"The expert in anything was once a beginner" - Helen Hayes

Week Twenty:

January is in full swing, and we are thrilled to see our students and staff back in action, refreshed and ready to tackle the new year! After settling back into routines, classrooms are buzzing with energy as students dive deeper into the heart of their grade-level curriculum. It’s always exciting to see the enthusiasm for learning reignited after the winter break!

This month, students are embarking on their second round of benchmark assessments in Math, Reading, and Writing. These assessments are an essential part of our instructional process. They provide valuable insights into each student’s progress toward meeting grade-level expectations and help our staff tailor instruction to best support every learner. By identifying areas of strength and opportunities for growth, these benchmarks serve as a roadmap for continued student success.

The data collected from these assessments allows our dedicated teachers to make informed decisions about instructional strategies and intervention supports, ensuring that every student receives the personalized attention they need to thrive. We are proud of the effort our students are putting into their learning and grateful for the hard work of our teachers in analyzing this information to help guide instruction for the months ahead. As we continue into 2025, we remain committed to helping our students achieve their academic goals and grow into confident, capable learners.

As a reminder, school will be closed on Monday, January 20th, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This day serves as an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of equality, kindness, and service to others. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, January 21st, ready to continue their learning journey.

Here’s to a great start to the second half of the school year!

With gratitude,
Christopher Perruso

Principal

Tuesday starts our SPECIALS on Day 3

Upcoming Events:

1/20- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/20- SEPAG MLK Jr. Read In: More Info Here
1/20- Yearbook Sale Launch Date: More Info Here
1/21- 5th Grade Toddler Picture Deadline for Yearbook- CLICK HERE
1/24- PTO Snow Ball Dance 7:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium SOLD OUT
2/10- PTO General Membership Meeting 7:00PM @ BAC Media Center
2/4- SEPAG Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS Library
2/17- SCHOOLS CLOSED- Presidents' Day
3/21- Cucinella Talent Show 6:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
3/31 Start of Spring Break- Schools Closed through 4/4

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- Danielle DeLuca

Kindergarten- Adela Vakar

1st Grade- Bell Morgan

2nd Grade- Camille Pocoroba

3rd Grade- Hudson Armstrong

4th Grade- Dylan Jupin

5th Grade- Roxy Hoffman

Smart Watch Policy Reminder

Since returning from winter break, we’ve noticed an increase in students using smartwatches with cellular capabilities during the school day, likely due to these devices being given as holiday gifts. While we have no issue with students wearing watches to school, some students have been using them to send and receive text messages or even make calls. As a reminder, texting or taking calls during the school day is strictly prohibited by school policy.

Similar to cell phones, which are kept in students’ cubbies during the school day, smartwatches being used inappropriately will be subject to the same consequences. Teachers may confiscate the device for the remainder of the school day. If a student continues to misuse their smartwatch, the device will be brought to the main office, and a parent or guardian will need to come to school to retrieve it.

If you need to contact your child during the school day, we kindly ask that you do so by calling or emailing our main office staff and/or their teacher. This ensures that we can relay important messages, such as changes to dismissal plans, accurately and promptly. Additionally, it allows us to properly update PickUp Patrol and notify the appropriate staff of any changes.

We ask for your assistance in reinforcing these guidelines with your children at home to help avoid any unnecessary disruptions during the school day. We truly appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work together to maintain a focused learning environment for all our students.

Kindergarten Registration - SY 2025-2026

Online Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 SY, is now open!

If you are the parent/guardian of a child eligible for kindergarten, or know of any township residents with eligible kindergarten children for the 2025-2026 school year, please note the following:

Child must be 5 years of age on or before October 1, 2025 – no exceptions.

Child’s original birth certificate showing that he/she is five years old on or before October 1, 2025.

Four (4) proofs of residence. One (1) of the following; deed or a rental/lease agreement and three (3) of the following; property tax bill, voter registration card, drivers license, homeowner insurance bill or utility bills.

Immunization records for measles, mumps, rubella, DPT, polio (including one dose of DPT and polio vaccine on or after the child’s fourth birthday), varivax, hepatitis B, and HIB vaccinations.

