CDW Weekly Wrap-Up

Many studies have found that taking a break to relax and reboot are essential to achieving success! Vacation from school is an opportunity for mental and physical rejuvenation. At times it is challenging to step out of our normal routine, but studies have shown that breaks increase potential for success. However you choose to spend next week, I hope that you find time to take a break from the normal daily grind to enjoy yourself.

While we are not in session, please remember to let Mrs. McCarthy and me know if your child tests positive for Covid-19 or is a close contact of an individual who tests positive for Covid-19.

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

Congratulations to the girls’ basketball team and Coaches Vangelas, Corbett, and Reiser for completing their season undefeated! They defeated Harrington Park in the championship game to win the title.

Congratulations to the boys’ basketball team and Coach Westervelt for defeating Closter in the championship game on Monday to win the title!

Way to go, CDW Knights! We are so proud of you!

On Tuesday, February 15th, led by Mrs. Hwang, and 7th and 8th grade LEAP students attended the VIA (Valley Interdisciplinary Approach) Convocation. This year's theme was Lunar Landing. Students collaborated in mixed teams from participating Valley towns. First, team members collaboratively created a team logo and flag. Next, their challenge was to build a Lunar Habitat out of newspaper "dowels" that could house two students and support weights added to a bucket. The third challenge was to build an FM radio to be able to communicate from the moon. The final challenge was to build a moon rover using a snap-circuit kit, to explore and transport materials across the surface of the moon.

Points were awarded to the teams for the strongest structure, successful creation of the FM radio and moon rover, and overall creativity. Team E.M.M which consisted of 7th graders Megan Collins, Addison Hwang, Sophie Lee, and Grace Zhou won the Bernadette Rico Award for Creativity! It was a great opportunity for students to work together and hone their problem-solving skills.

For Valentine's Day, the 5th grade LA students were asked at the start of class to write something that they love about themselves on a Post-it; keeping the Post-it anonymous. Then, each student placed their Post-it on the classroom board. The purpose of this activity was to allow for Social-Emotional Learning, and to give students the opportunity to really appreciate and celebrate themselves.

Students in Ms. Huster and Mrs. DeSciora'a 8th grade language arts classes took part in a Socratic Seminar activity to culminate their reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. A Socratic Seminar is an activity where, through group discussion, students help each other understand ideas, issues, and values reflected in a given text. Students facilitate their own discussions; the teacher is on the "sidelines" listening and recording anecdotal notes. It's an excellent real world activity where students practice how to listen to one another, make meaning, and find common ground in conversation. Students in all classes came fully prepared to discuss themes from the novel, as well as controversies, both past and present, about its appropriateness in today's curriculum.

If your child(ren) have a passion for science, want to learn and create, and/or want to be mentored by Bergen County Academy research students, then this challenge is for them!

The Bergen Sci Challenge is a competitive science fair open to all middle school students (grades 5-8) from Bergen and surrounding counties. The goal of this fair is to further instill a passion for science in young innovators and is run by BCA students. You can register with this link: https://sites.google.com/bergen.org/bergenscichallenge.

Please see the flyers below for more information.

• On March 3rd, to celebrate Mardi Gras, the PTO is offering a choice of 3 different Po Boy sandwiches from Baviello's with a beignet from D'Ercole Donuts.
• On March 17th, to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, the PTO is offering a choice of bagels with butter, cream cheese, or plain from Butterworths.
  

Please go to the PTO Website (otpto.org) to order.

• If you have not completed your NVOT registration, please see this communication from NVOT.
• Any changes to your child(ren)'s NVOT elective or world language choices must be emailed to Mrs. Richardson (richardson@nvnet.org) no later than Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
• All Grade 8 students have been invited to join Mrs. DeSciora's Google Classroom 8th Grade Trip page. Please refer to that page for all trip information.
• The link to “Cancel of Any Reason” Student Travel Protection Plan must be copied and pasted into a browser to work correctly.

As of February 18th, we have over 1,200 lbs. of plastic!!!

Thank you to the Environmental Justice classes for continuing to collect the plastic and weigh it for our school.

Thank you to the CDW and Old Tappan Community for participating in this important program with us. Keep the plastic coming!

Reminders and Updates from CDW's Student Manager

Ms. Brock - Intramural Dates & Activities

February - BADMINTON

March through April - BASKETBALL

May through June - RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Remember, the intramural program runs throughout the year so medical information can be submitted when your child wants to join. Please submit all PPE / HHQ documents to Mrs. McCarthy (McCarthy@nvnet.org) and forward all intramural-related emails to Ms. Brock (Brockl@nvnet.org).

Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE)

Inter-Scholastic Sports and Intramurals

Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

History Form

Concussion Management Guidelines

All of this information can also be found in the Student Handbook.

Tickets can be purchased at nvot.booktix.com. Please see the information below.

As per Board Policy #5511, students are expected to dress in a manner that will not detract from their learning experience in any way. In general terms, clothing should cover the torso and legs to the mid-thigh. Examples of clothing that would be considered unacceptable in a school setting include, but are not limited to, halter, tube, tank or bare midriff tops, bathing suits, short skirts or short shorts, baggy sagging pants (pants must not fall below waist), wallet chains, and any clothing advertising drugs, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, vulgarities, or violence.

Outdoor clothing, such as coats, jackets, and hats are encouraged during the appropriate seasons since students may spend part of their day outside. Unless otherwise directed, students may not wear hats in the building.

The temperature continues to get colder, and we need to keep the morning drop off line moving. Please see the suggestions below so that your child(ren) is not late to school.

• When the temperature drops, doors to both gyms will be open between 8:00-8:05 AM so if it is possible, please drop your child(ren) off earlier to reduce the number of cars arriving together.
• Please have your child(ren) leave your car at the beginning of the cones (or before the cones) to help keep a steady flow of cars.
• If you drop your child(ren) off before the cones, you are permitted to enter the right lane to exit school grounds. This will allow more vehicles to enter the drop-off lane.
  
• Please do not pull off into the staff spots on the left to drop your child(ren) off.

As per the student handbook, homeroom begins at 8:25 AM so the doors to both gyms will be closed at that time. Students are sent to their lockers at 8:18 AM so that they have enough time to be in homeroom by 8:25 AM. After 8:25 AM, drop off should occur in the front of the building so students can report to the office for a late pass.

If your child is applying for admission to another school at any time (Private or Catholic) please contact Mrs. Richardson to let her know prior to requesting forms from the school.

Mrs. Richardson can be reached at 201-664-1475 ext 2203 or richardson@nvnet.org. Speaking with Mrs. Richardson first will ensure a smooth application process.

Students are invited to join Ms. DiPisa in the library on Tuesdays during lunch to eat and listen to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

A sign out sheet will be available each Tuesday in the cafeteria. Students must sign out of lunch to attend.

We are collecting plastic film in the containers outside of CDW. Once a month, from October through April, our CDW students in the Environmental Justice classes will retrieve the collection bags, weigh the contents, and track our collections. Our custodians will then bring our recycling to the collection center. In April, we will find out how our school ranked in the collection of recyclable plastic film. If we collect the most in our school size category, we could win another Trex bench for our outdoor classroom! Please see the flyer below for more information!

As of February 18th, we have over 1,200 lbs. of plastic!!!

Membership in the NJHS at Charles DeWolf Middle School will be open to seventh graders who meet the criteria at the end of the third marking period. Please visit the NJHS Webpage for more information.

Please have your child bring the needed art supplies to Ms. Watters in Room 106.

• Plastic Bags
• Magazines
• Newspaper

We thank you in advance for your support!

See the Flyer from Ms. Watters HERE.

If you would like to purchase insurance for your child(ren)'s school issued Chromebook, please refer to the information below.

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.

ATTENTION ALL CDW PARENTS / GUARDIANS:

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

1. Please do not enter the BOE parking to drop-off or pick-up your child(ren). Many of our students use that entrance to walk to their homeroom locations or pass through when walking home at the end of the day. We ask that you refrain from entering the BOE parking lot from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM and from 2:30 PM to 3:10 PM.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Drop-Off

• 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 remind your child(ren) to exit the vehicle and walk behind your car.
• Parent(s)/Guardian(s) should not exit the vehicle. If your child(ren) needs assistance, the staff members are there to help.
• 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/or exit your vehicle regardless of your child(ren) being at TBD or CDW.
• 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.
• Do not double park (park your vehicle beside another vehicle that is in a designated parking space).

Thanks for keeping our kids safe!

February

Monday, February 21st-Friday, February 25th~ February Recess- No School for Students

March

Monday, March 7th~ The Board of Education meeting will be in the Lynch Gym at 8:00 PM.

Wednesday, March 9th~ Marking Period 3 Interim Reports available at 12:00 PM.

Wednesday, March 23rd~ Dr. Fowlin Assembly for Grades 5 and 6.

Thursday, March 24th~ Dr. Fowlin Assembly for Grades 7 and 8; Parent Assembly at 6:30 PM

Monday, March 28th~ The Board of Education meeting will be in the Lynch Gym at 8:00 PM.

Wednesday, March 30th-Friday, April 1st~ 8th Grade Trip

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