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Principal's Message October 2025

 

Dear Johnson Families,

 

It is hard to believe we are through our first month of school.  We are off to a great start here at Johnson School!  Students and teachers are making strong connections and are off and running with engaging lessons and educational activities.

 

Thank you to all our parents and guardians who attended our Back to School Nights and the PTO sponsored Welcome Back Popsicles and PTO Book Fair Night!  Making connections between home and school is key to a successful educational experience for our children.

 

All HCJ families are encouraged to join the PTO. Our PTO sponsors assistance to teachers in classroom settings, raises funds for supplemental educational materials and experiences such as assemblies and trips, supports school and family social interactions such as Bingo Night, and Trunk or Treat. The team effort of a parent-teacher organization offers the best possible learning environment for our children. Volunteering is a great way to engage with your child’s school and make their school experience more exciting, too! We value our parent volunteers and encourage you to join the PTO and sign up for activities and events. You can print and return this flyer to the school along with your payment.  Checks can be made out to HCJ PTO. Or, you can sign up and pay online using our easy and convenient CheddarUp shop.

Thank you to everyone who has already completed their Back to School Forms this year. If you have not yet completed your forms, please do so.  These forms include our annual notices and acknowledgement of our district policies regarding Emergency contacts, permission to photograph and acceptable use of school technology.  These forms are all available in the Parent Portal under the Forms tab. 

 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

NEW SCHOOL HOURS are 8:10 am–2:20pm

In an effort to continuously improve the safety of students and staff, parents are reminded of the drop-off and pick-up procedures set forth in the student handbook as well as the changes indicated below. Thank you in advance for your support in our efforts to improve the safety and well being of our students and staff members.

 

DROP-OFF/ARRIVAL (8:00 - 8:10am):

  • Only students in Child Care will be admitted into the building prior to 8:00 A.M.

  • Please drive slowly through the parking lot. 

  • Please DO NOT PARK in front of our building by blocking the fire lane.  Ample parking spaces, visitor slots, and handicapped parking are available directly in front of our building.  

  • Please follow the “traffic flow” as designated by the cones. Pull up to the orange cones as far as possible to allow other cars to pull in behind you. Be aware of traffic patterns; do not move ahead or cut across the line.

  • Automobile traffic is PROHIBITED in the bus parking/standing area on the SIDE of our school.

  • Students must exit the car/vehicle from the PASSENGER/CURBSIDE ONLY.

  • If students require assistance exiting the car, please park in a designated parking space and use the crosswalk to escort your child to the front of the school.  This will allow a safe and efficient flow of traffic for all. 

  • Parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the main door during arrival.

 

LATE ARRIVALS:

  • Tardy students (arriving after 8:10 A.M.) must enter through the main entrance with a parent/guardian and will need to be signed in by a parent/guardian with the receptionist. Students are NOT PERMITTED to walk from the parking lot into the school at this time UNLESS accompanied by an adult.

 

PICK-UP/DISMISSAL (2:15pm WALKERS 2:20pm Busers)

  • Please drive slowly through the parking lot. 

  • Parents/Guardians must PARK in a designated parking space and wait in the front of the building for their students.

  • Please DO NOT PARK in front of our building by blocking the fire lane.  Ample parking spaces, visitor slots, and handicapped parking are available directly in front of our building.  

  • Automobile traffic is PROHIBITED in the bus parking/standing area on the SIDE of our school.

  • Parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the main door during dismissal.

  • If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up students, a written note, the Change in Dismissal form, or they must be on the EMERGENCY LIST before pick-up/dismissal to sign the child out with the receptionist. All emergency contacts listed must be 18 or older as per district policy. Proper identification is always necessary.

  • Please also be aware that cars leaving the Johnson parking lot will be stopped temporarily to allow all buses to safely exit the bus ramp at dismissal.

 

EARLY DISMISSAL:

  • If it is necessary to sign your students out before regular dismissal, please do so by 1:45 to ensure a safe and efficient dismissal for all students.

  • Please send in a note if early dismissal is needed.  In addition to the note, it is best to call ahead and also let us know that you are coming to the school.

  • If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up students, we must have a note with the parent's permission before pick-up/dismissal to sign the child out with the receptionist.  All emergency contacts listed must be 18 or older as per district policy. Proper identification is always necessary.

 

STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER DISMISSAL OR LATE PARENT PICK-UP:

  • Students returning to school as a result of a parent/guardian not being at the bus stop to receive them will be placed in childcare at the walk-in rate. The parent will be responsible for picking up their child from childcare.  The same policy will hold true for students who are scheduled for parent-pick up, who are not picked up on time.  Please be aware that childcare hours end at 6:00 p.m.

 

DISMISSAL CHANGES:

If your child is assigned a bus, but you plan on driving your child to school each day, it is important that you send a note to the teacher explaining your child will be a “walker” for the year.  If you have a dismissal change for any specific day, please send a note stating the date of the change and who will be picking your child up.

 

The month of October is filled with observances and fun holiday activities.  Keep these dates on your calendar and check the links below or teacher’s Google Classroom for the schedule of activities taking place.

 

School will be closed for students on Thursday, October 2nd and Monday, October 13th.

 

Week of Respect  10/6-10/10

Safe Schools Week 10/20-10/24

Red Ribbon Week  10/27- 10/31

 

Picture Day: October 21

 

Halloween Festivities

PTO Sponsored Trunk or Treat and Staff Pumpkin Contest- Thursday 10/23 6:00-8:00

We are excited to announce that we will be continuing the Johnson School Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 23rd, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.  Come join us for an evening of Spooky Fun! You don't want to miss this event!  

 

Halloween Parade- Friday 10/31 starting promptly at 10:00 AM. The parade will begin with students exiting the preschool wing doors and proceeding past the main entrance, around the building to the bus loop, and along the sidewalk. Students will re-enter the building through the 1st/2nd-grade wing door. Cones will be set up to mark the parade route. Visitors are encouraged to stand on either side of the cones, creating a walkway for the students. A few important tips:

  • If you are coming to view the parade, you may park on the bus ramp after all buses have left for morning drop-off. 

  • Parking may be an issue, so I recommend that you give yourself time in the event you have to park at Camp Joy and walk up the hill to Johnson School.

  • Unfortunately, if it rains, we will conduct the parade indoors for students only.

 

Food Service Information: Breakfast Update

 

Coming up in November:

 

Parent-teacher Conferences:

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 3rd–5th.  Evening conferences will be held on Monday, Nov. 3, only.  We will follow the shortened day schedule with a 12:35pm dismissal.  Conferences will give you an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and how you can best support us in providing your child with the best educational experience we can offer. You can utilize the parent portal to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher at a time that works for you. 

 

NJSLA Adaptive Field Test Grade 4 ONLY

Nov. 12-13

 

School will be closed:

11/6 -11/7 for Teacher’s Convention 

11/27-11/28 for Thanksgiving

 

Early Dismissal: 

11/3-11/5 for Parent-Teacher Conferences 

11/26 for Thanksgiving

HCJ PTO News:  Please visit the PTO website for more information about upcoming events and fundraisers. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Renee Pagano-Hein

Principal, Johnson Elementary