Principal Message - Winter 2020

January/February 2020

 

Spelling Bee

The Annual Elms Spelling Bee was held on Thursday, January 8, 2020.  All of the participants did an amazing job. The staff continues to be impressed with their abilities.  Congratulations to our Top 5: Naiya Patel, Brooke Denham, Anderson Jewell, Kaden Russo, and our Top Speller - Aiden Boehler!  These 5 will be invited to compete in the District Spelling Bee in March, and Aiden will go to the Press Communications Regional Spelling Bee at Monmouth University.  Great job!

 

Chorus Concert

Thank you to Ms. Clark and the Elms Chorus for a fantastic show last night!  They all worked so hard to prepare, and it certainly showed! Great job, one and all!  We are all proud of your dedication and hard-work.

 

Teachers of the Year

Congratulations to the 2020 Educators of the Year - Ms. Kerri Rotundo & Ms. Dana Bellino!

 

Ms. Bellino is a veteran teacher at Elms Elementary serving students at both ends of the learning continuum. In her role as Basic Skills Teacher, Ms. Bellino works tirelessly to communicate high expectations for all learners and close achievement gaps. As the Advanced Math Teacher, students consistently achieve to the highest levels of proficiency and growth. Ms. Bellino is a contributor to PTN events, oversees the Morning Child Care program for the building, and regularly helps children foster interpersonal relationships with peers.  Her dedication to education and the students of Elms is exemplary.  

 

Ms. Rotundo is a veteran of the Preschool Disabled Program.  Her love of teaching and her students radiates in everything she does.  She regularly updates her hall display to show off her students’ accomplishments, is an advocate for the special needs population, and runs the Elms Autism Awareness Initiative each year. Ms. Rotundo is a peer-mentor, a voice of wisdom and kindness, and gives each student in her care a place where they are loved and accepted.

 

We could not be prouder of the work ethic and dedication of these educators.  We will be honoring them and all Jackson Teacher of the Year recipients at a Board of Education meeting on January 22nd at 6:30. If you are free, come out and show your support for these two outstanding educators!

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance/Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. History.  At Elms Elementary, we are excited to celebrate Black History Month as we plan engaging activities to supplement our curriculum during the month of February.

 

Report Cards

Report cards were made available on the parent portal on January 3rd.  Please remember that if your Portal log0in does not work, 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 email 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.

 

Yearbook

Yearbooks are still on sale via yearbookforever.com.  Enter the school name to find ours. The price is now $30.00 and orders are due by January 20th.

 

Candy Bingo

SAVE THE DATE! February 19 & 20 are our Candy Bingo nights. Keep an eye on the PTN page for opportunities to volunteer and for registration information.

 

Flu Season

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 child 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.

 

Cold Weather

Please remember during the winter months, students still go outside for recess, weather permitting.  The building is climate controlled. We recommend layers, so that they students can be comfortable in any setting.

 

Grants

Thank you to the Elms PTN for their generous grants to the staff of Elms.  The monies are used to help fund the student clubs, expand literacy programs, add to playground equipment and more. 

 

Upcoming Events:

January 14 - 6pm Chorus Concert @ JMHSFAC

January 16 - Supply Cart

January 17 - School Spirit - Inside/Backwards Day

January 20 - School Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed

January 22 - 9:30a PTN Meeting

January 22 - 6:30pm Board of Education Meeting

January 28 - Dare Assemblies

January 28 - PTN Family Paint Night

January 31 - PTN Daddy-Daughter Dance

February 3 - School Closed to Students - Staff Inservice

February 13 - MIA/POW Assembly Part 1

February 14 - School Spirit - Red/Pink/White Day

February 17 - School Closed - Presidents Day

February 19 - 6:30p Board of Education Meeting

February 19 & 20 - Candy Bingo Night

February 20 - Supply Cart

March 2-6 - Read Across America Week (Daily Themes TBA)

March 3 - Read Across America Night Event/ PTN Family Book Fair Night

March 6 - PTN Mother-Son Event

 

Sincerely,

Michael Burgos             Shawn Levinson

Principal                      Asst. Principal