Dr. Koop's Newsletter
October 4, 2024
Important Dates
October 14, 2024 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day - Early Dismissal Staff In-service
Week of October 7, 2024 - Respect Week
Week of October 21, 2024 - Safety Week/School Violence Awareness Week
October 31, 2024 - KRS Halloween Parade 1:10 PM
November 1, 2024 - Diwali - Early Dismissal 12:45 PM
November 4-6, 2024 - Parent/Teacher Conferences K-8 Only
November 7 & 8, 2024 - NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
November 27, 2024 - Thanksgiving Recess - Early 12:45 PM Dismissal
November 28 & 29, 2024 - Thanksgiving Recess - Schools Closed
Pumpkins and Poems
Please see the following links for Pumpkins and Poems information:
Very Important Information from Nurse Moran
Please view this link for important information about lice from Nurse Moran.
Madison Reads! and The Madison Public Library
The Madison Reads! initiative is an exciting district initiative focused on the cultivation of the love of reading. The Madison Public LIbrary is a focal point of the Madison community that is rich in resources that can support the Madison Reads! initiative. Please read the information below about the Madison Public Library and refer to the Madison Public Library website for more information.
Our Vision for the Future
The Madison Public Library will excel in enriching Madison community life by providing access to the ideas and information of the world.
Our Mission
The Madison Public Library is the community’s center for ideas, information, learning, and connections. The Library is the bridge which links Madison’s past, present, and future.
To support our vision and mission, the Madison Public Library will:
- Assist residents and all Library customers to learn and grow.
- The library’s public programs, ever changing content, and responsive and friendly services will help community members (1) recognize their own – and the library’s – potential at all ages of life, (2) explore all that the Library has to offer, and (3) realize that the Library is their lifelong partner in learning.
Build community and social engagement.
Today’s world is complicated, and it changes quickly. The Library serves to bring people together in a safe and welcoming environment so they can explore ideas, discuss issues, and encourage civic engagement. Madison is a better place when it has an informed and engaged community. The Library helps the community understand and participate in Madison’s rich past, its exciting present, and its hopes for a better future.
Help make Madison a better place to live.
The Library is an essential part of the life of Madison, the place the community turns to in its need for information to make a decision, for something to read, or for a place for quiet reflection. The Madison Public Library is a sanctuary that is safe and welcoming to all.
Respect Week
Respect Week in New Jersey is October 7-11, 2024. Please read this letter from Mr. Levine about the KRS 2024 Respect Week. Activities will include the following:
Introduction to Respect Week by Mr. Levine on the morning announcements.
Kindness Bingo at Home - A Kindness Bingo paper will be sent home on Monday. Please have your child complete the Kindness Bingo paper and return the completed paper back to school on October 11, 2024
Students will complete a No Place for Hate activity during the course of the day focused on tolerance and acceptance.
Introduction to the Definition of Respect - Mr. Levine will discuss the meaning of respect and provide examples of respect. Students will brainstorm such at lunch.
Kings Road School is a place where kindness and ANTI Bullying is paramount. Students will recite and sign the Anti Bullying pledge. This pledge was developed by KRS students.
Kindness Tickets Blitz Staff will be given designated kindness tickets to distribute to students who are caught “being kind.” The tickets will go into the kindness raffle jar with two winners chosen to attend the kindness pizza party held monthly. Will you be caught being kind?
Aboard of kindness will be displayed with teacher and staff quotes about how they incorporate kindness in their own lives.
Students during lunch will be asked how they incorporate kindness in their lives
Kindness Across Disciplines- Special area subject teachers will infuse kindness themes into their lessons.
Students will share Respect Week highlights during the morning announcements.
Halloween
The KRS Halloween parade is scheduled for Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 1:10 PM.
Below are very important guidelines for our school celebrations.
Students will be able to wear their costumes to school or change at school on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Costumes should follow our past guidelines:
● Students may wear a costume of their choosing for the class party.
● Toy weapons of any kind are not allowed.
● Avoid excessively scary costumes as they might frighten our younger students.
● Please check your child’s costume for safety. Make sure it is not too long and does not create a tripping hazard.
