September Family Newsletter
2023-2024 School Year
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!
Dear Barley Sheaf School Community,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We hope that your family had a relaxing and joyful summer break. As we embark on this new learning adventure together, we pledge to students and parents that this will be a highly engaging and memorable year for our Barley Sheaf students.
We had a busy summer at Barley Sheaf! Our staff have been attending professional development workshops, presenting at conferences, serving on curriculum committees, and reading professional literature to strengthen their teaching practice.
Please join us in welcoming a few new additions to the Barley Sheaf team. All of our new staff are highly qualified and will enhance our school community. We warmly welcome our new staff members to Barley Sheaf!
We look forward to partnering with you in your child's educational journey. Please be sure to read our monthly family newsletters throughout the year as they contain important information about school news, events, celebrations and more! Our annual Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 15th is a great way to meet many of our families and staff, and we look forward to welcoming parents into classrooms on Thursday, September 21st for Back-to-School Night.
We are excited to open our doors for students on Thursday, September 7th!
With great appreciation,
Amy Switkes, Principal
Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal
Meet our New Staff!
Amy Switkes
Principal
Kimberly Bostory
Jodi Carmon
Administrative Secretary
Amy Eisenhart
Special Education
Michael Sobieski
Second Grade
Brianna Coates
School Counselor
Joann Bajak
Reading Support
Rebecca Campbell
Eyislentd Jimenez
First Grade
Back to School Information
Save the Date
9/5/23- First Day of School for Teachers
9/6/23- PTO Chalk Walk 6:30 p.m.
9/7/23- First Day of School for Students, PTO Packets Sent Home
9/7/23-9/15/23- PTO Mum Sale
9/8/23- Spirit Day
9/13/23- PTO Dine Out Day
9/13/23- PTO Public Meeting 7:00 p.m. Library
9/15/23- PTO Ice Cream Social 6:15-7:30 p.m.
9/15/23- Return PTO Packet and Request for Homeroom Parent
9/21/23- Back to School Night
9/25/23- School Closed, Yom Kippur Observance
10/4/23- PTO Mum Pick Up
Welcome Back Video
Please enjoy our Welcome Back Video with information on Arrival and Dismissal, as well as a special read aloud with Mrs. Switkes and Ms. Bostory!
Back to School Night
Back to School Night will take place on Thursday, September 21. More details coming soon!
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
This year, NJ expanded its program so that more families can qualify for free school meals. Even families who have not qualified in the past may now qualify under this new program. The application is available in English and Spanish
School Procedures
From our School Nurse
Welcome back! My name is Erin Eosso and I am the Barley Sheaf School Nurse. The health office is an essential resource available to all of our students and staff. Please visit the district website under the Health Services tab for more information and to find any pertinent forms (physicals, allergy plans, asthma plans, PRN meds etc.) that may be required for your child's medical needs. If possible, parents should drop off all medications and completed paperwork before September 8th to ensure proper safety and care for your child at the start of the school year.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns via phone (908) 284-7588 or email erin.eosso@frsd.us.
Wishing your child a happy, healthy and safe school year!
Nurse Eosso
Safety and Security Procedures
- Visitors must be signed in and wear a visitor badge in the building.
- Do not hold any doors for visitors.
- Only staff and students are permitted on school grounds during school hours.
- For the safety and security of our staff and students, monthly fire and security drills are conducted.
- We have a full time School Resource Officer, Officer John Carney, working at Barley Sheaf every day.
- Use the crosswalks in the parking lot.
- Obey the 15 mph speed limit in our parking lot.
Our school district is using a new system to sign visitors into school. Please review this letter about our new system, Raptor.
Student Arrival
Buses and Vans
- Please ensure that your child knows his/her bus number. Each morning, buses and vans will park and unload our K‐4 students on the side of the building. Upon arrival, students will be greeted by staff members and enter the building through the designated entrances.
