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April Family Newsletter
2023-2024 School Year
Dear Barley Sheaf School Community,
We hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the arrival of spring! We hope all students and families had a restful and rejuvenating spring break. As we transition into April, we have school updates and reminders to share with you.
A very special thank you to our PTO for sponsoring and organizing wonderful events and visitors for our Barley Sheaf community. During the month of March, we enjoyed a visit from New Jersey author Audrey Vernick. Our students loved listening to her journey as a writer! We also spent time with Travis and his rescued animals from Eyes of the Wild. Students had an opportunity to see live animals and learn about the importance of protecting wildlife. Finally, we hosted our much anticipated PICTO and Basket Auction Night! Our themed baskets were amazing and brought so much excitement. We were so thrilled to bring our families together for a fun-filled evening with laughter and joy!
We were very proud to present Barley Sheaf School Highlights to our Board of Education on March 27. We had teachers and fourth grade students share what makes our school so very special. Please enjoy our presentation or listen to the audio recording. We also shared this memorable video with the Board of Education. Thank you to teachers Mrs. Mikalsen, Mrs. Schrum and Mrs. Shoemaker, our counselors Ms. Coates and Mrs. Collins, and our PTO President Mrs. Henry for presenting with us! We also want to thank Faith Marinzoli, Limuel Bautista, and Aria Cabahug for presenting as fourth grade student leaders. Finally, thank you to Mrs. Attiyah and all of our staff and students for sharing their school spirit in our video!
Looking ahead to April, we are excited for our students to experience a Total Solar Eclipse on April 8. Please make sure you complete the parent permission form in order for your child to observe the eclipse at school. We are also excited to bring Starlab to our students during the week of April 15, facilitated by our very own Technology Integration Specialist, Mrs. Attiyah! Our families will also have an opportunity to experience the exciting technology that our district has to offer on April 24 for Family Technology Night. We hope to see you there!
We look forward to another fantastic month ahead filled with learning, growth, and community engagement. With warmer weather, sunshine, and springtime flowers coming our way, we hope you and your family take time to play outdoors and enjoy this beautiful season.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Amy Switkes, Principal
Ms. Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal
Student Presenters at March 27 BOE Meeting
Travis from Eyes of the Wild
Author Visit with Audrey Vernick
Save the Date
4/1/24 to 4/5/24- Vice Principal Appreciation Week
4/3/24- Teacher Assistant Appreciation Day
4/5/24- Classes Resume, Early Release Day
4/8/24- Solar Eclipse
4/15/24 to 4/19/24 Autism Acceptance Spirit Week
4/24/24- Family Technology Night
5/19/24- Color Run
Solar Eclipse on April 8
As a reminder, we will observe the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8. If you have not already done so, please review this important information and complete the parent permission form. Please note, since the Solar Eclipse takes place at 3:25 p.m., we anticipate that dismissal will be delayed by a few minutes. You have the option to take your child out of school early on this day if you do not want your child outside during the eclipse.
Autism Acceptance Month
Barley Sheaf School is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment for all of our students. Please join us as we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with a special Spirit Week from April 15-April 19. Autism is a complex developmental disability which primarily affects an individual’s ability with social interaction and communication. For more information you can visit Autism New Jersey.
April 1-5 is Vice Principal Appreciation Week!
We would like to express our gratitude for the incredible work and dedication of our Vice Principal, Ms. Bostory! Throughout the year, Ms. Bostory has been an integral part of our school community, tirelessly supporting our students, staff, and families. Whether it is fostering a positive school culture, resolving challenges, or spearheading initiatives to enhance student success, Ms. Bostory goes above and beyond to ensure that our school is a joyful place. Please join us in thanking Ms. Bostory for her unwavering commitment and outstanding leadership!
April 3 is Teacher Assistant Appreciation Day!
We would like to give a special shout out to our Barley Sheaf Teacher Assistants! This incredible team works diligently each and every day to ensure that our students are thriving. Our teacher assistants play a vital role in supporting our teachers and enriching the learning experience for our students. They go above and beyond to make a difference in our children's lives. Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Ibrahim, Ms. Lally, Ms. Ryan, Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. Silvestri, Mrs. Reed, and Ms. Rucando!
Color Run
Please join us for this amazing FRSD community event! April 25 is the deadline to register and be guaranteed a shirt, as well as the end of the “early bird special.” After April 25, the pricing goes up another $5. A trophy will go to the school with the highest registration.
Family Technology Night
Please join us on April 24 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for Family Technology Night! We will have mTiny Robots, Scratch Coding, and other technology games and activities for the whole family to enjoy!
From Our School Counselors
Safety and Security Reminders
Families, please note these important safety reminders:
- Please be sure to obey crossing guards. Cars may not pass at the crosswalk until the crossing guard is back to the side of the road.
- Please obey the stop sign and flashing red lights when a bus is picking up and dropping off students. Cars may not pass a stopped school bus.
Attendance Reminders
As we enter the spring season, please be mindful of your child's attendance. It is crucial that your child attends school regularly to ensure their success. More than 9 absences for the school year may negatively impact your child's education. Please review these helpful tips for what you can do at home to promote regular attendance for your child. Thank you for your partnership!
Barley Sheaf PTO Newsletter
Please enjoy the Barley Sheaf PTO Newsletter. Thank you, PTO!
Requests for 2024-2025 School Year
The creation of class lists is an important responsibility that classroom teachers, content specialists, counselors, and administrators take very seriously. A great deal of time and effort go into creating classes which are well-balanced academically and socially. Many factors are considered in making placement decisions, including desirable social combinations of students, undesirable social combinations of students, numbers of students requiring academic support or enrichment, and overall number balance.
Placement decisions are not made casually. Because it is not as simple as placing a student with a teacher without considering all of the dynamics of each class and the individual and collective needs of the students, the Flemington Raritan School District does not honor parental requests for specific teachers.
Parents may write a letter to Mrs. Switkes stating specific needs that their child has which may be considered when placing the student. The letter should state facts to consider and not request a specific teacher.
Letters must be received by May 1, 2024.
School Information
Send a Birthday Message!
Make your Barley Sheaf child's birthday extra special by wishing him or her a Happy Birthday on the electronic sign in front of the building! Please send an email to Megan Campbell at megan.campbell@frsd.us at least one week before the date and include your child's name, birthdate, grade and teacher. A Happy Birthday message with your child's first name will appear on the sign on their special day. The $10 cash or check donation can be sent to Barley Sheaf either in your child's backpack or via US mail. Checks should be made out to Barley Sheaf PTO.