Arbor Intermediate School

School Leadership Team

Heather O’Donnell, Principal

Jeffrey Montgomery , Assistant Principal

Amy McLaughlin, Counselor

Karen Hoeg, Secretary

Corinne Fender, School Nurse

Elyssa Barba-Bey, Attendance Clerk

Kenneth Dzurilla, Custodian

Dear Arbor Families,

The year has been off to a busy start, with students meeting new friends, acclimating to new classrooms, and participating in class and school events. Fourth graders had an opportunity to meet one another and tour the building during the August Meet and Greet event. All new students to Arbor listened and learned about all of the instruments they can choose from this year in band or orchestra. They have also been enjoying the weather outside at recess meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.

We are looking forward to a great year, with opportunities both inside and outside of the classrooms. There are a lot of dates to be aware of this month, beginning with Back to School Night on September 25 at 6pm. Our first Spirit Day (Rutgers/Red and Black Day) will be held on Friday, September 27. Picture Day will be on October 1, and that evening will be the K-5 Title 1 Information Night held at Eisenhower Elementary School. There will also be a PTO meeting on October 8, and both Breakfast with your Child week and the Scholastic Book Fair from October 14-18. On October 16 at 8:30am, we will also be having our first “Coffee with the Counselor” event of the year with our school counselor, Mrs. McLaughlin. More information on all of those events and more will be forthcoming through both email and my weekly Sunday phone calls.

Sincerely,

Heather O’Donnell

Principal, Arbor Intermediate School

Dear Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself! My name is Amy McLaughlin and I am Arbor’s School Counselor. What I love most about the grade 4 & 5 level is the genuine curiosity students have in their learning and the world around them. It is very rewarding to be able to have the opportunity to provide support that can have a lifetime positive impact on a child.

As a School Counselor, my primary responsibility is to promote the academic, and social/emotional development of all students. I look forward to offering support to the Arbor students, staff, families, and community. I will be meeting with students individually and in small groups, conducting classroom lessons, meeting with parents, collaborating with teachers and staff, and consulting with community organizations to benefit and meet the needs of all Arbor Intermediate students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call at 732-752-8652 or email amclaughlin@pway.org.

I am so excited to work with your children and get to know you throughout the school year! ☺

All the best,

Amy McLaughlin

School Counselor

Welcome back to school! Let’s have a great year!

I want everyone to remember 2 important things.

1.Handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs.

2.Breakfast is very important. After a long night of sleeping, your fuel tank is empty.

Breakfast is the fuel that gets you going to start your day.

What should you eat? Just like with other meals, try to eat a variety of foods, including:

fruit, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.

Kids who eat breakfast do better in school, are more likely to participate in physical activities, and eat healthier overall.

So tomorrow morning, don't run out the door on an empty stomach.

Fuel up with a healthy breakfast!

Please share any health concerns with the nurse. You can contact her at 732-752-8652.

Thanks,

Corinne Fender RN,MSN,CSN

Arbor School Nurse

Arbor Staff is planning to welcome parents and guardians to Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 25th. Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to learn about curriculum and class routines. In addition, Mrs. O'Donnell, Principal, and Dr. Tom Connors, Board President, will be presenting during the evening. Parents and guardians can ask questions to learn about Arbor School. Please plan to attend!!!

Cristina Granados – 5th Grade Teacher

Background: This is my 4th year teaching. Prior to Piscataway I taught as a Bilingual teacher in New Brunswick. I went to Piscataway Public Schools since Kindergarten and I went to Arbor as a 4th and 5th grader. After graduating high school, I went to The College of New Jersey and graduated with a Master’s in Teaching in 2021. I am extremely happy to be here again as a teacher and give back to a district that poured so much into me. I am from Honduran and Salvadorian decent and love to travel back to visit my family every year.

Favorites

Food: Sushi and Tacos

Movie: Marvel movies

Series: Friends

Book: The Alchemist

Holiday: Christmas

Hobbies: Painting and singing

Things I love: Traveling, painting, spending time with family and friends, my dog Milo

Students in the fourth grade, as well as 5th graders new to Arbor, received an instrument demonstration by the orchestra and band instructors. During the demonstration, students listened to a selection of music performed by Mr. Mejias and Dr. Sato from MLK school. After the performance, students were provided details on the program and the process for joining the performing arts. Mr. Mejias and Mrs. Torres are looking forward to making music with all the new band and orchestra members.

Dear Arbor Families,

We extend a warm welcome to all of you as we embark on another exciting academic year at Arbor! The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is thrilled to be part of your journey and is committed to enhancing our students' educational experience through enrichment and fundraising activities. Your continued support allows us to:

● Support Exciting Events: We fund events like family fun nights, school trips, book and holiday fairs, informative assemblies and more to enrich our students’ educational experience.

● Strengthen Our Community: By supporting local and small businesses, we contribute to the growth of our community.

● Show Appreciation to our Staff: We take pride in recognizing and appreciating our amazing staff, from dedicated teachers to hardworking custodians.

Activities Line Up:

September:

● Welcome Back Lunch: We kicked off the year by sponsoring a delightful lunch for our dedicated staff and custodians.

● Meet and Greet for 4th graders: Our first fundraiser event "PTO Goodies Sale" kicked off on August 28th.

● Fall Fundraiser: Our fundraiser launched on 9/11 at 8:30 with an interactive assembly.

October:

● PTO Meeting: Join us on Tuesday, 10/08, at 6:00 p.m. in the school for our first PTO meeting of the year.

● Fall Book Fair: Our Fall Book Fair will run from 10/14/24 to 10/18/24 during school hours. Every book purchase earns a raffle ticket, and we have daily prizes for lucky winners. We rely on volunteers to help during school hours. Stay tuned for communications to sign up for available time slots.

Important Links:

● Volunteer Sign-Up: link

● Follow Us on Facebook: link

Thank you for your unwavering support. We eagerly anticipate engaging with you throughout the year.

Warm Regards,

PTO Board 2024-2025

email: Arborintermediatepto@gmail.com

Check out the Week of Respect flyer to see how we are celebrating love, respect and kindness. Each day, students can participate by wearing clothing that represents the theme. We are looking forward to seeing all the Week of Respect Spirit!

- 9/9/2024 Band Recruitment Assembly

- 9/25/2024 Back to School Night

- 9/27/2024 Spirit Day- Rutgers Day

- 10/1/2024 Picture Day

- 10/1/2024 Title I Night

- 10/7-10/11/2024 Week of Respect

- 10/14/2024 Spirit Wear Sale Starts

- 10/14-10/18/2024 PTO Book Fair and Have Breakfast with your Child

-10/16/2024 Coffee with the Counselor

- 10/24/2024 PTO Family Fun Night and Book Fair

- 10/25/2024 Arbor Day Wear Black and Gold