April Family Newsletter

We hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the arrival of spring! As we transition into April, we’re excited to share some updates and happenings within our school community.

March was an eventful month at Barley Sheaf! We kicked off the month with our Read Across America Week celebration. To close out the week, staff and students came together for a school-wide "Drop Everything and Read" event in the hallways. Even our beloved Barley Sheaf Bear joined in on the fun! We are incredibly proud of our second-grade students and their community action project, Soles 4 Souls. They collected over 450 pairs of shoes to help families in need. It's inspiring to see our students learning the importance of taking local action to make a positive impact on the global community.

We are also thrilled to announce that Barley Sheaf has won a grant from Sustainable Jersey Schools! Thanks to the dedication of our Green Committee and our partnership with goHunterdon, we will use the $2,000 grant to create a Traffic Garden on our blacktop. This innovative space will teach students about traffic rules and pedestrian safety in a fun, controlled environment—free from real-world traffic.

A special thank you to our PTO for organizing our highly anticipated PICTO and Basket Auction Night! The themed baskets were a hit and brought so much excitement to the evening. It was wonderful to gather our families for a night filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit.

As we look ahead to another month of learning, growth, and community engagement, we encourage you to take time to enjoy the warmer weather, sunshine, and blooming flowers. We hope you and your family can make the most of this beautiful spring season.

With gratitude,

Amy Switkes, Principal

Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal

4/3/25- Author Visit with Peter Catalanotto

4/3/25- Teacher Assistant Appreciation Day

4/4/25- School Librarian Appreciation Day

4/7/25 to 4/11/25- Autism Acceptance Spirit Week

4/7/25 to 4/11/25- Vice Principal Appreciation Week

4/11/25- Walking School Bus- "Spring Step and Spin"

4/23/25- Administrative Professionals Day

4/29/25- Classes Resume

5/18/25- Color Run

Barley Sheaf School is thrilled to announce that on April 3, author and illustrator, Peter Catalanotto will be visiting all grade levels! Students will be enjoying his books in library class prior to his visit. A special thank you to Mr. Slomczewski for organizing this special event.

We are also excited to celebrate School Librarian Appreciation Day on April 4! Mr. Slomczewski is the heart of our school's learning community. His dedication to fostering a love of reading, supporting our students' academic journeys, and creating a welcoming space for all is invaluable. We’re grateful for his passion and commitment to making our library a hub of knowledge and creativity. Let’s show our appreciation for all the hard work he does for our Barley Sheaf Bears!

Barley Sheaf School is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment for all of our students. Please join us as we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with a special spirit week from April 7-April 11. Autism is a complex developmental disability which primarily affects an individual’s ability with social interaction and communication. For more information you can visit Autism New Jersey.

Please join us for our next Walking School Bus, Spring Step and Spin, on Friday, April 11. Details on our four routes can be found here.

Thank you to Mrs. DeDea and our partners at goHunterdon for organizing our third Walking School Bus this year!

There are still spots available for After School Enrichment clubs. Please see this list from the PTO and sign up by April 7.

We would like to give a special shout-out to our incredible Barley Sheaf Teacher Assistants! This dedicated team works tirelessly every day to help our students thrive. They play a vital role in supporting our teachers and enriching the learning experience for all of our students. Their commitment and care make a lasting difference in our children’s lives. Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our Teacher Assistant team for their outstanding contributions!

• Mrs. Ibrahim
• Mrs. Reed
• Ms. Ryan
• Mrs. Coleman
• Mrs. Silvestri
• Mrs. Bond
• Ms. Rucando
• Ms. Lally
• Mrs. McKnight
• Ms. DeStefano

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing Vice Principal, Ms. Bostory, for her exceptional dedication and leadership! Throughout the year, Ms. Bostory has been a cornerstone of our school community, consistently supporting our students, staff, and families with unwavering commitment. Whether she’s fostering a positive school culture, addressing challenges, or leading initiatives to enhance student success, Ms. Bostory goes above and beyond to make our school a welcoming and thriving place. Please join us in celebrating and thanking Ms. Bostory for her outstanding contributions and inspiring leadership!

