October Family Newsletter
2023-2024 School Year
Dear Barley Sheaf School Community,
Our school year is off to a wonderful start! We were so thrilled to celebrate a new school year with families at the PTO Ice Cream Social, show our school spirit with students at our Back to School Spirit Assembly, and welcome our parents into the building for Back to School Night.
Looking ahead to October, we are so excited for our annual Week of Respect, October 2 through October 6. This year's theme is "We Respect All!" Students will participate in lesson activities and have special guest readers with a focus on respect for those around us, our teammates, our community, our environment, and ourselves. Please see the poster below with information on our special spirit days during the Week of Respect.
We also look forward to our annual Beary Cool Walk (a.k.a. Walkathon) on October 12! Below you will find a link to the permission slip for your child, donation website, and chaperone sign-up. On October 20, we will host our Walking School Bus with our partners at goHunterdon. This is a special morning that promotes bicycle and pedestrian safety, in addition to exercise and wellness. We hope you can join us!
Finally, we inducted our newest fourth grade Safety Patrol during the month of September! A very special thank you to Mrs. Cori Lango for training and supervising our Safety Patrollers! Barley Sheaf Safety Patrols help to keep our students safe at school, while modeling our Barley Sheaf character traits for younger students and developing leadership skills.
We hope you enjoy the beginning of the Autumn season, as the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are turning vibrant colors. Perhaps you enjoy the taste of pumpkin spice or the smell of a roasting s'more during the fall season. Whatever your Autumn pleasures, we hope you build lasting memories and find joy in your time with friends, family, and loved ones!
With great appreciation,
Amy Switkes, Principal
Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal
Back to School Spirit Assembly
PTO Ice Cream Social
Safety Patrol Induction
Meet our Newest Staff Member!
Dr. Francine Del Vecchio
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Fran Del Vecchio, our new RTI Coordinator/Stretch Teacher! Dr. Del Vecchio began with us on Monday, September 18.
From Dr. Francine Del Vecchio:
I have been an educator for my entire career. I have worked in elementary schools for 13 years as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach, mostly in New Jersey with a few years in Florida. Also, I was a professor of education at Caldwell University for 13 years, where I taught literacy courses to undergraduate and graduate students. My family and I recently moved from Florida back to New Jersey (where we have lived most of our lives), and we are now happily living in Annandale. Outside of teaching, I enjoy walking, bike riding, and being a wrestling mom to my amazing 14-year-old wrestler son, Mario.
Week of Respect
Week of Respect- October 2-6
Semana de Respeto- Octubre 2-6
Please view this flyer with important information about our Week of Respect! A very special thank you to our School Counselors, Mrs. Gina Collins and Ms. Brianna Coates!
Beary Cool Walk (a.k.a. Walkathon)
It is that special time of year- time for our annual Beary Cool Walk on October 12. Please view this flyer with important information on this PTO fundraiser. 100% of donations go directly to supporting our school community.
Halloween Parade
Our annual Halloween Parade will take place on October 31 at 2:00 p.m. More detailed information will be sent to families soon.
As Halloween quickly approaches and costume shopping time begins, please remember that plastic weapons such as guns and swords may not be brought to school as part of a costume. Additionally, as your children select their costumes for school, please remind them that scary or revealing costumes leave lasting impressions on our youngsters. Your cooperation to keep our parade enjoyable for all is greatly appreciated.
School Information
Save the Date
10/4/23- PTO Mum Pick Up
10/6/23- Picture Day!
10/6/23 and 10/7/23- Clothing Drive
10/11/23- PTO Pizza Fund Raiser
10/12/23- PTO Walkathon (rain date 10/13/23)
10/13/23- Spirit Day
10/17/23- Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development (school dismisses at 1:20 p.m.)
10/20/23- Walking School Bus with goHunterdon
10/31/23- Halloween Parade, 2:00 p.m. (more information coming soon)
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
This year, NJ expanded its program so that more families can qualify for free school meals. Even families who have not qualified in the past may now qualify under this new program. The application is available in English and Spanish
School Procedures
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Tips from goHunteron
Ryan Fisher from goHunterdon created a special video just for our Barley Sheaf students on pedestrian and bicycle safety!
Safety and Security Procedures
- Visitors must be signed in and wear a visitor badge in the building.
- Do not hold any doors for visitors.
- Only staff and students are permitted on school grounds during school hours.
- For the safety and security of our staff and students, monthly fire and security drills are conducted.
- We have a full time School Resource Officer, Officer John Carney, working at Barley Sheaf every day.
- Please use the crosswalks in the parking lot.
- Please obey the 15 mph speed limit in our parking lot.
Our school district is using a new system to sign visitors into school. Please review this letter about our new system, Raptor.
Changes to Your Child's Dismissal Routine
- We cannot change a child’s designated bus stop or assigned bus. If your child normally rides a bus home, but you will be picking him/her up, a note must be sent to the teacher.
- If you must sign your child out prior to dismissal, please do so before 3:15 pm. Please come to the main office and your child will be called to the office for dismissal.
- If your child attends the YMCA after-care and you make a change to their dismissal, please contact both the YMCA and the Barley Sheaf main office regarding any changes.
- If someone other than the parent/guardian is taking your child home at the end of the day, please write a note to your child’s teacher detailing the change and giving permission for your child to leave with this person. Please remember that you may not take a child other than your own unless written permission from that child’s parent has been given to the school.
Building our School Community
Related Arts Newsletter
Please enjoy the following newsletter from our Related Arts teachers! (Physical Education, Technology, Library, Art, World Language, and Music)
Send a Birthday Message!
Make your Barley Sheaf child's birthday extra special by wishing him or her a Happy Birthday on the electronic sign in front of the building! Please send an email to Megan Campbell at megan.campbell@frsd.us at least one week before the date and include your child's name, birthdate, grade and teacher. A Happy Birthday message with your child's first name will appear on the sign on their special day. The $10 cash or check donation can be sent to Barley Sheaf either in your child's backpack or via US mail. Checks should be made out to Barley Sheaf PTO.
Special Visits from Our Therapy Dog, Stuart Little!
Barley Sheaf is excited to introduce our new therapy dog, Stuart Little! Please review this informational letter with Stuart's credentials from Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Stuart will visit with students in small groups, 1:1 settings, and in classrooms.
If you wish to opt your child out of visits with Stuart Little, please complete this form.
From the Barley Sheaf PTO
Please view the Barley Sheaf PTO October Newsletter!