The Crossing
Brooks Crossing School Newsletter - October 28, 2019
Dear Brooks Crossing Families,
It is hard to believe that it is almost November! Our time is flying by at Brooks Crossing. Since the start of the school year, our teachers have been busy helping our students to become familiar and comfortable with our school and classroom routines, and our students are doing a great job. Although it's only October, we have already had an ice cream social, celebrated Week of Respect, and had many spirit days. This week, we also celebrated Anti-Violence Week, which included an assembly where our kids learned how to be a HERO (Help Everyone Respect Others), and participated in our superhero spirit day!
You may have noticed a shift in communication. Whether your child(ren) are at the Brooks Crossing Main Campus or the Brooks Crossing Deans Campus our communication has consistently been sent from Brooks Crossing. Although we learn at two campuses, we are one school. When we answer the phone, you will hear us say, "Brooks Crossing Main Campus" and "Brooks Crossing Deans Campus," because all of our students are Brooks Crossing students. Although two campuses, our school functions as one school. We are using the different terms to specify location, not school title.This is a shift that we are all working toward.
It was nice to meet so many of you at Back to School Night, earlier in October. We hope that you found it informative and helpful, as you offer support to your child at home. For those that missed my presentation at Back to School Night, Click here to view the slides of the Principal Welcome Presentation. If you didn't get a chance to read this helpful New York Times article, I am sharing the link again. This article, How to Help Your Child Succeed contains information and guidelines to help you and your child have a great school year!
We are gearing up for conferences and look forward to seeing parents on November 4th. This is a great time to discuss the academic progress of your student(s) and get a good picture of what a typical day looks like for them. If you haven't had an opportunity to sign up yet, please do so soon. Here is the link to our directions sheet.
I continue to be thankful to be a part of this learning community - teachers, students and parents, and look forward to continuing to forge a strong partnership.
Sincerely,
Jaime Maccarone
Halloween and Harvest Events
Click here for Halloween & Harvest Events Information at Brooks Crossing School.
This flyer includes information about our upcoming classroom parties and the Harvest Event option for those who do not celebrate Halloween. In order for students to participate in the Harvest Event, rather than their classroom Halloween party, this form must be completed and sent to school.
BROOKS CROSSING IS GOING PAPERLESS!
In the district's ongoing efforts to "go green", Brooks Crossing School is going paperless. You will no longer receive paper copies of most documents, and will need to rely on the many sources of information available to you. Our weekly Online Friday Folder will provide the most up to date information. This includes: forms, sales, registrations and announcements from our PTO, and other time sensitive information.
In an effort to save you a few steps, we have also begun to use online registration and payment sites, such as www.cheddarup.com.
We currently are using this online paperless option for:
1) The PTO Membership Registration
2) The The After School Enrichment Program Registration
You can now just go directly to the online site and register and make payment at your convenience.
You can find our Friday Folder at: https://bcde.sbschools.org/school_information/friday_folders or on the homepage of our school website at: https://bcde.sbschools.org/
Please also check out our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for more news that we share with our families!
Follow Us!
The Brooks Crossing School Facebook Facebook.com/SBSDBC.
Our Twitter handle is @SBSDBC.
Brooks Crossing Supports our Veterans - We Need Your Help!
This year, our school community will take time to learn about veterans, and the important sacrifices they made for our country. Students will honor & thank veterans by assembling care packages for a VA medical center. We are asking for your help to make this act of service a great success! Please consider donating one of the items listed below. You can send donations to school with your child, or bring them in during conferences. Our collection will end on November 12th.
Pre-K & Kindergarten: travel size lotion
1st Grade: travel size shampoo
2nd Grade: travel size liquid body wash
3rd Grade: travel size toothbrushes with toothpaste
4th Grade: travel size mouthwash
5th Grade: travel size deodorant
Parent Teacher Conferences
NOTE: Genesis conference scheduling will CLOSE on October 30, so please log in prior to 10/30 and schedule your conference.
After School Enrichment Program
We are pleased to announce our first cycle of Enrichment Options for Brooks Crossing students in Grades 2-5. Enrichment programs are exciting courses offered by our teachers. Most clubs take place at the BC Main Campus from 2:50-3:50pm, but the Cozy Book Nook Club will be held 6-7pm. See the online registration form for dates each club will be held. Programs are filled on a first come first served basis and club sizes are limited. You may sign up for more than one club, as long as they are not scheduled on the same day of the week.
