Torey J. Sabatini
School
March 2012
Important Dates
April
3
4
4
4
5
6-15
20
20
24
27
BoE – 7:30
Gr. 5 “Lewis & Clark” PTO
Pomptonian Sushi Lunch
Arts Matter Concert – 7:30/MHS
End 3rd Marking Period
Schools Closed – Spring Recess
Room Parents Meeting – 2:30
3rd MP Report Cards Distributed
BoE – 7:30
Kindergarten “Smarty Plants” - PTO
May
4
5
7-11
8
14-18
15
15
22
24
25
28
31
DEAR – 8 a.m.
MAY DAY
Grade 3-5 NJ ASK
BoE – 7:30
Grade 3-5 NJ ASK make up
Gr. 1 “Sunshine & Shadows” - PTO
Spring concert – 7:30
BoE – 7:30
All grades – Totally Vocally – 9:30—PTO
Buildings Closed
Buildings Closed – Memorial Day
Curriculum Night – 7 p.m.
June
1
5
8
8
12
14
19,20
21
HS Day of Service
District Art Show/Drew Univ – 6-8
All Grades – Beyond the Beat – PTO
Jamboree – 3:30—7:30
BoE
Pomptonian BBQ
Field Days
5th Grade Recognition Assembly
Happy Spring Holidays!!
It is a lovely time of year, with flowers blooming
and the feel of cool mornings and warm afternoons. Our best wishes go to everyone for a
special holiday season and spring break.
After our return from break there are just
over two months left of the school year and we
want to make that last leg of this year’s journey
as valuable as possible. As always, thank you for
all of your support!
Attention: “ToreyGear”
The TJS Logowear store is open for another week or
so. Don't miss this opportunity to have a full complement of Torey wear. There are even items that had
not yet been available.
New items include a green full zip hoodie, and the
short-sleeved tie-dye tee we had last year. There
are also maroon backpacks for sale that might interest anyone in Madison.
Go to the link www.teamgearinc.com/tjs and supplement your spring wardrobe with some fine Torey
wear!
We love to see the students in Torey wear for school
spirit days, class trips and other special events. It
adds to a wonderful sense of school spirit!
Dear Parents:
Within the next month or so, our staff will be making class assignment plans
for the 2012-2013 school year. Students will be assigned to heterogeneous
classroom groups by their current teachers, who are in the best position to
make the assignment, and reviewed by the principal and other relevant staff.
Please trust our decision on your child’s placement. Occasionally, we receive
requests for students to be placed with specific teachers or for certain students to be placed together. Please know that we cannot honor such requests.
If you have specific concerns regarding your child and another student
being placed together, please contact me via e-mail by May 15th at the
latest.
Staff considers many factors as balanced groups are prepared, including the
range of academic abilities, social mixture, gender balance, individual learning
styles, student personality and interaction, students benefiting from being
together or separated overall student behavior, and class size. The objective
of this process is to produce a heterogeneous group of students engineered
to become a community of learners, which promotes students who function to
the fullest extent of their abilities. We assure you that the placement of
each child is carefully considered.
We will do our best to place your child(ren) in a class where the above issues
are acknowledged and the learning environment matches their learning needs.
Our staff is committed to your children and dedicates themselves to giving
your child the best possible learning experience.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Michael Post
TJS Science Fair
Alice in Wonderland
The Torey J. Drama Club has made a profound
impact on our school for the seventh straight
year. Under the leadership and inspiration of
Ann Marie Collins (whose three children have
moved on to the high school and Junior School),
Kate Smith, Sara Sherwood, Fiona Matthews
and Helen Raymaker, the yearly drama production was a profound experience for scores of
our fourth and fifth graders.
The drama club has so many benefits for our
students. The experience of sharing a challenge
together, of performing in front of an audience,
of working cooperatively and exercising dramatic and musical gifts all contributed to a special time in their lives that will serve them all
well going forward. Approximately half of our
fourth and fifth graders took part in the drama
club, some with small parts, some with larger
parts, they all embraced the chance to contribute.
One of the most gratifying aspects of the
yearly productions is the role they play in creating positive memories on which students build
futures. Many students, now in secondary
school, who took part in past productions, attended the production to cheer on this year’s
performers. It was a testimony to the powerful
experience they had all shared.
Thanks go to our students and the many parent
volunteers who made the event possible. Not
only did the children perform for their parents
in the evening, but they also presented the play
to the entire Torey J. student body. Not an
easy thing to do, and they all did a marvelous
job. Thank you!
The second annual TJS Science Fair was held
March 28th. It was an incredible success!!
