Return to Headlines

Principal's Message, April 2023

 

Dear Johnson Families,

The warmer weather is on the way and with that comes more outdoor and after-school activities.  Students also tend to get a little restless as we move through the last few months of school.  Please help your students to manage their busy schedules, get enough rest and put forth their best efforts in school.  This includes their academic responsibilities as well as appropriate behavior.

Spring is a great time to gather outside for activities with family and friends.  This often includes your favorite music!  Read Ms. O’Keeffe’s newsletter on ways to enjoy music with your children this season and all year long!

The District Spelling Bee was held on March 21 at JMHS.  Johnson’s top spellers made a strong showing, with all five students lasting several rounds.  Congratulations to Alyssa Somers who placed Second overall in the district Bee, and Myles Messinger who placed Third! You should all be very proud of your accomplishments!

Just a reminder, we have an EARLY DISMISSAL on Wednesday April 5 @ 1:55 and SPRING BREAK on April 6-14.

Don’t forget to check the Parent Portal to view your child’s 2nd Marking Period Report Card.

Budget News:  As you may have already heard, Jackson and many surrounding communities are feeling the effects of years of state budget cuts. These cuts have devastated our district.  Below are some links to information on how you can help support our efforts to restore funding and maintain a level of education our children deserve.

Jackson School District Reaches Fiscal Cliff

Tentative Budget Presentation

Help us Restore and Preserve MILLIONS of Dollars in State Aid for Jackson

S2 State Aid Cuts

Please Help Us Gain Support For Bill A-4461

Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch Don’t think it matters? It does!  The district receives additional funding based on the number of eligible students - and those funds support ALL students! Applications are CONFIDENTIAL. Citizenship status DOES NOT MATTER. Please Apply Today - or By the End of April - Your Benefits Will Continue Through September/October 2023  

During this time of year, many parents call or write to the school regarding their child’s class placement for next year.  The ultimate goal of the placement process is to find the best possible placement to set all students up for success, both academically and socially. Class placement is a complex process that involves the input of many educational professionals and considers many factors.  For example, some variables carry more weight because of requirements to address special needs and NJ state statutes. Other factors include but are not limited to: student social-emotional well-being, academic programs and needs, therapies, classroom structure, student population, resources, and medical needs.  As a result, placement can take several weeks to fine-tune. Although I appreciate and value parent/guardian input regarding your child’s individual needs, I will not honor parent requests for specific teachers.  I will consider any concerns or input you would like to share provided they are given in writing prior to May 1.  I appreciate your understanding and support in this process.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year took place during the month of March.  If you have a child turning 5 before October 1, 2023, and you have not already registered, please pre-register online or contact the school to pick up a registration packet as soon as possible.  Please contact Johnson to schedule an appointment once you have all the required information.  If your child is currently enrolled in our preschool program and will be eligible for kindergarten in September, please contact the main office for more information about how to enroll your child in Kindergarten. 

 

April Dates to Remember:

4/3-4/5 Autism Awareness Week 

4/5 Shortened Day-1:55 Dismissal

4/6-4/14 Spring Break- School Closed

4/17-4/21 Earth Day Activities

4/24-4/28 Teacher Appreciation Observed

4/26 BOE Meeting- Budget Presentation

As we move into the warmer weather, please take a moment to review our Student Dress Code as a reminder.

 

Student Dress Code

Restrictions on freedom of students' dress will be imposed whenever the code of dress in question is unsafe either for the student or for those around him/her, or whenever it is disruptive to school operations and the educational process in general.

Specifically:

1.Wearing face coverings in school is optional.   

2. Students will not wear hats, caps, or other head coverings in the building.

3. No clothing, jewelry, or item that promotes violence, bigotry, profanity or use of a restricted substance.

4. Jewelry and clothing should not restrict movement, be distracting or cause a safety hazard to oneself or others.

5. Skirts/shorts must be no shorter than mid-thigh in length.  No boxers, spandex shorts or cutoff shorts will be worn.

6. No torn or tattered clothing.

7. All students must wear shoes at all times for safety and health reasons.  No flip-flops or open-toed footwear are allowed.

8. Students should not wear outer clothing in the building.

9. All shirts should cover students’ shoulders, backs and come down to the waistline.  

10.Tank tops and backless shirts are not permitted.

 

Coming up in May:

5/1-PTO Mother/Son Game Night

5/1-5/5 STARLAB

5/5 Sweetheart Dance
5/8 Early Dismissal 1:55

5/9-5/24 NJSLA Testing

5/23 Grade 3 Field Day

5/24 Grade 4 Field Day

5/25 Grade 5 Field Day

5/25 Color Run

5/29 Memorial Day- School Closed

NEWS FROM THE PTO: 

  • General Body Meeting- Tuesday, April 25th 6:30pm

  • The PTO will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week April 24-28.  Be on the lookout for how you can contribute. If you have any ideas on how to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff, please reach out to ptojohnson@jacksonsd.org

  • As always, we are still selling our Jackson special Pura Vida bracelets! $8 a bracelet!  

  • Check the PTO website for details on the Sweetheart Dance, Mother/Son Game Night and many more exciting activities and fundraisers coming this year! 

  • Stay connected by joining the PTO Facebook group HCJPTO and the PTO Remind App @hcjp

Sincerely,

Renee Pagano-Hein

Principal, Johnson Elementary