Torey J. Sabatini
School
June 2011
Important Dates
2010-2011
June
2
7
8
9
9
TJS Curriculum Night - 7 pm
PTO Volunteer Luncheon
TJS Science Fair
BBQ Day (Pomptonian)
Midnight Summer’s Dream - Education
Enrichment for grades 3—5
10
TJS Jamboree 4-8 pm
14,15 TJS Field Days
16
5th Grade Recognition Assembly—9:30
AM
17
5th grade breakfast 8:00 AM
17
Last Day – Clap Out – 12:45 dismissal
September
1
TJS Open House —2:00—3:00
5
Labor Day
1 & 6 Staff Prep Days—school closed for
students
7
Schools Open
20, 21 School Pictures
21
TJS Back to School Night
29
Schools Closed – Rosh Hashanah
30
DEAR—8:00 AM (Drop Everything And
Read)
This has been a wonderful school year and a
year of transition. The TJS PTO has been
that solid force always supporting the work
of the school and contributing to the educational experience of our students.
Serving in the oftentimes thankless roles of
orchestrating the PTO’s many activities,
fundraisers and volunteers have been Karin
Szotak, Brenda Catallanello and Louise
Pierce, the PTO’s co presidents and vice
president for the 2010-2011 school year.
Under their leadership, the PTO is in tremendous financial health. The contributions
made to the school are numerous and programs have multiplied and flourished. New
faces are contributing and new volunteers
are filling roles.
This year’s co presidents and vice president
deserve our heartfelt thanks for a job well
done. The PTO in 2011-2012 will be better
off for your efforts.
Teacher of the Year
Torey J. Sabatini School is very proud to announce our teacher of the year , Mrs. Carolyn
Rommeihs, for the 2010-2011 school year.
Mrs. Rommeihs graduated from Kean University
in Union, NJ and taught middle school in Elizabeth, NJ for 7 years. After working as a teaching assistant at KRS, she has been a special education teacher in the Madison Schools for the
past 12 years, initially in the self-contained LLD
class and for the past five years with collaborative teaching teams in the “inclusion model” at
TJS.
Mrs. Rommeihs lives in Madison with her husband Bob and son Matthew. She had the wonderful opportunity to stay home with Mathew
until he was in first grade and feels strongly
that her experiences as a parent informed and
enriched her work as a teacher.
Mrs. Rommeihs is a teacher who, in addition to
her extensive training in academic areas, is
blessed with an empathetic, kind approach to
every student and adult in her orbit. She is the
consummate professional and the ideal colleague. We at Torey J. are very proud to have
her as our teacher of the year!
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.
Parent Education
Thanks to Karen O’Keeffe, who has headed up
the PTO’s parent education efforts this year.
The latest occasion for parent education was a
parent coffee to discuss “Race to Nowhere”, a
film regarding today’s children and the forces
that often weigh heavily on them. The film
was shown by the MJS PTO earlier in the
month and Mrs. O’Keeffe subsequently held a
parent coffee with Gary Myers, PhD, the director of Grace Counseling, as the facilitator.
Nearly twenty parents attended the coffee,
which is a great turnout. This was the second
parent coffee hosted by Mrs. O’Keeffe and
plans are underway for relevant programming
for the coming year.
Additionally, Mrs. O’Keeffe is hosting a parent
education blog for sharing ideas and information pertaining to parenting issues and resources. The blog address is
www.parenttalktoday.blogspot.com
Welcome Dr. Rossi!!
Our new superintendent, Dr. Michael
Rossi, will be starting in Madison on
July 1st. I know we are all grateful
to have Dr. Rossi joining our school
district. We at Torey J. offer him
our heartiest congratulations and a
warm welcome.
The Year in Review
Before this school year fades from memory, let’s celebrate a sampling of the events and people
who made it special.
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The Madison Educational Foundation—Yet another wonderful source of support for the Madison Schools. This is the first year the MEF has funded elementary school projects. Very exciting! What a lovely reception in November at Giraldo Farms. Thank you, MEF!
Our three new teachers, Mrs. Caruso, Ms. Natunen and Mr. Watson—It’s hard to think of
when these three wonderful people weren’t part of the Torey J. family. Great job!
