STILLWATER SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Spring Conferences 3/12/26 12:40 PM Dismissal

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

PTA Skate Night 3/19/26

PTA Tricky Tray 3/28/26

Board of Education Meeting 3/30/26 in Library

Please See Flyers

February Students of the Month

The following students are being recognized for their exemplary positive character attributes and for being outstanding role models.

Claire LoCascio: Claire consistently shows a love for learning and tries her best in all academic areas. She participates during lessons, follows directions, and makes thoughtful choices throughout the school day. We are so proud of Claire!

• Mrs. Newman

Annabelle Saldutti: Annabelle has demonstrated consistency in her effort to follow school rules, set a good example for those around her, and displays perseverance in academic work. We are so proud of you Annabelle!

• Mrs. Phlegar

Kylie Schwarz: Kylie is a hardworking student and a wonderful role model to her peers. She approaches her learning with dedication and always gives her best effort. Her kindness and positive attitude uplift those around her, and her caring nature truly spreads throughout the classroom.

• Mrs. Caccavale

Tyler Zweig: Tyler is a hardworking and dedicated student who always gives his best effort. He is kind, respectful, and quick to help others. His positive attitude and strong work ethic make him a truly deserving Student of the Month.

• Mrs. Then, Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Caccavale

Thomas Rincon: Tommy consistently demonstrates kindness, responsibility, and leadership during class. He is always willing to help both teachers and classmates, whether it is setting up equipment, cleaning up without being asked, or encouraging others to participate. Tommy brings a positive attitude to every lesson and helps create a supportive and respectful environment for everyone. His willingness to help and his strong sportsmanship make him a great role model in Physical Education.

• Mrs. Earley & Mr. Tiberi

Peyton Molinet: Peyton demonstrates dedication and perseverance each day, always striving to do his very best. He consistently shows kindness and compassion, making him a valued and trusted friend to all.

• Mrs. Hoon and Mrs. Mahedy

Michael Baamonde: Michael is a kind hearted, responsible student. He is always lending a helping hand to his classmates. Michael is also seen giving compliments to others throughout each day. Keep spreading words and making people smile!

• Mrs. LoCicero

Abighaile Looney: Abi has a caring nature and demonstrates genuine kindness toward others. She thoughtfully goes out of her way to help classmates who may be feeling left out, ensuring that her peers feel welcomed, valued, and included. Abi also exhibits strong leadership and responsibility by volunteering her time to assist younger students. Her maturity, dependability, and positive attitude make her an excellent role model within the school community.

• Mrs. Smetana

Devan Ankrom: Devan consistently shows positive character and strong values. She demonstrates kindness, respect and responsibility each day in the classroom. Her positive attitude and commitment to being a caring and dependable member of our classroom community make her truly deserving of this recognition.

• Mrs. Celentano, Mrs. Maeurer and Mrs. Phlegar

Fiona Gely: Fiona consistently shows what it means to be hardworking and respectful, treating peers and adults with kindness. She sets positive examples and helps make our school a better place every day!

• Mrs. DiRienzo

Jared Day: Jared is well known for his kindness and positive attitude. He treats his classmates with respect, offers help when others need it, and always shows good sportsmanship. His willingness to try his best and support those around him makes our classroom a better place. Way to go Jared! We are proud of you.

• Mrs. Bickhardt, Mrs. Steffens and Ms. Russ

Sophia Galfo: Sophia is always working hard in Makerspace, persevering through challenges, and finding creative solutions to problems. Above and beyond these attributes, she can be teamed up with and works well with others. She is sure to keep shining as a classmate, community member, and problem solver!

• Mrs. Ciccolella

Wild times in Preschool!

This week, preschoolers got to attend a Reptile show; Rizzo’s Reptile Assembly. It was a Slithering Success!

Students had the opportunity to see and learn about some incredible reptiles, including turtles, snakes, and lizards. The expert from the reptile company brought several animals for the children to observe, ask questions about and even touch(if they chose to)! This experience was both exciting and educational while also sparking a lot of curiosity in our little learners!

The assembly also tied into our current classroom study, the Pet Study, as we’ve been learning about the differences between various types of animals, including pets and wild animals. We’ve discussed what makes reptiles unique and how they live in the wild and sometimes as pets. The children are excited to share what they’ve learned and are now asking lots of great questions about reptiles and other animals!

~Mrs. Davies

It’s Love Of Reading Week! We cannot think of a better way for first graders to celebrate the enjoyment of reading than to have two special guest readers! This week our students welcomed two beloved retired teachers back to Stillwater School. Mrs. Knapp joined our classes and read Hey, Bruce! This was a very funny interactive book that kept the children captivated and giggling the whole way through. Then we had a special visit from Mrs. Malmstrom. She read The Gruffalo to the students. Each first grader was captivated waiting to see if the Mouse would outsmart the Gruffalo. Remember developing your child’s reading is also sharing engaging and interesting read alouds that spark interest and curiosity! Thank you to our special guest readers!

Mrs. Collier

Read Across America Week Recap

We had an exciting and literacy-filled Read Across America Week!

We kicked off the week with a schoolwide read-aloud by Dr. Papa.

On Tuesday, each homeroom welcomed a special guest reader, which was such a meaningful experience for our students.

