Hello Pirate Parents!
Ok, so we are all a little confused with our ‘Winter Break’ in a few days and 60-70
degree temperatures outside! Even though it feels a bit strange, I do think we are all
enjoying it here at North Dover! Even with the warmer temperatures, the spirit of the
season is flowing through our halls!
We will request that weather forecasts are followed and students come to school
dressed appropriately for the remaining winter months. Jackets/coats will be
necessary for outdoor recess when it is (finally) cold!
Our Kindergarten Pirates performed their holiday program yesterday, and what a
fantastic time it was! Students were dressed in their holiday best, and they sang with
all the cheer and joy of the season! Many thanks to all who helped with the
program 
Special gratitude is sent to everyone who helped provide gifts for our PTO sponsored
‘Giving Tree.’ Your generosity and spirit of giving is very much appreciated.
Please remember to also check our Lost and Found for missing items!
In our classrooms…
It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays in Mrs. Gottlieb's class. Last week,
students learned all about the letter Nn. They would like to thank Toys R Us for
donating the toy catalogs for the whole class! Students cut out pictures of toys they
are hoping for and wrote a holiday wish list. Students participated in a lesson about
money and played a greater than less than game. Finally, students used their wish lists
they partnered up to share, edit, and finalize their lists! This week it's all about the
Grinch, and students will write what they think will make the Grinch smile. At the end
of the week, they will conduct a science experiment to make Grinch dust to keep Mr.
Grinch away! Students are also learning about the character trait compassion and are
creating holiday cards for soldiers and people in assisted care facilities.
First graders have been learning about different ‘Holidays Around the World!’
Students are also getting excited to decorate gingerbread houses next week!
‘Kindness Elves’ have arrived in all second grade classrooms! Every day, these
special elves have been leaving little messages that list a good deed to be done for
each day. During this season of giving, the children are eager to find their elves and
complete their assignments!
Mrs. Grausso's class is learning about family and holiday traditions as part of our
social studies unit. The students have been doing a great job sharing reports on their
family's favorite holiday traditions. We also have been continuing to work on our
writing skills using fun holiday writing prompts. This week, the class is making
holiday cards for our troops to show our appreciation. The students are excited for the
holidays and our upcoming show next week!
North Dover 5th graders continue to explore themes and literature associated with the
Holocaust. Students are particularly excited to read the novel Number the Stars by the
author Lois Lowry. In math, children continue to solve various types of real life
computation problems that involve fractions. Mr. Brown, Mr. DeRiggi, Mrs. Fisher,
Mrs. Gawalis, Ms. Manna, Mrs. Lesniak, and Mrs. Vogelman wish a safe and happy
holiday season to all North Dover families!
Mrs. Cascio's class has been doing different holiday/winter writing, reading and arts
and crafts activities. These 4th and 5th graders began a reading buddies program with
Mr. Brown's class on Fridays in which they have the opportunity to practice social
skills too. Also, the students have been learning about the human body systems during
science, conducting experiments, and completing different activities. Lastly, the
students have been exposed to new job opportunities and practicing job social skills in
various settings such as, recycling with Mrs. Tomaine's class and helping Mrs.
Marella and the Salvation Army with sorting hat and glove donations for delivery.
Miss "K" & Mr. Mackey's advanced string & band players have been busy putting on
the finishing touches for their "Holidays in the Halls" concert that will take place in
the afternoon on Tuesday, 12/22 at 1:45pm. The players are very excited about the
songs and are invited to wear festive clothing as well as hats or holiday headbands (no
jingle bells please) while playing that day!
All classes in P.E. have participated in the annual “Jingle Jog.” The "Jingle Jog" is a
fun and holiday spirited spin on ‘The Mile Run’ which is one way for students to
measure their fitness. It is also a fun opportunity for students to learn about, become
aware of, and improve cardio vascular fitness. Students were lead in a discussion
about what muscles make up the cardio vascular system, what is the importance and
function of those muscles, and why it is important to exercise those muscles.
Students were given the opportunity to run for 3 different trials lasting around 3 to 3
1/2 minutes in which they were to collect popsicle sticks to keep track of how many
laps they run. After running with the assistance of a variety of fun holiday music,
students would return back to their group to record how many laps they ran in that
time.
Mrs. Strouse would like to congratulate the students in Mrs. Cooper, Ms. Doyle, Mrs.
Gottlieb, Mrs. Pizzuto and Mrs. Scarpone's kindergarten classes for their outstanding
holiday program on Tuesday morning for family and friends! So many skills go into
the creation of a performance, such as self-discipline, cooperation, (with other friends
on the risers) memorization, articulation, (projecting one's voice; use of expression)
just to name a few! Then, musically, using a singing voice, learning various melodies,
presence on the stage and learning how to maintain a steady beat are some of the
musical objectives learned. All of this, plus the "cute" factor adds up to a "peak"
performance experience in these little one's lives :-) If you want to see our youngest
"Pirates" in action, stay tuned for a date and time (TBA) that the program will air on
Channel 21.
In the community…
The Lion's Club: Free coats for children and adults will be distributed from the
Masonic Temple across from the hospital (Rt. 37) on January 9 and 10 from 9-5pm.
The coats are from the Burlington Coat Factory. If you have any questions, please
call Donald at 732-232-3157.
New Jersey Dental Association: they offer a program called “Give Kids a Smile NJ”
annually which will be Friday, February 5, 2016. This program provides free dental
care to children ages 12 and under. You must set up an appointment to be included –
please see their website www.njda.org or contact Mrs. Marella for further
information.
Please see attachment for information on TEAM’s running clinic!
School is open for a full day on Wednesday, December 23rd.
School is closed Thursday, December 24- January 3rd for the Winter holiday.
School reopens Monday, January 4th, 2016.
From our family here at North Dover to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday
season and a healthy and happy 2016!
Sincerely,
Ms. Colleen McGrath
Principal