Torey J. Sabatini
School
Winter 2013
Label It!!
Important Dates
February
15-19
20
27
Winter Recess/School Closed
School Reopens
Cultural Arts “BubbleMania” 1:30
March
1
7
8
11, 12
19
19
27
29
Drama Club Production 7 pm
Family Fun Night 6:30 pm
Ed Enrich Gr. 4 “Colonial Life”
Elementary Conferences/Single
Session/Students
5th Grade JS Orientation 8:45 am
5th Grade Parents Orientation 7:30
2-Hr Delayed Opening for Students
Good Friday/School Closed
April
3
5
8-13
18
19
19
23
Arts Matter Concert
End 3rd MP
Spring Recess/School Closed
Cultural Arts “Operaworks” – 9:30
Earth Day Walk to School
3rd MP Report Cards Issued
Science Fair
Every day, or nearly every day, we have a coat,
hat, gloves or some other belonging end up unclaimed. After trying our best to find the owner of the clothing, we generally place it on the
edge of the stage. Then it moves on to our lost
and found bin until it is hopefully claimed.
There is something parents can do to dramatically help in the prevention of lost clothing.
Please label your child’s clothing with indelible
ink. This does not only apply to clothing. Backpacks and lunch boxes should also be clearly
labeled. Thank you!
Important Student Information
Please check to make sure the information you
provided the school for arrangements in case
of emergencies is correct and current.
We recently had an emergency dismissal. As
can occur when forms are filled out several
months prior, there were some confusing situations . It is crucial that information is accurate
and current. Emergency pick up appointees also must be included. You never know when you
may not be available.
Thank you, everyone!
Security at TJS
Homework
All three elementary schools have an up-to date,
comprehensive School Safety and Security plan
in place. The school community can be reassured
that we are doing everything we can to provide
as safe environment as possible for all of our
children, staff members, and support personnel.
Homework can be one of those things that can enrich a child’s classroom experience. It can also be
the source of tremendous frustration on the part
of both parents and students. We at Torey J. intend to ensure that homework is an enriching experience as opposed to a frustrating one.
The Madison Public School District has also arranged for a county security expert to do an
assessment of our procedures in January.
We have a favor to ask of all parents. The district
homework guidelines have been sent to you . If
your child’s homework exceeds them on any given
night, or your child experiences confusion or frustration regarding the homework assignment, please
stop the homework immediately. Cut it off and
move on with your evening. Your child should then
bring the unfinished homework to the teacher the
next day so they can work individually with the student to diagnose the issue and devise potential reteaching strategies.
The following are some of the safety procedures in place:
· Each school has a “buzzer” system in place at
the main entrance to the building. All visitors
must ring a bell and be recognized by the office
personnel before the door lock is released.
· All visitors must sign in upon arrival and sign
out when they are leaving.
· Our students and staff members have been
instructed to not open the door for anyone and
to send all visitors to the main office for entrance to the school.
· Children and staff members are prepared for
emergencies through two monthly fire, lock
down and/or evacuation drills.
· Staff training and discussion on safety and security occurs several times throughout the year
A listing of resources, which was also sent from
our guidance department, may also be helpful
for those families who would like more information on coping with these stressful situations.
These documents are available on our website
and are also included at the end of this newsletter.
This will enable us to ascertain several things:
* Precisely what the student is not understanding
* If the homework assignment was inappropriate in composition or length.
* If the student needs to have more in-class
practice before bringing the work home
* If there was a misunderstanding regarding
the assignment and its expectations
We will not be able to appropriately adjust homework if we are not seeing where the problem lies or
how much work is completed in the allotted time.
We want to emphasize that homework is intended
to provide practice and reinforcement. The goal of
homework is not centered on completing it, particularly if that requires parental intervention. The
goal is to practice the work that is easily practiced for a limited, prescribed period of time.
Childhood happens only once, so we want to be
extremely balanced and judicious in assigning
homework, which competes with many other
worthwhile pursuits that contribute to being a
child.
Safe Parking,Drop off and Pick Up
PTO Adult Social
Thanks to everyone who organized and came out
to the TJS Adult Social. It was a magnificent
event!
