Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 9 w w w . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . c o m C L I N T O N T O W N S H I P S C H O O L N E W S www.ctsdnj.org The other day when I was leaving one of our four school buildings, I listened to the children laughing as I watched them chasing fallen leaves around the windy playground. It is moments like these that exemplify CTSD. The first two months of school have gone by as fast as those children chasing the fallen leaves. There have been welcome back gatherings, Back to School Night events, pumpkin carving, fall celebrations, picture day, soccer and volleyball games, c r o s s c o u n t r y r a c e s a n d m a n y classroom lessons and activities. We are off to a great start in the Clinton Township School District. In this season of giving thanks, there is much to be thankful for at CTSD. Thank you, Dr. Michele Cone, Superintendent of Schools A L e t t e r f r o m Michele Cone, Superintendent of Schools Dear Clinton Township Community Members: I N O U R S C H O O L S : sportsmanship and team work. Each month students engage in an All- School meeting where the Word of the Month is discussed, Character Education Awards are shared and the Bus of the Month is announced. During the afternoon Character Education lessons, all staff in the school are assigned to classrooms to co-teach lessons on conflict resolution. We continually strive to improve the school experience for our entire learning community! Health: 5th Grade has been off to a flying start in the Health Room. Students have identified areas of their wellness that influence their overall health by making wonderful projects. Important to recognize which areas of wellness need improvement, 5th grade will be setting SMART goals, and learning about the value of creating goals to enhance personal health. 4th Grade: In Social Studies, the fourth graders have been researching the events that led to the Revolutionary War. We also studied the important battles of the Revolution. Students will create a timeline to demonstrate their understanding of the chronological events within the American Revolution and the role New Jersey played within those events. Students can view the reenactment of George Washington crossing the Delaware at Washington Crossing Historic Park on two different dates. The first crossing is on December 8th, 2019 and the second crossing is on Christmas Day on December 25th, 2019. You can check out https:// www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/cross-with-us/ for more information. 5th Grade: Fifth grade scientists continue to explore living systems and how life is interconnected. Fifth graders built food chains and food webs and described how all life is interdependent. Various experiments took place, a favorite experiment being the planting of rye seeds in darkness and in sunlight. Student scientists continued their observation of the rye seeds to see what the seeds need in order to grow and then to sustain life. At the conclusion of the unit, students developed a model of a chosen biome to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. RVS Library News: Author Neil Gaiman advocates for libraries and says, "Libraries are our friends." Third graders starting at Round Valley school would concur. Here's how they described their library: "Outstanding, entertaining, a great place to read, where you get books, quiet, calm, fun and amazing, a place to learn, a great place to read!" We look forward to the library being a great resource for all of the students at RVS! Patrick McGaheran School Child Assault Prevention Program: Our district has once again received a grant from the New Jersey Child Assault Prevention Program to present workshops for our parents, children and teachers in kindergarten at Patrick McGaheran School. The CAP Project is a comprehensive primary prevention program. CAP utilizes a three-pronged approach to community prevention education: training of staff, parents and children. CAP strategies include self assertion, peer support, effective communication and reporting skills. CAP programs are presented with a view of assault as a violation of the basic human rights to be 'Safe, Strong and Free'. During the week of December 1, 2019 kindergarten students at Patrick McGaheran School will be participating in the Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project. We hope that kindergarten parents will join us in learning about and supporting this fine prevention program on November 20, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the PMG Library. More information will follow for Kindergarten families. DISTRICT NEWS: Week of Respect – The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (P.L. 2010, c.122) requires that the week beginning with the first Monday in October of each year be designated as a "Week of Respect" in New Jersey. During this week each school in our district recognizes the importance of character education, and observes the week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on preventing harassment, intimidation or bullying (HIB), and deepening our understanding of the power of respect. Round Valley School Week of Respect and School Violence Awareness Week: Throughout New Jersey, schools recognize the Week of Respect annually during the first full week of school in October and School Violence Awareness Week in mid-October. At RVS students recognized these weeks with activities including the daily Words of Wisdom announcements, Spirit Days, the Word of the Month for October- RESPECT, a PTA funded Brain Challenge Assembly, an All School Morning Meeting and an All School Character Education Afternoon. The Brain Challenge provided students and teachers with opportunities to demonstrate their academic knowledge and physical abilities (hula-hoop, Simon Says, dancing…) while learning about

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