All of our core subjects will blend together nicely this trimester. We are wrapping up our unit on Geography. We should be able to name and locate 7 continents and 5 oceans. We can tell about landforms. In science, we are learning about habitats. We are excited to research plants and animals that live different habitats around the world. Our next social studies unit will be economics. We will learn about needs and wants, goods and services, and saving and spending In math, we are learning to identify and count coins. We will continue to add and subtract 3-digit numbers with money amounts. This month in ELA, we’re diving into the exciting features of literature! Our young readers and writers will work on recounting texts, both orally and in writing, to identify the central message of the stories they explore. We’ll also learn how to acknowledge differences in points of view by examining how characters express themselves in unique ways. In our writing workshop, students will enhance their narratives by adding more in-depth character traits and strategically using transitional words to manage the sequence of events, making their stories flow more smoothly. Plus, get ready for some fun with readers’ theater as we practice playing different characters in a lively story setting. We can’t wait to see how these engaging activities will inspire creativity and critical thinking in our classrooms!

We’re still waiting for emails from parents about the information contained in this Bulldog Newsletter. If you’re reading these newsletters and enjoying the information provided, please let us know! The second graders are learning about currency including how to identify each coin and know it’s value; how make the same amount in various ways; how to calculate the cost of purchases; and how to make certain the correct change has been received. These are all important financial intelligence life skills. In ELA, we continue reinforcing phonics skills for better spelling. Additionally, we’re continuing to work on spoken and written language and grammar. The students are all presently reading chapter books of their choice and journaling what they read every night. Reading for 20 minutes to one half hour and journaling (retelling what was read) fosters growth in reading comprehension. ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE READING. In 2-D we’re continuing to work on manners, for example: not interrupting when the teacher is working with other students unless it’s an emergency, remembering to stay a polite distance away when adults are having a one-on-one conversation, and being considerate of our friends and cooperating with them. We also continue to work on taking care of our materials and our classroom–our home during the day.

As we enter the final trimester of third grade, we’re excited to share some of the wonderful things happening in our classroom recently. In celebration of both National Reading Month and Women’s History Month, we were honored to welcome some inspiring women leaders from our school district. We had special reading visits from Mrs. Hernandez, Principal of Grant School, Ms. Triglia, our Assistant Superintendent, and our Class Parent, Ms. Carrasco. Each of them read a meaningful book to our class, and afterward, students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about their roles and the important work they do. It was a positive experience that helped us appreciate their contributions to our school community. In math, students recently wrapped up a unit on quadrilaterals, area, and perimeter. They’re now spotting geometry all around them and recognizing how math connects to everyday life in practical ways. They had so much fun exploring the concepts using geoboards and tiles. In science, our classroom garden is thriving! With the arrival of spring, our bean plants, potato plants, and green onions are growing beautifully. Students have been diligently documenting their observations and measurements in their plant journals and sharing their findings with classmates. In social studies, we recently held a publishing party to celebrate our students' biography projects. Each student researched a famous woman from around the world, and we couldn’t be prouder of the effort they put into researching, drafting, editing, and revising their work.We continue to celebrate the incredible growth our students have made this year—both academically and personally!

Our fourth grade class is “Springing” into action as we wrap up our exciting unit on informative writing! We’ve been exploring different natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Using text features like headings, captions, and diagrams, we’ve been sharing all the interesting facts we’ve learned. This has helped us become better at reading and understanding information, and we are doing a fantastic job! In addition to writing, we’ve been diving into the world of poems! We’re having so much fun creating our own poems and learning how to express our ideas in creative ways. In social studies, we’ve been reading magazines with multiple articles to learn more about the world around us. We’ve also been studying the history of New Jersey and discovering how our state became the place we call home. Keep up the great work, everyone! We can’t wait to share more of what we’re learning!

Welcome Spring! In math, the fourth graders dove into geometry, learning all about points, lines, line segments, rays, and angles. Students are able to identify triangles and quadrilaterals based on their sides and angles, as well as recognize symmetrical shapes. We've now moved into measurement, where we're working on converting both standard and metric units for length, weight, and capacity. As we continue building these skills, we’ll also begin preparing for the upcoming NJSLA testing by reviewing key concepts and practicing problem-solving strategies. In science, we recently wrapped up an exciting unit on the history of the Earth! Students explored ancient fossils and rocks to understand how Earth has changed over time. They loved acting as junior paleontologists and geologists! Now, we're shifting our focus to life science, where students are learning about the structure and function of plants and animals. We'll be examining how different organisms survive and thrive in their environments—plenty of hands-on activities and discoveries ahead!

Second grade students continue to practice their reading and writing skills in the resource room by engaging in short writing assignments on a daily basis. Read alouds give us the opportunity to discuss different genres and learn new things. students continue to work on their grammar and phonics skills. Please make sure that your child is reading on RazKids on a nightly basis. Happy Spring! Our fourth grade students completed units on adding and subtracting fractions and multiplying fractions by whole numbers. We are currently beginning to work with decimals. Please check your child’s google classroom for IXL practice on the topics we are working on. They should be practicing at home and meeting the due dates. Happy Spring!

Happy Spring! Mrs. Conversano’s first and second grade math students have been identifying coins and their values. They have used play money to find the value of a group of coins. You can continue to build these skills at home by looking at coins and identifying how much each of them are worth with your child.

Welcome Spring! In reading, the students are comparing and contrasting firsthand and secondhand Texts. A firsthand account is written by a person who witnessed or participated in the actual event; it is the author’s personal experience. A secondhand account is written by someone who heard or read about the event; it is based on the author’s research, not their experience. For this lesson, the students will compare and contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts of historical events, such as the sinking of the Titanic; the Apollo 11 moon landing; and the accounts of Ruby Bridges, one of the first African American children to attend an all-white school in the south in 1960. Analyzing the information from both accounts will help the students develop a deeper understanding of the topic or event. Please help your child to develop a love of reading-talk about books with your child. Enjoy your Spring Break!

Each month of the school year, we celebrate a character trait that we encourage students to practice and display in their everyday lives. Here is this month's character trait.

Why is attendance important?

Attendance is crucial for elementary-aged children because it directly impacts their learning and development. Being in school helps children build a strong academic foundation, stay engaged with their lessons, and develop important social skills. Absences from school can lead to gaps in knowledge, making it harder for children to keep up with grade level expectations. Regular attendance also fosters responsibility, routine, and a sense of commitment, setting the stage for future success both in and out of the classroom.

What is truancy?

When a child has many unexcused absences, it can fall under the category of truancy. Truancy is defined as 10 or more cumulative, unexcused absences of the days in session. Truancy is a juvenile offense that can lead to consequences for the juveniles and his or her legal parents or guardian. This may result in juvenile court and penalties imposed. Our school policy 5200 states, “prolonged or repeated absences, excused or unexcused, from school or from class, deprive students of the educational and classroom experiences deemed essential to learning and may result in retention at grade level.”

Which absences are excused?

According to district policy, a physician’s note is required to excuse student illnesses. It is important to note that this is excused ONLY for counting towards truancy. The number of days absent in Genesis will not change. The total number must be accurate for reporting purposes to the NJDOE.

According to the NJDOE, there are a few allowable reasons for a state-excused absence that pertain to elementary aged students:

• Religious observance (N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3(h));

• “Take Our Children to Work Day” or other rule issued by the Commissioner.

Let's work together to increase student attendance!