Dear Families,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for such a warm welcome to The Craig Family. I have loved getting to know your children and of course, the wonderful faculty who take care of them every day. Now I would like to devote some time to getting to know you a little better. I cordially invite you to come to campus to discuss some of the hopes and dreams you have for your child at Craig. I will be hosting a few morning sessions for you to sit down with me over coffee and refreshments. I remember fondly these opportunities during my interview and hiring process. I look forward to seeing you at one of these events! Come to all of them or come to just one– we will always have a lot to talk about! Lower School families, attending one of these sessions at the High School might be a great way for you to see that facility if you are not familiar with it!
If none of these dates/times is convenient for you, please reach out via email and we can schedule a more convenient time! I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly,
Susan Schmitt
Dear Badger Families,
Thank you to all who were able to make it to our Family STEM Night last night. It was a great event and I cannot thank Mrs. Restieri, Ms. Arena, and Ms. Lancaster enough for hosting the event. I am also very grateful for my enthusiastic faculty and staff that came out to help. This yearly event has been held since 2017 to promote our STEM program and last night was our best turn-out yet!
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. Using an exciting format to build the foundational elements of these skills in the elementary years and then continuing to practice and refine them in the middle school years has been a benefit to our students. Family STEM Night gives the families a sense of what the students do in the classroom during a typical STEM project.
For the 2024 STEM Night, the families had a kit supplied by the science department and were challenged to use the materials to design, build, and test something that roamed the savannahs distracting poachers from the animals. Each family worked through the design process as a team. This night not only celebrates STEM but has also become a fun community event at The Craig School. I will let the photos in the media gallery section below speak for themselves.
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer Guthrie
Director of the Lower & Middle School
February
Tuesday, February 13th: PACS Community Meeting-All Parents Invited! (8:45 am, Craig High, Montville)
Wednesday, February 14th: Coffee with Head of School (8:30-9:15 am) Henderson Library
Friday, February 16th, Noon Dismissal
Monday-Tuesday, February 19th-20th, School Closed Winter Break
Friday, February 23rd, Skiing at Mt. Peter, 4-9
Wednesday- February 21st- Speaker Series
March
Friday, March 1st: Read Across America (Peer Leaders & PACS)
Wednesday- March 6th- Speaker Series
Wednesday, March 13th: Trimester 2 Ends
Monday-Friday, March 18th-22nd: 12:00 pm Dismissal: Parent Teacher Conferences/Faculty Forum Friday
Wednesday, March 20th: Coffee with the Head of School (8:30 am - 9:15 am) Head of School Office
Thursday, March 21st: Trimester 2 Goals & Objectives/Report Cards Available
Saturday, March 23rd: ALL School Annual Chili Cook-Off
Wednesday- March 27th - Speaker Series
Friday, March 29th: School Closed: Good Friday
April
Monday-Friday, April 1st-5th: School Closed: Spring Break
Monday, April 8th: Classes Resume
Wednesday- April 10th - Speaker Series
Wednesday, April 17th: Coffee with the Head of School (8:30-9:15 am) Head of School Office
Friday, April 19th: 12:00 pm Dismissal: Faculty Forum
The Return of the Craig School Chili Throwdown (Saturday, March 23rd): We are excited to share the Return of the Craig School Chili Throwdown, Saturday, March 23rd, from 11 AM-1 PM in our Mt. Lakes cafeteria. This tradition dates back over 20 years when in 2010, we held our first throwdown. We even have the pictures to prove it (see below)
First Chili Throwdown 2010
We have crowned quite a few Chili Champs since then and are looking to make this year’s the biggest and best Chili Throwdown ever. In order to make that happen, we need our Craig Community to come out in force! So let’s start with our SAVE THE DATE- Saturday, March 23rd. More Chili Throwdown info to come!
Speaker Series
We will be hosting a series of virtual events for our community in the upcoming months.
Details on the speakers, topics, and sign-ups will be sent next week!
Skiing/Snowboard- Save the dates for these Twilight Events! Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY, is the place to be on February 9th and 23rd. The events run from 4:00 pm to about 9:00 pm. Parents are responsible for supervision, forms, payment, and transportation.
Registration is available at:
https://shop.mtpeter.com/lifttickets
All group participants should sign up on this site. During the sign-up process, waivers will need to be signed for each item purchased. Once each participant completes the sign-up process, it will then prompt for payment. Your order will not be processed without payment.
