The Crossing
January/February 2020
Principal's Message
We have had a busy January at Brooks Crossing! Our students and teachers have been hard at work and are back into a good routine after our winter break.
Our second round of after school enrichment clubs has begun. Students who signed up are participating in Firefly Tennis, BC Runners Club and Handball Club. Our students are getting active! Thank you to Mr. Dunn for lending his fantastic organization skills!
This week, we recognized "No Naming Calling" week. Our students had a daily kindness challenge each day. We ended the week with our January whole-school morning meeting and buddy class activity. At the whole school meeting, we focused on put-ups, not put-downs. This was followed by an opportunity for buddy classes to set individual goals and make posters with positive messages, to be hung around our school.
I would like to extend a thank you to our PTO for organizing a successful Bricks 4 Kidz event. We are also looking forward to the PTO Family Carnival on Friday, February 21st. See PTO News below in this newsletter, and look for discounted ticket sales and more information that will be posted in upcoming Online Friday Folders.
Please read below for more information about our Brooks Crossing happenings. I look forward to an equally busy February (and hopefully one good snow day!).
Warm Regards,
Jaime Maccarone
Brooks Crossing to Celebrate "Global School Play Day" on February 5th
Global School Play Day (GSPD) is a worldwide movement designed to remind students, parents, teachers and administrators about the many benefits of unstructured play. We are excited to announce that Brooks Crossing will participate this year!
The first GSPD was held in 2015, and was observed by more than 65,000 students. By 2019, registered participation had grown to over 535,690 students from 72 nations! Here are some of the important details you should know:
GSPD emphasizes the need for creative, unstructured play. As a result, it is a “tech free” zone. This means that no electronic devices (computers, iPads, etc.) are allowed.
Students may be given the opportunity to bring items from home to enhance their play. This will vary from grade to grade based on things like student age, existing classroom supplies, classroom space restrictions, etc. Your child’s teacher will follow-up with him/her regarding what this will look like for your child’s class. It is important to note that if your child’s teacher allows him/her to bring something from home, he/she is expected to share the item with peers and is responsible for ensuring that the item makes it back home safely. We kindly ask that parents refrain from sending anything valuable or sentimental.
Dress Prepared for Winter Weather
Reporting Daily and Extended Absences in Genesis
When possible, parents should use the Genesis Parent Portal at https://parents.sbschools.org as a convenient way to report their child's absence. Daily absences should be entered preferably by 8:00am.
Upcoming planned absences should be entered in the Genesis Parent Portal at https://parents.sbschools.org as soon as possible. These include extended absences due to travel, doctor appointments, etc. Once entered into Genesis, there is no need to write a note to the attendance office or call the main office to report the absence.
Need assistance? Click this link for SBSD Genesis Parent Portal ATTENDANCE DIRECTIONS
Parents should always keep their child's teacher informed of extended absences that could impact their learning. Please speak with your child's teacher in advance of any planned extended absence.
SCHOOL SPIRIT DAYS
FEBRUARY SCHOOL SPIRIT DAYS
LIST OF IMPORTANT DATES
Thurs. Jan. 30 - EARLY RELEASE DAY. Staff Professional Development. (DE Campus dismisses at 12:45pm & BC Main Campus at 12:50pm)
Fri. Jan. 31 - School Spirit Sports Day! Celebrate this weekend's Super Bowl by wearing any sport shirt!
Mon. Feb. 3 - Genesis Parent Portal OPENS AFTER 7:00pm for parents to schedule Parent Teacher Conferences.
- Board of Education Meeting, Crossroads North, 7:00pm
Fri. Feb. 7 - School Pride School Spirit Day! Wear school colors (Blue/Green) or your BC spirit wear!
Thurs. Feb. 13 - SB Parent Academy Workshop, Freedom to Fail: Fostering Positive Risk Taking, Creativity & Growth, Crossroads North, 7:00pm
Fri. Feb. 14 - Happy Valentine's Day!
Mon. Feb. 17 - Schools Closed. Presidents' Day.
- Deadline to purchase discounted PTO Carnival tickets. Details to follow in upcoming Online Friday Folder.
Tues. Feb. 18 - Board of Education Meeting, Crossroads North, 7:00pm
Wed. Feb. 19 - Grades K-2 Report Cards Posted to Genesis Parent Portal
Fri. Feb. 21 - School Spirit Decade Day! Show your school spirit by dressing from another decade!
- Access to conference scheduling in Genesis Parent Portal CLOSES AT 4:00pm.
- PTO Family Carnival, Brooks Crossing Main Campus, 6-8pm, Details to follow in upcoming Online Friday Folder.
Wed. Feb. 26 - EARLY RELEASE DAY. Parent Teacher Conferences.
Thurs. Feb. 27 - EARLY RELEASE DAY. Parent Teacher Conferences.
Fri. Feb. 28 - School Spirit Disney Day! In honor of our upcoming production of Aladdin, show your school spirit by wearing something Disney related! Maybe a shirt, a hat, or even ears!
Grades K-2 First Semester Report Cards
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Please refer to the February Spring Conference Information letter for scheduling a conference that Mrs. Maccarone emailed on January 21st. This contains important instructions and links for how to sign-up for a conference.
