Stillwater Township School

December 23, 2011

Iss. 14

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE LINE PHONE NUMBER

973-383-3227

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

12/26 – 12/30 – School Closed for Holiday Recess

1/3 (Tue.) – School Resumes

1/9 (Mon.) – Board of Ed Meeting @ 7pm

1/16 (Mon.) – School Closed – Martin Luther King Day

1/23 (Mon.) – Board of Ed. Meeting @ 7pm

1/26 (Thu.) – 2nd Marking Period Ends

 

 

ONLINE CALENDAR AND EVENTS SCHEDULER: Please continue to visit our website www.stillwaterschool.net and click on the link to view the school calendar for the week, and also sign-up for reminders to any events that are taking place in the school. If you have any questions or problems subscribing to the notifier, please contact Assistant Principal, Mr. Bell at 973-383-6171 ext. 224 or at christopher.bell@stillwaterschool.net.

 

MORNING KEEP NOW AVAILABLE!: KEEP is now offering morning childcare at Stillwater School. Contact 383-2213 for more info.

 

Substitute Custodian Needed:  Stillwater School is in need of substitute custodians. If you are interested, please call the school at 973-383-6171.

 

LOST & FOUND: It is a good idea to label your children’s belongings (lunchbox, backpack, sweatshirts, etc.) The lost and found bin is already filling up quickly!

 

After School Learning Center Dates

DECEMBER:  No ASLC

JANUARY:   5  •  10, 12  •  17, 19  •  24, 26  •  31

FEBRUARY:   2  •  7, 9  •  14, 16  •  28

MARCH:   1  •  6, 8  •  13, 15  •  27, 29

 

A special thank you

Thank you to all the families and community member who contributed to our needy family tree this year. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!!

 

We wish you the happiest and healthiest holiday season.

See you in January!

 

The NJ Stock Market Game: The 6th grade REACH class recently completed the fall edition of the online game, “The New Jersey Stock Market Game.” The students were excited when they discovered what a stock is, how to read a newspaper’s financial pages, and how to pick a stock. The Stock Market Game helps enhance basic skills in math, reading, social studies, business, and computer, while developing organizational, research, critical thinking, and economic reasoning and team-working skills. Each team was given $100,000 of play money to invest. Stillwater School had two teams-Bling Bling CaChings and The Dough Makers. The Bling Bling CaChings came in 127th out of 436 teams in the state. Their best stocks were Domino Pizza and Lakeland Financial. This team consisted of Justin Campbell, Julia Al-Nawal, Domenick Batty, Quinn Kieslowsky and Kasey Van Gordan. The Dough Makers participants included Audrey Rodriquez, Cayla Gely, Marissa Kepnes, Sam Givone and Phoebe Livingston. Their best profits came from Verizon, Kraft and Build a Bear Workshop. Winning was not the main focus of the game. The activities that the game provided will become life long skills!

 

1st grade news: December was a busy letter writing month for First Grade. We wrote letters to Santa, and received letters back from Santa’s elves. We also wrote letters to the Servicemen to wish them a Happy Holiday, and to thank them for their service to our country. For the Senior Citizen Luncheon we made 150 placemats and sang two holiday songs at the luncheon. Best wishes to all for a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year from the First Grade!

 

2nd Grade News: The second grade has spent the month reading a variety of Jan Brett stories. Some of the titles the students enjoyed were The Mitten, The Hat, The Gingerbread Baby and The Wild Christmas Reindeer. The children had fun creating their own gingerbread stories and learning facts about real wild reindeer. Several Jan Brett related art projects were also enjoyed by all. The second grade has also been learning facts about different holiday celebrations that occur in December.  We hope all of you are enjoying this season.

 

4th Grade News: Fourth grade social studies classes have been studying colonial America. We read a great book, Sign of the Beaver. In the story a connection was made between a Native American and a young settler, who was let to take care of the family’s settlement in the wilderness of Maine. We also made pomander balls as a colonial craft for the holidays. The halls had the wonderful smell of cinnamon! To round out the holiday season- 4th graders had the opportunity to play Christmas carols on their Kazoo s. What a fun way to spread the joy of the holidays! In Language Arts, 4th grade students were asked to think about the greatest gift they either gave or received in years past. Each student developed a written response for this writing task on special gift-box paper. There were many extraordinary presents, both given and received over the years, and the children shared what made them so unique through their descriptive writing. The gifts are being displayed in the Language Arts classroom for all the students to enjoy! Happy Holidays!

 

5th & 6th Grade Social Studies: Our fifth grade students have been learning about the economy of the Original Thirteen English Colonies in America in Social Studies classes. They created maps with glue-on’s of the products of these colonies. These maps are on display in the downstairs hallway now. Our sixth grade students have completed their studies of ancient Egypt. Some of their creative work from this unit in Social Studies will be on display in the downstairs hallway after the holiday recess. This display will include Mummy booklets with writing about Egypt, pyramids, and mummification, and drawings using the frontalism technique (strict rules about how the figure is drawn) as the Egyptians would have drawn on walls. The students enjoyed the study of Egypt as their work validates.

