CDW Weekly Wrap-Up

June is a very busy month for CDW students and families. The calendar is packed with academic requirements, but also celebratory activities. As we enter the last month of the 2021-2022 school year, I want to thank you for your partnership in making my first year at CDW a delightful one.

At the bottom of each CDW Weekly Wrap-Up are upcoming, important dates!

The CDW Field was the setting for three successful Color Challenges run by Ms. Brock with Ms. Cohen and the Student Government. The activities that the students could choose from included: Egg/Spoon Race, Limbo, Soccer Shootout, Potato Sack Race, and Basketball Knockout. Each Color Challenge ended with a Tug of War competition.

*Thank you to our Senior Service NVOT students (pictured below) for their help with the Color Challenges!

The Grade 8 students spent three days away from CDW to experience Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Hersheypark. Here are a few pictures that show the many activities that they experienced.

The 5th graders visited TBD and celebrated their short story/biography unit with the 4th graders this week. During the short story unit, students learned how to use rich narration and dialogue to develop a plot. Genres varied from realistic fiction to fantasy. After crafting a story, students learned the parts of a picture book and illustrated their stories. Afterward, students learned how to conduct meaningful interviews and wrote biographies for their peers. These were then used as part of the ABOUT THE AUTHOR section of their picture books. The TBD celebration ended up becoming a chance for 4th graders to ask questions and get an insider's perspective of middle school.

For the past two weeks, 7th graders were invited to attend OTBN in the morning. While the 8th graders were away, the new members of the OTBN crew stepped up to complete the morning announcements all on their own. Congrats to these 7th graders for learning their roles so quickly!

On Monday, May 30th, some of the CDW band members spent their morning playing fabulous tunes while walking in the Old Tappan Memorial Day Parade and during the Memorial Day Ceremony at Oakes Park. A big thank you to the students and Mr. Rosolanko for representing CDW and making us proud!

Courtney Cohen, a CDW student, beautifully sang the National Anthem at the Memorial Day Ceremony at Oakes Park.

Isabella Duan, a 6th grader at CDW, won first place for her piano performance for Little Mozarts Competition hosted in Carnegie Hall on June 1st.

There are more than a thousand musicians in this international music competition each year, and she was one of the first-place winners! We are so proud of Isabella for this distinguished accomplishment!

Please help keep our students safe during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up by practicing the following traffic rules.

Arrival

• Please make sure that students exit the car as soon as you reach the cones (or even sooner) on Interschool Drive. If you drop your child(ren) off before the traffic cones on Interschool Drive, you can enter the right lane. This change in lanes will expedite your exit off school property.
• Please do not drive through any of the staff parking spots along Interschool Drive. Students should have a clear - safe - path to the sidewalk as they exit their vehicles.
• The drop-off line is a continuously moving line. Please do not park in the staff parking spaces along Interschool Drive to drop off your child(ren). Children are exiting their vehicles and heading towards the sidewalk, and this causes an unsafe walking zone.
• Please do not use the right lane to drop off your child(ren). This lane is designated for cars moving through to the exit.

Pick-Up

• Please arrange a meeting area with your child(ren) so that you can locate them efficiently.
• Please do not park and exit your vehicle regardless of your child(ren) being at TBD or CDW.
• Please use BOTH lanes on Interschool Drive for Pick-Up. A staff member will safely cross your child across the crosswalk.
• Please do not block designated emergency lanes that connect TBD and CDW.

General Traffic Rules Regarding Parking

• Never park in a "No Parking, Fire Lane." These lanes are designated with yellow paint in diagonal lines on the pavement along with the words, "No Parking Fire Lane."
• Never park along a curb that is painted yellow and leave your vehicle unattended.

Thanks for keeping our kids safe!

Summer work is meant to guide students to review the essential skills learned in reading and math throughout the year. This allows them to transition more smoothly to the next grade level. The links are below, and the information can also be found via the CDW website under, "For Students."

Summer Reading

• Please see Ms. DiPisa's information letter, and here is the required Summer Reading recommendations for all grade levels.

