CDW Weekly Wrap-Up

September

Monday, September 25th~ School Closed for Yom Kippur

Friday, September 29th~ PTO Movie Event at the Westwood Movie Theatre

Saturday, September 30th~ CDW Grade 8 Car Wash and Clothing Drive 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

October

Sunday, October 1st~ Rain Date for Car Wash and Clothing Drive 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Monday, October 2nd~ BOE Meeting in the BOE Conference Room at 8:00 PM

Tuesday, October 3rd-Friday, October 6th~ 7th Grade Overnight Trip

Friday, October 6th~ Marking Period 1 Mid-Point

Monday, October 9th~ 12:30 PM Dismissal for Students; Professional Development for Staff

Friday, October 13th~ Interim Reports via Parent Portal at 12:00 PM

Tuesday, October 17th~ Picture Day

Thursday, October 19th~ Grade 8 Fundraiser: Chick-fil-A Lunch

Thursday, October 19th~ PTO Meeting in the CDW Media Center at 7:30 PM

Monday, October 23rd~ BOE Meeting in the BOE Conference Room at 8:00 PM

Tuesday, October 31st~ Halloween

​​​​​​​OT 2023-2024 Approved School Year Calendar

On Thursday, September 21st, the Student Council candidates gave speeches in front of the CDW students and staff. Congratulations to all candidates for being a part of the Student Council voting process. Although everyone could not win, we hope that all of the candidates are a part of the 2023-2024 CDW Student Council. Please see the Executive Board for the 2023-2024 School Year below.

President: Jason Jun

Vice President: Christine Hong

Secretary: Lauren Lombino

Treasurer: Brody Book

Ms. Santa has started visiting classes to talk about the components of the #WinAtSocial program. Things discussed were: how to handle pressure and stress, how adults can help students with stress, protecting your privacy online, and more! Grade 8 students will be visited next week.

This week's Family Huddle:

• We can all use technology to help us reach our goals instead of letting it get in the way. How?
• Student(s), can you share some ideas on how we can avoid or reduce distractions to stay focused?
  
• Knowing the science behind why screens can impact sleep, what are some family standards we might consider to get a good night’s sleep?

How Your Family Can Participate:

• Continue the conversation at home with the above Family Huddle questions. These are completely optional to run as a family!
• Register your free account for the Parent Toolkit. Many families refer to this as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology! Go to the Toolkit, click Activate Account, and enter our school code: 2729247E3AF3EA

Please review the Dress Code and Appearance Policy that can also be found in the CDW Student Handbook.

Students are expected to dress in clean, neat clothes and in a manner that will not detract from the teaching and learning experience in any way. They are also expected to adhere to reasonable health and safety standards in personal hygiene. Suitable footwear should be worn at all times. Prudent judgment should be exercised in the selection of school clothing or accessories that may be considered disruptive to the school environment or that may present a safety hazard to the student or others.

In general terms, clothing should cover the torso and legs to the mid-thigh. Examples of clothing that would be considered unacceptable in a school setting include but are not limited to halter tops, tube tops, tank tops, bare midriff tops, bathing suits, short skirts or short shorts, baggy/sagging pants (pants must not fall below waist), wallet chains, and any clothing advertising drugs, 6 weapons, alcohol, tobacco, vulgarities, or violence. Outdoor clothing, such as coats, jackets, and hats, are encouraged during the appropriate seasons since students may spend part of their day outside. Unless otherwise directed, students may not wear hats or hoods in the building

Once again, the Old Tappan Environmental Commission is proud to sponsor "Walk to School Week" from October 2nd-6th.

Each spring, the Old Tappan Environmental Commission (OTEC) holds a photo contest for students in Grades 5-8. In Spring 2023, the OTEC was looking for photos that

emphasized the environment: air, water, land, wildlife, ecosystems, etc. Please see the participants and winners below.

Name/ Location of photo/ Grade

Megan Collins/Stokes Farm/9 FIRST PLACE

Brandon Fung/Bonnabel Park/ 8 SECOND PLACE

Galina Fajardo/Ogle Rd looking out to Lake Tappan/6 THIRD PLACE

Nathaniel Fung/Bonnabel Park/8

Posey Ring/Burkhardt Lane/ 8

Jason Jun/Koch Lane/8

Amily Spring Miranda/Bonnabel Park/7

Gary Voloshin/Orangeburg Rd./6

On Thursday, January 11th, 2024 (Snow date: Tuesday, January 16th, 2024) from 3:30-4:30 PM, Charles DeWolf Middle School will be offering all sixth through eighth grade students the opportunity to take part in the AMC 8 Math Competition. All interested middle-school students are welcome to join us on that date.

Additional information about both the AMC 8 Test and The AMC Advantage can be found on their website, and please use this form to sign your child up for the competition.

Pizza Mondays started this week, and we are very appreciative to all of the PTO members who volunteer their time to help hand out pizza.

Great job to all of our fall athletes who kicked off the season this week! The soccer team is currently 0-2, the boys' volleyball team is 1-1, and the girls' volleyball team is 2-0.

Please click here for the Fall Sports Schedules.