From time to time, particularly in poor weather,
pick up and drop off practices are not as thoughtful
as they could be. This oftentimes creates conditions that are unsafe and uncooperative.
When dropping off at TJS, please do NOT use private driveways to turn around . The school has reThe event was well attended by Torey J. parents, friends and staff. The food was great, the ceived complaints from homeowners. This is also
unsafe, since vehicles will be backing out onto the
facility was superb and the company was the
street. Also, please pull up to the curb when dropvery best. The evening’s purpose was a special
ping off or picking up. Dropping students off withone...to fund our PTO and its many projects. The
out pulling over to the curb is unsafe.
ways in which the TJS PTO contributes to our
students and the school are innumerable.
Many thanks go to all of the many, many volunteers who made the evening such a success.
Very special thanks go to the evening’s core
team:
Amanda Benjamin
Jenn Bruns
Meg Sosnow
Kara Hines
Talar Boorujy
Jamie Conroy
Michele Ruina
Penny Sullivan
Leslie Metzler
Jodi Bartie
Christine Kenney
Brenda Catallanello
Jamie Perrello
Stephanie McCormick
Thank you for an evening of fun that just happened to be for a very good cause!
Please do your best to take your time, be courteous
and patient during the high traffic times before
and after school. Thank you!
Math Committee
For the past few months, the district supervisor of
mathematics, Katie Lemerich, has led a committee
that’s mission has been to find a new math program
for the Madison Elementary Schools.
This is a crucial task, since we have had the same
program for quite some time and the core curriculum standards have now been approved for NJ.
This means that an updating of our math program
is imperative and cannot be delayed.
The committee has narrowed the field to two potential choices...Everyday Math or Math in Focus (a
program influenced by Singapore Math). A math
information night was held to present the two programs to the public. The committee is gathering
feedback from the community in order to make
their final recommendations to our Board of Education.
For more information regarding these math programs, feel free to check the following websites:
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/ (resources for
parents)
http://www.everydaymath.com/
http://www.hmheducation.com/singaporemath/index.php
Wireless!!!
NJ ASK 2013
This year’s NJ ASK is being administered the week of May 13th.
Please do your best to adjust plans
around these dates.
Thank you!
Honeywell
The use of Honeywell Instant Alert System as
a way to notify parents of news around the
district is expanding.
No longer is its use solely to notify parents of
school closings. You can now expect to be notified by Honeywell for a variety of reasons.
Due to this change of use, you may wish to return to Honeywell and adjust your contact
preferences and information.
The instructions for making changes in your
Honeywell account are on the district website
Madison Public School District Mission Statement
The Madison School District will inspire
and challenge all students to be life-long
learners, empowered with the knowledge,
skills, and character to shape their futures, realize their dreams, and contribute positively to the world.
Thanks to the vision and support of our superintendent, Dr. Michael Rossi, our technology coordinator, John LaPierre, the Madison BOE and tech
task force, the Madison Schools are soon to be
wireless environments. Very cool!
Torey J. is nearly wireless already. The infrastructure has been completed already. In fact,
many of the students engaged in conjecture regarding the intriguing looking new access points
high up on the walls of the Jaguar Jungle. What
could they be?
Within a couple of weeks everyone will know what
they are...and benefit from our new wireless environment. TJS is fortunate to have laptop carts
that will now be able to be moved from room to
room and be wireless wherever they go. Staff with
laptops will be able to use them throughout the
school. The benefits will be immediate, and we will
discover further benefits as we progress.
This is a huge step for the Madison Schools and
Torey J.
Dress for the Weather
It is that time of year when snow is often on the
ground and temperatures are chilly. Unless the
weather is extreme, recess is still held outdoors.
The students are anxious to get some exercise
after spending several hours without it, and the
fresh air is a relief from being inside among all of
the other students with limited space.
Please keep recess in mind when dressing your child
for the day. If snow is on the ground, the students are welcomed to play in it as long as they
have boots (as opposed to sneakers or good shoes).
If they do not have the appropriate footwear, students are limited to the blacktop areas of the playground. Not as much fun as having full reign of the
grounds.
Who knows, there may not be much snowy weather
this year. We will find out.
