Arbor Intermediate School
November 2024 Issue
School Leadership Team
School Leadership Team
Heather O’Donnell, Principal
Jeffrey Montgomery, Assistant Principal
Amy McLaughlin, Counselor
Karen Hoeg, Secretary
Corinne Fender, School Nurse
Elyssa Barba-Bey, Attendance Clerk
Kenneth Dzurilla, Custodian
A Message from the Principal
Dear Arbor Families,
It has been a busy fall season here at Arbor. As the winter comes in, it is imperative that we keep the health and safety of our students as a primary goal. Please help in this effort by ensuring they come to school in appropriate clothing for the weather, especially outerwear. Students who misplace these items are encouraged to check the lost and found in the main foyer. Often times, items are brought out to recess for all students to see in an effort to have them recognize and claim their lost items. Pictures of the lost and found are also periodically posted on the Arbor PTO Facebook Page for parents to see as well.
One goal that we have here at Arbor is to celebrate and recognize the staff for their hard work. A way families can help us do that is to complete the staff recognition form. We can then share the appreciation you have for them at our next faculty meeting. The link can be found here, but will also be in each of our subsequent newsletters.
I hope everyone has a happy, safe, and restful Thanksgiving break. I am looking forward to seeing what the next month brings for our students!
Sincerely,
Heather O’Donnell
Counseling Corner
This month students participated in a school wide election to name our Gator Mascot! We began the process by each class selecting their favorite name from a list of 10 possible choices, called the Gator Primary. Once we secured our top three choices, those were selected for the general election. Our top three candidates were: Ali E Gator, Chief Gator and Gatorade. Each class visited the library on November 4th to cast their vote. After the votes were tallied, the winner was announced on Wednesday. And the winner was…..Gatorade!!! The cheers could be heard all throughout the school! It was a fun way to learn about elections and to also understand that our voice is important.
As we approach the end of November, our focus often turns to gratitude. Gratitude helps children focus on the positive in their lives, boosting happiness, resilience, and emotional well-being. Teaching kids to appreciate what they have and express thanks to others fosters stronger relationships and a more optimistic outlook.
A quick activity you can do at home is a Gratitude Jar. Decorate a jar together, and each day, have your child write (or draw) one thing they are thankful for on a small piece of paper. Place it in the jar. At the end of the week or month, sit down as a family and read the notes to reflect on all the good things in your lives. This simple practice helps children develop a habit of gratitude in a fun and interactive way.
HIB Information
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts both a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its students in a safe and disciplined environment.
We are committed to the safety and well being of the students and staff at Arbor. The administration, faculty, and support staff is dedicated to guiding and protecting our students throughout the school day.
Parent Tips:
- Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. Teach your children what to do – spread kindness, be empathetic, play fairly, and engage in positive interactions.
- Be a good example of leadership, kindness and compassion
- Talk with and listen to your kids
- Learn the signs. If you suspect that bullying may be occurring, reach out to the school. You can also access bullying resources on the Piscataway Schools Website.
Nurse's Corner
We have entered cold and flu season. Please consider the following when your child is not feeling well.
*If a child has a fever (temperature over 100.4) or had a fever yesterday or last night, the child should stay home until the child is fever free for 24 hours.
*If a child has vomited or vomited yesterday or last night, the child should stay at home. Again, 24 hours without vomiting is the time frame to use.
*If a child has diarrhea or diarrhea yesterday or last night, the child should stay home. When a child is free of diarrhea for 24 hours and shows no other signs or symptoms, the child may return to school.
*If a child has a very runny nose or a persistent cough, the child should stay home until symptoms have lessened for 24 hours.
*If a child has any sores, "weeping" skin areas or rashes, a healthcare provider’s note stating that the child is not contagious is to be given to the nurse upon returning to school.
These guidelines are in place in accordance with New Jersey Statutes, which allows for the exclusion of pupils who are ill and the recommendation of the school physicians.
Working together we can hope to have an ill child recover from the illness and return to school ready to pursue the educational experience.
Any questions can be directed to the Ms. Fender, RN CSN MSN.
Recess
It’s cold outside! Please dress for the weather. It’s time to wear hats, gloves, scarves, winter coat and sometimes boots.
Arbor Intermediate PTO
Dear Arbor Families,
As the year draws to a close, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and commitment. Your contributions—whether through volunteering, attending events, or participating in fundraisers—have made a meaningful difference in our school community. Follow our progress and engage with us on FACEBOOK.
Key Highlights:
● Book Fair Success! - We are thrilled to share that our recent Book Fair was a huge success! Thanks to the incredible support of our Arbor families, students, and staff, we were able to foster a love for reading and raise valuable funds for our school. We are excited to announce that the funds collected will be used to support initiatives that benefit our student community.
A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to make this event run smoothly. Your efforts made all the difference!
● Spirit Wear Sale - Ongoing! - Our Spirit Wear Sale is open now through November 24, 2024! Don’t miss the chance to grab some fun and stylish gear to show your Arbor pride. From t-shirts and hoodies to hats and accessories, we’ve got something for everyone in the family. Shop now by visiting this link to browse the collection and place your order. Thank you for supporting the PTO and helping us make a positive impact at Arbor!
● Boo Grams and Smencils Sale Hosted by Teachers to Support PTO! - On behalf of the PTO, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Christine Lepski and Ms. Sandra Garcia for hosting the recent Boo Grams and Smencils sale. Their hard work and dedication made the event a huge success, and we are incredibly grateful for their support.
We also want to thank all the families and students who participated in the sale. Your contributions help fund important initiatives that directly benefit our school and students. Together, we are making a difference in our school community!
● Trunk or Treat Event - Thank You to Our Volunteers! - A huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped make our Trunk or Treat event a spooktacular success! Your creativity and hard work in decorating and setting up the trunks made the event truly magical for our students.
● Holiday Shop: Dec 2–Dec 6 - We’re excited to announce that our annual Holiday Shop will take place from Monday, Dec 2, to Friday, Dec 6! This event is a wonderful opportunity for students to select special gifts for their loved ones while experiencing the joy of giving.
For more details on the holiday shopor to sign up as a volunteer, please visit https://arborintsch.myschool.kidskastle.com. Let’s make this Holiday Shop a joyful and memorable experience for our students!
Upcoming Activities
● PTO Meeting #2 - 12/11/2024 at 6 PM
● Dine to Donate - January 2025
● Family Fun Night - February 2025
As the holiday season approaches, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your family. May this festive time be filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments that bring joy and peace.
Happy Holidays!
PTO Board:
Meenakshi Subramanian, President
Tania Valenzuela, Co-President
Dipali Patel - Treasurer
Harshita Patel - Co-Treasurer
Dominique Jones - Corresponding Secretary
October Students of the Month
Arbor Awesomeness
Click on the link below to leave positive feedback about any Arbor staff member.
Upcoming Events
- 11/27/2024- Spirit Day- Flannel Day
- 12/2-12/6/2024- PTO Holiday Shoppe
- 12/4/2024- Picture Retakes
- 12/10/2024- Fourth Grade Academic Awards
- 12/11/2024- Fifth Grade Academic Awards
- 12/20/2024- Pajama Day