The Parrot Post

• Monday, Sep 18: Advanced Choir & Music Maker Audition Sign-Up due by 3PM
• Wednesday, Sep 20: Back to School Night at Rush School (More info below)

• Tuesday, Sep 26: Board of Education Meeting @ Middle School 7PM
• Tuesday, Oct 3: Cinnaminson Elementary Home and School (CEHASA) Meeting at NAS

We welcome you to join our Back to School Night activities on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. There are two sessions offered to our parents/guardians of 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. These sessions are intended to provide flexibility for you to select a time that works best with your schedule, or to allow you to visit multiple classes if you have more than one child who attends Rush School. Regardless of the session you attend, we ask that all parents/guardians begin each session in their child’s homeroom class. There, you will receive a schedule to follow for the remainder of the evening. If you have any questions, or are unsure of your child’s teacher, there will be multiple staff members at the school’s entrance to assist you.

Session #1: 6:00 - 6:54PM

Session #2: 7:10 - 8:04PM

Our certificated specialists will also be available in the locations listed below throughout the evening for you to visit, if you wish to see them. They are available from 6:00 to 8:00PM. Please do not hesitate to stop by during the evening.

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Location: Library

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEACHERS: Mrs. Anstey, Mrs. Hanna, & Mrs. Porter (Basic Skills Reading), Mrs. Reissman & Mrs. Dobos (Basic Skills Math), Mrs. Watson (Multi-Sensory Reading) Mr. Lyons (Project Challenge), Mrs. Kaffenberg (Speech)

Location: All-Purpose Room

RELATED ARTS TEACHERS: Art - Mr. Carroll, STEM - Mr. Angelone, Vocal Music - Mrs. Marr, Physical Education - Mr. Baldasari, Health - Mrs. Kaliamouris, Spanish - Señora Galvich

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: School Counselors - Ms. Steffey & Mrs. Forcier (Front Atrium), Nurse - Mrs. Palma (Office - Room 104)

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There will also be meetings for students enrolled in the band, strings, advanced choir, or Music Makers programs before the beginning of the evening schedule.

MUSIC MEETINGS

Time: 5:30 - 5:55PM

Location & Program:

All Purpose Room: Meeting for parents/guardians of BAND students

Room #101: Meeting for parents/guardians of STRINGS students

Room #124: Meeting for parents/guardians of CHORAL students

(Music Makers & Advanced Choir)

*If unable to make the meeting time, Mr. Adams and Mr. Hercock will be available throughout the remainder of the evening in Room 101.

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Spirit Wear will also be available for purchase in the All-Purpose Room.

Please be advised that parking is limited and you are not permitted along the curb in front of the school. This is a fire lane and you risk being ticketed. Please adhere to the parking signs posted by the Police Dept. on Buttonwood Drive and Wynwood Drive.

Lastly, we plan the evening with parents/caregivers in mind, so we ask that you make other arrangements for your children and refrain from bringing them along.

This year we will be holding auditions for our vocal music clubs, Advanced Choir and 4th Grade Music Makers or 5th Grade Music Makers which will meet after-school during the 2023-2024 school year. Our Audition process will take place next week during recess for any 3rd, 4th or 5th grade student who is interested and signed up by a parent/guardian no later than Monday, September 18th @ 3pm via GOOGLE FORM.

Advanced Choir includes some of our best singers at Rush school from all grade levels and will

have some extra opportunities throughout the year to sing at assemblies and district events as well as the Winter 5th Grade Concert and the Spring 4th Grade Concert. The club meets on Thursdays after-school in the Fall/Winter and switches to Wednesdays after-school in the Winter/Spring (after winter break). A full rehearsal schedule can be found HERE.

Music Makers is a special singing/dancing/acting group that only meets for half of the school year,

depending on grade level. The Fall/Winter Season will meet on Wednesdays after-school for 5th Grade students ONLY with a final performance in December. The Winter/Spring Season will switch to Thursdays after-school for 4th Grade students ONLY with a final performance in March. Music Makers is for any 4th or5th grade student who loves the stage and wants a “special” role during our Winter 5th Grade concert or Spring 4th Grade Concert. A 5th Grade schedule can be found HERE while a 4th Grade Schedule can be found HERE.

Auditions will take place during recess on Tuesday, September 19th in the Music Room 124.

Once your child is signed up, they will receive an email confirmation on Monday, September

18th @ 4pm. For the audition, students will be asked to sing "Happy Birthday" in SOLO just for

Mrs. Marr (it should not take longer than a minute for each student, so they will return to recess

after I hear them). Once auditions are complete, an email will be sent to the parent/guardian

email provided on the Google Form within 24 hours, letting them know which group they are

recommended for (student preference will also be taken into consideration but not guaranteed).

