Sussex Star Burst Newsletter
Principal's Corner
Mark Your Calendars!
Looking Ahead:
October 20- Spirit Day- Wear PINK
October 21- School Store
October 24- Half Day for Students. Dismissal at 1:20 pm
October 26- HSA General Meeting at AV Auditorium 7:00-8:00- TOPIC: Harassment Intimidation and Bullying (HIB)
October 28- School Spirit Day- Wear your Sussex Gear or school colors (Blue and White)
October 31- Halloween/Harvest Day Parade- 2:00 pm.
October 31- November 4- Book Fair
November 7 & 9- Parent/Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal for students @ 1:20
November 8- Election Day- School is Closed
November 10-11- Teacher's Convention- School is Closed
November 23- Half Day for Students. Dismissal at 1:20
November 24-25- Thanksgiving- School is Closed
Just Like Me Program
We are thrilled to announce the creation of the Just Like Me (JLM) Mentor Program @ Sussex Avenue School! This program connects a male student participant with a male MSD High School teacher who either shares or can identify with the participant’s culture. Students benefit by establishing relationships with their future teachers and by developing a growth mindset for learning. Sessions will be held twice a month at Sussex Avenue School for 40 minutes in the morning.
Halloween/Harvest Day Festivities
Our Halloween/Harvest Day guidelines are:
1. All Halloween costumes must be school-appropriate for the age level.
2. Students choosing to dress can wear their costumes to school.
3. No weapons, swords, or handheld accessories.
4. No Halloween masks.
5. Halloween costumes must be functional with the classroom environment (sitting and moving safely within the 3ft parameters.)
Classroom celebrations will be coordinated with the homeroom teacher and class parents. No more than 2 class parents per class. All volunteers will sign in at the kiosk in the office (please bring your ID), and complete the Covid screener.
If your student does not participate in Halloween, it is still a day dedicated to academic instruction. We encourage all students to attend the full day of school as our Halloween/Harvest Day Parade does not begin until 2:00 p.m. Alternate activities will be available for those who do not celebrate.
Just a few reminders
Students are dismissed at 3:20. If your child's dismissal procedures are different than originally planned, please complete the Sussex Avenue Note form to assist in proper notification and allow us to conduct dismissal most efficiently and safely. Please call the Main Office if there is a change in Dismissal Plans for your child afternoon. Without such notification, students will be sent home as outlined in their dismissal plan.
The end of the day in an elementary school is extremely hectic. We kindly ask that if you are picking up your child, you do so before 3:00 pm or complete the form and pick your child up at the side door at dismissal time. We appreciate your support and understanding.
Our Lobby Guard Kiosk, located in the main office, is back in operation and will be used for all visitors/contractors to the building. Visitors with an appointment must have their driver's license with them. They will sign in at the kiosk, scan their driver's license, and it will take their photo. The system will generate a visitor's pass with your image printed to be worn while in the building. Before leaving the building, you will sign out in the main office.
Hi Sussex Parents!
Now that we finished our Start with Hello Lessons, we will be starting our bullying prevention lessons next week! We will read My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig as part of the lesson.
The book focuses on bullying among friends who use name-calling and manipulation to humiliate and exclude. In the story, the main character has help from her mother and learns to cope and thrive by facing her fears and reclaiming power from her bully.
Some suggestions for teasing/bullying from the book include:
- Know that it is not your fault
- Know that you don’t deserve it
- Tell the person to stop- only if you feel safe doing so.
- If possible, remove yourself from the situation.
- Report bullying to an adult you trust.
- Hang out with people who let you be you.
- Use humor to deflect teasing
- Don’t respond to teasing by becoming a bully yourself.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns, as I am the anti-bullying specialist for Sussex!
Courtney Brillon, MSW, LCSW
School Counselor, Sussex Avenue School
Morris School District
(973) 292- 2250 ext 6554
The Sussex Home and School Association (HSA)
Be sure to register on the HSA (Home School Association) website. The HSA website is one-
stop-shopping for the school calendar, spirit wear store, latest announcements, and more!
https://sussexavenuehsa.membershiptoolkit.com/
Please read this week's HSA newsletter. The HSA has many exciting things on the horizon to support our school. You can find the HSA eblast by clicking the link. SussexEBLAST