Community Newsletter - March 2024
Last week was Public School Week. I am proud to be an educator who has served children within the public school systems of New Jersey for the past 28 years. I am proud to be the Superintendent of the Butler Public Schools, as I believe we personify all that is good within education. From our administrative team, to our certificated staff, to our complimentary staff members - across the board, Butler works to serve our learning community in the best ways possible. Due to that commitment, our District has continued to grow. We offer a comprehensive STEAM program that has students learning coding and engineering concepts in Kindergarten and culminates with offering Advanced Placement Computer Science and Robotics courses at the high school. Our Robotics teams start in the middle school and run through the high school. We have worked to create a selection of elective courses that have increased student choice, exposing our students to options that allow them to determine where their interests may lie, and we will be expanding these elective offerings to our middle school next year. We have integrated SEL and Mindfulness concepts into our vision, and, due to this, we have had our elementary school become recognized as a National School of Character. We continue to understand the importance of a comprehensive educational program, and we pride ourselves in the selections we offer within the arts, which has culminated in our recognition as a NAMM Best Communities for Music Education. We work to continue to examine our pedagogy, resources, and schedules and this reflection has allowed us to become only the 13th middle school in New Jersey to be designated as a New Jersey School To Watch. We have worked to provide facilities for our students and our community that signify our commitment and pride in being a Bulldog - from the Memorial Field upgrades to the upcoming referendum upgrades. Public Schools are at the hub of many communities, and we are proud to be able to partner with our community as we endeavor to help make the future generations of Bulldogs have the same wonderful experiences that have allowed us to lean into our Pride, Tradition, and Excellence. I encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher(s) or administrator(s) to thank them for their efforts and commitment. I am thankful to be able to team up with such great people who are committed to serving children - our Butler Staff continually demonstrates why we say It Takes More To Be A Bulldog.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read through our newsletter - each month we work to try to highlight great things that have happened, as well as to inform you of upcoming events that you may find interesting. I wish you all the best month!
Be Well
Dr. J.
Aaron Decker Food Drive
Aaron Decker and the ADS community partnered for an outstanding food drive. ADS brought in so much food that will immediately help multiple communities. Great job by our student culture and climate team collecting!
RBS Winter Olympics
Congratulations to the 8th Grade who were triumphant in this year's Winter Olympics at RBS.
BHS Awards
Big shout out to the recipients of the BHS Top Dawgs, Leaders of the Pack, and Unsung Hero awards for marking period 2. This marking period’s characteristic for Leaders of the Pack was: Compassionate Leadership. Congratulations!
SEL Week - March 4th through 8th
The Butler School District is excited to once again offer our students and learning community a variety of opportunities focused on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and wellness. We have worked to incorporate many activities into our daily practices within our schools - Character Strong, Mindful Breaks, professional development for staff focused on how to help students, increased counseling opportunities, and parent institute nights. We have done this, as we believe that students' social and emotional wellbeing is an important part of their education. During SEL Week, we expand on these efforts.
SEL Day is an annual event on the 2nd Friday in March and is designed to showcase, promote, advocate, and support SEL in schools and communities across the world.
SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. Numerous studies have demonstrated that SEL not only enhances student well-being and academic outcomes but also contributes to building a positive school climate. These skills are crucial for our children to thrive in today's world. SEL Day provides us with an excellent opportunity to collectively raise awareness about the importance and positive effects of SEL.
The Butler School District is so thankful to all of the local businesses that partner with us in this effort. Last year, the District's efforts were recognized as one of the leaders across the country as our program focused on SEL on a variety of levels. We think this year's program will be equal to or better than what we had done last year.
Aaron Decker Elementary School - Mr. J. Manco, Principal
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for 2024-2025 school year will begin on Monday, February 5, 2024. Please click on link for more information: Kindergarten Welcome/Registration Letter
ADS Bulldog of the Month
Congratulations to Mrs. Cheryl Malone for being named ADS Bulldog of the Month. Mrs. Malone’s commitment to her students' growth and her contributions as a team player make her an asset to the Aaron Decker School community. Within her second-grade classroom, Mrs. Malone goes above and beyond for her students. With patience and a passion for teaching, she creates an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Mrs. Malone’s impact extends beyond her own classroom; she is a true team player who consistently collaborates with her colleagues to enhance the overall educational experience for all students. Her positive influence extends beyond academic achievement; she instills in her students the values of kindness, empathy, and perseverance, shaping them into well-rounded individuals. Congratulations, Mrs. Malone, on this well-deserved recognition!
