Dear Craig School Families,
I have always been fascinated with the field of occupational therapy. Although students receive this related service individually or with a partner at Craig, I use these professionals as an additional set of eyes and ears in our classrooms. They observe the students in their instructional environment and assess accommodations to facilitate student success and development of skills.
Did you know that the alternative seating, fidgets, and water bottles that are readily accessible were all recommendations from the OTs? Drinking liquid through a straw helps to calm and organize the body and to coordinate the eyes. Sucking helps bring eyes together, which is helpful when doing a tabletop task. Ball chairs allow students to shift body weight which improves core muscle, balance, and posture. Rocking chairs give the body rhythm, which helps to calm and organize, and the wobble stool activates and strengthens the core. If a student presses down so hard on their pencil that it breaks, put a sand fidget in the opposite hand, and the student will squeeze that side and lessen the grip on the dominant writing hand. What an incredible tip.
Our Occupational Therapists are experts in analyzing student function and suggesting appropriate intervention strategies and accommodations to improve visual perceptual, sequencing, and other areas of performance that can impact our student’s willingness to participate. The OTs advise us on handwriting techniques and strategies based on what they clearly understand as typical development and principles of motor learning. When it comes to assistive technology, they have helped us to match technology options to our student's strengths and needs. There have been so many sensory and environmental strategies that we have been recommended to use to help with self-regulation in the classroom. Soft lighting, noise canceling headphones, weighted lap pads are just a few of the many options presented to all of the teachers. Times in collaborative workshops with the OTs have taught us many learning tools for modifications to decrease distractions and promote learning. We have even adapted suggestions for recess activities and structures that include all children. As we continue to grow and learn, I would like to leave all of you with two unique tips for homework suggested by our occupational therapists. It may not be necessary for all, but for some of your children, it makes perfect sense. It's a change from how your child has done homework before.
Try these strategies at home. They may make a positive change in work production.
Sincerely,
Janet Cozine
April 11-15, 2022 (Mon-Fri) - School Closed [Spring Break]
April 18, 2022 (Mon) - Classes Resume
May 6, 2020 (Fri) - 12:00 Dismissal
May 17-19, 2022 (Tues-Thurs) - GMADE/GRADE Testing
May 30, 2022 (Mon) - School Closed [Memorial Day]
May 31, 2022 (Tues) - Classes Resume
STEM NIGHT
By Jennifer Guthrie
What a pleasure it was to host our Virtual Family STEM Night Thursday, March 24th! It is very heartwarming to watch our families strategize, build, and laugh together. About 35 of the Craig Lower/Middle School families joined Mrs. Guthrie, Mr. Finn, Mr. Furlong, Mrs. Cozine, and Dr. Loftin on Google Meet for our virtual Family STEM Night this past Thursday, March 24th. This yearly event, usually in-person, has been held since 2017 to promote our STEM program.
STEM is an engaging part of the science curriculum in which students work on enhancing collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity skills; the 4C’s of 21st century skills employers and college recruiters have deemed the most necessary for success, regardless of the chosen career path. Throughout the year students complete different STEM-based projects in their science classes. This night gives the families a sense of what the students do in the classroom during a typical STEM project.
Each Family STEM Night challenge is designed around a story. This year Rapunzel reached out and asked for teams to design a basket and pulley system for her. She was tired of using her hair to help visitors enter her tower. For about 45 minutes each family worked through the design process as a team. Once they completed testing the students were very proud to share their prototype with the group. Many even made improvements and shared their second or third designs.
This night has become a fun community event at The Craig School and we were thrilled to be able to see and experience this with our families online this year. In the photo gallery of today’s newsletter you will see the photos of the event sent in by families.
ART
Spring is approaching and so is our earth day bottle cap mural. We are still collecting bottle caps of all sizes and colors for our mosaic school mural. Collect them in a bag or container and send them in with your kids or drop them off at the school. It is going to be fun, educational and beautiful. Thank you in advance for your support.
Suzy Kutcher (art teacher)
ADMISSIONS
It's time to enroll in The Craig School Summer Academy! Please fill out the registration form to enroll your child in the full-day or half-day program. The dates of the Summer Academy are July 5th- 28th and 29th, depending on whether your child is enrolling in the morning or afternoon program. Prices and times for the camp are on the registration form. Spaces are limited for the Summer Academy, so please enroll right away. Click this link for a full description of the program.
https://www.craigschool.org/academics/summer-academy/
If you have any questions regarding re-enrollment or The Summer Academy, please reach out to Nicole Moon in the Admissions office.
nmoon@craigschool.org (973) 334 1234.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT
Art Program Spotlight-Digital Mosaics: Students in the CSHS Art Studio collectively worked on a Digital Mosaic project, a modern perspective on a digital art form. After learning about the history of mosaics, students were asked to choose a subject of inspiration and create their own digital mosaic using Google Drawings. Students familiarized themselves with line tools, color matching, and beginning digital layer practice through this experience, and also exercised a TON of patience before they had a finished product. Their hard work paid off and the results are captivating! Check out our mosaic gallery and other recent art projects by our students at the Craig Art Studio Website: https://sites.google.com/craigschool.org/craig-art-studio/home
PACS EVERYDAY!