All students are required to wear a helmet while participating in this activity.
Leadership Council
The Read Across America Committee chaired by Katherine and Meghan are meeting regularly to bring a week’s worth of programming to Craig. They are developing some great ideas that we are excited to share during Read Across America week March 4-March 8th. Info coming soon!
The Spirit Day Committee chaired by Cara and Amanda has some amazing spirit days on the horizon. First up this month, Twin Day February 29. Find a friend and twin with them! Your outfit can be as simple or as crazy as you like but the idea is to look identical.
The Peer Support Program started last week. We have 15 leaders taking part! This program has grown exponentially. There is strong educational research as to the effectiveness for both the leaders and the students of this type of program. Leaders push into their assigned classes thirty minutes each week until the first week in June.
Our 3rd annual 7th and 8th grade school dance is slated for Friday, May 10. I am looking for some parent volunteers to chair this committee. The first dance chairs created a Hawaiian theme. The second chairs created a red carpet theme. Each year parents transform the gymnasium and students arrive to music and light refreshments. It is a night students look forward to. Please consider joining me in creating an unforgettable night for the kids. Email me if you are interested. lgiven@craigschool.org
Looking ahead:
Plant Sale
Red Nose Day
Let’s Sac Hunger - (Service project)
Teacher Appreciation Week
Leader Appreciation Luncheon
Boys Basketball-
2/13/24-Home Game against The Peck School 3:05-5:00
We have added another game.
2/14/24- Home Game against The Winston School, 3:05 to 5:00
2/15/24- Team Party 3:05 to 4:30
Girls Volleyball Clinic grades 6th, 7th, and 8th
Please use the link below to sign up. Starts February 26, 2024
Saturday Basketball is Back! This program is for all grades!
Please use the link below to sign up. Starts March 9, 2024
SUMMER ACADEMY
Registration for the 2024 Summer Academy is now open! Reserve your spot today!
Summer Academy will be held at our High School Campus: 24 Changebridge Road in Montville, NJ. All summer medical forms are due by June 1st.
Contact Kelly Wiederlight at kwiederlight@craigschool.org for more information.
Celebrate the New Year with a Gift to Craig School!
Thank you to all who've donated! We're working hard to reach our goal and need everyone's support.
Every gift matters. Annual Giving covers essential enhancement programming like photography, script handwriting, social and emotional learning, athletics, and more, beyond tuition. Your support isn't just about today; it's about securing tomorrow's opportunities.
Additionally, achieving 100% participation opens doors to additional grant funding.
Together, let's keep Craig thriving!!
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 a key ingredient to Craig's success!
18th Annual Golf Outing
Save the date! Our 18th Annual Golf Outing, Dinner & Auction is on Tuesday, June 18, 2023. Even in winter, it's never too early to dream about hitting the course. Get ready for a fantastic event – more details are coming soon!
January Dates
Monday, February 12th
Wednesday, February 14th
Thursday, February 15th
Pick-up is at 3:55 pm
Please contact Stephen Vaporis, svaporis@craigschool.org, for more information.
February 13, 2024
Open Parent PACS Meeting to be Held at Craig High: Our Parent Association will be hosting its next PACS meeting at Craig High and all parents are invited to attend.
Whether you would like to be a part of helping to plan some March school events or just to hear about what PACS does and how you can be involved, this is the perfect opportunity. Here is what you need to know:
PACS Community Meeting:
2/13/24 8:45am
Parking at Craig High: Guests may park in the front lot near the flagpole.
Entrance: You will be using the 1st Floor Middle Doors which are a short walk from where you will park.
Meeting Room: The PACS meeting will be held in Room 103.
Zoom Option: https://us06web.zoom.us/postattendee?mn=GEQHZEqlhZbcKVv_FNWnhYpDl9yU_cEsSxY.ggV0TAZ-57Rx4x9x
Questions: Reach out to our PACS President, Mrs. Heather Soufan at PACS@craigschool.org
March 1, 2024
The students will conclude Read Across America week by celebrating Dr. Suess's Birthday. We will need volunteers to help set up and serve a yummy Dr. Suess-themed breakfast to our students. A sign-up genius will be sent soon with all the details.
March 20-22, 2024
You don't want to miss this Craig favorite. The Annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held on March 20-22nd. 8:30-12:00. More details to follow.
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.
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.
