Dear Craig Families,
Have you ever heard the saying, difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations? I am reminded of this saying when I think about the various paths (some very difficult) you have taken to ensure your child gets the best education here at The Craig School. Would that journey be made any less arduous if you had a guide? This was my thinking in securing an educational advocate to speak with you as a group.
On Wednesday, February 21st, at 7:00 pm, we will host a remote workshop on navigating the path to placement with your home district. There are so many aspects to cover, so we will start with this session and add more if parents have additional questions.
We have procured Meghann Bierly, a former Craig parent turned educational advocate, for this session. She has founded Keel Services to help parents navigate this journey. She is keenly aware of the obstacles you face as parents in getting your home districts to collaborate and cooperate for your child's benefit. Please join us– as a parent who seeks answers or as a parent who has suggestions of your own!
Be on the lookout via email for more details and a Zoom link.
Warmly,
Susan Schmitt
Starting to feel a lot like winter around here! Over the course of the past 30 CHS years, not sure if we can remember a week where we have had both a weather-related delayed opening and an early dismissal in the same week. Luckily after shifting our support periods, breaks, and lunch blocks, our early dismissal and delayed opening schedules still allow us to keep our 7-period academic day productive and close to business as usual as a regular school day.
Next week, we will be holding our Winter Elective Fair. Students will be able to choose from a wide variety of winter electives that will run through Sring Break. Our electives meet once or twice a week during mid-day support depending on students' individualized schedules. More info on the elective options with brief descriptions are below in this week's Newsletter.
Our PACS (Parent Association of the Craig School) will be hosting its annual winter meeting at Craig High in February (Feb 13th, 8:45 AM, Room 103) and all of our CHS parents are welcome to attend live or via Zoom. It's a great opportunity to connect with other Craig Parents and gain some insights into PACS plans for this school year. More info and the Zoom link are in this month’s “Back-PACS” Newsletter which should be in your email box soon.
Have a great week,
Dr. Cap
Monday, January 22nd
CHS February Lunch Delivery Ordering Window CLOSES
Tuesday, January 23rd
Hoops Practice (3-4:30 PM, CSHS Gym)
Thursday, January 25th
MT LAKES-Hoops Practice (3-4:30 PM, Reeth-Furlong Gym)
Tuesday, January 30th
Hoops Practice (3-4:30 PM, CSHS Gym)
CHS Winter Electives Fair: This week, students will have the opportunity to explore, ask questions, and ultimately sign up for the Winter Elective of their choice. Electives will start the following week and run through Spring Break. Here are some brief descriptions of our winter offerings:
Cardio and Strength Bootcamp: This elective course will combine strength exercises with cardio drills for a full-body workout, focusing on building strength and endurance. (Ms. Crum)
Virtual American Battlefields: Take a visual tour of some of America's most crucial battlefields. Learn what happened, the life of a soldier, and all about those great commanders and the not-so-great ones. This elective will also discuss conservation efforts so that future generations can visit and learn about America's important battles that have shaped our history. (Mr. Spangler)
3D Printing: This elective will guide students from the idea stage all the way to bringing that idea to life. We will explore the potentials of 3-D printing, the process of computer-aided design, and the culminating manufacturing of various unique items. (Mr. Simpson)
The Craig Chronicle-Blogging & Content Creation: For those who enjoy writing and photography, and want to unleash their creativity, join the Craig Chronicles! In this elective, students will create content and write posts each week for our high school blog. Each student will choose a category based on their interests and work within this theme to create content over the course of the trimester. Some examples may include blog posts and content in various categories such as food, the arts, sports, fashion, cars, travel, school events, etc. (Ms. Knutsen and Ms. Skerker)
Oceanography of NJ: Did you know the Jersey Shore spans about 130 miles? Students will understand the physical and biological properties of the New Jersey coastline by exploring the ecosystems and their unique attributes. (Ms. Bhakta)
Keyboarding Basics: In this elective course we will learn keyboarding basics including proper hand placement, the essential home row keys, and evolving beyond the hunt-and-peck method. Put this all together and students will improve their keyboarding speed and accuracy which will come in handy in all future writing assignments. (Mrs. Brown)
Yearbook: Learn journalism skills while developing the yearbook for The Craig School High School. Students will learn about yearbook content, concepts, editing, photography, typography, design, and graphics. (Mrs. Tartaglia)
Banned Books: This elective course will focus on stories and novels that were found controversial and their ‘banning’. Discussion topics may include race, gender, and politics. We will be reading as a group and for enjoyment. (Ms. Gallagher)
CHS Hoops HOME Game Schedule: Hoping the weather allows our team to get into our weekly practice routine this week! We have scheduled two HOME games that we wanted to share with our fans:
All home games will be played at the Craig High gym with tip-off scheduled for 1 PM.
