|
|
Saint Dominic School
Academic Excellence - Catholic Values
| |
September 2024 News Letter | |
|
Welcome to our school newsletter with
news and events for the month of September!
This newsletter contains very important information.
Please carefully read all the articles below.
Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year!
| |
Message from Mrs. Tiernan | |
|
As the new principal of Saint Dominic School, I am thrilled to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our students, families, faculty, and staff! Mrs. Turnbach and I have been busy preparing for this school year, and we are eager to embark on another journey of learning and growth with your children.
This year, we are focused on fostering a positive, faith-filled, and supportive learning environment where every student feels valued and motivated. Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to providing a challenging and engaging curriculum, while also supporting each student’s unique needs and aspirations.
I would like to provide an update on the following faculty/staff changes:
- Mrs. Kuse, teacher of 4B, has resigned her position effective August 2024.
- We welcome Ms. Anne Vreeland as the new teacher of 4B. Ms. Vreeland is not a stranger to the SDS community, as she is a parent to Maximilian in Grade 6. Ms. Vreeland holds a teaching certification in Elementary Education K-6, and her enthusiasm for teaching is evident!
- Mrs. Nicole Volk, Guidance Counselor, has resigned her position effective August 2024. Mrs. Turnbach and I are in the process of reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for this position. We will notify all parents when a new Guidance Counselor has been hired.
- Mrs. Maria Miller, Spanish teacher, has resigned her position effective June 2024. However, as Mrs. Turnbach and I interview qualified candidates, Mrs. Miller will return to the classrooms to “substitute teach” our Spanish classes.
- We also welcome Mrs. Ginni Ruppi, as the PreKB paraprofessional. Mrs. Ruppi has had experience teaching at the collegiate level, and she has also been employed in scientific laboratories for the majority of her career. Mrs. Ruppi, most recently, has been substitute teaching at St. Dominic School, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our staff as a full-time paraprofessional.
Please review all of the information in this newsletter in its entirety.
Please note: There is important information regarding the new arrival time for students being dropped off in the morning. The PreK parking lot will be CLOSED for K-8 drop-offs this year. Only PreK students will be able to be dropped off and walked into school to meet the PreK teachers at 8:30AM in the PreK parking lot. All K-8 students should be dropped off in the Community Room circle, as was done in the past. Drop off begins at 8:15AM. Please ensure that your children are dropped off NO LATER THAN 8:35AM.
We understand that a successful school year is built on strong partnerships between home and school. We encourage you to stay involved in your child’s education by participating in school events, communicating regularly with teachers, and supporting your child’s learning at home. Your involvement and feedback are invaluable as we work together to create the best possible educational experience for your child.
Mrs. Mara Tiernan
Principal
| |
|
The Saint Dominic School P.T.A. would like to wish the students and families a wonderful start to the 2024 - 2025 school year!
We are excited to be working on behalf of the students, families, and staff to enrich the learning experience of the children and build a strong community within our school.
If you are interested in participating on the P.T.A. or would like to donate some time or talents to the many events and fundraisers we hold, please feel free to email us. We welcome any and all help that comes our way!
Lastly, please visit our web page for full contact information and regular updates located under the "Current Families" tab on the school website.
Have a wonderful year!
Co-President
Shannon Simpson
Co-President
Stacie Bradley
Co-Vice President
Kristen Polzer
Co-Vice President
Erica DeMaio
Secretary
Jen Luddy
Treasurer
Jennifer D'Erasmo
| |
Curious About What Your Child Did At School? | |
Want to stay up-to-date on all the action at SDS?
Follow SDS on social media!
For Facebook, in addition to "liking" the page, make sure you "follow" the page and set up notifications to see all of the posts!
| |
Back to School Nights September 2024 | |
 | |
Back to School Nights are scheduled for
September 10th and 11th!
Parents of students in PreK through third grade are asked to attend on Tuesday, September 10th, and parents of students in fourth through eighth grade are asked to attend on Wednesday, September 11th. The program for both nights will begin with a general meeting in the Parish Center at 7:00 P.M. followed by classroom visits and presentations.
Representatives from our local diocesan Catholic high schools will attend our Back to School Night on September 11th. They will be available in the Parish Center from 6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. to provide information regarding academic and extracurricular offerings as well as open house information to parents who wish to continue their children's Catholic education upon eighth-grade graduation.
The P.T.A. Uniform Exchange will be available on both nights. This is a great opportunity to drop off any uniforms you no longer need or to pick up uniforms items at no cost!
(You do not have to drop off a uniform to pick up any items)
| |
|
When there is a change in a family's address, phone number, or email, it is imperative that all parents update parents are asked to call the school office so that the information can be changed in our school's database system. Please contact Ms. Cantillo ext. 225.
| |
|
Welcome back to the Blue Jay Café!
Lunch will be $5.00 for a daily lunch purchase.
Meal tickets may be purchased in advance by purchasing a lunch card. Lunch cards ares sold in increments of 10 or 20 meals. 10 meals for $45.00 or $20 meals for $90.00. *Please note if you purchase a lunch card you are saving $5.00 on 10 lunches and $10.00 on 20 lunches.
