Principal’s Weekly Journal

January 22, 2016 Anthony M. Grosso Principal

Principal’s Note

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Telephone 973-509-4259

Watchung School 14 Garden Street

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

Watchung School

Upcoming Events Movie Night 1/22 BOE Meeting 1/25 @7:30 STEAM Presentation 1/27 @7:00 Abbreviated 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,    

The  Dr,  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.  Assembly  will  be  broadcast  on  Verizon  Channel  33  at  10  am,  1  pm,  and  7  pm  through  February  5th  and  on  Verizon  and  Comcast  Channel  34  at  1  pm  through  February  5th.    You  can  also  view  the  assembly  if  you  click  on  the  link  below:  

http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01411&video=262451  

We  hope  you  enjoy  this  special  assembly!  

Also,  I  hope  you  will  join  me  on  Wednesday,  January  27th    at  7:00pm  for  an  informative  session  about  next  year’s  plan  for  a  STEAM  Lab.  

Enjoy    your  weekend  and  be  safe!    

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!

Classroom Close-up

Please  join  Mr.  Boote  and  several  5th  grade  students  on  January  25th  at  7:00  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!    Mrs.  Olson's  kindergarten  is  studying  PENGUINS!    We  have  learned  lots  of  penguin  facts!    We  learned  that  some  penguins  carry  their  eggs  on  their  feet.    We  tried  to  do  the  same  thing  with  our  own  "eggs"  and  decided  we  are  definitely  NOT  penguins!    It  was  very  challenging!    We  also  learned  that  penguins  have  thick  waterproof  feathers,  down  feathers,  and  a  layer  of  fat  to  keep  them  warm.    We  experimented  with  one  hand  in  ice  water  and  our  other  hand  in  a  plastic  bag  filled  with  Crisco  (as  the  layer  of  fat).    Our  hands  were  definitely  colder  without  the  Crisco!    Friday,  January  29th  students  will  enjoy  an  exciting  experience  by  way  of  an  assembly  featuring  "The  Best  of  Broadway"  sponsored  by  the  PTA  Cultural  Arts  Committee.    

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. On the subject of feelings please read this lovely excerpt from the book called Aarvy Ardvark Finds Hope. (attached) Have a wonderful weekend. Miss Polizzano 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.”  

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