LS/MS Newsletter- March 6th

Dear Badger Families,

An email was sent out on Monday explaining parent-teacher conferences with links to sign up. If you did not receive the email, please contact Gab Beck at gbeck@craigschool.org, she will be able to help you set up your conference.

Read Across America has been a very engaging week for our community. The purpose of Read Across America Week is to get kids excited about reading. This week there was definitely excitement around every corner with activities spearheaded by our Peer Leaders. Leaders organized spirit days, special snacks, tongue twisters, mystery readers, minute-to-win-it style games, and our culminating color wars and pep rally today. Our PACS committee organized an amazing breakfast with many Dr. Seuss related snacks. Thank you to Mason Ruffino and Thomas Sweeney for chairing the committee, Laura Given and Amy Stickley for their leadership, the teachers for their creative lessons, PACS for the delicious breakfast, and all of our students and community for their never-ending spirit. This week has definitely generated excitement and fun centered around reading! See our photos!

Committee Chairs!

Have a great weekend,

Jennifer Guthrie

Director of the Lower & Middle School

March 2026 Important Dates

3/9 (Mon) BHWH & After School Art Club 3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/10 (Tues) After School Music Club and Dance 3:05pm - 3:55pm

        (Tues) Proud of Our Past.  Building Craig’s Future ~ Day of Giving

3/11 (Wed) BHWH & After School Swim  3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/12 (Thurs) BHWH & After School Robotics  3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/13 (Fri) Trimeter 2 Ends

3/16-3/20 (Mon-Fri) -No BHWS - Noon Dismissals: Parent-Teacher Conferences in the afternoons

3/17-3/19 (Tues-Thur) Book Fair

3/23 (Mon) BHWH 3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/25 (Wed) BHWH 3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/26 (Thurs) BHWH 3:05pm - 3:55pm

3/30-4/6 (Mon-Mon) - No School: Spring Break

April 2026 Important Dates

3/30 - 4/6 (Mon-Mon) - No School: Spring Break

4/7 (Tues) - Classes Resume for Students 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FOUNDER

This week we  celebrated the 96th birthday of our founder, Alice Gleason. When Alice opened the doors of The Craig School on January 2, 1980, she did more than start a school—she built a sanctuary for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.

Alice still speaks fondly of her time here, and we are just as proud to carry her torch. Her vision is alive in every student who finds their voice and every "Badger" who walks our halls with confidence.

Happy Birthday, Alice! Thank you for showing us what it means to lead with purpose.

96 years of wisdom, heart, and a legacy that continues to change lives. 

Book Fair

Our annual Book Fair is coming the week of March 16 during Parent-Teacher Conference half days (8:30 AM–12:00 PM). We’re looking for volunteers to help make this special week a success!

We need help to:

• Set up on Monday
• Run the fair Tuesday–Thursday (8:30–12:00)
• Breakdown on Friday

Book Fair Volunteer Sign Up Link

Join the PACS Board for 2026–2027! 

Serving on the board is a meaningful way to share ideas, strengthen our school community, and help continue the events and experiences that make Craig so special. Reach out: pacs@craigschool.org 

CO-ED Volleyball Sign-Ups Grades 6 to 8 

Volleyball Sign-Up 2026

3/3/26-Tuesday/Game/Away/RedOaks  3:05-5:30 Pick at away site 5:00 pick up at The Craig School 5:30

(Red Oaks School 238 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains)

3/5/26-Thursday/Practice 3:05-4:30

Community Events for Craig Student Families:

The Sensory Friendly Dress rehearsal for the production of Fiddler on the Roof.

A wonderful invitation shared by a parent:

Meghan's brother and sisters are very active in the Morristown High School Theater program; her older sister Ally, who will be a Special Education (Masters) major next year at TCNJ, is Tech Director for this performance; Cate her other older sister who also has dyslexia and ADD, does the cast Hair & Make-up, and Bobby, her older brother with ADD and also going to TCNJ as a Music Education (Masters) major, is the First Chair trombone for the pit orchestra.

The Morristown Company is absolutely amazing, and inclusive performances for all are very important to these HS actors.

Craig School Chili Throwdown Update

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in this year’s Chili Throwdown and our chili chefs who extended themselves to put forth their top-secret family recipes to vie for chili gold. 

At this time, we have decided not to move forward with the Chili Throwdown as originally planned, as we have not had enough registrations to create the kind of Craig School Community event experience we were hoping for.   We do truly appreciate the enthusiasm and support, and hope to revisit this event in the future when the timing might be better and the participation a little stronger. We will keep you posted.