SWS Newsletter

Reminders for Families

🕐 Dismissal changes: If your child's afternoon pick-up plan is changing, please update it in the Realtime Parent Portal by 2:30 PM. The office cannot accept changes by phone or in person. The teachers see this in "Realtime" at the end of the day by logging on to the platform. Please help us by following this procedure.

🚗 Pick-up location: Parents may not pick up students in the front office at dismissal. All students exit through the East Parking Lot doors near the recess field.

📱 Visiting the school: If you come to the building without a scheduled meeting, you will be asked the purpose of your visit. This is a required safety measure, and we ask it of everyone, even families we know well. The best way to help is to call ahead and let Ms. Hill know you plan to stop by. For safety, you must wait in the vestibule. No one can enter the building without a scheduled meeting, so please let Ms. Hill know. Please do not let anyone in the front door if someone is behind you. They need to buzz in separately.

🚌 Morning drop-off: Buses at drop-off take priority in the morning. We will not release cars from the lot until students have exited the buses. We appreciate your patience.

🎒 Afternoon pick-up: Students will not be released until the buses begin loading, so please arrive no earlier than 3:10 PM.

💙Thank you for your understanding as we work together to keep our school safe for every child.💛

Dear Families,

Your child's Fall STAR Benchmark report is coming home in backpacks today. STAR is a short, computer-based assessment that our students take a few times each year in reading and math. It gives us a snapshot of where each child is right now so teachers can plan instruction that meets them where they are.

The report shows your child's overall score, how that score compares to grade-level expectations, and a breakdown of specific skill areas. Because this is a fall benchmark, it reflects a starting point for the year rather than a final judgment. Students will take the assessment again in the winter and spring, and we look forward to celebrating their growth.

Please scan the QR code printed on your child's report. It links to a Renaissance page that walks you through what each part of the report means and offers practical ways to support your child's learning at home. You can also visit renaissance.com/star-scores directly.

If you have questions about your child's results, please reach out to their classroom teacher. We are grateful for your partnership.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Schleer

Brianna Watts, M.A.

School Counselor

bwatts@sandystonwalpack.org

6th Grade PAWS Leaders in Action

Our 6th Grade PAWS Leaders had a busy week! Shaylee and Liliana led the morning announcements and then visited every classroom to ask students what they've been learning and how they've shown kindness. From kindergarteners discovering that honey is "bee spit" to fifth graders helping each other understand math, every class had something to share. You can read the highlights from each grade in this newsletter. We're proud of the leadership Shaylee and Liliana are showing and the kindness our students are spreading throughout the building.

Preschool- Ms. Krygoski

The students are learning about squirrels, trees and numbers. They are having fun playing with Play-Doh and their friends. They are focusing practicing school routines and transitions. The students in Ms. Krygoski's class are showing kindness by asking their friends to play.

Preschool-Ms. Apgar

The students are learning about the colors of the rainbow and how to share with friends. They are also learning about nature and steam in science. They are showing kindness by making pictures with friends, helping friends finish puzzles, helping friends when they are upset, and drawing unicorns together.

Kindergarten
Kindergarteners are exploring big ideas in science and reading. They learned that honey is actually "bee spit," studied spheres and shapes, talked about rocket ships and gravity, and discovered that there are over 7,000 types of apples while learning about apple seeds. They showed kindness by bringing a friend to the nurse, including others, helping clean up, smiling, and cheering each other on with a "good job" and a high five.

Grade 1
First graders had a full week of nature, PE, art, writing, math, science, and recess. Their kindness came through in lots of everyday ways: helping friends up, including others, being the door helper, asking if someone is okay, carrying things for classmates, and giving compliments.

Grade 2
Second graders are hard at work on math facts (4+4=8, 10+10=20) along with PE and art. They showed kindness by including a friend, using good manners, helping a friend who fell, and listening to their teacher.

Grade 3
Third graders are learning math, reading, writing, science, and cursive, and kindness is part of their curriculum too. They practiced it by walking quietly in the halls, helping put things away, opening doors, cleaning up, showing good sportsmanship, staying quiet when others are talking, and being respectful.

Grade 4
Fourth graders are reading The Tiger Rising, working on writing and science, and getting into band, music, and art. They're also learning how to be a fourth grader and how to spread kindness. They showed it by helping Mrs. Hutnick, organize the "stuff box," and keeping things tidy.

Grade 5
Fifth graders are digging into decimals and rounding, exponents and powers of 10, C.E.R. (claim-evidence-reasoning), jotting, point of view, and geography, with some yoga mixed in. They showed kindness by helping a friend, holding a classmate's backpack, and helping each other understand math.

Grade 6

Sixth grade students are learning about negative numbers, jotting while reading the book Holes, character education, and how to tune ukuleles in music. They are showing kindness by holding the door for their peers, joining friends at lunch tables who were sitting alone, and modeling how to play nice with others for the younger students.

Hi Parents,

If you are interested in being a Class Parent for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the sign-up form below. Once sign-ups are complete, we will contact selected Class Parents by email. There will also be a mandatory meeting with administration and staff before the school year gets underway.

Thank you for volunteering your time and helping support our school community!

Thank you,
SWS PTO

Look at these happy faces! If you are interested in joining the fun, please reach out to the PTO. There are so many ways to volunteer your time! Email: SWSPTO@gmail.com

The Weekend Bag program provides individual bags for students stocked with non-perishable meal items, snacks, drinks, and a hygiene item, sent home each week on Wed. If you would like to participate in this program, please let Mrs. Misyak know ASAP. Call 973-948-3263 or email smisyak@sandystonwalpack.org.

Email: lschleer@sandystonwalpack.org

Website: https://www.sandystonwalpack.org/home

Phone: (973) 948-4450

Email: rgebhardt@sandystonwalpack.org

Website: https://www.sandystonwalpack.org/home

Phone: (973) 948-4450, ext. 1115