West Belmar

Dear West Belmar Families,

October is here, and there are many exciting autumn activities for our Bear Cubs to enjoy!

The PTA will be sponsoring the Fall Book Fair from October 5th through October 9th. On Tuesday, October 6th, we will host a Family Night at the Book Fair from 6:30–8:00 p.m. We encourage families to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to help foster a love of reading.

Here are a few helpful tips when selecting books at the Book Fair:

• Find and select books that your child will enjoy and love.

• Keep in mind your child’s age, interests, and recent experiences.

• Consider your child’s reading level, but don’t overemphasize it. If your child can read the first page aloud to you, chances are he or she can enjoy and read the entire book.

• Help your child start their own home library or consider giving a book as a special gift.

Our 5th grade morning announcers have been filling the morning airwaves with the school’s Word of the Week and positive messages. These announcements provide our students with meaningful reminders and messages to think about throughout the day. During our upcoming Respect and Unity Weeks, we will also feature special mindful messages, morning quotes, and positive messages to help reinforce these important values throughout our school community.

Please remember to check the West Belmar School website regularly to stay informed about upcoming activities, events, and programs.

On October 14th, the West Belmar Fire Department will be visiting our school to discuss fire safety with our students. The presentation will include information about creating a fire safety plan for your home, who to call, and what steps to follow in the event of a fire. Our Bear Cubs will also have the opportunity to tour a fire truck and learn about the equipment firefighters use to help keep our community safe.

Our school’s celebration of Día de los Muertos will take place on Thursday, October 29th, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Our Bear Cubs will be learning about the history and traditions of Día de los Muertos during World Language classes. This traditional holiday, celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, has a rich cultural history and provides our students with an opportunity to learn about and appreciate another culture.

The month will conclude with our annual Halloween celebration. This is a great time to review Halloween safety with your children, including staying with trusted adults, using sidewalks and crosswalks, and checking treats before enjoying them. Our Halloween parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 1:45 p.m. on October 31st. Following the parade, students will return to their classrooms for their Halloween festivities.

October will be filled with fun, learning, and exciting fall activities for our Bear Cubs. We look forward to a wonderful month together!

Students at the WB wore yellow to help spread awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! 💛 Wearing yellow is a simple way for our school community to show support, spread kindness, and remind children and families affected by childhood cancer that they are not alone. Thank you to our students and families for helping us shine a little brighter together!

Why Every Day Matters

Good attendance lays the foundation for a child’s academic success. When students attend school regularly, they keep up with class lessons, build confidence, and develop strong relationships with teachers and peers. Even just two absences per month (about 10% of the school year) can create gaps in learning and make it harder to catch up. We encourage families to make every effort to have students present and on time, because every day really does add up. We need our "Bear Cubs in the Cave"!

Building on our September Ready, Set, Belong: ALL Means ALL kickoff, Wall Township Public Schools will continue our focus on belonging, respect, safety, and healthy choices throughout October.

We will celebrate Week of Respect, October 5–9, with activities promoting kindness, positive relationships, respect, and belonging. Our schools will also participate in New Jersey Goes Gold & Blue, reinforcing our commitment to respect and bullying prevention.

During Unity Week (School Violence Awareness Week), October 19–23, our school community will focus on unity, trusted adults, positive relationships, and school safety.

Red Ribbon Week, October 23–30, will be celebrated with students at the secondary level, promoting healthy, drug-free choices through engaging, age-appropriate activities.

Throughout the month, ALL Means ALL reminds us that we each play a role in creating a school community where everyone feels connected, valued, safe, and supported.

Below are some of the activities scheduled for Week of Respect.

Monmouth ACTS ResourceConnect
Monmouth ACTS ResourceConnect offers Monmouth County residents a simple way to connect with a wide range of local services and supports. ResourceConnect can help connect families with food, housing assistance, medical care, employment programs, mental health services, child care, and more. For additional assistance or help connecting with resources, please contact your child’s school counselor.

Lack of Permanent Housing
If your family is experiencing economic hardship or does not have permanent housing, please visit the McKinney-Vento webpage for important information about your rights and available resources.

District Homeless Education Liaison
Tiffany Steiner
tsteiner@wallpublicschools.org
732.556.2657