Please click this link to fill out the Google form to sign-up for Rush School Vocal Auditions:

https://forms.gle/YfNzy45aYC5F93ic6

Deadline for sign-ups: Monday, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 by 3:00pm. Any requests beyond the

date and time must be made via email to the teacher. If you have a conflict with the audition

date or any rehearsal/concert dates please let me know so I can make accommodations as

necessary.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I'm looking forward to

hearing all of the lovely voices I know we have here at Rush School!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Siobhan Marr

General Music Instructor, Chorus Director

marrs@cinnaminson.com

IMPORTANT: Cinnaminson School District will no longer use "My Payments Plus" for online lunch payments!

Cinnaminson Township Public Schools will now be using the LunchTime Payment Portal this school year for parents to deposit money to students’ lunch accounts. The LunchTime Portal also gives you the opportunity to track purchases, create reminders and set up automatic payments. Below is a guide to setting up your student’s account. If you do not want to pay online and would like to continue sending in cash or check with your student, you are still able to create a username and password to track your students’ purchases and see how much money is on the account.

Payments made online have NO FEES or other charges!

If you would like detailed information, use the “Parent Guide to School Payment Portal”. This document will assist new users with the most basic functionality of the School Payment Portal. Any questions or concerns with a student’s account should be directed to Lisa Friedrich, Food Service Director.

To set up your account you can visit https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/

• Click the green “Parent Login” button, then the green “Create Account” button to set up your account.
• Enter your First Name, Last Name, email address and a password. Click the Create Account button located in the lower right corner.
• You will see confirmation that your account has been created successfully. Next, click the Login Page button in the lower right corner, then enter your login credentials and click Sign In
• Once you are logged in, click the Add Student button.
• Enter the School's Zip Code, 08077, in the field for zip code, then click Continue
• Available schools will be displayed. Click on the blue Select to the left of the School name
• Enter the student’s last name and Student ID number (available in the Genesis Parent Portal), then click Continue
• Verify the information and click on the blue Add Student to the left of the student's name
• You will be returned to the Student Access page. Follow the above steps for each student you wish to add to the account

To make payments to lunch accounts:

• Visit the LunchTime Portal and sign in to your account: https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/
• Click the blue button marked Make Cafeteria Deposit
• Enter the Deposit Amount for each Student listed and click the Continue button.
• Follow the screen prompts to set up your payment options.

For questions, please contact Lisa Friedrich, Food Services Director, at 856-786-2888.

Hispanic Heritage Month, also known as Latinx Heritage Month, takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.

WHY DOES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH START IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH?

You might think it makes more sense to pick one month and declare it National Hispanic Heritage Month. There’s a special reason, though, that it starts on September 15th. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five “Central American neighbors,” as Johnson called them—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.

Other Spanish-speaking nations have anniversaries close to those dates as well. Mexico– our neighbor– declared independence from Spain on September 16th, 1810. Chile did the same on September 18th, 1810.

People from these 21 Spanish-speaking countries are considered to be of “Hispanic heritage”:

1. Argentina
2. Bolivia
3. Chile
4. Colombia
5. Costa Rica
6. Cuba
7. Dominican Republic
8. Ecuador
9. El Salvador
10. Equatorial Guinea
11. Guatemala
12. Honduras
13. Mexico
14. Nicaragua
15. Panama
16. Paraguay
17. Peru
18. Puerto Rico
19. Spain
20. Uruguay
21. Venezuela

8 Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids

From tasty eats to virtual tours, here are some Hispanic Heritage Month activities to engage the young people in your life:

Dish up some delicious flavors.

Mexican food is ubiquitous in the United States and often a kid favorite. Before cooking or going out to eat, talk about the specific ingredients and spices that make these dishes special. Taste and smell cumin and paprika. Discuss kids’ favorite dishes and whether they include common Mexican ingredients, such as corn, chili peppers, shredded beef and chicken, beans and tomatoes.

Bring some new cultures to the table by trying the following Hispanic and Latino dishes:

• Chimichurri sauce originated in Argentina. This herbaceous green sauce tastes best when served on top of proteins or vegetables or employed as a marinade.
• Migas are kid-friendly, and you’ll likely have the ingredients on hand. A popular dish in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Texas, migas combines scrambled eggs, tortilla chips, melty cheese and pico de gallo.
• With origins in both Columbia and Venezuela, arepas are the ultimate sandwich – fried corn cakes stuffed with chicken, avocado and more. To earn extra kid points, watch the movie "Encanto" before making the cheese-filled arepas from the film.

Take a virtual tour.

Virtual tours provide an accessible way to explore contributions of Latino communities and individuals.

