SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCHOOL ONE
563 WILLOW AVENUE
SCOTCH PLAINS, NEW JERSEY 07076
PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER
VOL. XXXXI, NO. 1
August 2013
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE: Welcome BACK TO SCHOOL for the 2013/2014 school year!!! School begins with a
full day of instruction on Monday, September 9th. As we prepare for another school year, we want to provide you
with as much information as possible to make your experience at School One a positive one. Please read through this
entire packet and return the requested materials to your child’s teacher on the first day of school.
Please join me in welcoming our teachers to another great year at School One! We are very excited to announce the
arrival of new staff…Ms. Jessica Cavaliere, Art teacher; Mrs. Paula Schaffer, ESL teacher; Mrs. Bronna Lipton and Ms.
Reyna Martoccia, World Languages; Mr. Michael Dente, SOS teacher; Ms. Caitlin Mahony, Grade 1; and Ms. Meredith
Sackheim, Grade 1. Our teachers bring a wide variety of experiences from both within the classroom and beyond the
classroom’s walls.
We hope you have had a wonderful summer, and we look forward to the 2013/2014 school year with you and your
children!
DAILY SCHEDULE: The first day of school for students will be Monday, September 9th. It will be a full-session
day. Supervision begins at 8:25 a.m., therefore, all students should plan to arrive between 8:25 and 8:35 a.m. Upon
arrival, children are to walk onto the school grounds, line up in an orderly fashion in front of their respective grade-level
doors, and prepare to enter the building at 8:25 a.m. On days when the weather is inclement, students may enter the
building at 8:20 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:35.
Afternoon pre-k and kindergarten students should arrive between 12:15 and 12:20 p.m. Supervision is not provided
before this time.
We do not assume responsibility for the supervision of children who do not comply with the above-stated arrival times.
Please plan your child’s arrival at school accordingly.
Full-day students and afternoon pre-k and kindergarten students are dismissed at 3:10 p.m. Students are asked to leave
the school grounds in a timely manner.
Our regular (full day) schedule is as follows:
Page 1 of 6
Grade Level
Morning Pre-K &
Kindergarten
Afternoon Pre-K &
Kindergarten
Grades 1 through 4, SE-I, SEII
Hours
8:35 – 11:20 a.m.
12:20-3:10 p.m.
8:35 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS: For important upcoming dates, including school and PTA information, and brief summaries
of happenings at School One, please see our website, www.spfk12.org/schoolone. Some upcoming dates include:





September 3rd and 4th
September 5th and 6th
September 9th
September 9th
September 9th













September 9th
September 11th
September 11th
September 18th
September 18th
September 18th
September 20th
September 20th
September 20th
September 21st
September 26th & 27th
October 2nd
October 3rd
Staff Meetings and Professional Development
Schools Closed for Rosh Hashanah
Schools Open for Students (Full Day of Classes)
School Lunch Program Begins
Return all School Forms to your Child’s Teacher
o Blue Student Emergency Contact Card (complete in duplicate, front and
back)
o Dismissal Procedures Form
o PTA School Emergency Closing Contact Form
o PTA Membership Form
o PTA E-Blast Information Via E-Mail Form
o PTA Directory Authorization Form
o PTA Classroom Directory Form
Pre-K Meet and Greet, 9:00-9:45, 10:15-11:00, 1:00-1:45, 2:15-3:00
Patriot’s Day: Wear Red, White and Blue
Kindergarten Milk Money Due for the Month of September (see enclosed order form)
Kindergarten Milk Money Due for the Month of October
Coffee with the Principal (time TBD)
Room Parent Meeting/New Parents’ Welcome/PTA Board Meeting, Times TBA
Applications for Free/Reduced Lunch Program Due if applying
PTA Staff Back to School Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.
PTA Family Picnic, 6 p.m.
PTA Clothing Drive
School Pictures
Walk to School Day
Back to School Night (Single-Session Schedule)
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: When you bring your child to school at 8:25 a.m., it is imperative that school traffic
patterns and township laws be obeyed. The area immediately in front of our building is the designated drop-off zone.
Our school buses share this area with parents dropping off their children. Please remember…
 As you approach the school, please stay in the line of traffic.
 Once you move into the drop-off zone, pull up as far as possible and allow your child(ren) to depart on the
PASSENGER side in a TIMELY manner.
 After your child has safely left your car, move CAUTIOUSLY into the street as soon as possible so other cars
may move forward.
 Please remain patient so all children can be dropped off safely.
To prevent a parking or traffic violation from the Scotch Plains Police Department, observe the areas around the school
that are posted as “No Parking” and “No U-Turn.” There is no parking or standing allowed on the opposite side of
Page 2 of 6
Willow Avenue across from the school. Be aware of the parking signs that are posted on the right-hand side of Madison
Avenue as you face Park Avenue.
