Washington Elementary School 🐾

It was wonderful seeing so many of our families at Back to School Night! We hope the evening provided an opportunity to connect with teachers, learn more about the year ahead, and feel even more connected to the Washington community. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to our PTO for organizing such a wonderful Book Fair. What a great way to build excitement for reading and learning right from the start of the school year—thank you!

This week, we also launched our morning announcements, giving our fifth-grade students an authentic opportunity to draft the daily announcements and share them with the entire school through the intercom system in the main office. This is a wonderful application of the communication skills students develop in the classroom and a meaningful opportunity for our fifth graders to practice speaking clearly, confidently, and responsibly while contributing to our school community.

We spent significant time this week as a school community discussing our Hopes & Dreams for the school year. Students reflected on goals such as becoming a stronger reader or mathematician, learning something new, making new friends, being a good friend, trying something that feels challenging, or becoming more confident and independent. Together, we discussed that achieving our academic, social, and emotional Hopes & Dreams requires shared classroom and schoolwide expectations. To succeed, we must be safe, kind, inclusive, and responsible - taking care of ourselves, taking care of one another, and taking care of our school.

We have been so impressed by the thoughtfulness our students have demonstrated during these conversations. We are excited to see their Hopes & Dreams take shape and look forward to all of the wonderful learning and growth ahead!

Enjoy this week's photo gallery...

Help make arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and efficient for everyone!

This week, I've observed a few instances of unsafe practices - u-turn on St Marks Ave during the height of dismissal, a car driving up the pedestrian path into the student courtyard, and a lot of jaywalking across the streets. Moving forward, the WPD will be informed of unsafe driving behaviors. Ensuring the safety of our community is a shared endeavor; please do your part:

• Follow all parking and traffic signs and keep yellow/striped areas, fire hydrants, crosswalks, and corners clear.
• Please no U-turns, K-turns, or double parking on St. Marks or Sherman Avenue.
• Cross the street only at crosswalks.
• St. Marks Ave: During drop-off, have students ready to exit from the passenger side and pull forward promptly (see photo below).
• St. Marks Ave: During pick-up, arrive no earlier than 3:15 p.m. and pull forward only when your child is waiting.
• Help children buckle up quickly so the line can keep moving, and please wait your turn rather than merging or cutting into the line.

We appreciate the help and cooperation of our first- and second-grade families as we work to make arrival and dismissal safe, efficient, and less congested. During morning arrival, we ask that families offer a quick kiss and goodbye before making their way to the grassy area or sidewalk along Saint Marks Avenue. During afternoon dismissal, please help us keep the walkway in front of the first- and second-grade doors clear by waiting in the grassy area instead.

First grade students will exit the building and teachers will dismiss students closer to the bike rack, while second grade students will exit the building and make their way toward the courtyard walkway. We hope these minor adjustments will help make morning arrival and afternoon dismissal more efficient for everyone. Thank you for your partnership and cooperation!

Families can celebrate their child’s birthday while giving the gift of reading by donating a $20 Birthday Book to the Washington School library. During their birthday month, students will choose a pre-selected book, receive a personalized bookplate, and be the first to check it out—afterward, the book becomes part of our library collection for all students to enjoy! See the linked letter for more information on how to participate.

Picture Day is Friday, September 25! Students will have the opportunity to take both class and individual photographs during the school day. Package and payment information is linked below for families who would like to purchase photographs.

Online ordering is simple - visit www.bnlschoolpictures.com

Select "Order Portraits"

Enter code: 7G3U6Q7V

This section of the newsletter will be used to communicate important information and reminders pertaining to fifth grade events.

Today is the deadline to place your orders for the fifth grade t-shirt. The cost of the t-shirt is $20 (financial assistance is available if needed). Proceeds from our t-shirt sales will go to the 5th Grade Scholarship Fund for a graduating WHS + Washington Alum from the Class of '27. Orders need to be in ASAP so that all 5th graders and staff can wear them to the Fairview Lake trip on 10/8 and future 5th grade events. Please see the link below to the MTK Order Form to place your orders by this Friday, September 11. The link will no longer be active for ordering past this date.

https://washingtonnjpto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/22230

The deadline for completing the permission slip and submitting payment is Tues, Sep 22nd.

September

19: IT Professionals Day

21: No school

22: Special Education Back to School Night @ Edison Intermediate School

25: Individual and class photos | First Grade Family Fun Night (rain date 10/1)

October

1: National Physical Therapy Month | National Principal's Month

2: Custodian's Day

6: EZ Ride Assembly for G2 Students

7: National Walk to School Day

8-9: G5 Fairview Lake Trip

12: School Closed | Staff In-Service

14: Saint Joe's Collection

22: Fall Parent Social

30: Halloween Parade