• November 1, 2024 - Single Session Early Dismissal Day 12:45 PM for Diwali
• November 1, 2024 - Veterans Day Recognition Form DEADLINE...see below!
• November 2, 2024 - PTO Scholastic Book Fair Begins / Turkey Trot
• November 4-6, 2024 - Single Session Early Dismissal Days 12:45 PM for Parent/Teacher Conferences
• November 7-8, 2024 - NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
• November 11, 2024 - School Resumes
• November 12, 2024 - Veterans Day Assembly (more information below...Veterans invited!)
• November 19, 2024 - MPS BOE Meeting
• November 21, 2024 - First Grade Breakfast with the Principal
• November 27, 2024 - Single Session Early Dismissal Day 12:45 PM
• November 28-29, 2024 - Thanksgiving - Schools Closed

October came and went this year as we enjoyed many fun activities. November is officially here, though! The staff and I are looking forward to welcoming parents/guardians into the building next week for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Nov. 4, 5, and 6. A reminder that these three days are all 12:45 PM single session early dismissal days and that school is also closed on Nov. 7 and 8 for the NJEA Convention. Have a lovely weekend!

The TJS Lost & Found is overflowing with sweatshirts and jackets galore! Please check out the tables in the lobby next week during Parent Teacher Conferences and reclaim your lost belongings.

Torey J. will be honoring Veterans Day this year Tuesday, November 12 in an afternoon assembly. Veterans of immediate family members (parents or grandparents) are invited to attend. Immediate and extended family members of students will be recognized at the ceremony. Please click here to complete the Veterans Day Recognition Google Form by TODAY, Friday, November 1, 2024.

Please complete this Veterans Day Pendant for each Veteran to be displayed in the Jaguar Jungle. You can glue a photograph of the Veteran in the star. (Please note banners and photos will not be returned.) Please return the pendant to your child’s teacher by Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Thank you so much and we are looking forward to a wonderful Veterans Day ceremony!

Evening parent/teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024 between 5:00 - 8:00 PM. Daytime conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 5 and 6, 2024 between 1:30 - 3:45 PM. All three days are single session days with students being dismissed at 12:45 PM. Teachers have begun to reach out to schedule in-person conferences. At your child’s conference time you may be meeting with one or more of your child’s teachers. We kindly ask that you be on time for your scheduled conference time as our teachers will be busy with back to back meetings and have an allotted time for each conference. Teachers are equipped to share out various aspects of student progress as well as individual data points such as your child’s reading level, writing samples, and in-class assessments. We hope to continue to remain as partners in your child’s education.

Recently, the Third Grade Classes celebrated Dictionary Day thanks to the Rotary Club of Madison. Each year the third-grade classes are treated to a presentation by the Rotary Club so they can gain a better understanding of the volunteer work of this great group. Typically members of the Rotary come to share information about their work with the students. The Rotarians explained to the students how to find words in the dictionary using the guide words on each page. Students practiced looking up the definitions of several words with the Rotarians. Since the dictionaries given out by the Rotary Club are gazetteers, they contain more than just words and definitions. In the back, there is the longest word in the English language, a multiplication table, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, a short biography on each US president, maps and a wealth of other interesting information. The third-grade students had a wonderful time learning about the Rotary Club and receiving their dictionaries.

We are so excited to announce that library classes have begun for grades K-5! Alongside their teachers, students have been diving into Halloween-themed texts while participating in interactive read-alouds. In grades K-2, children have practiced identifying the characters and setting in our stories. We identified that settings can change throughout the book. We also practiced our retelling skills after the read aloud.

Meanwhile, grades 3-5 have been focusing on understanding characters’ wants and the obstacles they face, laying the groundwork for retelling more complex narratives. Students across all grade levels have enjoyed checking out books! We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the parent volunteers who helped us organize and beautify the Library Media Centers. The students are truly enjoying the benefits of this mutual effort!

Letters communicating basic skills and gifted and talented have been distributed on 11/1.

Stop in the libraries to preview the district's literacy curriculum materials. Materials will be on display along with videos of the materials in action. Mr. Paradisio, Mrs. Calafati, Mrs. Mahon will be available to answer questions.

Kindergarten: We read the book Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. Each student was challenged to use their imagination to turn an oops into a beautiful drawing.

First Grade: We are learning about the Element of Art LINE. Students are using LINE to create their very own turtle drawing. Check out the Scratch Garden Lines song, they love it!

Second Grade and Third Grade: Students will be exploring art from different countries in second and third grade. We made our own passports for art class! Second grade is visiting Haiti, and third graders are visiting Brazil. More information to come….

Fourth Grade: Students are exploring The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. They will also be adding a Japanese Kanji symbol to their artwork.

Fifth Grade: Students are creating a mixed-media artwork inspired by the illustrations in the book Windows.

Click here for more info and to learn how you can be a part of Madison Reads.

Hello!

We hope everyone has been enjoying this amazing weather. We can’t believe it’s already November! We have some exciting news…..the case of the missing mascot has been solved! At the Fall Social, we received enough money for the purchase of our dear TJS Paws Mascot. Our TJS parents are so generous! He’s ordered and will make his comeback at the Turkey Trot.

