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Online Learning Week 9

May 19, 2020
Dear Parents,

I believe spring has finally arrived. I hope everyone had a chance to go outdoors with the family and enjoy some quality time. One of my teachers made mention that last Friday night her family sat on the deck and played board games. Maybe there is a silver lining.

This week our academic days remain the same with Friday’s schedule for Art, Mindful, Gardening Class and Electives. Mrs. Imperatore had a great showing for her reading time in the forts and shared some adorable pictures. This week please join a crafty “Show and Tell” with Mrs. Pompilio. You will have a great opportunity to share with your peers. Come play the game Heads Up with Mrs. Butter. You’ll guess the word on the card that’s on your head from your friends’ clues before the time runs out! The schedule will be attached to this letter but you will receive a Thursday invite with your log ins from Mrs. Pompilio and Mrs. Butter.
Please join in the fun and spend some time with your classmates.

With Memorial Day Holiday approaching I want to remind all of you that Monday we are off but plan academics for Tuesday through Friday of next week. Last time we had a Monday off there was a little confusion with the Tuesday through Friday academic schedule. In the hopes of making the schedule less confusing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays’ schedules will remain the same. Friday which is normally not academic will become Monday’s academic schedule. We will send out a phone reminder as well.

The school year seems to be flying by. This Friday I will be meeting with the teachers to plan Awards’ Day, Graduation and some of the other end of the year activities. We want them to be as special as possible. Don’t forget there is still time to join the virtual talent show. Practices have not yet begun.

Once again thank you for all of your positive support and partnership. It is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Janet M. Cozine

 

Friday Schedule Download

Online Learning Week 8

May 12, 2020

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your beautiful responses to Teacher Appreciation Week. You can’t imagine how much your words meant to all of us. The Teacher Appreciation video put tears in all of our eyes. To see our students taking the time to make gratitude posters made everyone feel special. Sadly, the message was bittersweet since we miss being around our Craig kids and long to once again have that opportunity.

As we continue another week of online learning we look to add some fun activities to Friday’s schedule. Last Friday we began gardening class and had a strong, positive showing. Art and Mindful classes continue to be successful.

This Friday we are offering two electives, one will be for our 2nd through 5th-grade students and the other for the 6th through 8th graders. Lower School students: Make a fort, bring a flashlight, and listen to an entertaining story read by Mrs. Imperatore. Mrs. Edwards will be hosting Feelings Bingo for the middle schoolers. I will attach the grade level schedule of times for Friday classes. Thursday, look for information specifically from Mrs. Imperatore and Mrs. Edwards with directions for your logins to their electives. Each Friday we will be offering different electives so I hope as many children as possible will join in the fun.

I would also like to remind everyone to think about your talents. We would love as many of you as possible to consider the virtual talent show. Anyone interested should email Mr. Furlong directly. It continues to be our goal to add classes and activities that our students can look forward to. Their emotional well being is just as important to us as their academic success.

As another week of online learning is upon us I once again want to thank you for your continued support. I hope all of you  Mothers enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day and your children treated you well.

Sincerely, 

Janet M. Cozine   

             

May 5, 2020

Dear Parents,

Welcome to another week of online learning. This week is special in the sense that it is Teacher Appreciation Week and I for one so appreciate all that my staff has contributed to your children’s education. These past weeks so many of you have emailed wonderful comments of gratitude for what our teachers have done. As one parent so eloquently put it “Virtual learning at Craig has been Amazing. I am in awe at how hard all of you have worked to make this unusual school experience be as close to in person as possible. Thank you to everyone at Craig.” This week please take a moment to have your child reach out to a teacher or teachers to say thank you. We appreciate all that you are doing. I know as an administrator I am extremely grateful and proud to be a part of this team.

