CLIFTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS School Nine 25 Brighton Road Clifton, New Jersey07012

CLIFTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School Nine
25 Brighton Road
Clifton, New Jersey07012
(973) 470-2396
Richard Tardalo
Superintendent of Schools
Michele DeVita
Principal
October 2014
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Let me start off the month of October with a big “THANK YOU” to each of you and the
members of the School Nine staff. The School Year began with wonderful family
attendance and informative presentations by each teacher for the 2014/2015 Back to
School Night. The lines of communication have begun, and Parent/Teacher Conferences
have already taken place, helping to ensure the very important Home/School Connection.
Please continue to check your child’s agenda and folders for assignments and notices that
come home.
The weather is changing quickly this season, so be sure your children are dressed for the
cool weather. Fresh air is important, and both morning line-up and recess time will be
spent outdoors whenever possible. If a child is not dressed appropriately for the weather
they will not be permitted outside to play.
October promises to be busy month! Aside from the academic expectations, we look
forward to PTO events, Fire Prevention Month, Bullying/Harassment Awareness Month
and Red Ribbon Week for Drug Awareness.
Thank you for heeding the parking requests by leaving the front of the building open for
bus transportation and not parking in the staff parking lot. This is just one way to help
keep our children safe.
I wish each of you a colorful and energetic autumn. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Michele De Vita
Michele De Vita
School Nine Principal
Multitasking results in mistakes and decreased concentration
Look around your home at homework time. Is your child studying while singing to music? Are you answering
his questions while checking email?
Multitasking has become a way of life, but not necessarily a good one. In fact, while multitasking the brain
doesn't really concentrate on several tasks at once. It moves quickly from one to another, not giving anything its
full attention.
To avoid multitasking mistakes:
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Prevent distractions. Choose a quiet place for your child to study--free of TV, phones and loud music.
Some kids, however, may do well with quiet background music (such as classical).
Set a good example. It's natural to want to accomplish as much as possible--as quickly as possible. But
do what really works. When you give your child your undivided attention (instead of answering emails
while you talk), you show him how to focus--and how important he is to you.
Do an experiment. If you and your child doubt that multitasking makes you less effective, test it out.
Choose a task that requires concentration. Do it with, and then without, distractions.
Schedule tasks. Instead of planning multiple things at once, schedule tasks consecutively. Your child can
do homework at 4:00, call friends at 5:00 and clean his room at 5:30.
Keep multitasking to a minimum. It is okay when the activities don't require much thinking. For
example, your child can eat a snack while talking on the phone with friends.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2014 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2014 The Parent
Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: C. Gedzelman, "Homework and Headphones: Multitasking Myths," Washington Parent, Knollwood Publications, Inc.
Establish a system to keep track of school-related papers
A new school year is a fresh start for your child--and her backpack! It may be free of crinkled homework and
lost permission slips now, but it won't stay that way without some attention.
To keep schoolwork and papers organized all year long:
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Use a system. For example, have your child keep one folder in her backpack that's just for homework
and take-home papers. Each day after school, look through the homework/take-home folder together.
What assignments does she have today? What papers do you need to read, sign or return?
File papers at home. Some papers must be saved, such as study guides and fliers about upcoming events.
The trick is to do this right away. Keep a folder at home for school-related paperwork. Look through it-and clean it out--at least weekly. Post items you use daily, such as lunch menus, on the fridge.
Keep a calendar. Record test days, field trips and performance times. Each day, add new dates and check
for upcoming events. Encourage your child to review the calendar with you.
Check online. Some important school messages come via email. Also check the school website
regularly. You may catch details that didn't make it home--and even find missing forms, ready to print
and return on time!
Reprinted with permission from the October 2014 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2014 The Parent
Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
Questions & Answers
Q: Getting three kids out the door in the morning is hard! One day, someone won't get up. Another day,
somebody forgets a science book and has to go back for it. The result is that my kids usually miss the school
bus and I end up driving them to school. What can I do?
