From the Principal

SAFETY: STUDENTS WALKING HOME (OR RIDING BICYCLES HOME)
We have been reminded by a Scotch Plains Police Officer of the importance of children walking home together. In an effort to update and standardize our records, there is a letter that must be signed by parents who permit their children to walk (or bicycle) without being met at school by an adult. This letter can be obtained, or downloaded, from the school website here, or by calling the school office.

DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER
Temperatures fluctuate in and outside the building. Please help your child to be prepared by encouraging layers. Children will go outside, even briefly on cold days, so hats, gloves, and mittens are important.

NJ ASSESSMENT SKILLS KNOWLEDGE 3 AND 4 – MARCH 10 - 14
NJ Assessment Skills Knowledge (NJASK) will be held from March 10 through March 14. During testing week we encourage you to make sure that your child gets a good night’s rest, a good breakfast and that attendance is regular and on time. Testing begins at 8:35 each morning. Parents of third and fourth graders will receive separate information, including a Parent, Student, and Teacher Information Guide.

ANTI-BULLYING
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District has asked Resolve counselors, as part of their services in the elementary schools, to conduct two to three in-class lessons over the course of the school year in each classroom. The counselors will be addressing positive relationships, self-esteem, problem solving and bullying, at an appropriate level for each grade. Christine Mahoney is the Resolve counselor at Coles.

Parents should know that the entire faculty and staff stand behind this effort to “bully-proof” our school and we appreciate all you can do with your children to support this initiative.

ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
April 15 is the Annual School Board Election. Please plan to vote. If you need an absentee ballot, it must be requested by Tuesday, April 8. Voter registration materials can be downloaded from the district homepage and are also available at school. The deadline for registering is Tuesday, March 25 for this election.

PARKING LOT
Children are not permitted to walk through the parking lot. There have been numerous close calls. We certainly realize it is much quicker to cut through the lot; however, for safety sake, children must use the sidewalks and are to avoid the parking lot.

NEIGHBORS
We have lovely neighbors at Coles School. Let’s remember to treat them nicely. Please do not block their driveways or U-turn in their driveways. Also, the ground is softening up, so please be careful when parking to avoid tire marks on their lawns.