James Monroe Newsletter
May Edition
Message from the Principal
The end of the year is quickly approaching and we have many exciting events coming up this month. Please read on to find out more about what is happening at James Monroe during this very busy month!
We hope to see you at our upcoming school events!
Warmly,
Mrs. Cyndi Tufaro
principal
Mrs. Maggie Callahan
assistant principal
May Calendar
Multicultural Night is May 4th
Maschio's, our school's food service provider will have a table set up with Belgium waffles. High school music students will be representing hispanic cultures by playing music in our lobby and our own third and fourth graders will be putting on dance demonstrations. We have so much to learn from each other!
NJSLA - New Jersey Student Learning Assessment
All NJ students across the state in grades 3, 4 & 5 will take the following standardized tests.
May 9 - May 11 - ELA
May 12 - May 16 MATH
GRADE 5 ONLY - May 17 & 18 SCIENCE
You may use the following items from previous tests with your children:
Test Taking Tips
There’s no secret formula when it comes to passing a standardized test. It’s important to remember that anxiety may hinder performance for the test taker, so take a deep breath and read through a few practical tips to help your child prepare for standardized assessments.
- Take practice tests.
Many Department of Education state websites offer practice tests, which can help prepare children with understanding the test expectations, including the content and mechanics. NJSLA offers good examples of practice tests. If the test format seems familiar on test day, kids are more likely to feel comfortable and know what to do.
2. Promote a positive attitude.
Parents should promote a positive attitude towards learning and testing. Kids need to take tests seriously and be strategic, but also feel confident and mentally prepared. Parents can help children feel prepared for the test by encouraging children to visualize success on test day. In other words, ask children to close their eyes and imagine themselves taking the test and feeling great about it.
3. Discuss what to do if you finish early.
Sometimes kids finish the test early. It’s important to discuss that this is a good opportunity to double check and verify their answers for accuracy. Parents can coach them to review certain questions that were hard and use the process of elimination to rule out some of the answer choices.
4. Eat well, exercise and rest.
In the weeks leading up to the test, it is important for students to have adequate sleep (eight hours is recommended), eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and get exercise. Foods high in protein, and water help to stimulate the brain. Exercise, such as stretching and walking, helps to supply the brain with oxygen. Eating a healthy breakfast before school, particularly on the day of the test, gives the body the fuel it needs to maintain long periods of concentration.
5. Plan enjoyable and relaxing activities.
Trying to squeeze a little more preparation in immediately before the test is not advised because it can lead to feeling overwhelmed. Studying the day before or day of the test leads to increased anxiety and should be avoided. Instead, plan enjoyable activities to feel relaxed and ready.
Save the Date! 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony
Families of 5th graders are invited to join us on June 15th at 9:30 a.m. for the 5th grade Moving Up Ceremony.
2 tickets will be provide for adults to join a ceremony for our students moving on to middle school. All school age siblings at James Monroe will be invited to watch the ceremony.
Tickets and more information will be sent home soon.
James Monroe PTO's Tricky Tray
Hundreds of special prize packages were auctioned off and several went home with fabulous prizes including designer purses, free tickets to parks, shows and games and a fabulous outdoor patio grill and set.
Thank you to our planning committee for their hard work, to all the local businesses, staff and families who donated prizes and to the community who came out to support the school.
Sidewalk Scholastic Book Fair - BOGO
PTO Family Outdoor Movie Night
The Science Fair - May 24th
We are really looking forward to our Science Fair for Grades 3-5 on May 24th. Set-up will begin at 6:30pm and presentations will start at 7pm. Thank you to all of the students who have registered to participate and also all of our adult volunteers who have offered their help with this event. Tri-fold poster boards will be sent home the first week in May. You may also find helpful information on our Google Site found HERE
Our Spring Concert was Super!
Learning an instrument or participaing in the chorus benefits students' confidence, their performance in school by enhancing multiple skills including reading and math and exposes students to cultures from around the world.
Field Day Volunteers Needed - May 19th
On Thursday, May 19th, we will be having our Field Day.
Field Day is a fun day for the children. They participate in several events such as parachute games, roller races, relay races, Frisbee toss, and much more. All of this is during the school session both inside and outside. The children go from event to event with their class and teacher.
This year during our field day, we will have the children separated into six groups. The students will rotate through the activities by grade level.
We will be asking the students from the different grades to all try and wear their grade level field trips shirts. This will allow for all the students in each grade to be unified.
To ensure the continued success of this annual event, we must, as in the past, rely on the outstanding support from our parent/guardian volunteers. Our field day will be broken into two sessions, 9:00am – 12:20pm and 1:45pm – 3:15pm. Please email Mrs. Reif or Mr. Fernandez if you can volunteer for one or both sessions.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to call. You will get your assigned stations on the morning of field day. There will be a table set up in the lobby for sign-in and further directions.
Thank you for your time.
The Physical Education Teachers
(732) 452-2970
cynthia.reif@edison.k12.nj.us or michael.fernandez@edison.k12.nj.us
Yearbook Orders
Student Council News
School Play-Jungle Book
It is almost show time! Performances of Jungle Book will take place June 1st and June 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Please help your child practice their songs and dances which can be found in the Jungle Book Google Classroom. Students need to be off book and know all their lines.