A: Mornings are tough in many households. But as long as your kids know there's an easy out--you will drive
them to school--they don't have much incentive to change.
Here's how you can begin to turn things around:
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Call a family meeting. Announce that Mom's Taxi has a new policy. From now on, rides to school come
with a cost. (You can choose the cost--perhaps it's part of their allowance, or perhaps it means some
extra time spent on chores. It doesn't have to be a high cost, but it should be something your kids want to
avoid.) Anyone who rides the "taxi" will have to pay the toll.
Help your kids get organized at night. Have them lay out clothes. Fill book bags. Pack lunches. And set
alarm clocks to go off a few minutes earlier.
Give everyone a five-minute warning in the morning. Then calmly walk out the door and head for the
bus stop. If a child comes racing along with one shoe on and the other in hand--well, figure you're giving
the neighbors a chuckle.
Enforce consequences once you set them. Odds are, you'll only have to collect your "taxi fare" once or
twice before everyone gets better organized.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2014 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2014 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. PTO Monthly Newsletter – October 2014
Getting back to our school routines…made September a busy month. We had quite a few PTO
events that we would like to highlight:
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Kid Stuff Fundraiser has officially started with books still available, order yours today.
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Fall Fundraiser. Sales closed as of September 29th. Orders will be in by Thanksgiving, Keep an eye
out for the pickup date flyer. Thank you to Darlene Gordon & Semra Ayala (Co-Vice Presidents)
for running this fundraiser.
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Book Fair was a great success the kids all enjoyed picking out their books and supplies. A special
thank you to all the parents who helped out and Nicole Barrett for overseeing.
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Spiritwear sale closes Friday, October 6th get your orders in. Thanks to Nicole Barrett for running
this fundraiser.
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Information for PTO membership has gone out, please consider joining to keep informed of school
events. Just $5.00 per family.
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Dine for Nine was at Cold Rush on September 9th. Thank you Alisa Corbet for arranging. Remember Dine
for Nine is monthly now on the 9th of the month when possible!
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REMIND notifications…our newest way to keep parents informed! Sign-up ASAP to find out
about all upcoming events and emergency closings. Just text @ptoev to (862) 373-1599 and you
are signed up!
Upcoming events in October include:
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PTO Meeting on Wednesday, October 8 @ 6:30 PM. Earlier time to pick Class Parents.
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$500.00 Gift Card Raffle Tickets to go on sale! Drawing will be on Wednesday,
Nov. 19th at the November PTO meeting. Make sure you get your tickets, $5.00 each.
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Dine for Nine, October 9th, details to follow! A flyer will come home soon.
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Smencil Fundraiser. Halloween scented pencils go on sale! Order yours today!
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Pumpkin Sale will be Wednesday, October 15th and Thursday, October 16th.
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Trunk or Treat is scheduled for Friday, October 24th with a rain date of
Monday, November 3rd. Get your bands today!!!
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Halloween Class Parties and Parade are scheduled for Friday, October 31st.
Details regarding these events will be shared at our next meeting on Wednesday, October 8th (6:30 in the
cafeteria), REMIND notifications, as well as, flyers in your child’s backpack.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
PUMPKIN SALE – We are currently looking for volunteers to help out! If interested please
contact Erica Schimpf (973) 574-0082.
TRUNK OR TREAT – We are currently looking for volunteers to help at the Trunk or Treat!
If interested please contact Jodi Chrisafinis (973) 903-3350
See you at the PTO meeting!
Lisa Lessner & Martha Conlon – PTO Co-Presidents
October 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Dates to Remember
Nov. 4, Schools Closed & PTO Bake Sale
Nov. 26, Early Dismissal
Nov. 6&7, Schools Closed
Feasts
Nov. 17-21, PTO Clothing Drive
Nov. 27&28, Thksgiving
Nov. 20, Report Cards Distributed
Holiday
Nov. 25. Rept Card Conferences
5
Fire Prevention Week
6
School Picture
Day
7 Grade 3 (CP) to
Hamilton House
Wed
1
8
6:30 PM– PTO
Meeting
Thu
Fri
Sat
2 Regular Dismissal
3
@ 3:20 for ElemenSpiritwear orders
tary schools (Middle
Due Monday!
