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Dear KDM Community,

Thank you to all the parents who were able to come to KDM to meet with our teachers and staff. The Parent and Teacher conferences went well last week and this week. Any parents who were not able to meet with their teachers can reach out to them to discuss how to best support their children. Please continue to keep the lines of communication open with your students' teachers so we can continue to support them in reaching their full academic potential.

We had a great time at Halloween class parties and parade. Thank you to everyone who came out to join the festivities. We are appreciative to the KDM PTA who facilitated the class parties and ensured everyone had a fun experience.

Next week is a brief week. We only have school on Monday and Wednesday. If you know in advance that your student may be missing days next week, please inform the front office at your earliest convenience. It will save your voicemail and inbox as we will not have to reach out to you the day of the absence(s).

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Warm regards,

Brian Rawlins

Principal

"Success is not about being better than the other person. Success is about being a better person than I was the day before." --Anonymous

Maschio's Food Services would like to remind parents that ordering at least 24 hours ahead ensures that your child will receive the lunch of their choice. When online orders come in the day of, availability is not guaranteed.

• Please share this information with neighbors or friends who do not have children in the district. Referendum flyer.
• The Rockaway Township School District has released a Frequently Asked Questions section to the Referendum Website. You can view the FAQ here (https://www.rocktwp.net/o/rockaway/page/referendum)

• Rotary Club of the Rockaways Veteran's Day Flag Banner, November 9th - 16th: The Rotary Club will place American flag-themed banners along Chestnut Terrace, Mt. Hope Road. If you would like to donate a banner in honor of a veteran in your life, please complete this form and return it to the Rotary Club.

• Scholastic Book Fair- November 12th - 14th: Get excited to shop for some new books during our BOOK FAIR! Students will be able to shop during the day for new and fun titles! Cash and check made payable to KDMPTA are both acceptable (Please note: tax will be added to each purchase) *Kindly note spending limits on all checks*

• World Kindness Day, November 13th: Mark your calendar, and join the district in wearing yellow and green in honor of World Kindness Day! Various activities will take place to mark the occasion!

• Fifth Grade Paint Party Fundraiser, November 18th: Grab a brush and join in!

• Family Math Night, November 20th: Please come join us for Family Math Night on November 20th at Copeland Middle School. Family Nights are a time to disconnect from technology while connecting with the greater school community. Dinner will be served at 5:45 pm. At approximately 6:30 pm Tony Mahfoud our representative from iReady along with our Distinct Math Specialist, Erinn Young, will present on the pedagogical approach of the program. Families will be able to see first-hand what the iReady curriculum looks like in action at each grade level. We will then move to Bassett Hall, where our students and teachers will demonstrate hands-on grade level activities that mimic the type of instruction in our RTSD math classrooms. Please review the flyer, and click on the RSVP link.
  (Family Math Night Flyer - Spanish)

• Safety Alert: If you are dropping off your child in the morning, please do not drop them off in the parking lot and send them unescorted into the building. Either escort your child all the way to the building or follow the procedures of driving through the parent drop-off lane. Please help us keep your children safe.
  
  
• Late Arrivals to School: If your child is late to school due to a medical appointment, please provide a doctor's note so it will be considered an "excused tardy."
  
  

• Parent Pick-Up Procedures: On the days that parents pick their child up from school, we ask that they email their child's teacher and our attendance secretary, Christina Markowitch (cmarkowitch@rocktwp.net) or Jude Wallin (jwallin@rocktwp.net) by 12pm. This ensures that your child is in the appropriate place for dismissal and eliminates confusion. Please use the visitor's spots in the front lot or the parking lot across the street.
  
  

• Genesis Parent Portal: HERE you will find vital information regarding your child’s schedule, teacher’s name, and bus assignments.
  
  

• Communication Framework: Click HERE. In order to ensure that all communications are directed to the right person, please use this framework with regard to all school-related inquiries

Second, Third, and Fifth Grade KDM Girl Scouts made KDM even more beautiful last weekend. They collected five massive bags of trash from KDM’s fields and surrounding woods and then planted mums and tulips for Spring. Not only did each Troop earn a grant from the state, but the girls also had a blast during the process. We couldn’t be prouder of you all! We're sending a special thank you to Janaka Fraysier and Lauren Ferrand for facilitating the day!

"Mrs. Haas, thank you so much for coming to Jorden and RJ’s soccer game today! Jorden couldn’t stop talking about how special of a surprise it was!" --Mai, Chris, Cindy, Ray

Pumpkin Pickin' Fun! Mr. Koenig, Ms. Ronay, and Ms. Duda's classes had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch!

Congratulations to the students who earned a "Lunch with the Principal and a Friend" from their participation in the Walk-a-Thon. Each day this week, a different student and their friend dined with Mr. Rawlins. A good time was had by all!

Fun with 3rd Grade in Mrs. Briggs's Class!

On behalf of the faculty and staff of KDM, I gratefully extend a sincere thank you to our KDM PTA and class parents that helped with Halloween parties. They went above and beyond to ensure that all classrooms had a party planned. We appreciate all you do to enhance the KDM experience and had a blast celebrating!

More Costume Fun!

Daniel D. has a pretty spot on impression of Mr. Rawlins...twinning!

"Since its beginning, Mr. Koenig's class has memorialized their students' and staff members' handprints on an end of year banner/tile. This tradition usually occurs at the end of the year but since Miss Tina is retiring, they created this masterpiece, "Miles apart but close at heart" in October." --Mr. Koenig

Tina Desa Stalter, like so many staff members, works to ensure that KDM is not only safe and welcoming place for students, but a place of joy for all who come through our doors. Tina came to Rockaway Township 22 years ago and has worked as staff assistant in the Autism Room and a Building Representative. She also coordinates many staff luncheons, and you may have seen her refereeing the faculty vs. 5th Grade basketball games. Tina is off on a new adventure and moving closer to family today. Although we're heartbroken to see her go, we wish her all the fantastic things she deserves. Thank you, Tina, for your caring and compassionate service to our students and community. We wish you the best of luck! You'll always have a home at KDM!

• Show Your KDM Pride! T-Shirts are on sale for $10 (not available on our online store!). Click Here!

Print and Save for your reference! November PTA Calendar of Events. This calendar reflects PTA events and activities. Please refer to the "Upcoming Dates" section below for the full listing of school events.

• November 5th (Tuesday): Schools Closed for Election Day
• November 7th (Thursday) - November 8th (Friday): Schools closed for NJEA
• November 12th (Tuesday) - November 14th (Thursday): KDM PTA Scholastic Book Fair
• November 13th (Wednesday): World Kindness Day - Wear Yellow and Green!
• November 13th (Wednesday): KDM PTA Meeting @ 7 pm
• November 20th (Wednesday): Family Math Night @ 6:30 pm at CMS
• November 27th (Wednesday): Early Dismissal
• November 28th (Thursday) - November 29th (Friday): Schools Closed for Thanksgiving