Benedict A. Cucinella School

Cucinella Weekly Wrap Up #6

Week of September 30, 2024

"The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here’s to October…" – A.A. Milne

It’s amazing to think that we’ve already completed five weeks of the school year! During this time, both students and staff have embraced their routines, and the energy throughout the school is truly inspiring. Classrooms are filled with active learning, and our hallways are now beautifully decorated with student projects and creative work, showcasing their talents and hard work. The sense of pride is evident as students walk by and admire one another’s accomplishments. It’s a joy to see Cucinella thriving, with everyone fully engaged and the school buzzing with positivity and growth.

Last Monday was an exciting day as we hosted our very first "Party with the Principals" for our September Bucket Fillers! Each student who had been selected as a Bucket Filler of the Week was invited to join Mr. Perruso and Mr. O'Connor for a special lunch to celebrate their achievement. During the "Party," students had the opportunity to choose from a variety of fun activities – playing games, creating crafts, or simply chatting and sharing stories with one another. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as the principals and students celebrated together, recognizing the important role these students played in being positive role models for their classmates. It was a fantastic way to honor their kindness and leadership!

In Fun Run related news, our students were rewarded for reaching multiple Fun Run related incentive goals last week. On Monday we had a school wide pajama party, and on Wednesday we had a Bubble Dance Party hosted by DJ Nellie during our recess. To date, we've raised $37,160 of our $40,000 goal! If we hit the target, Mr. Perruso and Mr. O’Connor will dress up in costumes and skateboard through the school halls! We are so grateful to all who have helped pitch in for this great cause!

In more Fun Run related new, the day is finally here as this Monday, our PTO sponsored Fun Run is set to occur! Students will get their Fun Run T-shirts at school on Monday. Please dress them in clothes that they can easily wear their Fun Run T-Shirts over. Additionally, don't forget to send a labeled refillable water bottle and an extra pair of socks or shoes, as the grass may be wet in the morning.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Christopher Perruso

Principal

Monday starts our SPECIALS on Day 1

Upcoming Events:

  • 10/7-10/11 Week of Respect

  • 10/7 PTO Sponsored FUN RUN

  • 10/7 PTO General Membership Meeting 7:00PM BAC Media Center

  • 10/8 Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM @ LVMS PAC

  • 10/14 SCHOOLS CLOSED- Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day

  • 10/15 School Spirit Day- Wear your Cucinella Spirit Wear

  • 10/15 SEPAG Meeting 7:00PM LVMS Library More info here

  • 10/17 Picture Day

  • 10/21- 10/25 School Violence Awareness Week

  • 10/22 G&T Back to School Night at Flocktown Road Elementary School @ 6:30

  • 10/25 Trunk or Treat PTO Family Fun Night

  • 10/31 BAC Halloween Parade 12:15PM

  • 11/4-11/6 Parent Teacher Conference Early Dismissal Schedule for Students

  • 11/7 and 11/8- Schools Closed for NJEA Teacher's Convention

  • 11/11 PTO General Membership Meeting 7:00PM BAC Media Center

Bucket Fillers of the Week

Bucket Filler!

Each week students earn slips for their good deeds and are entered into a raffle to win prizes and acknowledgments from the school community. These students demonstrate our core values and were recognized for their actions during our Friday Morning Announcements.

PreK-Benjamin Petracca

Kindergarten- Brianna Docherty

1st Grade- Vail Ciccone

2nd Grade- Emily DeCicco

3rd Grade- Aria Sulpizi

4th Grade- Gabriel Macones-Hernandez

5th Grade- Bridgit Campbell

NATIONAL CUSTODIAL WORKERS APPRECIATION DAY

Custodian Appreciation Day!

Wednesday, October 2nd, was National Custodial Workers Appreciation Day, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our incredible custodial team here at Cucinella! Brian, Dominick, Sean, Larry, Gerry, and Rob work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our school remains clean, safe, and welcoming every single day. Their dedication and hard work keep our building looking fantastic and running smoothly, often going above and beyond to support our students, staff, and events. A heartfelt thank you to each of them for all they do—we truly appreciate their efforts and commitment to our school community!

FUN RUN

PTO FUN RUN

Monday, October 7th (Rain Date Tuesday, October 15th)

Register HERE! Sponsor the Fun Run HERE!

The Fun Run schedule for Monday, October 7:

Grades 4-5: 8:15-9:15

Grades 2-3: 9:30-10:30

Grades K-1: 11:00-12:00

Preschool: 12:15-1:00

Students will get their Fun Run T-shirts at school on Monday. Please dress them in clothes that can easily go under the T-shirt. Don't forget to send a labeled refillable water bottle and an extra pair of socks or shoes, as the grass may be wet in the morning.

Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and to cheer on the kids!

We've raised $37,160 of our $40,000 goal! If we hit the target, Mr. Perruso and Mr. O’Connor will dress up in costumes and skateboard through the school halls!

Please share your fundraising pages, and if you haven’t yet, register your child to share theirs with family and friends. The fundraiser ends October 14!

Register/Login Here

We are grateful for our Benedict A. Cucinella School community! Thank you for your support!

Check out our promo video! https://youtu.be/ceacfBBh6iw

Week of Respect 2024

In accordance with New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, the first Monday of October kicks off the Week of Respect each year. This special week provides us with a chance to focus on kindness, inclusivity, and what makes each of us unique. While our dress-up days serve as a fun, visual reminder of our unity, the deeper purpose is to promote respect and safety for all. Our goal at Cucinella is to foster an environment where every student feels physically, emotionally, and mentally safe. We want every child to know that they belong here, and that Cucinella is a place where they are valued and respected. Let’s continue building a school community that supports one another and celebrates kindness! Join us this week in dressing the part for our Week of Respect!

Week of Respect 2024
DJ Nellie Dance Party!

Bubble Dance Party with DJ Nellie!

Nellie at Recess!
Nellie at Recess!
Nellie at Recess!
Nellie at Recess!
Party with the Principals

The Bucket Fillers

Party with the Principals

"Party with the Principals"

Party with the Principals
Party with the Principals
Party with the Principals

Parent Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures:

Updated Parent Pick Up Procedures

When dropping your child off in the morning, please help them prepare for the drop off area by having all their items ready and readily accessible upon arrival in the drop off area. Parents and guardians should stay in their cars. We have staff who can help with doors and getting your child out of the vehicle safely. Additionally, please be patient as cars are unloading and wait for the line in front of you to move instead of trying to go around. We understand everyone's time is very valuable but the safety of our students and staff members are more important than a few seconds that you could save by cutting around the line. Thank you for your understanding and adherence to these procedures.

Stuff the Bus Food Drive 2024!

Stuff the Bus!
YearbookCoverContest!

5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest

Attention 5th Grade Families!

This year, we are having a Yearbook Cover Art Contest for 5th grade students. The winner will have their design used for our yearbook cover.  This week in Art class, Mrs. Bartnicki introduced the contest to the 5th graders and explained the process. Check out the following link for more information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGOsUPI-kc/KyRQJurcVChCRWICQX0kSw/edit?utm_content=DAGOsUPI-kc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

BAC

Cucinella PTO Happenings:

Nellie's News Flash: Click here for this week's version of Nellie's News Flash.

Next General Membership Meeting:

Monday, October 7th @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

LV CARE Program

2024/2025 C.A.R.E. Program

The CARE Program is run by the Long Valley Junior Women’s Club and classes are held weekdays, between 3-6pm. Please click here for class descriptions and for class days/time/locations. 

Any questions can be emailed to LongValleyCare@gmail.com. If a class is full please do join the waitlist - some of our classes have the option of opening up a second class. HAVE FUN!

Most classes begin the FIRST FULL WEEK OF OCTOBER. There will be no class when Washington Township schools are closed for any reason.

Register here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/care-program-2023-2024-registration-copy/items?cart

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

Pick Up Patrol- Our Student Absence and Dismissal System

PickUp Patrol - USED FOR RECORDING ABSENCES and DISMISSAL Preferences

PickUp Patrol has been in effect for 2 years now and we are very happy with the positive feedback we have been receiving from the community regarding it's ease of use. . Please click here to review how to use the program to record absences.

Our secretaries are no longer checking phone messages for absences or changes in dismissal procedures. This information is now handled exclusively through the PickUp Patrol app.

All of our parents and guardians should have received a "Welcome" email with details on how to download the app and set up your account. If you have not received an email, please check your SPAM folder. If you can not find the Welcome email, please contact our school secretaries and ask for a new one to be resent.

If you have not downloaded the app or set up your account yet, please do so as soon as possible.

Click here for more information about Pickup Patrol

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the secretaries, Mrs. Deanna Dargel or Mrs. Boomi Varathrajan.

Halloween at BAC!

Halloween

This year we will celebrate Halloween on Thursday, October 31st for our Preschool through Grade 5 students. Our parade will start around 12:15 PM, followed by class parties inside the building to finish out the day. The parade will be open for parents to attend. Class parties will not be open for parents to attend (except for PTO Volunteers).

A more detailed email will be sent out as we get closer to the date.

Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School

Email: cperruso@wtschools.org
Website: https://www.wtschools.org/o/bac
Location
: 470 Naughright Road, Long Valley, NJ, USA
Phone: (908)-850-3161

BAC