• Here is the NVOT Summer Reading List for our Grade 8 students.

Summer Math

Here is the strongly suggested Summer Math Work. Please read the correspondence and complete the work associated with your child's grade level completed during the 2021-2022 school year.

The 2022-2023 Supply Lists are now posted to the CDW website under "For Parents."

The PTO will be selling prepackaged school supplies through School Tool Box. Please see the School Tool Box information below, and your child(ren) will get a paper copy in homeroom next week.

Reminders and Updates from CDW's Student Manager

Baseball and Softball

Please refer to the Sports Schedule Updates for Playoff information.

Track

The next CDW Track Meet is at NVOT on June 7th.

Today was the last session! Thank you to Ms. Brock for providing a wonderful program for the CDW students. It was great to see so many students involved!

Please take time to review your child's summer session selection and make sure they are registered for the correct morning and/or afternoon program. Remember that all morning sessions are REVIEW of the current 2021-2022 grade level and the afternoon session is for their 2022-2023 enrollment grade - descriptions below.

From April Flyer:

Students will have an opportunity to REVIEW grade-level academic skills learned this school year (AM Option) and/or explore new material (PM Option) by PREVIEWING activities/lessons they will experience when the new school year starts. PREVIEW sessions will be tailored and designed to explore new topics, develop new skills, and leave learners wanting to learn more come September. *Math and Language Arts are the two main academic areas for AM and PM options.

Example of Morning REVIEW:
Grade 1 Class - A registered first-grader can/will review material covered during the 2021-2022 school year. *Lessons will be based on student needs.

Example of Afternoon PREVIEW:
Grade 2 Class: The same child who took the first-grade morning class can register for a second-grade preview class. Lessons will be based on academic concepts typically introduced in September and October. Parents may like this option, as it offers an acceleration-type experience for their child(ren).

We are excited to offer the Summer Skill Booster Program again this summer to all Old Tappan students currently enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 8. Sessions have been set, and it is time to register! Click here to find more information about the program and links to register for a summer session. Space is limited, so register early! Registration will close on June 30, 2022. Should you have any questions about the Summer Skill-Booster Program, please contact Mr. Lauriello, CDW Student Manager and Summer Program Supervisor, at lauriello@nvnet.org.

The Golden Knights Boys Basketball Camp at NVOT is specifically designed to provide a complete in-depth basketball experience that will emphasize the fundamentals in order to help boys, ages 8-17, reach their full potential. Please see the registration information HERE.

The purpose of year-end assessments is to see what our students learned in their core

subjects and what learning they will carry with them to the next grade level. Students are exposed to Year-End Assessments that require them to think back on their learning and to share what they have learned. Teachers plan for these assessments to be meaningful and to assess the big ideas of their subject's content. Please see the schedule below.

Grade 7 Year-End Assessments:

• Tuesday, June 14th- Spanish
• Thursday, June 16th- Social Studies
  
• Friday, June 17th- Math
• Monday, June 20th- Language Arts

*The Grade 7 Year-End Science Assessment is an ongoing project assessment. There is no end date at this time.

Grade 8 Year-End Assessments:

• Monday, June 13th- Language Arts (AM) and Spanish (PM)

• Tuesday, June 14th- Science (in class) and Social Studies (in class)

• Wednesday, June 15th- Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Geometry (AM)

*Teachers will continue to have class conversations that lead up to these assessments.

The students will know what to expect in each of their classes.

Each year, CDW offers transition meetings for parents to learn about their child(ren)'s next grade level. Topics that will be presented include academics, extracurricular activities, and other highlights for the upcoming grade level. Although we foster an environment of independence at the middle school level, home and school partnership is always a necessity. This year, the dates of the transition meetings are as follows:

• Grade 4 to Grade 5 Transition Meeting- Tuesday, June 7th, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 5 to Grade 6 Transition Meeting- Monday, June 13th, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 6 to Grade 7 Transition Meeting- Tuesday, June 14th, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 7 to Grade 8 Transition Meeting- Thursday, June 16th, 7:00-8:00 PM

The meeting presentations will be posted to the school's website following the last meeting date.

