From the Principal

March 5, 2005

LOST AND FOUND

We have a Lost and Found collection in the main lobby. Please feel free to check it from time to time.

DISTRICT STANDARDIZED TESTING - GRADE 2

Our Districtwide Testing Program has included the Otis Lennon School Abilities test administered in March of each year in grade two. This year’s testing will be on March 22 and March 23. The OLSAT test will assess abstract thinking and reasoning abilities. Students will receive a verbal and non-verbal score along with a total score and results will be shared with parents in June. It is important that children are well rested and on time for school. Second graders will also take a test, NJPASS, instead of the district’s assessment this year. This test will be given at the end of April. This test is similar in format to the state tests given to the third and fourth graders. More information will be forthcoming.

NJ ASSESSMENT SKILLS KNOWLEDGE 3 AND 4 — MARCH 14-18

NJ Assessment Skills Knowledge (NJASK) will be held from March 14 through March 18. During testing week we encourage you to make sure that you 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

As most of you might already know, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District has asked Resolve counselors, as part of their services in the elementary schools, to conduct four in-class lessons over the course of the school year in each classroom. The counselors will be addressing positive relationships, personal safety, self-esteem and bullying, at an appropriate level for each grade. Nancy Arvizzigno is the Resolve counselor at Coles. The first topic she covered with the children was teasing and bullying. The lesson included:

• We can decide to make this classroom and this school the kind of place where we all get along and all feel included, rather than one where anyone feels hurt or excluded.
• Bullying includes repeatedly and deliberately picking on others physically (hitting, pushing), verbally (name-calling, mocking, racial slurs), or by social exclusion (saying “you can’t play”, spreading rumors).
• We encourage children to ask an adult for help if they are being bullied. Teachers, lunch aides, and all school staff can provide help to children IN PRIVATE.
• Asking for help is NOT the same as tattling.
• Standing up for victims of bullying is important and might stop the bullying.
• The children all signed a pledge, approved by all teachers and staff, to help make Coles School a safe and friendly place by promising: 1) not to bully others; 2) if they see someone else being bullied, to tell an adult; and 3) to do their best to include others in their play. 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.

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