Dragons' Dish

Dear Allenwood Families,

Thank you for partnering with the staff at Allenwood Elementary to make the first month of school a great success! Together, we have had an excellent start to the year. Please take a moment to carefully review this newsletter, as I want to highlight the importance of attendance in supporting our students’ growth and achievement.

Why Attendance Matters:

Regular attendance is vital for developing foundational academic skills and supports the growth of important social and emotional habits such as responsibility, engagement, and building positive relationships with peers and teachers.

Please remember that students must be present for at least four hours of instructional time each day to be considered present. If a student arrives late or is picked up early and does not meet this four-hour minimum, they will be marked absent for that day. Please note that lunch time does not count toward the four-hour requirement.

Reminders:

• For real-time updates on bus schedules, please check the district website under the Transportation tab. While I will do my best to notify families of any morning or afternoon delays, I may be occupied and unable to communicate immediately. We encourage families to monitor the bus status to avoid long waits during delays.

• As the weather cools and students begin wearing sweatshirts and jackets, please consider labeling your child’s clothing with their name to help return lost items promptly.

• For main office inquiries, please contact Donna Taub at dtaub@wallpublicschools.org or Lyndsay Caruso at lcaruso@wallpublicschools.org. While Susan Goss remains a valued member of our staff, she is no longer part of the main office team, so please direct all office-related communications to Donna or Lyndsay.

• With Halloween approaching, we kindly ask that students do not wear inflatable costumes to school during the day for safety reasons.

Important Dates to Remember:

• October 2nd — School Closed

• October 6th–10th — Allenwood’s Week of Respect

• October 15th — Ben Hartranft Autism Advocate Awareness Assembly at Allenwood

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we can ensure a safe and successful learning experience for all our students.

Sincerely,

James Sterenczak
Principal

Do you know a classroom teacher or educational services professional who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program.

Join us in celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with events and activities all year. This section will share district celebrations, announcements, and ways our school community can honor this historic milestone.

Thank you to Wall Police Ptl. Karleigh Cacciatore for presenting to our students!

Thank you Mrs. Cimino and the tireless PTG Board for a year full of enriching and

fun experiences. Please consider being an active member of the Allenwood PTG.

If your family is experiencing economic challenges or homelessness, visit the McKinney Vento webpage for essential information and guidance on available resources.

District Homeless Education Liaison

Tiffany Steiner
tsteiner@wallpublicschools.org
732.556.2647