Woodcrest Family Newsletter

On behalf of faculty and staff, I would like to share a huge thank you to all the volunteers at our Book Fair this week! Students loved visiting the fair throughout the day, and it was wonderful to see so many families at the Book Fair Family Night. We appreciate you!

We are excited to continue the Halloween Parade tradition on October 31! The Woodcrest Staff and PTA collaborated to plan enjoyable fall activities for students. The festivities will begin with the Halloween Parade at 1:45pm, immediately followed by the classroom parties.

If your family does not celebrate Halloween, and you do not wish for your child to participate in the Halloween parade, please click here to notify the main office. An alternate activity will be provided for students during the parade.

In the case of inclement weather, the Halloween parade will be canceled; however, the afternoon parties will proceed as planned.

Parade Route

• The parade will begin promptly at 1:45pm. Students will exit out the 5th grade doors near the playground, walk the perimeter of the front parking lot, and re-enter at the SACC doors.

• All children should bring their costumes to school. Costumes should be easy to change into, preferably something that can be worn over their clothing. Teachers will only be able to provide minimal assistance as students prepare for the parade.

• Students will have lunch at their regular time. Students may not be dismissed during lunch to change into costumes at home.

• Please avoid costumes that portray or include violence and weapons. Props that depict weapons, such as plastic knives, swords or guns, are not permitted. We hope to reinforce the anti-violence message consistently instilled at Woodcrest.

Classroom Parties

• Classroom parties will be held immediately following the parade.

• Only three parents per homeroom are permitted into the building to assist with the classroom parties.

• School celebrations where food is served can pose risks, so we must ensure safety and wellness. Students may bring their own snacks for the party, but no other food will be served. Students are not permitted to share food with other students.

• Celebrations may include crafts, games, or extra recess time instead of food.

Safety Procedures

• The main driveway and front parking lot will close at 12:45pm to prepare for the parade.

• No adults (aside from staff members) should be in costume.

• All members of the Woodcrest community are invited to attend the outdoor parade.

• Only volunteers selected to assist in the classroom parties will be allowed into the building. Volunteers must enter through the main entrance to sign in as visitors before going to classrooms.

• Parents will not be allowed to visit their child’s classroom after the parade.

Morning Drop-Offs

• We ask that parents do not get out of the car unless absolutely needed. We continue to work on building students' independence.

• Do not pass or drive around cars that are in the drop-off line. This is a safety concern for families and students walking across the parking lot.

Dismissal Procedures

• Do not enter the bus loop in the back of the building to pick your child(ren). Not only does this slow down the buses for dismissal, but it also a safety concern.
• Any changes to your child's dismissal procedure (e.g., if you are picking your child up instead of taking the bus) must be communicated to the Mrs. Petroski in the main office (npetroski@chclc.org) and your child's teacher as soon as possible.
• When waiting to pick up your child, please do not approach the school building or look into windows. This can be alarming to the students and staff in the classroom.

Woodcrest will celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the week of October 28. For more information about Red Ribbon Week, please see the attached letter from our School Nurse, Robin Olin.

Also attached is the Red Ribbon Week Healthy Habit Challenge, shared by the PTA. Students will learn about healthy habits in PE class during Red Ribbon Week. We encourage you to try this Healthy Habit Challenge at home!

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 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.

Questions can be directed to the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Shavonne Carter (scarter@chclc.org).

Please review the Woodcrest Family Handbook for information about our daily operations, such as attendance, arrival and dismissal procedures and more.

The PTA will have its first meeting of the school year tomorrow, October 21st, at 6:30pm in the Small APR. We hope to see you there!

October 21-25: School Violence Awareness Week (Week of Peace)

October 25: Superheroes of Peace: Dress like a Superhero or wear Tie Dye

October 25: PTA Trunk or Treat

October 28-Nov 1: Red Ribbon Week

October 31: Halloween Parade - 1:45pm

November 1: In-Service Day (No school for students)

November 7-8: No School (NJEA Convention)

November 27: Early Dismissal

November 28-29: No School, Thanksgiving

December 9-13: Early Dismissal Days

December 9-12: Parent Teacher Conferences

December 23-January 1: Winter Break

January 2: School Resumes

An updated District Calendar is available on the district website.

CHPS has partnered with Care Solace to provide free Mental Health Supports to our students, staff, and families. The Care Solace team can quickly connect you to verified providers in our community. Click Here to connect with a care provider or contact your school counselor for more information.

Website: woodcrest.chclc.org

Location: 400 Cranford Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ

Phone: 856-429-2058

Twitter: @WoodcrestES