DEAR—What a wonderful activity...parents and children reading before school in the Jaguar
Jungle. And snacks too! A successful, time-honored event.
Our holiday sing along—Thanks to Ms. Altieri, it has become a joyous, fun, community building
occasion at a very special time of the year.
The beautification committee—Our school is set on a lovely piece of property, private and
cozy. It took a group of motivated parents to make steady progress to making it look as inviting as it deserves to look.
Family Wellness Night—For the third year in a row, Mrs. Crescas, Mr. Gerenstein and a team
of volunteer presenters have made this a special evening for many TJS students and their
families.
The Torey J. Holiday Concert—After such a short time of working together, it is a wonder
that the teachers, Mrs. Quinlan, Ms. Marallo and Ms. Altieri elicit such confident music from
even our most tentative beginning musicians. Great job!
Family Fun Night—Who would have “thunk” it? Parents, children, staff, cold water and BINGO
= fun, fun, fun! Great job by the organizers. This night was a definite keeper.
New stage curtains—What a difference curtains that are not 60s vintage have made. They
have spruced up our Jaguar Jungle and lent a note of decorum to our productions.
The Green Team—Mrs. Tom and Mrs. Niper, volunteers and a gang of fourth graders have
done great things at TJS...composting, recycling, walk to school days, Earth Day events...it was
all good!
The PTO grant program resulted in Smartboards for every classroom, Orff instruments,
classroom libraries, pedometers for PE class and new monitors and keyboards for the computer lab...among other things. Thank you, PTO!!
The Little Mermaid—Our sixth musical production led by the inimitable Ann Marie Collins, Kate
Smith and a team of volunteers par excellence. This is an activity that does more for the
spirits and community feelings of our students than anything else imaginable. Thanks, everyone!
Mrs. Beekman and Mrs. Roth—Consummate professionals, trusted, able, caring souls...we will
miss you. Hundreds of children will never forget the contribution you made to their lives.
Thank you!
Torey J. Teachers’ Assistant Day—If you ever want to find out how lucky we all feel for our
teachers’ assistants, Mrs. Whipple, Mrs. Twohig, Mr. Leiner and Mrs. Silverstein, just check
out the banner hanging in the Jaguar Jungle. They are awesome people!
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“The Dive” - The Torey J. Adult Social. This event took a tremendous amount of work and
planning by the committee, but it was all worth it. Not only was a handsome sum of money
raised for the school, our school community joined together for an evening of fun and socializing and loving every minute of the “Fiona” experience.
Our teacher of the year, Mrs. Carolyn Rommeihs. Based on nominations from parents and
staff, Mrs. Rommeihs is one of the many professionals at Torey J. who give of themselves
without hesitation. Thank you for being such a wonderful colleague, mentor and educator, Mrs.
Rommeihs!
PTO hosted staff luncheons—Four times every year, during parent/teacher conferences, PTO
parents create a wondrous luncheon for the Torey J. staff. It is appreciated beyond expression. Thank you!
Mrs. Empson—Joanne Empson, the Torey J. secretary, consoler, supporter, colleague and
friend. How many people has she buzzed in? How many parents has she called or spoken to
and assured? Thank you for running our wonderful school, Mrs. Empson.
TJS Walk to School Days—Well over fifty percent of our students walk to school together on
these special days. They are great fun and true community builders. Thanks to everyone who
contributes to making them happen.
The TJS Science Club—second and third graders met to engage in scientific inquiry under the
guidance of incredibly giving adult volunteers. It was a great experience.
The Madison School District’s Art Show at Drew—Absolutely fantastic tribute to our student
artists and their teachers. Thank you, Mr. Watson!
Educational Enrichment—Every grade level at TJS has presenters who actually come into their
classrooms and work on topics consistent with their curriculums. Thanks to the PTO for sponsoring this rich and valuable resource for our students.
The TJS Spring Concert—A transcendent experience. Our students played and sang with a
level of sophistication and coordination inconsistent with their ages and length of musical experience. It was an awesome night and our teachers, Ms. Altieri, Ms. Marallo and Mrs. Quinlan, deserve kudos.