Wednesday brought a fun book scavenger hunt across the school, where students searched high and low for hidden books.

Thursday was Buddy Day! Students partnered up and shared their favorite books with their buddies, practicing their fluency and comprehension skills while building connections.

We wrapped up the week on Friday with Drop Everything and Read, followed by an energetic Den Rally to celebrate our love of reading!

Thank you for supporting a week full of literacy, fun, and school spirit!

Fun Reading Tips for Families

Looking for ways to make reading exciting at home? Try these ideas:

• Flashlight Reading Night – Turn off the lights and read with flashlights for a cozy twist.

• Read in a Fort – Build a blanket fort and bring books inside for a special reading spot.

• Cook a Story – Read a book and make a recipe that connects to the story.

• Character Dress-Up – Dress like your favorite character while reading.

• Family Reading Time – Set a 15-minute timer where everyone reads their own book together.

• Story Swap – Have your child “teach” you about the book they’re reading.

• Read Outside – Bring books to the porch, backyard, or park.

• Create a Reading Challenge – Make a simple bingo board with fun reading goals (read a poem, read to a pet, read a nonfiction book, etc.).

Thank you for helping us build a lifelong love of reading!

Third Grade recently joined author Mary Pope Osborne for a special virtual event! She celebrated the joy of reading by sharing an exciting excerpt from one of her books with students across the country. In addition, Mary Pope Osborne continued the celebration by reading The Cat in the Hat. It was a wonderful way to inspire a love of reading and connect with a beloved author!

Mrs. Then

Our fifth graders have been learning how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers. Students started by practicing how to multiply fractions by multiplying the numerators and denominators, then simplifying their answers. They also learned to cross-cancel to make problems easier. Next, they worked on mixed numbers. Students convert mixed numbers into improper fractions, multiply, simplify, and convert back if needed. Through word problems, area models, and real-world examples like cooking measurements, students are building strong understanding and confidence. I am so proud of the hard work our fifth graders are putting into mastering these important math skills.

As your child moves from stories with illustrations that support comprehension, he or she may benefit from being prompted to visualize, or create mental pictures while reading. For example, if a child reads a paragraph and says, “I don’t understand it,” you might ask, “What did you picture in your mind when you read the first sentence?” Their answer will help you understand where the confusion may be.

For instance, imagine your child is struggling with an entry about St. Patrick’s Day on National Geographic Kids: “Patrick was born in Britain in the fourth century and didn’t arrive in Ireland until he was 16 years old, when he was sent to work in the country.” If you ask your child, “What did you picture for the first sentence?” they will probably say, “Nothing!” Most children don’t have the background knowledge to imagine the fourth century, let alone the fourth century in two countries they have never visited.

While you could always open your phone to show them a map of the United Kingdom and images of Ireland or St. Patrick, these resources won’t always be available in the classroom. Because of that, it’s helpful to practice building visuals from scratch. You might say, “Picture a 16-year-old boy living a very long time ago, before cell phones, cars, or electricity.” You could ask them to close their eyes and imagine him traveling from one country to another. How might he get there? They might suggest a horse, a carriage, or even walking. This could also be a good opportunity to explain that he probably had to travel by boat, since Ireland is an island.

This technique works best at the beginning of a text. Once a child has a clear mental picture of the subject and setting, their understanding of the rest of the passage often improves.

Mrs. Russ

This month, we’ve been learning a lot about themes related to Saint Patrick’s Day. This is a perfect time of year to do scavenger hunts. We’ve been learning a lot about colors and rainbows! Additionally, we’ve talked about shamrocks and what ‘lucky’ means! Pretend you are a leprechaun looking for a pot of gold! Set up a scavenger hunt! Write clues on rainbows and look for your own “pot of gold”. Get creative! Think of fun places to hide things & explore together!

Throughout March, put an emphasis on textures. How do things feel? Are they soft, rough, smooth, furry, scratchy, cold, hot, or wet? Look around your house for items that match a given description! For example, you could search for things that are wet or soft! "This water feels so cold!” "Your new blanket is very soft.” “Can you find something smooth?” “I’m holding something scratchy. What might it be?”

Our book of the month is "The Rainbow Book" by Kate Ohrt. This is a fun book that talks about emotions and colors! It can make talking about feelings more fun by associating them with colors.

Mrs. Garrigan

Hello everyone! Spring is right around the corner and a lot is happening in music right now. Currently the District band and choir is in full swing,despite the snow day on Tuesday we will still have two more rehearsals: Friday 3/6 and Monday 3/9. The concert will be the night of 3/9 at 7pm at Kittatinny. Come on by to see the amazing work that these students are putting in.

In the classroom 4th through 6th grade have started a march music madness where we will be judging song selections picked by them and some teachers to see what song makes it to the top. I am very excited to see the results when we finally arrive at the final match up.

Band is marching along to have another wonderful spring concert and the band is excited to show everyone what we have been working on. As a reminder please remind your child to look at the band schedule whenever they can and to make sure that their instrument is brought to school.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of the arts.

Mr. Both

YEARBOOKS WILL BE ON SALE UNTL 4/17/26, please make sure to order your book before that date! 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 if you choose to send your payment in to the school with your child, it will require exact change. No change can be given. 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

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