Jefferson
Journal
Volume 13, Issue 12
Web Site: www.westfieldnj.com/js
Email: jefferson@westfieldnj.com
December 9, 2004
E-MAIL INSTRUCTIONS: The deadline for the Journal is 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoons. Please e-mail Catherine
Varakian, Mary Konsolaki (Tolias), and Nancy Fischette at jeffjournal@westfieldnj.com
Mark Your Calendars
Dec 9
All Market Day paper orders due
Dec 11
All online Market Day orders due
Dec 14
Bd. of Ed. Conf. Room – 8 am,
Bill 1701 – Restricted Funding to
Westfield Schools
VOTE – Bd. of Ed. Bond Referendum
New Track and Turf
Dec 14
Dec 17
Market Day pick-up, 3 - 4pm
Dec 17
5th grades only – Yearbook group retake 1:45 pm
Dec 24 - 31
Holiday Break -- No School
Jan 1
Happy New Year !
for their families. A special thank you goes out to
Laura Glasser-Baker who provided the volunteers
with a delicious homemade soup for lunch.
Bond Referendum
Just a reminder to please get out and vote on
Tuesday, December 14. There will be a Board of
Education Election meeting on a bond referendum
funding major improvements on the Kehler Field
athletic facility. Polls will be open from 2PM to
7PM. For more information, check the following
website: www.westfieldnj.com/schoolbond
Bill 1701
Please make a note that the meeting concerning bill
#1701 will be held on December 14, 8:00 a.m. in the
conference room of the Board of Education building.
Senator Thomas Kean, Assemblyman Jon M.
Bramnick and Assemblyman Eric Munoz will be
appearing to discuss the ramifications of this new
law that restricts funding to the Westfield school
system. If you plan to attend, kindly contact one
of your co-presidents.
Target
Holiday Gift Shop
Many thanks to the Holiday Gift Shop committee
co-chairs Beth Seitz, Bonnie O’Donnell, Mary Jo
McShane, and to Janine Culnan and all the
volunteers for making this day a great success. It
was heart warming to see our children gift shopping
The holidays are just around the corner. When you
sign up for a Target credit card and assign
Jefferson School as your charity, Target will
donate 1% of your total spending to Jefferson
School. Stop by and do some shopping at Target on
your New Target credit card
Folders and Notepads
It’s that time of the year when your child’s folder may need to be replenished. We have extra folders that the
PTO is selling at the info desk for $1.00 and notepads for $3.00. Please stop by at your convenience.
As always, if you have any concerns, questions or ideas please contact your Co-Presidents
Rose Hughes, 789-7486 rosehugheshomes@aol.com
Barbara Giordano, 518-0017 barbgiord@comcast.net
Market Day
Thanks to all for a great November sale! We had 59 customers and sales of $666.82 of which 15% (~$100)
are for the students. Congratulations to Mrs. Sarna and Mrs. Tarr, winners of $10 gift certificates. We will
continue to have one winner every month till the end of the year.
This month’s special is a free caramel apple crisp for ordering 1 roast and any 2 Market Day insert items.
Our next sale date is Friday, December 17th. The paper orders are due by December 9th and Internet orders
are due by noon, December 11th.
Call Jane 654-1432 or Nancy 928-0775 with any questions you may have. Great holidays to all! See you next
year.
5th Grade Yearbook News
Dear Fifth Grade Parents and Guardians,
Your child should have brought home a final survey for the yearbook titled, “Fifth Grade Favorites” this week.
Please have your 5th-grade child complete the two-page survey and return to the green envelope marked “5 th
Grade Yearbook Correspondence” in his/her classroom no later than Wednesday, December 15, 2004. If you
have any questions, please call Mary Konsolaki (Tolias) at 380-3740.
Please continue to send in your ‘memory’ photos as soon as you find them. The yearbook committee continues
to edit the layout that, in part, is dependent upon the pictures that you submit. Keep in mind that we can only
use digital photos printed on photo quality paper. If you would like to submit a thumbnail content sheet of
your digital photos for us to review and choose photos before printing, be sure to put your name on the sheet.
The last day to submit ‘memory’ photos is Wednesday, January 12, 2005.
Favorites Survey Due Date: Dec. 15, 2004
5th-Grade Yearbook Group Picture Re-take Date: Dec. 17, 2004, 1:45 pm
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.
Sincerely,
5th Grade Yearbook Committee
Memo from the Library
To:
From:
Jefferson School Community
Mrs. Bonavita, Library Media Specialist
Topic:
Online Internet Resources
Jefferson School now has the ability to offer remote access to the Grolier Multimedia Online encyclopedia
website. This database includes:
 Grolier Encyclopedia (designed for grades 5+)
 New Book of Knowledge (designed for grades 3-5)
 America the Beautiful (designed for grades 4+)
Your children have had access to this site in the school library and classrooms for the past 2 years and it is
now available at no extra charge for home use. It’s a great help for research projects!
