Switlik November Update
November 3, 2026
Dear Switlik Families,
What a fantastic start to the season! Our recent Trunk or Treat event was an absolute blast, bringing together over 1,110 people from our amazing school community. With nearly 50 creatively decorated trunks packed with treats, the festive energy across our grounds was through the roof!
A huge shoutout and special thank you to Blue Diamond Entertainment for volunteering their time and bringing such incredible animals for our families to enjoy. Our students were thrilled to pet and meet the tortoise, camel, kangaroo, baby cow, and bunnies! Thank you to everyone who attended, decorated a trunk, volunteered, and donated treats. An unforgettable evening like this truly shows the strength of our Switlik community, and we couldn't have done it without you.
As the leaves turn and the weather cools, November brings a wonderful opportunity to carry that spirit of connection right into our classrooms. Building on our strong community bond, we recently kicked off our very first Panther Pride Lunch, and it was a resounding success! This special tradition focuses on recognizing students who make a positive impact on Switlik every day through their kindness, responsibility, and school spirit. Sitting down to celebrate our student honorees was a true highlight of the month. We are so proud of these young leaders and look forward to honoring more of our standout Panthers throughout the school year.
It has been wonderful catching up with returning families and meeting new ones during all of our school events. I truly appreciate the positive feedback regarding the children's enjoyment of their teachers, classmates, and overall school environment. At Switlik, our core focus remains clear and simple: learning, safety, and fun. Thank you for your continued partnership. Together, we are making this a truly remarkable school year for our Panthers!
We're happy to share that the Ocean County Health Department will be visiting our school to teach hygiene lessons! Grades K–2 will participate during the week of November 9th, followed by grades 3 and 4 the week of November 23rd.
Thursday, November 19th
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM at United Skates Jackson. $25 per skater includes admission, skate rental, unlimited pizza and soft drinks. $10 per non-skating adult, also including unlimited pizza and soft drinks. Meet the Minions and more! Register here!
To align more closely with our PAWS initiative, the Switlik school pledge has been updated to reinforce these daily expectations. We have kept many of the sentiments from the previous version but added language that more closely aligns with our PAWS expectations and helps our students practice these core behaviors every day.
"As a Panther, I pledge to do my best to be a positive role model each and every day! I promise to practice safety, act respectfully, work responsibly and show my Panther Pride!" -revised by the Switlik School Climate Team
Help Keep Switlik Safe & Moving: The Importance of Student ID Badges
At Switlik, student safety, accountability, and smooth daily routines are top priorities. Carrying a student ID badge every day plays a crucial role in keeping our school running safely and efficiently.
Here is how carrying an ID directly benefits your student each day:
Enhanced School Safety & Accountability: Having an ID visible ensures that staff can quickly identify students and maintain a secure environment across campus.
Faster Lunch Lines: Swiping an ID at the cafeteria register is significantly faster than typing in a PIN or stating a name. Quick checkouts keep lines moving so every student has ample time to eat.
Efficient & Safe Bus Rides: Swiping when boarding and exiting the bus verifies that students get on and off at their correct stops. It also speeds up the loading process, helping our buses depart and arrive on schedule.
Please help us build this positive habit by reminding your student to wear or carry their ID badge every morning before heading to school!
Has your child lost or misplaced their badge? Just let their teacher know so we can order a new one! Keep in mind that while the first replacement is free of charge, a $5 fee will apply for any additional replacements.
Parents play a critical role in maintaining a safe environment at Switlik. Please review these essential guidelines to help us keep our arrival and dismissal procedures smooth and secure:
Morning Arrival
Drop-Off Time: Please do not drop off students before 9:00 AM, as supervision is not available prior to that time.
Traffic Safety: Drive slowly through the drop-off loop, watch closely for walking students, and park in designated spots if you need to assist your child out of the car.
Dismissal & Schedule Changes
Routine Changes: If your child's dismissal routine changes on any given day, please submit a written note in advance.
Early Sign-Outs: We ask that you avoid signing students out early whenever possible; if necessary, please provide prior written notification.
Late Afternoon Cut-Off: Early sign-outs after 2:45 PM are strongly discouraged as staff actively prepares for regular dismissal at 3:20 PM. Unannounced late afternoon pick-ups disrupt dismissal routines and delay bus departures.
Student Release & Emergency Contacts
Photo ID Required: Always bring a photo ID whenever picking up a student. Children will only be released to individuals listed on their emergency contact card.
Update Your Info: Please ensure your emergency contact information remains current in our portal. If you need assistance, please contact Noreen Lagano.
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe!
Closures and Early Dismissals - Please Plan Accordingly
November
Early Dismissal - November 2nd, 3rd and 4th
CLOSED - November 5th & 6th
Early Dismissal - November 25th
CLOSED - November 26th and 27th
District Calendar Linked Below 👇
As we work together to ensure a safe, organized, and smooth school year, we would like to remind everyone of our school’s vital policies regarding student dismissal and the necessity of timely pick-ups.
Bus Stop Attendance (Grades PreK-2): For the safety of our youngest learners, a parent, guardian, or designated adult must be at the bus stop to receive any student in Grade 2 or younger. If an adult is not present, the bus driver is required to return the child to school.
On-Time Parent Pick-Up: For students scheduled for parent pick-up, families must collect their children promptly at our standard dismissal time.
Childcare Fees: For Late Pick-Ups: We understand that emergencies and unexpected delays can happen. However, in repeated instances where a child must be brought back to school by the bus, or if a parent is repeatedly late (15 minutes past dismissal) for pick-up, students will be placed in our on-site childcare program. Parents will be responsible for retrieving their child and will be charged the walk-in childcare rate of $75.00. Please note that childcare hours end promptly at 6:00 p.m..
Please ensure you have updated all contact information within Genesis. Additionally, please add or update any contacts authorized to pick up your child in an emergency.
On-time dismissal ensures that our students remain safe and our staff can focus on their after-school responsibilities. Thank you so much for your partnership and cooperation in keeping our Panthers safe and secure!