Mrs. Habib, accompanist of our dreams. Mrs. Habib does not just play piano to accompany our
music programs, she is the lead cheerleader for our chorus, band and orchestra. Thank you,
Mrs. Habib!
Arbor Day—On the steps of the Dodge Building on the first Saturday of May, our chorus
members sang their hearts out under Ms. Altieri’s direction. “Blue Skies” never sounded so
good.
Book Reviews—Our students wrote book reviews...short blurbs about books they have read and
enjoyed. The reviews were then read over the PA during morning announcements. The idea is
to build a peer-driven list of books that kids are excited about, advising each other, creating a
buzz.
Trashless Thursdays—It is one day of the week when students are specifically encouraged to
avoid waste as much as possible in their lunch packaging. Dozens of students are absolutely
trashless each Thursday and those who are trashless ten times read a green fact during the
morning announcements.
“Capture the rubber chicken” - This was Mr. Gerenstein’s idea and it has been a huge hit. The
entire recess plays together every other Friday, with the TJS version of “capture the flag”.
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Reading Recovery—In the five years we have been lucky enough to have Reading Recovery, Mrs. Ryan,
our reading specialist, has helped dozens of first grade students get over those initial frustrating reading challenges and turned them into accomplished, confident readers. Thank you, Mrs. Ryan!
Our dear friend and crossing guard, Tony Allocca, was a genuine, authentic presence on Glenwild for
many years, keeping children safe and drivers in line. He will be missed.
TJS Parent Education Program—Led by Karen O’Keeffe and the TJS PTO, the parent education program has really gained steam. There have been parent coffee discussion groups on a variety of topics
and also a very exciting blog, so parents can share ideas and gain support from each other. It has been
wonderful and is only getting better.
Curriculum Night 2011—Beginning with our customary ice cream social and transitioning to families going
up to visit classrooms, this evening is the ultimate open house. It is a evening that charms with its casual, fun, celebration of the year and excitement for the coming year. It is great!
Awesome Art—Could anything be more aptly named? Parent volunteers present classes profiling specific artists and styles. The school is adorned by the students’ incredible artwork. Perfect!
The Torey J Science Fair—A spectacular first effort, with four intrepid parent volunteers generating a
huge level of interest and effort from our students. Over 80 students created 48 projects that were
exhibited on one of the hottest nights of the year. Kudos, kudos to our parents and students. This
event promises to make every year going forward a lot richer and more exciting.
The Torey J. teaching staff—From our newest staff members to our treasured veterans and everyone
in between, the Torey J teaching staff has shown themselves to be consummate professionals, nurturing, caring individuals who balance our students social/emotional concerns with academics. We are truly
blessed by these wonderful educators.
Cultural Arts—Nearly each month is enlivened by a large scale performance sponsored by the TJS PTO
and organized by PTO volunteers. It is a terrific program that benefits our students in a multitude of
ways.
May Day—Dozens of volunteers descend upon Torey J. Led by our beautification Committee and helped
by our Girl Scouts, Daisies and Brownies, the school grounds were spruced up and straightened. Beds
were weeded, mulch was spread and the whole place was pampered by our student and parent volunteers.
The TJS Spring Concert—Was it just me or did our students perform beyond any expectations we could
ever hold for children their age with the limited time they have to develop skills and rehearse as a
group? It was a memorable evening and thanks go to our teachers (Ms. Marallo, Mrs. Quinlan and Ms.
Altieri), our accompanist, Mrs. Habib, the audience of enthusiastic parents, grandparents, brothers and
sisters, and our wondrous students. It was spectacular!
The 2011 Torey J. Jamboree—For the first time, the Jamboree was held on a Friday afternoon/evening
and it has never been better. Record numbers of participants attended and record funds were raised.
We may have finally discovered a way to avoid our students having to choose between all sorts of wonderful Saturday activities. Loads of TJS staff took part, and the alumni presence was considerable. A
great time was had by everyone! Thanks to Mrs. Catallanello, Mrs. Clark and an army of volunteers for a
superb effort.