5th grade information:

On September 12th, Ms. Adamo taught a character education lesson based on the book “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson. Students learned the importance of including others and being confident when trying new things.

On September 18th, Ms. Adamo taught the first lesson of the IGNITE your Shine program. This program focuses on helping students learn more about themselves, building confidence, and setting and achieving goals. The IGNITE your Shine program has monthly lessons that will continue throughout sixth grade, as well.

SHINE stands for: S: self; H: heart; I: inspire; N: navigate; E: exceptional.

8th grade information:

If you have an eighth grader who is applying to another high school for the 2024-2025 school year, please use the link below to learn more about the application process. On October 20th, the eighth graders will visit NVOT to learn about their elective options for the 2024-2025 school year.

2023-2024 application process

If your eighth grader is interested in applying to Bergen County Academies or Bergen County Technical schools, please use the link below to learn about their various schools and programs.

Parent Info Session Flyer.pdf

Reminders for all grades:

The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to create a successful work and study routine. Below is a list of suggestions to help your child(ren) have a successful and, hopefully, a stress-free school year.

CDW SUCCESS STARTS HERE

Wellness Wednesday lunches:

Grades 5 and 6 lunch with Ms. Adamo is in room 414.

Grades 7 and 8 lunch with Dr. Polizotto is in room 308.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic, social or emotional needs, please contact me at adamoj@nvnet.org or 201-664-1475 ext. 2203.

Pizza Mondays started on Monday, 9/18! Please use these links to sign up to serve pizza at TBD and CDW.

For TBD, signs ups will be restricted to 2 per child for the next few weeks.

TBD Pizza Sign Up

CDW Pizza Sign Up

The CDW Spirit Wear store is available on OTPTO.org! The Long Term Store is open year round and orders are shipped directly to the purchaser. The Short Term Store will reopen in the spring.

Both stores offer different merchandise. Links are on OTPTO.org or see below:

SHORT TERM: Charles DeWolf Middle School Old Tappan Spirit Wear 2023

LONG TERM: Charles DeWolf Middle School

If you would like to purchase a 2023-2024 Discount Card, visit the OT PTO website. Each card is $20.

Start cleaning out your closets because the CDW Class of 2024 will be hosting a Car Wash, Clothing Drive, and Bake Sale on Saturday, September 30th from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM (Rain Date is Sunday, October 1st).

Below is a list of items that can be collected:

• Clothing (Men’s, Women’s, Children’s – All types)
• Shoes
• Handbags / Backpacks
• Stuffed Animals and Small Plastic Toys (no puzzles, board games, Legos, or toys w/pieces)
• Linens (including Towels, Curtains, and Table Linens, but NO Blankets and/or Comforters)

Please use the following links to sign up to volunteer:

Car Wash Bake Sale Donations

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4FAFAA2CAAF94-44359227-carwash

Car Wash Volunteers

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4FAFAA2CAAF94-44358143-carwash

Clothing Drive & Bake Sale Volunteers

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4FAFAA2CAAF94-44358457-clothing

Every first Friday of the month, the Class of 2024 will be selling candy and ice pops at dismissal for an afternoon treat. Students in Grades 5-8 can go to the Lynch Gym to purchase their treat of choice! Treats will be between $1-3 and will include, but will not be limited to: lollipops, M&M's, Twizzlers, Gummy Bears, Sour Patch Kids, etc. See the flyer below for more information.

Dates of Sales: October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st, January 5th, February 2nd, March 1st, April 5th, May 3rd, June 7th

ATTENTION: 8th grade parents, please sign up HERE to volunteer for future Candy and Ice Pop Sales!

The PTO is looking for volunteers for the upcoming school year!

Volunteers play a huge part in the PTO and what we are able to offer our students and teachers. Without volunteers, many of the programs that students, teachers, and families enjoy will not be able to happen. Volunteer descriptions can be found at: OTPTO.org under "More Info" and then "Flyers."

If you have interest in joining the PTO Board, joining or running a committee, or just want to learn more- please reach out to the PTO by visiting OTPTO.org and selecting "Contact Old Tappan PTO" under the Help tab.

The State of New Jersey now requires all students born after January 1, 1997 and entering 6th Grade to receive a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DPT) vaccine as well as one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

If your child has received these shots, please provide Mrs. McCarthy, the school nurse, with a copy of the dates from the doctor if you haven’t already done so. If your child has not had these shots, please make arrangements with your doctor and let Mrs. McCarthy know that there is an upcoming, scheduled appointment. This is a state requirement for all students entering 6th Grade, and the state only allows for a 30 day grace period; therefore, students will not be allowed in the building after October 1st unless this paperwork is submitted, or you have spoken to Mrs. McCarthy about an upcoming appointment.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. McCarthy at 201-664-1475 ext. 2103 or McCarthy@nvnet.org.

If you’re interested in ordering, click HERE. There are different garment styles and colors available. Orders are due by Friday, October 20th.

If you would like to purchase insurance for your child(ren)'s school issued Chromebook, please refer to the information below, or you may purchase directly from smarttechinsurance.com/old-tappan.

