September, 2017 - Welcome Back!

Dear Switlik Families:

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year!

I extend a warm welcome to all new and returning students, their families and to our dedicated staff. A new school year brings with it renewed energy, a sense of optimism and excitement.

During these first weeks of school, all kindergarten, first and second grade students will be directed to the gym, by staff members in the hall and bus ramp. Teachers will line up their students to be escorted to their classrooms. Please help your child learn their bus and student ID number and have them bring their bus pass to school for the first few weeks. Students attending Kindergarten and First Grade should wear their bus pass for the first two weeks of school to assist staff members in directing the children to the appropriate classroom.

One of the hallmarks of an exceptional school is the continuous partnership between the school and parents who work together for the best interest of all children. The close relationship between home and school is one of our strengths here at Switlik; one we will continue to foster as we grow and learn together this upcoming year.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff for all their hard work in preparing their classrooms to provide engaging and supportive learning opportunities. Thank you to our office staff who have done many behind the scenes organizational tasks and our custodial staff for all their hard work over the summer in getting our building and grounds ready for the start of school. You all make Switlik Shine!

As we look forward to the start of the new school year, Switlik staff is committed to providing every child the opportunity to excel academically, physically and socially. We know that we can only achieve this through the partnership between the school, our parents and the children. Switlik has an ongoing tradition of supportive, hard –working parents. Parents have the opportunity to further that partnership in a wide variety of ways. Parents can join the PTN, volunteer in classrooms, attend field trips, help at evening events, attend American Education Week and read with their children on a daily basis. Children love seeing their parents involved in some way at school. We hope to see you at our first PTN meeting on Thursday- September 28^th at 9:30 in the IMC! In attendance will be Mr. Baginski, Assistant Superintendent and Dr. Lisa Lane, Supervisor of Literacy.

Summer was spent reflecting and reviewing our school improvement goals, studying our children’s achievement and planning for a school year that will bring further growth for our students and teachers. Our children will continue to be engaged in rigorous curriculum, hands-on differentiated instruction, and purposeful activities designed to encourage, promote and support higher order thinking and deepen your child‘s understanding of concepts.

Switlik Elementary Back-to-School Nights will be held as follows:

Kindergarten & Grade 1: September 13^th
Grades 2 & 3: September 14^th
Grades 4 & 5: September 18^th

There you will have an opportunity to hear about some of our programs and begin forging that all-important relationship with the classroom teacher, as well as learn about the grade level curriculum, specialists, classroom technology, and other educational activities. I hope that you will visit the Switlik School Website http://www.jacksonsd.org) often for the latest in news and information.

Listed below are some preliminary PTN events and news items:

Kidstuff books will be passed out the first week of school. Please return unwanted books or payment of $25.00 by September 29^th.
Clothing Drive is on October 14^th. If you need to drop your clothes off sooner, please contact Coleen Walter at 732-833-8229 to arrange a different drop-off day.
Stay connected to the PTN by joining remind.com – class code is switlikPTN. You can also “like” us on the Switlik PTN Facebook page.

I look forward to a successful school year and greeting you at Back to school Night!

Sincerely,

Kathleen McKiernan