Sussex Avenue:News That You Can Use
Principal's Corner
Dear Sussex Students, Parents and Guardians:
I cannot believe that we are entering the month of May this week! This school year has flown by. I am looking forward to the next nine weeks and all of the fun and exciting activities that are planned.
Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, the Grade 4/5 Chorus has been rescheduled for Monday, May 20th at 10:00 A.M.
As our testing begins this week, no visitors will be permitted into the building while testing is in progress. We appreciate your understanding.
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Vaccaro
April 29th - May 3rd
- April 29th is a D day.
- 4/29-5/3 Wellness Week
- 5/1 Project ACES
- 5/3 Last School Store of the Year
Looking Ahead
- 5/6-5/10 Teacher Appreciation Week
- 5/10 4th Grade Jockey Hollow Trip
- 5/10 Color Run
- 5/13 Recycling Assembly
- 5/15 Grade 4 and Grade 5 Band & Orchestra Concert @1:45-2:45 pm.
- 5/16 Family Softball Game @6:30-8:00
- 5/20 Grade 4 and Grade 5 Chorus Concert @10:00-11:00- NEW DATE
- 5/23 Grade 5 to Liberty Hall
- 5/27 MEMORIAL DAY- SCHOOL CLOSED
- 5/28 Latino Literacy Night @ 5:30
- 5/28-5/29 State Testing SCIENCE- Grade 5
- 5/30 Incoming 3rd Grade Parent Orientation @6:30
This week's quote is "There's something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.' Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)
Test Taking Tips & Strategies
Standardized testing will be a significant part of your child's education beginning in 3rd grade. Terra Nova, GEPA, IOWA were the standardized tests I took in elementary school. Your child will take the New Jersey State Learning Assessment or NJSLA. If you or your child have any questions or concerns about testing, please do not hesitate to contact me.
As a parent/guardian, what do I need to know about the NJSLA state exam?
- The English & Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics exams are administered to students in grades 3-8.
- The Science exam is administered to 5th grade.
- Although schools take the test scores seriously, (it provides important feedback on the programs we use) we are focused on individual growth in our students from year to year. We do recognize this is only one measurement of student growth.
How do I help my child prepare for the exam?
- Establish an appropriate bedtime with your child.
- Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast each morning. A breakfast that includes protein is recommended as opposed to a sugary breakfast.
- Make sure your child is at school, prepared, and on time for each day of testing.
- Reiterate with your child to relax during the exam and put forth their best effort.
What are some test taking strategies that I can go over with my child?
- Read and follow all directions and questions carefully.
- Before responding, be sure to look at all of the answer choices.
- Eliminate answers that don't make sense.
- For questions you're not sure about skip it and move on to ones you feel comfortable about. reread the question and try to find the best answer.
- Go back to questions skipped at the end and reread the question and try to find the best answer.
- Make sure you've answered all of the questions.
- For ELA questions, remember to go back into the text to verify your answers.
- Use your scratch paper to your advantage. Work out math problems on your scrap paper first. Create organizers before responding to open-ended questions.
How can my child stay calm during testing? Have them follow the tips listed below.
- Listen to all directions given by the teacher and ask questions about anything that is unclear.
- Give yourself mental breaks when you need them. Put your pencil down, take a few deep breaths, roll your neck, give yourself some positive self-talk.
- Think of the tests like several small jobs instead of one large one.
- You've been preparing all year for these exams, be confident and positive!
Sussex Avenue Spring Testing Schedule
The Morris Educational Foundation, in partnership with the Morris School district Presents:
Wellness Corner
Sussex Wellness Week
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. In alignment with this, Sussex Avenue School will be celebrating our second annual Wellness Week. Posters will be hanging all over school, designed by student members of our Sussex Wellness Committee.
On Wednesday, May 1st, all Sussex students will participate in Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) with some fun dancing. Project ACES was created by a physical education teacher in 1989 as a method of motivating children to exercise. It has been labeled "the world's largest exercise class" by the media. Millions of children all over the world will exercise together to promote proper health and fitness habits. With the obesity epidemic facing the youth of the world, children's fitness plays a major role in fighting heart disease.
In addition to this, Whitsons, our District’s Food Provider, will provide healthy tastings for our students at lunchtime in the cafeteria on Thursday, May 2nd. On Friday, May 3rd, Grow it Green Morristown’s Urban Farm will do tastings again at lunchtime of seasonal fresh vegetables.
Help us celebrate by sending your child with extra healthy snacks and lunches and reminding them to keep on moving!
Attendance
Appointments!
Reach for the Stars!
Email: lorri.vaccaro@msdk12.net
Location: 125 Sussex Avenue, Morristown, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-292-2250