Clara B. Worth
September 2020 Note Worthy News
From The Principal's Desk:
Welcome back! The Clara B. Worth family would like to extend a special welcome to our new students, families, and staff members. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, Mrs. Cara Burton, as the principal of Clara B. Worth Elementary School.
I'd like to begin by thanking everyone for all their patience, understanding, and grace during this very difficult time. Opening a school during a nation-wide pandemic was a tall order, but we have risen to the challenge. I couldn't be more proud of my fellow administrators, teachers, secretaries, and staff for all they have done to make this possible.
While our school year will look unlike any other we've have before, during the 2020-2021 school year you will continue to see an active Berkeley Township police officer on duty daily, as school security remains a top priority of all our schools.
Visitors and guests are extremely limited due to NJDOE restrictions. However, if you are visiting school please be prepared to show your identification any time you are on schools grounds. Many of our future events may require you to RSVP prior to the event for safety and security purposes. Please be patient, and understand that these measures are for the safety of everyone.
Students will continue to work 1:1 with Chromebooks in grades K-4. In addition, preschoolers will be provided with Droid tablets. The implementation of our 1:1 initiatve several years has greatly benefited us as we now will utilize hybrid and fully remote options.
The parent portal will continue to be an essential connection between home and school. Parents have access to their children's report cards, progress reports, lunch account, and a variety of pertinent information via the parent portal. Parents can log onto the portal by clicking on https://www.fridayparentportal.com/portal/security/login.cfm Having access to the portal allows parents to keep all important school information up to date. Please check your information and make any necessary changes. It is the parents responsibility to keep this information current.
You will receive very few paper reminders. CBW "Peek at the Week" and newsletters, like this one, will be sent to your email through a program called "Smore." Remind will be used both school wide and by your child's individual teachers.
Here at CBW, we firmly believe that a child's education is a joint effort between both school and home... now more so than ever before! Therefore, one of our main goals is to work in partnership with our families so that our students can receive the best education possible. To this end, we strive to keep all avenues of communication open. This year we will continue to utilize the daily planner for grades second through fourth. All staff members have emails and voice mail extensions that they will share with you. Many teachers will be utilizing an app or program to communicate with you, look for that information in the coming days.
While I understand that this year will have many challenges, I am confident that we will get through them together. Please do not hesitate to contact myself, Mr. Waldron, or the main office with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Cara J. Burton
Principal
Introducing, Mr. Kevin Waldron, Assistant Principal
Hello to my new family- CBW!
I am extremely excited and eager to get started on the next chapter of my career. I have been blessed with tremendous support and guidance throughout my years in Berkeley and I look forward to working together with each of you at CBW!
I am a Bayville kid at heart. I went to Potter from Kindergarten to 6th grade. I grew up in a home where education was a top priority. I appreciate the lessons my parents shared with me and still do today. When I graduated 6th grade we moved to Lacey where I finished middle school and high school. I spent two years at Ocean County College. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience there. I was able to play basketball for the school and was eventually inducted into the OCC Athletics Hall of Fame. From OCC I transferred to Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina where I graduated with a degree in Finance. How did I then get into education you might ask? My mom! She said she always knew I would end up a teacher and guided me through the door of substituting. It was time to go back to school and start working toward my teaching certificate. I was fortunate enough to start my teaching career at H&M Potter where my school life began many years before. I taught 4th grade at Potter and learned many amazing things from my colleagues. Years later I took over as assistant principal there for two years before moving to BTES where I have spent the last three years. All of these experiences have helped shape who I am today and I am appreciative for each part.
I currently live in Toms River with my beautiful wife, Kristen, and my two amazing children Jayden and Aubree. Jayden is 3 and is my little mini me! Aubree just celebrated her 1st birthday (quarantine style) and is certainly Daddy’s little girl. They keep me on my toes but I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Berkeley is and always will be home to me and I can’t wait to get started on this new journey at CBW. I like to take each day and each opportunity in stride and I will do my best to make sure I help contribute to this already amazing family! Thank you and hopefully see you all soon!
