Clinton Township Newsletter

1 4 d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 1 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 Patrick McGaheran School A view into our classrooms: Preschoolers will be exploring different holidays in December. We will be busy looking for Gingerbread friends, too! Hopefully we catch them! We also are looking forward to celebrating together at our Winter Celebration. Kindergarteners have been learning about so much! As readers, students are practicing their super reader powers: "pointer power, pattern word power and picture power", maintaining "reading" stamina for 15 minutes, and power word practice. Students are identifying, writing and producing primary letter sounds. As writers, children not only write to tell stories, but can also write to teach about a topic, drafting simple concept books like Alphabet Books, Color Books, Shape Books, Number Books. As mathematicians, students are comparing numbers 0-5, representing, counting and writing numbers 6 - 9. In Social Studies/Science students are learning about friendship, fall, families, Veteran's Day, Election Day, Thanksgiving. Fun Fact: 2021 Scarecrow Trail Second Place Winner (School Category) - Pete the Cat - built by the Kindergarten Team of PMG. First graders at PMG are working on developing social and emotional skills both in the classroom and around the school environment. Our goals for first graders are to work collaboratively in a classroom setting, respecting one another and their teachers. First graders are having fun learning new strategies for addition and subtraction. Students are sharing their I N O U R S C H O O L S : ● November 25-26 Thanksgiving Break School Closed ● December 13 Board of Education Meeting ● December 15 Early Dismissal ● December 23 PreK AM Session ONLY at regular time, no PM Session. ● December 24 Winter Recess/School Closed ● January 3 Schools Re-open from Recess ● January 5 Board of Education Organization Meeting Dear Families and Staff, We hope you have Happy and Safe Holidays this month! Here are some upcoming important dates to keep in mind: home-life experiences during writer's workshop. Students in first grade continue to develop strategies for reading and writing using phonemic awareness learned through our FUNdations program. Students are having fun learning and experiencing school each day! Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins! Second-grade students received a generous donation of thirty-five pumpkins from Shop Rite that enabled each classroom to participate in a pumpkin math day. The students were engaged as they conducted hands-on activities, made predictions, and measured and weighed pumpkins. As a response to literature, some students created a pumpkin character and wrote and presented a report about their character. Help wanted: Community members often ask what they can do to support our schools. Applying to be a substitute teacher is one way that people can be a tremendous support to our school! Please visit the "Job Opportunities" tab on our CTSD website for more information. Clinton Township School District Mission S t a t e m e n t : T h e C l i n t o n T o w n s h i p School District, in partnership with the community, achieves excellence for each child by ensuring a meaningful and challenging educational experience in a supportive environment; developing life- long learners who are responsible and productive citizens. Identified above is the CTSD mission statement. The statement identifies the mission and values of this fine school district. As your Interim Superintendent, I have had the privilege of witnessing these values applied to our children. How fortunate for our children and your community. Our children are always at the center of our District's focus. Together, we have all managed this evolving situation. At times, this situation has offered us challenges, but we have embraced the challenge in the service of our children and community. Our children, our beautiful children. They are worth all of our efforts. Building upon our goals, as approved by the Board of Education in August 2021, all members within our District structure continue to amplify technology for instruction, monitor the social and emotional well being of all members of our District, and maintain the delicate balance between academics and our well being. This will be an exciting year for the District. A new superintendent will be appointed. We are all getting ready. With the proud value based history and traditions of this fine district, the newly appointed Superintendent can only enhance an already highly effective public school district. It has been a pleasure to serve as your Interim Superintendent. A s w e a w a i t t h e a r r i v a l o f 2 0 2 2 , o u r educational community sends its warmest regards to the citizens of Clinton Township for a healthy, joyful and contented New Year. Warmest regards, Johanna S. Ruberto, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent Dear Clinton Township Community Members: A L e t t e r f r o m Johanna S. Ruberto, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent of Schools C linton Township School District from e

• Cover