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From the Principal |
Back to School Night was well attended. I hope you had the chance to learn about your child’s classroom activities and grade level expectations. The teachers appreciated your support and enthusiasm, and they look forward to a successful partnership throughout the year. If you weren’t able to attend, the teachers can send the materials home with your child.
Our school day begins at 8:35 am. Supervision begins at 8:25 am. Children need to be dropped off on or after 8:25 am. They are considered tardy if they are not in their classrooms by 8:35 am.
This semester Coles has two student teachers. Erin Guidera, from Kean University, is working with Mr. Hernandez in Physical Education. Caitlin Cuffe, from Rutgers, is working with Mrs. Crisafulli in grade one.
The elementary grades are implementing a new language arts literacy curriculum this year. We will continue to use small books for guided reading and use the Signatures Series, too. One of the new expectations is an increased emphasis on time spent reading silently in and out of school. Children in kindergarten need to listen to at least one or two books a day as they develop the reading habit. First graders will “read” four or more little books every day alone or with assistance. Second graders will read one or two short books or long chapters every day. Children in grades three and four will be encouraged to read thirty to thirty-five books each year. Books read in school and at home count. Independent silent reading builds vocabulary, background experiences, fluency and comprehension. With regular reading at home, your child will be able to increase his/her time spent reading independently.
ETS (Educational Testing Service) will be conducting a study to help make a reading assessment that is more fair and accurate in assessing reading skills for all students. It is an important study and some of the Coles fourth graders will participate. The school is receiving an honorarium for participating.
The weekly lunch choices are sent home each Monday for the following week. Do your best to return your completed menu by Wednesday. Menus for lunch are available on the school website.
If your child is absent due to illness and has ordered lunch, when you report the absence, you must also specifically request a credit for lunch for that day.
All absences and late arrivals need to be reported. This can be done 24 hours a day by calling 757-7555 and accessing the student attendance message box by pressing “3”. Please remember when you call to report an absence or tardiness, you must give a reason. If no reason is given, your child will be marked with an unexcused absence or tardiness. Please do your best to schedule student appointments outside the school day. This allows us to make the most of instructional time.
Please keep your child’s safety and comfort in mind. The weather conditions often vary this time of the year. Children will be walking around the school and the playground so they need to be able to move easily and may need to wear layers under their costumes. The theme of the costumes should be school-appropriate and avoid violence. No masks of any kind, guns, blood, or weapons can be permitted.