CMS Chronicle
Chester M. Stephens Elementary School
Dear CMS Families,
Today was filled with Halloween spirit at CMS! Our Marauders enjoyed a festive Halloween parade and classroom parties. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and students enjoying this special day together. Thank you to everyone who helped make the celebration so much fun!
Last week, we recognized Red Ribbon Week and School Bus Safety Week! We loved seeing our students show their spirit by wearing red or dressing as superheroes. Red Ribbon Week reminds us of the importance of making healthy choices and taking care of ourselves and one another.
During School Bus Safety Week, all students participated in bus safety practice, learning how to safely evacuate a school bus. These important reminders and hands-on experiences help our Marauders build the skills they need to stay safe.
Fall conferences will take place November 2–4, with early dismissal at 1:00 p.m. each day. We look forward to connecting with families to share student progress, celebrate growth, and continue working together to support our Marauders!
Wishing all our CMS families a safe and Happy Halloween
Thank you,
Mrs. Nicole Musarra, CMS Principal
RealTime
Mark your Calendar
November 2nd - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 3rd - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 3rd - FAMILY GAME NIGHT homework
November 4th - Early dismissal at 1:00pm for Parent -Teacher Conferences
November 5th & 6th ----SCHOOL CLOSED - NJEA Convention
November 9th-13th - Scholastic Book Fair
November 10th - SCA Book Fair Family Night 4-8pm
November 11th - School Picture Retakes
November 20th - Marauder Rally - Wear MO Gear
November 25th - 27th -- SCHOOL CLOSED - Thanksgiving Break
Arrr! Take a peek at the treasures we learned!
Our CMS Marauders have been busy learning, exploring, creating, questioning, and growing each day! These photos offer a glimpse into the exciting learning happening throughout our classrooms and special areas. From hands-on activities and collaborative projects to reading, writing, problem-solving, and discovery, every picture captures a little piece of the learning journey taking place at CMS.
LIBRARY
In library class with Mrs. Beddow, first graders enjoyed reading How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Wendell Minor, learned a fun pumpkin chant, and explored the difference between real and make-believe in the story. Students used their imaginations to draw pictures of their own giant pumpkin boats before ending their library visit by choosing a new book to enjoy!
MUSIC
5th grade students in Ms. Blomquist's class acting out the story of "Skin and Bones" by pretending to be an old woman while adding music in the background!
UPPER
Ms. Kazoun’s class had so much fun visiting the Budd Lake Fire Station for our Community-Based Instruction (CBI) trip! Our students enjoyed this exciting opportunity to learn about the important work firefighters do and how they help keep our community safe. We are so grateful to the Budd Lake Fire Department for welcoming us and making our visit so special!
November: Gratitude
November is a wonderful time to focus on Gratitude. Taking time to recognize and appreciate the people, experiences, and opportunities in our lives helps build positive relationships and a stronger sense of well-being.
Throughout the month, students will explore ways to express appreciation, recognize acts of kindness, and reflect on what they are thankful for. We are especially grateful for our supportive families and school community. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students learn and grow each day.
Meet the Counseling Team:
Kelsey Bautz
Grades: Kindergarten & Third Grade
Email: Kelsey.Bautz@motsd.org Phone: ext.. 6301
Heather Hoffman
Grades: Second Grade and Fifth Grade
Email: Heather.Hoffman@motsd.org Phone: ext. 6303
Elena Rozycki
Grades: First Grade and Fourth Grade
Email: Elena.Rozycki@motsd.org Phone:ext. 6302
SCA Executive Board 2026-2027
Caroline Shuart - President
Anita Sharma - Vice President
Shanna Driber - Secretary
Arlene Vega - Treasurer
Reach out: cmsscax@gmail.com
SCA Upcoming Events
- 10/1-10/31: Dine out with The BBQ Pit
- 10/27-11/7: 5th grade fundraiser (hat, blanket, pj pants)
- 10/13-11/4: Ashley Farms Pie and Donuts Sale
- 11/9-11/13: CMS Scholastic Book Fair
- 11/10 Bookfair Family Fun Night 4-8pm
- 11/17 Sca Meeting - 6:30pm via Zoom
Walk-in Vaccination Clinic -Wednesdays
Coat Drive
Pick up and Drop off Procedures
SCHOOL TIMES
DROP-OFF PROCEDURES:
If you plan on dropping your child off the drop-off line is a continuous stream of traffic. Parents will not be able to park their vehicle and walk their child(ren) to the door.
PICK-UP PROCEDURES:
If you plan to pick up your child(ren) in the afternoon you will have to pick them up on the side of the building, just like drop off, in the line of continuous stream of traffic. Parents will not be able to park their vehicle and pick up their child(ren). If you have to pick up your child prior to dismissal, you can do so up until 3:20pm. Any pick ups after 3:20 must be done at the dismissal car line.
PickUp Patrol
Right at School
Right at School - Before and After Care
Mt. Olive schools are partnering with Right at School to provide child care options for our community.
Click here to view the RIGHT AT SCHOOL website.
Please remember, If your child has a Fever or is Vomiting please keep them home for at least 24 hours to recover and keep our other students and staff from getting sick.
STATE LAW: Student attendance is monitored by the state and we are required to send attendance notifications at set intervals of, 4, 10, and 17 days, to make parents aware of the number of absences their child has had. To further clarify, to count as "present" by the state of NJ, a student must be in school for four instructional hours, not counting lunch and recess. Even if a student arrived late or left early, but was not in school for 4 academic hours then it counts as an absence.
Schools are not permitted to mark students' absences as "excused" based on state statute, unless it meets the following "state excused" criteria:
1. Religious holidays - every year the State Board of Education votes on a list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse students for religious observance upon the written request signed by the parent
2. Participation in observance of Veterans Day
3. Participation in district board of election membership activities
4. Take Our Children to Work Day
5. College visit(s), up to three days per school year for students in grades 11 and 12
6. Closure of a busing school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school.
Cashless and Contactless Meal Purchases 26-27
Sin Efectivo Y Pago Sin Contacto Compras de comidas 26-27
Chester M. Stephens Elementary School
Karen Husser, Vice Principal
Website: https://www.motsd.org/cms/
Phone: 973-691-4002
Twitter: @cmsmtolive