This Friday is the last week of Health and Family life. I was so glad to see the high degree of participation. As the weather is finally warming up we would like to add Gardening class with Mr. Furlong for the 2nd through 5th graders. This class is optional but certainly will be a lot of fun. Each grade will have a set half hour time block on Fridays, which will not conflict with Art, Mindfulness, and the other upcoming electives. If any of our middle schoolers are interested please email Mr. Furlong and he will set you up to participate. During Social Studies classes on Thursday Mr. Furlong will go over all log ins for those students interested in participating.

As we look toward the weeks to come we realize that our annual Craig Talent Show may not be possible. What about the idea of a virtual talent show? Is there interest? Mr. Furlong and Mr. Snowdon are diligently working on a virtual premier performance. If your child is interested in being apart of the talent show please email Mr. Furlong directly. There will be practices and we need commitment. Mostly we want to engage in activities with enthusiasm to make the most of our unusual circumstances. I am sure the experience will be rewarding.

Thank you again for all of your support and partnership. This has been a unique experience that I feel everyone has accepted and embraced with grace and appreciation.

Sincerely,

Janet M. Cozine

Online Learning Week 6

April 28, 2020

Dear Parents,

It’s time for a virtual field trip to the Everywhere Book Fest! by Anna E Jordan. Readers will have an exciting opportunity to listen to some of their favorite authors this Friday May 1st and Saturday May 2nd either via IRL or via Skype.

On May 1st some of the highlights are Jacqueline Woodson, writer of Brown Girl Rising at 10 am. This has become a beloved library book for so many of your children. Jason Reynolds can be viewed at 11 am. Our Craig students love his track series.

As we all know Craig has so many incredible artists who will enjoy watching or participating in the picture draw off at 12pm. For you history buffs there will be a historical fiction panel at 1pm.

I realize Saturday can be your day of rest but there are some wonderful authors featured. Marie Lu is someone our middle school readers of the Legend Series will enjoy. Nathan Hale will be joining a panel of nonfiction authors at 1pm. These are just a few of the fun and dynamic authors featured May 1st and 2nd. The Everywhere Book Fest is the ideal book field trip for kids. I will provide an attachment so please put aside the time to browse through all of the opportunities to see your favorites.

Along with the attachment for the Everywhere Book Fest I will be including the time schedules for Friday’s classes. Although the schedules will be much the same as last week, the visual may just make it a little easier to follow. There will also be a Peer Leader Lunch scheduled for 12:00. Please remember the importance of attending Health Class. Art and Health are part of your Craig curriculum and report card worthy. Unless there is an excused absence, classes are considered mandatory. In the weeks to come we will be adding electives and clubs to our Friday schedule. Those will be optional but our hope is that all of you will select at least one to attend.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy week. As always thank you for your enthusiasm and continued support.

Sincerely,

Janet M. Cozine

THE CRAIG SCHOOL
LS/MS  NEWSLETTER
Week of November 16th

CALENDAR

Thursday, November 19th - Girls Basketball Starts  - All paperwork must be completed to participate 

Monday, November 23rd - Trimester 1 Report Cards emailed to parents & districts

Tuesday, November 24 - School Closed: Thanksgiving Break

      * Change in Current School Calendar. Contact Transportation Companies

Wednesday, November 25 to Friday, November 27 - School Closed: Thanksgiving Break

 

NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Craig Parents,

Thank you for attending our first ever virtual parent / teacher conferences. I appreciate how prompt and available everyone made themselves. I am happy to report that there were very few technological glitches. I hope that your conference provided you with some valuable insight into your child’s progress at school. Thank you for sharing with us your concerns and for being strong advocates for our students, teachers and school. I find that the fall conferences set a great pattern for success leading into the new trimester. When parents, teachers and students work together for a common goal and then work to achieve that goal great things can occur.

I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that our Craig teachers have demonstrated during this unusual start to the school year. We are all involved in a new learning curve and the teachers have needed to put in countless additional hours to help our students become successful.

