STILLWATER TWP NEWSLETTER

PTA Snowball Dance 2/20/26

Board of Education Meeting 2/23/26 7:00 PM

SEPAG Meeting 2/24/26 7:00 PM Room A112 (STEAM Classroom)

PTA Snowball Dance Snow Date 2/27/26

Board of Education Meeting 3/16/26 7:00 PM

Have you ever wondered why your child’s artwork doesn’t always “look like” something specific? In preschool, this is intentional. Through process art, children are encouraged to focus on the experience of creating rather than copying a model or producing identical crafts. They explore materials, experiment with colors and textures, and make their own creative choices. This hands-on approach supports fine motor development, problem-solving skills, language growth, and imaginative thinking. Most importantly, it builds confidence and independence, as each child’s unique creation reflects meaningful learning and individual expression.

Sometimes learning looks like paint on hands, colors blending together, a roller gliding across paper, and bubble wrap creating unexpected patterns—because in preschool, the process truly is the masterpiece.

Mrs. Pagano

Third graders have been busy learning across all subject areas! In science, students have been exploring survival of the fittest and how plants and animals use adaptations to survive in their environments. They learned that adaptations like camouflage, sharp claws, thick fur, or strong roots, help living things find food, stay safe, and adjust to changes over time. Students made great connections between this unit and our previous learning about fossils.

In math, students have been working with whole-number operations to solve word problems. We are focusing on reading problems carefully, choosing the correct operation, and explaining our thinking using numbers, words, and pictures. Students are learning that making mistakes is part of the learning process and that perseverance helps them become stronger problem solvers.

Mrs. Robinson

Read Across America Week is coming up (March 2nd-March 6th)!! Here are some tips to help encourage the love of reading with your child according to nea.org:

1. Read together everyday. A daily reading routine is something everyone can look forward to.

2. Talk and build vocabulary. Talk is a child’s best source of exposure to new words and ideas.

3. Model reading. Make sure your kids get to see you reading and hear you talk about it.

4. Point out print. There’s lots to read- signs, recipes, cereal boxes, instruction manuals, bus schedules, news, maps, and menus.

5. Visit the library. Take advantage of all the books, materials, story times, programs, and resources your local library has to offer.

6. Encourage your child’s reading. Praise the efforts of a soon-to-be or beginning reader. Make sure schedules of older readers include time for reading for pleasure.

7. Keep books handy.Stash books in your bag to read aloud when you travel or have to wait at restaurants or for appointments. Or keep eBooks on your phone.

8. Let kids choose books. Offer titles that explore your child’s interests, expand horizons, and offer exposure to different kinds of writing.

9. Discuss what you read. Give your child enough time to absorb the story and look at the pictures as you read.

10. Ask questions when you read. Ask your child to guess what comes next. Ask open-ended questions that help them relate to characters or events in the book.

11. Connect reading and writing. Write your own reading material, like a story about your life, a story featuring your kids, or a story kids make up.

12. Have fun. Try different approaches, such as having them read to you or acting out a favorite story. Even something as simple as a story time outside can make reading together livelier and more memorable for you and your child.

Happy reading everyone!!

Tiny Ducks Take Over the Makerspace!

The Makerspace STEM classes buzzed with excitement this week as students transformed into "predators" in a fascinating experiment exploring the science of camouflage.

Their "prey" was the highly-coveted miniature resin ducks that have become a school-wide sensation! The ducks in multiple colors helped students conduct a hands-on investigation into how organisms blend into their environments to achieve a higher chance of avoiding predators and surviving.

Armed with keen eyes and quick reflexes, students were tasked with a seemingly simple challenge to collect as many resin ducks as possible from various colored "habitats" (sheets of construction paper in vibrant matching colors).

Next week, students will combine all of their data, chart their findings, and look for clear patterns to see if the ducks with high contrast against their background were "eaten" at a significantly higher rate than those that blended in.

Mrs. Ciccolella

Yearbook News: ATTENTION 6th Grade Parents

6th Grade Parents it is that time of the year for you to submit your child's baby picture for the yearbook. You may email the baby photo to meghan.earley@stillwaterschool.net or you may send in a copy and we will scan the photo and get it back to you! We would like to have them all by the end of January!
Thank you!
Mrs. Earley & Mrs. Green

The Yearbook Sale is in full swing. The price for a yearbook is $27.00 and will be FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. The link to order your yearbook is https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09873794 . You can order your yearbook online or you can send in payment to the school with your child. Please note that payments made through the school will require exact change. No change can be given. Payment envelopes will be going home with the students as soon as they come in. Please feel free to reach out to me either via email at kimberly.williams@stillwaterschool.net or by telephone 973-383-6635 with any questions.

Mrs. Williams