If your child is currently enrolled in the district preschool program, you do NOT need to register your child for kindergarten. Their record will transfer to kindergarten.

Register ONLINE HERE.

Should you have any questions, you may contact the school your child will be attending.

Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School - (908) 850-3161
Flocktown-Kossmann Elementary School - (908) 850-1010
Old Farmers Road School - (908) 876-3865

At anytime, enrollment forms can be downloaded from our website by clicking HERE.

2025-2026 Integrated Preschool Registration

We are excited to announce that registration for our Integrated Preschool Program will open soon! This program offers a wonderful opportunity for preschool-aged children to engage in a nurturing and inclusive learning environment that supports social, emotional, and academic growth.

Key Details:
Eligibility: Children ages 3-5 who reside within the district are eligible to enroll.
Registration Process: Registration will be on a first-come, first served basis this year.

Registration Opens: Friday, January 17, 2025 and you will be notified by Tuesday, January 28, 2025 if your child met the eligibility requirements and has been accepted.

You will need to submit a nonrefundable deposit of $950.00 which will be applied toward your tuition. Once received we will provide you with the link to complete the registration process.

Our integrated preschool program blends general education students with students who have special needs, providing rich opportunities for peer interactions, skill-building, and individualized attention. Spaces are limited, so we encourage families to register as soon as possible once registration opens.

The integrated preschool program will be held in all district elementary schools five days a week. The integrated preschool program at the Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School and Flocktown-Kossmann schools will run from 7:35 am to 2:10 pm and at Old Farmers Road School from 8:40 am to 3:15 pm.

The daily schedule includes circle time, small and large group activities, centers, snack, story time and teacher facilitated play time. The class would also participate in assemblies appropriate for this age group as well as play outdoors when weather permits. Learning activities are based upon the New Jersey Department of Education’s Preschool and Teaching Learning Expectations as well as designing activities based upon the individual needs and abilities of each child.

The classes will be taught by a dual certified teacher in Special Education and P-3 General Education. A teaching assistant will provide additional instructional support. The integrated preschool program uses the Tools of the Mind Curriculum. This program provides activities sequenced in a developmental trajectory and scaffolds to support children based on their current levels of development. Focusing on self-regulation, the curriculum supports children's underlying cognitive skills, social-emotional school readiness, and foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, and science.

There will be tuition for non-classified students. A monthly fee of $950.00 per month. Parents are responsible for the transportation, snacks and lunch for the preschool students without special needs.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process, please contact Dr. Denise Scairpon, Director of Special Education at 908-876-9211 ext. 2300 or dscairpon@wtschools.org.

We look forward to welcoming your child to our Integrated Preschool Program and embarking on an exciting journey of learning and discovery together!

A Note About Bus Transportation

As we settle into the new year, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding with our bus schedules. With new drivers joining our team and the added challenges of inclement weather, there may occasionally be delays. Our drivers work diligently to stay on time, but safety always comes first. You can also help out by making sure your chidren are ready to load onto the bus without delay when it arrives at your stop.

For updates on any major delays, please visit the Transportation Department’s website at https://www.wtschools.org/page/bus-delays, where information will be posted as needed.

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!

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!

Yearbook News

It's time to order your yearbooks, use the link here to purchase: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF56oNZhBk/U61ISVKtcwABwzrE8RaObg/edit?utm_content=DAF56oNZhBk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

If you're running into issues purchasing a yearbook, try this handy cheat sheet for help: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGc85wGKgA/krUl3XEq3FLFavNo9WfPwA/edit

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. Our deadline for picture collection is January 21st. 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, February 3rd @ 7:00PM in 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

LVMS PTO Casino Night

The LVMS PTA Casino Night & Tricky Tray will be held on February 13 at the Chandelier. Enjoy an exciting pre-Valentine's Day night out and help us pull off our biggest fundraiser of the year! You can find more details and purchase your tickets by visiting: https://www.lvmspta.org/casino-night. If you have any questions please email ptalvms@gmail.com. https://www.wtschools.org/o/lvms/article/1896775

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: