Principal Garcia's Newsletter

• June 4, 2024 - TJS Field Day! (Rain Date June 11th)
• June 4, 2024 - MPS District Art Show 6-8pm at St. Elizabeth University (flyer below)
• June 5, 2024 - Holocaust Speaker Presentation for 4th and 5th Graders
• June 6, 2024 - Fifth Grade Dare Graduation Pool Event
• June 7, 2024 - First Grade Parent Tea
• June 7, 2024 - TJS Spirit Wear Day
• June 7, 2024 - PTO Jamboree (Rain Date June 13th)
• June 11, 2024 - Grade 5 Staff Vs. Student Kickball Game after school
• June 12, 2024 - Fifth Grade More Than Madison Presentations 9:15 AM
• June 12, 2024 - Madison SEPAG Meeting
• June 18, 2024 - Grade 5 Recognition Ceremony 9:30 AM
• June 18, 2024 - MPS Board of Education Meeting
• June 19, 2024 - No School Juneteenth
• June 20, 2024 - Last Day of School Single Session Early Dismissal Day 12:45 PM
• June 20, 2024 - 5th Grade Breakfast/Yearbook Signing/Clap Out

It's that time of year again....FIELD DAY!!!!

Field Day will be on Tuesday, June 4th, all day for all grades!

While this is a friendly competition between the students of TJS, the main purpose is to have fun and celebrate the end of the school year.

Please prepare for a fun day outside by wearing sneakers, bringing a water bottle, and apply sunblock PRIOR to coming to school. Students will either be on one of these four teams: Green, Purple, Maroon, or Gold. Please wear as much of this color on field day as you can. If you cannot find something maroon, wear red. If you cannot find gold, wear yellow.

Parents, we need your help! The PTO has been organizing parent volunteers to help run the stations. This is a very special day for our students, and it will be even more special if all the stations were fully staffed. Please consider lending a hand in order for the day to run smoothly for the students. Please refer to the TJS text/email blast that went out to sign up to help.

We are super excited for Field Day, and so are the students. Please join in on the fun to help keep the excitement going.

It’s Hot Out There!

The sun is finally shining and signs of summer are showing in temperatures both outside and in the classroom environment. Please remember to dress your children appropriately for the warmer weather and send them to school with a refillable water bottle so that they stay well hydrated throughout the day. It is also advised to apply sunscreen before the school day in anticipation of outdoor activities, especially if your child is prone to sunburns. As a reminder, the school nurse is NOT permitted to apply sunscreen unless a written order is provided by the child’s pediatrician. Additionally, children are not permitted to carry their own sunscreen to school unless a physician’s order is provided with permission to self administer.

Mandatory 5th- Grade Immunizations:

As a reminder, when your child turns 11 years old they are required to have 2 additional vaccinations, Meningococcal and TDAP, in order to enter grade 6 in the fall. As you begin to schedule your child’s well visit around their birthday, please remember to follow up with the necessary immunizations and documentation that is required for entry into school. Please see the attached link for the necessary form and return it to the TJS health office upon completion. Should your child’s appointment be scheduled over the summer months, please send the form to the MJS nurse, Pauline Bliss, RN at blissp@madisonnjps.or

End of School Year Medication Pick Up:

For any students who have a medication that is held in the health office during the school year, all medications must be picked up before/on the last day of school. Any medications left at TJS over the summer will be discarded. A detailed communication regarding the process for medication pick will be sent out in early June. Should you prefer to pick up your child’s medication earlier, please contact me directly at (973) 593-3182 (#3) and we can make arrangements.

We are so excited for the many end of year fifth grade events to celebrate the hard work of our fifth grade students. It's hard to believe that the class of 2024 will be leaving us at Torey J. soon.

In May, grades 2-5 began an extensive research unit. First, students learned how to access the World Book Online with district passwords. Students were taught the basics of research: how to search for articles in databases, and filter and refine their results through choice of subject, database, date, publication and other selections. Students also learned how to select a specific language for the article to be translated into and an audio feature to have the article read to them if necessary.

Students were then taught about the ethical sharing and use of information, a professional library standard, wherein they learned how to give credit for the information they use by putting research from articles into their own words (read, understand, and re-write), and how to create citations from database tools and paste citations into a citations/bibliography sheet at the end of their slideshow project or google doc essay.

