Dear KRS families,
Monday, January 15, 2024 schools are closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Highlighted in this newsletter are student activities focused on Dr. King and for Black History month in February. Beginning today and all next week, fifth graders will be reading about Dr. King during the morning announcements.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Koop
The KRS Great Kindness Challenge Week 2024
The Kings Road School Great Kindness Challenge Week will be held beginning with a kick-off on March 22nd and will continue until March 28th. Mr. Levine and the KRS School Safety committee are planning meaningful and fun kindness activities for the special week. More details will be provided in future newsletters.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month
As part of our celebration of Martin Luther King Jr, students and teachers will engage in classroom discussions about inclusivity, tolerance, peace, and how we may make the world a better place. Media specialist Mr. Locke is providing books in the library for students and teachers to read during the classroom discussions. Students will write their ideas about peacefulness and how to make the world a better place on peace signs. The peace signs will be displayed in our school as a large mural in honor of Dr. King.
Morning Announcements - Fifth graders will read about Dr. King during the morning announcements beginning today and all next week.
Classes - Students and teachers will engage in additional activities in their classes, which will include:
Kindergarten: Kindergarten will read LET'S FIND OUT (Scholastic News) as an introduction to MLK and what JUSTICE means. Students will also explore other african american historical figures: Ruby Bridges, George Washington Carver, and Jackie Robinson
First Grade: First graders will learn about influential people both in the past and present. They will explore PebbleGo and Epic to pick a famous person to learn about. Students will write why this person was/is famous and create a poster to present teaching their class about this person. Posters will be displayed in the hallway during the month of February.
Second Grade: Person of the Day- Students will be learning about a person each day for the month of February. People that are not only historical figures but also who are relevant to the current day. Like the person who created the Super Soaker!!
Traditional Literature Reading Unit - Within our reading unit on traditional literature, second graders are reading stories from around the globe. One such story is an African folk tale called, “A Story, A Story”
Third Grade: Third graders will read the book “I Am Martin”. Each student will get a quote from the book, and will have to illustrate that quote based on their understanding of the concept. With that, students will learn about various influential African American heroes.
Fourth Grade: Fourth graders will read the book “Martin’s Big Words” and discuss important vocabulary. Fourth graders will research influential African American heroes and present important details about the person they chose.
Fifth Grade: Fifth Graders will be introduced to the achievements of historical African Americans through Scholastic News, Readworks, etc. Students will participate in class discussions and reflection activities. Students will watch “Our Friend Martin” and discuss achievements made by Dr. King. Students will also interpret and illustrate quotes by MLK.
Special Area Subjects - Related activities will also be conducted in the areas of art, music, library, and STEAM.
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SMART Watches
Please see the important information below which is also included in the KRS Students and Parents Handbook.
In recent years many students have come to school wearing smart watches. While many watches are useful for students and track steps or sleep, they can also become distracting during the school day. Watches used in inappropriate ways (playing games, recording, taking pictures, alarms going off, texting, making phone calls, etc.) will be confiscated for the day and will require a parent/guardian to pick it up in the main office. Please have a conversation with your child if you allow them to wear a smart watch on the appropriate use of it during the school day.
Parents are also asked to refrain from texting/calling their child on the smart watch during the school day but rather to call the main office if you need to contact your child. In a change of plans dismissal scenario, students will not be dismissed without notice from the parent/guardian to the teacher and/or school office.
Reminders about Dismissal Procedures, Visitors, Drop-Off Items, Attendance, and Tardiness
Please see below for friendly reminders from the KRS Students and Parents Handbook.
Dismissal Procedures
The students will be dismissed at 3:15 PM on regular school days directly from their classrooms to the car line, to walk home, or to meet an adult. Once the adult maintains contact with the child, it is imperative that they leave the school property immediately to avoid the congestion that usually occurs with dismissal. If you are waiting for a student(s) in the car line, please do not leave your
car in the pick-up line. Staff will be available to ensure that your child enters your vehicle
safely. Student walkers should also leave the school property immediately and not congregate at
the bottom of the hill.
