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Dolphin News
Francis A. Desmares School - April 2024
A Note From Mr. Masessa and Mrs. Custy
Dear Desmares Families,
Well, March Madness did not disappoint! We hope you were able to tune in to see historical performances by the amazing athletes on both the men and women’s teams. As the saying goes, April showers brings May flowers, but no one told us about Earthquakes and Solar Eclipses! Anyone new to New Jersey arrived at a very exciting time and we hope everyone is safe and finding these encounters amazing experiences. Please be safe, everyone!
Throughout the month of April our students will be preparing for the NJSLA which will be administered to all Third and Fourth Grade students beginning the week of May 6th. Attendance throughout the month of April is critical for students to see more exposure to more in-depth text level structures and complex math problems that will make them more familiar with the NJSLA testing format and build confidence in how to approach different problems they will encounter. We are confident our students will be prepared!
Did someone say, PICTO?! Our amazing PTO is preparing daily for this incredible fundraiser and we hope you can either attend in person or visit to place your tickets in one of the 172 baskets. We are so grateful for the generosity of our community business partners and for the creativity of our families who donated baskets for this evening. We will see you Friday, April 12th for PICTO 2024! A huge thank you to the many parents involved in organizing this event!
Are you thinking about your teacher for next year? The start of April gets us thinking about our preparation work for next school year. If you would like to share information about your child’s learning style or experience in preschool, or even at our school, we would love to hear about it! If you have a special request, please identify the characteristics and teacher traits that would best suit your child’s learning style, and please put this in an email or note to Mr. Masessa at mark.masessa@frsd.us, by May 1st. Please do not indicate the teacher you would like, as we do not accept teacher requests. Your current grade level teacher, support teachers, school counselors, and administrators collaborate during after school meeting times to form class lists for next school using academic data, social and emotional behaviors, and parent input, so please share your thoughts on what helps your child learn most effectively by May 1st.
We wish all of our Dolphin families a wonderful spring!
~ Mr. Masessa and Mrs. Custy
STEM Learning Day - April 5th
All School Meeting
STEM Learning Day began with an All School Meeting and each class picked a "mystery bag" of supplies to use for the egg drop challenge.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
Students worked in small groups to plan designs for a vessel that would keep the egg safe when dropped from the roof.
Planning is Key!
Many of our engineers sketched to develop ideas as they planned.
Vessels
Each class selected the sturdiest vessel to hold their egg.
The Big Drop!
The eggs were dropped as students cheered!
The Results are IN!
16 eggs landed safely, and 6 vessels need some engineering redesign!
Squishy Circuits
Dolphins explored squishy circuits, figuring out how to power fans and light bulbs.
More Squishy Circuits
These Dolphins created a light up dolphin!
An Egg-citing Day!
It was a jam-packed day of hands on learning for the Desmares Dolphins!
Special thanks to Mrs. Attiyah, Mrs. DeLorenzo, Mrs. Cascio, Mrs. Koelle, and Mrs. Lake and all of the FAD staff for making our STEM Learning Day a success!
Congratulations, Mrs. Moncada!
On March 15th, Mrs. Viviana Moncada was recognized by the New Jersey School Counselor Association as the Hunterdon County Counselor of the Year. Mrs. Moncada is a tireless advocate who has been instrumental in serving bilingual students and families, ensuring they have access to the resources they need, both within the school district and in the broader community to set students up for success at school. Mrs. Moncada is a beacon of dedication, compassion, and excellence in counseling. Her impact on our Desmares Dolphin community is immeasurable, and we extend our congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition.
Calling all Kindergarteners!
Do you know any children that will be turning five by October 1, 2024? Please let their parents know it is time to register for Kindergarten! Click here for more information about registration. We are looking forward to meeting our newest Desmares Dolphins!
News from the Nurse's Office
School Counseling Corner
In April, we will learn about our character traits: Cooperation/Good Sportsmanship.
Cooperation is about making sure we know how to be on a team or work in a group towards a common goal. It’s working together and helping others.
Having Good Sportsmanship is to show respect for the other team's effort, whether your team wins or loses.
Some examples of good sportsmanship are:
- Follow the rules of the game
- Have a positive attitude and give your best effort
- Support your teammates by saying “Good try" or “Great job”.
- Treat the other team with respect. Don’t tease or brag.
- Take pride in giving your best at each practice and game. Winning is fun, but if you lose, accept the loss without getting upset or blaming others.
Here are some books that help understand our character traits:
Teamwork Isn’t My Thing and I Don’t Like to Share (English)
Pig The Winner (English)
Chancho el Campeón (Spanish)
~ Mrs. Moncada & Mrs. Monks
A Note of Appreciation from Mrs. Moncada:
I want to thank all the students, families, and staff for all your support. Being the Hunterdon County School Counselor of the Year is an honor! I feel proud to be a Desmares Dolphin and work tirelessly to support our community in whatever capacity I can.
Library News
Our Desmares Dolphins have been busy participating in our book March Madness! As NCAA teams are wrapping up their games, so are your students. The Championship Round is between Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion and Don't Push the Button! Both are wonderful, interactive books that engage kids while they listen.
We are so fortunate to be able to host author and New Jersey native Audrey Vernick this Friday, April 12th. She's written several biographies and picture books for children. Find out more about her books here - Audrey Vernick.
Happy reading!
Ms. Gale
Reading and Writing Family Calendar
Cultural Diversity Celebration - Sign up Today!
Join the Dolphin community on Tuesday, May 14th as we celebrate our families and their cultural heritage. Sign up to share your family's cultural traditions or sign up to come and experience a wonderful evening. Click here or on the button below to sign up! Thank you to our FAD PTO for sponsoring this wonderful community event.
Click on the link above to read The Dolphin Splash!
Important Dates
- April 12 - Author Visit - Audrey Vernick
- April 12 - PITCO Night
- April 26 - Assembly: Talewise - Saving the Earth Together
- May 1 - Class Placement Input due to Mr. Masessa
- May 6 - NJSLA testing begins for 3rd and 4th graders
HELPFUL LINKS
Francis A. Desmares Elementary School
Nurse's Office - Mrs. Sellers: 908-284-7545
School Counselor - Mrs. Monks: 908-284-7542
Bilingual School Counselor - Mrs. Moncada: 908-284-7553
Email: firstname.lastname@frsd.us
Website: https://www.frsd.k12.nj.us/Domain/284
Location: 16 Old Clinton Road, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-284-7540
Twitter: @desmaresschool