The Boulevard Beat
A Monthly Newsletter from SBS - February 2016 Edition
The Principal's Place
Dear Parents,
With any luck we've cleared the winter weather, and either way we're moving full steam ahead into spring. Spring is an exciting time of year at SBS, as there are several important events to remain aware of. I'd like to draw your attention to a few in particular that represent invitations for the parent community to come together on a large scale. I find the events in which we all come together to be moving. The outpourings of passion and community spirit remind me of what's most important in life, and I always leave feeling grateful.
On March 8th, all parents are invited to join me for coffee and conversation at 7:00PM in the SBS Library. Our coffee and conversation evenings have been nice opportunities to take some time to share ideas, gather feedback, answer questions, and discuss any topics that may be on our minds.
On April 19th, parents, grandparents and caregivers are invited into the building by grade level for our second annual Thank You Tea. This event represents a celebration of our students' accomplishments this year, as well as a chance for us to thank you, the parents, for all that you do for your children every day. We will also have our Art Show and our 3rd Grade Spring Concert on this day. Specific details will follow!
On May 2nd, the annual PTO Golf Outing will take place at Fairmount Country Club. There's plenty of time to sharpen your game, but even more importantly, it's an excellent event for an amazing cause.
On May 18th, the entire SBS community is invited to join us on the front lawn at 2:00 for a Blue Ribbon Flag Raising Ceremony, where we will unveil our new National Blue Ribbon Flag and celebrate this exceptional accomplishment. There was a period in SBS history when concerts and performances took place on the front lawn. The performers and presenters were situated on the front steps, and the parent community gathered on the lawn using lawn chairs and blankets. We'd love to recreate this scene, so feel free to bring your picnic gear!
Respectfully,
Robert Gardella
The Nurse's Nook
HaChooo!
Believe it or not, pollen season is just around the corner! If your child typically contends with spring allergies, this is a good time to contact their physicians about recommendations for getting prepared. Often, allergists and pediatricians will encourage beginning antihistamine and inhaler administration well in advance of pollen season in order to minimize discomfort once the trees and flowers are in bloom.
Will your child need medication at school to weather pollen season? If so, a doctor’s order and written parent permission will be required. Completion of our district form, “Authorization for Medication Administration” will satisfy both requirements and can be downloaded from the district website. http://www.chatham-nj.org/page/122 Please keep in mind that all medications—including non-prescription meds—require this form.
Once again, please send a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for these days when mud is a feature on our playground. This will help your child and it will help you, too, to avoid pesky phone calls from the nurse requesting you to bring dry clothes to school!
Karen Leister
School Nurse
SBS will celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd
March 2nd is the day,
When Dr. Seuss was born,
He’s 112, HIP, HIP, HOORAY!
To celebrate March 2nd, this very special day
SBS students may wear -red, white, and black or gray.
If you have a Cat in the Hat hat at home,
You know the one with the large circular dome.
Wear it to school, you won’t be alone!
The Cat himself will be here to greet you,
Maybe Thing 1 or 2, but not Cindy Lou Who.
The library will have some great guest readers,
The principal, nurse, and other great leaders.
On this day, lots of books will be read,
However, Green & Eggs and Ham will not be fed!
To our beloved Dr. Seuss, over the school intercom we'll sing.
Put on our backpacks, head home when we hear the school bell ring.
(At home students may want to create their own hat, Dr. Seuss theme-related or one just like the Cat. Please note that wearing the Cat in the Hat colors and hats are optional.)
DR. SEUSS FACTOIDS...
Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904 in Springfield, MA. and died September 24, 1991 in La Jolla, CA. His real name is Theodor Seuss Geisel.
Did you know Dr. Seuss wrote under different pen names? When he wrote the story but did not draw the illustrations, he used the name Theodore LeSieg (his last name spelled backwards). These books include, "Ten Apples Up on Top", "Wacky Wednesday" and "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet". When he wrote the story and drew the illustrations, he used the name Dr. Seuss. These books include, "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
Did you know 20 publishers rejected his first book, "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street?" Mulberry Street is probably named after a street in Dr. Seuss' hometown in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Kindergarten Readers Workshop "Super Readers"
The Design Den
What has been happening in Design and Technology this month?
Kindergarten: Students learned about deforestation and the effects on the animal community. Ask your child to explain how engineers can help bluebirds after deforestation? What can they make for them?
1st Grade: Students are being introduced to agriculture and are identifying agricultural products. Ask your child to define agriculture and identify agricultural products around the house.
2nd Grade: Students are being introduced to pollution and the impact of pollution on communities and the environment. Ask your child to describe some causes and effects of land, water or air pollution. Ask them to give examples of ways we could prevent pollution.
