The Monthly Mustang
The Official Newsletter for Wedgwood School Families
May 2022
Wedgwood Art Show & Ice Cream Social Makes Triumphant Return on June 1
The Wedgwood PTO is in search of volunteers to help our wonderful Art Teacher, Mrs. Burke, mount and hang student artwork over the next two weeks in preparation for the show. There are both daytime and nighttime opportunities to volunteer. Interested in helping out? Click here to reserve a spot! Feel free to sign up for more than one spot, grab a friend and work together!
First In Math Creator Visits Wedgwood To Celebrate Historic Year Of Problem Solving
In what is perhaps the most impressive statistic of all, we currently have 196 Wedgwood students who have earned the title of First in Math Grand Champion by solving more than 30,000 math problems each and amassing more than 10,000 stickers. This year, Wedgwood shattered the previous record for most Grand Champions in a school in a single year, which was 156!
Here are some of the many First In Math highlights for Wedgwood School (as of May 17, 2022):
- 12,791,049 math problems solved.
- 35,531 hours (time on task) practicing math.
- 190 Grand Champions (each students solved 30,000+ math problems, spending 100+ hours).
- One of only five schools in the nation with over 100 Grand Champions.
- Ranked #1 in New Jersey State and #4 in the Nation among Top First In Math Schools (6,000+ schools competing).
- Nine teams ranked among Top First In Math Teams in USA (65,000+ teams competing).
- Total of 25 Players in Top 100 in the USA by grade.
- Nationally ranked in five of the six FIM categories including Family Member, and Combined Family Players.
Wedgwood PTO Restaurant Raffle Tickets Now On Sale
Phillies Phitness Program Makes Stop At Wedgwood
Selected third, fourth and fifth graders at Wedgwood learned first-hand what it means to be “Phillies Fit” when representatives from the Philadelphia Phillies youth baseball and softball development group brought the “Phillies Phitness” program to the school on May 17. The visit was arranged by our physical education teacher, Mrs. Jenna Wehrle.
The “Phillies Phitness” program, presented by GIANT, is designed to educate children about steps they can take now to ensure a healthy future. Students learn the importance of being active through both exercises and activities they do every day, as well as the importance of smart food choices and good sleep. For more information about the event, including a slide show of photos, click here.
Memorial Day Break Information
School will be closed on Friday, May 27, and Monday, May 30, for Memorial Day Weekend. Students will return to school on Tuesday, May 31.
Important Fifth Grade Dates
- Wednesday, May 25 - Kickball Kraze - Total Turf - 6:00 p.m. (5:40 p.m. arrival)
- Tuesday, May 31 - Wedgwood Safeties Party - 1:00-3:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 1 - Wedgwood Safeties Party Rain Date - 1:00-3:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 2 - Fifth Grade Pool Party - Greenwood Park Bells Lake Community Club
- Thursday, June 2 - Fifth Grade D.A.R.E. Ceremony - Republic Bank Performing Arts Center (WTHS) - 6:00 p.m. (5:45 p.m. arrival)
- Friday, June 3 - CRMS Fun Fest - Chestnut Ridge MS - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- Monday, June 6 - Fifth Grade Pool Party Rain Date - Greenwood Park Bells Lake Community Club
- Wednesday, June 15 - Fifth Grade Stepping Up Ceremony - Wedgwood Gymnasium - 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, June 16 - Fifth Grade Breakfast and Yearbook Signing
Early Dismissal Days Begin June 10
Signing Students In Late/Out Early
Please be sure to follow these important guidelines when signing student in to school late or out of school early:
- All students being signed in/out of school must be accompanied by an authorized adult.
- After being buzzed into the building, the parent/guardian will remain in the vestibule, asked to present ID, and will sign out the student out without entering the main lobby.
- Please know that students who spend less than four hours in school (not including lunch) due to arriving tardy or leaving early will be marked absent for the day.
Thank you for working to make every effort to have our students arrive and leave Wedgwood on time!