• La Casa Azul is Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's former home. The name literally translates to the Blue House. Now, it's a museum dedicated to her work and life.
• The Smithsonian's Museum of the American Latino shines a light on the legacy of U.S. Latinos and Latinas.

Learn about Hispanic and Latino celebrations and traditions.

Celebrations create connection and fun everyone can enjoy. Plus, experiencing how a culture celebrates is a great way to learn.

Take some time to explore Hispanic and Latino traditions around celebrations. Piñatas are often a hit with younger kids. Meanwhile, older kids can learn the fascinating background of Día de los Muertos (which falls early in November). Latin American teenage girls celebrate their 15th birthdays with elaborate quinceañeras.

Whether you’re attending a cultural celebration or watching one on TV, prompt a conversation with your child with these questions:

• What is the purpose and history of this celebration?
• What are the values and beliefs being celebrated?
• What music is being played and how is it contributing to the event? If there are dancers, are they wearing special costumes or accessories?
• What are the symbols and meanings of the objects and activities associated with this celebration?
• What foods and drinks are served?
• How does this celebration help to keep the culture alive?
• How can I be respectful of this culture and its traditions?

Give your game night a Hispanic Heritage Month twist.

If your kid enjoys a game of chance, then odds are they’ll enjoy the card game Lotería. Lotería is Mexico's version of Bingo. Players will match words called out (such as el arbol– the tree, or el camaron – the shrimp) to their game board. When they’ve got a row, the winner shouts “¡Buena!” to end the game.

The Smithsonian also has a collection of games and activities for purchase from their "Nuestra America" series. Play their bilingual memory card game or piece together their puzzle to learn about famous Hispanic Americans.

Explore Latinx heritage through art.

Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Diego Velazquez and Francisco Goya – Hispanic artists are some of the most famous of all time.

View their masterpieces and discuss what makes them stand out. Then, ask kids to try to recreate some of these famous art styles at home or in the classroom. As part of their fine arts program, Variety Boys & Girls Club dedicates a whole week to Frida Kahlo as members recreate her many self-portraits.

Making Hispanic-inspired crafts is also a great way to experience hands-on learning through art.

Whatever the age of your reader, there are plenty of books to explore by Hispanic and Latino authors.

These days, you can also find recorded "story times" available on YouTube in English and in Spanish. For young readers, check out "Where Are You From?” by Yamile Saied Méndez, a story about a little girl who always gets asked where she's from and her grandfather, who helps her understand her identity.

Make it a movie night.

Kid-friendly movies that explore Hispanic and Latino culture are perfect for movie night.

• The hit 2021 movie "Encanto" takes place in Colombia. While your kids enjoy the magical family Madrigal, they’ll also see Colombian fashion, architecture, animals and food. Expect to learn a few Spanish words along the way.
• Inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, the 2017 animated film “Coco” explores family and tradition.
• Set to the musical stylings of Lin-Manual Miranda, 2021’s “Vivo” on Netflix celebrates the culture of Cuba as a rain forest creature seeks to deliver a message on behalf of his owner.
• If you're looking for more movie picks throughout the month, check out these other kid-friendly movie options.

Hit the dance floor.

If your child considers every room a dance floor, it’s time to introduce them to the vibrancy of Latino dance styles. There are plenty of new moves to learn:

• Check out the basic steps of salsa dancing.
• Get moving to these fun, Spanglish-taught cumbia moves.

Exploring culture is a great way to learn about other people while deepening respect for diversity and inclusion. With these Hispanic Heritage Month ideas, you can celebrate Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 with the young people in your life!

• www.bgca.org
  
• www.spanishmama.com

• Our school hours are as follows:
• FULL DAY SCHEDULE 8:36 AM to 3:04 PM
• SINGLE SESSION DAY 8:36 AM to 12:53 PM
• DELAYED OPENINGS 10:36 AM to 3:04 PM

• Before the start of school, please take a few minutes to review the Rush School Handbook with your child/ren. This guide offers helpful information on several aspects of your child's school life at ERS. Please spend some time on the section regarding school behavior expectations and the code of conduct. A link to the handbook may be found below and will also be at the front of your child's homework agenda book that they will receive on Thursday.

• Daily school lunches will cost $2.60 this year. For the 2023-24 school year, we strongly encourage all parents to prepay for your student’s meal account and to create an account at no cost through https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/. More information on this option, as well as the September Lunch Menu, can be found below. If you believe your family may qualify for free/reduced lunch or has in the past, please complete the 2023-2024 Application for Free and Reduced School Meals by October 10, 2023. This application can be found on our district website> “Families” tab>”Food Services”.

• To ensure the safety of our students and staff, if you choose to drop off or pick up your child, please adhere to the procedures outlined on page 7 of our student handbook. Please inform the main office of their alternate dismissal routine and schedule prior to the first day by emailing the office staff at ersmainoffice@cinnaminson.com.

