CDW Weekly Wrap-Up

On behalf of the CDW staff, I wish all of the CDW families a safe and enjoyable February Break! School is closed from February 17th-21st. We will see the students back in the hallways of CDW on Monday, February 24th.

Students can now sign up with Mrs. Melillo for the writing workshop with author Jason Patterson. The writing workshop will take place during the school day after the author's grade level presentations. Your child(ren) will be provided with a pre-workshop planning page, and then Mr. Patterson will dive into a presentation filled with features, tips, and tricks of the genre that clearly demonstrates the differences between text and graphic novel writing. During the session, students will have the opportunity to expand on their pre-planning with the author's guidance.

If you would like to sign your child(ren) up for the writing workshop with author James Patterson, please send an email to Mrs. Melillo at melillog@nvnet.org, or your child(ren) can see Mrs. Melillo in the Media Center to sign up before Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

The KPO of the OT PTO will be having a special lunch on Friday, February 28th from Garden Kitchen. Order now until February 21st on the PTO Website.

Students in Mr. Johnson's sixth grade science class presented volcano models that they built at home for extra credit. This was part of their unit on Earthquakes & Volcanoes. HERE is a link to see all of the eruptions in a compilation video.

Congratulations to Yunji Noh, Janette Park, and Yuna Lee. Each of them auditioned on February 8th and scored high enough to be accepted into the North Jersey Intermediate Honors Band. They competed against the top 7th, 8th, and 9th grade band students across the Northern Counties of New Jersey. Way to represent CDW!

This week, 7th and 8th grade LEAP students attended the VIA (Valley Interdisciplinary Approach) Convocation, where they collaborated in mixed teams from participating Northern Valley schools. This year’s theme was “Lunar Landing,” inspired by NASA’s Artemis Project. Students were challenged to simulate a Lunar colony. Each team worked together to design a team logo, build a lunar habitat, an FM radio communication system, and build and drive an “exploration” rover. Points were awarded to the teams for the strongest structure and creativity.

Each year, the Grade 7 students read The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. To celebrate the completion of the book, the students dress up like the characters from the novel. This year, we were grateful to have so many students and staff participate!

Grade 5 and Grade 6 students were invited during lunch to the band room to watch the world premiere of the newest movie from the Digital Filmmaking Club: ROBOT TEACHER. What happens when students build a robot and program it to be their new teacher? Find out by watching the newest movie available HERE. It stars students in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade in CDW, and is about 8 and a half minutes long. Congratulations to all of the actors who participated!

The results of the second annual SOUP-er Bowl Grade Competition are in...

1st Place: Grade 6 with 33 cans total (.4% of the grade level)

2nd Place: Grade 5 with 8 cans total (.09% of the grade level)

3rd Place: Grade 7 with 8 cans total (.075% of the grade level)

4th Place: Grade 8 with 7 cans total (.073% of the grade level)

Grade 6 is the winner of the second CDW Spirit Stick Competition!

The Grade 8 NJHS students are completing their Changemaker Projects during the next few months and will be collecting items to donate to places in the local communities. T-shirts can be dropped off in the CDW Main Office.

Camp Serendipity will have a CIT (Counselor in Training) program for students entering Grade 8 in the Fall of 2025 who are interested in becoming a Jr./Sr. Counselor in the future. The CIT program will allow students to earn service hours for the community while working with young children outdoors in a fun and relaxed environment.

The camp will be on Mondays from June 26th through August 1st from 8:45 AM-1:00 PM. (No camp on 7/4 and 7/5.)

If you are interested, please email Gloria Wiesner at recdirector@oldtappan.net.

8th Grade Information:

It was a pleasure meeting and working with you and your child(ren) to create their high school schedules. Please contact me if you have any additional questions regarding your child(ren)’s schedule and/or about NVOT.

As a reminder, any changes to your child(ren)’s high school schedule must be emailed to me no later than March 5, 2025.

If your child(ren) will NOT be attending NVOT in the fall, please send me an email letting me know where he/she will be attending so I can inform the high school.

Lastly, please ask your child(ren) to notify me if they receive an acceptance letter and/or an interview for any school(s) they’ve applied to.

All Grades

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic, social or emotional needs, please contact me at adamoj@nvnet.org or 201-664-1475 ext. 2203.

If your child(ren) is trying out for baseball, softball, or track, parents must complete these 5 forms by logging into the Genesis Parent Portal and going to the "Forms Library" by Monday, March 3rd. (See picture below.)

• Health History Update Form
• CDW Sports Participation Form- Spring Season (Choose Baseball, Softball, or Track)
• Sports-Related Concussion Acknowledgement
• Sudden Cardiac Death Pamphlet and Sign Off
• Opioid Use and Misuse Educational Fact Sheet

Please also know that your child's physical form and PPE form need to be handed into the school nurse and be up to date. If your child(ren) received a physical examination more than 90 days prior to the first day of tryouts, you must complete a Health History Update Questionnaire (in the Genesis Parent Portal).

Please be aware that these required forms must be received, reviewed, and processed by the school nurse before the athlete can try out or practice. Incomplete forms will cause a delay for tryouts.

Click HERE for the Northern Valley schedules and game locations on the CDW Website.

All games begin at 3:45 PM.

Home baseball and softball games are at Stone Point Park.

Track meet dates and locations have not been set yet. Stay tuned.

Mr. Ferrara will continue to run Intramurals on Fridays at 3:00 PM. The current sport is Badminton! If your child(ren) is interested, he/she can see Mr. Ferrara in Room 208 with any questions. If your child(ren) plans on doing intramurals at all throughout the year, please make sure that his/her paperwork has been handed in to Mrs. McCarthy, the school nurse.

Please see the information above for the necessary paperwork.