Over 80 students took part in this exciting
event, from first graders to fifth graders,
students used their own curiosity and initiative to develop projects that ranged the scientific spectrum. Students worked either as
individuals or in groups to present their projects for an entire evening (and the following
day to their fellow students). The Jaguar
Jungle was alive with the projects displayed on
tables, students presenting them and everyone
trying to go from project to project, seeing as
many as possible while the night allowed.
The presentations were not limited to students, as our own Mr. Gerenstein attempted a
simulation of a volcano, complete with colored
lava. It was very exciting! Mr. Mah, who was a
big part of the science club and science fair,
led a mariner’s view of the night sky as the
evening came to an end.
The Science Fair has been made possible for
our students due to the energies of a group of
parents in our school led by Kahina Hadim.
With the additional leadership of Henry Mah,
Sal Catrini, Colleen Taddeo and many, many
volunteers, our students have had an experience they will never forget.
Thank you to everyone who made this special
event happen!
Please check the lost and found!!
Our lost and found is filled with clothes
and some of it could belong to your child.
Come and check. It is located below the
showcase on the way down to the Jaguar
Jungle. Thanks!
Staff Luncheon
Rotary Readers
Each year, during the parent/teacher conference days in fall and spring, the staff at Torey
J. is treated to a lovely feast. Parent volunteers from the PTO’s hospitality committee organize a combination of homemade meals, purchased treats and incredible desserts for our
staff to enjoy during the break before the conference time.
On March 6th, the second graders at Torey J.
had the treat of having representatives from
the Rotary Club of Madison visit and read
Andy and Elmer's Apple Dumpling Adventure
to them. This coincided with Read Across
America Day.
The school’s library is turned into a festive
café, with tablecloths and centerpieces. The
staff settles in and has a special opportunity to
dine and visit together before racing off to
work. It is something special. This year the
food and desserts were great, as usual, as was
the generosity and support of the parent volunteers.
This luncheon touches each staff member profoundly. It is a kind, thoughtful, affirming gesture that is very much appreciated. Thanks to
everyone who contributed and particularly the
PTO hospitality committee. Thank you!
Arbor Day/May Day
Each year the borough of Madison and its
schools celebrate spring with an Arbor Day
ceremony on the steps of the Geraldine R.
Dodge Building. The schools each make a contribution through music and poetry. It is a special
presentation, as dignitaries speak to honor the
importance of trees in our lives. Thanks to
Nancy Bruce for organizing this event.
Throughout the day, the entire community is
busy sprucing up, planting, weeding, spreading
mulch and making the borough look renewed and
beautiful.
Thanks in advance for all of the volunteers who
work to make Torey J. look pretty and inviting.
What a delightful, generous occasion this was
for our students! The Rotarians have been
incredibly generous to TJS over the years and
this event was yet another contribution to our
students.
Special thanks for the “Rotary readers” goes
to Rosemarie McCauley, who organized the
event. Thank you!
Thank you, Mrs. Empson
Every school has people who work tirelessly
behind the scenes to make things work
smoothly and ensure that the little things,
which are not really little, are taken care of
properly. Mrs. Joanne Empson is one of those
individuals at Torey J.
Mrs. Empson fields every call, pushes the
front door buzzer countless times a day, handles the school data base, supports the teachers and staff, comforts children headed home
due to illness and comforts parents with questions or concerns. She is a truly special person and Torey J. would not be what it is without her efforts.
When everyone else heads home for summer,
Mrs. Empson is still here, working to organize
things for the next school year. Thanks, Mrs.
Empson!
Cheshire House
Our fourth graders had the opportunity to take
part in a presentation organized by Karin Szotak
of the PPEC given by Cheshire House.
The presentation was an active one, demanding
that our students follow the lead of presenters
to simulate the world as they experience it, going through stations in which they tried to accomplish activities we may regard as simple, like
buttoning our clothing and transporting ourselves. The presenters from Cheshire House
supported the students through these activities
and spoke to them about their own experiences.
This was an invaluable experience for our students. It is so important that we work to instill
empathy in our students and that is much more
effectively accomplished by a first-hand experience like this one.
Thanks go to the wonderful presenters from
Cheshire House and also to Mrs. Szotak and her
volunteers for organizing the event.
Family Fun Night!
We thought that last year’s Family Fun Night
was the greatest, with the Jaguar Jungle filled
with excited students and parents for a bingo
night. Well, this year’s Family Fun Night was
even better attended and there was an added
attraction...a family basketball shooting contest!
A Letter From The Palmer Family
Dear TJS Community,
We are truly overwhelmed by the kindness
and generosity you have shown
to our family during this difficult time.
Please accept our thanks and
know that you helped make the transition
to our temporary home so much
easier.