School Back to School
Nt.)
4
9 Grade 3 (JC) to
Hamilton House
10 Grade 3 (MF &
CJ) to Hamilton
House
Progress reports
distributed
11
Dine for Nine
12
13 Schools ClosedStaff Development
Day
14
Progress Report
Conferences
15 PTO Pumpkin Sale
Progress Report
Conferences
Fire Prevention
Posters are due
16 Pumpkin sale
(If extras/makeups)
Progress Report
Conferences
17
18
19
20
21
Enrichment ProgramSurflight to Go
22
23
24
PTO Trunk or Treat 7
-9PM
25
26
27
28 CCMS Parent
Workshop 6:00 and
6:45
29
30
31 2:15 Halloween
Parade (weather permitting)
Classroom Parties
Michele Cecere
School #9
Parent & Child
®
Activity Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
October 2014
make the difference!
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Have a contest:
How many words
can you and your child
make from the letters
in OCTOBER?
2
Have your child
Watch the news
teach you something
with your child.
she needs to learn for
Locate one place
homework. It’s a great mentioned on a world
way to reinforce what
map.
she’s learning.
3
4
Put on music and
spend 15 minutes
drawing or writing
with your child. Let
the music be your
inspiration.
5
Set aside time
every day for
reading aloud. Give
your child a chance to
read aloud to you, too.
6
Write your child’s
name vertically.
Have him use each
letter in his name to
begin a line of a poem.
7
With your child,
learn to say hello in
two other languages.
8
Today is the
anniversary of the
Great Chicago Fire.
Develop a family plan
in case of a fire in your
home.
9
Talk about
Let your child
honesty and why it
plan dinner
is so important. Find
tonight. How many
examples of people who food groups can she
demonstrate honesty.
include?
10
11
12
Have a jump
rope contest.
See how many jumps
your child can do in
a row.
13
Take the
Geography
Challenge. Name a
state, province or
country. Who can call
out the capital first?
14
Have your child
Ask your child
close his eyes.
to tell you the
Make a sound, such as three best things about
jingling keys. Ask him
herself.
to guess what you are
doing.
15
16
Start a made-up
story. “A man
went down the road and
he met a ... .” Let your
child finish the story.
17
18
19
Have a musicsharing night.
Share your favorite
music with each other.
Talk about how it
makes you feel.
20
Talk with your
child about
something she has
done well today.
21
Talk with your
child about
ways to handle stress.
Exercising and talking
to someone are good
options.
22
Choose a
number, then
have your child list all
the things he can think
of that come in that
number.
23
Let your child
see you keep
your temper when you
are angry. Instead of
yelling, calmly talk
about how you feel.
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Read a book
that you and
your child can both
enjoy.
It’s Theodore
Roosevelt’s
birthday. Look up facts
about this president
and protector of the
environment.
Pick a category.
If your child
Ask your child
could be a
to pick a letter. How
famous person in
many items from the
history, who would he
category begin with
be? Why?
that letter?
Have a contest:
Who can name
the most parts of the
body? (Organs count,
too.)
Enjoy some
outdoor
physical activity
as a family today.
Encourage your
Bake cookies
child to sort his
with your child.
books by subject. He
If you’re doubling a
can use the library’s
recipe, have your child
system or invent his
do the math.
own.
Ask your child
to imagine life
150 years ago. How
about 150 years in the
future?
Give your child
a measuring
tape. Ask her to
measure and record
the dimensions of
objects in your house.
Post a new
vocabulary
word and its definition
on a mirror your child
uses. Change it every
three or four days.
© 2014 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. May be reproduced only as licensed by Parents make the difference!® Elementary Edition newsletter. 1-800-756-5525P