Dear TES Families,
Although February was a short month, it was filled with fun, friendship, and exciting learning opportunities for our students here at TES. Students enjoyed playing in the snow during recess though we also enjoyed the hint of spring with the recent warmer weather conditions.
Next week is a big week at TES as it is filled with Read Across America activities. I am looking forward to shopping the TPTA Book Fair and hope you all can join me and some of our esteemed faculty and staff at Breakfast with Books on Wednesday morning. Additionally, the TEA is sponsoring the K-2 Seussabration on Tuesday (see below to register). Several grades will be hosting their capstone projects throughout the month so please read on and jot down important dates to remember.
Be well and I look forward to seeing you soon at TES.
Lisa Moore
Principal
Kindness
Kindness has been the theme in preschool this month. Preschool students have been earning daily rewards for their best efforts in demonstrating kindness with their peers. Students have enjoyed sharing toys, holding hands, using kind words, and taking turns while playing games. Preschool students have also enjoyed playing with Kindergarteners during recess. Indoor recess, due to extremely cold weather, has actually encouraged Grade K and Preschool students to mingle with each other in the gym. Students have enjoyed getting to know and playing with Kindergarten students this month. Preschool celebrated the 100th day this month. They enjoyed spending all day counting to 100 while dancing, sorting 100 objects and skip counting to 100 by 10s!
- Mrs. Kovalsky
100 Days Smarter!
February 5th marked the 100th day of school for T.E.S. students! Kindergarten was especially excited to celebrate this milestone for the first time! We spent the day doing many activities relating to the number "100". Students shared collections of 100 items. We saw that 100 small items take up less space than 100 larger items. During center time, we counted sets of 10 beads to make 100 bead necklaces. The children explored what they could build with 100 legos, dominoes, cups, and other items. Pennies were stacked to make $1.00. We read stories that focused on the 100th day of school. Most of all we celebrated being 100 Days Smarter!
February Flew
First Grade is having a fun-filled February! Time is flying by! We began the month by exploring the concepts of light and shadows. Students drew their shadows in the morning and then again in the afternoon. They were able to observe that shadows change throughout the course of the day. We had a blast celebrating the 100th day of school! We brought in 100 items and counted and sorted them in lots of different ways. We are learning to tell time to the hour and half hour and to represent time in multiple ways: on an analog clock, digitally, and in word form. We will finish out the month with a special TEF-sponsored residency by John Miller of the Pearl Observatory. He brought a Starlab to school as we kicked off our study of the relationships between the Earth, Sun & Moon.
Upcoming First Grade Capstone Project: Solarbration on March 28th
More Info to Follow from the teachers to parents - RSVP Required
- Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Saksa
So Fun!
February is an exciting month in Second Grade. Valentine’s Day was celebrated with classroom activities and a Mystery Gift Exchange. Students enjoyed helping with ideas, shopping, and wrapping an item for a peer. We practiced etiquette for giving and receiving gifts before the excitement of the unwrapping happened. A favorite unit has started - Flat Stanley! After reading the book about “Flat Stanley’” traveling via air mail, students designed two of their own Stanleys which were sent out to other states and countries. We look forward to receiving postcards from around the world which will help students learn about other communities as well as continents, countries, provinces, capitals, cities and towns. It’s a great way to learn about World Geography as well as other people and customs.
- Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Bristow, Mrs. Nugent, and Mr. Strange
Give Me the Juicy Details
What do hamburgers and paragraphs have in common? They are a way to organize “juicy details”. Third graders have just completed their first informational piece of writing, an article about an animal of their choice. Students brainstormed subtopics for their article with the use of a graphic organizer. They considered text structures, such as description and sequencing to help them to think through their topic. Our writers conducted brief research by paraphrasing sources or giving credit through the use of quotation marks. Students also included text features such as photos with captions, bold words, and a glossary. After learning their subject very well, third graders then crafted a catchy introduction and a thoughtful conclusion. Lastly, peers helped each other to revise and edit their work. Students are feeling very proud about how they have grown as writers. We hope you enjoy the juicy details as you read your child’s animal article!
Upcoming Third Grade Capstone Project: Research Day
March 21, 2025 10-11 AM
More Info to Follow from the teachers to parents - RSVP Required
- Mrs. Emge, Mr. Frankoski, Mrs. Kouzis, and Mrs. Nichols
Fascinating February
What an exciting month we've had in Fourth grade! We celebrated Valentine's Day with yummy snacks, a Valentine exchange, and special activities. We also hit a big milestone with our 100th day of school, counting to 100 in fun ways and completing special crafts. On the same day, the National Day of Play, students took a break from computers and were encouraged to create games and use their imagination. Throughout the month students have been getting ready for the Fourth Grade Science Fair on March 11th. Students are choosing interesting topics, planning experiments, and preparing presentations. We can't wait to see all the amazing projects!
Upcoming Fourth Grade Capstone Project: Science Fair
March 11
More Info to Follow from the teachers to parents - RSVP Required
- Mrs. DelGrande, Mrs. Forsythe, Mrs. Kinzel, Mrs. Picardo, Ms. Wade Taffera
Artistic Endeavors in February
Kindergarten students completed their pinch pots and they are proudly displayed in the front of the school! The classes designed their own pot and chose a crystal glaze and then they added a marble that matched their glaze choice! We used colors called Fiesta, Sassy Orange, Pistachio, Mystic Jade and Firecracker just to name a few.
First Graders have just finished learning about a landscape Canadian Artist called Ted Harrison. This artist uses fantastic pink and blue tones to illustrate parts of the Yukon and beyond. You can find out more here: https://tedharrison.ca/ . The students in first grade created a beautiful landscape inspired by this artist and then we added an adorable polar bear.