February Badger Bowling Intramural League SIGN UPS: There is still time to get on one of our most popular afterschool leagues. Our 4-week intramural bowling league will start up on Thursday, February 1st, and then bowl for the next few Thursdays (Feb 8th, 15th, and 22nd).
We will get our bowlers to the lanes and pick up will be at Boonton Lanes (520 Myrtle Avenue) at 4:30 PM. We will cover the cost of the bowling. Students will be responsible for any snacks and drinks from the concession stand. Sign-ups are still open during morning arrival. Any questions, email Coach Crum at JCrum@craigschool.org or Coach Tartaglia at KTartaglia@craigschool.org
Last Year’s 2023 Intramural Bowling League
Craig School Annual Giving Campaign is in Full Swing!
The Craig School Annual Giving Campaign is officially underway! Your contributions make a world of difference!
Our goal this year is simple yet impactful: 100 % participation from our incredible Craig community. Every gift, regardless of size, contributes to the success of Craig School. You are a crucial ingredient in the recipe that makes Craig thrive!
Ready to be part of something amazing? Click the Donation Button to make your contribution.
Donate Here - Every Gift Matters!
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mary Calvano, Advancement, at mcalvano@craigschool.org or call 973-334-1234 x229.
Thank you for being the key to Craig's success!
18th Annual Golf Outing
February 13, 2024
Join PACS for our community meeting on February 13, 2024, at 8:45 am at The Craig High School in room 103. We will be discussing our upcoming events and enjoying coffee, a light breakfast and conversation with other Craig parents.
(zoom will be available for those who cannot be in person)
March 1, 2024
The HS will celebrate Read Across America with a cookie and hot cocoa bar with all the fixings. In addition, the students will have a Dr. Seuss mini-writing workshop with an emphasis on rhyme, colorful, imaginative characters, and the use of the anapestic meter.
March 23, 2024
All School Chili Cook-Off. Dr. Cap and Mr. Furlong will have more information to come on this community event.
If you have any questions, please reach out to pacs@craigschool.org.
Ordering CSHS Lunch Delivery-February Lunches: Just a reminder that the ordering window for February Lunch Delivery is now open THROUGH THIS Monday, January 22nd. To register to place orders or to re-order, go to www.myfooddays.com
Craig School FRIDAY NIGHT Skiing and Snowboarding in February: Thanks to Mr. Furlong, we have secured the February dates for our annual after-school Skiing and Snowboarding. Ski dates will be Fridays, February 2, 9, and 23 from 4 PM-9 PM at Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY. A few things to consider:
During the sign-up process, waivers will need to be signed for each item purchased/rented. Once each participant completes the sign-up process, it will then prompt for payment. Our group is set up to pay the mountain directly. Your order will not be processed without payment. The deadline for group registration is January 29, 2024. Please contact Mr. Furlong at NFurlong@craigschool.org with any questions.
Last year's CHS Ski Crew!
PARKING MESSAGE
Mountain Lakes Campus
We are very grateful to have such an involved community! As with any large family, we can overwhelm those around us sometimes. Please help us by doing your best to be considerate of our neighbors whenever you come to campus.
As you come to campus for drop-off, pick-up, and various activities, please continue to be good neighbors to our community. Ideally, when picking up at regular dismissal time, please try to come as close to 3:00 as possible. It is even fine to plan to be here at 3:10. I certainly understand that not all family schedules allow for waiting until 3:00 and just ask that you do what you can. If you must line up before 3:00, please be very mindful of not blocking the road or driveways on either side of Laurel Hill Road and obey idling laws by turning off your car.
When coming onto the Mountain Lakes campus for activities, whether they are during the day or after school, please continue to be considerate of our community. Please only park in lined spots in our lot, in empty spots in the Blue House parking lot, or across the Boulevard at the Masonic Lodge.
We truly appreciate your support of and commitment to your children and The Craig School!
For more information on ways of giving or to make a donation online you can clicking here.