Additional Security Measures
As we know, the Newtown tragedy has encouraged us
to place extra focus and scrutiny on security issues.
Torey J. is taking measures as a result of this process that all parents need to be aware of:
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All visitors will need to state their name and
identify their reason for entering the school prior to being buzzed inside. Please be prepared
and patient. This is not easy for Mrs. Empson.
No one will be permitted into the school in the
morning during student arrival (or at any time)
without signing in and getting a visitor’s sticker in
the main office. Only students will come inside
through the open doors attended to by school
staff.
No door will ever be unlocked during any part of
the entire school day with no exceptions unless
being opened by school personnel for students to
enter. This includes the recess door and custodian’s door.
Doors will also be locked after school for our
various activities and after care. Personnel will
be stationed at specific entrances to welcome
parents into school to pick their children up from
the activity. Specific communications have been
sent out to relevant parties regarding this
guideline.
Thank you all for your continued support in our efforts to make TJS secure at all times.
Pick Up Instructions
If you are picking your child up early or delivering instructions for them to go home with another parent or altering their pick up routine in any
way, please make a point of copying Mrs. Empson
on your e-mail or note. This will help to ensure
that everyone is in “the know” .
We do everything we possibly can to be certain
that every child is accounted for as they leave
school. With your help in connecting with Mrs.
Empson we can make extra sure this happens.
Thank you!
Welcome Ms. Larson
Our fourth and fifth grades are very fortunate to have Jennifer Larson as their new inclusion teacher. Ms. Larson comes to us from
KRS, where she taught fifth grade this past
fall.
Though we were sad to see Mr. Beekman retire, we are very fortunate to have a professional as enthusiastic, skilled and well prepared as Ms. Larson to take his place. Ms.
Larson will be working in both Mrs. Caruso’s
and Mrs. Gambino’s classes this year.
Welcome. Ms. Larson! Torey J. is a wonderful
place and will be even better with your contribution.
Ms. Azarian
Whenever a teacher at Torey J. has to leave
for whatever reason, we are a little anxious.
The teachers here have such wonderful relationships with the students and the
knowledge they possess of each child’s emotional/social and academic make up ensures a
quality educational experience for our students.
In kindergarten, this dynamic is even more
dramatic due to the young age of the students . This explains our tremendous feelings
of assuredness due to Charlotte Azarian, Mrs.
Waryha’s replacement. In a very short time
Ms. Azarian gained a thorough understanding
not only of the program and curriculum, but of
every child in class and their individual needs.
What an achievement!
Thanks to Ms. Azarian, we can all rest easy in
Mrs. Waryha’s absence with the knowledge
that our kindergarten students are not missing a single step.
Reading Recovery
We are very fortunate to have Reading Recovery at Torey J. Mrs. Ryan, our Reading Specialist, is also our Reading Recovery teacher.
Mrs. Ryan underwent Reading Recovery Training seven years ago, for a full year. This has
resulted in some truly remarkable results and
ancillary benefits for our school.
First of all, Reading Recovery has been rated
as a top reading intervention by What Works
Clearinghouse. It is a rare program that’s efficacy has actually been proven. It is focused
on first graders who are struggling with reading. The goal is to give these students intensive instruction for twenty weeks, getting
them up to speed and back into their mainstreamed classrooms. The one-on-one instruction is a daily half hour session with Mrs. Ryan.
This process has resulted in a huge percentage
of the students Mrs. Ryan has worked with
coming up to grade level and being fluent readers by the time they complete first grade.
Mrs. Ryan also works in the classroom with
small groups of students, helping them to accelerate their reading ability and gain fluency.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Reading
Recovery has been the effect Mrs. Ryan has
had on the entire TJS faculty. It has taken a
true teacher leader and made her even more
effective. Since Reading Recovery is a distilled version of the balanced literacy approach, working with students to strategize
and become assertive advocates for their own
reading, Mrs. Ryan has been a support for all
aspects of our language arts program.
We are very lucky to have Mrs. Ryan and very
lucky to be a school that offers Reading Recovery. It has enriched our school in many
valuable ways and that impact continues.
