Dr. Koop's Newsletter
January 13, 2023
Dear KRS Families,
Next week, the students will begin the first process of our new KRS mural, which will eventually be erected on the wall near the kindergarten playground facing Kings Road. Muralist Caren Olmsted, who designed our lobby mural, is excited to return to Kings Road school. Our project is highlighted on the home page of her website.
On Monday, January 16, 2023 schools are closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this newsletter, are highlights of classroom activities in memory of Dr. King and for Black History Month.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Koop
Important Dates
January 16, 2023 - MLK Day - Schools Closed
February 20, 2023 - President's Day - Schools Closed
February 21, 2023 - In-Service for Staff, Schools Closed for Students
March 20 - 24, 2023 - Spring Recess - Schools Closed
PTO PAW Print
Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month Activities
To recognize Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month, the students will engage in the following activities:
- The kindergarten students will explore Black Americans through emergent reader texts and Scholastic News.
- First grade students are learning about influential Black Americans both in the past and present. Students will select a person, create a poster, and teach their peers about the person.
- Second grade students will learn about a historical Black American each day during the month of February. They will also learn about Madison history. Included are highlighted homes that worked to help people to freedom as stops on the Underground Railroad.
- Third graders will read the book “ I am Martin”. Every student will select a quote from the book and illustrate the quote.
- Fourth graders will research influential Black American heroes and present important details about the person they selected.
- Fifth grade students will watch “Our Friend Martin” and discuss achievements made by Dr. King. Students will also interpret and illustrate quotes by Dr. King.
- In subjects STEAM, art, music, and library, the students will learn about Black American artists, musicians, authors, and participate in a Dr. King STEAM project.
- School-Wide Activity - To help incorporate the spirit of Dr. King, every student will think about how they can contribute peace to the world, by writing/drawing how on their own peace sign. The peace signs will be displayed together in Kings Road School.
Star Reports
News from School Counselor Mr. Levine - Mix It Up Day Lunch
Today, we had Mix It Up Lunches at KRS! Please see below for information about Mix It Up Lunch Day.
From The Learning for Justice website:
Mix It Up at Lunch Day is an international campaign that encourages students to identify, question and cross social boundaries. Schools can host a Mix It Up event on any day of the year!
Students consistently identify the cafeteria as a place in their school where divisions are clearly—and harshly—drawn. So we ask students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications that we encourage educators to include in year-round efforts to promote healthy, welcoming school environments. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.
Mural Update from Miss Bihuniak and Mr. Thompson
This coming week students will be participating in our second-ever mural painting. KRS and the PTO are partnering with Caren Olmsted to create an exterior mural that will be placed outside of the school on the front retaining wall. Over the past three years teachers have worked with students, administration, and the artist to create an encompassing project that defines us as a community and school. All students will help paint sections of this year's mural during their normally scheduled art classes. If your child has art class normally on a “C” day they will be participating on “D” day. All students should come to school with a smock or dressed in clothing that can potentially get messy. We will be posting our progress on social media with the following accounts: kingsroadschool, kingsroadschoolpto and artwith_mrt. We hope you follow along!
Muralist Caren Olmsted is pictured unrolling one of the mural panels.
Welcome to KRS New Teachers and Staff!
A big Kings Road School welcome to:
Music Teacher - Miss Rachel Montagna
Teacher Assistants:
Mrs. Yeshiva Massenburg
Mrs. Natalie Smith
Coding Lessons for Fourth Graders
News from the Madison Education Foundation
MEF funded $55,000 in grants last fall, including several assemblies, field trips, and overnight adventures that are giving Madison students learning experiences that stretch far beyond their classrooms. Check out the Madison Eagle article on our Fall Grant Cycle here: https://www.newjerseyhills.com/madison_eagle/news/madison-education-foundation-funds-55k-in-new-enrichment-grants-to-support-local-schools/article_4368cf54-8d31-11ed-acbe-1bfae848aa08.html
If you think this is awesome and want to be a part of the fundraising events and campaigns that make these grants possible, join us at the MEF Volunteer Recruitment Happy Hour on January 26th. We'll match you up with the perfect volunteer job. We can't wait to meet you! Learn more at www.mefnj.org.
Madison Elementary Academic Calendar
MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
2022 - 2023 School Year
Trimester 1
August 29, 2022 First Trimester Begins
December 1, 2022 First Trimester Ends
December 9, 2022 Report Cards Available in Genesis
Trimester 2
December 2, 2022 Second Trimester Begins
March 8, 2023 Second Trimester Ends
March 17, 2023 Report Cards Available in Genesis
Trimester 3
March 9, 2023 Third Trimester Begins
June 14, 2023 Third Trimester Ends
June 14, 2023 Report Cards Available in Genesis
Conferences:
November 21 (Evening) and 22, 2022
April 3 (Evening ) and 4, 2023