Parent Drop-off
- Students may be dropped off in front of the school from 8:30-8:50 am along the front sidewalk. When driving your child to school, please enter by turning right into the first school driveway on Barley Sheaf Road. For safety reasons, cars may not make a left turn to enter school grounds during arrival and dismissal.
- Please display your family car tag and follow the directions given by staff on duty. Click here to request a family car tag. Students should exit the car on the school side of the vehicle in order to ensure student safety. All students will walk along the front sidewalk and enter the school through the main entrance.
- Always remember to stay in line when dropping students off in front of the building. Cars may not drive into the back parking lot of the school after 8:25am. If you plan to walk your child to the front door, you must park in the south visitor parking lot (in front of the playground patio) and cross at the crosswalk to the main entrance.
Walkers
- Walkers should enter the building through the main entrance. Staff will be on duty to monitor the crosswalks. Please review this letter for more information on student walkers.
Student Dismissal
Buses and Vans
- Students riding buses will be called for dismissal as their bus arrives. Please ensure that your child knows their bus number. Staff members will be available to assist students and ensure they locate and board the correct bus.
Walkers and Parent Pick-up
- Both walkers and students for parent pick up will be dismissed from the front entrance. When picking your child up from school, please enter by turning right into the first school driveway on Barley Sheaf Road. For safety reasons, cars may not make a left turn to enter school grounds during arrival and dismissal.
- Please display your family car tag and follow the directions given by staff on duty. Click here to request a family car tag. Children will be called to the front foyer as parents arrive, and staff will assist with loading students into your vehicle.
- Parents must stay in their cars at all times and remain in the car line unless directed to proceed by a staff member. Pick up will start at 3:25.
- 3:25-3:35 Last Names A-M
- 3:35-3:45 Last Names N-Z
Changes to Your Child's Dismissal Routine
We cannot change a child’s designated bus stop or assigned bus. If your child normally rides a bus home, but you will be picking him/her up, a note must be sent to the teacher.
If you must sign your child out prior to dismissal, please do so before 3:15 pm. Please come to the main office and your child will be called to the office for dismissal.
If your child attends the YMCA after-care and you make a change to their dismissal, please contact both the YMCA and the Barley Sheaf main office regarding any changes.
If someone other than the parent/guardian is taking your child home at the end of the day, please write a note to your child’s teacher detailing the change and giving permission for your child to leave with this person. Please remember that you may not take a child other than your own unless written permission from that child’s parent has been given to the school.
Building our School Community
Meet our Therapy Dog, Stuart Little!
Barley Sheaf is excited to introduce our new therapy dog, Stuart Little! Please review this informational letter with Stuart's credentials from Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Stuart will visit with students in small groups, 1:1 settings, and in classrooms.
If you wish to opt your child out of visits with Stuart Little, please complete this form.
From our School Counselors
As the school counselors, our goal is to promote the social, emotional and educational growth of the students at Barley Sheaf. By meeting with parents, collaborating with teachers and staff, and consulting with community organizations, we are working to meet the needs of the students in our care. We meet with students in individual, small group and classroom sessions to teach students how to understand and manage their emotions, develop skills for learning, and gain awareness of others’ feelings. We work together to problem solve and learn to make responsible decisions.
We are looking forward to getting to know each and every student at Barley Sheaf Elementary School. Please see the Back To School tips below to help your children transition from summer to a new school year!
Gina Collins and Brianna Coates
School Counselors
From the Barley Sheaf PTO
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! The Barley Sheaf Parent Teacher Organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable group who work to raise funds, plan events, and generally support our teachers, staff members, children, and families. We hope that you will join us as a member, and consider volunteering for an event and/or a committee. We are looking forward to a great year!
You can join the PTO or renew your membership at https://barleysheafpto.membershiptoolkit.com/.
2023-2024 Barley Sheaf PTO Executive Board:
President: Morgan Henry
Ex-Officio (Advisory) President: Jodi Reed
Co-Vice President & Treasurer: Jessica Ur
Co-Vice President: Kelliann TenKate
Secretary: Brianna Pileggi