Counselor's Corner
Character Trait of the Month: Kindness
What is kindness?
Kindness is and always will be one of the most beautiful and powerful forces for good that exists in the entire world. Kindness is all the different ways both big and small we express care, concern, and consideration for ourselves and others. Kindness shows up as a supportive smile, a comforting embrace, and a helping hand when we need it the most. It exists as warm words of encouragement, thoughtful gestures and compassionate acts of generosity that so many of us witness, perform, and receive as we move through life.
Kindness is a reminder of why we’re here and how we can each use our lives to help others.
Parent Tips:
Model kindness. It may seem obvious, but showing kindness to a child can build a foundation of kindness within them. When a child feels nurtured, they feel like their needs are met and they have a safe, secure base. Early nurturing has to do with kindness; parents can do a lot by modeling.
Frame your feedback thoughtfully. Kids are constantly receiving feedback on their work — be it how they made their bed, structured a critical essay, or handled the ball on the soccer field. Adults can create a culture of kindness by thinking through how we frame that feedback. We want to frame it so it shows we’re thinking about the best interests of the child and their growth, and saying things in a way that is not shaming or judgmental. Thoughtful feedback can build kids’ confidence, help them feel safe, and can model appropriate ways for them to give constructive feedback to others.
Encourage self-reflection. When you see a child show an act of kindness (or meanness), take time to name it, recognize it, and encourage them to think about how it made them feel. How do they think it made the other person feel? When they’re little, helping them develop the skills to be more aware of themselves and how their actions impact others can be really valuable. When they start from a foundation of self-awareness, they can start to filter and process information in a way that shows awareness of others.
If you would like more information or have any questions please contact Mrs. Pilato (epilato@efsk-6.org) and/or Mrs. Alpert (ralpert@efsk-6.org).
School News
AUTHOR VISIT 3/1
On Friday March 1st, children’s author Alyssa Satin Capucilli, author of Biscuit, will be coming to EFS. With over seventy-five titles in the series as well as over twenty-one million books in print, Biscuit has been deemed a modern classic and has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. If you have a book written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli at home and would like her to personalize them to your children, please fill out the form below and return it with the book(s) to Mrs. Trafford by Wednesday February 28th. Books will be returned to your children once they are signed. Any questions please email Mrs. Trafford at ktrafford@efsk-6.org
SCHOOL STORE
The next School Store will be on February 27th during both lunches. Mrs. Hromoko will have a meeting in her room before school.
SPRING 2024 GIRLS ON THE RUN - 3RD & 4TH GRADES
Join Girls on The Run and watch your confidence soar! Click here for details.
15 slots available, on a first come first serve basis.
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
Thank you for all your participation in Student Council Spirit Week. Tomorrow you have a choice of theme.
You may sport your team color of orange or black. You may also wear your outfit from DECADE DAY, since that got postponed due to our snow day. We cannot wait to announce the winners on Friday!
Be on the lookout for information about our pop-up New To You Bengal Bookstore, coming in early March!
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
The Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser takes place in the month of February. Essex Fells has set a goal of raising $25,000 for the American Heart Association this year. All money raised goes to research in the fight against heart disease. Join us in learning about hearth health and raising funds to protect all hearts - especially other kids! Through fun activities, we'll discover ways to take care of our hearts and brains while practicing kindness, gratitude and learning ways to de-stress. Plus, we have the chance to earn PE equipment for our school. Be A Heart Hero! (Essex Fells School Page) If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Finnegan at pfinnegan@efsk-6.org.
SUBS NEEDED
If you have 30 college credits and love children, apply to be a sub at EFS. Interested in finding out more about a typical day as a sub and the requirements? Contact Mrs. Rivera in the main office for all the details.
WEATHER ALERTS
With the winter weather making its arrival, please look for EFS schedule changes via Finalsite alerts, the ESNJ App, our website, www.efsk-6.org, Channel 12 and Channel 7. Please send your child dressed warmly each day with a coat, hat and gloves as they do go outside each day for recess.
VISITING THE SCHOOL/VOLUNTEERS
Please make an appointment with the main office or a teacher to visit EFS.
To enter the school, please ring the bell located to the left of the front doors of the upper building. Please announce yourself and the reason for your visit. Wait for the buzzer and enter through the left door. Once inside the vestibule, the second set of doors is locked. Please ring the bell located to the right of the doors. The door on the right will be released to enter. All visitors must sign in to obtain a visitor badge. The visitors sign in book is located on Officer Tedesco's desk and the volunteer sign in book is located in the main office. Both visitors and volunteers must be scheduled through the PTA or main office.
All volunteers must read and sign off on the HIB Policy prior to work with students.
Please sign out before leaving the school after your visit.
Drop-Off Station
A drop-off table to place any forgotten items such as lunch or classroom items is located in the main entrance vestibule. Please mark all items with your child’s name and teacher.
CAR PICK UP REMINDERS
- All students using rolling pick up must proceed directly to the gate after dismissal.
- Any students remaining after school hours to play on the field or playground must be supervised by an adult.
- Please remind all students to always enter and exit the passenger side of the vehicle.
- If you allow your child to walk home, it must be noted in Genesis. Please reach out to the main office with any questions.
- If a student is unsure of how to go home, please have them return to the main office for assistance.
LUNCH/RECESS REMINDERS
- Be sure your child knows what lunch they are receiving daily.
- Impress upon students not to share any foods to avoid allergy concerns.
- Please do not send glass, soda, or candy in daily lunches.
- Students will play outside for recess, please dress them in coasts with closed back shoes.
- Please encourage kind and fair play at recess. Outdoor time during school is not designed to be a competitive sporting atmosphere.
TECH BITS
- Don't forget to download the EFS App if you have not done so already for a quick and easy way to access school information. Additionally, there is a Tip Line that can be accessed at any time to report emergencies, HIB, tech issues, custodial concerns, give feedback, and kudos!
- Thank you for all your likes on our Instagram account. If you have requested to follow us and have not been accepted it may be because we cannot recognize your profile name. Please email Mr. Pannullo (mpannullo@efsk-6.org) to gain access. Please know this is a secure account and only parents and staff of EFS will be accepted.
ATTENDANCE CALLS
Just a reminder that if your child is going to be absent from school, you must call the attendance line (973-226-0505, press 1) and leave a detailed message as to the reasons for the absence. Nurse Renz must track all illness related school absences.
TRANSERS FOR 2024-2025
If your child will not be attending EFS or West Essex Middle School (for current 6th grade students), for the 2024-2025 school year, please notify the main office in writing. See the transfer form attached. Sixth grade records will be sent to WEMS unless we have written parental permission to send the records to another school.
Foundation News
ANNIE Parent Volunteers
Parent volunteers are needed at select Annie rehearsals (Wed & Thurs) and performances (March 8/9th). Volunteers will be in charge of chaperoning students in a holding room, until they are needed on stage. Please use this link to sign-up. Annie Volunteer Signups
Fundraising
Without our community’s generous donations to The Foundation, EFS would not be able to offer several school clubs, assemblies, after school Enrichment classes, the Variety Show & School Musical, and so much more! Please consider supporting this year’s one and only fundraiser by visiting www.EFFEE.org
or donating under The Foundation’s page in the MobileArq.
Annie Jr.
Mrs. Banek has created a google classroom for Annie Jr. Students will receive all announcements and information through classroom.
Weather Alerts
About Us
Email: mvgadaleta@efsk-6.org
Website: www.efsk-6.org
Location: 102 Hawthorne Road, Essex Fells, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-226-0505