3rd Grade: Students are learning how people across the world get water. Ask your child to share a way that someone gets water that is different than how we get water in Chatham, NJ.
Have a Marvelous March!
Ms. Stojanov (Ms. S)
From the SBS Art Room....
Our second and third graders have been doing printmaking of symmetrical city skylines. The second graders will continue this, as they learn about their next artist in our Meet the Masters visual art program.
This year the 2nd graders will learn about the American pop artist, Andy Warhol. Warhol became famous in the early 1960's for his use of mass-produced commercial products and famous people in his artwork. His artwork consisted of numerous prints of subjects like Campbell's Soup cans and images of Marilyn Monroe.
First grade students will create frescoe paintings of plants and animals, inspired by the frescoes of Michelangelo.
Please don’t forget to visit SBS the week of April 19th for our annual Student Art Show. This exhibition showcases student work created in the styles and subject matter of the artists learned about in the Meet the Masters program.
Counseling Connection
Abigail Silverman
School Counselor
PTO Posts
We hope your children have been sharing with you all of the fun events that have been going on this month. Between our special event day, Celebrating Chatham, and the Book Fair and our recurring Pizza Parlor and Walk-to-School days, our parents have been busy pulling off all these events with panache. Thanks, as always, to those of you who continue to help us support the school!
We are also gearing up for our annual fundraiser, Tee Off with SBS which will be held on May 2nd at Fairmount Country Club. This year we are featuring a new mix-and-match tennis round robin concurrent with the golf. Keep an eye out for flyers in backpacks for more information including event details, times and registration dates. Have a donation for the silent auction or interested in being an event sponsor? It's not too late. Please contact us for more details at sbsgolf2016@gmail.com.
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:
* 2/26-3/4 Light Up Your Life with Books: Our annual reading program is underway! Take a few moments to encourage your children to read or read along with them.
* 3/1 & 3/7 Golf Outing Registration Opens. Sign up your foursome, grab a ticket to the evening reception or give our brand-new tennis option a try!
* 3/8 PTO Meeting: Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa will pay us a visit to discuss the upcoming school budget. Come learn more about what it takes to keep our schools running smoothly. The meeting will be held at 9:15am in the Media Center.
* 3/14 After School Enrichment: Classes begin for the spring session
* 3/14-3/17 Meet the Masters - Art: Parents in the classroom help our children learn about great artists of our time. A few volunteer opportunities are still available here.
* 3/18 K/1 Family Fun Night: Join us for a night of family games in the gym. More details to come!
* 3/24 Franklin Institute assemblies: Students will be treated to grade-specific presentations on scientific topics. Make sure to ask your children about what they learned!
Thank to our hard-working volunteers for this month's events:
* We are all a little smarter about this little town we call home thanks to special event day co-chairs, Sally Allen and Dee Fabijanic. We are also so appreciative to all the outside agencies who shared their enthusiasm, knowledge and time: Great Swamp, Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department, Chatham EMS, Friends of the Library of the Chathams, Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, Chatham Township Historical Society, and last but not least, the members of the CHS Band (led by Mr. Conti) and CHS cheerleaders who brought our end-of-day pep rally to life!
* Thank you to our Book Fair co-chairs Denise Rocca and Jennifer Ponsiglione for their dedication to our very own pop-up shop. Their work, in coordination with Library Media Specialist, Mr. D'Aloia, brought hundreds of age-appropriate titles to our school. We hope everyone is able to enjoy their new purchases as part of the ongoing reading program!
* Thank you to Jennifer Mathews and her Environmental Awareness Committee for this month's Chatham Bingo as part of the February Walk to School Day.
Celebrating Chatham
Book Fair 2016
Dinnertime Conversations...
Tired of the same old responses when you ask your children how their day went? Check here for some conversation starters!
Ask your kindergartner:
1. What sinks? What floats?
2. What do the words "in all" and "left"mean?
3. When you write a sentence, what kind of letter do you need?
Ask your first grader:
1. What happens when two vowels go walking?
2. What do the symbols >, < and = mean?
3. Pick 3 numbers. Can you put them in order from least to greatest? Greatest to least?
Ask your second grader:
1. What is your favorite "Battle of the Books" book? Why?
2. What are some interesting things you've learned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln?
3. Pick a 3-digit number. Ask your child how many hundreds, tens, and ones are in that number. Ask them to add 100, 200, 300, etc. to that number or subtract 100, 200, 300 etc. from that number.
Ask your third grader:
1. What were the causes of the American Revolution?
2. What are the parts of a persuasive essay?
3. What is the Battle of the Books? Which books have you read?
Southern Boulevard School
Website: www.chatham-nj.org/sbs
Location: 192 Southern Blvd, Chatham, NJ
Phone: (973)457-2509