When picking up your children from school, please park on a side street and walk to the front of the building. Please stay
at least five to ten yards back from the exit doors. As teachers dismiss students, their vision and attention must not be
impaired or inhibited. Please provide a pathway on the sidewalk next to the pavers by the front doors to allow our bus
students to exit the building and board their bus safely. Please refrain from entering the building until our dismissal
procedures are completed. If you wish to enter the building, our Board of Education Policy requires that you report to
the school office, state your intentions and sign the visitor's book.
The driveway to the staff parking area is NOT to be used to drop off or pick up students, nor is parking in the lot
permitted during the school day. All parking spaces are assigned to staff members.
Please refer to the diagram below for the school traffic pattern. Your cooperation with this system will be appreciated.
Martine Avenue
M
a
d
i
s
o
n
Staff
Parking
Lot
SCHOOL ONE
1
(Grass Area)
15
A
v
e
n
u
e
14
(Flag Pole)
(Grass Area)
NO PARKING OR STANDING—DROP-OFF ZONE
Russell Road
M
i
d
w
a
y
A
v
e
n
u
e
Willow Avenue
NO PARKING THIS SIDE OF STREET
Students will enter and exit the building using the following doors:
Grade Level
Door #
Pre-K
1 (Lobby)
Kindergarten
1 (Lobby)
st
1
15
2nd
15
3rd
14
th
4
14
SE-I, SE-II
1 (Lobby)
We ask our parents to please make all necessary arrangements for their children's dismissal from school BEFORE they
leave for school in the morning. We realize that OCCASIONALLY a true emergency arises. In this situation, a
Page 3 of 6
message can be given to your child through the office. Please do NOT ask the office to convey messages of a social
nature or reminders of appointments to your child.
SCHOOL ONE WEBSITE: The School One website, www.spfk12.org/school one, provides information for the
School One community. The School One Parent/Student Handbook, the school calendar, PTA events and fund-raisers,
as well as on-going news from school will be accessible on the website. Additionally, frequently used forms will be
available for printing.
BLUE EMERGENCY CARD: The blue Emergency Contact Card (2-sided) is to be completed and returned on the
first day of school. These cards are used in both the Main Office and the Nurse’s Office to assist us in dealing with
any emergency situation that might occur.
 Each family is asked to return ONE blue emergency card that includes the names of ALL their children
that attend School One.
 The card MUST be completed accurately and neatly in DUPLICATE (BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM OF
THE FRONT AND BACK).
One component of this card asks you to list the names of family members or friends that will be responsible for your
child if the school is unable to contact you. Please be sure that your child knows who this person is. Please include
home, cell and work phone numbers for all adults listed on the emergency card. If no one is named on the emergency
card and there is an emergency involving your child, the police will be called to assist us.
Please be sure that the information on your blue emergency card is accurate and complete. Remember to update
information during the year if your phone numbers, contact persons, et cetera, change.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES FORM: In order to maintain a smooth and safe student dismissal, please
complete the Dismissal Procedures form and return it to your child’s teacher on the first day of school. This form
should include the most up-to-date dismissal information for your child. If you have more than one child at School One,
please complete one form for each child.
HONEYWELL INSTANT ALERT SYSTEM: Please read the enclosed information sheet for detailed information
regarding the Honeywell Instant Alert System. This system will alert School One families about snow days, emergency
days, early dismissals, etc. If you have not registered for Honeywell, we urge you do so now. If you have registered, but
your contact information has changed (i.e., home phone number, cell phone number, email address, etc.), please update
your personal information. Please go to the School One website (www.spfk12/schoolone) and click on “Shortcuts” in
the lower right-hand corner of the cover page. Or go to https://instantalert.honeywell.com.
LUNCH PROGRAM (GRADES 1 – 4): School lunches will be offered starting on the first day of school, September
9th. Please read the enclosed detailed information sheet regarding the purchase of school lunches and the on-line
payment system. Student ID numbers can be found on the student label on the first page of this packet. A copy of
the September menu is also attached. Peanut-free menus are available. Please contact the Main Office if you would like
to receive a copy.
Please keep in mind that the school is unable to provide refrigeration for lunches brought from home or heat lunches
that students bring to school.
If you have any comments about the school lunch program, you may email
Pomptonian Food Service at [email protected]. Please direct any
inquiries to Scott VanOsten at (908) 889-7333.
Page 4 of 6
LUNCH-TIME POLICY (GRADES 1 – 4): The lunch/recess hour is from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. for students in
Grades 1 through 4. Lunch may be brought from home (please label bags or lunch boxes with your child’s name) or
purchased at school.
