Thomas Jefferson School Newsletter January 2025

Thomas Jefferson School

January 2025

To Our Thomas Jefferson School Families,

Happy 2025! January is a month of transition as we moved into Marking Period Three on January 28th. You may have noticed some minor course changes in your child’s schedule regarding Art/Music and Study Skills. We assisted students with this new transition by providing individual updated schedules to each affected student. (Grades 5-8). Teachers also walked students through the minor changes in the special area courses.

The Community Service Club has been hard at work to put together care kits for people who work over the holidays. The care kits went to places such as the airport, hospital, and market. The next project the club will be working on is care kits that will be sent to California for those affected by the fire.

Our family nights have been in full swing. Families came in January and completed a wood snowball game. The next project will feature a pullback race car in the spring. Stay tuned for the spring date and further details. In the meantime, sign up for our February Brick Bash with Legos and take home an Epic History Lego Book.

Boys and Girls Basketball just wrapped up the regular season. The Boys' Regular Season record was 16-3 and the Girls' Regular Season record was 11-7.

The Girls team competed in the county tournament at Memorial Jr. (Whippany) on Saturday, January 25th against Mendham Borough. Although they did not prevail, they had a wonderful season!
The Boys team won round one of the county tournament at Wharton on Friday, January 24th against Riverdale. They then took on Mendham Borough in the next round on January 29th and got a big win.
Group 1 Boys Final - Championship Game
Delbarton (3) vs. Rams (1)
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 11:30am
MacKinnon School, Wharton (137 E. Central Ave.)
Adults - $4; Seniors - $3; Students - $2
Wear MAROON!

Spring Sports registration opens on February 1 and closes on February 28 for baseball and softball plus Spring Run Club.

Upcoming Events

February Break - There will be no school on Friday, February 14th, and Monday, February 17th. Students will return to school on Tuesday, February 18th.

Back to the 60’s Schoolwide Dance - 60’s themed dance for grades 4-8 on Friday, February 28th. Students must be in school that day to attend and a ride must be arranged for pick up. Students are not permitted to walk home after the dance.

Spring conferences are scheduled for the first week of March(5th, 6th, and 7th.) Teachers will reach out to families to schedule a conference if there are any concerns. Please keep in mind that families may request a conference any week of the school year. If you have concerns or questions please contact our teachers right away. The conferences are a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet, but please know that our staff can address concerns or student needs in a timely fashion any week of the school year.

Thank you all for partnering with our school and staff to benefit each child!

Leon Samuels

Principal

Nurses Corner

To all 5th & 7th grade parents:

A Scoliosis flyer will be going home to all students in the 5th & 7th grades on Monday 2/3/25 please look for it in the backpacks. It is in both English and Spanish (2 sided). Scoliosis screening will be conducted during the 5th & 7th grades PE classes on the following dates: Monday 2/24- Friday 2/28 and Monday 3/3- Friday 3/7. If you requested not to have your student screened by checking the NO box on the emergency card your child will NOT be screened. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Reminder to all parents if your child has Asthma I will need an Asthma Action Plan and Inhaler, if your child has any food allergies and needs an EpiPen I will need doctors orders and the EpiPen sent in with your child. If your child needs any tylenol, advil, motrin or any other over the counter medications I will need a doctor's order and the medication must be in an unopened bottle brought in by an adult. Any daily medications also need a doctor's note and the medication must be brought in by an adult. All forms can be found on the Rockaway Borough website under Thomas Jefferson - look on left side of page you will see Forms & Links - click there and this will bring you to the forms - scroll down and you will find the following:

EpiPen Permission Form

Asthma Action Plan

Medication Permission Form

These forms must be filled out by parents and the doctor and submitted with the medication to me.

If a student wants cough drops during the school day - I will need a parent note and cough drops need to be left in the nurse's office.

If a student is injured either at school or at home and needs crutches, a walking boot or slings for the upper extremities I will need a doctor's note and they must be cleared prior to returning to PE/recess or sports.

Remember breakfast is the most important meal of the day, please make sure your child eats breakfast prior to coming to school.

Last but not least if your child is not feeling well, please do not send them to school. If a child has a temperature of 100.0 they must be kept home for 24 hours and must be fever free for 24 hours. If your child vomits during the night they must be kept home for 24 hours with no vomiting.

If you need to reach me - the best way is email: lsavercool@rockboro.org or office # is 973-625-8603 x 305.

