clarification on what we will do during group time, please do not hesitate to call me at (973) 509-4259 ext. 5752. I will require permission from the parent/guardian of every child participating. Before your child starts a group, it is important that I be informed of the particular reason your child is enrolled. Your child’s participation in this support group is based on your voluntary decision. Thank you for your participation and trust. Respectfully, Debra A. Polizzano Please fill out this form and return in an envelope addressed to Debra A. Polizzano at school. My Child ___________________________________ has my permission to participate in the support group. I will inform Debra A. Polizzano of the reason for his/her participation. Child’s Teacher____________________________ Date_________________________ Signature of Parent/Guardian________________________ Phone_______________________

Dear 5th Grade Families,

Just a little reminder if you have not done so already, please send an individual photo of your 5th grader doing something outside of school. Maybe a sport, instrument, or doing a hobby (please no group photos). The deadline for photos is February 5th, 2016. Photos must be in jpeg format. If necessary you may send photos to watchung2016yearbook@gmail.com or in an envelope marked via Haley Brooks backpack.

Also please send $25.00 for each yearbook. You can send money in an envelope marked Tiffani Armand (Thorp's classroom). Cash preferred, or checks made out to Watchung PTA please write the word yearbook in lower left memo (Any fees incurred for bounced checks will be paid by the parent). The deadline to send in money is February 28, 2016. Scholarships are available for the yearbooks. Please contact Mr. Grosso if you wish to apply for a scholarship.

Sincerely,

Yearbook Committee