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Please review the following information regarding Wedgwood School's arrival and dismissal procedures. For the safety of all, it is critical that both students and families practice physical distancing during arrival and dismissal at Wedgwood.
Walking Students
- Walking students are to arrive at the school not earlier than 9:20 AM
- The dismissal of walkers will be staggered in the afternoon. Students whose last name begins with letters A-L will be dismissed at 3:40 p.m. Students whose last name begins with M-Z will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m. This includes those who will be picked up by a parent/guardian.
- Students walking home will exit down the walkers' path at the back of the school, toward Dorado Avenue.
Students Dropped Off
- All traffic must enter the Wedgwood parking lot through the entrance designated in the diagram above.
- Cars are to move all of the way forward in the drop off line before releasing students for arrival.
- Students who are dropped off to school will enter the building via the door by the playground.
- Students are to be dropped off to school no earlier than 9:15 a.m.
- Parents/Guardians who are dropping students off must do so by allowing them to exit the vehicle along the sidewalk on the side of the building. Please do not park your car and drop off your child from the parking lot. Once your child has exited the vehicle, please continue on the drop-off loop as detailed in the illustration above.
Students Picked Up
- Students who will be picked up by a parent will exit the school from the door by the playground. Wedgwood staff will supervise all students until a parent comes and personally escorts the child to the vehicle.
- The dismissal of walkers will be staggered in the afternoon. Students whose last name begins with letters A-L will be dismissed at 3:40 p.m. Students whose last name begins with M-Z will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m. This includes those who will be picked up by a parent/guardian.
- All parents/guardians who wish to pick up their students at dismissal or who require alternative arrangements for pickup must notify the main office in writing. All written notification should be directed to your child's classroom teacher as well as our main office secretary, Mrs. Crosby, so that your child's needs can be met. She can be reached at bcrosby@wtps.org. Students are not permitted to verbally tell Wedgwood staff that they require alternative arrangements for pickup; all requests must be made in writing by the student's parent/guardian. If a teacher does not receive a note about the change in the child’s regular dismissal, the child will be sent home on his/her assigned bus.
- Students who are scheduled to be picked up and do not have a parent/guardian present at the time of dismissal will be brought to the main office. As per district policy, we will attempt to contact the parent(s) and/or emergency contacts on file. If no contact can be made within 30 minutes following school dismissal, the main office will coordinate efforts with the Washington Township Police Department to make contact with the student's parent/guardian.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for reviewing the school calendar and complying with all school dismissal times and procedures.
Regular Dismissal
- Students will board the buses in the loading area at the front of the school. Parents who are picking students up must their child’s teacher and the main office prior to the start of that school day.
- Parents must personally sign their child out of school.
- If a teacher does not receive a note about the change in the child’s regular dismissal, the child will be sent home on his/her assigned bus. Students are not permitted to ride any other bus but the one that is assigned to them.
Tech Support
Families in need of tech support with their district-issued laptop or iPad are asked to submit their request, including the child's name, PIN/ID number (if available) and a description of the issue to studenthelp@wtps.org.
Important Dates
- Thursday, May 26 - EARLY DISMISSAL (2:10 p.m.) - Staff Inservice
- Friday, May 27 - Monday, May 30 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Memorial Day Weekend
- Wednesday, June 1 - Wedgwood Art Show/Ice Cream Social - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 7 - Wedgwood PTO Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 9 - Wedgwood Talent Show - 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, June 10 - Thursday, June 16 - EARLY DISMISSAL W/O LUNCH (1:30 p.m.)
- Monday, June 13 - Wedgwood Field Day
- Thursday, June 16 - Last Day For Students!
Wedgwood Elementary School
Email: czimmerman@wtps.org
Website: wtps.org/wedgwood
Location: 236 Hurffville Road, Sewell, NJ 08080
Phone: (856) 227-8110
Facebook: facebook.com/wedgwoodwtps
Twitter: @wedgwoodwtps