Mrs. Catallanello, Mrs. Szotak, Mrs. Pierce and the entire PTO volunteer effort. Torey J. benefits in
countless way from the generosity (of all sorts), energy and support of the PTO and its programs. The
time and effort it takes to coordinate this operation is considerable and Torey J owes everyone involved a huge “thank you”.
The students of Torey J—Every morning, the students of Torey J. come streaming in with smiles on
their faces, ready and anxious to learn. They love the learning process, taking part in special events and
programs and spending time with their friends. Torey is a very special school and that is thanks to a
student body that exhibit a constant, unwavering sense of wonder and enthusiasm for learning.
Important dates
The TJS Science Fair
Under the guiding hand of four parents, Mrs.
Kindergarten class placements (for AM or PM
sections) will be e-mailed to families on or about Hadim, Mr. Mah, Mr. Catrini and Mrs. Taddeo,
Torey J. had its first science fair. It was amazJuly 15th.
ing!
Class placements for grades one through five
will be e-mailed to families on or about August
26th.
Torey J. will hold an open house from 2:00 to
3:00 on Thursday, September 1st for parents
and students to see their new classrooms, meet
their new teachers and say “hi” to old friends.
2011 TJS Jamboree
For years, the TJS Jamboree has been held on
a Saturday in late May or June. It is always a
wonderful event, but also comes at a difficult
time, for many events and activities are also
scheduled on Saturdays in the late spring.
This year, the PTO leadership took a chance and
scheduled it on a Friday afternoon and what a
great idea it was! Under the leadership of Mrs.
Clark, Mrs. Catallanello and a cadre of volunteers, the 2011 TJS Jamboree was a rousing
success!
The parents developed guidelines and a timeline
for students to follow. They also provided support along the way. Our students created 48
exhibits with over 80 students working on them.
Students created projects that were amazingly
sophisticated, thoughtful learning experiences.
The evening of Wednesday, June 8th, perhaps
the hottest June 8th in memory, was the science fair’s opening night, and it was a transcendent occasion. Over a hundred parents and students attended and had a wonderful time together reviewing other people’s exhibits and
displaying their own. The following day, each
class came down and went through the exhibits
with their teachers’ supervision and guidance.
This event was the culmination of a process that
was almost entirely student driven. Not only did
they create projects of quality, but many of
them worked as teams and collaborated. It was
an invaluable experience and our thanks go to
everyone who helped.
Not only were there fewer activities to compete
with in terms of scheduling, but the weather
was more comfortable and it fit more easily into
Thank You, Dr. Sargent!
most people’s schedules. Hundreds of Torey J.
students and their families enjoyed activities,
food and an exciting raffle that was presented Dr. Barbara Sargent, the district’s assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum and inat the very end of the event.
struction, has accepted the position of superinAdditionally, we had a great showing of Torey J. tendent for the Readington Township Schools in
Hunterdon County. Dr. Sargent’s imprint on the
alumni to take part.
Madison Schools has been considerable and we
all wish her the very best in her new position.
It was the perfect way to end the school year
Readington is very fortunate to have an educaand thanks go to all of the hardworking people
tor of her caliber.
who contributed. Thank you!
After-School Enrichment Survey
The 2011-2012 School Year
Torey J. is examining the expansion of our after
school enrichment offerings to students. Currently, we have the drama club, the science club
and the science fair. In years past we have had
a knitting club, a chess club and a spelling bee.
The examples stated above that are currently
underway all meet once a week immediately after school for a limited stretch of time and are
run by motivated parent volunteers.
The new school year will be kicked off with an
open house at Torey J. from 2:00 to 3:00 PM
on Thursday, September 1st.
The attached survey is an information-finding
mission. We realize that our school is blessed
by a parent community possessing an array of
valuable skills and interests. Some of you may
have ideas, either as individuals or in groups, of
projects you can lead with a group of students.
These projects should be based upon an interest
you possess that you would like to share with
students. Examples are (but not limited to)
chess, newspaper, art and crafts, a culture club,
sign language…among many other ideas.
Class lists will be e-mailed to families on August 25th.
Please fill out the attached form if you have any
ideas. This is just a start, so please don’t assume that we are jumping into action immediately. This is an initial information gathering
process. Please also keep in mind that projects
are of limited duration and scope. Age groups
can be defined. For instance, this year’s science
club was composed only of grades two and three.