Early Pick-Up Procedures
We realize that in some extenuating circumstances, you may need to pick-up your child early
from school. Please provide the school with as much advance notice as possible. In the event of
an early pick-up, notify your child’s teacher AND school secretary Mrs. Guzewicz. Students
must be picked up in the school office by a parent/guardian or a person previously authorized to
pick up your child. Proper identification will be required. A student will not be released to any
individual without notice and parental consent.
Visitors/Drop-Off Items
If you have to pick up your child for an appointment or have to change arrival/dismissal you will
need to contact the main office. Any drop-off items should be placed in the container outside the
front entrance of the school.
Attendance
Due to the importance of school attendance related to the overall success of the students, school
attendance is carefully monitored by the district, the school, and New Jersey Department of
Education. It is extremely important that your child attends school regularly. (District Policy
5200). Please communicate any student absences to the office as soon as possible.
All students are required to be in their homerooms, no later than 8:40 AM. Parents/guardians are
required to notify a student’s absence as soon as possible. Please email your child’s teacher, Mrs.
Guzewicz at guzewicza@madisonnjps.org and Nurse Moran at morang@madisonnjps.org. If
needed, you may also call the attendance line at (973) 593-3178 and press 1. Please contact your
child’s teacher for missed schoolwork.
Tardiness
It is extremely important that your child reports to school on time. However, we realize that there
may be circumstances that warrant a late arrival. Please notify the school of your child’s
tardiness as soon as possible. Students who arrive later than 8:40 AM must be escorted to the
main office by a parent/guardian.
Important News from Nurse Moran
Kings Road School is seeing several cases of positive flu. With flu season upon us, it is important that we work together to keep our children healthy. Viruses spread easily among children in schools, and families with school-age children have more infections than others. You can help prevent the spread of flu or help your child get better if he/she does get sick by following a few simple steps:
· If possible, you and your child should get a flu shot
· Remind your child to cover his/her nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue immediately
· Have your child wash his/her hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
· Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and shared items at least once a day
· Ensure that bathrooms are stocked with soap, hand towels and tissues
· Teach your child not to touch his/her mouth, nose and eyes
· If your child is sick and has a fever, keep him/her at home to prevent the spread of illness to others
All children must be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medications before they can return to school.
If you are concerned about your child’s flu symptoms, call your doctor early. Call your doctor immediately if your child has a chronic disease. Common symptoms of flu include high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion, and dry cough. Additionally, children often exhibit other flu symptoms that are rare in adults, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some children might benefit from an antiviral medication, which can be prescribed by a physician and can help lessen duration of the virus and reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia. To be effective, antiviral medication should be taken within 12-48 hours after flu symptoms begin.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is coming soon and we are super excited to begin planning for such a fun day for your children. Valentine’s Day will be celebrated in all three elementary schools on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. There will be classroom parties and Valentine’s Day cards.
Valentine’s Day Cards - We request that you adhere to the following guidelines:
No candy of any kind may be distributed with the cards.
The cards must be brought to school no later than Monday, February 12, 2024. This will allow for the cards to be distributed before the special day.
If you elect to participate in the Valentine’s Day Card exchange, it is expected that your child gives a card to every classmate.
Hosting fundraising events is a major source of income for our MEF grantmaking program. Volunteers make our annual Madison 5K Run/Walk, Pickleball Tournament, and Fall Gala possible. Join us at Pico & Guac on Thursday, February 1 at 7pm to learn about all the ways -- big and small -- you can help out this year. We can't wait to meet you!
News from Pomptonian
Happy New Year! Pomptonian is excited to kick off the New Year with Pomptonian’s Healthy School Lunch Challenge.
Rules and Tips for the Healthy School Lunch Challenge can be found here.
As part of Pomptonian’s 5th Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge, each year we invite students to submit a healthy recipe with a picture of their meal. Winners are broken down into three grade groupings, PreK-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The Super Grand Prize Winner (1st place winner) of each category will receive a vertical garden for their school.
For your reference, the Pomptonian Healthy School Lunch Challenge announcement video provides more information regarding the challenge.
We are excited to offer the Healthy School Lunch Challenge each year to our students and enjoy reviewing their recipes.
