Message from the Administration
Dear Crossroads Community,
Even though February is the shortest month of the year, it certainly didn’t feel that way with all the exciting activities we packed into these past few weeks! We started the month with School Picture Day, and it was wonderful to see our students dressed in their best, smiling for the camera. Their bright expressions truly captured the warmth and joy that fills our school each day! If your child was absent on Picture Day, information on how to schedule a makeup session with the studio is included in this Newsletter.
Speaking of smiling, this month, we also focused on healthy habits, as February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. We were lucky to have a visit from Dr. Beck, who spoke with students about the importance of brushing and flossing. Students even had a chance to practice fun activities to reinforce good dental hygiene!
February was also a time for friendship and celebration. Our students had a blast at this year’s Ice Cream Social and Dance Party for Valentine’s Day! It was wonderful to see so many parents join us for the fun. This year, Valentine's Day was extra special because it also marked our 100th Day of School—where we are able to reflect upon how much we have grown and learned together.
As we honored Black History Month, classrooms created beautifully decorated doors and bulletin boards, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black leaders. Staff also wore inspirational clothing throughout the month, reflecting our commitment to the theme "Let Every Voice Empower." This tied in perfectly with our February focus on Cooperation and Friendship, as we continue to build a school community where every voice is valued and uplifted.
Speaking of "Let Every Voice Empower," We Want to Hear Yours! We are excited to invite parents to participate in the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJSCI) Survey, which will be available from March 3 through March 17. Your input is essential in helping us create the best possible program for your children. The survey is available in multiple languages, ensuring that all voices in our community can be heard. Please be on the lookout for an email next week with the survey link—we truly appreciate your participation!
Though February has come to an end, the excitement doesn’t stop here! We can’t wait to kick off March with Read Across America Week, celebrating the joy of reading together.
Thank you for your continued support in making Crossroads a place where students thrive.
Warm regards,
Matt, Danielle, and Stacey
Unfortunately Reflections Studio will not be able to return to Crossroads this year for a makeup day. If your child was absent for picture day, you can register for a makeup session and go to the studio in Scotch Plains.
The address is 1812 Front St, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Please use the link below to sign up for an appointment.
https://www.reflectionsstudio.com/products/school-make-up-signup
Student of the Month - Dilan
220B is excited to shine the student spotlight on one of our vibrant and energetic friends, Dilan! With his infectious personality, Dilan always brings a spark of joy to every class, outing, and interaction! Dilan starts every morning on a positive note, greeting his teachers and peers with a big smile on his face! This has been Dilan’s first year in middle school and he sure is blossoming! Dilan is eager to help and loves to joke around! This past month the middle schoolers had field trips to Westlake School and the Cranford Movie Theater! Dilan is super helpful on these trips and is always excited to be out in the community! He completes jobs in the community and at school that include serving food and drinks at the movies to his friends, and delivering items like utensils and school supplies to other classrooms throughout the school!
He is a bundle of joy no matter where he is. Dilan also has a love for music! We often catch him listening to music on his breaks and singing and dancing! Dilan enjoys making his own musical sounds too on different music apps on the iPad and Active Floor! His creativity and enthusiasm add to what makes him an incredible and special student! If there is one thing for sure about Dilan, it is that he loves his family! Dilan’s excitement and love when talking about his family is truly unmatched! We’re excited to see him continue to grow and thrive in middle school, and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful things he will accomplish in the future!!!
Staff Spotlight - Jessica Trelles - Occupational Therapist
1. How long have you been working at the commission?
This is my second year working as a school based OT. Before I started graduate school I was a teacher assistant at Westlake for 3 years.
2. What would we be surprised to find out about you?
A fun fact about me, I was featured in a children's book called Windy Days.
3. What is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation would be to travel to Greece and visit the different islands!
4. What is your favorite meal?
This is a hard question to ask because I love to eat anything and try new foods! However, I could never get sick of eating a good hamburger(medium rare) with lots of french fries!
5. What is your greatest accomplishment?
Being a mother to my daughter is my greatest accomplishment by far. As a first time mom, I’m learning how to navigate into this role as it can be challenging but very rewarding. Earning my master’s degree for occupational therapy is my second accomplishment I am most proud of.
Staff Spotlight - Sofia Elouadili - Teacher Assistant
1. How long have you been working at the commission?
This is my second year working at Crossroads, and it has been a rewarding experience filled with learning and growth.
2. What would we be surprised to find out about you?
Many people are surprised to learn that I speak four languages and am always eager to learn more! I enjoy exploring different cultures and connecting with people through language.
3. What is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation is to visit Bora Bora or the Maldives, where I can relax on the stunning beaches and stay in an overwater bungalow, soaking in the beauty of nature.
4. What is your favorite meal?
I absolutely love Moroccan cuisine, especially tajines. The rich flavors and slow-cooked perfection make it a dish close to my heart.
5. What is your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is raising my three wonderful sons—Adam, Dean, and Yannis. Watching them grow, learn, and develop into their own unique personalities is the most fulfilling journey of my life.
Ms. Jennifer's Classroom
February has been a fun and busy month for 110!! From guessing if there would be six more weeks of winter and who will win the Superbowl to celebrating Valentine’s Day and the100th day of school. We have enjoyed all the books, crafts, cooking and sensory activities that we have done together this month. Valentine’s Day was especially fun with making cards for our families and classmates, exchanging valentines and enjoying the ice cream social and dance party!
Our students have also been working hard on their academic and functional skills. Everyone has been making progress in their individual and group goals and the staff has enjoyed celebrating each of their individual achievements. We are looking forward to seeing what the upcoming months will bring!
Ms. Alison's Classroom
Happy February everyone! This month has been filled with exciting activities in room 111. Exploring new foods is a daily practice we have in the classroom. We start off the morning with different cut up fruits. These fruits include oranges, apples, bananas and pears. A new piece of produce was introduced this month which was celery! We were curious about this new piece of produce, some of us touched, smelled, and even tasted it! We then used the celery to complete a Valentine's day craft. Did you know that the end of the celery looks like a heart? We dipped untouched celery into different colored paints to create hearts. We created a heart tree that we later gave to our parents to show them how much we love them. We love trying new things and exploring different foods!
The SEL theme for the month of February is Cooperation, Friendship/ Black History Month.
In our Social Groups the students are practicing taking turns and cooperating while playing a group game. We love to play Zingo and jumbo connect four! We are building friendships in and out of the classrooms throughout the day with the pairing of some peers buddies from different classrooms and forming new friendships inside our classrooms. The students are continuing to work on identifying their feelings and learning self regulation. The students love working with The Little Spot of Emotions program.
We had a great time at our ice cream social on Valentine’s Day! Classrooms were grouped together for a fun day of crafts, ice cream, and dancing! The students had an opportunity to spend time with students that are not in their classrooms, engage in some parallel play activities, and sit with some new friends for a special treat. It was also so wonderful to see so many families joining us for our Valentine’s Day event.
In February we also decorated classroom doors/bulletin boards to honor and celebrate Black History Month. Staff also wore clothing to represent someone or something that has been inspirational to them.