Transportation home is the responsibility of the parent. Students enrolled in Community Education's After School Program will return to the program when their club option ends.
Note: In the event of an early closing, or school cancellation due to inclement weather, clubs will be cancelled for that day, but makeup sessions will be scheduled. Unless notified otherwise, students would then follow their normal dismissal routine.
NOTE: This information was also emailed to our Brooks Crossing families on Oct. 16th. If you did not receive this email, you should log into your Genesis Parent Portal and update your notification settings. Choose Non-emergency AND Emergency Notifications for accounts where you would like to receive notifications.
Receiving NON-Emergency and Emergency Notifications
If you are not receiving the many notifications that are being sent via School Messenger to keep you informed, you may need to update your settings in the Genesis Parent Portal. Notifications that have been sent recently included; Conference Scheduling Information/Instructions, After School Enrichment Program, Halloween & Harvest Events, The Crossing School Newsletter, Back-to-School Night, and more!
To receive Non-Emergency Notifications, that will include updates from the school regarding events and other school news, AND Emergency Notifications, such as weather related delayed openings/closings, follow these steps:
1) Log into the Genesis Parent Portal
2) Go to your contact information and check off all boxes that apply to receive Non-Emergency AND Emergency Notifications.
November School Spirit Days - Friday 11/15 and Friday 11/22
School Rules
These same students will be responsible for revealing these rules to our entire Brooks Crossing community in November. We would like to extend a big thank you for all of their hard work. We know that when everyone follows these new rules, every corner of our schools will be safe places for students to do their best learning!
Brooks Crossing is Future Ready and we think this is a big deal!
Thank you to our core group of representatives who worked tirelessly to examine teacher practices and completed all of the necessary paperwork, especially Alanna O'Shea, Krista Kelly and Haritha Tottempudi. You will see a new banner displayed in our entryway soon.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) News
For questions or to volunteer, Email: BrooksCrossingPTO@gmail.com
PTO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1397496623
PTO Online Membership - Join for only $11 per family and show your support for your PTO
FOOD DRIVE SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL SOUTH BRUNSWICK FOOD PANTRY
Help us replenish much needed items for the S.B. Food Pantry! Students may bring items to school by Nov. 1st.
Non-perishable items needed include:
Whole Wheat Pasta, Pasta Sauces, Canned Tomatoes, Canned Sweet Potatoes & Canned White Potatoes
ATTENTION PARENTS! When you come for your conference on Monday, November 4th, feel free to bring final donations with you. Look for donation bins at both campuses!
Clothing and Shoe Drive Fundraiser
Click here for details of our Clothing and Shoe Drive Fundraiser. Please note that only specific items will be accepted.
Donations will be accepted at -
Both the BC Main Campus AND the BC Deans Campus: Wednesday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 15 (during school hours)
BC Main Campus ONLY on Saturday, Nov. 16 we will accept donations from 9am-12pm
List of Important Dates
Wed. 10/30 - Genesis Parent Portal CLOSES for conference scheduling
Thurs. 10/31 - Classroom Halloween Parties & Harvest Program
Sun. 11/3 - Daylight Saving Time Ends. SET CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR.
Mon. 11/4 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Schools Closed for Students.
Mon. 11/4 - Final day for Food Drive donations. Parents may bring final donations while visiting for conferences.
Nov. 5 & 6 - Schools Closed for Students. Staff Only/Professional Development
Nov. 7 & 8 - Schools Closed. NJEA Convention.
Wed. 11/13 - Fri. 11/15 - Clothing and Shoe Drive Fundraiser at both campuses
Thurs. 11/14 - PICTURE RETAKE DAY
Fri. 11/15 - Wear Camouflage or Patriotic Colors SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY to show support for our Veterans
Sat. 11/16 - Final Donations for Clothing and Shoe Drive can be dropped off at BC MAIN CAMPUS, 9am-12pm
Fri. 11/22 - Passion Day SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY. Wear something that shows what you LOVE
Wed. 11/27 - EARLY RELEASE DAY. DE dismisses 12:45 / BC dismisses 12:50
Nov. 28 & 29 - Schools Closed. Thanksgiving Recess.
Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday, Nov. 3. Remember to SET your CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR at 2AM.
Stay in Contact with Us
Email: jaime.maccarone@sbschools.org
Website: https://bcde.sbschools.org/
Location: Brooks Crossing Elementary School
Phone: 732-821-7478
Facebook: Facebook.com/SBSDBC
Twitter: @SBSDBC