The Wildcat Weekly
Volume 3 Issue 2
Calendar of Events
Monday, Sept 18 Bus Evacuation Drill
Tuesday, Sept 19 BOE Meeting 7pm @ Performing Arts Room
Wednesday, Sept 20 Elementary (PK-5) Back to School Night @ 6:30pm
Thursday, Sept 21 PK-3 School Photo Day
Friday, Sept 22 Gr 4-8 School Photo Day
Saturday, Sept 23 PiE Fall Festival 1:30pm-4:30pm
Sunday, Sept 24 PiE Fall Festival (Raindate)
Monday, Sept 25 No School: Yom Kippur
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We've completed our 1st full week of school! The students are getting used to their routines, and they are starting to form positive relationships with peers and staff members!
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The Board of Education is committed to supporting our students by supporting our field trips this year! As a result, they have generously agreed to fund student and transportation costs for our grade level field trips this year (our "bigger" trips in the Middle School are the exception). More information will follow in individual permission slips, but that's great news for all families!
Back to school Nights
Thanks to those of you who attended our Middle School Back to School Night.
We hope you found it both informative and enjoyable.
Our Elementary School Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, Sept 20.
Please click below for more information.
2023 Back to School Night at DTS
Childhood Cancer Awareness
Please take a moment to read about the two events taking place on Sunday September 24th.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. As many of you may know, a few years ago we lost two students to cancer, Rayana Morrero and Mackenzie Wright. Both girls unfortunately did not make it to third grade. Since then, both families have been committed to making a difference in the fight against cancer. Rayana’s family runs the St. Baldrick's Head Shaving event and Mackenzie’s family organizes a large team of runners and walkers to race in the Parkway Run and Walk in Philadelphia. The Parkway event is in the morning and the Head Shaving event is in the afternoon.
If you can take part in either event the families would so appreciate it and you can show your support for research and support to help fight childhood cancer!
Thanks in advance!
Mrs. Moira GaNun
Middle School Personal Communication Devices
At DTS, we pride ourselves on ensuring students are equipped with the latest technology and the most effective resources to enhance their learning experience. As a result, we do not want students' personal communication devices (cell phones, smart watches) distracting them from their educational experiences or replacing what we are providing for them.
Students in grades 6-8 must use their lockers and place both their phones and smart watches in their lockers for the entire day. Parents, please contact the main office of the school if you need to get in touch with your child. We ask that you please adhere to these procedures so students are not left with a confusing message ("I'm not allowed to use my phone, but my mom keeps texting me!). In the event of an emergency, we will reach out to you by phone, email, and/or listserv as we have always done before.
If students break these rules, they will be given tiered restorative & disciplinary measures depending on the type of infraction, as well as the frequency of the infraction.
Should you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Wheatley, our Curriculum Supervisor. vwheatley@dtsk8nj.org
Thank you ahead of time for your cooperation and understanding.
Muralist coming to DTS
In conjunction with Delaware Township School’s Character Education program, PiE is bringing Muralist Caren Olmsted to the school for about one month in the Springtime. She will work with every student to transform one of the main hallways into a stunning work of art that will last for decades to come. Every student, staff member, and parent who wishes to participate can and will help paint a one-of-a-kind mural in the school!
The big question is, what should we paint? Please take your time in completing this survey. However, we would like all submissions in by
Friday, Oct. 13th.
If you need some inspiration, here is a link to the Muralist’s website – olmstedmurals.com. As you can see, her work is in dozens of schools!
Walk for CMT
It was wonderful to see so many community members and DTS staff show their support by representing our Kindergartener Caden in the annual Walk for CMT last week at Somerset Patriots Stadium! Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a disease of the peripheral nerves that control muscles that can cause progressive loss of function and sensation
in the hands, arms, legs, and feet.
There will always be a team that supports our students!
Click here for the August Slice of PiE Newsletter
PiE (Partners in Education) is an all-volunteer, community organization that supports enrichment opportunities for school age residents in the community of Delaware Township. Check out our website to learn more to get involved (www.dtspie.com)
PiE Calendar
- Check out the calendar of events for 2023-24!! We have worked hard to line up fun activities for the year and hope you are able to join. Some are family events, some are opportunities to meet other parents in your child’s community, so, please look to these newsletters and our social media for updates (including the website!)
- We plan to post online sign ups a few months ahead so you can book a slot in advance. Please see the calendar for the events we will need volunteers for between now and December.
Monthly Meetings
Fall Festival
- We are so excited to host the first Fall Festival for PiE! We are hoping for a fun afternoon event at the School on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for students and families to catch up. Face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, kickball, and GAGA will all be busy spots.
- We are hoping for volunteers to help with scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, and carnival-style games. Sign up to help by either creating your own booth or volunteering to help with one of PiE's https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAFA92AA3F85-fall
- Volunteers who create their own booth will be able to choose one item from a list of options from the Fall Spiritwear sale as a token of our appreciation.
