Return to Headlines

January 2019

WELCOME BACK!

 

Happy New Year!  It’s hard to believe we are in 2019!  We hope your holiday was relaxing and filled with memories to cherish!  Thank you to all for your well wishes at the holidays and for your continuous support of Switlik.  I certainly continue to feel lucky to be a part of this wonderful school.

 

Please continue to be mindful of the icy conditions around the school when winter weather “blesses” us with challenges.  Our district building maintenance do a fantastic job of preparing our school grounds for school; however, there is no way to totally guarantee against blind slippery spots on the sidewalks, as well as in the parking lot.

 

Switlik School announces their 2019-2020 Governor’s Educators of the Year, Mrs. Tracey Kahn and Ms. Sharon Potenza who have been recognized for their dedication and commitment to our Switlik students.  The title “Educator of the Year” is well deserved.  Congratulations to Mrs. Kahn & Ms. Potenza!

 

Report Cards:    Please be sure you are ready to access your child’s report card on the district portal website.  Report cards will be available on the portal to parents on January 3rd.  Also, please remember that if your Portal log-in does not work, please try the “Forgot My Password” link above BEFORE contacting support, as most issues will be resolved through that feature.  Please note that the “Forgot Password” link will work only with parents who have an e-mail as their login ID.  For questions or problems with your login ID’s or password (or if you do not have them), please send an email to portalsupport@jacksonsd.org and include your name and phone number, as well as your child’s name, school, grade, student ID number and the problem you are experiencing and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.

In-View Testing:  On January 3rd and 4th, students in second and fourth grades will be taking a cognitive abilities assessment.  The test will take approximately two and a half hours (split between two days), and requires no prior test preparation activities.  It is a broad based evaluative instrument that includes questions on verbal, non-verbal and quantitative reasoning.

Spelling Bee:  Our school level spelling bee was held on Wednesday, January 9th.    Congratulations to Chase Kanarkowski in Ms. Liverani & Ms. Kudrick’s  class for winning the spelling bee with the correct spelling of the word eclair.  Chase and four additional students, GraceAnne VanDorpe, Emi Tomochek, James Santostephano and Benjamin Gershman will participate in the District Spelling Bee to be held on Thursday, March 21st at 6:30 p.m. at Jackson Memorial High School.

Jackson Township School District Special Education Advisory Council – Please join us on Monday, January 14, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at Jackson Liberty High School (IMC) for a presentation by Jennifer Joyce and Joseph Guarracino on Life After School.  Employment is the key to fulfilling so many of our dreams.  As an Employment First state, the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is working to ensure that competitive employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred post education outcome for all people with disabilities.  This presentation explains the value of working in an integrated, competitive setting and provides information about ways to access DDD-funded employment services/supports. 

Cold Weather:  With the inclement weather upon us and the continuous possibility of early dismissals and delayed openings, it is important that your emergency contact information is up to date.  Any changes to your contact information can be updated through the Genesis portal.

Before sending your child out to the bus stop or dropping them off at school, please take a moment to make sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather.  Depending on the weather, students may go out for recess.  Dressing your child in multiple light layers is recommended so that they can remove a top layer if they get too warm while indoors.  When it gets cold outside, it gets cold inside the building as well.  Don’t be afraid to ask your children whether or not they are comfortable while they are at school; they will often tell you if they are too hot or too cold in their classrooms.

A Note from our School Nurse:  In order to minimize risk to others, we encourage parents to keep your children home if they exhibit any flu symptoms which include fever, body aches, chills, headache, coughing or vomiting.  We advise that you keep your children home from school until they are fever-free for a full 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol or Advil).  While in school, we will be reminding everyone about the importance of preventative actions, such as frequent handwashing and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze.  The CDC also recommends the Flu Shot for anyone above the age of 6 months and high risk groups.

Lost & Found:  It is easy for your child’s winter clothing to get lost – mittens, gloves, hats and scarves are especially at risk for wandering off on their own when no one is looking.  To help make sure that your child’s belongings return safely at the end of the day, remember to label each piece of clothing clearly.  Please encourage your children to visit the Lost and Found box.  There are a number of valuable items waiting to be returned to their owners.

PTN News:  There are many ways you can get involved at school – check out our awesome PTN.  They do so much to support our school programs with your continuous generosity.  Please join us on January 17th at 10:00 a.m. for our next PTN Meeting. 

PTN Events:

January 11th - Final Day to Register for Sweetheart Dance

January 14th-18th - Coin Challenge - Pocket Change for a Pocketbook Bingo

January 18th - Pajama Day

January Up-Coming Dates:

January 3rd & 4th – Grades 2&4 In-View Testing

January 7th & 8th – Grades 2&4 Make Up In-View Testing

January 9th – Grades 4 & 5 Spelling Bee

January 11th – School Spirit Day – Crazy Hair Day!

January 16th - School Store during Lunch Periods

January 18th – Candy Bingo Night

January 21st  – School Closed – Martin Luther King Day

January 23rd  – Grade 5 Chorus Concert

Please be aware that there will be no school for students on Monday, January 21st  in observance of Martin Luther King Day .

Sincerely,

Kathleen McKiernan