Clinton Township Newsletter

1 5 O c t O b e r 2 0 1 6 classrooms on those first few days. Our second grade staff took their learners on a tour of the school to find important places like the office, cafeteria and special area classrooms. We work hard to become a community of learners who support each other from the very first day. Our teachers follow the Responsive Classroom philosophy beginning with the development of rules and expectations based on children's hopes and dreams for the year. Each class discusses how we can achieve those hopes and dreams and develop rules from there to help us be our best. Classes create our classroom community by enjoying a Morning Meeting each day. Morning Meetings consist of a greeting, where students learn important life skills such as eye contact and how to appropriately shake hands. These meetings continue with an educational activity while practicing current skills and being cooperative. Among other things, this helps students develop sportsmanship. Then, news and announcements allow students to know what is going to happen in their day and takes away anxiety. Days are planned to follow a familiar routine so students know what to expect. Lastly, sharing allows students to practice public speaking and learn more about each other. This helps them make connections and build relationships. We're enjoying another year of learning! Fire Safety Week is coming October 9-15! Annually, the third grade students at PMG participate in the St. Barnabas Fire Safety House, learning valuable information to keep them safe if a fire should arise. The visiting firefighter empowers the children with many different tips and techniques for fire safety. Prevent, Practice and Plan are the "Three Ps" of fire safety. To Prevent a fire means to stop a fire before it ever starts. Never play with matches, don't plug too many items into a single electrical outlet and never cook without an adult present. These are just a few important facts children must know. You can also do things to protect yourself from getting hurt by a fire such as not playing around a stove, heater, or fireplace and not playing with matches. Everyone should also remember to check smoke detectors, changing batteries twice a year, testing the smoke detectors once a month and replacing smoke detectors every ten years. To Practice fire safety is very important. Take a moment to practice what to do if ever you see or smell smoke, or if your smoke detector sounds. React fast, get out and stay out, stay low and go! Finally, Plan your escape. It's so important to know what to do if ever a fire starts in your home. One of the most important things to do is create a family escape plan. Include two escape routes from every room and decide on a safe meeting place for your family to gather once outside your home. Check out: http:// firesafekids.org/safety.html for more fun fire safety tips. 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 our school recognizes the importance of character education, and observes the week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on preventing harassment, intimidation or bullying (HIB). During this week, lessons are taught on kindness, friendship, respect and becoming a caring citizen of our school and community. Each classroom participates in friendship and respect building activities. Stories are read on this topic, and we often have an assembly planned around this theme with the messages being delivered in a child-friendly fashion. In the past this has included puppet shows, musical events and plays. Students are taught the first of six anti-bullying lessons which continue throughout the school year. Our goal is to help our students build character so that they can learn and thrive in a kind and caring environment, consistent with our school wide theme: PMG is a place where friendships grow! Kidsville in Grade 3 – Third grade students at PMG have been learning about communities as part of the social studies curriculum. In September, students explored the features of urban, suburban and rural communities. Students then brainstormed a list of buildings and facilities that are found in each type of community. Each student created a shoebox size model of a building found in either an urban, suburban or rural community. All six classes displayed their buildings and students had the opportunity to walk around and view each other's work. This fun, culminating activity also helped to build community among our third grade students who thoroughly enjoyed being a part of "Kidsville." Rd V Scho We are happy to introduce Round Valley School's new teachers.! Lisa Beatrice is starting this school year as a Spanish teacher at Round Valley School. She taught Spanish in Middle School and High School prior to joining the Clinton Township School District. Lisa earned her Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and Education from Rutgers University. She enjoys cooking, traveling and biking. Lisa lives in Readington with her husband and three children. Julia Beckmann is starting this school year as the Music Teacher at Round Valley School. She plays piano, recorder, guitar, flute and, of course, sings! Julia graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. Last year, she worked in the Princeton Public Schools teaching Pre- K-5th Grade Vocal Music. A self-proclaimed fan of everything collaborative, Julia enjoys playing and performing music with friends. Other interests include exploring bike/hiking trails and going to concerts. Meghan Delaplain is a graduate of Centenary University with a BA in Liberal Arts and certifications in Elementary and Special Education. Meghan has worked in Allamuchy Township as a first grade teacher and as a Special Educator in grades 5-7. She is excited to begin the school year as a fourth grade inclusion teacher at Round Valley. