"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" Martin Luther King Jr.
Week Twenty Two:
Last week was filled with exciting moments and great accomplishments at Cucinella! On Friday, volunteers from the Long Valley Juniors Women’s Club, in partnership with The Seeing Eye, visited our school with their incredible service dogs. These four-legged friends brought smiles, comfort, and joy to our students during recess, lifting spirits and providing a much-needed dose of warmth on a chilly winter day. In addition to their outdoor visit, the dogs also stopped by our preschool classrooms and other select rooms, where students enjoyed story time and snuggles with their furry visitors, a truly heartwarming experience for all.
We also celebrate a standout achievement from our very own 5th grader, Charlie Khoudja, who won the Long Valley Juniors Women’s Club Spelling Bee. Competing in a town-wide contest against a formidable group of peers from across Long Valley, Charlie rose to the top, marking an incredible accomplishment that fills us with pride!
Meanwhile, our students maintained their focus on curriculum studies and coursework, demonstrating dedication and enthusiasm for learning. Our safety and fire drills were successfully completed, ensuring that our school community remains both prepared and safe.
This week, we proudly celebrate National School Counseling Week by recognizing the outstanding work of Mrs. McCool, our dedicated school counselor. Every day, she goes above and beyond to support our students' academic, social, and emotional well-being, offering guidance, encouragement, and a compassionate ear. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Child Study Team members—Mrs. Nicole Drury, Mrs. Tanya Leonhardt, and Mrs. Kristen Olsen, for their unwavering commitment to the counseling and support that help every child thrive.
Additionally, throughout February we come together to honor and celebrate the countless contributions of Black Americans to our nation and society for Black History Month. This is a meaningful opportunity for our students to explore the achievements, history, and culture that have helped shape our world. Through a variety of learning activities across the school, we strive to foster understanding, respect, and appreciation for the rich diversity that makes our community and country so special.
Thank you for your continued support in making our school such a vibrant and joyful place to learn. As we move forward, we look forward to another great week of learning and growing together!
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- Alida Vargas
Kindergarten- Emmeline Garlewicz
1st Grade- Chrisslen Charles
2nd Grade- Madelyn Schmidt
3rd Grade- Alexis Applegate
4th Grade- Patrick Bergen
5th Grade- Belle Cipolletti
Reader's Theater
Our school librarian, Mrs. McCarty, has once again brought stories to life through the beloved yearly tradition of Reader’s Theater! This engaging experience allows students to step into the world of storytelling, building confidence, fluency, and a love for reading in a fun and interactive way.
Here are Mrs. Chaparro’s homeroom students showcasing their talents as they performed scenes from Copyright. Adding to the excitement, our School Resource Officer, Sgt. Burns, joined in on the fun! After the performance, he led a discussion about the trial scene, offering fascinating insight into what takes place during a real courtroom trial.
A huge thank you to Mrs. McCarty for creating such a meaningful and memorable learning experience for our students!
Therapy Dogs at Cucinella
Uno at 5th Grade Lunch
We want to take a moment to extend a heartfelt thank you to our PTO for the many grants they've provided our teachers. One such grant was to purchase sets of Uno games for our lunch and indoor recess periods. They have quickly become a highlight of our fifth grade lunch, where students are not only having fun but also developing critical thinking and social skills through friendly competition. The excitement and laughter these games have brought to our school have truly enhanced our students’ daily experience, creating moments of joy and connection that enrich our community. We are incredibly grateful for this support and the positive impact it continues to have on our students. Thank you Cucinella PTO!
Ozobots with Mr. Dauchert
Long Valley Juniors Women’s Club Spelling Bee
Charlie Khoudja
STEM Lessons with Cross/Richardson/Arrieta
Recently in 4th grade, the team of Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Richardson, and Ms. Arrieta put together a wonderful learning experience combining their current ELA topic, The Sign of the Beaver, with STEM related activities. In Science class, The Sign of the Beaver inspired a truly creative project: the construction of Matt’s log cabin. Our students enthusiastically gathered natural resources from outside—sticks, stones, and leaves—to add an authentic, realistic touch to their cabins. They used text evidence from the novel to guide their design choices, carefully integrating details that brought their projects to life. They also used the Engineer Design Process to refine their structures to make sure they were sturdy and structurally sound.
Working collaboratively in groups, the students not only built their cabins but also enhanced their communication and teamwork skills, engaging in thoughtful discussions and problem-solving as they worked together. The finished log cabins, a beautiful blend of literary inspiration and hands-on creativity, are now proudly on display in the hallway for everyone to admire.
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.
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!
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!
Long Valley is lucky to have one of the biggest and best youth track programs in NJ. Our youth program (9-15) and clinic program (5-8) had more than 275 runners last spring! Our league, which consists of teams from all over Morris County, had an astounding 2,400 runners last year!
We welcome athletes of all abilities and have something for everyone — sprinting, distance running, jumping, and throwing !
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.
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.
