Walnut Avenue School Community

Dear Walnut Avenue School Families,

Our students enjoyed a rainy, but fun-filled week this week at Walnut Avenue School.

It is amazing to think that next week will be our final week together in 2024. We have had a wonderful four months together in the 2024-2025 school year. Please note that Friday, December 20, 2024, is a Single Session (information below).

Information on our PTA Holiday Boutique is provided in the newsletter, as the Holiday Boutique is this Wednesday.

Thank you for taking time to read through this week's newsletter.

Celine McNally

Principal

Student Report Cards will be available on PowerSchool for Grade 1 & Grade 2 students on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

Single Session Friday, December 20, 2024

Half Day Preschool Single Session

• 9:05 AM - 11:35 AM** **PM Students Only
• No School for AM Students

Full Day Preschool

• 9:05 AM - 12:45 PM
  

Half Day Kindergarten

• 8:35 AM - 11:15 AM** **PM Students Only
• No School for AM Students

FDK - FDK-1 - Grade 1 - Grade 2

• 8:35 AM - 12:35 PM

Mrs. Romano shared a story and gave each student a Gingerbread figurine and bookmark to encourage them to read each night.

We would love to see our WAS students reading over Winter Break to their Gingerbread figurine. Please share pictures with us throughout the Winter Break :)

Preschool students were fortunate to have a special visit from Captain Jeff Martucci of the NJ State Police, husband of Mrs. Martucci. He shared details about his uniform, explaining the significance of each element. The children enjoyed meeting Captain Martucci and had many great questions.

Please be sure to inform the office and teacher of when you will need to pick-up your student early from school.

In the event of an unplanned pick-up, please call and notify the office of the need to pick-up your student early.

We would like to kindly remind everyone that, for safety reasons, siblings are not permitted to attend events with adult volunteers at celebrations and school events.

We thank you for volunteering in the classrooms and at school events and appreciate your understanding cooperation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Our weather has certainly turned colder this week :)

Please know that we will go outside for recess and walks when the temperature is 32 degrees or above.

Students will be expected to wear the outerwear that they arrive to school wearing when we are out at recess and/or on walks.

Please call 908-709-6995 to report an absence.

If you have a change in dismissal on a given day, please be sure to include Nurse Stein, Ms. McNulty and Ms. McNally on your email to the teacher so we can be sure that the email was seen by the teacher.

If an aftercare program needs to be notified of the change, please be sure to reach out to the aftercare to notify them of the change in dismissal.

Please DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR on the driveway. If you need to exit your vehicle as a driver or passenger to assist a student, please park your vehicle.

Please remember adults should be supervising the students after-school on the playground and/or field.

During the school day, we have expectations and students are supervised by adults at all times. The supervision and expectations keep students safe.

We ask that if you are allowing your student to play after-school on the playground/field that you supervise the student(s) your are responsible for in order to ensure their safety.

CLICK HERE for Pomptonian Food Service Information

Here is the latest edition of Nutrition News, which highlights Asian Pears: "They're Pearfect."

While these pears are typically farmed in Asia, we are fortunate to have an Asian pear farm, Evergreen Farms, right here in the Garden State.

These delicious pears will be featured on our menus in January, so keep an eye out

for this special treat!

LINK to PTA Membership Information

Joining the PTA is a great way to make a direct impact on your child's education and school environment. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with other parents and teachers who share your commitment to helping students thrive.

To ensure you can volunteer at school activities and make a meaningful impact, it's important to become a PTA member. By joining the PTA, you not only gain access to these volunteer opportunities but also help strengthen our school community. Your involvement can make a real difference.

Please note that even if you signed up last year, you will need to sign up again this year as the membership is good for only one calendar school year.

If you have any questions please contact Shannon Tyahla PTA Membership Chair at shannonmbarry@gmail.com

Our annual Holiday Boutique is this Wednesday, December 18th!

Thank you to the PTA and the WAS Community for the organization and time spent to have this shopping experience for the students at Walnut Avenue School.

Please send your child in with a bag for their gifts and the amount you would like them to spend in a ziplock bag labeled with their name and class. It would be helpful if your child could shop for six people or less, so that we are able to accommodate the time frame they are given to shop.

Don’t miss out on capturing memories and securing a wonderful keepsake.

Yearbooks are now available for purchase.

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015211479502574

A special reminder for second-grade families: The PTA will be gifting a free yearbook to each second grader, so no purchase is needed!

We’re happy to share that Greccia Gomez and Ling Zheng will be continuing to work on the yearbook this year. If you have any questions in regards to the yearbook, please reach out to them at wascranfordyearbook@gmail.com.

• Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - Holiday Boutique

• Thursday, December 19, 2024 - Grades 1-2 Report Cards on PowerSchool

• Friday, December 20, 2024 - Single Session (PM Preschool and PM Kindergarten Only)

• Monday, December 23, 2024 - Winter Recess Begins

• Thursday, January 2, 2025 - Return From Winter Recess

The CHS Class of 2026 Elves are back! The Elf Off the Shelf Fundraiser is a fun way to kick off the holiday season.

Our Junior Elves will come to your home and read a letter from their elf/elves or Santa. Our delivery dates are 12/16, 12/17, 12/18 or 12/19. We can also just deliver without disturbing your house or leave if you are not home as a surprise!

Each elfing includes a letter, a candy cane bouquet for each child and some holiday activities.

Sign up for elfing using this link and follow the instructions for remittance: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E44A8AE22A2FC1-53536577-elves

Cranford High School Building Bridges program is currently open for registration.

This program offers an opportunity for students in Kindergarten through 4th grade to meet students from across the Cranford Public Schools district in a friendly and welcoming environment under the guidance of a high school Building Bridges ambassador.

Each monthly meeting, students will meet and work on activities from crafting, sports activities, supporting CHS athletics and free play. Registration for the entire year is $20 per child.

Register your child here: https://form.jotform.com/232148382532050

Please CLICK HERE for the Cranford School District Social Emotional Learning Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year

The Cranford Prevention & Wellness Alliance’s (CPAW) popular Family Game Night is returning this January, just in time for the dog days of winter.

Held at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Ave, from 6-9PM on Friday, January 10th, the event welcomes parents and children to meet for a fun night of

board games with families from town.

Cranford Family Game Night is part of the continuing efforts of the Prevention & Wellness Alliance to prevent underage substance abuse in town, and

to encourage positive health choices. Particularly at this time of year, Family Game Night is a great opportunity for parents and children to emerge from hibernation, disconnect from devices for the evening, and play board games with each other,

while interacting with fellow neighbors.

The event will include music, and please note that parents must remain at the event with their children. The Prevention & Wellness Alliance looks forward to seeing you

at the Community Center, on Friday, January 10th, at 6PM.

Registration is currently open for Spring Lacrosse with the Cranford Lacrosse Club!

Teams are currently forming now for Grades 1st-8th grade for Boys and Girls.

Registration closes on December 31st and spaces are limited so don't delay!

Register here: https://cranfordlacrosse.sportngin.com/register/form/804994711

Email: mcnally@cranfordschools.org
Website: http://was.cranfordschools.org/
Location: 370 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 709 - 6253