Carusi Newsletter
October 20, 2024
6th Grade YMCA Pines Trip 2024
We’re excited to share that our first group of 6th-grade students had an amazing time at the YMCA of the Pines earlier this week. Over the two days, students and staff focused on team-building activities designed to enhance cooperation, communication, and friendships among students.
Students participated in a variety of fun challenges, such as field games, survival and forest ecology, the study of pond creatures and even attempting a rock-climbing wall. These activities helped to foster teamwork, trust, and a sense of community while helping students strengthen their relationships with one another. We look forward to more adventure next week when the rest of our students visit the Pines.
Classroom Highlight
Ms. Bucher's STEM Class
This week in STEM class students explored aerospace engineering while building their very own rockets. 7th Graders were taught about the Perseverance Rover collecting soil samples on Mars in search of past life & The Europa Clipper mission, which launched this past Sunday. The Europa Clipper mission also plans to explore possible life on Jupiter's moon Europa. NASA, the European Space Agency, and Rocket Lab are all organizations involved in bringing back the soil/rock samples from Mars. After exploring these current events, students simulated a possible return mission from Mars with their very own straw rocket launch in our classroom! Take a look at the link below to see this mission and others in action!
Athletic Highlights
Field Hockey - Coach Schaeffer
Carusi Field Hockey team joined CH WEST Varsity team for practice on Thursday in preparation for their semi-final playoff game next week. The mustangs had a great day of learning from and playing with the Lions!
HIB Virtual Parent University Information Session
Attention Cherry Hill Parents/Guardians:
We invite you to a 45-minute virtual Parent University information session on Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB). We will discuss the harassment, intimidation, & bullying definition, ways to report HIB, investigation process, appeal process, and resources.
Sessions will be held at 6:00 PM on:
- October 17, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- October 24, 2024
- November 19, 2024
Limited spots are available. Be sure to click on this link and register for your preferred date. All information sessions will be the same, so parents/guardians do not need to attend multiple sessions.
Important Dates
- 10/21-10/24 YMCA Pines Trip (House 6.2 & 6.3)
- School Safety Week 10/21-10/25
Get Involved! Join a Club!
Winter Sports Information
Winter Sports Registration is Now Open for High School & Middle School Athletics
All CHPS High School and Middle School Registrations for the upcoming Athletic Season will be completed through the Genesis Parent Portal under the Forms tab. The Health History Update Form must also be completed.
Athletic Registration Page - Cherry Hill Athletic Registration
To be “Cleared” for participation in athletics students need the following:
- Completed Online Registration – Genesis Parent Portal
- Completed Health History Update – Genesis Parent Portal
- Student Activity Fee Paid - PaySchools -https://payschoolscentral.com/
- Medical Eligibility Form - Medical Eligibility Form
***NEW PROCEDURE**
THE New Jersey Department of Education HAS CHANGED THE SPORTS PHYSICAL SUBMISSION PROCESS. THE SPORTS PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE STUDENT’S SCHOOL DISTRICT. A MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY FORM will still be required. The Medical Eligibility Form should be in the ORIGINAL form. Please do NOT EMAIL.
New Jersey State Law requires that all students that plan to participate in the after school Athletic Program in Middle School and High School have a physical exam. **THIS EXAM IS TO BE KEPT BY THE STUDENT’S HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WHO COMPLETES THE PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION. **
Medical Eligibility Forms can be dropped off to the school nurse’s office during the school day.
If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact the Athletic Office at the school.
Transportation
Your child should be at the bus stop at least 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. When notified in advance, the Transportation Department will attempt to send an automated message for individual route delays of 20 minutes or more. School buses are scheduled to depart approximately 10-15 minutes after the end bell time. Please allow for some fluctuation in pick-up and drop-off times, particularly during the first three weeks of school as students become familiar with boarding the buses and Drivers at the Middle, Elementary, and Preschools work to secure seating charts.
Throughout the school year, daily pick-up and drop-off times may fluctuate due to weather, traffic, construction, etc. We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please contact the Transportation Department at 856-489-5851. For late bus runs at the Middle and High School, please contact the appropriate transportation contractor for Late Route inquiries. (West, Beck, and Rosa are Hillman’s 856-753-1123/East and Carusi are First Student (Berlin) 856-753-0222)
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- The school day begins at 8:00 AM
- Students are dropped off by buses and family drop off between 7:45-7:55.
