The Mount Laurel Leaflet
September 20, 2024
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th
WEAR YELLOW OR GOLD IN SUPPORT
Students and staff are asked to wear yellow or gold on Friday, September 27th to show our district-wide support of this serious and all-too frequent childhood diagnosis. Join us to show your support!
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
AROUND THE DISTRICT IN PHOTOS
Parkway Elementary School
🎃 🎃 🎃
Mount Laurel Hartford School
K-2 LITERACY & MATH INFORMATION NIGHTS
Come Join the Fun
ADVANCING LITERACY
Family & Caregiver Workshops
HARRINGTON/HARTFORD PTO MEET & GREET
Parents and Administrators had the opportunity to meet and greet at the "HHSPTO Welcome"
in the Mount Laurel Hartford School Library
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Please take the opportunity now to nominate an outstanding Mount Laurel educator for the 2024-2025 Governor's Educator of the Year Recognition Program (GEOY.) We will be selecting one outstanding educator for each school!
Visit our District Governor's Educator of the Year webpage and nominate an outstanding educator now! In fact, you may nominate more than one educator if you would like.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, November 15th.
September 15 - October 15
POWERSCHOOL vs PARENTSQUARE
PowerSchool - Student Information System
Our Student Information System - PowerSchool - employs a single sign-on system. Simply put, what that means is that you may now create one account for the entire family, using a password of your choosing, and do not have to remember each of your student ID and Password codes every time you enter.
To set-up your family account, go to the PowerSchool log-in screen.
- Click the "Create Account" tab
- Enter your information
- Enter the access ID and password for each student you wish to link (That information is in the letter you received with demographic sheets and student assignments this summer. Make sure the password is typed IN ALL CAPS!)
- Click "enter"
- Log into PowerSchool with your new user ID and password
- All students are now available with a single login.
- Click here to see the PowerSchool Parent Portal Brochure.
- Click here for a quick start guide. PowerSchool SSO Parent Portal Walk Through
NOTE: Your email address and user ID must be unique. If you have previously logged into PowerSchool, you do not need to create an account. You only need to enter IDs and passwords for additional students you wish to link to your original account. From that point on, you will only have to remember the unique user name and password you created for your account to see the entire family. This change will allow us to enable the mobile PowerSchool app for your use. It will also record your e-mail address so that we may contact you via e-mail as well as telephone in the event of an emergency.
ParentSquare - Family/Home/School/District Communication Tool
Mount Laurel Schools has adopted a new form of school-to-home communication called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with Mount Laurel Schools. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to send and receive school and class information.
All district, school and grade level information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).
Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.
District Picture Day Schedule
SCHOOL
Picture Day / Retake Day
📸 📸 📸
COUNTRYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 28 / December 5
FLEETWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 24 / November 21
HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 4 / November 4
LARCHMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
September 23 / November 4
PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 18 / December 10
SPRINGVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
September 24 / October 30
MOUNT LAUREL HARTFORD SCHOOL
September 30 / November 13
THOMAS E. HARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
September 30 / November 12
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
Teach your children helpful hints
- Stay outside the danger zone and wait for the driver’s signal when getting on the bus and stay in a single file line
- When getting off the bus, look to both sides before stepping off to make sure no cars are passing
- Before crossing the street, take 5 GIANT steps away from the bus or until you can see the driver's face. Wait for the driver’s signal to know that it is safe to cross
- Look left-right-left when you reach the edge of the bus to make sure traffic has stopped
- Continue to watch for traffic when crossing
- Always be seated with seat belts fastened while the bus is moving
LUNCH - LET'S CHECK IT OUT!
There are some exciting changes in the school lunch program for the 2023-2024 school year!
Students in all grades will have the ability to purchase snack items starting on the first day of school as long as there Is NO negative balance on their meal account. This rule applies to all students whether they are paying with cash or deducting from their account. Please make sure there is money on your child’s account or send them with cash so they have the ability to purchase snacks if they choose. Funds can be added to accounts at any time by using the Lunchtime Portal.
Lunch menus for each school are in one place and easily accessible through an interactive online cafeteria menu. Please follow the Instructions on the flyer that has been posted with our new online menu access.
We are pleased to partner with Nutri-Serve Management, Inc. to provide our students with hearty and healthy meals throughout each school day. Nutri-Serve makes the school lunch process as easy as 1-2-3-GO:
You will be offered the option to print any of the interactive menus.