A huge thank you to Michelle Williams and Sarah King for planning a very fun and successful fall social last Friday night!

The Turkey Trot and Scholastic Book Fair Committees have been hard at work on their exciting events - we are looking forward to a super fun Turkey Trot and successful Book Fair!

After the race, there will be complimentary refreshments to enjoy in the Jaguar Jungle where you can continue the fun at the TJS Book Fair! Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE TURKEY TROT TEAM:

Where can you park?

-Lathrop Ave

-Orchard St

-Crescent Road

-Hillside Ave

-Green Village Road BEFORE Glenwild Road

What time do you need to be here?

Please arrive at 9:15 am; the race will start at 9:30 am. There is no check-in.

Where does the race start?

The race will begin and end at the TJS school driveway off of Glenwild.

Please line up by grade according to the signage. 5th graders will be at the front!

Where do you go at the end of the race?

Continue up the school driveway through the finish line to receive your ribbon, then continue towards the Jaguar Jungle for your hot chocolate, munchkins and book fair shopping!

Please DRESS IN LAYERS, the weather might be chilly, but we will be warm running!!

If you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Avci (vjavci@gmail.com

The Scholastic Book Fair begins tomorrow after the Turkey Trot!

The Book Fair is an annual event at TJS with the goal of inspiring a love for reading in all students. The Book Fair is a great opportunity for students to build their home libraries and further their love of reading.

Financial Support: The PTO will ensure every student goes home with a book. If your child requires financial assistance, please contact the TJS Main Office 973-593-3182

Questions? Reach out to TJSBookFairChair@gmail.com

1. Saturday, November 2nd, 9am - 12pm in the Jaguar Jungle
Join us for a FRIENDS-Giving Family Book Fair! This event will center on giving and the morning will include activities and readings focused on showing kindness to our friends and family, saving your child’s spending money for their in-school visit. Here’s some tips for Saturday’s FRIENDS-Giving shopping with your family:

• Round up! Rounding up your change on Saturday on every purchase will increase funds for students who may need financial assistance at the Book Fair.

• Purchase books for your teachers

• Pick out some new holiday themed books for family reading time

• Take one of our secret shopper bags to buy gifts for the holidays

• Find the perfect gift for the adults in your life

• Encourage your students to bring their own money ($5 or less) to buy a small gift for a friend or sibling, like erasers, pens, and pencils

• And 5th graders - this is a great time to buy a book for your 1st grade reading buddy.

2. In School, November 4th - 6th

Your student(s) will visit the Book Fair with their class during school hours. Make up times will be available for anyone that misses their time slot. You can also volunteer with us by signing up here.

When Will My Student Visit During School?

Monday, Nov 4 - Delli Paoli, Hollenbeck, Cancelliere, Niper, Dietz

Tuesday, Nov 5 - DiNola, Lade, Lee, Caporto, Lemon

Wednesday, Nov 6 - Zanga, Stricchiola, Babich, Zourzoukis, Pelkey

3. After School, November 4th - 5th

The Book Fair will be open after school until 1:30pm on Monday and Tuesday.

4. Shop Online

• Free shipping to your home with book orders over $25 and our school still benefits.

• Pre-order Dog Man #13 Big Jim Returns online and it will ship on Dec 3rd, the day the book releases.

• Use the code FAIRSHIP for free shipping.

5. Buy a Book for a Teacher.

Add funds to the TJS Teachers’ eWallet and we will buy a book for your child(rens) teacher(s).

How Payments Work:

• Saturday and After School: Cash, Credit Card, Check or Venmo

• In School: Cash or Check written to TJS PTO. You can write the $ amount you allow your child to spend in the memo field; a Fair volunteer will fill out the check amount on your behalf.

• Touchless, AnyTime: Place funds in a Scholastic eWallet that our volunteers can access when your student shops. Accounts are open for all students now!

Going Change Free:

Each student will receive a BOOK BUCK this year. It will be used to pay for the ‘cents’ at the time of checkout so that we do not have to handle coins. For example, $10.78 will become $10 at check out.

• Saturday, Nov 2: Turkey Trot and Scholastic Book Fair—Join us for an early morning trot around the block, ending with hot chocolate and treats at the Book Fair.

• Nov 4-6: ½ Days - Pizza will be served.

• Nov 4-6: Scholastic Book Fair continues; Stop by during Parent Teacher Conferences

• Nov. 7-8: Schools Closed

• Nov. 12th: Veteran’s Day Assembly

• Nov. 15th: 1st Grade Awesome Art

• Nov. 21st: First Grade Breakfast with the Principal

• Nov. 27th: ½ Day - Pizza will be served.

• Our list of events is constantly expanding, so please check back for more events and detailed event descriptions in our future PTO newsletters. We have a new email newsletter service; please add news@mail.tjspto.org to your email contacts or safe senders list.

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:

• Wed, Nov 13 @ 7 pm via Zoom, SEPAG meeting

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