The Mount Laurel Leaflet

This week, former Hartford GAP students Natalia Luste and Kaitlyn Lai, went to Atlantic City with an idea and came home with a 1st place win!

Natalia and Kaitlyn's journey began last fall when Hartford Upper Elementary GAP students participated in the STEAM Tank Challenge, a competition sponsored by the New Jersey School Board Association. These 6th graders submitted their application along with almost 600 other teams across the state of New Jersey; in total, 22 teams were from Hartford. The students pitched solutions to self-identified problems. Through three rounds of elimination, one group made it to the top 3 in the state, earning recognition in multiple categories, including Innovative Tech & Design, Collaboration, Societal Impact, and J.E.D.I. That group was Mute Assistance Speech Communicator (MASC).

Now 7th graders, Natalia Luste and Kaitlyn Lai presented their final pitch to judges in Atlantic City at the New Jersey School Boards Association's (NJSBA) Conference. Team M.A.S.C. shared their "why" and the design process that led them to create their product, a "M.A.S.C. for the Mute." The story of a mute student who felt isolated from her peers (who didn't know how to sign) inspired Natalia and Kaitlyn to find a solution to this problem due to her disability. Their solution provided a means of communication where there was none. The M.A.S.C. would use cameras to read the lips of the speaker, and AI technology would interpret the message and project it through speakers in an easy-to-wear device. Needless to say, the judges were impressed with their pitch and their responses to impromptu questions.

Natalia and Kaitlyn deserve congratulations for all their hard work. In addition, many thanks go to all the parents, teachers, and subject matter experts who volunteered their time to work with all of our GAP students and gave them an experience that went well beyond the classroom. This win is just one shining example of what our students can do when our community works together.

Pictured left to right: Mrs. Bajaj, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction; Mr. Caltabiano, Curriculum Supervisor; Natalia Luste and Kaitlyn Lai, FIRST PLACE winner; Mrs. Stafford, Gifted & Talented Teacher and Dr. Rafferty, Superintendent of Schools

Students at Hillside Elementary recently combined physical activity with life-saving skills during their PE class with Ms. Ingham. As part of Fire Prevention Month, students learned essential fire safety tips while participating in engaging activities that simulated safe evacuation procedures. From practicing "Stop, Drop, and Roll" to identifying exit strategies, students not only stayed active

but also gained valuable knowledge to keep them safe in case of an emergency.

The Mount Laurel School District is excited to announce that we will be participating in the New Jersey School Climate (NJ SCI) Improvement Survey. This survey was developed and is administered by Rutgers University in order to help schools obtain multiple perspectives on aspects of school climate.

Your voice and perspective is important to us, and we encourage you to participate when you receive the survey this month. Collecting data is important for understanding strengths and needs in our schools and how it feels to be a member of the school community. The data will be used to make improvements in our schools. This survey is anonymous and voluntary. A letter with instructions on how to take the parent and caregivers survey will be sent on October 16th. In addition to asking families to participate, all Mount Laurel School District staff, as well as students in grades 3-8, will have the opportunity to participate in surveys tailored to them. Results will be analyzed and shared later in the school year.

Please take the opportunity now to nominate an outstanding Mount Laurel educator for the 2024-2025 Governor's Educator of the Year Recognition Program (GEOY.) We will be selecting one outstanding educator for each school!

Visit our District Governor's Educator of the Year webpage and nominate an outstanding educator now! In fact, you may nominate more than one educator if you would like.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, November 15th.

SCHOOL
Picture Day / Retake Day

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COUNTRYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

October 28 / December 5

FLEETWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

October 24 / November 21

HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

October 4 / November 4

LARCHMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

September 23 / November 4

PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

October 18 / December 10

SPRINGVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

September 24 / October 30

MOUNT LAUREL HARTFORD SCHOOL

September 30 / November 13

THOMAS E. HARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

September 30 / November 12

Eligibility requirements and applications for free and reduced price meals are available to all households annually. Students in need of assistance will be determined by the criteria issued by the State of New Jersey and the USDA.

