TIGER TOWN NEWSLETTER

Decorate your garden and support our learning garden! The PTO is selling a variety of spring pansies to cover our operating costs in the learning garden. Take a peek through the fence when you stop by school to see our beautiful new garden beds full of nutrient rich, organic soil. Deadline to order is Tuesday, April 18, for pickup starting at 3pm on Thursday, April 20.

See flyer for more details and order at caspto.com.

Your children will have the amazing opportunity to "visit" countries from around the world all on the CAS blacktop. CAS families are happy to share their heritage and cultures with our students. Be sure to ask your child where they "traveled".

If you have volunteered for a table, you should have received your poster board, if not, please reach out to casinternationalday@gmail.com.

Do you know a teacher or educational services professional (Paraprofessional, Nurses, Related Services, etc.) who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person for the Governor's Educator of the Year Program by completing this nomination form. Staff members and parents are encouraged to participate. Click here to nominate!

The students who have participated in this cannot stop talking about it. There are still spaces available so be sure to sign up your child!

Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will have an opportunity to have lunch with Mr. Liss and friends! The goal of these lunches is for students to share what they love about CAS, what we can bring to CAS, and general fun conversation about interests. This is also an opportunity for Mr. Liss to get to know your child even better! Please understand that this is not mandatory.

Children will be able to pack or buy his/her individual lunch. Click on the signup genius to get a spot for your child. Please only sign up for one spot per student.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094DACAD2CA0F58-lunch1

Everyone’s favorite afternoon at CAS is coming soon! Save the date for May 19.

DunkTank Sign-Up: NOTE this is for 5th graders ONLY! Attention 5th graders!!! Get Ready for FunFest!!! The FunFest Dunk Tank sign-up calendar is below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4fafab2aa6f85-casfunfest1?useFullSite=true#/

This is a first come, first serve, sign up. If the sign ups are full and you are still interested, please email liz.madio@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist. If you are signed up and are not at the dunk tank at your scheduled arrival time, we will ask someone from the wait list to take your place.

Interested in volunteering? Each volunteer shift will give you 5 tickets.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4fafab2aa6f85-casfamily

Want to help but can't be there in person? Water and Gatorade donations are needed. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FAFAB2AA6F85-casfunfest

Get ready for the CAS Fun Fest with a Limited-Edition “Life is Sweet at CAS” t-shirt! All shirts are $15 and proceeds benefit the PTO. Pre-ordered shirts will be delivered in time to wear at the CAS Fun Fest. Also be sure to check out our Fall Preview t-shirts. Be the first to get one of our new styles at www.caspto.com. Don’t miss out!

Things are happening! We received district approval for our plan and are ready to start our fundraising paver sale and finalize details with our landscaper. Are you interested in joining a committee to help fundraise, finalize our plan and help with ongoing maintenance for the courtyard garden? Please reach out to caspto@gmail.com

Avenues in Motion is excited to announce its annual Earth Day bookmark contest. The theme challenges students to design a bookmark showcasing how they can safely and sustainably walk and bike to reduce air pollution. See flyers below to participate!

We are so excited to have parent volunteers back in the building! There are all sorts of ways you can volunteer to help, here are our immediate needs:

Looking for PTO Vice Presidents!!

This role is a 2-year commitment, as you will be Vice President for the 2023-2024 school year and President for the 2024-2025 year. This role works best with 2 people, so grab a buddy and sign up! The Vice Presidents shadow and assist the Presidents in a variety of activities, including managing emails, scheduling events, organizing volunteers, overseeing the budget for events and fundraisers, fulfilling teacher requests, after school enrichment, teacher appreciation and more. This is a very FUN and rewarding role and is a great opportunity to expand your network, make new friends and get valuable insights into the inner workings of CAS. If you are interested in learning more, please email CASPTO@gmail.com to let us know.

CAS International Parents Group Chair

This role supports the integration of international families in CAS and creates community through social events. Responsibilities include participate in the Welcome Coffee for New Families in late September; host three meetings during the school year; invite and encourage international families to participate in the CAS International Day; and send flyers for group meetings to the PTO for inclusion in the CAS PTO newsletter.

Lunch Volunteers Needed for Spring!

Thank you to all who have volunteered for lunch this year! Volunteering during lunch is a great way to see your children in their school day habitat! Parent volunteers assist in opening up lunch items, keeping the lunch lines moving, and ensuring the students clean up after themselves. Lunch begins at 11:15am and ends at 12:45pm.