If you have multiple children in the school please only send in one check as siblings share a family lunch card.
If you have any questions please email cafeteria@stdomschool.org
Please also note the following:
-
All money for hot lunch options, bagels, and/or salads must be sent to school in an envelope marked with the students name and homeroom and will be collected by the teacher upon taking the morning lunch count. ONLY money for the purchase of lunch will be collected at that time.
- Any money for a child wishing to purchase a snack from the snack stand must remain with the child and be utilized directly at the stand.
- Lunch tickets remain at school and are distributed as needed.
- Lunch Tickets are for complete meals only and may not be used to purchase snacks.
- A 2nd slice of pizza is $2.00.
-
All checks must be made payable to St. Dominic School. Parents are asked to include the student's name and homeroom on the check.
- All of the prices at the snack stand are the same this school year. Please check the menu for prices.
Reminder: In the event of an emergency or if your child forgets their lunch or lunch money, they will be allowed to charge for that day. Payment of that charge must be remitted the following day.
| |
|
St. Dominic School is asking all parents to refrain from sending any peanut or nut containing products into the classrooms for snacks. However, when the children are in the cafeteria, there is a much greater possibility that students could have peanut butter or other meals containing nut products.
In an effort to keep children with allergies from having an allergic reaction in the cafeteria, St. Dominic School is designating a separate table for students with allergies. Please sign the form below with your preference for your child’s seating in the cafeteria and return the form to the main office immediately.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping your child safe and healthy.
Please help us to keep all children safe while at school by noting the following:
- Only appropriate non-food items will be distributed to students to celebrate a child's birthday.
- Refrain from sending in products containing peanuts or nuts for snacks to be eaten in the classroom. (Students eat in their classrooms on Friday due to Bingo. If children bring lunches containing nuts on a Friday, they will be required to purchase lunch from the cafeteria.)
- Encourage your children to wash their hands after food handling.
- Children may bring their choice of food for lunch in the cafeteria. Please encourage your children to avoid the sharing of food, drinks, and utensils.
- If your children sit at a designated peanut/nut free table in the cafeteria and bring peanut/nut products, they will be asked to sit at another table.
- Please avoid the use of food in school projects.
| |
Technology Acceptable Use Policy
| |
|
Saint Dominic School adheres to the Technology Acceptable Use Policy written by the Department of Catholic Education. This policy is found in the Diocese of Trenton Handbook for Policies and Practices for Elementary and Secondary Schools and on our school's website under the "Current Parents" link. All administrators, teachers, support personnel, and students must read and agree to abide by the provisions of the Technology Acceptable Use Policy.
Please click here to read the
full policy on acceptable use.
| |
Early Dismissal and Absentee Policies | |
Saint Dominic School discourages early dismissals during the school day as they interfere with the instructional process. In the event that an emergency arises and an early dismissal is necessary, a written request from a parent or guardian must be submitted on or before the requested dismissal. Please do not request an early dismissal after 2:00 P.M. on full days or 12:00 P.M. on early dismissal days.
To receive the maximum benefit from classroom and instructional participation, it is important that children report to school each day. Illness of the student, death in the family, and exceptional instances that affect the child are the only legitimate excuses for absence from school. A written note from a parent or guardian
stating the date(s) and reason for absence must be presented upon the child's return to school.
| |
|
PLEASE NOTE:
You may drop off students via entrance from Van Zile Road into the Community Room Courtyard circle from 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM.
We will NOT be offering the drop off point in the PreK Parking Lot any longer.
School staff will be present to guide you and to welcome the children.
Pick up procedure shall remain the same. Please park in the parking lot adjacent to the Community Room. Walk to the Courtyard to pick up your child(ren).
| |
|
Any student arriving late to school on any given day must be accompanied by a parent. All parents must park their car in the parking lot (not in the circular driveway), accompany the student into the vestibule, sign the student in on the late sign-in sheet, and complete a lunch order form for that day, if applicable. Students will not be allowed to enter the school without parent accompaniment.
| |
Before and After Care Information | |
|
Saint Dominic School's extended care program offers supervision for our students enrolled in our PreK - Eighth grade. A safe and caring environment is provided with opportunities for peer interaction.
Supervision will be available on scheduled school days only.
Before Care hours are 6:45 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.
(PreK 4-year-old hours are 6:45 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.)
and After Care hours are Dismissal - 6:00 P.M.
| |
New Report Card for Grades K-8 | |
|
The report cards most recently distributed in the schools of the Diocese of Trenton have been in use since 2002. At a meeting in 2022, several principals indicated that it was time to examine the current report cards and determine if there was a need to update the report cards to provide a better and clearer picture of a student’s abilities, growth, and progress. During the last two years, a committee of principals, vice-principals, and the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction have conducted meetings to explore the need for a report card update.
It is important to understand that a report card, like any single assessment, can be compared to a photograph. While it does show a representation of a student’s efforts at a particular point in time, it does not take into account the context and the nuance of how a student arrived at that point in time. Conferences with parents or guardians, therefore, are essential to understand a student’s progress. A document such as a report card, while necessary, can never provide the crucial information that is shared during a conference.
