The TES Times May

This month has been filled to the brim with exciting learning opportunities and celebrations. Students have participated in field trips, residencies and have done some amazing hands-on science experiments. Although there are only thirteen more days left, they are packed with fun events like Field Day on Friday, and our final Den Day where we will say goodbye to our fourth grade den mates. Please see below for our important end of year celebration activities. See you at TES soon!

Warmly,

Lisa Moore

Principal

It was a team effort to bring this ladybug to life! Thank you to the Stein and Rodriguez Families. This group included Rebecca, Philip, Wyatt (grade 3), Alice (grade 2), and Maggie (PK) and Kelley, Michael, Nataniel (grade 2) and Oliver (K) Rodriguez! Great job, team!

Here is the calendar for next year:

District Calendar 2026-2027

One of our Kindergarten students, Oliver, was selected as a winner of the Hunterdon County Library Association's annual Enthusiastic Reader Awards. This annual award is given to students in grades K through 8 who demonstrate outstanding reading and comprehension skills. Our Library/Media Specialist, Anne Rose-Mason, and Mrs. Moore attended the program honoring these readers.

Preschoolers have become mini arborists and can tell you all about how trees grow, what is made from trees, what animals live in trees and the many different challenges that trees have. Some of our favorite books have been Our Tree Named Steve, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, ABIYOYO, & Henny Penny. We are excited to join with parents for our end of year celebration at Califon Island Park on June 10.

Featured: Our sugar maple saplings have been growing well thanks to our preschool gardeners.

- Ms. Amanda, Ms. Mary

Spring has sprung in Kindergarten! We have started our "ABC Countdown" to the last day of school! Each day we have an activity that coincides with the letter of the day. "B" day was "Bubble Day" for the Kindergarteners. We took a brief break from our day to go outside and enjoy blowing bubbles together. We continue to count-down the alphabet until we get to "Z day" when we "zoom" out of school for summer vacation!

In the classroom, learning continues with the Kindergarteners learning to add and subtract within ten. Our writing unit is "Personal Narrative". The children are learning to tell a personal story that includes a beginning, middle, and end. Science and Social Studies have us learning about the farm and how products go from the farm to our homes.

It is amazing to see how far the children have come since the beginning of the year!

Featured below: Bubble day!

Social Studies – Our Special Location:

Students are exploring how location, natural features, and climate can shape the way people live and work in a community. We are learning about goods and services and how people depend on one another to meet their needs and wants. Students are also discussing ways people show pride and care for their community and identifying what makes their own community special.

Reading/Writing:

We have been reading mentor texts to inspire our writing and making connections between reading and writing. Students have been developing their Personal Narratives by focusing on clear beginnings, middles, and endings, using transition words, and adding details to their stories. Their growth as writers has been wonderful to see! Finished pieces are being sent home, please enjoy reading their stories together.

Math:

In math, we are continuing to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 20. We reviewed doubles facts (with a Doubles Rap) and practiced using strategies such as counting on and making ten to solve problems. We are also focusing on building math fluency and confidence. Please continue practicing addition and subtraction facts at home.

Looking forward to the warmer weather and all the end of year fun!

Featured: Our special locations!

May has brought a lot of new learning for our Second Graders in a variety of topics. Our social studies unit on Innovation has given them the opportunity to read about an inventor of choice on the web site Pebble Go. Students are learning about famous and not so famous inventors and what drove them to invent. They also had an opportunity to be creative themselves during our field trip to the Morris Museum’s Spark Lab. And in the weeks to come, students will be able to try their hand at inventing as they participate in the “Invention Convention” where their creativity and engineering skills will be put to the test. Science has brought on our study of plants where the students conducted experiments with live plants in order to study what conditions plants need to thrive. They also learned about pollination and seed dispersal, important aspects of plant growth. As we finish up May, students are happily engaging in Math lessons on multiplication and division. It always makes them feel like they've learned something “magical and mysterious" and they are so proud of themselves! Many Flat Stanleys have returned home to TES, and the hundreds of postcards received have taken everyone on a journey across the globe. May - a most wonderful month to be a Second Grader!

Featured below: Spark Lab fun

Third Graders made good use of our lovely school grounds as we explored our ponds and collected tadpoles. Afterwards, all students observed, first hand, in each of their classrooms the metamorphosis from tadpole to froglet in amazement. Now we look forward to taking our knowledge of ecology to Echo Hill to get hands-on experience with a stream habitat that supports a variety of local plant and animal life.

Speaking of plant life, students also grew plants from seeds. They learned about the effect of sun, water and soil in growing plants. We studied how seeds move and disperse. These were more fascinating life cycles to ponder again and again!

Students in Mrs. Kinzel's math class participated in a hands on learning experience this May. Students followed a recipe to make lemonade using their understanding and knowledge of fractions and measuring. Students were able to quadruple the recipe to make enough for all in our class by multiplying fractions and converting measurements as needed.

In May, Fourth grade had a busy and exciting month filled with memorable learning experiences. We welcomed educators from Hunterdon County Parks, who led engaging science experiments that gave students the opportunity to explore scientific concepts through hands-on activities and discovery. Students also showcased their hard work and talent during the spring concert, demonstrating confidence and dedication in their performance. Another highlight of the month was our visit to Old Turnpike School, where students spent the day experiencing life as a Fifth Grader and becoming familiar with the routines and expectations of the year ahead. We ended the month with a field trip to the Franklin Mineral Museum, where students explored fascinating exhibits and expanded their understanding of geology and Earth science. May was a wonderful month of learning, growth, and celebration for our Fourth Grade class!

May has brought an exciting burst of creativity and imagination throughout the art room! From painting and sculpture to STEAM exploration, our young artists have been enthusiastically diving into hands-on projects that celebrate both artistic expression and the approaching joys of summer.

Our Preschool artists have been creating cheerful watermelon slice projects that are getting everyone excited for a taste of summer! These colorful creations have also helped strengthen fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and detailed crafting.

Kindergarten students have been introduced to the great master Claude Monet and are exploring his beautiful water lily paintings through their own imaginative artworks. Alongside painting, students have also been balancing creativity with STEAM development through collaborative building activities using LEGOs and Magna-Tiles.

First Graders were thrilled to receive their finished animal pinch pots and have now begun learning about the expressive artwork of Vincent van Gogh in the art room. Students are exploring bold color, movement, and texture inspired by Van Gogh’s famous style.

Second and Third Grade artists are discovering the world of patterns and motifs through the calming and creative process of creating Zentangle-inspired artworks. Students are learning how repeated lines, shapes, and designs can come together to form intricate and imaginative compositions.

Fourth Grade artists are hard at work transforming their favorite snack choices into larger-than-life 3D papier-mâché sculptures! These exciting creations will soon be painted, sealed, and proudly displayed with great enthusiasm… but definitely not eaten!

Thank you for continuing to support the creativity, imagination, and artistic growth happening in our bustling art room this spring!

Warmly,

Mrs.Pecora @ The TES Art Room

In PE during the month of May, students have been working on field day preparation activities, movement activities, and scooter soccer. We will continue to focus on collaboration, teamwork, and cooperation while remaining active and engaged.

Reminder: Field Day will be held on June 5th with a raindate of June 12th. Here are seven tips for parents to help make field day a success:

- Ms. Sconda and Mr. Neuhs

The TES Library is full of fun and games this month! Students across the grades have been working on units of study centered around games and play. In Kindergarten, students have been reading and comparing fiction books about forts. These stories have wonderful lessons about working together and getting creative! We are applying these skills through S.T.E.A.M. activities. Students in First through Fourth Grade have been learning about the history of popular toys (like the Teddy Bear, the Slinky, and the Super Soaker) through a comparison of narrative, nonfiction books. In First and Second Grade, we have also had fun reading the fiction book, What the Dinosaurs Did at School, and creating their own dino scenes! Third and Fourth Graders have been furthering our exploration of toys and narrative nonfiction through small group research projects on other popular toys. They will present these in June.

The end of May also marks the end of book check outs for the 2025-2026 school year. All library books were due back by Friday, May 29th. Please keep your eyes out for any TES Library books you might still have at home. Thank you!

Featured: Students determining what a dinosaur would do at school.

-Ms. Rose-Mason

In Spanish, we have been keeping busy and having fun! Kindergarteners played a game with worry dolls from Guatemala, and had a visit from OTS Fifth Graders who came to read bilingual picture books created just for them! First Graders are practicing numbers by dialing phone numbers and having pretend phone calls, like ordering pizza or calling out sick to the school secretary. Second Graders have just finished up their "arpilleras", a beautiful folk-art form inspired by South America, and written about their artwork in Spanish! Third Grade students learned the words for transportation options in Spanish and wondered where in the world they'd like to visit, and how they'd get there. Fourth Graders acted out their clothing store skits onstage, and will finish the year learning all kinds of food vocabulary in Spanish. It has been a great year teaching all my "chiquititos" new words in Spanish and seeing them learn and grow!

