"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that" Martin Luther King Jr.
Week Twenty One:
What an eventful week it has been! We kicked things off with our first real snowstorm of the season on Sunday into Monday, followed by a day off from school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We hope everyone had a chance to reflect on Dr. King's incredible contributions to society and his messages of kindness, equality, and service.
On Wednesday, our staff came together to celebrate an exciting milestone for Mr. Donovan, who is expecting his first child with his wife in February. The baby shower was filled with joy and laughter as we wished him all the best in this new chapter of life!
The extreme cold this week kept us indoors for recess, but we’re looking forward to warmer temperatures ahead so students can return to outdoor play. In the meantime, our teachers have been hard at work creating engaging and exciting lessons across all content areas, and we’re thrilled to see students embracing the groove of learning with our new Eureka Squared math program. It’s wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm in our classrooms!
Looking ahead to this week, we have several exciting events planned. Students will participate in a fire drill practice, and our 2nd-grade Shared Traditions Celebration is sure to be a highlight. On Friday, everyone will get a special treat as therapy dogs visit during recess—always a favorite for students and staff alike.
Thank you for your continued support in making our school such a vibrant and joyful place to learn. Let’s make it another great week ahead!
With gratitude,
Christopher Perruso
Principal
MONDAY starts our SPECIALS on Day 2
Upcoming Events:
1/31- 2nd Grade Shared Traditions Event
2/4- SEPAG Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS Library
2/10- PTO General Membership Meeting 7:00PM @ BAC Media Center
2/11- Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC
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
4/28- Harlem Wizards vs. Cucinella Fundraiser Game 6:00PM @ WMCHS GYM
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- Lucas D'Anna
Kindergarten- Juliana DiLauro
1st Grade- Grant DiLauro
2nd Grade- Chase Dombrowski
3rd Grade- Joseph Pricci
4th Grade- Chase McAndrew
5th Grade- Autumn List
1st and 5th Grade Reading Buddies
At Cucinella, teamwork and collaboration were in full swing as Ms. Sonzogni’s 5th-grade students partnered with Mrs. Draghi’s 1st graders for an exciting day of learning and creativity. Together, the buddy pairs dove into the world of sled dogs, reading engaging books about these incredible animals and the important roles they play. To cap off their shared experience, students worked hand-in-hand to create adorable handprint sled dog artwork, showcasing their creativity and teamwork.
It was a heartwarming day filled with smiles, new friendships, and shared learning. Great job to all the students and teachers involved for making this such a memorable experience!
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:
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!
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
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 10th @ 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:
No hats/bandanas/hoods
No bare midriffs
No sunglasses indoors
No indecent material
Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School
Principal: Christopher J. Perruso- cperruso@wtschools.org
Assistant Principal: Dan O'Connor- doconnor@wtschools.org
Secretaries: Mrs. Deanna Dargel- ddargel@wtschools.org and Mrs. Boomi Varatharajan- brajan@wtschools.org
Website: https://www.wtschools.org/o/bac
Location: 470 Naughright Road, Long Valley, NJ, USA
Phone: (908)-850-3161
