Thomas Jefferson School Newsletter January 2025

Thomas Jefferson School

January 2026

To Our Thomas Jefferson School Families,

Happy 2026! I hope everyone enjoyed the recent snow! January is a month of transition as we concluded Marking Period Two on January 27th. With the shift to Marking Period Three, you may have noticed some minor course changes in your child’s schedule regarding Art/Music and Academic Study Hall. We assisted students with this transition by providing each affected student with an updated schedule. (Grades 5-8). Teachers also walked students through the minor changes in the special area courses.

Chromebook Concerns: We have noticed several Chromebooks with intentional damage. This has primarily occurred with students removing the keys from the keyboard. Per district protocol, fines apply to intentional damage to school property. These Chromebooks are essential to modern education, and we encourage families to discuss proper care of Chromebooks and to ensure they come to school each day with a fully charged device.

On Tuesday, 1/20, we held a Family Crochet Night funded by an RBEA F.A.S.T grant. We had a large turnout of 18 students, their parents, and even grandparents. Everyone in the room was participating in the activity, and we had a variety of skill levels. All participants had a great time!

In the Community Service Club, we received funds for Birthday Kits from an anonymous donor through Donors Choose. Through this project, students created over 60 birthday bag kits, including frosting, pans, Sprite, and cake mix, to help families in need create special memories. These birthday bags were split between the Interfaith Food Pantry and the Rockaway Food Closet. The bags sent to the Interfaith Food Pantry totaled over 130 pounds of food!

In January, we also hosted our first Family Coding Night with Code Joy, which was a great success! We can't wait for our next family night on 2/10!

Spring Sports registration opened on January 30th and closes on February 28th for Baseball, Softball, Spring Run Club, and Morning Movement Club.

Upcoming Events

February Break - There will be no school on Friday, February 13th, and Monday, February 16th. Students will return to school on Tuesday, February 17th.

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

Leon Samuels

Principal

Nurses Corner

The month of February I will be screening the 5th & 7th grade student's for Scoliosis. If you checked off "No" on the Emergency Card, your child will not be screened. Please look for information coming home at the beginning of January with your child.

With the weather turning colder - please remember to send your child with a coat and any other cold weather accessories for outdoor recess.

Reminder to all parents.

If your child needs to take medication during the school day, whether it be prescription or over the counter a signed medical form must be signed by the prescribing healthcare provider. These forms are found on the District website, or you can request one be sent home with your student. All medications must be brought in by an adult and in its original packaging.

Any students who need Inhalers must have a signed Asthma Action Plan by the prescribing healthcare provider. The inhaler must be brought into and kept in the Health Office unless the prescribing healthcare provider states the student is capable of self carrying and self administering the Inhaler.

EpiPens must have a signed healthcare provider order and the EpiPen must be brought to the Health Office.

If your child needs cough drops a note from the parent can be sent in with the cough drops and kept in the Health Office.

Remember breakfast is the most important meal of the day, please make sure your child eats breakfast prior to coming to school and they also should have a refillable water bottle.

Last but not least if your child is not feeling well, please do not send them to school. If they have a temperature of 100.4 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 through email: lsavercool@rockboro.org or by leaving a message on my office phone # 973-625-8603 x 305.

Thank you,

Mrs. Savercool

Coming Soon...

8th Grade Cap & Gown Re-Take Photos

will be taken on

Friday, March 6th

From Miss Selikoff...

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5sXYl42ZgMwrUDLNr7IMmEX8zByMp5Db6RRPRKHIR-EIh4A/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Brick Bash Google Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe4Ym0rTjGYqRV7pbWKt1GEB3IvnFgChncvtdnRro2mPsb3A/viewform?usp=header

Book Tasting Google Form Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKkGTKNwZ8v7Y9bENDlbGP-PPjs9-lE8fCuLTDL-kcsCcWOw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

From Mr. Bova...

January

TJ Music Program Status Update:

Hello all, and thank you for your continued support and work in making our music program the best it can be here in Rockaway Borough. Please note that at this time, the transition for our Vocal/General Music, and Band Director positions is still ongoing.
This means: the situation will continue as is, with lessons held in the morning. Lessons during the school day will continue when scheduling makes it possible, and personnel is available. Select Choir will begin rehearsing mid-February, with details to follow soon.
Our musical is underway and making progress - please come check it out in March - promo material to follow in February.
Thank you all for your understanding, and I look forward to making music with all of you!
Mr. Bova

Community Choir Opportunity - K-5th Graders:

Our local music community is putting together a choir for children in the area - they are about to start their rehearsals - but late admission may be possible - check with them to see!
Here is their info:
Join us for a joyful year of music-making in the Community Children's Choir, a choral program designed for students in grades K-5. Open to all children in Roxbury and neighboring communities, this program fosters musical growth, creativity, and community through singing.
Please check out the link to the flyer here if you are interested!
Community Children's Choir Flyer - Spring 2026 - Google

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7th & 8th Graders Take Note

You are eligible and invited to join the Morris Hills High School Marching Band for their next season.

Please see below info and share it with anyone you think might be interested! (This includes students who have never played an instrument before or those interested in Color Guard with no prior experience.)

Hey Everyone,

I hope this message finds you well!

If you are interested and/or planning on joining the 2025 MH Marching Scarlet Knights Marching Band, here’s some information for you:

THE SHOW:

The marching band staff and I are working on our 2025 show selection, and will make an official announcement as soon as we've confirmed everything! Our membership (as in who plays certain instruments or signs up for the color guard) dictates what type of show that we program, so please sign up to partake in a positively life-changing experience!

THE SCHEDULE:

While I'm waiting on information from the school and our competition organization to will help finalize the schedule, here's what I can share:

Summer Practices - one evening a week starting in July (color guard members may have some additional practices as scheduled by Mrs. Moreno, our color guard director)
Band Camp - August 4th through 8th at Morris Hills
Two evening practices a week (we have to practice in the evening due to facility limitations) starting at the end of August, wrapping up at the end of October/first week of November. These practices are typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays, although adjustments may need to be made based on the master school calendar.
Occasional Friday evening football games
Saturday competitions and football games in September and October (possibly the first weekend in November)
Possibly ONE Sunday competition (for a championships performance)

*For note: high school sports teams typically operate, between practices and games/matches/meets, over 6 or 7 days a week throughout the fall. (I know this firsthand, as my oldest son was an athlete at MH!) The marching band meets 3 or 4 times a week!

HOW TO JOIN:

Here is the link to sign-up, and feel free to share this link with anyone you think would be interested: 2025-2026 MHMB Sign-Up Form

There is no experience necessary, and we can use members in all sections! Anyone in 8th through 12th grades is able to join, keeping in mind that any 8th grader interested must live in Wharton, Rockaway Township and/or Borough, or Denville.

BEHIND THE SCENES:

Here is a link to a GREAT video put together by one of our outstanding band parents, showing past season highlights and “behind the scenes”: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g84r78sgfeeaz45/Final.mov?dl=0

Lastly, I’d like to share with potential new members (and their parents/guardians) a great article: 10 Lessons Your Child Will Learn in Marching Band. It’s a quick and informative read!

As we're coming off one of our most successful seasons in about a decade, as well as our largest group in at least 15 years, it goes without saying that this is an INCREDIBLY EXCITING time to be part of one of the most successful and storied programs in the state!!!!!!

Please reach out with any questions you may have!

Take care,

Mr. H.

RICHARD HARTSUIKER

Director of Bands

Morris Hills High School

973-664-2300

rhartsuiker@mhrd.org

https://morrishillsbands.com/