• When picking up a student during the school day, please have your driver’s license, or state-issued ID card ready. Please inform the office if someone other than a parent or legal guardian will be picking up your child. Provide that person(s) name and relationship to the child.
  

• Rush School follows a 6-day cycle for its related arts classes. Each day, students will attend one related arts class, which include Vocal Music, Art, STEM, Spanish, Health, and Physical Education. Your child's teacher will share their individual schedule with you and it is important to note the day that your child has PE so that proper footwear (Athletic sneakers) may be worn. This Thursday, students will not attend related arts as we have meetings with each grade level to review expectations in the lunchroom, at recess, and throughout the school day. Friday will begin our cycle with Day 1.

The Transportation Department will not transport students on different buses unless

there is an emergency situation. If an emergency situation occurs, parents need to

contact the Transportation Department (856-829-8812) to request a change in their

child’s transportation.

Traffic Patterns

Morning Drop-Off & PM Dismissal Traffic Procedures

Our #1 priority at Rush School is to ensure student safety. In order to do so, there are procedures in place. As a partner in your child's education, we ask that you please abide by those procedures, as follows:

1. Students MUST NOT be dropped off to school before 8:25AM (unless an arrangement has been made with a teacher). Students need supervision and our staff is unable to do so before this time. We have staff on duty beginning at 8:24AM. Before then, students will not be permitted in the building. If you are in need of before-school care, please contact the SAC program at 856-829-7600, x.2141.

2. If you are driving your child to and from school, you will pull into the driveway and turn immediately right into the staff parking lot. Loop around the back of the parking lot and staff will be posted to receive your child/ren on the walkway at the end of the lot. Please do not let your child out of the car until a staff member is present.

3. If you would like to drop them off in front of the building, you must wait until all Rush School buses have left the premises.

4. For students who are walkers, they will be called to dismiss after all of the buses have been called. The students will walk to the intersection of Buttonwood and Wynwood. At the end of the day, no cars will be allowed onto the property to pick up students until all buses have left the premises.

5. If you are dropping your student off at the front of the building, please follow the protocol below:

• As you enter the school grounds, be sure to drive around the flag circle to drop off your child safely on the school’s sidewalk. Do not stop before the flag circle and have your child exit from your vehicle and walk between vehicles to get to the sidewalk.
• Once around the flag circle, please proceed beyond the canopy if there are other vehicles behind you. This will maximize the number of vehicles along the sidewalk in front of the school.
• To avoid delaying vehicles behind you, be sure your child is ready to promptly exit the vehicle. If for any reason you need to assist your child, please park in the parking lot and escort your child across the walkway to the school.
• After your child exits your vehicle, please wait in the drop off line for the vehicles ahead of you to move forward. Do not pass the vehicles ahead of you. Doing so risks driving into the lane of oncoming vehicles.

As always, use extreme caution at all times, and please drive slowly when entering and leaving the school grounds. Your cooperation in assisting us in the safety of the students and following the aforementioned procedures is sincerely appreciated. Our crossing guards are employed by the Cinnaminson Police Department. They are trained to keep our students safe. They are following protocol set forth by the CPD and Rush School Administration. We ask that they are treated with respect and understanding as they are only doing their jobs.

Dismissal / Early Dismissal

For the safety of our students, any time a student will not be using his or her regular means of transportation home or to SAC, a written note or an email must be sent in to the child’s teacher and the office staff at ersmainoffice@cinnaminson.com that day. Any

change in the normal dismissal for a child must be in an email or writing so that the teacher/office has confirmation of these plans.Please mention in the email if there is a change in dismissal for an after school club or intramural.

If you need to pick up your child early, and it is past 1:00PM, please call the main office. We cannot guarantee a teacher will see an email in the afternoon when they are teaching.

Also, students cannot be called out of class for any dismissal changes once the afternoon announcements begin at 3:00 P.M. Therefore, if you want to have your child called for an early dismissal, please send an email or written note that morning and come to the office before 2:50 PM on a regular school day or 12:40 PM on a single session day.

In order to pick up your child for early dismissal, you must sign the student out on the Lobby Guard found in the front vestibule. You will need your driver’s license or a valid legal identification in order to do so. At no time are you to take your child out of a line or

of the bus without first signing him or her out.

❖ A STUDENT WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN A DESIGNATED GUARDIAN UNLESS THE OFFICE HAS AN EMAIL OR WRITTEN NOTE STATING WHICH INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD. THE PERSON PICKING UP YOUR CHILD MUST BE PREPARED TO SHOW PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.

To be credited with a full day of attendance, a student must be in school for a minimum of four hours. (Cinnaminson School Board Policy #5230)