TIGER TOWN NEWSLETTER

Three weeks into the school year and we’re firing on all PTO cylinders. This week, get your mums, buy your Ice Cream Social tickets, and clear out some space in the closet for some fresh new CAS spirit wear.

• 09/20: Class Coordinator Meeting at 2:45pm

• 09/26: Back to School Night at 7pm

• 09/27: Ice Cream Social (2 sessions)

• 10/03: School closed (Rosh Hashanah)

• 10/05: Bottle Hill Day

• 10/07-08: School Picture Days

Scroll down to see the full '24/'25 School Calendar. Or Click Here

The Central Avenue School 2024 Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 7pm. The evening begins in the multi-purpose room at 7pm with introductions and speakers. There will be two identical information sessions offered at 7:30pm and 8:00pm for families with more than one child at CAS. Please remember that the night is designed as an opportunity for parents/guardians to learn about grade level programs and expectations. It is not an evening for you to speak with your child's teacher about specific learning concerns. Please contact the teacher at another time if you have questions or concerns in regard to your child's learning. Please click here for more information.

Our first window of Star administration is occurring during the month of September. The Star assessments are diagnostic assessments designed to provide educators and parents with important information about a student's progress. Students in grades 1-5 take the Star reading and/or early literacy assessment as well as the Star mathematics assessment benchmarked for their specific grade. To read general information about the Star assessments, parents are encouraged to visit their family resources page.

Kindergarten teachers administer the Star CBMs (Curriculum Based Measures) in both reading and mathematics. The Fall kindergarten reading assessments assess a student's understanding of letters and their sounds, basic phonological awareness, and early decoding. The kindergarten math assessments include recognizing numerals and their value. Often times the CBMs may be administered in other grade levels, on an as-needed individual basis. For more information regarding the Star CBMs, please click here.

Hello CAS Students and Families!

My name is Kelsey Mirabella and I am the new school counselor for grades K-5! I am so excited to be starting my fifth year as a school counselor and first year at Central Avenue School! Before this, I graduated with my Master's Degree in School Counseling in 2021 from The University of Scranton and then started my career serving K-8 schools. I am originally from Harding Township and I attended Madison High School, so I am very familiar with Madison and all of its wonderful families! I still have family living in the Harding/Madison area so I am sure I will be seeing many familiar faces around town!

Here at CAS, I will be working with all students through different avenues from full classroom lessons for all grades, to small lunch bunch groups, and one-on-one check-ins for students seeking guidance, support, or a place to reset and refocus in order to be their most successful selves. I have already gotten to know so many students and their families, but I look forward to getting to know each and every member of the CAS community! Being a part of this school is truly a dream come true!

If you or your student(s) ever have any questions or concerns you can always reach out to me at mirabellak@madisonnjps.org

Great news! CAS is once again a No Place for Hate School. During the school year, Ms. Mirabella will conduct No Place for Hate activities with the students. Our first activity will include students reciting and committing to the No Place for Hate pledge.

We’re just about halfway to our goal of selling 320 mums…help us push over the finish line! This annual event helps to raise over $2,500 for CAS PTO activities. The mum sale is open until September 29th, with pickup on October 2nd. Make your yards fall festive and beautiful while helping to support this great cause. Win-win! Click here to order

You spoke, we listened! This event has been so popular and sold out so many times in the past that the school has graciously allowed us to extend to TWO time slots: 3:30pm and 4:45pm on Friday, September 27th. No refunds or time changes are available. All proceeds benefit the 4th Grade fundraising committee.

Cost per family is $30 or $10 per person. Register here

CAS spirit wear will be on sale at Back to School Night on 9/26 and at the Ice Cream Social on 9/27. Look for the table as you come into the events. T-Shirts $20, Cash and VENMO accepted.

PTO dues support activities including monthly assemblies, enrichment programs, and teacher appreciation and supplies to name a few. The suggested amount is $40 (more or less as your circumstances allow). You can pay online here or via Venmo @CASPTO

We’re looking for two parents to join as this year’s incoming PTO vice presidents. In this role, you’ll shadow current presidents Dawn Ellis and Pat Attenasio, then take over as co-presidents for the 2025-2026 school year. It’s fun, rewarding and your kids will be proud! Please email caspto@gmail.com with any questions.

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. Mullens will host "Special Ed from the Inside Out"
• Wed, Nov 13 @ 7 pm via Zoom, SEPAG meeting

CEPA's MISSION: Cross-Ethnic Parents of Madison who have formed an alliance to positively impact ethinically biased challenges our children face in the Madison School System through advocacy and regulation changes.

Join us for our first meeting of the 24/25 School Year: Thurs, 10/10, 6:30pm-8pm