FDR Tadpole Times

What an exciting week at FDR! Our Tadpoles enjoyed a special visit from the Edison Fire Department, learning about the important work firefighters do to keep our community safe. Seeing the fire trucks up close was certainly a highlight! We are grateful to our local firefighters for sharing their time with us.

As we move further into October, we have plenty of great experiences ahead. Picture Day, our PTSO Pumpkin Patch, and Halloween festivities are just around the corner. We are also excited to welcome the start of Before Care through Right At School on October 26.

In this week's Tadpole Times, you'll find important information about these upcoming events, school bus safety drills, and our November Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please take a few moments to review the newsletter so you don't miss any important dates or reminders.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making FDR such a special place for our children to learn, grow, and belong.

Have a great weekend,

Dr. Tony

Principal

Franklin D. Roosevelt Preschool

This past Monday and Tuesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Edison Fire Department to FDR. Our Tadpoles were excited to meet some of the real life heroes who help keep our community safe.

During their visits, students had the opportunity to meet firefighters, explore their equipment, and learn about the important work firefighters do each day. Of course, one of the biggest highlights was getting an up-close look at the fire trucks! From the impressive equipment to the firefighters' protective gear, there was plenty to spark our Tadpoles' curiosity and excitement.

Beyond the fun, these visits provided a valuable opportunity for our youngest learners to become more familiar with firefighters and understand that they are friendly, trusted community helpers who are there to keep us safe.

As it sometimes happens in the life of a firefighter, duty called during their visit. Our visitors had to respond to an emergency during some of our scheduled class visits. While this meant a few classes missed their opportunity, it also provided a real life reminder of just how important firefighters are to our community.

Don't worry, Tadpoles! We will be working with the Edison Fire Department to reschedule visits for the classes that missed out so everyone has an opportunity to enjoy this special experience.

A big thank you to the Edison Fire Department for taking time out of their busy schedules to visit FDR, share their knowledge, and create such wonderful memories for our students. We truly appreciate everything they do for our community!

📸 Take a Look at the Fun!

We've captured some wonderful moments from the firefighters' visits. Check out the slideshow below to see our Tadpoles learning, exploring, and enjoying their time with these very special community helpers.

One of the best ways to reinforce what children learn at school is to talk about their experiences at home. This week, many of our Tadpoles had the exciting opportunity to meet firefighters from the Edison Fire Department, learn about their equipment, and see a real fire truck up close.

Here are a few questions to get the conversation started:

• 🚒 What was your favorite part of seeing the firefighters and fire trucks?

• 👨‍🚒 What special clothing and equipment do firefighters wear to keep themselves safe?

• 🔥 How do firefighters help people in our community?

• 🚨 What do you think happens when firefighters get an emergency call?

• 💚 Who are some other community helpers who keep us safe and healthy?

💡 A Little Tip for Families: Rather than asking only, "What did you do at school today?" try asking your child to describe something they saw, heard, or wondered about. Follow their lead, listen to their ideas, and encourage them to tell you more.

And if your Tadpole's class hasn't had its firefighter visit yet, these questions are a great way to build excitement for the upcoming experience.

Little conversations lead to big learning!

Next week, our preschoolers will take part in a School Bus Evacuation Drill on Monday and Tuesday. These drills help children practice what to do in case of an emergency while riding the bus - just like a fire drill, but for the bus!

Here's what you need to know:

• Dates:
• Monday, October 19: Drills will be conducted on ODD Numbered Bus Routes
• Tuesday, October 20: Drills will be conducted on EVEN Numbered Bus Routes
• Time: The drills will take place when children arrive at school.
• Staff Presence: Our preschool staff along with the bus driver and bus aide will be on hand to facilitate the drills and ensure they are conducted safely and efficiently.

The drills are an important part of ensuring the safety and preparedness of our students in the event of an emergency. It helps them understand the procedures and actions required to evacuate a bus safely.

To prepare your child for the drill, we encourage you to discuss bus safety with them. We have provided some helpful links below for you to review and discuss with your child:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration School Bus Safety
• School bus safety tips to remind your kids

How can you prepare your child?

• Talk about it! Let your child know that this is a practice to help everyone stay safe.

• Explain what will happen: They’ll get on the bus, listen to the bus driver’s instructions, and then practice safely exiting the bus through the back door with adult help.

• Reassure them: Remind your child that teachers and bus drivers will be there the whole time to help and keep everyone safe.

Read about it together!
Here are a few story suggestions to help make the concept familiar and comforting:
📘 “The Little School Bus” by Margery Cuyler – introduces bus routines in a fun, reassuring way.
📗 “I’m Your Bus” by Marilyn Singer – told from the bus’s perspective, helping children build positive associations with bus safety.
📙 “School Bus Safety” by Lucia Raatma – a simple nonfiction book that explains how and why we stay safe on the bus.

Taking time to read and talk together can make the drill feel like an exciting learning experience rather than something to worry about.

Get those smiles ready, Tadpoles! School Picture Day is coming to FDR! Our photographer, Mr. Mitch from Pixels Photography, will be visiting on Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23, to capture special memories of our students.

Mr. Mitch is wonderful at helping our youngest learners feel comfortable in front of the camera, making Picture Day a fun and positive experience.

📅 Classroom Picture Schedule

Thursday, October 22

• Ms. Chrissy Palomo, Room 1

• Ms. Bianca Silva, Room 2

• Ms. Brooke Nicosia, Room 3

• Ms. Jenny Hanson, Room 4

• Ms. Jessica Wojtaszek, Room 5

• Ms. Valerie Colucci, Room 6

• Ms. Jenn Ziolkowski, Room 7

• Ms. Melanie Simone, Room 8

• Ms. Mary Kate Yessman, Room 9

• Ms. Carolynn Martin, Room 10

• Ms. Cindy Occimio, Room 11

• Ms. Faith Springsteen, Room 12

Friday, October 23

• Ms. Michelle Sinagra, Room 13

• Ms. Nyree Cabrera, Room 14

• Ms. Jesseca Sousa, Room 15

• Ms. Meghan Medler (Ms. Vidya Shetty), Room 16

• Ms. Abby Donington, Room 17

• Mr. Cristian Tiberi, Room 18

• Ms. Rinku Bose, Room 19

• Ms. Samantha Stevens, Room 20

• Ms. Leigh McCriskin, Room 21

🖼️ Ordering Your Child's School Pictures

Pixels Photography offers several portrait packages, individual photo options, and a variety of backgrounds to choose from.

Ordering online is easy!

1. Visit www.pixelsimaging.com.

2. Click the red “ONLINE PORTRAITS” banner.

3. Enter the following information:

   • Online Code: FDR2026

   • Gallery Password: FDR2026

4. Enter your email address, select your photos and package, and complete your order.

💵 Paying by Cash or Check?

If you are unable to order online, please complete the Order Stub at the bottom of the picture order form and place it with your cash or check in a separate, sealed envelope. Return the envelope to the photographer on Picture Day or mail it directly to Pixels Photography as indicated on the form.

📸 CLICK HERE FOR THE PICTURE DAY ORDER FORM

Questions about photo packages or ordering? Contact Pixels Photography at 888-285-9662 or info@pixelsimaging.com.

We can't wait to see all those wonderful Tadpole smiles!

Get those costumes ready! Our annual FDR Trick-or-Treat Night is almost here. We're looking forward to a fun-filled evening of costumes, treats, and Halloween excitement with our FDR families.

This special outdoor event gives our Tadpoles an opportunity to enjoy trick-or-treating in a safe, familiar environment alongside their school friends and families.

🍬 Important Reminders for Registered Families:

• Registration is now closed. All participating children must have been registered in advance. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-ins or unregistered children.

• Session Times: Families will be assigned to one of three sessions: 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6:00 PM.

• Assigned Times: Your family's assigned session time will be communicated prior to the event.

• Adult Supervision: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the event.

• Rain Date: Thursday, October 29, if needed.

We can't wait to see our Tadpoles dressed in their Halloween costumes and enjoying this special evening together.

Thank you to everyone who registered. We look forward to a spook-tacular time!

Our annual FDR Pumpkin Patch is right around the corner. This special PTSO-sponsored event will take place during the school day and is always a fun fall experience for our Tadpoles.

We will need volunteers to help make the Pumpkin Patch a success. Volunteer opportunities will be offered first to PTSO families, so PTSO members should be on the lookout for information from the PTSO Board about signing up.

For now, save the date. We will share more information about the Pumpkin Patch as we get closer to October 28.

Please note: The Pumpkin Patch is a school-day event for our students. Parent participation will be limited to scheduled volunteers coordinated through the PTSO.

Thank you to our FDR PTSO and all of our families who help make special experiences like this possible for our Tadpoles.

We partner with Right At School to offer FDR families a convenient, flexible, and engaging childcare option right here at our school.

Right At School provides a safe, welcoming environment where children can enjoy age-appropriate activities, creative play, movement, and opportunities to build friendships and social-emotional skills beyond the regular school day.

🕒 Program Hours

• Before Care: 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM

• After Care: 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM

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Please note: While After Care is already available, Before Care will officially begin on Monday, October 26. Families registering for Before Care must select October 26 or a later date as their program start date.

Right At School will share additional details about the opening of Before Care on Friday, October 23.

💰 Flexible Scheduling & Affordable Options

Families can choose from one to five days per week, with monthly pricing based on the number of days selected. Options include:

• Before Care, After Care, or a combination of both

• Daily drop-in care and 10-day punchcards - Great for those unexpected needs for aftercare

• Available discounts for eligible families, including military, sibling, and Affordable Access discounts

🚗 Transportation: Transportation is not provided. Families are responsible for morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. All children must be picked up by 6:00 PM.

📝 Registration & Additional Information

For program rates, available schedules, discounts, and registration details, please visit the Right At School website.

Click Here to Learn More & Register for Right At School

Questions? Contact Right At School directly:

📞 (732) 318-7746
📧 fdrpreschool@rightatschool.com

We are pleased to offer this additional resource to our FDR families and look forward to welcoming our Tadpoles to Before Care beginning October 26.

Preschool is a time of tremendous change, and conferences give families and teachers an opportunity to share observations, ask questions, and work together to support each child's individual needs.

🕔 Conference Dates & Times

• Thursday, November 12: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

• Thursday, November 19: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

📋 Scheduling Your Conference

Your child's teacher will be reaching out with instructions for scheduling your conference online. Please be on the lookout for this communication and select an appointment time that works best for your family.

Important Reminders:

• All conferences will be held in person at FDR.

• An appointment is required to attend a conference.

• Please make childcare arrangements, as children should not attend the conferences. We are exploring the possibility of providing childcare during conference times, but arrangements have not yet been confirmed. We will share additional information if this option becomes available.

🏫 Single Session Days: November 12 & 19

To accommodate Parent/Teacher Conferences, FDR will follow a Single Session Day schedule on both Thursdays.

School Hours: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Please plan accordingly for the earlier dismissal, including any necessary adjustments to transportation or childcare arrangements.

We look forward to connecting with our families, celebrating all that our Tadpoles have accomplished, and continuing to work together to help every child learn, grow, and thrive!

Each year, FDR participates in the Governor's Educator of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year recognition programs, giving our school community an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding educators and professionals who make a difference for our Tadpoles every day.

We would love to have a few additional FDR parents join us and lend their voices to this important process.

The committee will meet one time for approximately 30 minutes, making this a simple and meaningful way to help recognize the dedicated staff members who make FDR such a special place for our children.

Families are also invited to nominate an FDR staff member for recognition. If someone has made a special difference for your child or family, we encourage you to tell us about them.

Nominations are due Friday, October 23.

Thank you for helping us recognize the wonderful educators and professionals who support our Tadpoles each day.

Week of Oct 19 -

• School Bus Safety Week
• Mon, Oct 19 and Tues, Oct 20 - FDR Bus Evacuation Drills

Thurs, Oct 22 -

• FDR Picture Day (See classroom schedule above)
• Trick-or-Treat Night at FDR - 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 PM assigned time slots (Rain Date Oct 29)

Fri, Oct 23 -

• FDR Picture Day (See classroom schedule above)

Wed, Oct 28 -

• FDR Pumpkin Patch - PTSO-Sponsored Student Event.

Fri, Oct 30 -

• FDR Halloween Parade - 9:30 AM

Check the school website for an updated calendar of events.

Click here for the school Website.