August 26th marks Women's Equality Day commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. To increase awareness of this historical achievement, the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women is inviting all schools in Bergen County to participate in the Women's Equality Day Art Exhibit on August 28th, 2022.

The artwork should represent the student's interpretation of the meaning and significance of Women's Equality. Work should be 2-Dimensional, and no larger than "9x12". See Ms. Watters for further requirements or with any questions!

All work must be to Ms. Watters no later than Monday, June 13th!

If you are a Grade 5-8 student interested in the OTEC's Digital Photo Contest and Show, see the flyer below for information on how to enter the contest.

Our school-issued Chromebook device damage rates are on the rise and very high. Please remind your child to keep his/her Chromebook in his/her school-issued case. It is highly recommended that you purchase insurance for your child(ren)'s school-issued Chromebook. Please refer to the information below if you have not purchased the insurance yet.

Volunteers play a huge part in the PTO, and what they are able to offer our students and teachers. Without volunteers, many of the programs that students, teachers, and families enjoy will not be able to happen. Volunteer descriptions can be found at: OTPTO.org under "More Info" and then "Flyers."

If you have interest in joining the PTO Board, joining or running a committee, or just want to learn more- please reach out to the PTO by visiting OTPTO.org and selecting "Contact Old Tappan PTO" under the Help tab.

If a member of your household has tested positive (or is waiting on Covid-19 test results), please do not send your child(ren) to school and contact Mrs. McCarthy, our school nurse, to inform her. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Santa or Mrs. McCarthy.

In an effort to minimize the potential spread of illness (Covid or non-Covid) at school, please keep your child home if he/she:

• has a fever. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school.
• is nauseous or is vomiting.
• has diarrhea

Due to Covid-19, if your child comes to school with the following symptoms, Mrs. McCarthy, our school nurse, will call you to pick up your child from school:

• At least two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion or runny nose; OR
• At least one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new olfactory disorder, new taste disorder.

Any student who falls into one of the categories above will be required to have a negative Covid-19 test to return to school. If your child has a chronic illness with one or more of the above symptoms, please contact Mrs. McCarthy so she is aware.

Anytime your child is not feeling well, and will not attend school, please contact Mrs. McCarthy at 201-664-1475 ext. 2103.

The CDC has updated its guidelines regarding international travel. Starting November 8, students who travel internationally will not be required to quarantine following their return to the United States. The United States is requiring a negative Covid-19 test to re-enter the US (from any international destination), so quarantine will not be required. We still ask for families to monitor their child(ren) for symptoms upon their return and quarantine if symptoms surface.

You may visit the CDC Travel Website HERE.

June

Monday, June 6th~ The Board of Education Meeting will be in the BOE Conference Room

at 8 PM.

Tuesday, June 7th~ Grade 4 Transition Visit to CDW

Tuesday, June 7th~ PTO Special Lunch

Tuesday, June 7th~ Grade 4 to Grade 5 Transition Meeting for Parents, 7 PM

Wednesday, June 8th~ CDW Spirit Day

Thursday, June 9th~ Art Show 3-7 PM

Monday, June 13th~ 5th to 6th Grade Transition Meeting, 7 PM

Tuesday, June 14th~ 6th to 7th Grade Transition Meeting, 7 PM

Wednesday, June 15th~ Choir Trip

Thursday, June 16th~ 7th to 8th Grade Transition Meeting, 7 PM

Tuesday, June 21st~ Half Day Dismissal; Grade 8 Graduation, 5:30 PM

Wednesday, June 22nd~ Half Day Dismissal/Last Day of School; Marking Period 4 Report Cards on the Genesis Parent Portal at 12 PM

Click here to view the calendar.

Our Board of Education approved the operating calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. The calendar can be found on the district website or by clicking here.

Instagram: cdw_middle

Email: santaj@nvnet.org
Website: https://cdw.oldtappanschools.org/
Location: 275 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-664-1475
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldTappanSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @OldTappanSD