November Community Newsletter

As hard as it is to believe, we are already in November! I know that I shared with you last newsletter that Autumn is my favorite time of year - well...November is my favorite month. I love November as it is the time of year that we actively work on gratitude. Jack Canfield said, "Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilling life," and I could not agree more. While it is my hope that we all work to practice gratitude year round, the reminder of November puts it in the forefront of our minds. I know that I am extremely thankful for so many things in my life - my family; the gift of having a career I love in a town I love doing it for; the ability to have a positive influence for children's futures; my health...so many wonderful things that sometimes get overlooked in the day-to-day push and pull of life. My hope for you all is that you take time during this month to take notice of the many positive aspects of life and feel grateful for them.

I am excited to share some updates for our District. Last year, we were fortunate to have added two Security Guards to our District. As you all know from our recent successful referendum effort - one of the things that I take very seriously is the safety and security of our students and staff. As such, I am excited to share that we will be hiring a security guard to assist with coverage at Aaron Decker Elementary School in the coming months. While not initially in our budget, we have been able to work through varied funding sources to be able to welcome a third security guard to our team. This, in combination with our other security efforts and the referendum, demonstrate our shared commitment to have the best educational environments possible for our Bulldogs.

I am also excited to share that the Fall Season has been tremendously successful for our Athletics and Activities. Our Marching Band held our 2nd Annual Band Competition which was hugely successful. Our Football Team, Boys and Girls Soccer Teams, and Field Hockey Team have all qualified for the State Tournaments for their respective sports. As we prepare for the upcoming Winter Season, I am optimistic that our students will be able to continue to represent Butler in such a tremendous manner.

I am also happy to share that the Bulldog Hour will be starting up this month. This program was introduced three years ago to assist students with their studies, and it is another part of our ongoing effort to provide supports in a variety of ways. The first session will be after school on November 16th. We will have both staff and National Honor Society students working to provide support with a variety of academic subjects. Please look for more information to come out from Ms. Nash in the coming days. Just as a reminder, in addition to the Bulldog Hour, students in grades 6-12 have daily academic assistance time built into their daily schedules, our staff have after school office hours for help, students in ADS have the HALO period, and we have on going intervention efforts all in place to assist students on an ongoing basis.

As we come to the end of the first marking period and trimesters, I thank you for your support and partnership. Together we help support our children as they work toward success. Butler truly is the best small school district in NJ.

Be Well!

Dr. J.

Do you know a classroom teacher or educational services professional who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program by completing this nomination form by Friday, November 17th, 2023.

October was a very exciting month for the Aaron Decker students and staff:

• Fall Scholastic Book Fair - Thank you to the PTA for all their work in making the week a success!

• ADS held their first Culture and Climate whole school monthly meeting of the year where we unveiled our new core values to the students.

• Students and staff recognized the Week of Respect and School Violence and Vandalism week during the month.

• The Butler Fire Department visited Aaron Decker School. Students received a small presentation by our firefighters and then took a tour of the fire trucks.

Aaron Decker School celebrated Halloween with their annual parade, class parties, and fun activities throughout the day. Halloween 2023

ADS Bulldog of Month Award

We are pleased to extend congratulations to Ms. Allison Kenny as our recipient of the ADS Bulldog of the Month Award. Her dedication and commitment to her students have not gone unnoticed. Throughout the first two months of the school year, she has diligently cultivated a nurturing and compassionate classroom environment, all while advancing her students in their academic, social, and emotional development. Once again, congratulations to Ms. Kenny!

Some events to look forward to in November include:

• Aaron Decker Island of Thanks in recognition of Veterans Day

• K–2 Harvest Dance sponsored by the PTA

• First Grade trip to the Butler Public Library

• Begin various charitable drives for the upcoming holiday season.

We have several ways for you to stay connected to ADS. Follow us on Twitter at @ADS_Bulldogs and Instagram at @ads_bulldogs for news, announcements, and celebrations. A weekly update will be sent out for upcoming events and important information through Blackboard Communications. As always, thank you for your continued support!

As we welcome the beautiful month of November, we are also entering a season of gratitude and reflection. It's a time to appreciate the many blessings in our lives and to remember the importance of giving back to our community. We wish you all a wonderful November filled with moments of gratitude, kindness, and togetherness. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community!

In addition to the Parent Portal for our families, all students in grades 6-8 have access to the Genesis Student Portal so they can monitor their own progress. Please work with your children to check their grades and encourage them to contact their teachers if there are missing assignments or have any concerns.

As the weather continues to get colder, please send a warm coat, hat, and gloves for students in grade 5 to use during recess. Additionally, Bulldog Buddies is available for students seeking extra help in math. The 8th graders work with 5th graders to provide support and mentorship, so if you’re interested, please contact Mrs. Marion. We’re looking for the next RBS Yearbook cover, so submissions for the contest are due by Monday, November 13 to Ms. Vanderhoff. Additionally, RBS Picture Makeups are Tuesday, November 28.