● Finally, we would also prefer that children not wear costume masks that block vision.
We will be having class parties. Our goal is for the class parties to be inclusive of all students. Class parents will be coordinating with classroom teachers on an appropriate craft for their grade level of students.
As Halloween approaches, it is necessary to remind parents of the potentially life threatening danger of food allergies to certain students in our school.
The issue of food allergies can be incredibly serious for many students. Peanut and tree nut products are particularly problematic, but other foods such as dairy, eggs and wheat can also cause students health problems. The extreme end of the spectrum in terms of a health risk is
anaphylaxis, when the bodily systems experience a shut down due to exposure to the substance in question.
This danger is particularly acute during holiday celebrations, when consuming goodies is the order of the day. If you are a child whose safety depends upon never consuming the wrong food, a party is a true obstacle course. With certain children, even bodily contact with the wrong substance can be disastrous.
As we approach Halloween and the holiday parties, please keep the following in mind:
● Please refer to the elementary food allergy guidelines for additional information. ● Nut products are forbidden in “nut-free classrooms”. Please carefully adhere to classroom guidelines.
● Students must consume all goodies within the class during the party. Goody bags and other treats designed to leave the class with the students are forbidden.
● Crafts and activities involving nut products are forbidden.
● All products should be packaged with ingredients listed.
*If you have any questions pertaining to holiday celebrations, please consult your child’s teacher or the school nurse.*
By working together, we can try to ensure the safety of all our children during this exciting time. Thank you!
News from Mrs. Conner - STEAM and Technology
All students are keeping a STEAM notebook this year. The 5 steps of the Engineering Design Process will be applied to each project completed. At the end of the year, students will be able to reflect back on their year in STEAM.
Kindergarten students are learning about STEAM materials and supplies by doing teamwork-centered projects. They are also beginning to learn the basics of Technology using their Chromebooks. First Graders are beginning a unit of Measurement. They will be making Straw Rockets and together as a team they will launch them, measure how far they go, and record their data on a chart. Second Graders will be expanding on their knowledge of measurement and constructing Marble Mazes. Third Graders will begin learning about Aerodynamics by constructing paper airplanes that will fly at least 6 feet. Students will practice measurement by measuring the distances and recording the data. Fourth Graders will expand their knowledge of Aerodynamics and add the concept of chemical reactions by constructing and launching Bottle Rockets. Fifth Graders begin their 3D printing journey with the computer program Tinkercad. By using the Junior School Engineering Design Process planning template, they will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to continue their STEAM career next year.
News from the KRS Art Room!
I hope everyone has settled into the school routine!
The students are still hard at work on the fundraiser for the The Seeing Eye of Morristown. They have been creating artwork inspired by Surrealism. I will be sending this artwork to Square One who can put the artwork onto many great gift items, with all of KRS proceeds going to The Seeing Eye. Stay tuned for more information.
Next week early finishers will create art in a fun way based on Joan Miro.
Ask your child to tell you about Surrealist art!
KRS Chess Club
The Chess Club welcomes all students who want to play chess in a fun, informal and supportive environment. Students who want to learn the game of chess are encouraged to visit some of the neighborhood libraries who offer free, or almost free chess lessons for beginners.
The chess club will meet approximately 15 times this year. There is no commitment. Students are welcome to come as frequently or infrequently as possible.
Interested students (parents) should get on Mr. Levine's chess club email list to find out about upcoming meetings, by filling out the form below
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1i9r8jeDMo8PDD0ybss_c_N6h1x3BPQKKAoGBZEsZvaU/edit#settings
Tournament of Bands
Please see this link for information about the Tournament of Bands on October 6, 2024.
Madison SEPAG
The Madison SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group), is an advisory group of parents with children involved with the Special Services Department in the Madison Public Schools.
SEPAG Fall Meetings:
Tues, Oct 8 @ 7 pm - MHS auditorium, Mrs. Budine and Mr. Mullen will host "Special Ed from the Inside Out"
Wed, Nov 13 @ 7 pm via Zoom, SEPAG meeting