During the month of November, we often think of things we are grateful for. I am grateful for the great work our teachers and parents do together to help our students reach their potential.

Sincerely,

Janet Cozine

COMMUNITY NEWS

Leadership Council 

It was an honor to welcome Gunnery Sergeant Monaco to our Craig stage on November 10. He generously gave of his time so we could provide three socially distanced presentations. Sergeant Monaco shared with the students his funny and heartwarming  stories about his experiences in the Marines. He ended each talk by reminding the students that they should strive every day toward a realistic goal. “It won’t be easy , nothing in life worth it ever is , but if you work hard you will succeed, he”  he told the students. He reminded us that we live in a great land with numerous freedoms that we should all be proud of. 

Stephen Dublanica, Denville Township Social Services Coordinator, came to pick up our coat donations. Thanks to all the families and staff that participated. We had over 35 coats!  Go Badgers!

 

Artist Student Spotlight for October
Noah Popowitz

CONGRATULATIONS NOAH! - STUDENT ARTIST FOR OCTOBER

Welcome to the Artist of the Month Student Spotlight
Are you trying your best and never giving up?
Are you keeping a positive, with an "I can do this mindset"?
Are you always polite and kind to everyone around you?

 

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Mrs. Rosky’s 4th grade reading class has been digging into their non-fiction class book entitled, What Was the  by Yona Zeldis McDonough. The children are learning about real brave American heroes and the various modes of transport as well as different routes to freedom that these enslaved people were forced to endure.

 

 

The students also read a few related extension books, The Drinking Gourd and Henry’s Freedom Box, for which they completed some hands-on projects. The children created “Freedom Boxes”, like the one Henry Brown mailed himself in, to get to freedom. The students created shipping labels, to Philadelphia Pennsylvania, for the boxes, and enclosed letters, which they wrote from Henry’s perspective. They also mapped out the various routes to freedom from the slave states moving north up to Canada.

 

ATHLETICS

We are extending Cross-Country again! The season will continue into next week. Practice Tuesday 11/17 and Thursday 11/19. Go Badgers!

Girls Basketball forms are available for sign-up. Our 1st practice is Thursday November 19th from 3:05 to 4:30.

BASKETBALL FORMS

HOMEWORK HELP

Homework Help Dates Week of November 16th

Monday, November 16th

Wednesday, November 18th

Thursday, November 19th

 

If your child is leaving early or not coming to  Homework Help, please contact Mrs. Butter by email at bbutter@craigschool.org or via call/text message on the Homework Help hotline 1-862-207-9863. Thanks!

DEVELOPMENT

ANNUAL FUND DRIVE

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Today, after many months of change in our world, our mission and core values endure, and the need for The Craig School is greater than ever before.  This is why we are encouraging our community members to participate in the Annual Fund in  a capacity that is meaningful to you.  All gifts received go right back into the school we all love by supporting our teachers  and specialists, providing cutting edge technology and programs, a safe and secure campus environment, and continuing growth of all of our students.

Click the donate here button below.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

COVID-19 & SCHOOL BREAKS

The Craig School is asking families who choose to travel outside of the state during the Thanksgiving and/or Winter break notify the school of such travel. Per New Jersey state guidelines, if one travels to a state listed as restricted for travel due to COVID-19, a self-quarantine of 14-days is advised. More information regarding out-of-state travel for New Jersey residents may be found here: Travel Advisory. Per medical guidance, testing upon arrival back into the state of New Jersey does not replace self-quarantine as one may spread COVID-19 to other people including family, friends, and community for 14-days after exposure to the virus, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. The NJ Department of Health provides a rationale for this: Why can't I test out of COVID-19 quarantine?

