Family Knightline

Dear ARK Families,

We’re excited to celebrate Halloween with our annual parade on Friday, October 31, beginning promptly at 2:00 PM. Please review the following important details:

• Costumes:
  Students should wear their costumes to school. Staff and PTA volunteers will not be available to assist students with costume changes during the school day. Costumes should be comfortable and school-appropriate — no depictions of violence or “prop” weapons are permitted. Please keep in mind that our youngest students are five years old, and we want the day to be fun and not frightening.
  
  

• Parade and Weather Plan:
  If the weather cooperates, the parade will begin at 2:00 PM. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled, and classroom parties will begin at 2:30 PM instead.
  
  

• Lunch and Schedule:
  Students will have lunch at their regularly scheduled time.
  
  

• Parties and Attendance:
  Classroom parties will begin after the parade and end at 3:15 PM.
  Only assigned room parents will be permitted in classrooms to assist with the parties — no additional family members or visitors can be accommodated on this day.
  
  

• Special Surprise:
  Our staff has a special surprise planned for students and families immediately following the parade. This will take place on the blacktop, weather permitting.
  
  

• Snacks:
  Food will not be provided at the party. However, students may bring a snack to enjoy during the celebration.

Thank you for helping us make this a safe and enjoyable celebration for all students.

Sincerely,

Eugene S. Park

Principal

Our district will once again be conducting the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey. This endeavor directly supports Priority Area 4 of our Strategic Plan, which focuses on School Climate and Family Engagement. The survey will provide an opportunity to ensure that all students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging, empowerment, and support.

As you may recall, the instrument was last administered in November 2023 to students in grades five through twelve. A parent consent form will be available in Genesis on Monday, and we hope you’ll allow your child(ren) to participate. We are extremely interested in hearing diverse perspectives on how students perceive their school experience. We extend our gratitude in advance for allowing them to contribute during this process. Thanks also for your continued support as we work together to build a caring and inclusive community!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we’ve begun this school year, we’ve been fortunate to expand the ways we support our students. We’ve welcomed a new Basic Skills teacher, adjusted our Literacy Coach’s schedule, and are also tapping into the expertise of other staff within our building. These changes allow us to provide both intervention and enrichment opportunities for students across all grade levels.

You may hear your child mention that they are working with an adult who is not their homeroom teacher or a familiar paraprofessional. In some cases, teachers within the same grade level may be working with students not in their homeroom. For example, your child might move next door to work with another teacher in their grade for a short period of time. An example of a time when same grade-level teachers may share students would be if there were a specific math skill that students from several classrooms needed additional support with. In that case, it often makes more sense for one teacher to deliver that targeted instruction rather than each teacher repeating the same support in separate classrooms. This approach also allows each individual teacher to have additional time to engage with more students throughout the day.

Our goal is to use all of the talented adults in our building to meet as many student needs as possible.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support every student’s growth and success.

Mr. Park

Principal

We’ve noticed an increase in challenges related to SMART device use during the school day. These devices have become a growing distraction for students. For example, some students have been communicating through SMARTwatches and attempting to take cell phones out near dismissal. In some cases, SMARTwatches have gone off during class.

We completely understand that SMART devices can offer convenience and peace of mind for families. However, during the school day, these devices often interfere with learning.

If you believe your child must bring their devices to school, know that they must remain in their bags and not be used during the school day. This helps ensure that all students stay focused, engaged, and fully present in their learning, and that our classrooms remain free of unnecessary disruptions.

See the Family/Student Handbook for Additional Details (Go to "Telephone Calls and Smart Devices")

Thank you for your understanding and partnership in helping us maintain a focused learning environment for all students.

October:

Hispanic Heritage Month

Italian-American Heritage Month

• 10/29: PTA Meeting (7 - 8 pm)
• 10/30: ARK Trunk or Treat (5:30 - 7 pm)
• 10/31: Halloween Parade and Party (2:00 - 3:15 pm)

November:

• 11/6 & 11/7: School Closed - NJEA Convention
• 11/26: 1 PM Dismissal Day
• 11/27 & 11/28: School Closed - Thanksgiving Break

December:

• 12/5: PJ Day (Chop Fundraiser)
• 12/8 to 12/11: 1 pm dismissal days (parent/teacher conferences)
• 12/12: 1 pm dismissal day (Teacher In-Service)
• 12/18: Winter Concert for 4th and 5th Grade Families (1:30 pm)
• Door Open at 1:15 pm
• 12/23: Holiday Parties (10:30 to 11:30 am)
• 12/23: 1 pm dismissal day
• 12/24 to 1/2: School Closed for Winter Break

January:

• 1/6: School Closed --- Teacher In-Service

The district's calendar can be found here.

• December 8: 2:20 - 4 pm
• December 9: 6 to 8 pm
• December 10: 2:20 - 4 pm
• December 11: 6 to 8 pm

I would encourage all of you to join our PTA. We need all hands on deck to support our wonderful ARK community.

Anything PTA related can be found with a click of the button below.

Email: epark@chclc.org
Website: www.knight.chclc.org
Location: 140 Old Carriage Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: 856-428-0830
ARK PTA Facebook and Instagram

Knight's vision is to create a community where every member wakes up inspired and goes home fulfilled.

ARK Knights strive to live out the following core values: respect, responsibility, empathy, service, perseverance, effort, citizenship, and teamwork.