Dear Desmares Families,
We hope you enjoyed every moment of the Thanksgiving holiday and are looking forward to the exciting weeks ahead with the winter holidays fast approaching. At Desmares School, we are proud to celebrate the many different holidays our students celebrate at home, and we encourage you to communicate with the classroom teacher and homeroom parents during classroom holiday party time to bring those traditions into the classroom.
Most importantly, we want to make you aware of a very important upcoming Town Hall Meeting, where Dr. McGann is going to discuss the state of the Flemington-Raritan School District budget for the 2025-2026 school year. This meeting will be held on Thursday, December 12th, 6:00 at J.P Case School in the auditorium. We strongly encourage all of our families to attend either virtually or in person. Here is the link if you wish to attend virtually to keep yourself informed.
Parent-Teacher Conferences were held before the Thanksgiving break. If you were unable to attend a conference please schedule a meeting with your classroom teacher to remain informed about your child's progress this year. It was wonderful to see so many parents partnering with our teachers to set students up for success at school.
PTO News: There are some very important dates to keep in mind, as we have special holiday activities for kids through our PTO. The Holiday Shop will be open for students to shop for family and friends from December 2nd - 6th, with Family Shopping Night from 5-7 pm on Thursday, December 5th. Click here for the class schedule. During the month of November our PTO held a few fundraisers including the Clothing Drive, Chick-fil-A Dine Out, and the first School Dance! Over 100 students participated in the fun by dancing, creating a craft, and making memories by taking photos with friends. You can follow our PTO on Instagram - @francis.a.desmarespto - and stay up to date on all of our school events.
Academically speaking, our students are developing new strategies for reading comprehension and learning more about writing about their reading. The new Bridges Math program is in full swing across all grade levels offering engaging discussions during Number Corners and Math Centers. We hope you enjoyed learning more about how your child is doing in the classroom and more about how you can support your child at home. Talk to your child about their Numbers Corner activities today!
Absenteeism continues to be a focus as our students are beginning to develop greater stamina to maintain focus all day. That said, every day counts and attendance really matters as we enter the most critical time of the school year beginning in January. Please reach out to your child's teacher if your child is expressing reluctance to come to school or to our School Nurse, Mrs. Sellers, if you have any illness related questions.
This year's winter break is a long one! We wish all of our Desmares families a peaceful and joyous holiday season, and we look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Thursday, January 2nd.
Sincerely,
~ Mr. Masessa and Mrs. Custy
Francis A. Desmares School is proud to recognize this year's Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Yasmin Jeges, and Education Services Professional of the Year, Mrs. Tara Maszczak. This dynamic duo works together in our bilingual kindergarten classroom. Below is a sample of the wonderful things their colleagues shared about them in their nominations for this honor:
Mrs. Jeges: "She is truly an example of generosity, kindness, professionalism and joy! In all of the highly qualified and exemplary colleagues I have nominated over the years, Yasmin Jeges is quietly and humbly at the top of the list."
Mrs. Maszczak: "I am always amazed by her engagement with students when I witness the conversations they have, the songs or rhymes she says as students walk on the sensory path, and how she incorporates movements to make even mundane tasks, such as drink and bathroom breaks, more fun, engaging, and educational for students."
The FAD Library is looking for volunteers to help during classes or to assist with shelving books. Click here to view the Library class schedule. If you are able to volunteer some time, please email FADpto@gmail.com for more information.
As 2024 comes to a close, December is a time of celebration, reflection, sharing time with our families, and setting goals for the coming year.
This month, we will continue teaching lessons from our Second Step Lesson Program. Our topic is Emotion Management. It’s essential for children because it allows them to understand and regulate their feelings, improving social interactions and academic performance. It’s also important for coping with negative feelings, challenging situations, and improving self-esteem.
In December, we’ll also learn about the character traits of Caring/Compassion.
Caring is about being kind, helpful, respectful, and considerate of others. Compassion means caring about others, understanding, and being willing to help them.
These are some examples of books that illustrate these two important words:
I Am Love A Book Of Compassion (English)
Yo soy amor, Un cuento de compasión (Espanol)
Mrs. Powers and Mrs. Moncada wish our Desmares Families a great Holiday season. Please take some time to rest and spend time with your family.
Handwashing Protocol - English
Handwashing Protocol - Spanish
To speak with Mrs. Sellers about your child's health, please call 908-284-7545.
Francis A. Desmares Elementary School
Nurse's Office - Mrs. Sellers: 908-284-7545
School Counselor - Mrs. Monks: 908-284-7542
Bilingual School Counselor - Mrs. Moncada: 908-284-7553
Email: firstname.lastname@frsd.us
Website: https://www.frsd.k12.nj.us/Domain/284
Location: 16 Old Clinton Road, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-284-7540
Twitter: @desmaresschool