“No man knows what he can do until he tries.” — Carter G. Woodson
Week Twenty Five:
What an amazing week we had! We started the week on a reflective note with school closed on Presidents' Day—a time for our community to rest, remember, and recharge.
Throughout the week, our school buzzed with kindness during our Random Acts of Kindness Week. Each day brought a new theme—being kind to yourself, kind to your family, kind on the bus, and kind at school. We are so grateful to everyone who embraced these themes, spreading joy and compassion not just within our school but throughout the community. Your participation truly made a difference!
Our 2nd grade students also shined as they successfully completed the CogAT assessments. Their hard work and determination were evident, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts. For those who were absent, make-up sessions will be held this week.
Friday was an especially heartwarming day as we welcomed visitors from the Long Valley Junior Women's Club, in partnership with The Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Program and Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Five incredible service/therapy dogs made the rounds during indoor recess, visiting with every student. The handlers took time to explain the important roles of therapy dogs, and our students delighted in petting and spending time with these gentle, friendly companions. It was a blast, and we extend our sincere thanks to our visitors for sharing their time and love with us.
Thank you for making last week so memorable with your enthusiasm, kindness, and support. We look forward to carrying this positive energy into the coming week!
Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of our vibrant school community. We look forward to another fantastic week of learning and growing together!
With gratitude,
Christopher Perruso
Principal
Tuesday starts our SPECIALS on Day 5
Upcoming Events:
2/25- Special Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC
3/3-3/7- Read Across America - More info on theme days below.
3/4- HIB Parent Presentation 6:00PM @ LVMS PAC
3/11- Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC
3/12- End of Trimester 2
3/17- School Spirit Day - Wear Green for St. Patrick's Day
3/21- Cucinella Talent Show 6:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
3/22- Washington Township Schools STEM Expo, 12 - 2:20pm, Long Valley Middle School
3/31- Start of Spring Break- Schools Closed through 4/4
4/24- ARTS-rageous 6:30-8:00PM @ BAC Cafetorium
4/28- Harlem Wizards vs. Cucinella Fundraiser Game 6:00PM @ WMCHS Gym
BAC Communication Framework
At Benedict A. Cucinella School, we believe that open communication is the secret ingredient to our collective success! Our staff is committed to keeping you connected to your child’s learning journey—sharing data, offering strategies for home support, and even empowering our students to advocate for their own education. To help us all stay in sync and resolve any questions or concerns with ease, we kindly ask that parents and guardians follow the communication guidelines below. Thank you for being a vital part of our school community and for joining us in making communication a breeze!
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- Ellie Corea
Kindergarten- Dahlia Wolfe
1st Grade- Joseph Morgan
2nd Grade- Marshall Grinberg
3rd Grade- Aleena McCauley
4th Grade- William Johnston
5th Grade- Madelyn Eckert
Read Across America Week!
Therapy Dog Visit
Random Acts of Kindness Week
Last week, in Mrs. Draghi’s class, our students embraced the spirit of kindness by writing thank-you cards to their bus drivers as part of our Random Acts of Kindness initiative. The classroom buzzed with creativity as the students created their cards, decorating them with bright colors and personal messages that reflected their thankfulness. This touching activity not only recognized the hard work and dedication of our bus drivers but also provided a valuable lesson in empathy and community spirit. Thank you to Mrs. Draghi for facilitating such a meaningful project, and a big thank you to our bus drivers for all that you do every day!
New Art Fundraiser
BAC Parents & Guardians,
Be on the 'lookout' for information about our upcoming Art Fundraiser. 'Silver Graphics' has changed its name & is now called 'Art To Remember'! Same quality of creative products that feature your child's artwork.
Flyers to order your child's artwork will be distributed on Monday, February 24. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Kelly Bartnicki.
Below is what the flyer will look like.
Kindergarten Cares: A Heartwarming Success!
Our Kindergarten team recently organized a wonderful food pantry collection to support the Drakestown United Methodist Church, and we couldn't be more proud! This service learning project showcased our students' remarkable compassion and community spirit as they eagerly gathered food donations, demonstrating that even our youngest learners can make a big difference.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the families who contributed to make this initiative a resounding success. Your support not only enriched our students’ educational experience but also strengthened our school community and extended a helping hand to those in need.
We are truly inspired by the kindness and dedication displayed by our Kindergarteners, and we look forward to more opportunities to serve together in the future!
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, March 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
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