Annual Sponsorships
- PiE fund raises by asking local businesses to become annual sponsors. As a sponsor, their name and/or logo will be advertised at various events throughout the year, on our website and school directory. Please email dtspie@gmail.com to become a sponsor or for further information. Attached is our letter and sponsor form we have sent. The deadline to be included on the back cover of the directory is September 15, 2023.
Annual Program Fee
- You will also receive a letter regarding the program fee in your first day packet; also attached. The recommended donation of $75/student has been adjusted to reflect our current goals for programming. See attached form if you would like to send in sooner or for additional details. Only one form and packet are sent per family so don’t worry if you don’t get one for each of your children.
- The program fee is due September 15, 2023 and drives how much programming we can afford to do organizationally. See an attached snapshot from last year that highlights many of the awesome events PiE was able to organize and fund due to the Sponsorships and Program Fee.
Book Fair
- The Book Fair will be October 23-27 this year. There will be a family night on Thursday, Oct. 26th from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Book Fair is an exciting experience for the students. They enjoy picking out books to purchase. Letting children pick out their own books encourages them to read more.
- We need volunteers to help make this year’s book fair successful. Follow the link to sign up to volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAFA92AA3F85-book2
Spirit Wear
- Our DTS PiE Fall Spiritwear Store will be live within the next few weeks. Keep an eye out toward the end of September for links to order.
Muralist Residency
- At the end of last year, PiE, with support from the Administration and Board of Education, moved forward with bringing a schoolwide Muralist Residency to DTS for the current year. The muralist Caren Olmsted will work with PiE, the school, and most importantly each and every student to transform the main hallways near the Main Office into a work of art that will last for decades to come. Her past work at schools and elsewhere can be explored at www.olmstedmurals.com.
- The theme is to celebrate DTS and its community! PiE is looking for feedback on what should be included (e.g., local landmarks, unique events, historic notes, etc.). Please respond by Friday, Oct. 13, 2023!
- The painting will take place during the month of April 2024 and PiE will be looking for volunteers to assist so stay tuned for more details.
Holiday Shoppe
- This year, the Shoppe will be 12/4-12/6/2023. It is a great experience for students to learn a little about budgeting and have the thrill of finding something that their special someone(s) will treasure around the holidays.
- PiE is looking for a co-chair for the event. We need someone who can partner with the current chairperson and be the day-to-day, on-site person to assist with picking up money, organizing the physical space, etc. Please reach out as soon as you can to dtspie@gmail.com to let us know if you might be interested!
- We need volunteers to help make this year’s Shoppe successful. Follow the link to sign up to volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAFA92AA3F85-volunteer2
ShopRite Gift Card Program
- Looking for a way to help PiE raise money? Check out our new form that also is being sent home to sign up, but it costs you nothing other than the amount you would already spend at ShopRite!
- PiE makes 5% on every gift card purchase so that same $100, earns PiE $5.
- How it works - you register using the form, each month, you will receive the gift card increment (for example $100), and then you write a check to PiE for the $100. Super simple and if you shop at ShopRite, it doesn’t cost you anything more or less!!
Note To School
- Tired of writing notes to the school when your child needs to stay after school or is being signed out early? PiE has just the answer - a notepad with the key data points the school needs already pre-printed and organized. Simply fill in your personal data and send it along with your child.
- Reach out to dtspie@gmail.com to order yours. One pad is $3; two pads for $5.
Volunteer
- Want to volunteer some of your time for PiE events? Fill out the Google Form & be notified of any upcoming PiE events in need of volunteers.
- Check out the attached list of Current Committees with the Chairperson’s contacts in case there is something that interests you and you’d like to reach out directly to get involved.
- There are also some PiE committees in need of a chairperson. For more information or questions contact Debbie Lubitz at dlubitz319@gmail.com.
More detailed information on ALL of our events can be found on our website at www.dtspie.com, email us at dtspie@gmail.com or check out our social media pages (Instagram & Facebook)
Substitute Teachers Needed!
Attention, aspiring educators! Become a Substitute Teacher NOW with just 30 college credits - Certification Fee WAIVED by the State!
Great part-time opportunity for current college students, parents looking to get back into the workforce, or retirees anxious for some time away from home. Work when your schedule permits.
Contact Valerie Wheatley, our new Curriculum Supervisor, if you are interested in helping out DTS as a new Substitute Teacher. vwheatley@dtsk8nj.org
What's Happening Around Town?
Delaware Township Rec Commission
click the image above for a full program guide
Newsletter Submission
The Wildcat Weekly is published every Friday.
In cases where it is a shortened week, the publication date may be adjusted.
If you would like something published in the newsletter, please email your submission to slipson@dtsk8nj.org by each Tuesday at 3:30pm. Please include the length of time you'd like your information to be in the newsletter.
All submissions must be approved by the school administration
before being included in the newsletter.