We are so lucky to be a part of such a
wonderful community. Our most
sincere thanks.
The Palmer Family
Read Across America Day
March 2nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, is “Read
Across America Day” in schools all over this
nation. It is a great opportunity to emphasize
the glories and significance of reading as a
school and community.
At Torey J., I read a Dr. Seuss story to the
students during morning announcements. The
each class celebrated the day with readings
and activities throughout the day.
Nearly 300 people filled the Jaguar Jungle for
the very fun, simple activity of playing bingo together. It was great. After bingo, there was a
family basketball shooting contest. It was awesome!
At the end of the day, the entire school came
together for a “Reading Train”. All students
and staff came out of their classrooms and
sat along the hallway walls, forming a “train”
of readers. Everyone brought out their favorite or current book and read for the next 1520 minutes.
Thanks go to Mrs. McCormick and Mrs. Sullivan
and many helpers. Mr. Stricchiola and Mr. Gerenstein also contributed. What a great time!!
It was a wonderful way for our school to come
together and celebrate our love of reading!
Book Reviews
Starting in the second half of the school year, our
students in every grade are invited to write book
reviews of their favorite books and submit them to
the office.
Reviews are then chosen and the students will read
them over the morning announcements to the entire
school. This is a great way to spread the joy of reading and give other students ideas of books their
peers have read and enjoyed.
At Torey J., developing strong, enthusiastic readers
is one of our major initiatives.
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.
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
The Madison Schools are in their second year
of working to develop dynamic PLCs. This is an
initiative created by Rick and Becky DuFour,
leading educators and presenters, who have
traveled the country and beyond working with
schools to develop PLCs.
At Torey J., teams of teachers get together
to review assessment data to guide adjustments in their teaching practice. This is accomplished during many faculty meetings,
grade-level planning time and the three delayed opening days over the course of the
year.
The thrust of PLCs is to create professional
learning communities in which teachers openly
share assessment information that enables
them to refine their practice and better serve
the students. Group leaders attended a training by the DuFours two weeks ago and support
for this wonderful initiative will be ongoing.
There are a number of great resources to find
more information regarding PLCs. A great
start is
www.allthingsplc.info
NJ ASK 2012
Dates for the administration of this
year’s NJ ASK are May 7th through
May 11th. If you are parents of students in grades three, four or five,
please remember this week. Attendance is crucial for this very important assessment.
.Parent
Portal
All parents have received log-in information for
a “parent portal” within the district’s student
information system. This should have arrived to
you via the report card given out on Friday,
2/3/12.
At present, the elementary students’ parent
portal will be relatively empty. You will be able
to check your child’s attendance at this time.
At MJS and MHS, however, the parent portal
will offer parents a wealth of information regarding your child and how they are doing.
Checking on week to week progress, homework
assignments, scheduled quizzes and tests,
grades and many other types of up-to-date information will be available.
At the elementary level, the parent portal will
not expand to include a wider assortment of information until the 2012-13 school year. As we
approach next school year, TJS parents will be
informed of the spectrum of information available on the parent portal and how to access that
information.
This is an exciting development for our parents
and students. It is another step toward creating a more transparent relationship between
home and school so that parents and students
are fully aware of expectations, events and assignments at all times.
From the Madison Health Department
April 28th is a day dedicated to making the task of disposing of outdated medicine easy for those interested. Links
below: 1st describes program and 2nd tells residents of
local drop sites
1.
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/
drug_disposal/takeback/
2. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/NTBI/ntbipub.pub?_flowExecutionKey=_c70FFEBF8-5183-5498E37F-49FA084CFB41_k2762F403-AA9E-C719-105BD391DA7AB106
Thank you!
World Language
The World Language program at the elementary schools in Madison has been transformed.
After visiting other schools and learning the
positives and negatives in other schools’ programs, the Rosetta Stone Spanish Language
program has been introduced for the third and
fourth marking periods in grades three
through five.
At Torey J., a world language computer lab has
been established with laptop computers. This
lab will serve students for other uses when it
is not being used for world language, so it is a
tremendous plus for our students.
The program is very exciting. Students will
learn through an online program that can also
be accessed at home using a password to log
in. Each student will use an earphone/
microphone set to interact with the computer
program.
This program extends the potential of world
language learning at TJS. By having the capacity for students to use the program at
home, it is our hope that motivated students
will bring extended language skills to the more
sophisticated programs at MJS and MHS.
Not only that, but the program assesses at
various intervals, ensuring that students never
advance without passing the previous units assessment.
Last week the students started by logging in
and becoming accustomed to their headphones
and the system in general. It is going to be a
learning curve, but it is a very exciting process.