Charger Report
Spotswood High School Parent Newsletter September 2022
Welcome Back!
Parents, please make sure you read through each month's newsletter. Inside you'll find important dates, fundraisers, information on school events, and lots of student recognitions! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office.
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This Month's Events
September 6 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
September 8 - Back to School Night (6:30pm)
September 19 & 20 - Senior Portraits
September 19 - 28 - Start Strong Testing
September 21 - Club Fair (During Lunches)
September 21 - Project Senior Week Parent Meeting (7pm, SHS Media Center)
September 22 & 23 - School Pictures (During PE Classes)
September 23 - Blue & Gold Day
September 24 - Athletics Senior Day
September 29 - Spirit Night (6:30pm)
September 30 - One Act Competition (6:30pm)
October 1 - Homecoming Game (2pm) & Dance (6:30pm)
New Faces
Chromebook Pickup
Spotswood High School is excited to announce that this year, we will be a 1:1 school! Every student will be issued a new SHS Chromebook for use both at school and at home. Students should charge their device nightly and bring it into school each day. Students and parents should pay mind to the “District Provided Student Mobile Device Policy, Procedures, & Information Handbook” found on Genesis and the SHS website. Both the parent and the student must sign off that they have read through this information prior to picking up their device.
If your child has not yet picked up their device, they may do so on the first day of school.
Student Pickup & Dropoff
The high school main entrance will open at 6:50am. Please plan to drop off your child between this time and 7:20am to allow adequate time for them to go to their locker and report to their Period 1 class in a timely fashion. Traffic tends to back up so please plan accordingly and drive safely.
The Spotswood Police Department reminds everyone that the speed limit on campus is 15mph, and that Charger Way is a one way road during morning dropoff. To maximize the flow of traffic and for safety concerns, parents must pull up to the gymnasium prior to letting their child exit the vehicle. Parents must exit through Mott Street. After 7:30am, all doors will be secured and access to the building will be through the main entrance only.
Student Parking
All student vehicles parked on campus must have a visible authorized parking permit. Permit applications can be accessed online off the school website under “Academic & Student Resources.” Applications must be completed no later than Friday, September 30, 2022. A photocopy of the following documents must be brought in to complete the application: A valid NJ Driver’s License, registration, and insurance card.
Failure to file an application, driving recklessly, or continued late arrival to school will result in loss of parking privileges. All student drivers must enter via the Jackson Street or North Avenue entrances. To ease the flow of traffic, student drivers are not permitted to enter via Mott Street.
Senior Class Info!
Project Senior Week Parent Meeting
The next meeting of the Project Senior Week Parent Committee is September 21 at 7pm in the SHS Media Center. All senior parents are encouraged to attend and get involved!
Yearbook has several important reminders for Senior Class students/parents:
Yearbook Ads and Boosters
Senior Ads & Boosters are sold on the Entourage website using this LINK. Senior ad ordering will be open until March 31, 2023. Ads can only be created and paid for online.
Boosters cost $10 and can be ordered online or in school. Booster forms will be available using this link, at our table on Back To School Night and outside room 515 in the yearbook display case. In-person payment is accepted with cash or checks written out to the SHS yearbook.
Senior Quotes, Wills, In 20 Years, Activities, and Baby Pictures for Class of 2023
A Google Form will be sent out to students in August via email. An announcement will also be posted in the Class of 2023 Google Classroom and reminders will be given during morning school announcements. This Form must be completed by September 30th. All entries are reviewed and approved by yearbook staff, editors, and administrators. If entries are not approved, students will be notified by email and will be able to change the entry by a specified due date. It is the responsibility of the student to check their email and submit a new entry in a timely manner. If a new entry is not received by the due date, that entry will not appear in the yearbook. Please note that these new submissions must also be reviewed and approved.
Baby Pictures for Class of 2023
Submission of baby pictures is due by October 31st. Baby Pictures should be scanned at home and emailed to shsyearbook@spsd.us. If you do not have a scanner, you can bring your picture to Mrs. Furman or Ms. Bergman. Make sure your name and your homeroom teacher’s name are on the back of the photo. Pictures will be returned by the end of the school year.
School Pictures
Senior Portraits - Final Make-up days
The final dates for senior portraits or retakes are Monday, September 19th, and Tuesday, September 20th from 2 pm to 8 pm in the media center. This is the last opportunity for senior photos. Any student who does not have their photo taken with Lifetouch will not appear in the senior section of the yearbook so please make sure to have your photo taken. You must schedule an appointment using this website: https://schedule.prestigeportraits.com/schedule/home.html. You will need to use your appointment code to schedule your appointment. If you need your appointment code, please email Mrs. Furman at bfurman@spsd.us or Ms. Bergman at cbergman-defilippo@spsd.us.
Underclass portraits
Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors will take their school photos on Thursday, September 22nd, or Friday, September 23rd during their physical education or health class period. A schedule will be posted outside the main office at the beginning of that week. If a student has a science lab during their scheduled day they will take their photo on the other day. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Furman at bfurman@spsd.us or Ms. Bergman at cbergman-defilippo@spsd.us. Students will receive ordering information on picture day.
Yearbook Info & Ordering
Yearbook Sales have begun!
Yearbooks are available for sale at a discounted price of $50 at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 8th. On Friday, September 9th the price increases to $60 until December 31st. On January 1st the price increases to $75. So take advantage of the initial discounted price. You can purchase a yearbook online using this LINK or at the yearbook table on Back to School Night. Order forms will be available using this link, at the yearbook table on Back To School Night or outside room 515 in the yearbook display case. Please return the completed form with payment by Thursday, September 8th. In-person payment is accepted with cash or checks written out to the SHS yearbook. Yearbooks will be distributed during the last week of school.
School Counseling Corner!
We are thrilled to have added a 5th school counselor for the 2022-23 school year! As a result, some of our counseling assignments have changed. Please check Genesis to see if your child's counselor has been updated, and join me in giving a warm SHS welcome to our newest counselors Mr. Steinfeld, and Ms. Matrale.
School Lunch Info
Please note that there is no free lunch this school year. All lunch purchases are cash-free. Parents may add money to their child’s school lunch account via PaySchools.
Special Education Parents Advisory Committee
Athletics Info
For athletics information, including eligibility guidelines, physical packets, and updated schedules, please see the Athletics Website.
Spotswood Education Foundation (SEF)
The Spotswood Education Foundation (SEF) is a not-for-profit organization and its purpose is to augment the financial resources available to the district. SEF funds new and innovative projects that benefit the district, and complement the curriculum and educational programs. This year, science teacher Rima Michaels was the recipient of an SEF grant for supplies and a program using clay to make models of the human form for use in her Human Anatomy & Physiology class!
Check out this handout for more information on how you can get involved in the SEF!