Dear Craig School Families,
For the past two weeks, I have enjoyed being a part of all of your parent/teacher conferences. I continue to be impressed by the passion and professionalism of the Craig School teachers. It was apparent that they understood the strengths and weaknesses of your children. We appreciated your understanding of what your child’s academic program involves, and your willingness to partner with us to make that educational plan come to fruition.
As I participated in each of the conferences there was a common thread from all of the reading teachers and that had to do with their testing. Every September, January, and May we access our students' fluency levels. We use grade level passages from curriculum based measures. It is important to keep on top of whether or not students need fluency instruction. Those of you who have already had an IEP or ISP this year have seen the results of the September assessments and have questioned the importance of fluency testing. Most assessments done in the reading department are diagnostic and not nationally normed like the GMADE and GRADE. We do the testing for planning and adjustment purposes so that a student’s program never stagnates. We are continually monitoring progress. So what students need fluency instruction?
We use the established guideline and then all of the reading teachers work on fluency activities right in the classroom for all the students who need it. Generally, fluent reading increases comprehension but parents, what you need to realize is, if we push students to read faster than they can comprehend, it is counterproductive. It is all a balance that the teachers watch carefully. As we do formal and informal fluency assessments we are always mindful of what good readers do when they read a text. For example, good readers pronounce all the words correctly and in cases where they don’t, they quickly correct their own mispronunciation. Good readers neither skip words nor do they insert words in the text. Competent readers do not replace a word in the text with a similar word in meaning or one which is similar in appearance (ex. when for where).
Finally, good readers use an appropriate pace and read with expression. Craig reading teachers constantly strive to make their students the best readers they can be. The job can be challenging when you consider how many adjustments and follow ups that need to occur for each individual student, but the results are so rewarding.
Sincerely,
Janet Cozine
March 24, 2022 (Thur) - STEM Night [Virtual Event - 7:00 pm]
April 1, 2022 (Fri) - 12:00 Dismissal
April 11-15, 2022 (Mon-Fri) - School Closed [Spring Break]
April 18, 2022 (Mon) - Classes Resume
PACS
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.
FAMILY STEM NIGHT
This is a virtual event this year. It will be next Thursday, March 24th, beginning at 7:00 pm. Kindly register by filling in the linked form so we can plan accordingly. Thank you!
Family STEM Night Registration
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT
Counseling Corner-Multiple Intelligences: The Freshman Social Dynamics class is learning all about Multiple Intelligences this month! Based on Howard Garners’ Theory of Multiple Intelligences, there are 8 categories that we all have varying degrees of intelligence in.
Students will be learning about these categories and taking their own self-inventory next week to reveal their top areas of strength. Students are also learning and applying the concept of Growth Mindset to understand those areas that are challenging for them but that they can still grow and improve through practice and hard work. To learn more about Howard Garner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences visit the link below:
http://parentresourcechilddevelopment.weebly.com/multiple-intelligences.html
The students in Mrs. Imperatore’s reading classes love Fridays. Each Friday they get to visit the library. Going to the library gives the students a chance to be immersed in good literature. The books are organized by Lexile levels so that students can easily find books that they can read. When reading is tough and a student struggles decoding a word, we always tell them, “YOU CAN DO IT!” Mrs. Imperatore’s first period class listened attentively as one student read the picture book titled, You Can Do It by Tony Dungy. It was heartwarming to hear this student share her success in reading with her peers!
Vie our photo library.
Clinic Grades 2-5
Bonus Week
Monday, March 21, 2022, From 3:05 to 4:00
DUST OFF THOSE GOLF CLUBS AND SUPPORT THE CRAIG SCHOOL!
As the temperatures begin to rise and our desire to be outside increases, consider registering to spend the day on one of the most beautiful golf courses in New Jersey while supporting your favorite school! Registration is now open for our Annual Golf Outing which will occur on Tuesday, June 21st at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg. There are various levels of support including sponsoring a faculty member, joining us for dinner and the auction or sponsoring a tee. Use this link to register: Craig School Golf Outing Registration and learn more about the event at https://www.craigschool.org/giving/annual-events/. 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!
A Walk to Honor Janet M. Cozine
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Thank you for participating in The Janet M. Cozine Fund. We appreciate all of the gifts and messages received from our current families, alumni families, alumni, faculty, and staff. Although we are well on our way towards raising the $265,000, there are still funds to be raised.
Please consider giving by using the donate button on this page.
You can also share our campaign mission with others.
https://www.craigschool.org/giving/janet-m-cozine-auditorium/ on social media, ask your company for a matching gift, or speak to others that may be interested in the Janet M. Cozine Auditorium.
Thank you again for your support of The Craig School.
BADGER HOMEWORK SUPPORT
Dates the Week of March 21st
Monday, March 21st
Wednesday, March 23rd - Date Added to Calendar
No BHWS Thursday, March 24th - Virtual STEM Night
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!
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 or to make a donation online you can clicking here.