#weBEElieve
September 2020
Tuesday, September 8- First Day of School!
Tuesday, September 15- Sports Jersey Theme Day (Group 1)
Tuesday, September 15- Virtual PTA Meeting 6:30
Thursday, September 17- Virtual Back to School Night (More information forthcoming)
Friday, September 18- Sports Jersey Theme Day (Group 2)
Wednesday, September 23- Virtual CBW School Spirit
Medications In School
Absolutely no medications are to be brought to school by students. All medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, must be brought to the school by a parent in the original labeled bottle or container. All medication need written and signed order from a physician.
Please contact the school nurse, Mrs. Helling, with any questions at (732) 269-1700 (ext. 3005).
PTA
Our PTA is an invaluable asset to our school. Please make every effort to attend our virtual meetings, and assist in any way possible. Look for membership information, coming soon!
2020-2021 PTA Executive Board:
President- Kristy Mackown
1st VP: Mandi Fallas
2nd VP: Stefanie Bass
Treasurer: Carrie Roberts
Recording Secretary: Angela Palzer
Corresponding Secretary: Tracey Robinson
Absence Reporting
The Berkeley Township School District has an automated calling system for absences. A phone call will be automatically placed to the home of any student who is absent from school whether the child's absence was called in or not. We do ask that you continue to follow our school's procedure(s) for calling in an absence and continue to send in absence notes and/or doctor notes to assure that the absence is recorded correctly. A 24 hour voice mail absence reporting line may be reached at (732) 269-1700 (press 1).
Walkers, Parent Drop Off & Pick Up
If your child walks or is driven to school, please know that the doors of the school do not open until 7:55 a.m. Drop off and pick up is in the front of the building. Only children (K-4) who can independently exit the vehicle should utilize the drop off line. Parents are NOT permitted out of the vehicle in the drop off line. If your child needs time and/or assistance please park and walk them to the front door; this includes all preschool students. Children are not allowed to walk unescorted through the parking lot at any time.
For dismissal, all preschool parents must park and meet us on the sidewalk for hand-to-hand dismissal. The dismissal "drive-thru" line is for K-4 students.
Please remember that if you are exiting your vehicle during arrival and/or drop-off you are required to have a mask according to CDC guidelines as social distancing will not be possible.
Breakfast & Lunch: "Grab-n-Go"
Lunch $3.00
Students who qualify for reduced lunch and breakfast will receive it for free this year.
Application on the Parent Portal
The Parent Portal will allow you to view your child’s Sodexo meal account, limit choices, check balance, add money, etc.
An order form will be on the website. Orders for the following week must be made by midnight on Friday of the week before.
If a student attending in person purchases or orders lunch (Example of students in Group 1)
Monday: Student will go home with lunch for Monday, and breakfast for Tuesday.
Tuesday: Student will go home with lunch for Tuesday, Breakfast and Lunch for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and breakfast for the following Monday.
A Note from Mrs. Helling, School Nurse
The state of New Jersey requires the following immunizations. Immunization requirements are the same regardless of in-person or virtual learning.
Kindergarten:
DTP - 4 doses with one dose after age 4
Polio - 3 doses with one dose after age 4
MMR - 2 doses
Hepatitis B - Series of 3
Varicella - 1 dose after age 1
Preschool:
DTP - 4 doses
Polio - 3 doses
MMR - 1 dose after age 1
Varicella - 1 dose after age 1
Pneumococcal & HIB - at least one dose after age 1
Influenza - annually by December 31st
Please send immunization records and physical exam forms to the school at your earliest convenience. Contact Mrs. Helling at khelling@btboe.org with any questions.
Attention PS & K Parents:
Clara B. Worth Elementary School
Email: cburton@btboe.org
Website: www.btboe.org
Location: 57 Central Parkway, NJ, United States
Phone: (732) 269-1700
Twitter: @clarabworth