Before doing so, you should have already read Superintendent Scott Feder's Parent Teacher Conference Letter that he emailed to all families on January 13th. This contained important detailed information.
Spring Conferences will be held on February 26th and February 27th. These are both Early Release Days.
If you need to schedule a conference, you should do so as soon as possible ONLINE. Note the important dates and times below for scheduling:
- Monday, February 3rd, AFTER 7:00pm - PORTAL OPENS for parents to login in to schedule an appointment.
- Friday, February 21st, at 4:00PM - PORTAL CLOSES. Parents cannot access the portal after 4pm.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you did not receive Mr. Feder's or Mrs. Maccarone's emails containing Parent Teacher Conference information, please follow the steps found in this newsletter to receive Emergency and Non-Emergency Notifications to stay informed.
Kindergarten Registration for 2020-2021
WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR KINDERGARTEN FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR! Students currently attending one of our district preschool programs do not need to re-register. Appointments can be made through our district website.
Do not delay! Students who are registered will be invited to our Kindergarten Orientation Program held in the Spring.
Go to https://www.sbschools.org/central_registration to pre-register and schedule an appointment.
Children must attain 5 years of age on or before October 31, 2020 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year. Entrance Age Policy is strictly enforced.
South Brunswick Parent Academy (SBPA)
The South Brunswick Municipal Alliance and the South Brunswick School District have partnered to offer a serives of workshops under the umbrella of the South Brunswick Parent Academy (SBPA). The Academy was founded on the concept of "Solving the Puzzle of Parenting...One Piece at a Time." In it's fourteenth year, SBPA continues to offer parenting workshops, as well as District workshops on curriculum, instruction and safe and caring schools. This year's Academy provides a wealth of information on timely and relevant issues facing families today.
Descriptions for the following upcoming workshops can be found on this link: SBPA Workshop Offerings & Descriptions for 2019-2020.
Freedom to Fail: Fostering Positive Risk Taking, Creativity & Growth, Crossroads North, Thursday, Feb. 13th, 7:00pm
EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS
Since we strive to be a paperless school district, everyone should have access to receive both Emergency and Non-Emergency Notifications to stay informed and not miss important announcements. Notifications on your phones and/or email accounts may include; reminders for events held at Brooks Crossing School, unexpected weather related delays/early closings, district announcements, and notifications from the transportation department regarding bus delays.
To make sure you are receiving Emergency and Non-Emergency Notifications, please click on the link below and follow the instructions to set up your phone numbers and email accounts.
STEPS TO UPDATE GENESIS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL MESSENGER TEXTS AND EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS
BROOKS CROSSING PTO NEWS
Each year, your Parent Teacher Organization plans fundraisers and family friendly events throughout the school year for our Brooks Crossing school community! These events are advertised in the Brooks Crossing weekly Online Friday Folder, so please read the Online Friday Folder weekly to stay informed and not miss an opportunity!
Some of the PTO events we have had, or we are planning to have, include; Ice Cream Social, Halloween Social, After School Enrichment Programs, STEM Bricks 4 Kidz Program, Book Fair, Family Carnival, Tricky Tray Fundraiser, Family Picnic, Pajama Party, Movie Night, Plant Sale, Color Run, etc.
Please be mindful of due dates for ticket sales to our events, as we frequently offer discounts for presale tickets!
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW SOON TO PREORDER DISCOUNT TICKET SALES FOR OUR FAMILY CARNIVAL ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21st.
PTO FAMILY CARNIVAL - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21st @ BROOKS CROSSING MAIN CAMPUS (6:00-8:00)
TRY YOUR LUCK AT OUR FUN CARNIVAL GAMES
Admission Free. WRISTBAND TICKETS $10 PURCHASED BY FEB. 17 or $15 AT DOOR FOR UNLIMITED GAMES.
THERE'S SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY
FACE PAINTING
POPCORN - PIZZA - COTTON CANDY - DRINKS
HENNA PAINTING - TATTOOS
PTO Memberships for the 2019-2020 School Year
We need you! If you have not already done so, please become a PTO member today! We strive for 100% membership from our families and school staff. Fees collected for memberships support many needs for our school! Becoming a member does not obligate you to volunteer, but volunteers are always welcome! For questions or to volunteer, Email: BrooksCrossingPTO@gmail.com
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ONLINE TODAY! Cost is only $11 per family!
Are You Receiving All of Brooks Crossing's News & Updates?
The Many Ways to Stay Informed
This is how you can stay informed at Brooks Crossing School!
Brooks Crossing School Website: https://bcde.sbschools.org/
Weekly Online Friday Folder: https://bcde.sbschools.org/school_information/friday_folders
BC Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SBSDBC/
Set up your phone numbers and email accounts for notifications. Monitor you email account for SchoolMessenger announcements that we send periodically.
Coming Soon! An Instagram account for Brooks Crossing School
SBSD TEXT MESSAGING SERVICE
Our school utilizes SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more.
Sign up by opting in from your mobile phone. Just SEND A TEXT MESSAGE OF "Y" or "YES" to 67587.
You may opt out at anytime by replying to one of our messages with "Stop".