BLUE JAY NEWS. west Freehold School

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1 BLUE JAY NEWS west Freehold School April 2015 Dear Parents/Guardians: It seems that Spring weather has finally sprung into effect as we have seen the last few days rise in temperature and we are finally able to get the students outside for some much deserved recess! On behalf of the staff of the West Freehold School, we would like to take this opportunity to officially wish all of you a happy and healthy spring vacation. Please enjoy this time with your family and friends. In this issue, we would like to take the time to thank all of the members of our West Freehold School Parent Teacher Organization. This dedicated group of volunteers continues to do outstanding things for the children of our school. These individuals can often be found donating their time to organize grand fundraising events like our Annual Gift Auction. This year, we were able to raise over $32,500 that will be used to enhance your child s elementary education experience. Our PTO has done wonderful work in my tenure as principal of this great school. From our recent technology purchases, extended playground areas and basketball courts, and monthly assembly programs, this group ensures that your children are receiving an education of the highest caliber. We commend their efforts and cherish them as partners in education. Thank you so much for all that you do each and every day for the students of the West Freehold School. It is greatly appreciated! Sincerely, Edward Aldarelli Principal Patricia Somma Supervisor

2 Greetings From Guidance Hello WFS Families, Students and Staff! Our first round of the PARCC tests are complete! I m extremely proud of everyone and the great job that was done! The students worked very hard, as did the staff who administered the tests. Students and staff who were not testing have been extremely patient with all of the adjustments and schedule changes. A really special shout out goes to our technology people who were here to help us every step of the way. Also, we are so very lucky to have Mrs. Layman, our Technology Integration Coordi nator working in our building. She is a modern day Wonder Woman! I wish everyone a much deserved, relaxing and wonderful Spring Break! Enjoy time with family and friends. Hopefully, we won t see another snow flake for a long, long time! Sincerely yours, Anessa Perry MEDIA CENTER The library media program has been bustling with activity over the cold winter months! Despite the weather, students happily celebrated Read Across America with guest readers and special activities in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2. Parents, students and teachers also celebrated at an MCEA evening event with many crafts, book and prize giveaways as well as workshops. In the media center, kindergartners have worked to create an ABC Book and art for Dr. Seuss' displays, while continuing to be excited about reading. First graders have been learning literature elements such as themes while second graders have conducted research on the continents to present in a digital slide show. Third through fifth graders have also been working with digital media in the library. After writing winter stories, third graders collaborated with a partner in Google Drive to present their work in a digital format. Fourth graders completed webquests and collaborated in Google Drive for a book analysis. Lastly, our fifth graders completed digital movies, websites and PowToons to demonstrate their knowledge of evaluating websites. Please check the WFS media center website for posted projects and updates on the program throughout the year. Have a wonderful spring! As you begin to enjoy the warmer weather, also remember, "You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book." - Dr. Seuss -- Dawn Marie Gravatt K-5 Library Media Specialist

3 Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! We want to thank all the businesses and families that donated, our committee members who put endless hours into this event, the head room mom s for all their work on the amazing grade baskets and everyone who volunteered and helped make the Annual Gift Auction the huge success it was. Congratulations to the Kindergarten class who won a Rita's Ice Party (date to be determined) by having the winning grade basket at our event. We had a record setting 332 people attend the gift auction, which helped us raise over $32,500 for our school. The Battleground did an amazing job, the place looked beautiful, the gifts were amazing, the Kohl s volunteers were beyond helpful all of this contributed to making the night such a huge success! Thank you for all your support! Jennifer & Nicole 5th Grade Activities The WFS 5 th Grade Activities Committee has re-scheduled the ice cream social to April 24 th. Parents can pick up their children at 4:30 pm and RSVP s are due back by April 10 th. Parents, if you are still interested in buying a 5 th grade t-shirt, please send in order forms or $15 in an envelope with your t-shirt size and name of child. Clothing drive will be held April 16 th from 10am-1pm in the parking lot by the K cafeteria. Details will be coming home soon. Chairpersons from the Committee are already working hard now to finalize and prepare for the 5 th grade social on May 15 th. Invitations will be coming out soon! Pam Crivera - paulsmom615@yahoo.com Carol Kelson - cgkel@optonline.net