You're invited to the Old Tappan's PTO Parents' Night Out on February 27, 2025 from 7-11 PM at the Florentine Gardens! See specific information below!

If you would like to purchase a 2024-2025 Discount Card and Dicks Sporting Goods Coupon Book, visit the OT PTO website.

The discount card is $20.

The Dicks Sporting Goods Coupon Book is $15.

The schools truly value the partnership we have with the Old Tappan PTO! Please join the PTO and support their organization. Visit OTPTO.org, click "For Sale," and then "Membership."

The PTO Meetings for the 2024-2025 school year are listed below. Babysitting is offered at the night meetings.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM in the CDW Media Center

Thursday, April 24, 2024 at 9:00 AM in the BOE Conference Room

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM in the CDW Media Center

Please see the Author Visit lineup below, and if you are interested in your child having a copy of any of the books- they will be delivered to CDW, signed, and handed out after the author visits. Reach out to Mrs. Melillo for any questions. More information can be found on the Media Center Website Page.

Tardy and attendance letters are updated to the Genesis Parent Portal on a regular basis. Please check the documents section for the letter. Please sign and return the letter at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The CDW Musical needs donations of all suits of all sizes! They will take any 2-piece or 3-piece suits that resemble the style of 1950's time period! Thank you in advance for your support.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 production:

PETER PAN

nvot.booktix.com

Friday, February 28th at 7 pm

Saturday, March 1st at 2 pm

Saturday, March 1st at 7 pm

Sunday, March 2nd at 2 pm

Join NVOT for a Magical Adventure to Neverland!

Peter Pan is based on the beloved play by Sir James M. Barrie! Fly with Peter, Wendy, and the Lost Boys as they take on Captain Hook on a journey filled with adventure, laughter, and a little bit of pixie dust. With dazzling performances, stunning visuals, and toe-tapping music, this production is perfect for audiences of all ages.

The CDW Knights Chorus is starting a new season! New members are welcome to join through February 27th. The group is open to students in Grades 5-8. Students should see Ms. Osbahr with any questions.

Membership in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Charles DeWolf Middle School is open to any seventh grade student who meets all the membership requirements at the end of the third marking period in 2025.

During the final days of April, eligible students will be identified and invited to apply for admission to the NJHS by email. An email will also be sent to parents of eligible students. The induction ceremony will be held on May 20, 2025 (subject to change).

The forecast is calling for a possibility snow soon. Since that means that there is a possibility of a delayed opening within the next month or so, here are some important reminders to prepare for a possible delayed opening in the future.

• Staff will be available for drop off beginning at 9:40 AM.

• Homeroom begins at 10:00 AM.

• After 10:00 AM, students need to enter through the front door. Please drive around to the front to drop them off since the other doors will be closed.
  

• Students will attend each class but for a shorter period of time.

• Students will still have their lunch period. The 5th and 6th grade lunch will start at 11:47 AM, and the 7th and 8th grade lunch will start at 12:18 PM.

If you or your child(ren) needs a refresher on how to use Google Classroom, he/she can access a variety of videos on Dr. Sullivan's Google Classroom under, "Tools for Organizing Assignments."

Here is a video on How to Use Google Classroom for you to review.

Have you purchased Chromebook Insurance for your child(ren)'s school-issued device yet?

We highly suggest that you purchase insurance! We have already had to submit many claims! Please refer to the information below, or you may purchase directly from smartechins.com/oldtappan.

Homework Club began on Wednesday, October 2nd. Please see the flyer below to sign up!

If your child is not going to attend school, please contact Mrs. McCarthy at 201-664-1475 ext. 2103 or McCarthy@nvnet.org.

In an effort to minimize the potential spread of illness at school, please keep your child home if he/she:

• has a fever. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school.
• is nauseous or is vomiting.
• has diarrhea.

Students should either bring their lunch from home each day, or parents may order through one of the approved vendors for delivery to CDW. If you order lunch from an approved vendor for delivery, please make sure the vendor knows your child's first and last name and grade level. This will help to ensure your child receives his/her lunch on time. At times, we understand that a parent/guardian may need to drop off lunch at school. All lunches need to be placed on the table with the green tablecloth in the vestibule.

5th/6th Grade Lunch ~ 11:27 AM-12:01 PM

7th/8th Grade Lunch ~ 12:10 PM-12:44 PM

You can find the Lunch Vendors on the Old Tappan School District Website.

Linked below, please find the 2025-2026 school year calendar for the PK-8 Old Tappan Public Schools. For your convenience, this calendar also will be posted on our District website.

​​​​​​​OT 2025-2026 Approved School Year Calendar

February

February 17th-February 21st~ February Recess: School is closed for teachers and students.

Monday, February 24th~ The BOE Meeting will be in the Lynch Gym at 7:30 PM.

Thursday, February 27th~ PTO Fundraiser at The Estate at Florentine Gardens

March

Monday, March 3rd and Tuesday, March 4th~ Grade 5 CogAT Testing

Tuesday, March 4th~ Author Visit for Grades 5-8

Friday, March 7th~ Mid-Point Marking Period 3

Monday, March 10th~ BOE Meeting at 7:30 PM in the BOE Conference Room

Wednesday, March 12th~ Marking Period 3 Interim Reports will be available in the Genesis Parent Portal at 12:00 PM.

Monday, March 24th~ 12:30 PM Dismissal for students due to a Northern Valley Inter-District Articulation Meeting

Tuesday, March 25th~ PTO Meeting at 7:30 PM in the CDW Media Center

2024-2025 Approved School Year Calendar

Email: santaj@nvnet.org
Website: https://cdw.oldtappanschools.org/
Location: 275 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-664-1475
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldTappanSchoolDistrict