February, 2019

Dear Switlik Families,

School will be closed for students on Friday, February 1, 2019 for Staff In-Service. Additionally, school will be closed on Monday, February 18^th in observance of President’s Day.

I hope this Principal’s Message finds your family healthy and enjoying the winter season. 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 No matter the weather outside, we are busy learning and growing inside our building with character.

Coffee with the Principal: I would like to invite all our Switlik Parents/Community to attend “Coffee with the Principal” on Friday March 1^st at 9:30 a.m. in the Switlik IMC. Our guest speaker, Dr. Stephen Genco, Superintendent of Schools, will be here to provide us with valuable insight regarding ”The Future of School Funding,” “ The Impact of Cuts and the Future of our Students,” and “How You Can Help the Jackson School District Fight to Restore and Preserve Funding for Our Students. Please join us on Friday, March 1st at 9:30 a.m. in the Switlik IMC. Learn how your voice can be heard.

Switlik Sweeheart Dance: The PTN knocked it out of the park!!! Switlik’s first PTN “Sweetheart Dance” was held on Friday, February 9, 2019. The evening started as excited young ladies chaperoned by their proud VIP (Very Important Person of Their Choosing) entered the dance dressed in their very best!

Ladies were greeted with a Candy Wrist Corsage as they enter the gym vestibule, the lobby was festively decorated for Valentine’s Day and included multiple “Selfie Stations” and a greeting place to share with friends. Girls and their VIPs had the opportunity to partake in a professional photo, souvenir frame and a variety of sweet treats.

To top the evening, everyone bopped, skipped and twirled to the beat the light show and music of a DJ.

Many thanks go out to the committee of volunteers that planned, set up and staffed our evening: Mrs. Marley, Mrs. Sgammato, Mrs. Rosko, Ms. Persona, Ms. Seymour, Mr. Pelman, Mrs. Cirillo, Ms. Birudarju, Mrs. Messner, Mrs. Conti, Mrs. Finnerty, Mrs. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hallihan, Ms. Malloy, Ms. Burkhand, Ms. Covasi, Mrs. Walter and everyone who participated, whether you were at the event or volunteered to help behind the scenes. Special thank you to all our guests who respected our building, our Switlik community and custodial staff who always transform our building into tip top shape, Jackson’s Security staff Officer McDonald and Officer Amalfitanto ; the safety and security of our children and community is always our top priority! It goes without saying that our “Sweetheart Dance” was the highlight of the evening!

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.

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.

Spelling Bee: Our school level spelling bee was held on Wednesday, January 9^th. 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 21^st at 6:30 p.m. at Jackson Memorial High School.

Switlik “Souper Bowl” – The Switlik School has been casting their votes for their Super Bowl favorite. Who will it be? The New England Patriots or the Los Angeles Rams? To cast their vote, students and staff brought in a canned food item and placed it in the bin of their choice. All donations will be delivered to the Jackson Food Pantry.

Read Across America & Book Fair Week: Switlik’s Book Fair and Read Across America Week will begin on Monday, February 25^th through Friday, March 1^st. This year’s theme is “Reading is Dino-Mite!”

Read Across America Spirit Days:

Monday, February 25th: Prehistoric Partner Reading: Grab a partner and travel back in time. Read a book about a dinosaur or just a book you have read before.

Tuesday, February 26th: Stomp! Chomp! READ! Bring in a snack, grab a book and read!

Wednesday, February 27th: Wacky Wednesday! Dress in your wackiest clothes!

Thursday, February 28th: COLOR WARS! Dress in your grade level color for the day! Book Fair Family Night and Game Show!

Friday, March 1st: National Grab a Book and Read with Cat Day! Dress in your Red, Black and White and read EXTRA today!

“Dino-Dare” Game Show – Thursday, February 28th: Save the Date! The Switlik Staff, the JEA Pride Committee and the Switlik PTN invite you and your family to celebrate “Read Across America” with a fun night of Switlik Staff presenting the “Dino-Dare” Show! The event takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in our APR. (the Book Fair begins at 6:00 p.m. and the Read Across America Celebration begins at 6:30). There will only be one session this year – doors will open promptly at 6:30 p.m.. We ask that families enter the building through the doors near the GYM. Shop in the Scholastic Book Fair and please wait to enter the APR until your session begins. We are also asking for donations of snack items (cookies, munchkins, mini cupcakes, brownies). These items may be dropped off at the reception desk during the day on February 28^th between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. so they are ready for the evening festivities.

PTN Events:

Sweetheart Dance: Friday, February 8th/6:30 p.m. – GYM

Jersey Mike's Fundraiser: Pick up some sandwiches at Jersey Mikes in Bennetts Mills Plaze on Tuesday, February 12th (all day).

School Store: Students can shop on Wednesday, February 13th during their lunch periods. The school store has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 20th during lunch periods.

Gertrude Hawk Spring Candy Sale: Flyers will be distributed soon with details on how to order chocolates. Sale runs February 20th through March 6th will delivery expected week of April 1st. All orders will be sent home with children.

Boy's Night: Please join us for Switlik's first Boy's Night, Friday, March 8th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Admission is $25.00 per couple (Switlik boy and mom or an adult relative of his choosing). Additional boy is $10.00 (must also be a current Switlik student)

2018-2019 Yearbook: $20.00 per book. Pre-order is required; there will be no extras. Last day for orders is April 15, 2019

Looking Ahead:

February 1^st: School Closed for Students – Staff In-Service Day

February 6^th: Title 1 Family Book Club/5:30-7:30 p.m. – IMC

February 15^th: School Spirit Day – Favorite Sports Jersey Day!

February 18^th: School Closed – President’s Day

February 25^th-March 1^st: Book Fair/Read Across America Week

February 28^th: Dr. Seuss Family Night/6:30-7:30 p.m.

Sincerely,

Kathleen McKiernan