NURSE
Daily attendance recording is a vital housekeeping task here that keeps us all organized, communicative and running smoothly. It is imperative that the school be informed and updated on each student in our care. To that end, I’d like to remind parents to please let us know  if we are to expect a change in your child’s status: distracting mornings and changes in schedules aside, please remember your child’s welfare matters greatly to us and we need to be informed if they will not be in attendance as expected. Call or e-mail us regarding attendance as follows:

ATTENDANCE: 

Please send an email to Kimberly McGroarty kmcgroarty@craigschool.org OR call our Main Line (973-334-4375 x101) for student absences before 7:30 a.m. We need to know:
 
(a) If your child is absent and is unable to attend virtually. This student will be marked "Absent." OR
 
(b) If your child is absent AND attending classes virtually. This student will be marked "Present."

 

 

Goals and Objectives and Report Cards

Trimester Schedule 2020-2021

Marking Period 1 September 3- November 15 

Goals and Objectives  -  November 2

Reports Cards -  November 23

Marking Period 2 November 16- March 13 

Goals and Objectives - March 8 

Report Cards  - Friday, March 22

Marking Period 3  March 15- June 17

Goals and Objectives   - May 31

Report Cards  - June 18

 The Craig School Calendars - Weekly/Monthly View

LS/MS STUDENT HANDBOOK

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT CONTRACT

HEALTH FORMS CURRENT 

PACS INFORMATION

PACS MEMBERSHIP FORMS

HOMEWORK HELP LETTER FOR PARENTS

HOMEWORK HELP SIGN UP FORM

HH LATE PICKUP FORM

 

 

Online Learning Week 5

April 20, 2020

Dear Craig Families,

Last Thursday, April 16th our Governor shared some unsettling news that all schools in the State of New Jersey will remain closed at least until Friday May 15th.

As our online learning continues we all challenge ourselves to keep our students engaged and upbeat. Although our mission has been to keep our students motivated to learn as a staff we will be coming together remotely to discuss ways to keep our students happy and focus on their mental well-being, amidst rising anxiety and isolation. Unfortunately, even teachers who are use to communicating regularly are forced to meet in totality in Friday group chats.

For the students Friday schedule will be slightly different. This Friday along with Art and Mindfulness we will begin health classes for the 2nd through 5th graders. The classes will run for the next three Fridays. An attachment with log ins and scheduled times will be included. Weekly “Nurse Check Ups” are on the agenda. We need to keep our bodies strong, safe, and healthy not only during online learning but throughout our lifetimes.

Also, on Friday we will begin the Family Life Program for our 6th through 8th grade students. Each grades’ programs are different so an attachment by grade has been emailed ahead. The program contains medically accurate and age appropriate concepts geared for our middle school students. The classes will be led by Melissa Keyes DiGioia, CSE Director of Education at Finding Your Individuality. Mrs. Edwards, our Middle School Clinician and Mrs. Meisenbacher, our School Nurse will also be present and moderating each of the sessions.

As we continue to assess our program not only for academic growth but also emotional well being we will continue to look at ways to help our students feel safe and loved. They have never experienced anything like this and neither have we. I once again thank you for your support and partnership as we remain hopeful that we will soon receive the positive news we have been waiting for and our doors will once again be opened.

Sincerely,

Janet M. Cozine

April 13, 2020

Dear Craig Families,

I hope everyone was able to enjoy some fresh air and family time as we move into another week of online learning. Thank you for all of your positive emails. I have shared them with the staff because those words of encouragement mean everything in this very stressful time.

This week academics begin on Tuesday and go through Friday. Unfortunately, because of our scheduled time off we do not have our fifth day for art and mindfulness.

All students who are involved in pull out Orton have been contacted by their teachers. The Orton instruction will begin this week at the designated times. Since this is an addition to the schedule, please help your child to be ready for their Meet. We certainly understand their will need to be adjustments to your established weekly routine. If nothing else we have all learned the value of flexibility.

