“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
Week Fourteen:
Welcome back, I hope your Thanksgiving break was filled with joy, relaxation, and time spent with loved ones. Whether you traveled, caught up on rest, or simply enjoyed a slower pace for a few days, I hope it brought you the refreshment and happiness you deserve. As we return to school, we’re excited to reconnect and dive into all the wonderful activities and learning happening in our community. The next few weeks promise to be full of energy, growth, and celebration as we approach our Winter Break.
Before the break, students across all grade levels embraced the spirit of Thanksgiving through a variety of meaningful lessons and activities. Younger students explored the holiday’s history and traditions with engaging stories, crafts, and discussions about the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans. They reflected on themes of gratitude and community, creating artwork and projects that highlighted what they’re thankful for. Older students connected Thanksgiving traditions to STEM with hands-on experiments like butter-making and designing balloon floats inspired by the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a week filled with creativity, collaboration, and learning, bringing the holiday to life in our classrooms.
Last week also featured our monthly "Party with the Principals" for November's bucket-fillers. Mr. Perruso and Mr. O'Connor hosted a special lunch break in the conference room, where students could play board games, draw, or simply relax and chat with friends. These gatherings are a great way for our principals to celebrate students' achievements while getting to know their unique personalities. Congratulations to all of November’s bucket-fillers for earning this well-deserved recognition!
The week concluded with the 5th annual "Balloons Over Cucinella" Parade, the culmination of a 4th-grade STEM project. Students worked diligently over two weeks to design, build, and refine their own “balloon floats,” inspired by the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. On Wednesday morning, they proudly paraded their creations through the school, delighting students and staff alike. Thank you to our 4th-grade teachers for fostering such a creative and engaging learning experience. This event truly showcased the ingenuity and talent of our students!
Looking ahead, Tuesday, December 3, marks the beginning of the second trimester. Please note that the OnCourse parent portal will be temporarily closed as teachers prepare report cards, which will be published next week after the close of school on Monday, December 9th.
As we move into the heart of our curriculum, classrooms will be buzzing with engaging lessons, collaborative activities, and meaningful discussions. Students and staff alike are in their groove, and we’re thrilled about the new learning opportunities ahead.
Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a fantastic start to the second trimester!
Here’s to another great week,
Christopher Perruso
Principal
Monday starts our SPECIALS on Day 1
Upcoming Events:
12/2- End of 1st Trimester
12/3- SEPAG Meeting
12/6- School Picture Retakes
12/7- TREP$ Marketplace 10:30AM @ LVMS
12/9- 1st Trimester Report Cards Published
12/9- School Spirit Day- Wear your Cucinella Gear or Red, White, and Blue!
12/10- Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC
12/10-12/13 PTO Holiday Gift Shoppe- Volunteers Needed- Click Here
12/13- 2nd Grade Colonial Day Activities 8:30AM
12/18- 5th Grade Vocal Music Performance 7:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
12/20- Early Dismissal Day- Start of Winter Break
12/23- 1/1- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Winter Break
1/2- Schools Reopen
1/7- Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00PM LVMS PAC
1/20- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Balloons Over Cucinella
November Bucket Fillers' Party With the Principals
Learning About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—And Making Butter!
This week in Mrs. Inskeep's class, the social studies current event focused on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, sparking excitement and curiosity among our students. To tie in some hands-on science, Mrs. Inskeep developed a lesson where students explored how liquids can transform into solids through a fun and delicious experiment: making butter!
Students worked together to create their own butter in class, learning about chemical changes in a tangible and tasty way. The best part? They got to take their homemade butter home to share with their families, adding a special touch to their Thanksgiving preparations.
A big thank you to Mrs. Inskeep for designing such a creative and engaging activity that brought science, social studies, and a bit of the Thanksgiving holiday together!
School Picture Update
Just an update on your child’s school portraits. For families who ordered photo packages, your child should have brought these home on either Tuesday or Wednesday of last week. If you ordered photos online after picture day, you should be receiving them shortly via mail.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed by Lors. If for some reason your child’s pictures are flawed and you would like a retake, please hold onto your pictures. Picture make-ups and retakes are currently scheduled for Friday, December 6th 2024 . Please use the following Google Form to sign your child(ren) up for a picture retake: https://forms.gle/H8SqUjqiTrXKubxr8
If you did not prepay for a picture package, you will not receive a picture packet or the picture proof. If you would like a sneak peek of your child’s photo to determine if you want to order a package, they have been imported into OnCourse. If you log into OnCourse, you should be able to see their new picture on their information page. Please be aware of a few important items regarding school pictures:
Attached HERE is the instruction sheet so you can contact Lors directly to order pictures or with any questions.
http://www.lorsstudio.com/undergrads/order/
Login code: 25-23BC
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the main office staff.
PTO Holiday Gift Shoppe
The Holiday Shoppe is being held on December 10-13, 2024 at Cucinella during the school day. Students will have a designated time to go visit the Holiday Shoppe with their class to shop for their family and friends. Class schedule can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zdQzvR4DbXhCcYqtzr2BkY7j9j1YRHphAGovWhXTE7Y/edit?usp=sharing
For any question, please reach out to the PTO Gift Shoppe coordinator Kristi Daggett, kristidaggett@gmail.com
5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest
Dear 5th Grade Families,
We recognize it is a busy time with Theater Week, TREP$ and many day to day activities. So we are extending the yearbook cover contest deadline to December 3rd, originally November 25th. Please see this Flyer for more information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGOsUPI-kc/KyRQJurcVChCRWICQX0kSw/edit
1 Winner will receive a grand prize of a free yearbook with name stamping and will be featured on the cover. Selected runners-up may also be featured in the yearbook.