Second graders are about to begin a coil pot in clay. We have been practicing with a modeling clay and now I feel confident that students are ready to tackle the clay!
*** PARENTS please continue to send in padded Amazon envelopes to send home ceramic when we are finished. I need these to safely transport the pots on the bus.
Third graders are working on their onomatopoeia lesson and are beginning to make the printmaking papers to complete the background as well as make it POP with this POP Art lesson inspired by Roy Litchenstien.
Fourth Graders are also doing a textured clay lesson and they can choose either a functional coaster, or a dish. We will be practicing and reviewing correct clay techniques and the steps to glaze properly.
- Mrs. Pecora
Award Season
It is award season in the TES Library Media Center! Throughout February, students learned about the Caldecott Medal, which is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. We discussed and compared illustrations from many of the Caldecott Medal winners in our collection. We also played the "Musical Books" game as another engaging way to interact with the illustrations! Our third and fourth grade students have continued working on their “Surprise Book Project”. This project ties together our love of stories and books with our sense of community here at T.E.S. For this project, our 3rd and 4th grade students selected one of their favorite picture books from when they were younger. They wrote about, wrapped, and decorated their book like a gift for our younger students to select when they visit the Library Media Center. It is a project that students across the grades cherish and remember. It is wonderful to see students connect in this way across the grade levels!
- Ms. Rose-Mason
Write Reader, PebbleGo, Google Classroom, and Python Coding
Our Kindergarten students are just finishing their first book. They are learning that being an author takes a lot of work. They persevered and learned how to use the online tool, Write Reader. Their ABC books are on their way home soon.
First and Second Grade students are exploring the world of research using PebbleGo. This interactive platform empowers young learners to explore a wide range of topics, from animals and science to social studies and biographies. PebbleGo is a fun online tool that can also be used at home.
Third Grade students are coding a dance party and sharing it with their classmates in Google Classroom. This is a favorite activity with all the students. Check it out in their Technology classroom.
Fourth Graders are learning Python code and are enjoying it! We are using Code Monkey to wire code and help the monkey get the banana. I am impressed with their skills.
- Ms. Rinehart Havens
Making Good Progress
This month in music class, students have been making strong progress and having lots of fun! February has been filled with new achievements, exciting activities, and preparations for our upcoming spring concert.
Our younger students have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming spring concert! Kindergarten, First, and Second Graders have been learning new songs, practicing their singing, and perfecting their performance skills. They have been doing an amazing job, and we can’t wait to share their hard work with family and friends at the concert!
Our Third Graders have been working hard on their Recorder Karate skills! We are proud to announce that many students have earned their white and yellow belts, showing great progress in their playing. They have been practicing diligently, and we can't wait to see them earn even more belts in the coming months!
The Fourth Graders have been learning how to play their newly assigned instruments. They have been showing great dedication and enthusiasm as they continue to develop their musical skills. In the coming weeks, they will have the opportunity to switch instruments, allowing them to explore and discover new sounds and techniques.
We are so proud of all our music students for their dedication and effort. Keep up the great work, and stay tuned for more exciting musical moments next month!
- Mr. Shaffer
Let Grow
On February 5th, we joined 2.1 million students from 81 nations to participate in the Global School Play Day. This day came as a response to the significant decrease in children's free play time , and our opinion as educators that this free play time, is not just important, but essential to kids development of resilience and independence. If you'd like to learn more- and feel good about letting your kids get bored outside in your backyard, see below for Dr. Peter Gray's TED talk and the Let Grow website - both which champion the benefits of free play.
- Sheila Donovan, MSW
School Counselor
Was That the Tooth Fairy at TES?
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a perfect time to focus on the importance of healthy smiles! Teaching kids good dental hygiene from an early age sets them up for a lifetime of healthy habits. That’s why we were so excited to welcome Tooth Fairy Tales, a wonderful free dental health education program presented by the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Nursing and Education. Designed especially for preschool and kindergarten students, this interactive program helps little ones learn how to care for their teeth through fun and engaging activities. Children discovered the best ways to brush, why tooth-friendly foods matter, and how regular dental checkups help keep their smiles bright!
The TES library was buzzing with excitement during the 30-minute Tooth Fairy Tales presentation, led by Ms. Amanda Norman, a Board of Health Nurse and Registered Dental Hygienist. With her expertise and warm approach, Ms. Norman shared valuable tips and hands-on strategies to help our young learners develop healthy oral hygiene habits.
The program was packed with fun! Students enjoyed a lively story about keeping teeth strong and learned what to expect when visiting the dentist. A thumbs-up/thumbs-down activity had everyone eagerly deciding which foods help teeth stay healthy and which ones to avoid. The highlight? Practicing proper brushing techniques on adorable dental dinosaurs! Each child left with a special coloring book on dental hygiene and a brand-new toothbrush to continue their healthy habits at home.
A big thank you to Ms. Norman and the Hunterdon County Board of Health for bringing this fun and informative program to TES. Our students had a fantastic time learning how to keep their smiles shining!
- Nancy Auld-Morogiello RN, BSN, CSN-NJ
Tewksbury Elementary School Nurse
908-832-2594 x2011
Maschio's Food Service
Maschio's Food Services, Inc. is the contracted lunch provider at TES. See the following links for more information about the lunch service provided by Maschio's as well as PaySchools, our point of sale service system. You can find their menu on our school website at the following link:
https://tewksburyschools.nutrislice.com/menu/tewksbury-elementary/lunch