I am now in the process of adding Speech and Language back into the schedules. Any student who is placed by their district will need to sign a consent form for teletherapy. Those forms will be emailed directly to your home and must be returned for teletherapy to begin. This consent form is a district requirement and not a Craig School requirement. Students who receive Speech and Language services directly through Craig will not be receiving a consent form but will be given a call or email to let them know the scheduled time for therapy. Once again as a family I ask all to be watchful of the time as we build an additional piece to the online learning week.

As always thank you for your commitment to your child’s learning. Your partnership with the Craig School staff is what will make the difference in your child’s academic growth and well-being.

Sincerely,
Janet M. Cozine

  1. Check in with your teacher. Gather your materials.
  2. Be on time. Check in thru the chat when you arrive.
  3. Stay engaged (nod or thumbs up) if others are talking.
  4. Mute your mic if you're not speaking.
  5. Use the chat or raise hand to share ?s/ideas.
  6. Wait for teacher to call on you or unmute your mic.
  7. Take notes in a doc or on paper for reference.
  8. If using video, look at the camera, not the screen.

March 31, 2020
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week Three of Online Learning. I want to thank you all for your support. Because of your involvement and partnership our students are continuing to grow academically.

Online Learning for this week will remain the same. Monday through Thursday Academics and Friday Art and Mindfulness. Friday’s time schedule will be emailed separately. Please make sure your children complete their Physical Education log daily. Make the commitment to at least half an hour a day. It is so important that they put aside time to exercise and as much as possible get some fresh air.
I am also including an attachment of helpful student tips for video calls. Online Learning is new for all of us and we continue to look at the most effective ways to enhance screen time.

Mrs. Cap will be sending a separate email describing this week’s activities and a few household supplies necessary for Friday. I have gotten such positive feedback and even a few pictures of the Andy Goldsworthy nature project. Keep up the good work and your commitment to art, a wonderful relaxation tool.

The teachers and I will be having a Google Meet this Friday to discuss the weeks to come. Since Online Learning appears to be continuing past spring break we will need to make some additions to our program. As I look at what other schools have been offering for Online Learning I feel fortunate to have such a committed staff who have been so actively involved. Saying that we still feel the need to reassess regularly how we can best serve out students.
On Thursday I will be sending out some optional ideas for your children for Spring Break. I realize everyone needs a break so understand none of these suggestions are mandatory. It’s more important to all of us that the families can relax and enjoy each other without a prescribed schedule.
Once again thank you for all of your positive comments and suggestions. As they say it takes a Village.

Sincerely,
Janet M. Cozine

Dear Craig School Families,

Welcome to Week Two of online instruction. Week One was such a success due wholly to the partnership and enthusiasm of the families and staff. After a few connectivity glitches we were all well on our way to successful learning. I have been popping into Google classrooms and watching all of your responses to lessons and I couldn’t be more proud. Thank you all for making the best of a very unusual and difficult situation.

As we embrace Week Two of online learning. I would like to add some relaxation and down time to our academic week. We will continue with the four days of academic instruction only this week and the weeks to follow academic classes will run from Monday through Thursday. On Friday we will schedule mindfulness classes and structured art lessons. I realize Mrs. Cap emailed an enjoyable art lesson last week, but very few of you participated. Let’s put Fridays aside for reflection, regulation and a little less screen time.

Last week Mr. Snowdon emailed some ideas for PE activities. I’m sure most of you are taking the time to enjoy our spring weather, getting out and breathing fresh air. For those of you who are spending too much time inside we are going to institute a simple chart to log minutes of daily physical activity. Can we all commit to thirty minutes a day? We will continue to send ideas for physical activities, but we are open to anything you want to log. Challenge yourselves and step away from the screen. We are sending an attachment for your physical activity diary. Please fill it out daily. You can mail it back to The Craig School weekly or submit it to Mr. Snowdon when we return to Craig.

Mrs. Cap and Mrs. O’Connor will be emailing you the specifics for Friday lessons but in the meantime academics as planned for today through Thursday and reflection and unbridled creativity for Friday. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Janet M. Cozine

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