“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
Week Seventeen:
This week was filled with excitement and memorable moments as we wrapped up 2024 together!
Monday started off with our first delayed opening of the year due to an overnight ice and snowstorm. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our custodial staff for preparing the school for our staff’s and students’ safe arrival, as well as to our transportation department for ensuring safe bus rides during the challenging driving conditions. Despite the abbreviated schedule, our incredible teachers adjusted seamlessly, delivering engaging and meaningful lessons, thank you all for your flexibility and dedication!
On Wednesday, our 5th graders stole the show with their Winter vocal music performances during the day for their teachers and classmates and in the evening for families and friends. A huge thank you to Mrs. Postigo for her incredible work preparing the students for this special event, and kudos to the students for their hard work and enthusiasm in learning their songs and singing during the performances!
Thursday brought our monthly safety drill, where students and staff did an excellent job demonstrating their understanding of security procedures. These drills reflect our staff's commitment to creating a safe and secure learning environment for all.
We capped off the week on Friday with holiday parties in our homerooms, celebrating the start of winter break. A big thank you to the PTO class parents for their help in organizing these festive events alongside our teachers, it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the winter-themed activities! The PTO also treated our staff to holiday goodies and hot cocoa, a thoughtful gesture of appreciation for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
As we head into the winter break, we want to wish our entire school community a joyful and restful holiday season. Whether you’re gathering with loved ones, traveling, or simply taking time to relax, we hope the break brings you peace, happiness, and good health. School will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back, ready to start an exciting new chapter together in the new year!
Warmly,
Christopher Perruso
Principal
Thursday, January 2nd starts our SPECIALS on Day 1
Upcoming Events:
12/23- 1/1- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Winter Break
1/2- Schools Reopen
1/6- PTO General Membership Meeting 7:00PM @ BAC Media Center
1/7- Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC
1/13- School Spirit Day Wear Cucinella Gear or Red, White, and Blue!
1/20- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/24- PTO Snow Ball Dance 6:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
2/4- SEPAG Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS Library
3/21- Cucinella Talent Show 6:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
5th Grade Vocal Music Concert
Kindergarten Shines with Creative Reading and Writing!
This week, Mrs. Morrison's Kindergarten class shared a truly special experience with their 3rd-grade reading buddies. The Kindergarteners proudly read books they wrote and illustrated themselves, all about their families. These heartwarming stories were created during class as part of a writing and art project that encouraged students to express themselves while building essential literacy skills. The 3rd graders were an attentive audience, offering encouragement and celebrating their younger buddies' creativity and hard work.
After the readings, the Kindergarteners got into the holiday spirit by creating festive drawings, which will be turned into cards and gifts for their families. This activity blended creativity, literacy, and holiday cheer, giving students a wonderful way to connect their classroom work to the joy of giving.
A big thank you to Mrs. Morrison for designing such a thoughtful and engaging project! Activities like this foster a love of reading, writing, and artistic expression while building confidence and meaningful connections among students. It's always inspiring to see young learners thrive through creativity and collaboration.
Bucket Fillers of the Week
Our Bucket Filler initiative, inspired by Carol McCloud's book Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, celebrates students who consistently demonstrate our core values of responsibility, respect, kindness, persistence, and safety. When a teacher observes a student embodying these values, they earn a “bucket filler” ticket, which enters them into a weekly raffle with their peers. Every Friday, we draw a winning ticket from each grade level’s bucket, and the selected students get a special shout-out on the morning announcements! Plus, these students are invited to join the monthly Party with the Principals, where we celebrate their positive impact on our school community. This initiative reinforces the message that we can all contribute to a positive and supportive environment by filling each other's buckets with good deeds!
PreK- Liam Czajkowski
Kindergarten- Xavier Weiss
1st Grade- Emma Byrne
2nd Grade- Paige Ellard
3rd Grade- Sophia Stec
4th Grade- Hailey Villalobos
5th Grade- Tyler Rutkowski
Safety Reminder for Our Parking Lots
Lately, we’ve noticed some concerning trends in our parking lot during drop-off and pick-up times, and we’d like to ask for your support in ensuring everyone’s safety. Sgt. Burns has observed several safety concerns, including cars not stopping at stop signs, passing illegally, and speeding in the parking lot. We have had too many close calls lately, including a car almost hitting a school bus head-on. More officers will be on premise to enforce traffic safety if conditions do not improve.
For the safety of our students, staff, and visitors, we ask for your cooperation in adhering to traffic laws at all times. Your attentiveness and care help ensure a safe environment for everyone.
Safety Comes First
Please remember that regular traffic laws apply in our parking lot and driveway:
Two lanes only: Crossing over the yellow lines is strictly prohibited.
Drive carefully: Unsafe driving puts our students, staff, and community at risk.
The long lines can be frustrating, but patience and adherence to traffic rules are essential for everyone’s safety.
How You Can Help
To improve the process and make our parking lot safer and more efficient, we kindly ask for your cooperation with the following:
Use the Bus: If your child is eligible for district-provided busing, we encourage you to take advantage of this service. Fewer cars in the parking lot mean shorter lines and a safer environment for all.
Be Prepared: Have your child ready to exit the car when you pull into the drop-off line. Backpacks, lunchboxes, and other items should be on their lap and ready to go. This small step prevents delays and keeps the line moving smoothly.
Say Goodbye in the Line: Please say your goodbyes while waiting in the drop-off line so your child can exit promptly when it’s time.
Avoid Cutting the Line: We’ve observed some parents bypassing the drop-off line by parking in the visitor lot and walking their children across the driveway. Unfortunately, this creates additional delays as drop-off traffic must stop to allow students to cross safely. Additionally, when these cars re-enter the flow of traffic, it causes further disruptions. We kindly ask all families to follow the designated drop-off process to keep things running smoothly and safely for everyone.
We understand mornings can be a rush, but safety must always come first. Let’s work together to ensure our students arrive at school safely and without unnecessary stress. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in keeping our school community safe!
Dress for the Weather!
As the temperatures drop, we want to remind families about the importance of sending students to school dressed appropriately for the weather. We try to go outside for recess whenever it’s not below freezing, and students who come without jackets will still be sent outside to enjoy fresh air and playtime. Additionally, during fire drills or other unexpected events, students may need to be outside briefly, so having a warm coat, gloves, hats, and scarves is essential.
Please help us keep your child comfortable and prepared for the day by ensuring they’re bundled up before heading to school. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us prioritize both safety and fun during these chilly months!
Yearbook News
Toddler Picture Submission Time:
It is that time of year where the yearbook needs to start collecting those amazing toddler pictures of your kids for the 5th Grade feature section. Please see the link below for directions to upload and guidelines for picture selection.
Guidelines/Directions: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGYSN59I5Y/15G440yNk4bB3U3XGov5sg/edit
Direct Link for Toddler Picture Submission: https://uploads.picabooyearbooks.com/9931313
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, January 6th @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
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
