The Kangaroo News
Knollwood School PTO Newsletter
Visit us at:
June 2011
www.piscatawayschools.org
Dear Knollwood Families,
It is so hard to believe that the 2010-2011 school year is coming to an end. Although I joined the Knollwood family
the end of November, I feel like I have been here all year. I thank each of you for welcoming me to
Knollwood…we have had an awesome educational journey together!
On behalf of the Knollwood staff, I would like to thank everyone for the continued support of our school. You have
demonstrated continued dedication to our students and we are immensely appreciative. Thank you to the many
volunteers who have given tirelessly of their time and talents. Each of you helped to make this an exciting and
productive school year. Volunteers are reflective of the excellent partnership between home and school and help
to enhance and enrich the educational opportunities afforded our students.
Thank you to our PTO for going above and beyond to give our students rewarding and enriching programs and
events. A big THANK YOU to Mark Okamoto, Lisa Fox and Karyn Erdman as they leave our PTO after countless
hours of dedicated service to the students and staff of this great school. We appreciate all that you’ve done for the
school and will miss you very much. To our newly elected PTO Executive Board members, welcome to the 20112012 school year. We are excited for the new and exciting connections we will make as we embark upon another
exciting school year.
I would also like to personally thank the Knollwood Staff who have worked tirelessly to provide a challenging
and positive learning environment for our students. You are the best staff ever and our students are fortunate to
have such dedication at their fingertips. You consistently demonstrate the highest degree of dedication and
professional performance and I’m truly thankful. Parents, thank you for making this a wonderful year for our
students. It takes a combined effort to succeed and you have been an integral part of this process. It was a tough
winter and rainy spring; however, as a team we all pulled together to make sure all students were happy and
prepared to learn each day. Please encourage your children to participate in the district summer reading program.
You can receive additional information at www.piscatawayschools.org.
Our third grade students will move on to MLK in September and we will miss them very much. They are prepared
for the new and exciting challenges that await them and we’ll always be here for them. To our returning students,
we are excited to continue the great work that we’ve started. Please check our website and the PTO calendar
included in this Newsletter for activities/events that will occur during the month of June.
It is an honor and privilege to be Principal of Knollwood School. I look forward to seeing all of you in September.
Have a safe and fun summer and enjoy special moments with your family and friends.
Marlene J. Davis
Principal
From the PTO . . .
The Knollwood Parent Teachers Organization is wrapping up another successful school year!! If you missed our last
event of the year, The Knollwood BBQ, you missed a beautiful day, good food, great friends and an impromptu Zumba
class!! As we continue to wrap up the school year with our Box Tops for Educations $50,000 winnings, we now have our
new Computer Tech lab completed! Students and teachers are really enjoying their new high tech lab. The playground
equipment installment should be starting soon, but will take through the summer to complete. Third grade parents are
welcome to bring their children back to enjoy the new playground. With the $435 from the clothing drive and surplus
PTO funds, this year’s End Of Year school gift were new audio systems for every classroom. The teachers were very
happy to throw away multiple pieces of non working audio equipment!
Keep collecting the Box Tops throughout the summer! Every clipping helps!! This issue of the Kangaroo news includes a
Summer Box Tops collection form. Also for your convenience, this issue also includes the board approved 2011-2012
school calendar.
Have a great summer and as always, feel free to contact the PTO at: [email protected]
Lisa Fox Co-President
Chris Eodice Co-President
Karyn Erdman Vice-President
Mark Okamoto Treasurer
Darlene Abry Secretary
The Trial of the Lion King
Performed by Knollwood School’s Law Fair Class
Jealous Uncle Scar has finally found a way to overthrow King Simba. It turns out
that the laws of Pride Rock prohibit any lion from becoming king if he has broken
any law. If Scar can prove that Simba trespassed into the hyenas’ territory and is
guilty of attempted murder, the jury will have to decide that Simba is not the
rightful king. Could he just be ‘lion’ or could Simba really be guilty as charged?
Come join some surprise and even ghostly guests to determine Simba’s royal fate.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Knollwood School Cafetorium
333 Willow Ave.
Piscataway, NJ 08854
[email protected] for more info
May, 2011
Dear Parents/Guardians:
With the end of the school year quickly upon us,
we know that you are planning for your child's
summer vacation. Like most parents, you are
aware that while the summer months are a
welcome opportunity for fun and relaxation, the
break from school activities often causes students
to experience a lag in learning. In fact, research
shows that children who do not continue to read
throughout the summer may lose a month or
more of the progress made during the school
year. By encouraging children to read, parents
play a critical role in ensuring that children
maintain or exceed their current reading levels.
Reading is a magical experience! It opens the
door to enjoyment, fulfillment, and information. It
allows us to enter a realm in which anything can
happen and where learning knows no
boundaries. As parents, it is important that you
explore, understand, and participate in the
literacy experiences of your children. Children are
a precious gift, and the opportunity to inspire a
love of reading is both a great honor and an
extraordinary responsibility. With your help, we
can afford our children the opportunities to
embark on wonderful adventures and, at the
same time, increase their verbal and cognitive
developments. We hope you will join us as we
begin our quest!
The Kangaroo News, Knollwood staff and community
would like to thank outgoing PTO board members
Lisa Fox, Karyn Erdman and Mark Okamoto for
their years of service and dedication to the students
of Knollwood.
The PTO Board for the 2011-2012 school year will be:
Chris Eodice Co-President
Susan Mierzejwski Co-President
Stephanie Robbins Vice-President
Darlene Abry Secretary
Katrina Wong Treasurer
2
nd
The PTO is looking for
grade parents to assist
with the 3rd grade
Moving Up Ceremony.
Please contact the PTO at
[email protected]
if you can help!!
US ON
“Knollwood School PTO”
Best wishes for a safe, restful summer,
Robert L. Copeland
For more information on the district Summer
Reading program, go to
www.piscatawayschools.org
Click on….
Curriculum & Instruction
Summer Curricular Projects
2011 Summer Reading
For Book Levels, go to
www.scholastic.com
Book Wizard Tab
Some other June celebrations:
National Tennis Month
June 6th National Yo-Yo Day
June 17th Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 20th Ice Cream Soda Day
Knollwood School
Calendar of Events
Sun
Mon
June 2011
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
2
Fri
Sat
3
4
Tropical Day
wear your
Hawaiian
shirt or straw
hat
5
12
6
13
7
14
Flag Day
8
Law Fair - Mock
Trial 6:30
9
10
11
Teacher’s
Appreciation
Lunch
15
Kindergarten
Bridging Over
16
3 Grade
Moving up
Half day of school
Half day of school
17
18
24
25
rd
Report card
distribution
19
Father’s
Day
20
26
27
21
First Day of
28
22
Summer Camp
Begins
29
23
30