Each print in a colorful, easy-read format.
2024-2025 FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION
Eligibility requirements and applications for free and reduced price meals are available to all households annually. Students in need of assistance will be determined by the criteria issued by the State of New Jersey and the USDA.
The District encourages all families who may qualify for free and reduced meals to fill out and return the application as soon as possible to receive free or reduced lunch.
NEW! Applications can now be submitted ONLINE:
Forms may also be printed and sent to the Business Office at 330 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 or emailed to: rwachter@mtlaurelschools.org
EXTENDED DAY CARE
All information regarding our Extended Day Care (EDC) Program is available in our handbook. If you haven't done so already, kindly review the handbook at your earliest convenience.
⭐Please be aware that parents and students do not have access to the main office, classrooms or teachers during EDC hours. Parents and students only have access to EDC-approved areas and EDC staff.
EDC COMMUNICATION
All communication regarding EDC updates and news is digital. You will receive communication by email and the district newsletter regarding any updates. This includes any scheduling cut-off days for half-days. Please update your email in the Daycareworks system or email the office (emails below). Emails are delivered from no-reply1@procaresoftware.com. Please check your spam email and add the exchange to your important emails. The Mount Laurel Leaflet is available every Friday.
EDC CONTACTS
PHONE: 856-231-5891 (Please use extensions below)
Chris Sherf- csherf@mtlaurelschools.org (PRIMARY EDC EXT. 21004)
Yvette Gonzalez -yvgonzalez@mtlaurelschools.org (SCHEDULING EXT. 21001)
Pam Witts-pwitts@mtlaurelschools.org (Site Coordinator EXT. 21009)
Suzy Haftman- shaftman@mtlaurelschools.org (Director of Community Education & EDC EXT. 21002)
We recognize the critical need to address the challenges of suicidal ideation among our youth. The impact of this issue extends throughout our community, and affects us all.
The first step toward intervention and support is awareness of suicidal warning signs, which include the following changes:
- Behavioral: Withdrawing from friends and activities, giving away personal belongings, self-destructive behaviors, increased substance use, sudden mood improvement after depression.
- Verbal: Expressing feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or being a burden. Talking about death, dying, or wanting to die, making statements like "I can't take it anymore" or "I wish I weren't here," mentioning specific plans or methods for suicide.
- Emotional: Drastic and sudden mood swings, overwhelming sadness, despair, emptiness, loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities, intense irritability or anger.
- Situational: Recent loss of a loved one, a breakup, significant life changes, bullying or harassment, academic or work-related stress, financial difficulties, or other significant personal crises.
- Physical: Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleeping), changes in appetite or weight loss/gain, decreased personal hygiene and self-care.
- Social: Increasing social isolation and withdrawal from relationships, losing interest in social interactions or activities, feeling disconnected from friends, family, and self.
- Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating or making decisions, preoccupation with death, dying, or the afterlife, intense guilt or shame.
When you notice these warning signs, you should:
- Initiate a conversation about suicide.
- Provide active listening and non-judgmental support.
- Encourage professional help through therapists, counselors, and helplines.
- Involve trusted adults, such as parents/guardians, coaches, teachers, and mentors.
- Create a safety plan in collaboration with the individual.
If you or someone you know is experiencing hopelessness and suicidal thoughts, please seek help with these resources:
- The Trevor Project: A 24/7 resource network for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24, including a free call/text crisis line.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: A nationwide lifeline network operating 24/7 to provide free and confidential crisis services.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Offers support groups and chapters throughout the United States.
For those needing professional support, consider contacting Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential service provided by Mount Laurel Township School District. They can help you find a mental health or substance use provider.
- Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
- Visit caresolace.com/mtlaurelschools and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance via video chat, email, or phone.
Unified — and with support and compassion — we can make a difference in our community's well-being. Let us stand together to raise awareness, provide assistance, and foster hope for a brighter future.
DATES TO REMEMBER
September
25
Back to School Night
Thomas E. Harrington Middle School - Grade 7
26
Back to School Night
Thomas E. Harrington Middle School - Grade 8
October
3
Rosh Hashanah
Schools Closed
14
Columbus Day - Teacher In-Service
Schools Closed for Students
NEWS TO USE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
STAY CONNECTED
Website: http://www.mtlaurelschools.org
Location: 330 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 856-235-3387
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlschools/
Twitter: @MTL_Super