THE HOME PAGE Washington Avenue School 973-457-2510 (Office) 973-457-2510 Press 1 (Attendance) Volume 29 April 11, 2011 HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS WEEK Wednesday, 4/13 - Gr. 2 Field trip - PTO Meeting, 9:00 am in Multipurpose Room Thursday, 4/14-1L to Food Pantry Friday, 4/15 - Spirit Wear Sale Order Forms Due (sale extended through this week) - Pizza Day - After School Enrichment begins - CRYER Deadline Saturday, 4/16 - Good Goes Around used bike collection at WAS 8:30 am- 1:00 pm HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS Wednesday. 4/20 - Franklin Institute Assembly 12:45 Gr. 2/3 pm and 2:00 pm Gr. K/1 Friday, 4/22 - SCHOOL CLOSED Wednesday, 4/27 - School Board Elections 2:00-9:00pm. Borough votes at CMS and Township votes at CHS Friday, 4/29 - FUNTASTIC FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Support for Families from the New Jersey Department of Education As parents or guardians, you want nothing more than an excellent education for your children. At the NJ Department of Education, we want nothing more than to help you achieve this! We have created a family-focused web site at www.njfamilies.com with resources to help you support your child s education, and navigate your school system. We have also opened a Help Desk which can be reached through the parent menu option of our toll-free number: 877-900-6960. Let s work together for the good of our children. Please sign up for our mailing list on our web site at http://www.state.nj.us/education/or join our mailing list here. We look forward to helping you help your children. GETTING READY FOR LAFAYETTE: Third Grade Parent Orientation at Lafayette: May 18 th 7:00 pm Mrs. Caggiano, Principal of LAF, visits WAS on June 2 nd. WAS Grade 3 Students Visit Lafayette on June 21 st. FROM MS. QUIGLEY: Welcome back to our last twelve weeks of school. Hopefully refreshed from the vacation they will be ready to take on new learning experiences and enjoy their time in the classroom. We need your help in finding a missing Specialized Flashlight from the Star Lab that was set up in the Library used to highlight constellations. The cost to replace this flashlight is about $100. Please see the link below with the superintendent s letter for April. It features important information about how carefully our school budget has been put together and information Michael LaSusa, the assistant superintendent on what Chatham is doing to stay abreast of the changes coming with the Core Standards that have been adopted by 48 states.
The April Superintendent s newsletter has been posted to the WAS website under Letters from the Superintendent. http://www.chatham-nj.org/156410124114257993/lib/156410124114257993/_files/april_2011.pdf Topic: An Overview of the Gifted and Talented Program of the School District of the Chathams (includes nomination procedures for the formal pull-out program Grades 4-8) Date: April 19, 2011 Time: 7:00 PM Place: Lafayette Avenue School FROM THE PTO PRESIDENT Do not miss the PTO meeting on Wednesday, April 13th. Jim O Neil, Superintendent, will be at our meeting to discuss the budget for 2011-2012. This is the one opportunity you have to hear from the School District about the budget and how it will affect WAS. He will be happy to answer any questions/concerns you may have. We will also be nominating the Executive Board for next year; we have some very dedicated parents taking important roles for our school; come and find out who they are! On April 14th, Ms. Luongo s class will be visiting the Inter Faith Food Pantry, please be generous in your donations so there are lots to sort. Please see attached letter from the Food Pantry, they really appreciate our help. Thanks to Lisa Byther and Mr. A; Johnny the K came to WAS and taught the children about self-esteem and treating others kindly. I know the kids really enjoyed the assembly! SPRING SPIRIT WEAR SALE EXTENDED for one week - SPRING SPIRIT WEAR SALE - Order Forms due this Friday, 4/15 (see form at end of Home Page). Fun, warm-weather essentials -- WAS tie-dye tees, golf shirts, caps, drawstring sacks and new CHATHAM COUGAR beach towels. Thank you for your support of this WAS PTO fundraiser. Any questions, contact Sue O'Donnell (sue_od@yahoo.com). GREEN TEAM CALLING ALL EARTH FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS: The Green Team could use some extra help with WAS s Earth Day events. Help is needed with the April 16 th bike collection, preparing materials for classroom presentations next week, greeting students who walk to school on April 21st and with grade level activities that day as well. We could also use some at home help with a crayon recycling project. Please contact Michele Sofo at masofo@verizon.net or 973-701-8235 if you would like to help out. Thanks! Recycle A Bicycle THIS SATURDAY: Please hold on to your unneeded or outgrown bikes This Saturday, April 16th, Green Team members will assist Good Goes Around in collecting your donations of gently used bikes right at WAS from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Bikes will be repaired and then distributed to children in need. Go to www.ggaround.org for more information about this organization. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors in the community. More information attached at the end of this newsletter. Green Team News of the Week: Mark your calendars! In honor of Earth Week, NJN will air the award-winning film Bag It on Wednesday, April 20 at 10 pm. This film poses the question, Is your life too plastic? and takes a witty look at the environmental and health dangers posed by the global use of disposable, non-biodegradable plastic products. Go to http://www.bagitmovie.com/ to view the trailer and learn more about the film. ************************************** COMMUNITY EVENTS ************************************* The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a Board of Education candidate s form at the high school on Thursday, April 21st at 7:30 pm. Please see the flyer at the end of the newsletter for more information. BUDGET INFORMATION April 20 - Last day to receive mail applications for mail-in ballots
April 26 - Last day to pick up application for mail-in ballot in person (3:00pm) April 27 - SCHOOL ELECTION- 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM CHS Gymnasium To get an absentee ballot, please visit: http://www.morriscountyclerk.org/html/forms/vote bymail09.pdf Education Counts is working yet again to get information out about the upcoming school budget and election. If you would like to receive information about the school budget, request a lawn sign, or volunteer to help get out the vote please contact Michelle Clark michellec@optonline.net or log onto our website at www.educationcounts.info Chatham Middle School will present Jazz in the Middle on Thursday, April 28 th, at 6:00pm. Tickets are $3.00 at the door. Featured guest artist is the Joe Elefante Big Band. MACC Announcement On Saturday, April 30th from 10am-2pm, Liberty Drug (at 195 Main Street in Chatham) is sponsoring a DEA program collecting unused, expired and unwanted medication for safe disposal. Please see the flyer at the end of the newsletter for more information. SAFE LAWNS FOR YOUR FAMILY: A Chemical Reaction, a documentary film on the health risks of conventional lawn chemicals, will be shown at the Library of the Chathams on Thursday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. If you ve wanted to be more convinced to use organic lawn care for your family, this engaging 55 minute film is a must see. Sponsored by Chatham Borough Green Initiatives Committee and Chatham Township Environmental Commission. A-DAY SUMMER CAMP - Twelfth summer for Mr. A s A-Day Camp. For more information go to http://www.adaycamp.com ARTS N MINDS - Creative Arts Summer Workshops offered by Claudia Hauser and Kenji Hasegawa. For more information go to www.artcampbymshauser.com MAC Adventures Summer Camps: Mrs. Calveley is running Sports and Nature; Running; and Soccer camps for 6-10 year olds! Visit: www.macadventures.net or Email: cscalveley@macadventures.net for more information. SUMMER OF FUN- Afternoon Summer Treasures Camp with two expert teachers public school teachers, Jen Shapiro and Kathy Gold, at the Madison Community House. For more information go to chathamcamp2011@gmail.com
How Will You On Wed. April 27? Hear and question the candidates at the Board of Education of the Chathams Candidate Forum Thursday, April 21 7:30-9:00 PM Chatham High School Media Center-Library 255 Lafayette Avenue, Chatham Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Chatham-Madison Area. The League of Women Voters neither endorses nor opposes any political party or candidate. The purpose of the League is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government.
RECYCLE A BICYCLE with: HAVE YOUR KIDS OUTGROWN THEIR BIKES? THEN DONATE GENTLY USED CHILDREN S BIKES TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE WHEN: Saturday, April 16 th 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. WHERE: Washington Avenue School, 102 Washington Ave. Chatham, NJ WHY: It s a win-win-win! You clean out your garage, the bike doesn t end up in the trash, and a child that cannot afford a bike can experience the joy of riding a bike! For more information, call Mary at 973-701-1814 or visit the Good Goes Around website at www.ggaround.org.
SAFE LAWNS FOR YOUR FAMILY: A Chemical Reaction, a documentary film on the health risks of conventional lawn chemicals, will be shown at the Library of the Chathams on Thursday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. If you ve wanted to be more convinced to use organic lawn care for your family, this engaging 55 minute film is a must see. Sponsored by Chatham Borough Green Initiatives Committee and Chatham Township Environmental Commission.