Richard Butler Middle School - Mrs. M. Papa, Principal
March is a bustling month at Richard Butler Middle School, with a wide array of events and activities planned to enrich RBS students' educational experiences. We have the Butler School District’s SEL Week, our volleyball clinics, preparations for the TREP$ Marketplace will begin, we’ll hold Multicultural Day, and rehearsals and set construction for the RBS drama, Madhouse! will continue. We encourage all of our RBS families to continue to join us in fostering a culture of learning and curiosity as we move through a month filled with inspiration and discovery.
RBS Conferences will be Wednesday, March 20, Thursday, March 21, & Friday, March 22. Each grade level has a staff member point of contact, so please watch your email for a letter with information about how to reserve a meeting time. For students in special programs, you will receive a reservation form from your child’s teacher.
Calling all RBS students and families! We want to celebrate what makes us great: our diversity! Student Council is holding Multicultural Day on Wednesday, March 27 from 3-5:30pm in the All Purpose Room. We’re looking to host an event with a wide range of cultural perspectives, traditions, and experiences. You could plan to share clothing, food, games, dance, music, or any other aspect of your culture with the RBS community. If you’d like to participate, reach out to Ms. Spellman by Friday, March 22 to reserve your spot!
Please join us in congratulating Teacher of Special Education Cathie Gelino as she has been named Bulldog of the Month for February here at RBS. Ms. Gelino is such a support to so many of us at RBS as she seeks out ways to help our students, offers a fresh perspective on teaching and learning, and provides creative solutions to schoolwide issues. Ms. Gelino's positive influence has reached just about everyone here at RBS as she spreads her infectious joy for teaching! We're so grateful and proud to have such a beacon of hope and optimism as a member of our Bulldog team!
All of us at RBS are humbled and honored to have earned The National Forum NJ Middle Schools to Watch designation. This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to providing exceptional education and supporting a healthy learning environment for our students. Being acknowledged as a School to Watch reaffirms our ongoing efforts to inspire excellence and promote success for every student. We would like to thank Dr. Johnson, the Butler BOE, BBEA, leadership team, our faculty and staff, families, and, of course, our awesome students! A lot of work went into the year-long application process, and the staff committee, student focus group, and parent focus group put their heart and soul into showing why It Takes More to be a Bulldog! We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by the National Forum to propel outstanding schools such as ours into the spotlight as models for the state and nation. Please see the press release here or visit the Schools to Watch website for more information about the designation. We've also been featured in the NJ Record and Tapinto TriBorough!
Butler High School - Mr. R. Fitzgerald, Principal
As we transition from the winter chill to the blossoming warmth of spring, we welcome the month of March as we move through the school year. This month promises to be filled with exciting events, academic achievements, and a renewed spirit of collaboration among our dedicated students, teachers, and parents. Please take a look at some of the events, activities and updates that March brings to the Butler High School community.
Important Dates:
- 2-27 - Access Testing Begins
3-4 - BHS PEER -Read Across America @ ADS
3-4, 3-5, 3-6 - DECA States
3-4 - 3 - 8 Butler SEL Week
3-5 - College Fair 9:50 - 11:00 @ BHS
3-7 - Winter Pops Concert - 7:00 PM
3-8 - "Mr. Butler" Competition- 7:00 PM
3-8 - Delayed Opening for students - PD for staff
3-8 - SEL DAY
3-9 - SAT’s
3-11 - 3-14 - NJGPA Testing - All 11th Grade Students
3-22, 3-23 and 3-24 Spring Musical: Pippin
3-27-10th and 11th Grade College and CareerPlanning Parent Night - 6:30 PM
3-28 - BHS End of MP 3
3-29- 4-5 Spring Break - School Closed
Important Testing Information!
March 11 -15th - NJGPA 11th Grade Testing - See link below:
Shout outs:
Once again, our PEER Leaders will be reading with our friends at ADS for Read Across America Week! They look forward to visiting each classroom to read stories and share their love of reading!
Congratulations to BHS Math Teacher Ms. Amanda Phillips for receiving the February Bulldog of the Month Award. Ms. Phillips creates a supportive environment where every student feels valued. She always makes her students smile when they walk in the door. Though her class is challenging, she motivates her students to excel. Ms Phillips goes the extra mile to ensure that each student reaches their full potential, providing support and accommodations as needed. Overall, Ms. Phillips is an inspirational educator. Congratulations Ms. Phillips!