The drama club was composed only of grades
four and five. The activity can define the age
group to some extent.
If you have an idea or an interest, please complete the attached and either e-mail it to
Joanne Empson
(empsonj@madisonpublicschools.org) or send the
form in with your child by the last day of school
(6/17/11). If you have any questions or would
like to brainstorm, please feel free to contact
Mr. Post.
This will be a great opportunity for families to
stop by, check out new classrooms, meet the
new year’s teachers and gain a feeling of comfort before the new school year begins in earnest.
Please come over and see how beautiful the
school looks and reunite with old friends. Everyone should start out in the main office,
where school maps will be available. From
there, check out new classrooms and start the
exciting new school year.
Our official first day of school is the following
Wednesday, 9/7/11, so there is time for one
last, long summer weekend before school
starts for real.
Important Reminder
Our last day of school, June 17th, is an early
dismissal day. Students will be dismissed at
12:45.
The annual TJS clap out will take place at
12:45, with our fifth grade class being the
first group to exit the school. Parents and
families should go directly to the rear of the
school to applaud their children. The students
will be exiting through the Jaguar Jungle
doors and take the same route out as we do
for the Halloween Parade.
We suggest that everyone arrives by 12:40 to
anticipate the students and the clap out.
School Beautification
Thank you
Thanks to a stalwart, motivated school beautification team, Torey J. has never looked so
good. For the past few years, areas that used
to feel barren and listless are now adorned
with plantings and spruced up considerably.
Two wonderful Torey J. teachers have decided
to retire and move on to other interests in their
lives, both professionally and personally.
The side of the school facing the BOE offices
now has a row of forsythia to soften the appearance of the fence and provide welcome
early spring yellow flowers.
The area bordering the ramp along the parking
lots is now lined with burning bushes and ferns
with some more forsythia at the foot of the
ramp. What an improvement!
At the end of the Woodland Road walkway are
ornamental grasses to welcome students and
parents and lilacs line much of the walk toward school.
The beautification team, through the PTO’s
fundraising efforts, also has a plan to purchase benches near the entrances and on the
playground to enhance the environment for
everyone.
On top of all of these improvements, our girl
scouts and daisies have done a wonderful job
of planting daffodil bulbs for several years.
We now have a splash of white and yellow in
early spring that is most welcomed.
All of these improvements (and there are
more that I haven’t mentioned) do not only
make our school prettier, they also contribute
to our students’ regard for their school environment, which is a profound help on many levels.
Thanks to the PTO and our wonderful beautification team!
Mrs. Susan Beekman and Mrs. Tracey Roth have
both served the children of Madison for many
years and their impact on their lives has been
indelible.
Mrs. Roth has been a first grade teacher for
most of her time in Madison and no child will
ever forget her enthusiasm, her humor, her
sense of fun and the highly effective way she
brought first graders from educational infancy
to a path of confidence and capability.
Mrs. Beekman has taught in the third grade for
the past several years, but also spent years
teaching other primary level grades. She has
been the ultimate professional throughout her
career and has always regarded her responsibility as an educator with reverence.
Both of these fine people leave Torey J. a
richer place. Their presence has contributed
not only to the students they have taught, but
also to the professionals they have influenced.
They will both be greatly missed
Supply Lists
Every grade level will have a supply list that is
consistent between the classes in that grade.
Thos supply lists will be posted on the school’s
website by August 1st.
Individual classes may have additional requests
in September, once everyone is notified of their
class placements or after school has started.
Thank you PTO!
The Torey J. Sabatini School’s PTO has been a
vital force in supporting programs and contributing support. This year, thanks to a highly successful fundraising effort with the Adult Social,
the PTO has been able to help the school in
some very dynamic ways.
The PTO has purchased (they are already here
and installed), five Smartboards and an LCD
projector. This means that every academic
classroom from kindergarten through fifth
grade now has a Smartboard and projector.
Additionally, the PTO is poised to finance the
purchase of new computers and monitors to reoutfit the library computer lab. The computers
in that lab were not aging gracefully and needed
to be replaced soon. Thanks to the PTO, soon
has happened sooner than we had even hoped.