Permission Form should be sent in with the entry and is also posted here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUUofBkzZJGt5dHduyAan9wzg3S8peCrX6toZktvV2s/edit?usp=sharing.
Also, In the coming month please keep an eye out for info on submitting Toddler pics via a link of your 5th graders!
Thanks,
Liz Schwartz
Yearbook Advisor
Cucinella PTO Happenings:
Nellie's News Flash: Click here for this week's version of Nellie's News Flash.
Order your Spirit Wear HERE: https://cucinella-spirit-wear.printify.me/products
Next General Membership Meeting:
Monday, December 9th @7pm
BAC Library
Memberships 2024-2025 School Year
PTO Memberships for the 2024-2025 School Year are still available! Follow the MemberHub link below to pay for a Family or Staff Membership. We are looking forward to another fantastic year!
https://www.cucinellapto.com/membership
https://cucinella.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5542&form=2
Join Girl Scouts
The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey are hosting a FREE Movie Event designed for families! This event is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about the Girl Scout program, get questions answered, and register their daughters for Girl Scouts. Plus, it promises to be a fun and exciting experience for the girls! Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to explore all that Girl Scouts has to offer!
Click here for more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BjgzNAke9ikp94DARbClOjQHWW1KmUJw/view?usp=sharing
Smart Watches and Cellular Phones
Recently we have had some issues with students wearing smart watches with cellular capabilities at school. Although there is no issue with students wearing watches to school, some students are sending and receiving text messages. Texting or taking calls during the school day is strictly prohibited by school policy. When students come to school with a cell phone, the phone is kept in the student's cubby for the day. Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during the school day. Watches used inappropriately will be subject to the same consequences as cell phones - teachers may take them away for the day. We ask for your assistance with this matter by reinforcing this at home with your children.
Preschool Openings
Notice: Openings in Washington Township Integrated Preschool Program
Washington Township Schools are pleased to announce remaining openings in the Integrated Preschool Program at both Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School and Old Farmers Road School. This unique program offers a nurturing, developmental learning experience for children aged three to five, integrating typically developing children and children with special needs to promote readiness skills, language development, and social/emotional growth.
Program Details:
Locations & Times:
Activities Include: Circle time, group activities, snack, story time, and teacher-guided play, designed around the NJ Department of Education’s Preschool Learning Standards and tailored to each child's developmental level.
Curriculum: The Tools of the Mind curriculum focuses on self-regulation and foundational skills in literacy, math, and science, with activities adapted to support each child’s growth.
Additional Information:
Tuition for non-classified students: $950.00 per month.
Parents are responsible for transportation, snacks, and lunch.
Children must be three years old by September 1, 2024, to be eligible.
Interested families are encouraged to contact Dr. Denise Scairpon at DScairpon@wtschools.org or (908) 876-3434 x 2300 to learn more or to enroll.
Spaces are limited, so reach out soon to secure a spot in this enriching preschool program!
Parent Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures:
To ensure the continued safety of our students and staff, we are making a few updates to our morning drop-off procedures. We kindly ask for your cooperation with the following guidelines:
Please remain in your car: Parents and guardians should stay inside their vehicles during drop-off to help keep the process moving smoothly.
Be prepared ahead of time: Have all items (backpacks, lunch bags, etc.) ready and accessible before arriving at the drop-off area.
Independent exit: If possible, encourage your child to open the door on their own and exit the vehicle from the passenger side, closest to the school, once you’ve pulled up to the furthest spot available.
Patience is appreciated: We understand mornings can be busy, but please wait for the cars in front of you to move rather than driving around. Our top priority is the safety of our students and staff, which is worth more than a few seconds saved.
Respect the Handicapped spaces: Please avoid parking in the Handicapped spots to drop off children. We want to ensure that all students enter the building safely, and we do not have a crosswalk or staff member to assist them across the drop-off lane.
We truly appreciate your understanding and support in following these procedures. Together, we can create a safer and smoother drop-off experience for everyone.
Student Dress Code
As we move into the school year, please take a moment to review the board approved dress code for students. It can be found here. Our dress code is enforced to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff. If you have any questions after reviewing please do not hesitate to reach out.
Items of Note:
No hats/bandanas/hoods
No bare midriffs
No sunglasses indoors
No indecent material
Pick Up Patrol
PickUp Patrol - USED FOR RECORDING ABSENCES and DISMISSAL Preferences
PickUp Patrol has been in effect for 2 years now and we are very happy with the positive feedback we have been receiving from the community regarding it's ease of use. . Please click here to review how to use the program to record absences.
Our secretaries are no longer checking phone messages for absences or changes in dismissal procedures. This information is now handled exclusively through the PickUp Patrol app.
All of our parents and guardians should have received a "Welcome" email with details on how to download the app and set up your account. If you have not received an email, please check your SPAM folder. If you can not find the Welcome email, please contact our school secretaries and ask for a new one to be resent.
If you have not downloaded the app or set up your account yet, please do so as soon as possible.
Click here for more information about Pickup Patrol
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the secretaries, Mrs. Deanna Dargel or Mrs. Boomi Varathrajan.
