Clinton Township Newsletter

1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com Paick McGah Scho We are so pleased to welcome our students and staff back to Patrick McGaheran School! There is so much excitement for the new beginnings that accompany the month of September. Patrick McGaheran is a new school for our second graders and we look forward to getting to know each student individually. Our third grade students will be meeting their new teachers and seeing their new classrooms. Everyone will be happy to meet all of our newly enrolled students, coming from as far away as Colorado. The teachers are always thrilled when the names on their rosters turn into faces and personalities and the community in the classroom begins to develop. We have several new teachers joining PMG, from SRS and are happy to welcome them to the PMG family of educators. This year we are introducing curricular updates including exciting hands-on science lessons tied to the Next Generation Science Standards and literacy updates that will help students with reading and writing skills. Our school-wide theme will continue to promote friendships, and will incorporate our school mascot, Buddy the Bulldog. We have many fun new plans in place to celebrate kindness, inclusion and friendship. We look forward to sharing our school happenings in future CT Newsletters! 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 check out our new website: www.ctsdnj.org I N O U R S C H O O L S : Su R Scho September brings colorful new backpacks, that wonderful smell of crayons, the sound of children's laughter in the school hallways, the hum of the school bus' engines, cooler days, the arrival of Autumn, and most importantly the first day of school! Our building is shining with new tile floors in many classrooms ready for the squeak of new sneakers, and new coats of paint on the walls that make them sparkle! We are so excited to have our students and staff back in school, and we have a wonderful year ahead as we continue, "Planting the Seeds of Friendship" at Spruce Run School. This year "We are Explorers" at Spruce Run School as students explore new math and science topics including the Next Generation Science Standards. Our new Makerspace is ready for creativity! SRS families had the opportunity to visit Spruce Run School on August 31 to find classrooms and say hello to their teachers, and our staff really enjoyed the opportunity to meet our students! Kindergarten and new students were invited to take a bus ride by themselves on this day, as well. It was a great chance to practice getting on the bus alone, buckling their own seat belt, and waving good-bye to mom and dad for a short trip around town. We welcomed smiling faces and even more confident preschoolers, kindergartners and first graders on our first day of school after our visitation day. We are looking forward to a great year together at Spruce Run School! Clinton Township School District Mission Statement: The Clinton Township 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. T h e C l i n T o n T o w n s h i p f o u n d AT i o n f o R e d u C A T i o n A l e x C e l l e n C e Please consider partnering with the Clinton Township Foundation for Educational Excellence by commemorating your child's educational journey with the purchase of a seat! Personalize your inscription in the In Honor of section to make it extra special! To do so, please visit the Foundation's website: www.ctsd.k12.nj.us/foundation-for-educational-excellence and select DONATE NOW. Thank you in advance! September to me has always been about new beginnings – fresh crayons, new sneakers, unused notebooks. It is also about getting back to the familiar – re-establishing routines, seeing old friends, and maybe even making new friends. This September is particularly exciting for me as I begin my first school year with the Clinton Township students and staff. I am looking forward to meeting all of our students, those new to the district and those returning from summer break. I am excited for the opportunity to work with our dedicated staff and to build relationships with our parents and community members. The summer has been busy for our staff members. Whether through curriculum w r i t i n g , p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t opportunities, preparation of classrooms, technology upgrades, or the management of facilities, our staff members have been hard at work getting ready for the return of our students. Countless hours are used to prepare for the start of each school year. This year was no exception. You will see all that was accomplished this summer as you visit our schools in September. I am happy to welcome each of you back for another school year. I hope that every day is a new adventure for our students, their families, and our staff members. I also hope our teachers, staff members, parents and guardians, community members, administrators, and Board of Education members join me to support the students of Clinton Township. I look forward to meeting you at the various school opening events scheduled this month. Thank you, Gina M. Villani, Ed.D Superintendent of Schools A L e t t e r f r o m Gina M. Villani, Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools Dear Clinton Township Community Members:

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