As a part of the update discussions, the committee decided that moving forward, there would be three report cards used in the elementary schools of the Diocese of Trenton: a kindergarten report card, a report card to be used for grades 1 to 4, and a report card for grades 5 to 8.
During the 2023-24 school year, three schools in the Diocese of Trenton piloted the updated report cards. These schools were St. Catharine in Spring Lake, St. Gregory the Great Academy in Hamilton Square, and St. Peter School in Point Pleasant. Several changes were made to the updated report card resulting in the report card that will be used this year.
An explanation of the indicators used on the report card for each grade band report card will be provided to all parents. More information on the new report cards will be provided at the scheduled Back to School Nights.
| |
|
Anytime a student's method of transportation is changed, a note must be sent to the homeroom teacher. Children sometimes have difficulty in remembering last-minute changes. Only authorized students may ride buses that are assigned to them. This means no student may go home on a different bus when visiting a friend's house after school. Parents are advised to read Brick Transportation's Bus Policy, which can be found on our school website under the "Current Parents" link.
| |
|
Saint Dominic Parish’s Friday Bingo has been a program that greatly benefits our school’s yearly budget.
It is essential that Bingo remains strong since our school budget depends on its success!
In order to keep Bingo as a revenue source for our school, we need the help of all school parents to “work” one Bingo during the 2024-2025 school year.
We completely understand that there are many households in which both parents work full-time jobs; however, our senior parishioners who volunteer their time each week to run Bingo can not do it alone and need help.
Each family will be scheduled for one (1) Friday Bingo date throughout the school year. Parents/guardians will receive a letter similar to this update during the first week of school. Further information regarding Bingo as well as the family's assigned Bingo date will be provided in that letter.
Please know that anyone over the age of 18 can “work” your Bingo for you. If it’s difficult for you to be released from your job, you may want to ask a family member or friend to help you by ‘covering’ your assigned Bingo date.
Thank you in advance for all of your efforts to help Saint Dominic’s Bingo thrive and allow us to maintain the school budget!
| |
Renaissance Star 360 Assessments | |
|
Throughout the year, Saint Dominic School uses Star 360 Assessments to help teachers understand what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
The first window of Renaissance Star 360 testing is scheduled for October 7, 2024. Students in grades 2-8 will each complete a 20 minute online assessment in Reading and Math. Results will be sent home when all testing has been completed.
| |
|
It is exciting and wonderful that so many new Saint Dominic School families wish for their children to receive their Sacraments.
If your child has not been Baptized, please contact your parish.
If you are a Saint Dominic Church parishioner, please call 732-840-1410 to request a Baptism for your child.
If your child is baptized in the Catholic faith, but has not yet received the sacraments of Reconciliation or First Holy Communion, please notify Mrs Kate Turnbach, Assistant Principal, at kturnbach@stdomschool.org or 732-840-1412 ext. 230.
| |
Integrated Pest Management Notice | |
|
Saint Dominic School is required to comply
with the New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act. Saint Dominic School has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy and has implemented an IPM Plan to comply with this law. IPM is a holistic, preventive approach to managing pests and is explained further in the school's IPM Policy.
| |
K-12 Voluntary Student Accident Insurance | |
Bollinger Specialty Group offers additional student accident insurance, which parents can purchase for their children. | |
Saint Dominic Sports - Bowling Update | |
RCL Benziger Family Life Series | |
|
As mandated by the Diocese of Trenton Office of Catholic Education, students in grades kindergarten through eighth will receive instruction in the RCL Benziger Family Life series.
This series offers lessons in God’s gifts of family, self, life, love, and community. The lessons will be incorporated into the students’ religion classes. Below find attached an overview of the RCL Benziger Family Life Program.
The RCL Benzinger Family Life website : http://rclbfamilylife.com/
Click on “Family Web Time” in the box. No username or password is required.
| |
September Dates to Remember | |
|
September 3
Welcome Back!
School Opens for Grades 1-8
Early Dismissal (1:00 P.M.)
NO Before or Aftercare
September 4
Kindergarten Orientation for Parents
Parents of Students with Last Names A-L at 9:00 A.M.
Parents of Students with Last Names M-Z at 10:30 A.M.
Before & Aftercare Begins
September 5
Kindergarten Begins (A-L)
PreK 3 Yr. Orientation
September 6
Kindergarten Begins (M-Z)
PreK 4 Yr. Orientation
Opening School Prayer Service
September 9
PreK 4 Yr. Old Begins (Early Dismissal for PreK)
Volunteer Orientation at 1:15 P.M.
September 10
PreK 3 Yr. Old Begins (Early Dismissal for PreK 3)
Back to School Night (PreK - Gr. 3)
School Uniform Exchange will be available during Back to School Night
September 11
Back to School Night (Gr. 4 - 8)
School Uniform Exchange will be available during Back to School Night
Representatives from local Catholic high schools will be available
September 13
Communication Alert
Volunteer Orientation at 1:15 P.M.
September 20
Faculty PD
School Closed For Students
Communication Alert
| | | | |