 

Kindergarten Registration

January 23–27, 2012 - If your child will be 5-years old on or before 10/1/12, you may register him/her for kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year. Registration packets will be available after January 3, 2012. You may call Ms. Sue Sager (383-6171) to either have a registration packet mailed to you, or you may pick one up at the school (after January 3). Complete instructions and important dates are included in the packet. Packets need to be returned during the week of 1/23/12, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your child does not need to be present with you at registration. Pre-Screening dates will be 3/27, 3/28, and 3/29. Orientation will be 6/6/12.

Required for registration:

·         Birth Certificate (official - with raised seal)

 

·         Immunization History (including Hepatitis B series & Varicella vaccine)

 

·         Current Physical Form from your physician (returned by April ’12)

 

·         Proof of Residency (2) – (Please call Ms. Sager with any questions on this).  Suggested items:

Ø       Copy of license with Stillwater address

Ø       Copy of deed/mortgage or lease agreement

Ø       Stillwater residence tax bill

Ø       Utility bill for Stillwater residence

Ø       Other (Contact Ms. Sager)

 

 

 

The Following Are Not School Sponsored Events

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Christmas Eve Barn Service: Celebrate the season by joining us at 11pm on December 24. The service features a live nativity with animals, joyous music, and quiet meditation. Everyone is welcome. The barn is located at 928 Mt. Holly Rd. Look for a sign and lanterns marking the lane. Questions call Lois Chammings at 973-383-5766.

 

Baby Sitter Training: What you need to know and what every parent wants in a safe and responsible babysitter can be learned through the American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course. The fee for this course is $85. The program is designed for 11 to 15 year olds. Class will be on Thursday, December 29 (on holiday break) from 9am to 3:30pm. Registration is required and can be done by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or online at www.redcross.org. Use offering number #01081607.

 

SPORTS

Stillwater Basketball is accepting registrations for all Kdg. – 2nd graders. Any questions please call Robert Nodarse at 973-383-6494 or email rnodarse@yahoo.com. Also, looking for something to do Fridays nights or Saturday mornings, come watch 3rd – 8th grade Stillwater Basketball starting Friday, Jan 6th at 6pm and Sat, Jan 7th at 9am at Stillwater School. Good Luck to all Stillwater Basketball teams!  Volunteer coaches are needed to run the program. Please call Rob Nodarse if you are interested.

 

FROZEN FEET FIRST GRADERS RUNNING: A new winter running program for girls and boys in first grade. Practices will be held on Thursdays from 4:15pm to 5pm at Swartswood State Park. Yes, it will be cold, so come bundled and it’s fine to run in your snow boots and suits! Goal of the program is to get our kids some good old fashioned outdoor running fun during the winter months. All abilities are welcome and the children will be grouped according to their ability. Starts December 15 and runs until February 23 (no practice over Christmas break). Cost is $15. Call 973-271-6624 or e-mail LaurieGordonRun@aol.com to reserve a spot for your child or with any questions.

 

BASKETBALL COACHES NEEDED: The Kittatinny Travel Basketball Program is looking for coaches on the 5th grade and 8th grade levels. If you are interested, please call 973-600-8626.

 

FUNDRAISERS

MARKET DAY: January Market Day forms have been sent home with the students. New items this month: 9 Grain Orzo & Spinach Blend, Lemon Pepper ChicNSteakes, and GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce. All customers will receive a FREE Eat Well Guide with any purchase in January. Also, if you are a Frequent Buyer, please remember to place your order of $40 or more (pre-tax) in January to receive your FREE Insulated Bag when you pick up your order. THANK YOU for continuing to support Harmony Hill UMC by purchasing Market Day! Contact Cheryl Castner, 579-3182 or ccastner@embarqmail.com with any questions.

 

 

 

Stillwater PTA

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT NO STUDENT WILL BE BARRED FROM ANY PTA EVENT BASED ON THEIR PARENTS’ PTA MEMBERSHIP STATUS. ALL PTA EVENTS ARE OPEN TO EVERY STUDENT. NO CHILD WILL BE TURNED AWAY FROM TAKING PART IN ANY PTA EVENT.

 

·         BOOK IT!: Don’t forget to send in your December Book It forms! You may finish them up over the holiday break, and please send them in by January 9th, 2012 in order to be considered for the prize drawing. The winner will be announced January 13th in this portion of the newsletter. Questions, contact Cheryl Castner, 973-579-3182 or ccastner@embarqmail.com.

·         MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: The PTA Membership Drive is an ongoing event all school year long.  If you wish to join the PTA, please return your envelope, with dues, to school.  If you have misplaced yours and would like another one, contact Wendy Kimble at 973-940-1211 or wak1016@ptd.net.  Thank you, and please consider becoming a member today!

·         BOXTOPS UPDATE!: The homeroom contest is really close, and some new classes have moved into the top 3 slots. Keep clipping and bringing in those boxtops! Remember, each one is worth 10 cents for our school. Each bundle of 50 earns $5 for our PTA! The contest lasts all year! The top 3 Homerooms are: 4th grade – Mrs. Bickhardt; 6th grade – Ms. Conry and 3rd grade – Ms. Mosner.  *Don’t forget to go to boxtops4education.com and sign up as a member for our school.  When you shop online throughout their site, we also collect bonus boxtops!

·         NEXT MEETING: Our next PTA meeting is Wednesday, January 4 at 3:15 pm.

 

The Stillwater PTA would like to wish everyone a very

happy and healthy holiday season!