We are excited to continue the RBS Veterans Day Breakfast sponsored by the BEA and RBS Student Council on Wednesday, November 8 at Memorial Field. If you know of any veterans who are interested in attending, please contact Ally Spellman at aspellman@butlerboe.org. Our Student Council Food Drive will start soon as well, and this year we are partnering with BHS National Honor Society. All donations will go to the Butler United Methodist Church food pantry, so please consider donating items to help local families in need during this holiday season. The collection runs now through November 17, and the grade level that collects the most items wins a special prize during lunch.

Please join us in congratulating Teacher of Mathematics Ms. Ally Spellman on being named the Bulldog of the Month for October at Richard Butler Middle School! Ms. Spellman is in her fifth year at RBS, and she is such a vital member of Team 8 and our school community. Ms. Spellman's passion for math and superior ability to connect with students on a personal level has made a significant impact on RBS over the years. Ms. Spellman is a true rockstar!

Please continue to stay connected with us through social media. Follow us on Twitter at @RBS_Bulldogs, Facebook at Richard Butler Middle School, and Instagram at @RBS_Bulldogs for news, announcements, and celebrations. The community newsletter, he RBS Review, is updated frequently as well. Please feel free to reach out to me at (973) 492-2079 or mpapa@butlerboe.org. I’d like to wish all of our RBS families a beautiful Thanksgiving!

BHS had a busy month of October in the classrooms and on the fields. We had over 300 students attend the dance and it was great to see the students enjoying themselves all night. Thank you to athletic director Derek Hall, and teachers Lisa Reda and Reid Groder for organizing these events. As we move towards the end of marking period 1, please check the parent portal and contact your child’s school counselor or teacher if you have any concerns.

Homecoming Dance “Out of the World Theme” - September 30, 2023

We had a great Pink Out Night at Memorial Field where $603 was raised during the Breast Cancer Awareness Miracle Minute. DECA members, with the help of Interact, ran around collecting as much money as possible in one miracle minute. With added profit from Pink Out shirts, bracelets, and ribbons; the DECA chapter will be donating $1,000 to Bulldog Alumni currently battling breast cancer.

DECA Hosted their Halloween Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, at Applebees on Sunday October 29th. Members enjoyed getting to serve pancakes to their families and friends, all while in costume.

The Butler HS Marching Band had a home competition on October 15, 2023. 11 Marching Bands from surrounding schools came to participate. In addition, students from the American Sign Language Class came to “sing” the Star Spangled Banner, and the BHS Cheerleaders came to support the marching band as they entered the field. Thank you to all of the Administrators, Staff and Parents that helped to make the 2nd Bulldog Marching Band Competition a success!

NJ HOBY 2023 - 2024 Parent Letter

The Game of Life was a huge success with our students! We had nearly 30 social service agencies join us as all 500 of our students navigated the different resources. Thank you to Deirdre’s House in Morristown for sponsoring this important program.

BHS 8th Grade Parent Night Open House - November 15, 2023 - 6:30 pm. If you’re a parent/guardian of an 8th grader, please feel free to come and see why Butler High School is such a great place!

BHS Counseling Department will host another Job Fair/Career Expo in December for all BHS students. Business Reps will be present to answer any questions that students may have. Some local businesses may be hiring. This fair is open to all BHS students from grade 9 through grade 12.

Congratulations to Mrs. Eileen Basket for receiving the BHS October Bulldog of the Month Award! Mrs. Basket always ensures that students are included in discussions and activities. Her interest in their lives demonstrates her ability to be the students' trusted adult. She is constantly looking for lessons that challenge students and meet their individual needs. Mrs. Basket is kind, caring, and has a great sense of humor. She shares strategies, lessons, and always is willing to step in to assist and teach. Her insight and explanation of disabilities helps other teachers craft their lessons. Her dedication and support of the RISE program is greatly appreciated. Mrs. Basket is a role model for inclusivity and being united.

• November 3 - BHS Underclass Portrait Retakes

• November 3 - Delayed Opening Teacher In-Service

• November 3 - Bulldog Spirit Family Fun PTA

• November 4 - SAT @ BHS @ 7:30AM

• November 7 - End of MP 1 BHS

• November 8 - BHS MP 2 Begins

• November 8 - RBS Veteran’s Day Breakfast @9:00-10:30AM

• November 9 and 10 - NJEA Convention Schools Closed

• November 14 - ADS School Pictures

• November 15 - BHS 8th Grade Parent Night - 6:30 PM

• November 17 - Report Cards Posted BHS

• November 17 - ADS Harvest Dance

• November 22 - ½ Day Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 23 and 24 - No School Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 23 - Booster Club Turkey Trot

• November 28 - RBS Picture Makeups