CMS Chronicle
Chester M. Stephens Elementary School
Dear CMS Families,
Goodbye, September, and hello, October! As the leaves begin to change and the fall season settles in, there is plenty happening at CMS. We are excited for all that this new month has in store for our students and families!
Last week, CMS celebrated Week of Hello, a schoolwide initiative focused on building connections, welcoming others, and creating a positive and inclusive school climate. Our students and staff had a wonderful opportunity to focus on the importance of making others feel seen, welcomed, and included.
Next week, we will continue building on these important themes with Week of Respect. Throughout the week, students will participate in activities and conversations focused on kindness, respect, inclusion, and treating others with care.
We are also excited to welcome the Budd Lake Fire Department to CMS next week! Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students will have the opportunity to meet our local firefighters and learn more about fire safety.
Be on the lookout for information coming soon regarding parent-teacher conference sign-ups. More information and sign-up details will be shared with families shortly.
We’re looking forward to a great October and all the fun and learning ahead at CMS!
Thank you,
Mrs. Nicole Musarra, CMS Principal
RealTime
Mark your Calendar
October 5th -Week of Respect: Respect your School wear MO gear
October 6th -Week of Respect: Team up Tuesday wear a Team jersey or appeal
October 7th -Week of Respect: Put Bullying to Rest wear Pajamas
October 8th -Week of Respect: We're all Different, We all Belong wear something that represents YOU
October 9th -Week of Respect: Show off your Colors for Respect wear Tie-Dye
October 12th --SCHOOL CLOSED - Teacher In-Service
October 23rd - Staff vs Parents Dodgeball Game hosted by SCA at MOMS 5:30-6:30pm
October 27th- SCA CMS Trunk or Treat at CMS 5:30-7:30pm
October 30th - Halloween Parade 1:30-2:00 pm
November 2nd - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 3rd - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 4th - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 5th & 6th ----SCHOOL CLOSED - NJEA Convention
November 25th - 27th -- SCHOOL CLOSED - Thanksgiving Break
Arrr! Take a peek at the treasures we learned!
Our CMS Marauders have been busy learning, exploring, creating, questioning, and growing each day! These photos offer a glimpse into the exciting learning happening throughout our classrooms and special areas. From hands-on activities and collaborative projects to reading, writing, problem-solving, and discovery, every picture captures a little piece of the learning journey taking place at CMS.
KINDERGARTEN
Ms. Weiss' kindergarteners have been working hard on one-to-one correspondence and cardinality by using everyday items like egg cartons as a math model! The kiddos had so much fun with this hands-on activity!
FIRST GRADE
In Math, Ms. Cassella’s first graders are using Exploragons to explore and create 2D shapes. Through hands-on learning, students are building their understanding of shape attributes while using creativity and problem-solving skills.
SECOND GRADE
THIRD GRADE
In Language Arts, Mrs. Juckett’s third graders are strengthening their reading comprehension by practicing how to ask questions before and during reading. Students worked with a partner to preview and read a text, recording questions that came to mind along the way. This strategy helps students think more deeply about what they are reading and build a stronger understanding of the text.
FOURTH GRADE
Miss Farino and Miss Fehir's Fourth Grade students are celebrating their strengths and believing in themselves this fall! Their thoughtful writing about why they believe in themselves is proudly showcased on their fall bulletin board. We are so proud of the confidence, kindness, and growth our students are showing each day
FIFTH GRADE
Students in Ms. Blomquist’s 5th grade class practiced their active listening skills while playing “What’s in the Bag?” One student described a mystery item while their partner listened carefully and tried to guess what it was - without either student knowing what was inside beforehand! With lots of weird, silly, and unexpected objects in the bags, there were plenty of laughs along the way.
October: Responsibility
This month, we are focusing on responsibility. Being responsible means making good choices, following through on commitments, and taking ownership of our actions. Students are learning that responsibility can look different in many situations—from completing schoolwork and following classroom expectations to helping at home and being a dependable friend.
Families can support this skill by encouraging independence, establishing routines, and celebrating when children demonstrate responsibility in their daily lives.
Meet the Counseling Team:
Kelsey Bautz
Grades: Kindergarten & Third Grade
Email: Kelsey.Bautz@motsd.org Phone: ext.. 6301
Heather Hoffman
Grades: Second Grade and Fifth Grade
Email: Heather.Hoffman@motsd.org Phone: ext. 6303
Elena Rozycki
Grades: First Grade and Fourth Grade
Email: Elena.Rozycki@motsd.org Phone:ext. 6302
SCA Executive Board 2026-2027
Caroline Shuart - President
Anita Sharma - Vice President
Shanna Driber - Secretary
Arlene Vega - Treasurer
Reach out: cmsscax@gmail.com
SCA Upcoming Events
- 10/1-10/31 - Dine out with The BBQ Pit
- 10/6: MORT Assembly
- 10/13-11/4: Ashley Farms Pie and Donuts Sale
- 10/23: Staff vs. Parents Dodgeball Game @ MOMS
- 10/27: Trunk or Treat @ CMS
Child Health Clinic 10/29
Join Girl Scouts
Clínica de salud infantil 10/29
Mt. Olive Library Story Reading Oct. 24 1pm
Walk-in Vaccination Clinic -Wednesdays
Coat Drive
Pick up and Drop off Procedures
SCHOOL TIMES
DROP-OFF PROCEDURES:
If you plan on dropping your child off the drop-off line is a continuous stream of traffic. Parents will not be able to park their vehicle and walk their child(ren) to the door.
PICK-UP PROCEDURES:
If you plan to pick up your child(ren) in the afternoon you will have to pick them up on the side of the building, just like drop off, in the line of continuous stream of traffic. Parents will not be able to park their vehicle and pick up their child(ren). If you have to pick up your child prior to dismissal, you can do so up until 3:20pm. Any pick ups after 3:20 must be done at the dismissal car line.
PickUp Patrol
Right at School
Right at School - Before and After Care
Mt. Olive schools are partnering with Right at School to provide child care options for our community.
Click here to view the RIGHT AT SCHOOL website.
Please remember, If your child has a Fever or is Vomiting please keep them home for at least 24 hours to recover and keep our other students and staff from getting sick.
STATE LAW: Student attendance is monitored by the state and we are required to send attendance notifications at set intervals of, 4, 10, and 17 days, to make parents aware of the number of absences their child has had. To further clarify, to count as "present" by the state of NJ, a student must be in school for four instructional hours, not counting lunch and recess. Even if a student arrived late or left early, but was not in school for 4 academic hours then it counts as an absence.
Schools are not permitted to mark students' absences as "excused" based on state statute, unless it meets the following "state excused" criteria:
1. Religious holidays - every year the State Board of Education votes on a list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse students for religious observance upon the written request signed by the parent
2. Participation in observance of Veterans Day
3. Participation in district board of election membership activities
4. Take Our Children to Work Day
5. College visit(s), up to three days per school year for students in grades 11 and 12
6. Closure of a busing school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school.
Cashless and Contactless Meal Purchases 26-27
Sin Efectivo Y Pago Sin Contacto Compras de comidas 26-27
Chester M. Stephens Elementary School
Karen Husser, Vice Principal
Website: https://www.motsd.org/cms/
Phone: 973-691-4002
Twitter: @cmsmtolive