Log onto our store, browse our items, order for your student and your family and The Craig School receives 20% of the order! All of the proceeds from this go towards the community events that we have planned throughout the year for you and your students to enjoy!
PACS Executive Committee information along with membership forms are on our website.
It is not too late to join our membership drive, please email Angelina Bright, PACS PRESIDENT at pacs@craigschool.org
MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
Wow-what a journey the third-grade math groups have been on. We were working hard for the last month on multiplication and division. We really were emerised into multiplication facts, using algorithms, equal groups, skip counting, and repeated addition to help us learn our fact families. We are currently working in our money unit. The students are learning to recognize coins and their values, we are also beginning to add and subtract coins and bills. We are making budgets, and learning if we have enough money to cover the cost of an item, and also what is the amount of correct change we should receive back. We have set up a small store in the classroom where the students run the register as other students select items for purchase. We will eventually have the budget to buy supplies for a camping trip using online shopping sites (all simulated) using addition and subtraction of money to figure out the right amount of money needed to supply or group for a camping trip.
Spring Lacrosse Meeting
Bringing Back Lacrosse after a two-year Covid hold.
Students in grades 5th to 8th are welcome.
Google Meet on Monday, April 4, at 5:00 pm
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss our lacrosse plan for this season.
To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/zyw-vdia-ubi
Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 320-318-8117 and enter this PIN: 289 644 876#
BADGER HOMEWORK SUPPORT
Dates the Week of April 4th
Monday, April 4th
Wednesday, April 6th
Thursday, April 7th
Please remember to follow the same traffic patterns at homework support dismissal that you do at regular dismissal. Thank you!
If your child is leaving early or not coming to Badger Homework Support, please contact Mrs. Butter by email at bbutter@craigschool.org or via call/text message on the homework support hotline 1-862-207-9863. Thanks!
TUESDAY, June 21 at Ballyowen Golf Club!
Registration at Craig School Golf Outing Registration and learn more about the event at https://www.craigschool.org/giving/annual-events/. Our Annual Golf Outing is looking for support! You can join us for golf, sponsor a faculty member, join us for dinner or even become a tee box sponsor! Information about how you can help with our Golf Outing Auction will be forthcoming. Please reach out to Katie Burke, Director of Development, at kburke@craigschool.org if you have any questions. I hope you'll join us for this fun day on the links
JANET M. COZINE AUDITORIUM
Thank you for all of your support for the Janet M. Cozine Auditorium renovation. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project, and for those who have gotten involved and shared their experiences at The Craig School.
Our campaign continues and as of today we have raised $165,000 with gifts from every constituency of the school: students, parents, faculty, staff, former faculty, alumni, alumni parents, and grandparents. A testament to Janet's 42 year career and the impact made on the lives of so many families that are a part of Badger Nation.
Our goal is to raise $265,000 for the completion of the project. If you have not given to the campaign, please consider a gift today to celebrate our esteemed Director of the Lower and Middle School, Janet M. Cozine.
You can pledge here:
Donate to the Janet M. Cozine Auditorium,
pay via Text2Fund by texting Badgers to 71760,
pay via Paypal at https://www.craigschool.org/giving/
or send a check made payable to The Craig School.
On Saturday, May 21, 2022 we will be hosting a walk to honor Janet M. Cozine. We hope you and your families will be joining us for a celebration of Janet and a stroll down Mrs. Cozine’s daily route along the Boulevard in Mountain Lakes followed by refreshments on the Mountain Lakes campus.
Craig School Emergency Contact System: The Craig School uses a multi-tiered communication system that provides to our families, the highest level of certainty that you are made aware of any change in the opening or closing status of Craig Lower Middle School and Craig High. Our various communication tiers include:
DROP IN OPEN OFFICE HOURS with Dr. Loftin, Head of School
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday- LS/MS 2:00pm -3:00pm
Thursday - High School Campus - 2:00pm- 3:00pm
These hours are open for parents to schedule a meeting, drop in and discuss any issues or concerns or to just say hello.
973-334-1234
PACS EVERYDAY!
Log onto our store, browse our items, order for your student and your family and The Craig School receives 20% of the order! All of the proceeds from this go towards the community events that we have planned throughout the year for you and your students to enjoy!
PACS Executive Committee information along with membership forms are on our website.
It is not too late to join our membership drive, please email Angelina Bright, PACS PRESIDENT at pacs@craigschool.org
Birthdays: Please note:
We understand that some children want to share a “birthday treat” with their classmates on their special day. If you are planning to have your child bring food items into school for sharing please abide by the following:
Treats will be shared at snack time or homeroom (at the teacher’s discretion) and not during lunchtime or recess. We have more than one group-and sometimes grade- together at those times and it is difficult to single out only certain children for the treat while others are present.
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Ellen Meisenbacher at emeisenbacher@craigschool.org
Thank you for understanding.
If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Mary Calvano at mcalvano@craigschool.org.
ATTENDANCE
Drop Off
Please schedule student arrival no earlier than 8:00 am. Classes begin at 8:20 am.
All absences and late arrivals should be reported to our main office. Please send an email to Kimberly McGroarty kmcgroarty@craigschool.org OR call our Main Line (973-334-1234 x 101) before 7:30 a.m.
For more information on ways of giving to Craig, please contact Katie Burke, Director of Development, at 973-334-1234 or make a donation online by clicking here.