Students applied these research lessons by creating slideshow presentations about a country or city they would like to visit. K and 1st grade students learned how to open a Google Doc, change the size, font and color of words, and how to insert and move pictures. Second graders also reviewed these skills and applied them to Google Slides presentations.

5th graders learned how to use EBSCO databases to research their United Nations Sustainable Development goals for the More than Madison project. Students were introduced to the variety of databases the district subscribes to, and were taught how to filter the results and use the various tools (including citation, translation, audio and sharing) that these more advanced databases offer. Students were also introduced to JerseyClicks, New Jersey’s Online State Library, which offers many of the same databases for free and is a good resource available to anyone who does not have access to paid databases, thus increasing equity in the research field.

After all of their hard work learning how to research with databases, students relaxed a bit by learning about themes in literature. We read one of my favorite books The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers in class. We discussed the theme of perfection, and the terms “relative” and “subjective.” Then students flexed their imaginations by drawing, labeling and writing about their own “perfect pets”, a combination of animals (or just one animal) with its special characteristics and talents, and explained why these pets are “perfect” for them. Students also viewed interviews of the authors, including The Fan Brothers (who are actual brothers) demonstrating how they collaborate by illustrating different sections of the same picture together (Terry likes to draw whales, Eric likes to draw people! When they were growing up and sharing a bedroom, they used to draw fish on their bedroom walls).

The Madison Special Education Parent Advisory Group represents parents of children with disabilities who are eligible for or receiving services under an IEP or 504 plan. To join and receive meeting information, please register via our directory at www.madisonsepag.com"

The 2024 Meeting Date Are As Follows:

• June 12th

More details can be found on the SEPAG website Meetings page.

Thank you so much to Michelle Busanic and Cindy Pappa for bringing the magic to TJS yesterday for our 2nd Color Run! And thank you to all of the families who participated - it was THE BEST!!

It’s hard to believe June is here! We have some fun events coming up and lots of opportunities to get involved and volunteer!

Field Day is June 4th (rain date June 11)!! We can use LOTS of volunteers to help the day run smoothly! Please consider signing up for the AM or PM session, or both!

Field Day 2024 Parent Volunteer Sign-Up - Google Sheets

Are you ready to party and celebrate the end of an awesome school year? Get ready for a final hurrah! It’s time to purchase your tickets!! Watch the kids:

• Bounce high on inflatables

• Strike poses with pals at the photo booth

• Dance the day away with our DJ

• Express themselves with face painting

• Create with Spin Art

• Back by popular demand, the Fifth graders and teachers will take the plunge in our dunk tank!

But wait, there's more! This year, we're firing up the grill with a BBQ from Green Village Meatpacking Co! Sink your teeth into juicy burgers, sizzle with hot dogs, or go veggie with our tasty options. Don't forget the sides and a mountain of watermelon!

BBQ tickets must be purchased in advance to ensure we're stocked up and ready to roll. We encourage you to grab your Jamboree tickets (bracelets, raffles, tickets, coupons) in advance and go digital. Pizza and ice cream will still be available to purchase the day of.

Let's make memories together – see you there!

Purchase your tickets and dinner EARLY! Click here!

It takes a village to pull this event off! Please sign up for a shift to help the Jamboree run smoothly! Click here to sign up to help at the Jamboree!

Registration is OPEN for the 2024 MEF Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Register individually or with a partner for a fast-paced, fundraising day of round-robin style play.

• Adults 18 and up
• Prize baskets and medals sponsored by The Spelker Real Estate Team
• Lunch offering for purchase from Harvest Bistro
• Registration cost is $65

NEW THIS YEAR is the MEF Youth Pickle & Play on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Register your kids for a fun morning of pickleball games and tournament play. Activities will be tailored by experience and age (elementary, middle, and high school). Beginners welcome!

• Ages 18 and under
• Warm up led by CrossFit 377
• Prizes and refreshments
• Registration cost is $30
• Parent/guardian must be present for kids 10 and under

These events WILL sell out. Learn more and register HERE.

Don't forget to follow Torey J. on Instagram @toreyjsabatini to see all of the wonderful things happening in our school community.