On Administrative Professionals Day, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing school secretaries, Mrs. Jodi Carmon and Mrs. Pegeen Hocko. Your dedication, hard work, and unwavering support keep everything running smoothly, and we are truly grateful for all that you do. Your kindness, organization, and attention to detail make a world of difference to our school community. Thank you for your commitment and care – we appreciate you more than words can express!

Join us for the FRSD Color Run on May 18! The school with the highest number of registrants will take home the trophy. Barley Sheaf claimed victory in 2024—let’s do it again!

This month, we’re excited to bring learning outdoors! Students will spend time in our courtyard, watching our garden grow. We’re also thrilled to be hatching baby chicks! This project will give students a unique opportunity to study life cycles, biology, and responsibility as they watch the eggs hatch and care for the chicks.

Here are a few books to complement our outdoor learning:

1. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault – A fun and rhythmic book that introduces letters.

2. "How a Seed Grows" by Helene J. Jordan – A simple, nonfiction book about how seeds grow into plants.

3. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle – A classic story of transformation, perfect for connecting to the hatching chicks.

4. "The Life Cycle of a Chicken" by Robin Nelson – A great introduction to the stages of a chicken’s life.

We look forward to these hands-on learning experiences that will allow students to connect with nature and deepen their understanding of the world around them!

Click HERE for the Related Arts Newsletter!

Do you want to learn more about helping your child manage emotions and practice self care? Please check out these helpful tips from Mrs. Collins and Ms. Coates!

How can you help your family alleviate allergy symptoms? Please check out Nurse Eosso's newsletter with helpful tips for a happy spring!

The Harvest Family Success Center in Flemington is offering programs for families throughout the month of April. Events include diaper distribution, family advisory board, homework clubs, and more!

For the safety of our staff and students, please follow these guidelines:

• Sign in and wear a visitor badge when in the building.
• Have your ID ready for the Raptor system check-in.
• Do not hold doors for visitors.
• Only staff and students are allowed on school grounds during school hours.
• Fire and security drills are held monthly.
• Use crosswalks in the parking lot.
• Observe the 15 mph speed limit in the parking lot.

Thank you for your cooperation!

As we welcome the spring season, we kindly ask that you pay close attention to your child's school attendance. Consistent attendance is essential for their academic success. Missing more than 9 days throughout the school year can have a negative impact on their learning experience. Here are some helpful tips to support regular attendance at home. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education!

The creation of class lists is a significant responsibility that involves classroom teachers, content specialists, counselors, and administrators working collaboratively. Considerable time and effort are dedicated to ensuring that classes are well-balanced both academically and socially. A variety of factors are taken into account during the placement process, including the social dynamics between students, the need for academic support or enrichment, and overall class size balance.

Placement decisions are made with great care and are not taken lightly. Given the complexity of balancing individual and group needs, the Flemington Raritan School District does not accommodate parental requests for specific teachers.

Parents are welcome to submit a letter to Mrs. Switkes outlining any specific needs or considerations for their child. However, these letters should focus on the child's requirements, rather than requesting a particular teacher.

Letters must be received by May 1, 2025.

Barley Sheaf Mission Statement

Barley Sheaf Positive Affirmations

Barley Sheaf School Song

Barley Sheaf School Rules

School Website

Virtual Backpack

School Hours and Lunch Schedule

Lunch Menu and Payment Instructions

Free/Reduced Lunch Application

Reporting an Absence

Change in Dismissal

Requesting a Family Car Tag

Barley Sheaf Family Handbook (English)

Barley Sheaf Family Handbook (Spanish)

2024-2025 Student Calendar- English

2024-2024 Student Calendar- Spanish

Great news! Our LED electronic sign is fixed, and we’re ready to accept birthday message requests again. Make your child’s birthday extra special with a “Happy Birthday” message displayed on the sign in front of the building.

To participate:

• Email Jodi Carmon at jodi.carmon@frsd.us at least one week before the date.
• Include your child’s first name, birthdate, grade, and teacher.
• Send a $10 donation (cash or check made payable to Barley Sheaf PTO) in your child’s backpack or via US mail.

If your child’s birthday occurred while the sign was broken, please email Jodi to schedule their missed birthday message—we’ll make sure they’re celebrated! Thank you for supporting our PTO!