All participants will need to provide their costume for the show by May 13th. Make sure to label your costume and the bag.
Tech week is an important part of preparing for the upcoming performance. It is the first time the children work all together with the sets, costumes, lights and audio. Students in the show are required to be at all tech week rehearsals May 24th - May 27th from 3:30 - 5:30 pm.
Ticket sales will be going on sale soon. Tickets are $10 per person and benefit the school. Due to maximum capacity of the theater space, there is a limit of 2 tickets for each night the students are performing.
Grade 1 performs on Wednesday, June 1st
Grade 2 performs on Thursday, June 2nd
Grades 3 - 5 perform in both shows.
Policy and Procedure Reminders
An Important Reminder about Appropriate Attire at School
Please assist your children in what constitutes acceptable practice in this area.
Flip flops and Crocs are not permitted for safety reasons.
Hats are for outdoors only.
Crop tops and spaghetti straps are not appropriate for school. Bare midriffs are not permitted. For example, your child should be able to lift their arms without their belly being exposed. Shirts must reach the top of the hips.
Ripped pants should not be too exposing.
Also, in addition to daily hygiene, please remind your child to shower at least three times a week with soap and water.
Cell Phone Policy
If your student is bringing a cell phone or i-Watch with them to school, please complete this form and submit it to your child's teacher. I-Watches are not permitted to be worn during the school day. The cell phone is required to stay in the child's backpack and students are not to make or accept phone calls or text messages from their cell phone during the school day. If you need to reach your child for any reason, please contact the main office and we will assist (732-452-2970).
Kindergarten Registration
Please click here for the enrollment requirements. It is recommended that enrollment be completed online using the Registration Gateway.
If you have a child who is eligible to begin Kindergarten, they must turn 5 years of age by October 1st and be full time resident of Edison.
Covid Reporting
We continue to be vigilant with testing for Covid. Although symptoms often mirror allergies, the only way to rule out Covid is for your child to take a laboratory confirmed test. Please follow all directions provided by our school nurse and administration to expedite the situation.
- Child's first & last name
- Child's teacher
- Siblings' names & teachers (inform other schools if older)
- Symptoms (if any)
- Date of exposure to close contact and/or date of symptoms and date of PCR or Rapid Antigen test collected (not reported)
- Send a screenshot of the PCR or Rapid Antigen report when you receive it (not a home test)
The district has moved away from our individual letters to a dashboard which will be updated each Friday on the district website. You will no longer receive letters from the school.
A Message from Mrs. Sclafani - our School Nurse
1. Please look for the letters that are being sent out to all 5th Graders regarding the 6th Grade Immunization requirements for entry into Middle Schools and Sports Physicals information if your child/ren would like to take up a sport in the fall when they begin Middle School. Please be sure to make your doctor appointments to have your student/s receive these mandatory vaccinations and also read below if your student is interested in signing up for a school sport in the fall.
2.Sports Physicals are required for all Sports in Middle School. Students interested in joining a Fall Sports team or intramural must obtain a sports physical from their physician. The Sports Physical forms are due in the MIDDLE SCHOOL NURSE'S OFFICE by Friday July 1, 2022. There is no grace period for late entries. Forms returned AFTER the 7/01/22 due date, MAY NOT be cleared to participate prior TO 1ST practice session.
Link to sports physical form: Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (4 pages): https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1577380417/edisonk12njus/zevex1coj8dxmmilw4ay/HSForm14APrePreparationPhysicalEvaluation2015.pdf
To participate on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad, each student whose physical examination (HS Form #14C) was completed more than 90 days prior to the first day of official practice MUST provide a Health History Update Questionnaire (HS Form #14G) of medical issues experienced since the last medical examination, completed and signed by the student’s parent or guardian. These will be mailed out in May/June along with the Pre-Participation Physical form above. Please let me know if you will require one sooner.
3. In accordance with state regulations and district policy, it is important for your child to receive medical examinations at least once during each developmental stage, and more often with a chronic medical condition.
- Early childhood (preschool through grade 3)
- Pre-adolescence (grades 4 through 6)
- Adolescence (grades 7 through 12)
Please have your child examined by his/her primary healthcare provider during these critical periods of development to ensure your child's good health. If your child had a recent physical exam (within the last year or two) please forward it to the school via email or mail. When you have your child examined, please have the medical form completed and returned to the school nurse. Here is the medical form requiring completion by your child’s doctor and you as the parent or guardian: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1577381590/edisonk12njus/uliebetgtwfrw4cl9iax/Form_16_HealthCareProviderExamination.pdf
If you do not have a family healthcare provider or clinic where your child receives his/her health care, please contact the nurse for community resources.
About Us...
- Be Respectful
- Try Your Best
- Choose Kindness
Email: cynthia.tufaro@edison.k12.nj.us
Website: https://mon.edison.k12.nj.us/
Location: 7 Sharp Road, Edison, NJ, USA
Phone: (732) 452-2970
Facebook: facebook.com/PTOatJamesMonroe
Twitter: @monroeowls