To access this site, do the following:
1. Go to: http//go.grolier.com
2. Enter the following user name and password, all in lower case letters:
User name: 07090jes
Password: 07090jes
As a reminder, the Westfield Memorial Library also offers remote access to various databases for patrons with a
valid Westfield Memorial Library card, including;
EBSCO (Magazines)
Biography Reference Bank
Gale’s Literary Resources
Newspapers
Jersey Clicks
Access Science
Facts on File
Books in Print
Encyclopedia Britannica
AP Image Archive
Country Watch
Grolier
Celebrate with Reading
The Birthday Book Club has changed its name to “Celebrate with Reading” in an effort to better reflect the
purpose and scope of this program. Jefferson students, staff and parents are encouraged to participate as a
way to celebrate a birthday, a special event, or a special person such as a teacher, friend, or even in
remembrance of a loved one,
To make a donation, please see Mrs. Bonavita in the library. She has a supply of books from which to choose.
These library-quality, hardcover books range in price beginning at $15. Parents may send a check to school
with their child made out to “Jefferson PTO”. A bookplate will be pasted in the donated book to
commemorate the occasion, and a picture of your child will be posted outside of the library. You are also
welcomed to donate a book from outside the library but please inform Mrs. Bonavita before its purchase.
This program is a great way to help support the school library and to instill the love of reading in your child.
The children love to see their photos at the library entrance, too.
Warm thanks go to the following donors:





Mrs. Anne Goetz for donating Cinderella Cuento by Joe Hayes to all bi-cultural children who are doubly
fortunate
Patrick Rogers of Mrs. Walkingstick’s 3rd -grade class, and sister Emma Rogers for donating First Animal
Encyclopedia in support of the book fair.
Kieran Cline of Mr. Thompson’s 5th-grade class for donating The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
in support of the book fair.
Megan Sheil of Mr. Vice’s 5th-grade class for donating Cinderella by Susan Jeffers in honor of the
Jefferson library.
Zach Sheil of Mrs. Geyer’s 3rd-grade class for donating If the Walls Could Talk by Jane O’Connor in honor
of the Jefferson library.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thanks for your support!
Janet Forcht:
Amy Lee:
Diane Palmer:
789-4723, janet.forcht@att.net
233-4169, amylee2001@comcast.net
317-9873, rdpalmer5@comcast.net
Jubilee 2005 Update
Reminder of Key Dates to watch for:
1/10:
3/16:
3/18:
3/19:
3/20:
Practices begin
1st dress rehearsal
Final dress rehearsal
Saturday show
Sunday show
Questions? Please call Linda Shor - 789-8489
Jefferson Elementary School
Health Office
Parents of Fifth-Grade Students
The fifth grade health curriculum is in its fifth week and the students have been working hard on
various topics. We have covered anatomy and physiology of the endocrine system, cardiovascular
system, and respiratory system. We have discussed the need for healthy lifestyle choice as it relates
to wellness promotion and disease prevention.
Next week we will discuss the implications of ‘growing up’, the psychosocial aspects and the physical
characteristics that take place during puberty. The talk explores the changes that children can expect
with puberty, both mentally and physically. Boys and girls are separated for this discussion; a short
video is seen followed by a question and answer period. This topic is handled in a very sensitive way to
ensure your child’s comfort.
If you prefer not to have your child participate in this discussion, please write a letter requesting
exemption and return it to the health office as soon as possible.
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum or any other concerns, please call me at 789-4493.
Thank You,
Andrea Cortese, RN CSN
School Nurse
Get your tickets now for the Parent / Teacher Adult Social and Fundraiser:
JEFFERSON’S 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
Saturday, January 29, 2005, 7:30 PM
The Crowne Plaza Hotel
36 Valley Road, Clark, NJ
MUSIC, DANCING (including dance instruction), SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES, BASKET
DRAWINGS, DOOR PRIZES, FOOD, DRINK, AND LOTS OF FUN!
Tickets are $40 / person, $75 / couple
(TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE)
Next Sale Dates:
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 8:30-9:15 and 2:30-3:30
Thursday, Dec. 16, 8:30-9:15 and 2:30-3:30
Location: glass corridor outside the gym
Or, for your convenience, fill in the sheet below and send checks to school in an envelope
marked PTO Adult Social. Your tickets will be forwarded to you!
Any questions, please call Susan Bonina 232-0878, Kassie Smith 654-4885, Lori Felter
389-9677.
ADULT SOCIAL TICKETS ORDER FORM:
Name: ___________________________
Address: _________________________
Phone: ___________________________
Number of tickets: _________________
Grade/Class: ______________________
Make checks payable to “Jefferson School PTO”. Thank you for your support!