Principal Garcia's Newsletter
Friday, February 23, 2024
Torey J. Sabatini School
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 26, 2024 - K-2 and 3-5 Outside the Bachs Assembly
- February 27, 2024 - MPS BOE Meeting at 7:00 PM
- February 28, 2024 - PTO Read-a-Thon Begins
- March 1, 2024 - TJS Spirit Wear Day!
- March 1, 2024 - Women's History Month Begins!
- March 4-8, 2024 - Read Across America Week...spirit days and schedule below!
- March 5, 2024 - Author Visit - Welcome Tara Lazar
- March 6, 2024 - TJS Third Annual Family Reading Night at 6:30 PM! Doors open at 6:15 PM (more details will be forthcoming)
- March 11, 2024 - School Closed - Staff In-Service Day
- March 13, 2024 - TJS Family Reading Night (snow date)
- March 14, 2024 - Second Trimester Ends
- March 15, 2024 - Third Trimester Begins
February Monthly Activity Calendar
Click the link below to access and print the calendar for the month of FEBRUARY. As a family try to do as many of the boxes as you can during the entire month of February! You will see that many of the activities are geared toward indoor activities and events and holidays occuring during the month. This month's activity calendar was created by Ms. Garcia and Mrs. Dakss!
Torey J. is now on INSTAGRAM! FOLLOW US!
Don't forget to follow Torey J. on Instagram @toreyjsabatini to see all of the wonderful things happening in our school community.
News from Mr. Locke in the Library/Media Center
Black History Month
This week in library class, we are learning about primary source documents, note taking and summary writing especially in relation to the 1960 Greensboro Sit-In Protest of the civil rights movement. In this multimedia, multi class lesson for Grades 3-5, students reenact a sit-in protest through roleplaying/historical script reading. Then students look at primary source documents such as photographs of the sit in protest, as well as video interviews with protesters. Students then take notes on the journalistic “5 w’s” of the protest (who, what, where, when, why and how) and synthesize their knowledge by writing a newspaper article about the sit in protest as if they were reporters in 1960. We discuss the importance of non–violent protests especially in relation to media coverage. Finally, Madison students discuss causes young people are passionate about today and how they can effect change.
Grades K-2 are learning about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Students will review what a biography is as they watch a beginning biography about Harriet Tubman. Students are creating mini-books about Harriet Tubman, as well as learning about facts about Tubman’s life and the Underground Railroad.
Read Across America Week is Coming Soon! ...March 4th to March 8th
Monday, March 4th: 7Ate9 Day! In honor of Tara Lazar’s popular 7Ate9 book, students are invited to wear clothes with numbers on them!
Tuesday, March 5th: Author Visit Tara Lazar
Wednesday, March 6th: TJS Family Reading Night (snow date of March 13th)
Thursday, March 7th: Dress up as Your Favorite Book Character!
Friday, March 8th: Schoolwide Reading Train
In addition to the above school wide events, we will also participate in fun and educational classroom activities throughout the rest of March such as:
- Reading books about diversity and inclusion
- Unpack a Storytelling Sack
- Oral History Storytelling
- Personal Story sharing and creation
- Drew University Softball Team reading books to TJS Kindergarteners
Are you ALL IN?
The New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE) invites all United States public, charter, and vocational school students in grades 1 to 12 to enter its 15th annual ALL IN Poster Contest!
Formerly known as “Inclusion Works”, the contest launched during National Inclusive Schools Week on December 8, 2023, and will end on May 3, 2024.
At the end of the contest, a grand prize winner is selected, and all winning submissions will be displayed in a poster exhibit on our website.
The contest has taught countless students the importance of inclusion for more than 10 years. When all students are included, everyone shines!
Awards
Participants, based on their grade level, will choose to enter their submissions into one of the following categories:
Elementary I – artwork completed by students in grades 1-2.
Elementary II – artwork completed by students in grades 3-5.
Intermediate – artwork completed by students in grades 6-8.
- Secondary – artwork completed by students in grades 9-12.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $250 award. Printed copies of their poster will be distributed to schools throughout the country. The winner’s poster will also be announced and exhibited at NJCIE’s Summer Inclusion Leadership Conference on June 7th.
Each category will have one winner and honorable mentions. Category winners will receive a $50 award. We will display all winning submissions and honorable mentions on a virtual exhibit on our website.
Harlem Wizards...Coming Soon! April 25, 2024
It’s back…The MHS Project Graduation Committee will be hosting the Harlem Wizards Event again this year.
Date: Thursday, April 25, 7pm
Location: FDU Ferguson Recreation Center
Upcoming Event - MJS Musical
Sensory Friendly Performance
MJS will present their first sensory-friendly performance of Shrek the Musical Jr. on March 23rd at 2pm!
Our sensory-friendly performance is a theatrical experience in which the environment and typical "rules of attendance" are relaxed. House lights will be dimmed, but not turned off completely, to allow for ease of movement for audience members. There will be designated "cool down" areas if audience members need a break during the performance. Sound levels and lighting levels will be adjusted to accommodate different sensory-needs. At this performance, smartphones and tablet devices are allowed for communication purposes, and there may be some talking during the performance from audience members. With the additional supports and modifications, we hope to use our March 23rd, 2pm performance as an opportunity to create an inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy the magic of theatre, and enjoy the twisted fairy tale of Shrek Jr.!
Tickets can be purchased HERE. Social narratives, a guide to the theatre, character guides, and other informational documents will be sent via email the week leading up to the performance based on the contact information provided during the ticket sale. All information will also be available in-person the day-of performance.
Now Available...Madison Summer Arts Brochure
Upcoming SEPAG Meeting
Tuesday, February 27th, 10:30am to 11:30am
Madison High School Media Center
Presentation will include updates from the special services department along with guest speaker Fred Buglione, CEO of New Jersey Coalition of Inclusive Education.
Please RSVP to Karen Tuzio; via email at tuziok@madisonnjps.org
Magic and Munchkins at MJS Tonight!
Drop off your 5th graders for a fun Friday night of magic and munchkins at MJS for a great cause... our schools! "Magic and Munchkins at MJS" is made possible by the The Spelker Real Estate Team to benefit the Madison Education Foundation to help fund grants in Madison's public schools. This event for students in grades 5-8 includes a spectacular magic show followed by refreshments sponsored by Sugar Rush. Purchase tickets HERE before they magically disappear!
Thank you so much again to Emily Koh and Asma Drame for an “out of this world” trivia night! We hope you all enjoyed learning a few new science facts while prepping your pizza and cookies at home.
The Book Swap is back! We are collecting used books, prior to the TJS Reading Night on March 6th. That evening, we welcome everyone to take home as many ‘new’ reads as they would like.
Before March 6th, please drop your gently used books in the bin outside of the main office or on one of these porches: 44 Maple Ave. or 81 Green Village Rd.
Science Fair participants - Did you receive an email from TJS PTO News this week? If you did not, please reach out to tjssciencefair@gmail.com. And don’t forget to pick up your trifold display boards on Feb. 26th at pickup! (One board per group)