Dragons' Dish

Dear Allenwood Elementary School Families,

Welcome back! I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful and enjoyable break. As we return to school, I am pleased to welcome everyone back to Allenwood Elementary School and look forward to the year 2026 and all that it brings.

At Allenwood, we remain committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every student can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. I value the strong partnership we share with our families and community and am excited about the opportunities ahead for our students and staff.

This month, our school will participate in the Great Kindness Challenge, a meaningful initiative that encourages students to practice kindness, empathy, and respect in their daily interactions. Additional information and activities related to the Great Kindness Challenge can be found below in this newsletter.

Our PTG Read-A-Thon is also currently taking place and is the school’s largest fundraiser of the year. This event promotes a love of reading while supporting important programs and activities for our students. We encourage all students to read, read, read and thank our families for their continued support of this important initiative.

Please review the important upcoming dates below and add them to your calendar:

Upcoming Dates and Events

• January 12 – PTG Read-A-Thon Began

• January 19 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School Closed)

• January 22 – PTG Meeting, 6:00 p.m. (Cafeteria)

• January 27 – Dragon of the Month Medals Distributed

• January 28 – Marking Period 2 Closes

• February 2 - Kindergarten Registration Opens

Lastly, I would like to thank our Allenwood families for their support as we transition to using Pick Up Patrol to communicate changes to students’ dismissal procedures. Please note that Pick Up Patrol is currently used only for dismissal changes. If a student will be absent from school, please do not use Pick Up Patrol to report the absence. Instead, continue to call or email the main office to report absences only.

Thank you for your continued support of Allenwood Elementary School. Together, we will make this year a successful and rewarding one for our Allenwood Dragons.

Sincerely,

James Sterenczak
Principal

Join us in celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with events and activities all year. This section will share district celebrations, announcements, and ways our school community can honor this historic milestone.

Thank you Mrs. Cimino and the tireless PTG Board for a year full of enriching and

fun experiences. Please consider being an active member of the Allenwood PTG.

What a great night of learning and collaboration! 👏 Families gathered for our Online Safety Parent Presentation to explore social media, gaming platforms, digital wellness, and ways to support our students both online and offline. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success! 💙 #WTPS #OnlineSafety #ParentEngagement #StudentWellness

It's time to start planning for the 2026-2027 school year! Please take note of the upcoming registration dates for our youngest students:

• Kindergarten Registration: Monday, February 2, 2026
• Preschool Registration: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Children are registered in their neighborhood schools in the order that completed registrations are received. Please be advised in the event that grade-level capacity is reached, incoming students may be assigned to another WTPS elementary school.

Registration Questions?

Do you have questions or need assistance with the registration process? Please follow this link to the district website or contact Kerrin McGowan, our District Registrar, with all your questions and inquiries.

• Email: kmcgowan@wallpublicschools.org
• Phone: 732-556-2658

If your family is experiencing economic challenges or homelessness, visit the McKinney Vento webpage for essential information and guidance on available resources.

District Homeless Education Liaison

Tiffany Steiner
tsteiner@wallpublicschools.org
732.556.2647