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys reading, writing poetry and traveling. Mrs. Joy Mitariten is excited about starting her first year Round Valley School teaching Science. While this is her first year in Clinton Township, she has three years' experience teaching Middle School Science in the City of Orange. She is simply thrilled that she will be able to continue teaching science, her absolute favorite subject, and sharing her passion for science and learning with the students. Mrs. Mitariten received her undergraduate degree in Math/Science and Elementary Education and then went on to attend Johns Hopkins University for her Masters of Education. In her free time, Mrs. Mitariten enjoys running, hiking, reading, traveling and playing with her two cats. Ms. Vicki Stamets is very excited about starting her first year at Round Valley School as an Inclusion Teacher for Social Studies and Science. Ms. Stamets has been an Inclusion Teacher in Greenwich and Phillipsburg and has taught as a Preschool Handicapped teacher in Washington, NJ. Ms. Stamets has her Early and Elementary Education degree from East Stroudsburg University and Teacher of the Handicapped from Centenary College. She received her Masters in Reading from East Stroudsburg University, May 2015. Ms. Stamets lives in Wilson, PA with her two daughters. She loves to read and go to the beach. This summer students at Round Valley School were challenged to read more books than the previous two years. Each student was asked to read four books of their choice. As a result, this year we have exceeded our goal. Round Valley students read a total of 1,573 books! The top readers from each grade level are: Haley Bockowski, 4th Grade; Andrew Harris, 5th Grade and Asa Alderman, 6th Grade. Our overall top reader was 4th Grader, Morgan Celley. We are so proud of our Round Valley students! ton Tohip Midd School Erika Crowl is happy to join the staff of Clinton Township School District as the French Teacher at CTMS! Prior to teaching at CTMS, she taught middle school French in the Flemington-Raritan School District and worked in various educational capacities as a Reading and Math Specialist and Teaching Assistant. Her love of languages and cultures began at a young age when she lived overseas in the United Kingdom and had the opportunity to travel and study abroad. Erika is a graduate of North Hunterdon, The University of Michigan (B.A., French and English), and Rutgers University (M.Ed, Language Education). She also completed her Elementary Certification through Dominican University in California. Erika has a passion for children's literature, blogs about books and reading at livereadwrite.com, and is an aspiring children's author. She enjoys the outdoors and exploring our beautiful county with her husband and young son. CTMS Law Adventure – Each year the New Jersey Law Foundation has a mock trial contest beginning with a training program for teachers. Teachers spend the day learning about Law Adventure and how to lead the program with their students. Our winning case from last year, Jackal v. Lopez, has been selected to perform for the teachers! This is a huge honor, and we're proud to be selected! C l i N t o N t o w N s h i p s C h o o l d i s t r i C t t o l o C At e A N d i d e N t i F y s t u d e N t s w i t h d i s A b i l i t i e s The Clinton Township School District has a responsibility to locate, identify and evaluate all resident students with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services, including students with disabilities attending nonpublic schools and highly mobile students with disabilities such as migrant and homeless students. The school district locates, identifies and evaluates, where appropriate, the following: preschool children age (3-5); school age children; children entering school for the first time, children enrolled in public and private schools; transfer pupils and students who may have a disability although they are advancing from grade to grade. Upon written requests, the district will conduct an initial identification meeting for a resident child to determine whether a referral for special education and related services is appropriate. Such a request may be made by contacting Mrs. Alice Steinheimer, Director of Special Services, Clinton Township School District, 34 Grayrock Road, Clinton, NJ, 08809, Telephone 908.238.9141, ext. 244. Students who are found eligible for special education and related services are entitled to a free and appropriate special education program. The New Jersey Department of Education also has information on their website at: www.state. nj.us/education/specialed/childfind. For more information, please contact Mrs. Alice Steinheimer at 908.238.9141, ext. 244.

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