Children remain in school during the lunch/recess hour. If you wish to grant permission for your child to leave during
this time, a note to that intent must be received before a student can be permitted to leave school during the lunch hour.
For added security and accountability, a parent or guardian MUST sign their child out in the Main Office if their
child is leaving the building during lunch. Children leaving for lunch may NOT walk out of the building to an
awaiting car. Please note that children going home for lunch are dismissed at 11:50 a.m., and should NOT return
to school prior to 12:45 p.m. Students should re-enter the building through the main front doors, and MUST be
signed in by their parent/guardian.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH/MILK PROGRAM: Please return the free/reduced lunch/milk application
form by Friday, September 20th, only if you are applying for this program. The lunch program is available to
students in Grades 1 through 4. Kindergarten students are eligible for milk only. If you are applying, be sure to
complete ALL pertinent information (incomplete forms will delay the application from being processed). State
regulations require that only one application per household (or one per foster child) be returned.
Parents
whose children receive free or reduced price lunches or free milk may be required to provide supportive documentation
regarding proof of income. A new application must be completed EACH year for eligibility.
Please note…if your child received reduced price lunches ($ .40 per lunch) or free lunches during
the 2012/2013 school year, he/she will continue to receive the same benefits until the 2013/2014
applications have been reviewed.
KINDERGARTEN MILK MONEY: Kindergarten students who purchase milk will have it served during
snack time. Kindergarten milk sales will take place one day each month for the following month. Monthly
notices will be sent home with students. Due dates can be found on the principal’s monthly newsletter and
will be posted on our school website. Milk will be sold for the number of days school is in session for the
subsequent month. Milk cannot be purchased on a day-to-day basis.
A copy of the September milk order form is enclosed. Please return the completed form no later than Wednesday,
September 11th. Refunds for the day(s) a child is absent cannot be made. The MONTHLY milk form for September
and payment (either exact cash or checks made payable to Scotch Plains-Fanwood BOE) should be sent in an envelope
to your child’s teacher with your child’s name, grade, teacher and milk choice (fat free, low fat, chocolate low fate or
strawberry low fat) clearly marked. Please refer to the enclosed flyer if you wish to purchase milk for September.
BUS INFORMATION: If your child is eligible for bus transportation, the District’s Transportation Coordinator, Mr.
Don Sentivan, will contact you prior to the first day of school.
Bus parents are asked to send a written note to school if your child is not taking the bus home on a specific day of
the week. If there is a particular day(s) that your child will not be taking the bus home over the course of the year
(such as for scout meetings, swim lessons, etc.), you may send in a note indicating the specific dates. Please remind
your child to give the note to his/her classroom teacher first thing in the morning.
STUDENT ABSENCES: Please remember to call the School One Attendance Line when your child is going to be
absent or more than 15 minutes late. If you do not call to report your child’s absence, we will call you. Should we be
unable to contact you, the police may be called for assistance. A written note is also required concerning an absence
upon your child’s return to school.
When you call the attendance line, please state your child’s name, grade, your child’s teacher’s name, and a detailed
reason for your child’s absence. Please speak slowly and clearly.
Page 5 of 6
SCHOOL ONE ATTENDANCE LINE
(908) 322-7731, PRESS 1
(AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY)
SCHOOL ONE PTA: Our PTA officers for 2013/2014 include: Kathleen Gumpel, President; Barbara Matty, 1st Vice
President; Justine Billotto, 2nd Vice President; Venessa White, Recording Secretary; Kelly Bhatia, Corresponding
Secretary; Jeannette Koizumi, Treasurer; and Jeannine Viscardi, Past President Parliamentarian. Many other dedicated
people chair and participate in the committees that make up School One’s PTA. You are encouraged to join them!
Thank you to Mrs. Gumpel and the PTA Executive Board for their service this year, and their assistance in preparing for
the new school year. The dedication and commitment of so many of you make the School One community an
extraordinary place to work and learn.
PTA EMERGENCY CARD: Our PTA has developed a back-up plan to the Honeywell Instant Alert System. We
would appreciate your cooperation by completing the PTA Emergency Closing Contact Form, in addition to the
Blue Emergency Card. Completing this form will allow the PTA to expedite our procedures and be more efficient in
contacting you in the event that there is a breakdown in the Honeywell Instant Alert for schools.
STUDENT INSURANCE: The Board of Education has approved student accident insurance for all students during
school time. This premium is paid by the Board of Education. Parents have the option of selecting additional coverage,
which is explained in the enclosed pamphlet. If you choose to buy additional insurance for your child as described
in the pamphlet, please complete the enclosed form and mail it directly to the insurance company. Do NOT
return it to school.
We hope you will enjoy the remaining days of summer as we look forward to the opening of school on Monday,
September 9th.
Have a great year!
Page 6 of 6