Family Knightline
Friday, September 25, 2026
Wake Up Inspired and Go Home Fullfilled
Glow Dance and Sensory Room
We really glowed it up last night! ✨
Our Glow Dance was a huge success, and our students had an absolute blast! A big thank you to our incredible PTA volunteers for all of the time, planning, and energy that went into making the night so special for our students and families.
We were also excited to debut our brand new Mobile Sensory Room! Set up in the library, the space was a huge hit with both students and parents. It provided a quieter change of pace from the music and excitement of the dance and gave students a comfortable space to take a break, decompress, and recharge before heading back to the fun.
And we had a very special guest join us! Archie, our ARK Knight mascot, made an appearance and officially introduced himself to our community. Archie had a great time meeting and greeting students and families and, of course, joining in on the Glow Dance fun!
A special thank you to our PTA for securing the grant that made our Mobile Sensory Room possible and to all of our volunteers who helped make the evening such a success.
What a great night for our ARK community! 💙💛
The Power of Words
🌟 Celebrating One of Our Knights! 🌟
We are incredibly proud to celebrate ARK fifth grader Luisa Gonzalez, whose poem, “All Stitched Together,” received national recognition in a student poetry contest sponsored by Creative Communication!
Luisa’s poem was selected from thousands of entries from across the United States as one of the Top 10 poems in the Grades 4–6 division. Her work will receive special recognition in the poetry anthology A Celebration of Poets.
Poems were selected based on literary merit, creativity, and social significance, making this an incredible recognition of Luisa’s talent and voice as a young writer.
Congratulations, Luisa! We are so proud to see one of our Knights sharing her gifts and shining on a national stage! 💙💛
Boo-Grams
STICKY CORE VALUES
Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight our Sticky Core Values in the Knightline: Be the Driver of Your Bus, Be a Purple Cow, and Be a Marigold.
We encourage families to use this same language at home. As children become familiar with what each phrase means, a simple reminder like “Be the driver of your bus” can replace a lengthy explanation around owning your choices and empowerment and help them reset, take ownership, and be more open to a conversation about life expriences they encounter.
Be a Marigold
If you know anything about marigolds, you know they are enhancers. When planted in a garden, they help the plants around them grow better while also providing protection.
That’s what we mean when we say, “Be a Marigold.”
It’s about being other centered. Whatever gifts, strengths, or talents you bring to the table, have eyes to look around and ask, “How can I use what I have to make the people around me better?”
Help others feel better, do better, and be better.
We encourage you to use this language with your children at home. When you see them making the people around them better, name it. Remind them of the story of the marigold.
Language matters. A simple statement like, “You’re being a marigold,” or “You’re my marigold. You make my life better. You make me smile,” helps children understand what it really means to be other centered.
The more they hear it, see it, and experience it, the more the idea will stick.
🚌 BE THE DRIVER OF YOUR BUS
Being the driver of your bus means taking ownership of your words, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Instead of blaming others or making excuses, you focus on what you can control and take responsibility for your choices, regardless of the situation.
Nobody can make you do anything. You always have a choice!
A COMMUNITY DISSCUSSION: TECHNOLOGY
WE hope you will join us for our first Community Discussion of the school year on Technology: screen time, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and student use of internet-enabled devices.
Join Superintendent Dr. Morton, members of our Board of Education, and administration who will review current policies, procedures, and feedback.
This meeting will take place on October 15th at 7 p.m., in the new All Purpose Room at Rosa Middle School.
Save the Date
October
10/8: Book Fair Family Night/ Science Fair from 5 to 7 pm
10/16: 5th Grade Hayride at 7:30 pm
10/23: Trunk or Treat (Blacktop) from 5:30 to 7 pm
10/30: Halloween Parade and Parties from 2:00 - 3:15 pm
November
SCHOOL CLOSED --> NOVEMBER 5 & 6 (NJ Teacher Convention)
November 25: 1 pm dismissal for students
SCHOOL CLOSED --> NOVEMBER 26 & 27 (Thanksgiving Break)
November 30: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 6 to 8 pm
November 30: 1 pm dismissal for students
December
December 1: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 2:20 to 4 pm
December 1: 1 pm dismissal for students
December 2: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 6 to 8 pm
December 2: 1 pm dismissal for students
December 3: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 2:20 to 4 pm
December 3: 1 pm dismissal for students
December 4: 1 pm dismissal for students
PTA Info. Center
STAY CONNECTED WITH OUR COMMUNITY!
Looking for activities, programs, events, and resources for your family? The Cherry Hill Public School District is pleased to share community information and opportunities with our families through the Community Bulletin Board on the district website.
The Community Bulletin Board is a great place to discover youth programs, family events, enrichment activities, local resources, and other opportunities available throughout Cherry Hill and the surrounding community. Be sure to check back often—new information is added regularly!
A. Russell Knight Elementary School
Email: epark@chclc.org
Website: www.knight.chclc.org
Location: 140 Old Carriage Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: 856-428-0830
ARK PTA Facebook and Instagram
Knight's vision is to create a community where every member wakes up inspired and goes home fulfilled.
ARK Knights strive to live out the following core values: respect, responsibility, empathy, service, perseverance, effort, citizenship, and teamwork.