December Newsletter

Dear Families,

As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful first half of our school year. December is a time of celebration, reflection, and community, and I am so proud of the growth and achievements we’ve seen in our students so far. This month, we have many exciting activities planned to bring us together as a school community. From our winter concert to classroom celebrations, these moments give us an opportunity to celebrate the season and the hard work of our students and staff. We encourage you to join us whenever possible and to continue supporting your child’s education at home.

A huge thank-you to everyone who participated in the “Disguise a Principal” activity—Mrs. Heer style! The creativity, effort, and enthusiasm that went into disguising the Principal were truly remarkable. Your contributions brought so much joy and fun to our hallways, and it was a great reminder of the power of imagination and family collaboration.

As we prepare for winter break, it’s also a great time to emphasize the importance of kindness, gratitude, and giving back. Our school is so grateful for your generosity. These efforts teach our students the value of helping others, which is a lesson they carry throughout their lives. Winter break begins on Friday, December 20th after dismissal, and school will resume on Thursday, January 1, 2025. I hope you enjoy this special time with family and friends, creating memories and recharging for the new year.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we make our school a warm and welcoming place for all students to learn and thrive. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!

Warm regards,
Carmella Heer
Principal

Anthony Rossi Elementary School kicked off the season of giving in a big way with a food drive as their service project this November. Students and staff collected canned and boxed non-perishableitems to donate to the Vineland Soup Kitchen.

Simultaneously, the Rossi Safety Patrol conducted their annual turkey drive, collecting 15 turkeys going to benefit the Vineland Soup Kitchen. The drive included a prize of an extra recess period for the heaviest turkey donated which goes to Shawn Fisher, for his 19.5 lb donation.

The Rossi Food Drive Team including Mrs. Trionfo, Mrs. Petrini, Ms. Rado, and Mrs. Pinizotto, student W.I.S.E. Ambassadors, safety patrol members and advisor Mr. Martine helped collect and load the boxes and turkeys onto a Dream Foundation truck en route to the soup kitchen.

Rossi’s generous students learned a great lesson in philanthropy with this incredible community service project! We are grateful this Thanksgiving season for our thoughtful students, staff, and the collaboration from members of our esteemed community.

Congrats to the top three winners in each grade level for our annual pumpkin decorating contest. The kids blew us away with all of their creativity and hard work.

Our Breast Cancer Awareness Service project was a HUGE success at Anthony Rossi School.! A big Thank You to our committee and everyone who donated. We were able to donate $2,000 to Team Jolly Jugs, run by Sheri Calabrese. A spare change challenge was given to the students and they did not disappoint. Grade 3 & 5 ran neck and neck most of the month with Grade 3 taking the lead in the last few days. For all their efforts and dedication they earned an ice cream party.

Our Rossi Owls Safety Patrol are heading up for our December Service Projects

Toy Drive for The Dream Foundation – Making children’s dreams come true during the holiday season. Please send in new unwrapped toys.

Soft Socks for Seniors – Keeping our seniors warm in local nursing homes. Please send in new unwrapped socks.

Deadline for both donations is Dec. 18th.

A Big Rossi Owl Congratulations to Our 2025 Teacher and Educational Service Provider of the Year, Ms. Denise Stretch and Ms. Dana Speziali!

Ms. Denise Stretch, Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Stretch’s journey with Vineland Public Schools began in 1997 in the personnel office as the SubFinder operator. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she began teaching at Vineland High School in 2007. However, her heart always hoped to teach kindergarten, a dream that became a reality at Max Leuchter Elementary and then Rossi.

Known for her down-to-earth composure and unwavering passion for education, Ms. Stretch is a beloved member of the Rossi family. Her students thrive under her care, leaving each day feeling loved and supported.

Ms. Stretch’s dedication and enthusiasm shine through in all she does, making her an invaluable part of the Rossi Posse.

Ms. Dana Speziali, Instructional Coach

Ms. Speziali began her career in 2004 at Cunningham School, later teaching at Petway and then joining Rossi as a first-grade teacher, reading specialist, and now instructional coach. For the past two years, she has served as an instructional coach, playing a vital role in helping our struggling readers unlock the joys of literacy.

Ms. Speziali’s love for teaching is fueled by the incredible students and staff at Rossi. She finds immense joy in witnessing her students grow as readers and credits much of her inspiration to her amazing colleagues.

Outside of work, Ms. Speziali enjoys family time, cheering on her two sons at their basketball and baseball games, and staying active in her church’s prayer group. A talented musician, she once performed at Carnegie Hall after winning a high school music competition!

Ms. Speziali’s positivity, dedication, and expertise in the science of reading are indispensable to Rossi’s mission of nurturing lifelong learners.

The students and staff at Rossi are fortunate to have both Ms. Stretch and Ms. Speziali in their corner. Their tireless efforts and heartfelt passion for education inspire us all.

Congratulations, Ms. Stretch and Ms. Speziali, on this well-deserved honors!

Popcorn Power Pays Off!

