Walnut Avenue School Community

Dear Walnut Avenue School Families,

It is actually the final Friday that we will be in school together in November. The next Friday that we will be in school is December 6, 2024. The first three months of the 2024-2025 school year has been filled with a lot of excitement and student progress.

As we begin the final week of November and with the celebration of Thanksgiving next week, l find myself filled with gratitude for our incredible school community. I am truly thankful for the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to provide a nurturing and enriching learning environment for our students. I am also deeply grateful for our wonderful students. Their curiosity, enthusiasm, and kindness make WAS a truly special place. I am incredibly appreciative of our supportive families. Your partnership is invaluable to us.

Thank you for taking time to read through this week's newsletter and reach out if you have any questions.

Celine McNally

Principal

Walnut Avenue School will have a Pajama Day as a result of our District-Wide Vote for K-5 students in November.

Pajama Day will be Tuesday, November 26th for PM Preschool and PM Kindergarten

Pajama Day will be Wednesday, November 27th for all AM and Full Day students

Half Day Preschool Single Session

• 9:05 AM - 11:35 AM** **AM Students Only
• No School for PM Students

Full Day Preschool

• 9:05 AM - 12:45 PM
  

Half Day Kindergarten

• 8:35 AM - 11:15 AM** **AM Students Only
• No School for PM Students

FDK - FDK-1 - Grade 1 - Grade 2

• 8:35 AM - 12:35 PM

School will be CLOSED on Thursday, November 28, 2024 and Friday, November 29, 2024 for Thanksgiving Break

Please know that we will go outside for recess and walks when the temperature is 32 degrees or above.

Students will be expected to wear the outerwear that they arrive to school wearing when we are out at recess and/or on walks.

Please call 908-709-6995 to report an absence.

If you have a change in dismissal on a given day, please be sure to include Nurse Stein, Ms. McNulty and Ms. McNally on your email to the teacher so we can be sure that the email was seen by the teacher.

If an aftercare program needs to be notified of the change, please be sure to reach out to the aftercare to notify them of the change in dismissal.

Please DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR on the driveway. If you need to exit your vehicle as a driver or passenger to assist a student, please park your vehicle.

Please remember adults should be supervising the students after-school on the playground and/or field.

During the school day, we have expectations and students are supervised by adults at all times. The supervision and expectations keep students safe.

We ask that if you are allowing your student to play after-school on the playground/field that you supervise the student(s) your are responsible for in order to ensure their safety.

CLICK HERE for Pomptonian Food Service Information

LINK to PTA Membership Information

Joining the PTA is a great way to make a direct impact on your child's education and school environment. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with other parents and teachers who share your commitment to helping students thrive.

To ensure you can volunteer at school activities and make a meaningful impact, it's important to become a PTA member. By joining the PTA, you not only gain access to these volunteer opportunities but also help strengthen our school community. Your involvement can make a real difference.

Please note that even if you signed up last year, you will need to sign up again this year as the membership is good for only one calendar school year.

If you have any questions please contact Shannon Tyahla PTA Membership Chair at shannonmbarry@gmail.com

Our annual Holiday Boutique is December 18th!

Sign ups are out! CLICK HERE to VOLUNTEER for the Holiday Boutique

CLICK HERE to DONATE items for the Holiday Boutique

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It is time for our annual Holiday Boutique fundraiser on December 18th!

Information is as follows:

~ What is the Holiday Boutique?

For those who are new at WAS, the Holiday Boutique is an ”in school store” set up by the PTA. The event is for children to shop for their loved ones (with the help of PTA volunteers) for the holidays! The “Store” will be filled with merchandise that is either made, purchased and/or donated by families and friends of WAS. Items for sale will retail from $1.00 - $6.00 per item.

~Our Goal

Our goal is to collect approximately 2,000 items. Your child will be shopping for siblings, parents,

grandparents or a special someone, therefore we need gifts for all ages and types.

~ How Can You Help?

The success of this event is mostly due to the dedication and generosity of many, many parents! We are asking for volunteers to make 2024 the best Holiday Boutique ever!

You can donate your own crafts/creations or store bought items for the boutique. We will need at least 20-30 of each donated item and will need them by December 9th. Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AA9AB2DA7FDC07-51101301-holiday#/

~ Other Ways to Help?

Monetary contributions are needed and also greatly appreciated, so we can purchase additional items that we may need. We are also in need of parent volunteers to help the children shop. Please consider signing up!

Here is the link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AA9AB2DA7FDC07-51101254-holiday

~What Does My Child Need to Bring in on the 18th?

Please send your child in with a bag for their gifts and the amount you would like them to spend in a ziplock bag labeled with their name and class. It would be helpful if your child could shop for six people or less, so that we are able to accommodate the time frame they are given to shop.

~Parent/Guardian Sign Up

If you are interested in helping with this really fun event, please fill out the form below and send it back marked ”Holiday Boutique.” In addition, donations can also be dropped off in the Holiday Boutique Box located outside the first grade door (if they fit).

Thank you in advanced for your help. For any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Kimberly Murphy, 908-447-1317 - kimberlywaspta@gmail.com

Don’t miss out on capturing memories and securing a wonderful keepsake. Yearbooks are now available for purchase, and orders placed by October 31st will receive a 10% discount.

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015211479502574

A special reminder for second-grade families: The PTA will be gifting a free yearbook to each second grader, so no purchase is needed!

We’re happy to share that Greccia Gomez and Ling Zheng will be continuing to work on the yearbook this year. If you have any questions in regards to the yearbook, please reach out to them at wascranfordyearbook@gmail.com.

• Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Pajama Day PM Preschool and PM Kindergarten

• Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Pajama Day AM and Full Day Students

• Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Single Session (AM Preschool and AM Kindergarten Only)

• Thursday, November 28, 2024 - No School - Thanksgiving Recess

• Friday, November 29, 2024 - No School - Thanksgiving Recess

• Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - Holiday Boutique

• Friday, December 6, 2024 - Trimester 1 Ends

• Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - 2nd Grade Chorus Concert

• Thursday, December 19, 2024 - Grades 1-2 Report Cards on PowerSchool

• Friday, December 20, 2024 - Single Session (PM Preschool and PM Kindergarten Only)

• Monday, December 23, 2024 - Winter Recess Begins

• Thursday, January 2, 2025 - Return From Winter Recess

Cranford High School Building Bridges program is currently open for registration.

This program offers an opportunity for students in Kindergarten through 4th grade to meet students from across the Cranford Public Schools district in a friendly and welcoming environment under the guidance of a high school Building Bridges ambassador.

Each monthly meeting, students will meet and work on activities from crafting, sports activities, supporting CHS athletics and free play. Registration for the entire year is $20 per child.

Register your child here: https://form.jotform.com/232148382532050

Please CLICK HERE for the Cranford School District Social Emotional Learning Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year

Kathy Cannarozzi, the director of the Cranford Public Library, has shared a survey with our community as part of the new strategic plan that is being developed.

Please take time to complete the survey - CLICK HERE - to help the Cranford Public Library understand the needs of the community.

Email: mcnally@cranfordschools.org
Website: http://was.cranfordschools.org/
Location: 370 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 709 - 6253