The District encourages all families who may qualify for free and reduced meals to fill out and return the application as soon as possible to receive free or reduced lunch.

Forms may also be printed and sent to the Business Office at 330 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 or emailed to: rwachter@mtlaurelschools.org

Extended Day Care will be closed on October 14, 2024.

Please review the district calendar.

All information regarding our Extended Day Care (EDC) Program is available in our handbook. If you haven't done so already, kindly review the handbook at your earliest convenience.

PHONE: 856-231-5891 (Please use extensions below)

Chris Sherf- csherf@mtlaurelschools.org (PRIMARY EDC EXT. 21004)

Yvette Gonzalez -yvgonzalez@mtlaurelschools.org (SCHEDULING EXT. 21001)

Pam Witts-pwitts@mtlaurelschools.org (Site Coordinator EXT. 21009)

Suzy Haftman- shaftman@mtlaurelschools.org (Director of Community Education & EDC EXT. 21002)

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. As a school community, we want to encourage everyone to stay informed about the signs of bullying, the impact it can have, and what to do if you see it happening.

Named Best Animated Short at the 2021 Los Angeles One-Reeler Film Festival, the film linked below encourages students to reflect on the importance of friendship and how small actions can make a big impact.

As a mental health advocate, you know that preventing bullying isn’t something schools can solve alone—it requires students to care for each other. It takes courage to stand up for yourself or a friend, but sometimes being a friend starts with the simplest question: "Are you okay?" We hope this video empowers students to take that first step toward kindness and connection.

October marks National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, a time to focus on prevention efforts and recognize the support available in our community. It’s also a moment to honor the over 20 million Americans battling addiction, remember those lost to it, and celebrate the resilience of those in recovery, along with the friends and family who stand by them.

Preventing substance use begins with open conversations with our students about the effects of substance abuse on their health. Research shows that early use of substances like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs significantly increases the risk of addiction. Every year that substance use is delayed during adolescent brain development reduces the risk of addiction.

Here are resources to help raise awareness about substance use and where to find help in our community:

• SAMHSA’s "Talk. They Hear You" Campaign: Empowering adults to steer children away from the risks of alcohol and drugs.
• Partnership to End Addiction: A resource hub offering evidence-based insights for addressing substance use.
• Natural High Foundation: Nationally recognized motivational storytelling videos of celebrities explaining why they live a drug-free life. Follow-up discussion guides and activities included.
• Harvard Medical Blog's Tips for Talking with Your Teens: Guidance for parents and educators on discussing drug use with youth.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse's Resources: Providing critical information for parents and educators on substance use and effective communication.

If you or a loved one is struggling, Care Solace is here to help. This complimentary service is available to the Mount Laurel Township School District community,

As a community, we are committed to the emotional and physical well-being of each individual, and encourage you to access the resources available to you should a crisis arise.

Together, let’s break the cycle of youth substance abuse and encourage healthy living where kids are empowered to live a healthy, balanced life.

1

Diwali Holiday

Schools Closed

7-8

NJEA Convention

Schools Closed

11

Holiday Food Basket Drive Begins

21

Parent/Teacher District-Wide Evening Conferences

Early Dismissal

22

Parent/Teacher District-Wide Afternoon Conferences

Early Dismissal

25

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Early Dismissal

Afternoon: PreK - 4th Grade

Evening: 5th - 8th Grade

26

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Early Dismissal

Afternoon: 5th - 8th Grade

Evening: PreK - 4th Grade

27

Early Dismissal - Staff & Students

28 - 29

Thanksgiving Recess

Schools Closed

13

Teacher In-Service

Schools Closed for Students

20

Early Dismissal - Staff & Students

23-31

Winter Recess

Schools Closed

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Website: http://www.mtlaurelschools.org
Location: 330 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 856-235-3387
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlschools/
Twitter: @MTL_Super