School One Elementary Newsletter
Vol. 1 September 2026
Welcome BACK TO SCHOOL for the 2026/2027 school year!!! We hope you had a wonderful summer with your children. As we prepare for another school year, we want to provide you with as much information as possible to make your experience at School One a positive one. Please read through this entire newsletter.
The homeroom sections will be as follows for the current school year:
SE Grades K/1/2 - Ms. Mercier
SE Grades 3 & 4 - Ms. Monteverde
Kindergarten - Ms. Akinnitire, Mrs. Dally, Ms. Santorella, and Mrs. Szczubelek
Grade 1 - Mrs. Beirne, Mrs, Disney, Mrs. Scazafave, and Mrs. Shea
Grade 2 - Ms. D'Antuono, Mrs. Duffy, Ms. Sackheim, and Ms. Wolman
Grade 3 - Mrs. Glinski, Mrs. MacDermant, and Mrs. Romero
Grade 4 - Ms. Scarano, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Sponheimer, and Ms. Yarem
All of our teachers bring a wide variety of experience, both from within the classroom and beyond the classroom walls, and I know thy eill each contribute to making the year a positive one for your child.
Grade K through Grade 4
Arrival: 8:25-8:35 a.m.
Dismissal: 12:40 p.m.
More details to follow.
When you bring your child to school at 8:25 a.m., it is imperative that school traffic patterns and township laws be obeyed. The area immediately in front of our building is the designated drop-off zone. Our school buses share this area with parents dropping off their children. Please remember…
- As you approach the school, please stay in the line of traffic.
- Once you move into the drop-off zone, pull up as far as possible and allow your child(ren) to depart on the PASSENGER side in a TIMELY manner.
- After your child has safely left your car, move CAUTIOUSLY into the street as soon as possible so other cars may move forward.
- Please remain patient so all children can be dropped off safely.
To prevent a parking or traffic violation from the Scotch Plains Police Department, observe the areas around the school that are posted as “No Parking” and “No U-Turn.” There is no parking or standing allowed on the opposite side of Willow Avenue across from the school. Be aware of the parking signs that are posted on the right-hand side of Madison Avenue as you face Park Avenue.
Beginning this school year, when the crossing guard is present at the intersection of Willow Avenue and East Second Street, traffic traveling northbound on Willow Avenue will not be permitted to turn left or continue straight through the intersection. Drivers will be required to make a right turn onto East Second Street. This change is reflected in the Township of Scotch Plains traffic ordinance for this intersection.
When picking up your children from school, please park on a side street and walk to the front of the building. Please stay about 15 feet back from the exit doors. As teachers dismiss students, their vision and attention must not be impaired or inhibited. Please provide a pathway on the sidewalk by the front doors to allow our bus students to exit the building and board their bus safely. Please refrain from entering the building until our dismissal procedures are completed. If you wish to enter the building, our Board of Education Policy requires that you report to the school office, state your intentions and sign the visitor's book.
The driveway to the staff parking area is NOT to be used to drop off or pick up students, nor is parking in the lot permitted during the school day. All parking spaces are assigned to staff members.
Please refer to the diagram below for the school traffic pattern. Your cooperation with this system will be appreciated.
Birthday celebrations are special times for children, but can be a difficult time for the food-allergic child. Therefore, due to the severity of some of our allergies, we do not allow birthday treats. In addition, this will limit the number of interruptions to the instructional day that can result from multiple celebrations in the building. Parameters have been established so that the students can have an enjoyable, safe celebration in their classrooms. Please be advised siblings are not permitted to participate.
Please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Birthday celebrations will take place in the child's classroom under the direction of the classroom teacher. Students with summer birthdays may celebrate at the ½ year birthday mark. Parents should notify their child's teacher SEVERAL days ahead of time to establish an agreed upon date and time to celebrate.
- Parents may visit the classroom and read a book to the class. At the end, if the parent wishes, they may donate the book to the classroom library.
- Birthday gift bags of any kind will not be permitted.
- Children may NOT distribute birthday party invitations at school.
If your child is eligible for bus transportation, the District’s Transportation Supervisor, Ms. Marisol Rodriguez, should have contacted you prior to the first day of school. To contact her directly, please call 908-232-6161 Ext. 41309.
Bus parents are asked to send a written note to the school if your child is not taking the bus home on a specific day of the week. If there is a particular day(s) that your child will not be taking the bus home over the course of the year (such as for scout meetings, swim lessons, etc.), please send in a note indicating the specific dates. Please remind your child to give the note to his/her classroom teacher first thing in the morning.
It is my responsibility to ensure that our students have a safe entrance and dismissal from school. Therefore, I am appealing to all families who walk their dogs to or from school to please refrain from having their pets on school grounds. An ordinance is posted by our driveway entrance that states, “Walking dogs on school grounds is a violation which subjects dog owners to a fine and penalty by order of the Board of Education Scotch Plains-Fanwood.” I’m sure you will understand the importance of our students’ comfort levels as they come to and from school every day. I would greatly appreciate your cooperation as we abide by the ordinance recognized by our Board of Education.
Hi School One families! For those who are new to School One, I’m Mrs. Lidofsky, our Student Assistance Specialist. My role is to support students’ social and emotional well-being and to be a resource for children and families along the way. I’ll pop in here throughout the year with simple tips and ideas for home. First up: back to school! The start of a new school year brings so much excitement, along with new routines, new faces, and sometimes a few big feelings too! A few days before school begins, start easing back into school routines, especially bedtimes and wake-up times, so that the first morning doesn’t feel like such a big adjustment.
For children who have a harder time separating, one of the best things you can do is hand them off to us with confidence. A warm, loving goodbye followed by a confident exit sends an important message: School is a safe place, and I trust the people here to take care of you. Lingering or showing hesitation can unintentionally signal to children that there may be something to worry about. We promise that if there are tears, we will be there to support, comfort, and love them through it. You can also acknowledge their feelings while showing confidence: “It makes sense to feel nervous about something new, and I know you can do this. Your teachers are ready for you, and I can’t wait to hear about your day.”
A Nurtured Heart Approach tip: put your energy into what’s going right. Notice the moments your child is getting ready, being flexible, trying something new, or doing something hard, and name it: “You were nervous, and you walked right in. That took courage.” Those small moments of recognition help children see just how capable they are.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back!
Our PTA Officers for 2026/2027 include:
Co-President - Whitney McCullam
Co-President - Laura Basile
Vice President of Fundraising - Phoebe Darwin
Vice President of Services - Kelly Rabbath
Corresponding Secretary - Heather Ballestero
Recording Secretary - Meredith D'Agnolo
Treasurer - Caitlin Brady
Many other dedicated people chair and participate in the committees that make up School One’s PTA. You are encouraged to join them! Thank you to Mrs. McCullam and Mrs. Basils and the PTA Executive Board for their service this year and their assistance in preparing for the new school year. The dedication and commitment of so many of you make the School One community an extraordinary place to work and learn.
Attendance at school is imperative for student learning and will be taken daily. Students must be on time for their respective class calls each day that school is in session to ensure continuity of instruction unless illness or an emergency prevents their attendance. Please remember to call the School One Attendance Line when your child is going to be absent. If you do not call to report your child’s absence, we will call you. Should we be unable to contact you, the police may be called for assistance.
There are a few options to notify the school of your child’s absence. When you call the attendance line, please state your child’s name, grade, your child’s teacher’s name, and a detailed reason for your child’s absence. Please speak slowly and clearly.
SCHOOL ONE ATTENDANCE LINE
(908) 322-7731, PRESS 1
POWERSCHOOL PORTAL
Forms > Absence/Tardy/Dismissal Change