Columbia Teachers’ College Reading
and Writing Project
This past summer, four members of our staff
attended Columbia Teachers’ College for a
weeklong, invaluable experience at the Reading
and Writing Project headed by Lucy Calkins.
This experience is one of a number we have had
with “TC” over the years, beginning with their
consultation on our writers’ workshop and including a number of training experiences both at TC
and in our district. It has all led to our language
arts program growing into a richer, more rewarding experience for our students and, inferentially, our staff.
As opposed to packaged programs that require
only that a teacher follow a packaged series of
scripts and worksheets, the TC method demands
that teachers truly become strong and intuitive
educators, knowing their students’ learning
needs and idiosyncrasies and focusing their instruction accordingly. The readers’ and writers’
workshops place emphasis on activities that are
within the context of reading and writing, as
opposed to providing activities that are largely
divorced from the flow of reading and writing.
The effectiveness of our curriculum and practice are not solely reflected in our typically
strong test scores, but with the breadth of our
students’ fluency in reading and writing and the
culture of literacy we have developed.
Books to check out to deepen one’s understanding of the reading and writing workshop are
Calkin’s The Art of Teaching Reading and The
Art of Teaching Writing. For more information
regarding TC and the Reading and Writing Project, visit their website at http://
tc.readingandwritingproject.com/
Holidays at TJS
TJS Drama Club
Every year our students and their musical directors
top themselves, playing and singing with ever increasing facility...and joy. This year was another step forward.
For eight years the TJS drama club was a volunteer effort of the PTO’s, overseen by a cadre of
dedicated parents. Beginning with The Wizard of
Oz and including Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and
many other wonderful productions, the students of
Torey J. had an experience that was fun, informative and the ultimate in cooperative group learning.
Our students performed beautifully and provided a
wonderful musical experience for parents and the
rest of our student body to enjoy. The repertoire
grows every year, becoming more and more challenging The people who initiated this project were AnnMarie Collins , Kate Smith and Liz Rosica. They took a
as the students begin their journey as musicians.
small project and turned it into a yearly ritual that
Kudos are deserved by our band director, Ms. Marallo, would and could not fade from the school’s profile.
Long after her last child took part in a production,
our orchestra director, Mrs. Quinlan and our choral
director and music teacher, Ms. Altieri. They have all AnnMarie still donated her time and spirit in making
the musical a special experience. Trememndous
done a marvelous job in developing the program and
engendering enthusiasm and skill among our students. thanks should go to Mrs. Collins and the rest of the
trio, for without them, this enterprise would not
Special thanks go to Mrs. Habib, who has accompanied have happened.
the chorus and supported the music program in a variety of ways.
Of course, it would never happen without the students, and parents for supporting them. Great job!
Welcome to Mrs. Smith!
As many of you are aware, Mrs. Caruso is now a mom
and is on maternity leave. After a thorough search,
we have been fortunate to find and secure Mrs. Tina
Smith to replace Mrs. Caruso for the next three
months.
Mrs. Smith has experience with intermediate level
students, most recently having taught a long-term
leave replacement in Roxbury. Mrs. Smith is experienced with our reading and writing workshop initiatives and is also well versed in science and mathematics. She will be a great addition.
Mrs. Smith , Mrs. Caruso and the fourth grade team
worked together so the transition will be as seamless
as possible. We feel very fortunate to have a professional of Mrs. Smith’s caliber join our staff.
This year the Madison BOE has budgeted for each
of the three elementary schools to put on a drama /musical production. This will hopefully ensure
that in the future, the drama club will endure regardless of volunteer participation. At TJS, Ms.
Altieri, with the collaboration of Mrs. Niper, have
initiated work on Cinderella, a wonderful production
that eminates from Disney. At KRS, the roles reverse somewhat, as Mrs. Niper is directing with
Ms. Altieri’s collaboration. KRS is also producing
Cinderella.
At TJS, the PTO has generously agreed to fund
the rights for the production, which enables the
schools to use the script and perform the musical.
Thanks to the PTO!
The drama club at TJS has been a fantastic experience for hundreds of children over the years, a
marvelous chance to be involved in a collaborative
project with peers. It is a great time for everyone
and now that it is guaranteed to be continued, let’s
remember the people who made the idea of a drama club a reality years ago!