- The school day ends at 3:00 PM
Guardians will enter off Roosevelt, proceed to the right, and drop off their child on the right side of the building via Door 3. Staff members will be present to assist.
For our walking and biking students, Surrey Road remains available. However, please note it will not serve as a secondary drop-off location at this time.
We truly appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work together to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Message from Mrs. Thomas, Carusi School Nurse
Medications
Please be advised that, each school year, all medications require a written order from your child’s healthcare provider. ONLY asthma inhalers and EpiPens can be self-carried by students. All other medications including controlled substances and over the counter medications like Tylenol and Ibuprofen MUST be administered by the school nurse. Any medication found in school without the proper documentation must be confiscated. Additionally there could be disciplinary consequences if there is repeated issue. See below for more details.
Medications that need to be given during the school day must be administered by the nurse. State law dictates that all medications (including over-the-counter remedies such as cough syrup, eye drops and ointments, etc.) have a prescription from a physician along with a completed parental permission form before the medication can be administered at school.
- Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen may be given with written parental permission via the Genesis parent portal.
- Medication orders must be obtained each school year.
- All medications should be brought to the nurse’s office by a parent or trusted adult, in the original container(s). Medications cannot be accepted if they are not in the original prescription or manufacturer’s labeled bottle. Please do not send medications to school with your child. Please check the expiration date of the medication before bringing the medication to school.
- An Asthma Action Plan is required for students who have asthma and will be using an inhaler or nebulizer at school. Students at the middle school level are permitted to self-carry asthma inhalers if the Asthma Action Plan states that the student is capable of self-administration.
- An Allergy and Anaphylaxis Plan is required for students who have a life-threatening allergy. In addition, it is recommended that students self-carry and learn to self-administer epinephrine as they begin to prepare for high school.
- A Diabetic Medical Management Plan is required for students who have a diagnosis of diabetes. It is recommended that students learn to self-manage their diabetes as they begin to prepare for high school.
- A Seizure Action Plan is required for students who have a seizure diagnosis. This plan provides instructions for seizure management in the event of a seizure in school.
Thank you for your partnership to keep our students healthy and safe. Any questions, please contact me in the Nurse's Office.
New Policy For Cell Phones and Wireless Communication Devices
Why & What Does This Mean For My Student?
The Why:
Research shows that student use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health, including higher levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders in students.
Devices distract students from classroom instruction, resulting in unnecessary challenges, smaller learning gains, and suboptimal test scores.
What Does This Mean For My Student?
Students are prohibited from using wireless communication devices during instructional periods.
For clarity, “instructional periods” are those academic courses or classes that meet any of the following:
Bear credit
NJ State Learning Standards (NJSLS) are being taught
Grades are entered
Activities are teacher-led, including by a substitute
- Students may use wireless communication devices during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities, however the Principal can elect to prohibit such use during lunch.
- Students shall keep their wireless communication devices silenced and in a secure place, such as the student’s locker or a closed backpack.
- Students are prohibited from recording audio or video at all times.
Exceptions
Students with an Individualized Education Plan; a 504 Plan or Individual Health Plan that documents a need for their device, are permitted to have their wireless communication devices on them at all times. Your grade level counselor, the school nurse or case manager will inform the teachers of this need.
What Can You Do to Support Your Child?
-courtesy https://parentandteen.com/7-ways-parents-can-help-teens-manage-phone-use/
1. Model good phone habits.
2. Establish smartphone rules together.
3. Turn off phone notifications.
4. Help your teen recognize when they've been on their phone too long.
5. Help your teen identify features that make apps hard to turn off.
6. Ask your teen about feelings surrounding phone use.
7. Limit screen time to 30-60 minutes before bedtime.
Breakfast 7:30 to 8:00 AM $2.00
Lunch - $3.25
Safety and Security Procedures
- All visitors must enter through the main entrance
- Visitors may not accompany students to classrooms
- Visitors will need:
- student ID #
- Photo ID (guardian or authorized person as listed on Genesis)
- Campus Police: Officer Donlon