Thank you,

Mrs. Savercool

From Miss Selikoff....

https://students.arbitersports.com/programs/2024-2025-winter-2-clubs-volleyball-club-morning-movement

Link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCyncRAvCD7taJk1gmO6BlHafHV9vGOrdzto_8lmFpT6rAJA/viewform?usp=sf_link

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvsczOC7gM60d9Nx0--l30M98y4oFqS04Jv1l5hOqx8jYWag/viewform?usp=sf_link

From Mrs. Love and Mr. Bova...

If you would like to support our upcoming TJ Players production which is running the weekend of March 14, 15 and 16, 2025, please consider placing an ad in our program.

2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR

From the HSA...

Rockaway Borough Home and School Association

Co-Presidents - Jaclyn Long & Kimberly Merrick

Treasurer - Danielle Wheelock

Corresponding Secretary- Irma Brainard

Recording Secretary - Sarah Langan

From the 8th Grade Parent Fundraising Committee...

Stay tuned for future events

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Monthly Programs for February

Please visit rblibrary.org or call 973-627-5709 to Register

TAKE YOUR CHILD TO THE LIBRARY DAY

February 1 ~ 11:00am-1:00pm

Did you know children (ages 5 and up) who live or attend school in Rockaway Borough can sign up for their own library card? Celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day! Complete a library scavenger hunt to earn a small prize and participate in family game time. We have board games and cards available in the children’s department.

WINTER STORYTIME & CRAFT w/Ms. GERI*

Tuesdays, February, 4, 11, 18 ~ 11:00am. Ages 2-5. *Weekly registration is required.

AFTERNOON ARTS & CRAFTS*

Wednesday, February 5 ~ 3:30pm. Ages 6-10. *Registration required.

This month we will be making bottle cap fingerprint magnets with Ms. Geri.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT ADVENTURES*

Thursday, February 6 ~ 11:00am. Ages 3-5. *Registration is required.

Build essential motor skills through guided movements arranged around creative stories. The program is taught by Jenny Barbosa, a children’s dance and theater instructor.

TOOTHPICK TOWER ENGINEERING CHALLENGE WITH PICATINNY ARSENAL SCIENTISTS*

Thursday, February 6 ~ 3:30pm. Ages 8-11. *Registration required.

Can you build the tallest or the strongest toothpick tower? Students will practice the design process by asking questions, defining problems, planning, creating, testing, evaluating and more while they work to build a strong & sturdy structure.

CREATE YOUR OWN VALENTINE HEART PILLOW*

Saturday, February 8 ~ 11:00am. Ages 5-11. *Registration required

Join us to make your own heart shaped fleece pillow for Valentine's Day!

LET'S DISH!*

Monday, February 10 ~ 1:30pm. Adults 18 and up. *Registration required.

We'll be sharing recipes that our families love.

COLLAGE JOURNALING HOUR!*

Tuesday, February 11 ~ 4:00pm. Adults 18 and up. *Registration required.

Relax while working on creating a new page for your journal using our supplies or your own.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY SWEET TREAT BAKE-OFF

Wed, February 12 ~ 6:30-7:30 pm

Customers will sample entries and vote for their favorite dessert. Apply by February 8 if you would like to enter as a contestant. Three categories: Ages 6-12, 13-18, Adult.

TIME FOR TOTS*

Friday, February 14 ~ 11:00-11:45am. Ages 1-5. *Registration required.

KNIT AND CROCHET GROUP

Thursday, February 20 ~ 11:00am-12:30pm. Adults 18 and up.

AFTER SCHOOL GAME CLUB*

Thursday, February 20 ~ 3:30pm-4:30pm. Ages 8-18. *Registration required.

MY FIRST BOOK CLUB*

Friday, February 21 ~ 3:30pm. Grades 1-3. *Registration required.

This month, we're reading “Crossing Niagara” by Matt Tavares, the incredible true story of a tightrope walker who bravely crossed Niagara Falls. We 'll discuss the story, create a fun drawing, and enjoy a "tightrope snack".

BOOK LOVERS MEETING*

Wednesday, February 26 ~ 6:30pm-7:30pm. Adults 18 and up. *Registration required.

Melissa Okerblom

Library Director

Rockaway Borough Public Library

82 East Main St

Rockaway, NJ 07866

973-627-5709

http://www.rblibrary.org/