Dear Parents/Guardians:
As you've probably heard on the news, the CDC has established this as the worst flu season in
several years. This is obviously an issue that is not limited to Torey J. or Madison, but is a national issue. In addition to the flu, we are dealing with a range of illnesses common to this season such as colds, strep and respiratory infections.
Our nurse, Mrs. Crescas, is being as responsive as possible through this crisis. We are so fortunate to have a professional like Mrs. Crescas in our school. I also would like to thank Mrs. DiGiacomo, the nurse who substituted for Mrs. Crescas last week. It is difficult being a substitute,
but being a substitute during a flu outbreak is quite a challenge. Mrs. DiGiacomo was a highly effective, professional presence in Mrs. Crescas’ absence
In doing our very best to limit the spread of illness at Torey J., we are doing the following:
* All classrooms and common areas are being fully washed and disinfected on a nightly basis.
Our custodial crew does a fantastic job of maintaining a clean, healthy environment for
our students and during this trying time extra efforts will be applied.
* Students are being sent to the nurse as soon as they exhibit symptoms and are being sent
home if the nurse deems it necessary.
* Disinfectant wipes are available to students and staff through the nurse and in every classroom.
* Hand disinfectant dispensers are available in high traffic areas.
* Hand washing is a part of our school culture, but it is being encouraged even more during
this period.
* We are making every effort to get outside for recess, enabling the students to exercise
and breathe deeply.
Parents can do us a huge favor in limiting the spread of illness, particularly at this critical time.
If your child exhibits symptoms and you are on the fence as to sending them or not sending
them, please keep them home if possible. There are very specific guidelines in terms of when a
child can return to school after an illness that the attached letter will clarify. If your child is
sent home from school due to illness, please review the guidelines for their appropriate return to
school with Mrs. Crescas.
Please review the attached information and guidelines letter. This will provide valuable guidance
in regards to your child’s health and school procedures.
Thank you!
MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT
TOREY J. SABATINI SCHOOL
Mr. Michael Post, Principal
359 Woodland Road • Madison, NJ 07940 • (973) 593-3182 • Fax (973) 966-1925
GUIDELINES FOR KEEPING YOUR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL
Children spread germs very quickly and easily without knowing it, even though they are reminded to
wash their hands and cover their coughs and sneezes. These seemingly small illnesses can have a serious and/or detrimental effect on anyone who is immuno-compromised or immuno-deficient. In an effort to prevent the spread of germs from one student to another and to safeguard the health of both the
students and the staff, here are some guidelines that should help you in making an informed decision
about whether or not to send your child to school.
Strep Throat—Students may return to school 24-48 hours after the first dose of antibiotic therapy has
been started, in accordance with your doctor’s orders. The student must feel well enough to attend,
and must not present with any other signs or symptoms, such as elevated temperature.
Flu-Like Symptoms-Students with Flu-like symptoms may have a fever, body aches, tiredness, cough/
sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, and/or chills. A fever is not always present with the
flu, but the illness is highly contagious. Please keep your child home if he/she presents with these
symptoms. Students may return to school when their activity level has returned to normal, their
cough is mild, and there is minimal discharge from their nose.
Fever—Students may return to school when their temperature has been normal for at least 24
hours, without having taken temperature-lowering medication.
Cold/Cough/Sinus Infections—Students should stay home if they are too uncomfortable to complete
work. Students should also stay home if they have a persistent or severe cough. Students may
return to school when their temperature and activity level have returned to normal, their coughs
mild, and there is minimum discharge from their nose.
Vomiting/Diarrhea—Students should be symptom free for 24 hours and be able to hold down food and
fluids before returning to school.
Skin Rashes—If the student exhibits a skin rash of undetermined origin, please consult your physician
before sending the student to school. A doctor’s note stating the condition is not contagious may
be necessary for the student to return to school.
Conjunctivitis—If a student has been diagnosed as having conjunctivitis, they may return to school
with a doctor’s note stating they are being treated for the condition for at least 24 hours, and they are
no longer contagious. The student should have no evidence of a discharge from the eyes.