Featured: Creative arpilleras from Second Grade and, below, Fourth Graders acting out a clothing store skit.

- Senora Obercian

In Technology class, our Kindergarten, Grade One, and Grade Two students piloted an online program called EdClub. The students enjoyed learning informal keyboarding skills, reading and phonics lessons, and Digital Citizenship information.

Students in Grades Three and Four have been working hard on creating their personal lists of TES memories as part of our Fourth Grade TES Pawprint project. This special activity gives students a chance to reflect on the friendships, experiences, and milestones that have made their elementary school years meaningful. We are excited to see their creativity and memories come together in this Fourth Grade keepsake project!

- Ms. Rinehart Havens

May has been an exciting month in the music room! Our Spring Concert was a huge success, and we are so proud of all the students for their hard work and wonderful performances. Thank you to all of the families and friends who came out to support our young musicians. The students were so excited to perform for such a great audience!

In the coming weeks, Mr. Shaffer will begin meeting with Fourth Grade students to discuss their interest in joining Fifth grade band next year at OTS. Students will have the opportunity to try out different band and orchestra instruments to help determine which instrument is the best fit for them. Information about the OTS band program and how to obtain instruments will also be sent home with interested students.

We are excited to help our future musicians begin their band journey and look forward to our last musical month of the school year!!

- Mr. Shaffer

The end of the year always seems to come fast and furious at an elementary school. We have enjoyed watching the incredible growth of all our students and look forward to both the summer break and welcoming them back in the fall.

The switch to the summer schedule is an opportunity to create new schedules and habits in your family. Consider making a summer to do list (fun activities) and encourage outdoor or creative play. Please allow lots of opportunities for your kids to be bored...it is often the opportunity for their best ideas and memories.

- Sheila Donovan, School Counselor

It’s hard to believe another wonderful school year is coming to a close — the 2025–2026 school year has truly flown by! As we wrap up the year, here are a few important Health Office reminders:

Medication Pick-Up

If your child has medication in the Health Office, please plan to pick it up on or before June 17, 2026 by 1:00 PM. Medication orders must be renewed each school year by your child’s physician. Per TTSD Policy 5141.21, medications may not be stored at school over the summer and must be picked up by an adult. Medication forms for the 2026–2027 school year will be available at medication pick-up and can also be found under Health Services > Health Office Forms on the school website.

Incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten Students

For children entering Pre-K and Kindergarten, documentation of immunizations and a physical examination are required by the State of New Jersey for school entry. Please note that recent changes have been made to the New Jersey School (K–12) Vaccine Requirements, and the updated requirements will take effect for the 2026–2027 school year.

Each child must have a complete medical examination conducted within one year of the August 31, 2026, first day of school. If your child has a medical or religious exemption from immunizations, appropriate documentation must also be provided.

Please submit a completed Universal Health Physical Form and immunization documentation by June 15, 2026. If your child has a summer birthday or summer physical exam appointment, please return the completed physical form along with an attached immunization record by August 20, 2026.

We also recommend keeping a copy of all completed forms for your records, as they may be needed for sports, camps, or other activities.

Tewksbury Family Assistance Fund Reminder:

The Tewksbury Family Assistance Fund (TFAF) is a local nonprofit organization established in 1993 to provide temporary financial assistance to Tewksbury Township residents experiencing hardship due to unemployment, major illness, divorce, or other unexpected circumstances. If you need help, or know someone who may, please contact a school principal or school nurses: Sara Medenilla (OTS) 908-439-2010 ext. 4235 or Nancy Auld- Morogiello (TES) 908-832-2595 ext 2011. All information is kept strictly confidential and anonymous.

Wishing all of our families a healthy, safe, and fun-filled summer! ☀️

- Nancy Morogiello, School Nurse

The PTA is offering Student Supply kits once again for the 2026-2027 school year. If interested, please order by June 15th.

The Second and Third Graders enjoyed working with poet, B.J. Ward, for a four day residency sponsored by the TEF. They explored using language creatively to develop poems. As an award winning writer and college professor, B.J. has also been completing memorable poetry residencies with the children of Tewksbury for thirty years, beginning in 1996. We truly appreciate the TEF's ongoing commitment to bringing this writer to our school.

Maschio's Food Services, Inc. is the contracted lunch provider at TES. See the following links for more information about the lunch service provided by Maschio's as well as PaySchools, our point of sale service system. You can find their menu on our school website at the following link:

https://tewksburyschools.nutrislice.com/menu/tewksbury-elementary/lunch