Dr. Koop's Newsletter

Happy fall! The first day of fall is tomorrow. Thank you to the KRS families for your contributions in making the start of the new school year a great one!

Due to the generosity of the KRS PTO, our first assembly is scheduled for September 26, 2023. The title of the assembly is "Quest for Kindness" which aligns nicely with our Kindness Lives at KRS theme this year. Thank you to Mrs. Christina Hoffman for her hard work in researching and booking the assemblies for the 23-24 school year!

It is never too early to plan for Halloween! This newsletter, includes some important information about celebrating Halloween at KRS. The Madison High School marching band will again lead the KRS Halloween parade. We are really excited for a fun and exciting Halloween!

Have a wonderful weekend! As a reminder, the Madison schools are closed on Monday, September 25, 2023 for Yom Kippur.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy Koop

September 23, 2023 - First Day of Fall

September 25, 2023 - Yom Kippur - Schools Closed

September 26, 2023 - Quest for Kindness Assembly for Students

October 2 - 6, 2023 - Respect Week

Week of October 16, 2023 - Safety Week

October 9, 2023 - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day - Staff Inservice, Schools Closed for Students

October 31, 2023 - KRS Halloween Parade 1:15 PM

November 6 - 8, 2023 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:45 PM Dismissal Days

Please see this link https://conta.cc/45Rlrcg for the latest publication of the PTO Paw Print.

Only A Drill - This morning, we conducted a Medical Lockdown drill under the direction of our fabulous school nurse Mrs. Moran. The KRS medical lockdown team of responders assembled within a minute to a designated location in the KRS building to address the issue. It is very important that we conduct this drill, so that we are prepared for any medical emergency. At the time of the drill, there were no students within the area of the school where the medical issue was addressed.

Our Halloween parade will begin promptly at 1:15 PM on October 31, 2023.

• Class parties for students only will follow the parade.
• Class pictures will occur behind the school immediately after the conclusion of the parade.
• Children may bring their costumes to school and change after lunch or students may wear their costumes to school.

Halloween costumes should be school appropriate:

• Masks are allowed as long as vision is clear.

• Costumes should allow for easy walking.

• Costumes should not represent violence. (no blood or weapons)

• Please no scary clown costumes.

• We love when adults wear costumes, but please no masks.

Greetings from the Art Room! We spent the last two weeks looking at the art of Yayoi Kusama. Students were inspired to create their own piece of art to include in a collaborative mural. Stay tuned for a new Instagram page from the art room.

Our first window of Star administration is occurring during the month of September. The Star assessments are diagnostic assessments designed to provide educators and parents with important information about a student's progress. Students in grades 1-5 take the Star reading and/or early literacy assessment as well as the Star mathematics assessment benchmarked for their specific grade. To read general information about the Star assessments, parents are encouraged to visit their family resources page.

Kindergarten teachers administer the Star CBMs (Curriculum Based Measures) in both reading and mathematics. The Fall kindergarten reading assessments assess a student's understanding of letters and their sounds, basic phonological awareness, and early decoding. The kindergarten math assessments include recognizing numerals and their value. Often times the CBMs may be administered in other grade levels, on an as-needed individual basis. For more information regarding the Star CBMs, please click here.

Families of students in grades 4 and 5, who completed the NJSLA assessment in the spring of 2023, will receive the parent/guardian result reports via their child's backpack on September 29, 2023.

MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

2023-2024

Academic Progress Reports

Trimester 1 (61)

September 5, 2023 First Trimester Begins

December 6, 2023 First Trimester Ends

December 12, 2023 Report Cards Posted for Review

December 15, 2023 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 2 (61)

December 7, 2023 Second Trimester Begins

March 14, 2024 Second Trimester Ends

March 19, 2024 Report Cards Posted for Review

March 22, 2024 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 3 (61)

March 15, 2024 Third Trimester Begins

June 20, 2024 Third Trimester Ends

June 13, 2024 Report Cards Posted for Review

June 20, 2024 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Conferences:

November 6 (Evening), 7, and 8 2023

April 15 (Evening) 16, and 17, 2024