New to our insurance policy this year is that all Chromebooks must be in cases or the insurance will not cover any claims.

If your child is not going to attend school, please contact Mrs. McCarthy at 201-664-1475 ext. 2103 or McCarthy@nvnet.org.

In an effort to minimize the potential spread of illness at school, please keep your child home if he/she:

• has a fever. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school.
• is nauseous or is vomiting.
• has diarrhea.

The CDW Picture Day will be on Tuesday, October 17th. All students will take an individual photo that day, whether a package is purchased or not. There will be retakes on November 17th, and more information about that will be provided at another time.

*Grade 8 students: This will be the picture that is used for the 2024 Yearbook.

Membership in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Charles DeWolf Middle School is open to any seventh grade student who meets all the following membership requirements at the end of the third marking period in 2024:

• Has a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.70 in academic subjects (social studies, language arts, math, science and Spanish) subjects, with no grade below a B- in any subject (including cycle classes) for ALL marking periods of the 2023-2024 school year.

• Demonstrates outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship.
• Accumulates no more than six unexcused tardies. Tardies will only be considered excused if a doctor's note is submitted to the School Nurse.

• Accumulates no detentions related to behavior in violation of the CDW Code of Conduct.
• Performs eight hours of documented community service from a recognized nonprofit, community, or education organization from 9/1/2023-4/12/2024. Virtual service hours will no longer be accepted. Please note that there will be no extension of this date. Students should provide documentation on the organization’s letterhead when submitting their applications in April.

• Completes at least three marking periods of the 7th grade year at CDW (unless a student moves into district and has been inducted as a member in another district).

At the end of April, eligible students will be identified and invited to apply for admission to the NJHS by email. An email will also be sent to parents of eligible students. The induction ceremony will be held during the week of May 13, 2024 (subject to change).

It is important to remember that our school is full of staff members who are here to help you and your child(ren) all year long. In some cases, you may not be sure whom to contact for specific information. For questions about your child(ren)'s classes, please utilize the teacher as a primary resource before implementing the flow chart.

Ms. Jennifer Santa, Principal: santaj@nvnet.org; phone extension 2101

Mr. Sabatino Lauriello, Student Manager: lauriello@nvnet.org; phone extension 2104

Ms. Jenni Adamo, Counselor: adamoj@nvnet.org; phone extension 2203

Students should either bring their lunch from home each day, or parents may order through one of the approved vendors for delivery to CDW. If you order lunch from an approved vendor for delivery, please make sure the vendor knows your child's first and last name and grade level. This will help to ensure your child receives their lunch on time. At times, we understand that a parent/guardian may need to drop off lunch at school. All lunches need to be placed on the table with the green tablecloth in the vestibule. We will make sure that it's delivered to your child.

5th/6th Grade Lunch ~ 11:27AM-12:01 PM

7th/8th Grade Lunch ~ 12:10PM-12:44 PM

You can find the Lunch Vendors on the Old Tappan School District Website, or refer to the flyer below.

• Drop-off is on Interschool Drive.
• For the safety of all students, we ask that you stay in your vehicle at drop-off and dismissal.
• Please do not use the upper faculty parking lot for drop-off/pick-up/or exiting of school grounds during school hours. CDW faculty and BOE-approved bus companies are the only vehicles permitted in the upper lot.
• Please do not park in any staff parking spots when dropping off or picking up students.
• Please do not exit your vehicle and leave your vehicle unattended on Interschool Drive.
• There will be adult supervision starting at 8:00 AM, and the doors will open at 8:20 AM. If there is inclement weather, students will be ushered into the school gymnasiums at 8:00 AM.
• The students in Grades 5 & 6 will line up on the blacktop in the back of the school near the basketball courts.
• The students in Grades 7 & 8 will line up on the blacktop by the 7th and 8th Grade Wing Exterior Door.
• Once you pull up to the cones on Interschool Drive, please have your child(ren) exit the vehicle. This allows many students to be dropped off at the same time and allows the line to move quickly.

Dismissal

• Please arrange a meeting area with your child(ren) so that you can locate them efficiently.
• Please do not park and/or exit your vehicle regardless of your child(ren) being at TBD or CDW.
• Please do not block designated emergency lanes that connect TBD and CDW.
• Please use BOTH LANES on Interschool Drive for Pick-Up. A staff member will be available to cross your child(ren).

General Traffic Rules Regarding Parking

• Never park in a "No Parking, Fire Lane." These lanes are designated with yellow paint in diagonal lines on the pavement along with the words, "No Parking Fire Lane."
• Never park along a curb that is painted yellow and leave your vehicle unattended.
• Do not double park (park your vehicle beside another vehicle that is in a designated parking space).

The New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) process for the application and approval of

working papers was made digital effective June 1, 2023, and is available online at the New Jersey Department of Labor website.

​​​​​​​OT 2023-2024 Approved School Year Calendar

Instagram: cdw_middle

Email: santaj@nvnet.org
Website: https://cdw.oldtappanschools.org/
Location: 275 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-664-1475
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldTappanSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @OldTappanSD