Family Knightline

Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight our Sticky Core Values in the Knightline: Be the Driver of Your Bus, Be a Purple Cow, and Be a Marigold.

We encourage families to use this same language at home. As children become familiar with what each phrase means, a simple reminder like “Be the driver of your bus” can replace a lengthy explanation around owning your choices and empowerment and help them reset, take ownership, and be more open to a conversation about life expriences they encounter.

If you know anything about marigolds, you know they are enhancers. When planted in a garden, they help the plants around them grow better while also providing protection.

That’s what we mean when we say, “Be a Marigold.”

It’s about being other centered. Whatever gifts, strengths, or talents you bring to the table, have eyes to look around and ask, “How can I use what I have to make the people around me better?”

Help others feel better, do better, and be better.

We encourage you to use this language with your children at home. When you see them making the people around them better, name it. Remind them of the story of the marigold.

Language matters. A simple statement like, “You’re being a marigold,” or “You’re my marigold. You make my life better. You make me smile,” helps children understand what it really means to be other centered.

The more they hear it, see it, and experience it, the more the idea will stick.

We are thrilled to share some exciting news! After a post about our SEPAG/PTA Mobile Sensory Room fundraiser was shared on social media, our SEPAG/PTA was contacted by P-Squared, an organization that provides grants to families of children with autism and selects one school each year to support.

They invited us to apply for their grant, and they chose ARK!

P-Squared will be providing $2,500 to help fund sensory items for our Mobile Sensory Room!

We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and for our SEPAG and PTA, whose support helped get this project started. What began as an idea to better support our students continues to grow because of a community that believes in taking care of one another.

In addition to the grant, ARK families have donated $400!

We can’t wait to bring this project to life!

ARK Class of '27 sweatshirt orders are now live, and due by Wednesday, Oct. 7.

While every fifth grader will receive a free Class of '27 t-shirt, sweatshirts are a class fundraiser, and purchasing one is totally optional. Crewnecks are $30 and hoodies are $33. Family members may buy them, too - children and adult sizes are available. These will be delivered in time for the hayride on Oct. 16. (Hint: if you're looking for this or any other fifth grade info you need to know, it's all in one place, our Fifth Grade One-Stop Shop document.)

We are happy to report and grateful for the positive response from our bike riders! They have done an excellent job following our bike safety procedures during both arrival and dismissal.

In the morning, students are getting off their bikes when they reach the front of the building and walking them to the bike rack. During dismissal, they are walking their bikes off school grounds and waiting until they are clear of pedestrian traffic before riding.

Thank you for having these conversations with your children, and please thank them for their follow-through and commitment to keeping everyone safe!

We are also happy to report that morning drop-off has gone extremely well! Thank you to all of our drivers for following our procedures by remaining in your cars, having students exit quickly onto the sidewalk, and keeping traffic moving.

A few important reminders:

• Even on rainy days, please continue to follow the same drop-off procedures.
• If there is space in front of you, please pull all the way forward to help prevent traffic from backing up.
• If you need to get out of your car to help your child exit, please do not use the drop-off lane. Instead, park beyond the staff parking lot, where you can safely get out and assist your child.

With buses exiting and cars dropping off at the same time, everyone following these procedures helps keep arrival safe and traffic moving efficiently.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and for helping make morning arrival run so smoothly!

Being the driver of your bus means taking ownership of your words, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Instead of blaming others or making excuses, you focus on what you can control and take responsibility for your choices, regardless of the situation.

Nobody can make you do anything. You always have a choice!

WE hope you will join us for our first Community Discussion of the school year on Technology: screen time, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and student use of internet-enabled devices.

Join Superintendent Dr. Morton, members of our Board of Education, and administration who will review current policies, procedures, and feedback.

This meeting will take place on October 15th at 7 p.m., in the new All Purpose Room at Rosa Middle School.

September

9/28: Norma's Dine and Dontate from 4 to 8 pm

October

10/1: Glow Dance (New Gym -- Enter at the Rear of Building

• Grades K-2 --> 6:00 to 7 pm
• Grades 3-5 --> 7:15 to 8:15 pm

10/2: National Custodial Workers Day

10/8: Book Fair / Science Fair from 5 to 7 pm

10/16: 5th Grade Hayride at 7:30 pm

10/23: Trunk or Treat (Blacktop) from 5:30 to 7 pm

10/30: Halloween Parade and Parties from 2:00 - 3:15 pm

November

SCHOOL CLOSED --> NOVEMBER 5 & 6 (NJ Teacher Convention)

November 25: 1 pm dismissal for students

SCHOOL CLOSED --> NOVEMBER 26 & 27 (Thanksgiving Break)

November 30: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 6 to 8 pm

November 30: 1 pm dismissal for students

December

December 1: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 2:20 to 4 pm

December 1: 1 pm dismissal for students

December 2: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 6 to 8 pm

December 2: 1 pm dismissal for students

December 3: Parent / Teacher Conferences --> 2:20 to 4 pm

December 3: 1 pm dismissal for students

December 4: 1 pm dismissal for students

Looking for activities, programs, events, and resources for your family? The Cherry Hill Public School District is pleased to share community information and opportunities with our families through the Community Bulletin Board on the district website.

The Community Bulletin Board is a great place to discover youth programs, family events, enrichment activities, local resources, and other opportunities available throughout Cherry Hill and the surrounding community. Be sure to check back often—new information is added regularly!

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

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.