Tips on effective hand washing procedures:
Turn on the faucet to warm water
Wet hands with warm water and turn off faucet
Apply soap
Rub hands with soap for at least 30 seconds
Turn the faucet on and rinse hands from the wrist to the tips of the fingers
Take a paper towel (or hand towel if at home) and dry hands, then use that towel to turn off the faucet. Discard paper towel in the trash.
Tips to decrease the spread of infection at home:
Wipe with a disinfectant (daily, if possible) all handles and door knobs (bathroom and kitchen faucets, toilet flusher, refrigerator and freezer handles, etc.).
Do not share utensils, glasses, or food.
Wash toothbrushes in the dishwasher weekly, if possible.
Keep tissues and a waste paper basket near each other. This makes it easier for children to discard
used tissues.
Put tissues in your child’s jacket pocket on a regular basis and remind them to use the tissues.
Individual packages of tissues can be sent to school with your child to be placed on their desks.
Send hand sanitizer to school in your child’s lunch box. This will help remind them to use it before
eating.
Please remind your children to cover their cough, if they have one. The “Dracula” cough can be
used and the child can cough into their elbow when their arm in placed close to their mouth.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation!
ColeƩe Crescas, RN
Tips for dealing with children after a tragedy:
Limit media exposure. Limit your child's exposure to media images and sounds of the shooting, and do
not allow your very young children to see or hear any TV/radio shooting-related messages. Even if
they appear to be engrossed in play, children often are aware of what you are watching on TV or
listening to on the radio. What may not be upsetting to an adult may be very upsetting and confusing for a child. Limit your own exposure as well. Adults may become more distressed with nonstop exposure to media coverage of this shooting.
What does your child already know? Start by asking what your child/teen already has heard about the
event from the media and from friends. Listen carefully; try to figure out what he or she knows or
believes. As your child explains, listen for misinformation, misconceptions, and underlying fears or
concerns. Understand that this information will change as more facts about the event are known.
Gently correct inaccurate information. If your child/teen has inaccurate information or misconceptions,
take time to provide the correct information in simple, clear, age-appropriate language.
Encourage your child to ask questions, and answer those questions directly. Your child/teen may have
some difficult questions about the incident. For example, he/she may ask if it is possible that it
could happen at their school; he/she is probably really asking whether it is "likely." The concern
about re-occurrence will be an issue for caregivers and children/teens alike. While it is important to
discuss the likelihood of this risk, he/she is also asking if he/she is safe.
Be patient. In times of stress, children/teens may have trouble with their behavior, concentration, and
attention. While they may not openly ask for your guidance or support, they will want it. Adolescents who are seeking increased independence may have difficulty expressing their needs. Both
children and teens will need a little extra patience, care, and love. (Be patient with yourself, too!)
(From the Illinois Association of School Administrators)
Following a traumatic event, children may experience feelings of doubt, fear, and helplessness. Children’s responses will vary depending on their closeness to the tragedy, how much they know about the
tragedy, whether they have been exposed to traumatic events in the past and a combination of many
other factors. Please keep a watchful eye
out and look for warning signs that your child may need help. These warning signs include: preoccupation with the tragedy and/or media coverage, loss of interest in extracurricular activities or friends, trouble sleeping, separation anxiety, being withdrawn, regression in developmentally appropriate behavior,
increased anger, uncontrollable crying, or other changes in behavior. If you notice any of these warning
signs or are concerned about your child, please reach out to your child’s school so that appropriate interventions can be put into place.
We are attaching an additional article and including links to resources that may be helpful to parents.
Please know that we will do our best to assist students with dealing with this horrific tragedy. If you
have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our contact information is listed below.
Sincerely,
Megan Figarella
Elementary School Counselor
figarellam@madisonpublicschools.org
(973)593-3173 ext. 6106 or 7665 (voicemail)
Fawn McCauley
School Psychologist
mccauleyf@madisonpublicschools.org
(973)593-3178 ext. 3168
Dawn McNichol
School Psychologist
mcnichold@madisonpublicschools.org
(973)593-3182 ext. 3166
Resources
A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx
Coping With Crisis: Helping Children With Special Needs
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/specpop_general.aspx
Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/aftermath.aspx