The Marshall Owl Hoots!
Sharing News About...
From the Administrators...
The last few months of the school year were admittedly hard. School closed in March due to a public health crisis and never reopened. We are as shocked as you! Never in a million years did we imagine we would be in this position. We were immediately thrust into distance learning with no warning, no planning, and no training. Yet, we adapted. It was uncomfortable, but we stretched ourselves and we all grew. It was on the job learning for staff members. Teachers literally taught themselves how to create virtual lessons and provided content each day...thank you. Students logged in to Google Classroom to access their lessons and continued to learn...thank you. Parents worked virtually in their professional positions and simultaneously became teachers to their children, assisting them with distance learning...thank you. The office staff continued to function and managed all administrative tasks virtually...thank you. The PTA continued to meet, plan, and support the school...thank you. There were a lot of changes for everyone, but we all did it. Now it is June 23rd - the last day of school, and it's time to end for the summer. It is a much deserved break for all. For those who requested a return of your children's personal belongings, we will be making arrangments in the next couple of weeks for you to pick up those items from the school.
What will next year look like? We don't yet know. It is our hope that this public health crisis will minimize to the point that we can safely return to school in September for a "normal opening." However, we won't have any details until Governor Murphy provides direction. Until then, enjoy your summer!
Raquel Horn, Principal and Laura Swyberius, Assistant Principal
P.S. Lessons will remain in the Google Classroom for your children to review over the summer if you desire.
2nd Grade Virtual Clap Out
To our 2nd graders, thank you for being diligent students throughout the school year. You have made us all so proud. We wish you well in 3rd grade and remember...you will always be an owl!
June Character Trait (Determination) and Principal's Book of the Month
Nearly everyone knows that Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall and then had a great fall. However, no one knows what happened after he fell. Did he stay there defeated? Did he give up, never to climb a wall again? If your children didn't see it, we invite them to watch and listen to find out what happened to Humpty Dumpty. See the link below.
This year, we have encouraged students to GROW UP KIND with monthly character traits and coordinating read alouds. Please continue to reinforce the traits we've learned this year at home as listed below:
Gratitude - Letting others know you are thankful for their kindness (September)
Respect - Honoring other’s titles/positions, feelings, and rights (October)
Optimism - Believing that good things will happen (November)
Wisdom - Having good judgement; figuring out what you should be doing and actually doing it (December)
Unselfish - Putting the needs of others before your own (January)
Patience - Waiting until later for what you want now. (February)
Kindness - Showing others they are valuable by how you treat them (March)
Initiative - Doing things without being told to do them (April)
Neatness - Taking pride in my work and my personal space (May)
Determination - Insisting on finishing what you started (June)
Bike Safety During COVID-19
Summer and bike riding go hand in hand! Please check your email for important information that was shared in an attempt to help keep children safe as they ride their bikes during COVID-19. Have children watch the informative and interactive PowerPoint (in slide mode; not presentation mode) made especially for our little ones that is sure to explain and entertain. (NOTE: It was included as an attachment in the email because the file was too large to include in this newsletter.) Afterward, children should complete the EZ Ride Bike Safety Worksheet attached below and email it to Mrs. Horn at rhorn@somsd.k12.nj.us by Friday, June 26th. A picture of the completed form is fine.
We also encourage children to enter the EZ Ride Poster Contest. They can create a bike safety poster of their own on 8.5 x 11 paper that focuses on content, color, and creativity. They should include their name, grade, and school on the front bottom of the poster. Parents can then take a picture of the poster and email it to the persons identified in the PowerPoint. Winners can select from prizes that include a helmet, set of bike lights, bike bell, and reflective drawstring bag. For your convenience, a list of curated resources is attached below from EZ Ride that you may find useful. We hope the children have fun and ride safely this summer...good luck!
Summer Reading Lists
1. It helps to prevent summer reading loss.
2. It helps to exercise the brain. Our brains need exercise just like our bodies!
3. It creates additional opportunities for students to learn. They can increase knowledge about a topic of interest.
4. It improves reading skills. They can practice the strategies they've learned to date.
5. It improves reading comprehension. Encourgage children to think about the problems and solutions, explain why characters behaved in a certain way, and predict what will happen next in fiction texts. Have them tell what they learned in non-fiction books.
6. It improves self-esteem. Children become more confident in their own reading abilities. How awesome is that!
7. It creates an intrinsic desire to read for pure enjoyment.
See the summer reading lists below. There is a primary list for grades K-2 and an intermediate list for grades 3-5. Choose from the list that best meets your child's needs.
PTA Summer Palooza Book Fair
Please consider supporting the PTA Summer Palooza Book Fair to purchase books and build your children's libraries. Feel free to use the summer reading lists as a guide (attached above). You may purchase books through September 4th. Click the link below to be taken directly to the book fair website! All orders will ship directly to your home. Your purchase not only provides reading material for your children, but also generates 25% in Scholastic dollars which is used to provide books for families in need and to help replenish our classroom libraries. Does your child need some motivation to read over the summer? Please see the documents attached that we hope will motivate them.
SOMA Summer Food Support Program
Our school district, in partnership with the Township of Maplewood, South Orange Village, and the Parenting Center will be offering free grab and go bags for breakfast and lunch this summer for all Maplewood and South Orange children ages 18 and under. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Social Work Newsletters
For the past several weeks, School Social Worker Mrs. Napoleon has shared The SOMSD Social Work Resources and Wellness Newsletter. It was a weekly newsletter that contained a wealth of information and resources. For your convenience, they are all attached below for you to review and use as needed over the summer.
Dates to Know....
July/August 2020 - School Closed for Summer Recess
September 1st - 3rd - Staff Professional Development
September 4th - Holiday Recess (School Closed)
September 7th - Labor Day (School Closed)
September 8th - 1st Day of School
September 28th - Yom Kippur (School Closed)
(Click the link below to see the SOMSD 2020-21 Calendar)