4 YEARBOOK It s time to order the Yearbook! The website will close on April 15th! All the grades are featured! Class photos from Kindergarten to 4th grade, the 5th grade portrait pictures, as well as activities and special events. In addition there are many candid pictures of the students in all the grades as well! This year our Yearbooks are being made to order. There will be no extra copies, so pre-ordering is the only way to guarantee your copy! Step 1: Visit Step 2: Enter pay code and click next. Step 3:Select your child s grade and teacher from the drop down menus, and number of yearbooks. Step 4: Enter your child s name and your . Step 5: Add to Order and buy for $26.00 each. It s that easy! Please submit your Spring Party and Walk-a-Thon photos before April 15th to wfsyearbook@optimum.net. Add the grade with the activity in the subject line and name the children in the . A special thank you to everyone who submitted photos, and to the voting 5th grade students! Thank you, Amanda Mansfield WFS Yearbook Adviser

5 We can't believe its April and Spring break is upon us. March was super busy with testing, snow days and AGA that we can all use some quality time with our families and loved ones. Hats off to Jennifer Gerstenberg, Nicole Boyce and their committee for another record breaking Annual Gift Auction. It was a great night!! It's also that time of year again...election time!! If you or know of anyone who would like to be on the Eboard please fill out the Nomination Form that went home this week. If you did not receive a hardcopy, you can download it off our website. All nominations are anonymous. All forms must be back by May 6th. If more than one person is nominated for a specific position and both have accepted their nominations it will go to a "vote off" during our May meeting. Absentee ballots will also be available. Keep in mind, as stated in our bylaws, if you are in good standing (have paid your dues, attended two PTO meetings within the past 10 months OR volunteered at a PTO event within the last 10 months) you are eligible to vote. Most of the Eboard will be running again but in different positions. We welcome all nominations!! The main office will be assisting us again with the nomination process. Our next PTO meeting will be on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30pm in the Media Center. We hope you will join us. Thank you for your continued support and we hope you all have a wonderful Spring break! WFS Eboard WFS PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD President Lori Tocci latocci@verizon.net Vice President Lisa Madonia lmadonia@optonline.net Treasurer Kerri Simons kerrisimons@verizon.net Corresponding Secretary Rose Colabelli clcscape@optonline.net Recording Secretary Courtney Zalepka courtneyzalepka@aim.com Blue Jay Submission Dates If you are chairing a committee or in charge of an upcoming event and you would like to submit articles to be put into the Blue Jay, please send me the information you would like included by the 20th of each month. Thank you! Rose Colabelli clcscape@optonline.net

6 Family Fun Day May 8th 6:00 to 9:00pm Please look for the flyer to come home after the break! If you would like to volunteer please contact Rose Colabelli at

7 West Freehold School, ID# Welcome to the start of a new school year and a year of A+ School Rewards. Starting October 3, 2014 through March 19, 2015, West Freehold School, ID# will have the opportunity to earn cash through Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Program. All you have to do is: Log on to select CUSTOMER REGISTRATION to register online using your Stop & Shop Card OR Return this form to school with your child and include your Stop & Shop Card Number(13-DIGITS), Last Name and telephone number NEW THIS YEAR: If you registered your card last year, you DO NOT need to re-register this year. You can visit the website to verify correct school assignment. Also, don t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. It could mean more Cash for our school. Shop Until You Drop After you register your card, each shopping trip at Stop & Shop using your Stop & Shop Card earns CASH for our school. Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Stop & Shop website. You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt and online when you create an account at Our school will receive a check at the end of the program. The money can be used for any of our school s educational needs. *Phone numbers may not be used to designate. If you do not know your 13-digit STOP & SHOP CARD number, call the Card Hotline at and select OPTION #2 Bagel & Pretzel Sale Our next bagel sale will be Wednesday, April 15th before school starts! Bagels with butter or cream cheese are $1.50 or $2.00 with a drink. Hope you join us for a bagel! World s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser CONGRATS to a 3rd grade student for winning the Mini Ipad in our World s Finest Chocolate raffle. Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraiser.

8 Dates to Remember! April 2-12 Early Dismissal 12:20pm, Spring Recess begins 13 School Reopens 15 Bagel Sale 15 PTO Meeting, 7:30pm 16 PTO Clothing Drive 17 School Spirit Wear 24 Kick it for Earth Wear green for Arbor Day 29 Spring School Pictures by Lifetouch May 8 School Spirit Wear 8 Fun Fair, 6:00-9:00pm 13 PTO Meeting, 7:30pm 15 5th Grade Social 22 Wear Red, White & Blue, Memorial Day 22 Early Dismissal 12:20pm 25 School Closed, Memorial Day 28 Kindergarten Preview June 5 School Spirit Wear 10 PTO Meeting, 9:30am 18 Early Dismissal 12:20pm 19 Early Dismissal 12:20pm 22 Early Dismissal 12:20pm & Last Day of School