Please sign up for only one slot as many parents are interested:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094dacad2ca0f58-caslunch4#/

Contact Danielle Carreon (danielle.asuncion@gmail.com) or Rachel Cushing (CushingFamily37@outlook.com) with any questions.

Spring is about to pounce on Central Avenue School! Get some gloves on your Tiger Paws and fill your fork with compost for 2023 MADISON GREEN AND CLEAN AT CAS! Green and Clean is the new name for May Day - the borough wide volunteer beautification event that started in 1998. Let’s show our pride for our incredible school grounds by preparing it for the year to come.

Volunteers are needed for two events:

1. Preparation of the school grounds April 22, 9am-11am. We will be cutting back, pruning, weeding, raking and edging. No green thumb required!
2. Green and Clean day April 29, 9am-12pm. This coincides with the Borough wide Green and Clean event. We need your help to spread mulch and weed flower beds all over campus.

Sign up your family! Your team! Your club! Your community group! What if you can’t come but have tools to lend? There is a spot on the sign up form for you too! Questions? GreenAndCleanCAS@gmail.com

This week's Home Connection:

Autism Acceptance Month

Click Here to View

Parenting these days is hard. We are all busy, pulled in different directions. There is work (our own work), helping the kids with their homework, getting a meal on the table, making sure kids get to their activities and athletics. We are all juggling lots of balls, spinning lots of plates, going a thousand miles an hour. Shortcuts are not just tempting, they are a necessity.

Stick with me: I’m getting to the point.

While technology can help us with SO MANY things, remember; NO APP CAN REPLACE YOUR LAP.

Let’s just focus on reading, for example. Writing for the Well Child Center, Melinda Scheibe describes 7 benefits that reading to your child delivers; and those benefits can't ever be replaced by any app:

Here are 7 factors to consider when reading to your little one:

1. Reading sets children up to succeed. The more you ready to your child, the more knowledge they will absorb. Diverse books teach children about different topics.
2. Reading develops language skills. Everyday vocabulary is often repetitive. Reading books exposes a child to language on different topics, meaning they hear words and phrases they may not hear otherwise.
3. Reading enhances a child’s concentration. By consistently reading every day, your child will learn to concentrate and sit still for longer periods of time.
4. Reading develops a child’s imagination. When we engage in a book, we imagine the characters and the setting sparking creativity.
5. Reading books helps develop empathy. Children will begin to identify with characters and feel what they are feeling, thus beginning to understand and relate to emotions.
6. Books are free entertainment! With so many negative aspects of screen time, choosing a book that interests your child is a better option.
7. Reading together helps create a bond between parent and child. Spending time together while reading and talking can bring parents closer to children. For parents who work or live a busy lifestyle, reading is a simple way to enjoy each other’s time while relaxing and bonding.

So instead of saying “honey, I don’t have time,” make the effort to sit down and read.

There is no app to replace your lap!

Mike Shugrue, LCSW

School Social Worker

Central Avenue School

We are pleased to announce the Madison STEAM Academy is returning in 2023 for another summer of excitement and fun!

Please visit www.madisonpublicschools.org/steam academy for details and an FAQ about the program. Enrollment Now!

Registration is open for the 3rd Annual MEF Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, June 3rd! Paddle up for a great cause... our schools! Registration is also ongoing for another MEF event---the 20th Annual MEF Madison 5K Run/Walk. Join us on May 7th for a 1-mile run/walk, 5K run/walk, and Kids Fun Run. All funds raised help MEF award teacher grants in Madison Public Schools. Visit the MEF website to learn more.

Are you planning on attending this year’s Taste of Madison? The Madison Downtown Development Committee has generously offered to give back to the CAS PTO for every ticket purchased using our name.

Come out and enjoy this signature Madison event at the Brooklake Country Club!

Click here for a basic overview of the event.

Purchased tickets (Reference CAS PTO and we get $20 back for each ticket!):

• Purchase online at www.tasteofmadisonnj.org - if you choose this method, please send us an email at caspto@gmail.com with your name and number of tickets purchased to get credit for our fundraiser.
• Complete the below form with a check made out to CAS PTO and place in an envelope marked “Taste of Madison.” Teachers will collect and drop in the front office for collection.

Visit our website: Central Avenue School | Home (madisonpublicschools.org)

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