A HUGE shoutout to our Top 10 Sellers of the Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser ! Your hard work and dedication earned you an unforgettable trip to Fun City—and the surprise arrival of a limo ride, thanks to our amazing PTO!

We’re so proud of your efforts to support our school and make a difference. Thank you for going above and beyond, and thank you to PTO for making this celebration so special!

W.I.S.E. (We Inspire Someone Everyday) On November 14th, the students at Rossi were rewarded for the trait of Honesty/Communication and introduced to the trait of Empathy/Compassion during the W.I.S.E. Assembly! Ms. Maria Hensley was our W.I.S.E GUY for Honesty and Communication.

Addriana Montalvo-Andjuar, retired Vineland teacher, and CEO of Purposed Steps, and overall superwoman, spoke to the staff and students about living life having Empathy, and carrying Empathy out with Compassion. She engaged both the staff and students with her passionate messages. The W.I.S.E. Ambassadors created this assembly and did an amazing job doing so!

The new officers are: Secretary: Gabriella Davis, Vice President: Sophia Kent and Co Presidents: Isaias Ortez Reyes and Milani Machinsky.

As part of Mrs. Heer’s final year at Rossi, students had no problem expressing their gratitude for her leadership right in time for Thanksgiving. Tasked with disguising their principal rather than the traditional turkey, students grades K-5 unleashed their creativity and hid Mrs. Heer behind some of her favorite things: Beaches, potato chips, her pet dogs, and even her favorite singer Justin Timberlake. Mrs. Heer was overwhelmed by the creativity displayed by our school community and visited each class to tell the students what a wonderful job they did. And as a reward for their hard work, Mrs. Heer decreed a free dress down day tomorrow! On behalf of Mrs. Heer, a heartfelt thank you goes out to our students, their parents, and of course, our faculty for this wonderful surprise and declaration of gratitude for our principal. We are all grateful to be Rossi Owls!

We celebrate "Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes" to honor our Portrait of a Graduate competency: Empathy.

Whether you’re twinning with a friend, a teacher, or someone who inspires you, let’s take a moment to step into their shoes and appreciate the perspectives that make us unique and connected.

Congrats to our Gold Badge Winner for the month of November, Ellie Franceschini. Ellis has demonstrated great responsibility in the classroom as well as on her safety patrol. Keep up the good work.

Safety Patrol Members are actively participating with the Dream Foundation to collect new unwrapped toys for the children at CHOP as well as coordinating the December Service Project-Soft Socks for Seniors. All socks will be taken to Eagleview Nursing Home and Bishop McCarthy.

UPCOMING EVENTS

-Gift of Reading-BookSmiles Donation and Read along to Kindergarten

-Polar Express Movie Day Snack Sale on December 22nd.

Snacks will be sold for $1.00 each.

Thank You,

Mr. Martine - Advisor

Rossi Safety Patrol Members

Click the link below to sign up to volunteer during our Holiday Shoppe hours.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49AAA92BA2FAC16-53218914-holiday

Holiday Show-Dec. 12th & 13th

Thursday, December 12th - 9:30am Grades K-2

Friday, December 13th - 9:30am Grades 3-5

Make sure to dress in your Holiday best!

December 16th - 20th

Monday - Wear Mismatched Outfit (Island of Misfit Toys)

Tuesday - Wear a Holiday Shirt

Wednesday - W.I.S.E. Spirit Day! Wear neon or bright colors!

Thursday -It’s Ugly Sweater Day!

Friday-Polar Express Day! Wear Your PJ’s to School! (No Slippers). Safety Patrol will be selling snacks and drinks for $1 during the movie.

Early Dismissal 2:05pm - Friday, December 20th

Monday, December 23rd - January 1st- Closed/No School

Return from break on Thursday, January 2nd

On Wednesday, November 20th Mrs. Carson’s 4th and 5th graders and Mrs. Stanker’s Kindergarten and first graders put on their Turkey readers and enjoyed a nice afternoon of Thanksgiving activities. Alex LeClerr and Kianna Rojas teamed up together to read “ How to Catch a Turkey” by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton. Mrs. Stankers Class listened attentively as the students responded to questions that were asked. We had an open discussion after we viewed a short video about the first Thanksgiving. We orally discussed how we celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends. Gobble Glasses, Thankful wristbands, and treats were distributed to the students during our hour of learning lesson. Finally, Mrs. Stankers wonderful students dictated to Mrs. Carson’s students one thing that they were thankful for before coloring a Thanksgiving worksheet together. It was an amazing afternoon with our roomies.

Students from Mrs. Rodriguez’s 2nd grade class got together with their Rossi Roomies from Mrs. Friend’s 4th grade class. Their fall fun activity centered around creepy and spooky animals. Students discussed animals that they thought were creepy and then they listened to two stories about bats. During their discussion about the books students identified the author’s purpose for writing the story. Then students got to create a spider made out of various food items including oreos, pretzels and candy corns. What started out as a spooky activity turned out pretty sweet in the end.