The Monroe Messenger

Dear James Monroe Families,

This month, we are embracing the theme of Kindness and Giving as a school community. Together, we’re working to make a difference through several exciting initiatives. Our canned food drive is underway to support the local food pantry, and we’re thrilled to announce the return of the Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game, with all proceeds going to local charities. Additionally, our students are taking on the Kid’s Heart Challenge to support the American Heart Association, learning Finn’s Mission for hands-only CPR along the way.

To celebrate and encourage kindness, our “Kindness Crew” will be on the lookout for acts of kindness, rewarding students with special wristbands to recognize their efforts. Let’s continue to inspire each other to give back, show compassion, and build a stronger community together.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us foster these important values in our students.

We look forward to seeing you this month at our upcoming Science Expo on February 19th and the PTO Someone Special Dance on February 27th (new date!).

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Cynthia Tufaro, principal

Mr. Argiris Hristofis, assistant principal

Wear your favorite team jersey to school on February 7th and donate $1. Proceeds will go to the ETEA Volleyball Fundraiser to benefit local charities.

Our PTO purchases each child a special James Monroe t-shirt to wear for their upcoming field trips and for our field day. All orders are due by Feb. 14th. (5th grade shirts are unique and ordered separately.)

Our music program thrives at James Monroe with more than 200 students involved in band, orchestra and chorus. On January 9th, Mr. Goode, Ms. Russell and Ms. Ford showcased their talent at our Winter Concert. In just four short months, the children have learned how to read music and perform songs. We are so proud of our students and Mr. Brit for the extra time and practice it takes to accomplish this skill! Check out highlights from the concert and view the performance on YouTube

Our Title IWhat’s Cooking Math Night was a huge success! Families enjoyed cooking demonstrations from professional chefs, tips from nutritionists, and hands-on activities that brought math to life in the kitchen. From measuring ingredients to reading recipes, everyone had a blast—especially making ice cream in a bag!

A heartfelt thank you goes to Mrs. Westcott and the Math Committee for organizing this wonderful event, Maschio's Food Service for their support, and the John Adams FCCLA, Family Career and Community Leaders of America led by Ms. Susan Seago, for volunteering their time and talents. It was an evening full of learning, laughter, and delicious fun!

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Science Expo on February 19th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. This exhibition will give students in Grades 3-5 the opportunity to showcase their skills and foster their love of science! Flyers have been sent home and registration was due on January 30th.

A trifold board will be given to each student (or partner group) that is registered. Thank you to the PTO for supplying our scientists with their display boards!

This year, we will be joined by EHS Science Honor Society members, who will engage, visit and provide feedback to our James Monroe scientists. We are looking forward to all of the wonderful things the students have to share with us on this night filled with exploration and wonder!

It is not too late to send in cans for our Donate and Create Food Drive! This year, our school is focusing on ways to raise awareness and accessibility for families facing food insecurity. We are kicking off this initiative with a food drive to benefit our local Middlesex County Food Pantry, Replenish. This Friday, February 7th, classrooms will build designs with their cans prior to donating them to the pantry for a fun and creative contest. There will be two lucky winners!

We are crushing it with our student registration and participation in the American Heart Association's “Kids Heart Challenge” at James Monroe! With your help and support, students can register online and learn Finn's Mission, 7 steps towards hands-only CPR. So far we have over 100 students registered and 14 students learned CPR. Way to go! The program is trying to teach our students to keep their hearts and brains healthy and get moving with fun activities.

All money donated will go to the American Heart Association which supports scientific research and accelerating science, improving quality of medical care, preventing e-cigarette and tobacco use in youth, and improving nutrition.

The Kids Heart Challenge will run Feb. 10th - 14th during all physical education classes. The students will participate in fun station activities to get their bodies moving and heart pumping regardless of donations.

If you would like to donate, please use the link below to register your child and donate.

James Monroe Elementary School Kids Heart Challenge

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Reif or Mr. Fernandez

Please enjoy this edition of the Whoos News written, recorded and edited by our very own Media Club!

Please join us in the cafeteria for a working PTO meeting on February 25th at 6:00 pm. This will be an in-person meeting.

Information will be sent home soon about Parent Teacher Conferences.

DATES:

Thursday, March 13th 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Thursday, March 20th 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Please remember that conference days are early dismissal days. Students are released at 1:30 pm.

Welcome back to Mrs. Vazza and congratulations on her new little bundle of joy! This month, our students have been inspired by the wintry weather and are so proud of their snowy scenes. Please check out their beautiful, creative designs.

The Edison Township Public Schools District is proud to introduce Parent University 2025: Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well, a two-part series of workshops for the district's PK-12 parents and guardians.

Parent University 2025 will focus on assisting PK-12 parents in supporting their children in their education and forging a stronger home/school connection.

The first of this series is the Live Well/Lead Well session which will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at Edison High School starting at 6:15 PM. Doors will open at 6:00 PM.

Learn more and register here.

• DRESS FOR PLAY - Please remember to check the weather and dress your child in WARM coats, gloves, scarves and hats. We will go outside for recess as long as the "real feel" is above 32 degrees for healthy fresh air and exercise!
  

RSVP by 2/14. Only ONE adult per child and $10 per-person!

Our Kindness Club is catching our fellow students in the act of kindness. Students will receive a kindness band from a staff member or a fellow student for representing one of the following:

Helper Hero

Welcome Warrior

Politeness Pro

Service Superstar

Respectful Ranger

Together we are going to make a chain of kindness around our school! Check back to see how far our chain reaches.

Classrooms incorporate black history year-round, not just in February. We will use February to dig deeper into history to help us make connections with the past and make history relevant to students' lives. Our textbooks are one of many resources, but our teachers will be exploring multiple resources and allow for opportunities to learn along with your students.Consider reading some of these stories with your children.

Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrated this past month! The Township will be hosting its annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 8, 2024, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. with a parade starting at Festival Plaza and festivities at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Would you or your child like a Annie, Jr. t-shirt? Please complete this form and submit payment by February 21st. All leads and crew will receive a complimentary shirt, but will still need to complete the form to order their size.

Also, information is going home soon for our Kindergarten, First and Second graders who may be interested in performing in the opening number of the show.

Many students are being sent to school with symptoms of infectious illness after receiving medications to hide fevers and other illness symptoms. Choosing to do this directly affects all students and their families, and all faculty and their families during this infectious Influenza, Virus, Strep, stomach flu and Covid-19 season.

James Monroe School has students and staff who cannot fight off infection as well as other children and adults, which may land them in the hospital. Please contact me if you are unsure if your child needs to stay home to avoid causing illness to their friends, classmates and teachers.

Choices affect more than just one family and the function of the school.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS!

Thank you 🙂

Kindly Consult This Chart For Assistance

Read these flyers to learn ways you can take care of your familly's heart health.

Children can purchase snacks after they eat lunch on Tuesday and Thursdays!