These purchases are in addition to further additions to the playground and a grant program administered through the school for program improvements. Examples of recent purchases
through this program are:
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Orff instruments for our music classes.
Pedometers for PE
Substantial additions to our classroom libraries
Video camera for the entire school
A week-long Responsive Classroom training
for a teacher.
Classroom carpets to replace worn and
frayed carpets.
TJS owes a debt of gratitude to the PTO and all
of their volunteers and helpers. Particular
thanks go to the current PTO co presidents,
Brenda Catallanello and Karin Szotak.
Thank you!
Responsive Classroom
The Responsive Classroom newsletter is designed for educators, but parents can also
benefit tremendously. This article by Chip
Wood, http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/
article/terrific-tens is a brief sketch of one
developmental hallmark...the age of ten. His
book, Yardsticks, goes into depth about characteristics to expect at particular ages and
how this impacts learning and social/emotional
growth.
The Responsive Classroom website http://
www.responsiveclassroom.org/ is chockfull of
articles and information regarding Responsive
Classroom and related topics.
TJS has been practicing elements of Responsive Classroom for the past 6 years and its’
contribution to our school is immeasurable.
Thank you, Nino Tsereteli!
What started as a shot in the dark turned into
reality in hours. We asked a former TJS parent, Nino Tsereteli (Mrs. Gavashelli), if she
could help out with a logo for the science fair
poster. By the next morning we had a wondrous design that will be used for many years
to come. This was an act of incredible generosity and Ms. Tsereteli (Gavashelli) deserves
our heartfelt thanks.
The poster is attached to the newsletter if
you’d like to see it.
2011-2012 TJS PTO Slate
The 2011-2012 TJS PTO Slate is attached at
the end of the newsletter.
First of all, anyone who has volunteered to contribute to the PTO deserves our thanks. The
PTO contributes immeasurably to the culture of
our wonderful school.
Secondly, there are still a few (not many, fortunately) positions that need to be filled. Please
review the slate and if you are able to step into
one of the positions, please contact Louise
Pierce. Her contact information is on the slate.
This has been a great year for our PTO and we
look forward to an even better one this coming
year. If you can contribute (if only to join and
send in membership dues), it is much appreciated.
We are very excited to be entering the 20112012 school year with a full complement of leadership positions on the executive board filled
and only a few other positions that need volunteers to step up. It’s going to be a wonderful
2011-2012 school year!
Farm Stand
The cafeteria has an exciting new feature...the
“farm stand”. Now, students who purchase
lunch will have the chance to go to the farm
stand (sort of a mini salad bar) and supplement
their lunch with some fresh fruits and vegetables.
So far, this has been a very positive addition to
our lunch program. It was instituted by Pomptonian after receiving feedback from parents and
students at Torey J. As opposed to the same
old soggy vegetables, this gives students a nice
selection of fresh vegetables and fruit.
Book Room Volunteers
At Torey J., we are fortunate enough to have book
rooms (or closets) that have been created and organized by Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Babich. These
rooms make it much easier for the teachers to pull
books for their reading classes and to keep them
organized as the year goes along.
To assist in maintaining these book rooms, we are
asking for volunteers to work with Mrs. Ryan. We
would like to both maintain the book rooms and extend their use into the intermediate grades.
This would be a light commitment. Details would be
worked out with Mrs. Ryan. For someone who would
like to contribute to the school and learn about our
reading program, this would be a great opportunity.
If you are at all interested, please e-mail Mrs.
Ryan at: ryanm@madisonpublicschools.org
She will work out the details for the coming year
with any volunteers who show an interest.
Reading Skill Retention
The difference between entering a new school
year with a dramatic loss of ground in reading
level and being able to slip back into the reading program smoothly with little or no loss is
very simple.
Students who read throughout the summer
enter school with a minimal loss of reading
skill levels. Parents, please do your very best
to encourage your children to read throughout
the summer, the more the better.
The Madison Library is open throughout the
summer and Ms. Lee, a librarian, will be visiting
our classes this week to speak with our students and emphasize the importance of summer reading.