THE CRAIG SCHOOL

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR

To all our CSHS returning and to all our new CSHS families, welcome to the new school year and the first official edition of the CHIL for 2022-2023, your primary weekly source for everything Craig High!

With no disrespect to our September 6th opening day, the next big date to hit the Craig High calendar is Wednesday, September 21st which is our annual Back-to-School-Night (BTSN). It is also our first 12 PM Close of the School Year so make sure your transportation companies are aware. More info on BTSN is below. Please RSVP to CSHS Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Maas at DMaas@craigschool.org

Also at our BTSN, the CSHS Class of 2023 will be hosting their annual BTSN Bake Sale fundraiser. The bake sale will happen both during Break during the school day for their classmates as well as at Back-to-School-Night for you, our parents. Everything is $1 and all donations are appreciated. They have big plans for their graduation celebration this year and their quest starts here! All students (and parents) who love to bake are welcome to send in a treat to support our seniors.

Here is to an amazing school year,

Dr. Cap

CALENDAR INFO

Tuesday, September 13th

Cross Country Practice Begins (3-4:30PM)

Thursday, September 15th

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30PM)

Monday, September 19th

CSHS Lunch Delivery Ordering Window for October OPENS (www.myfooddays.com)

Tuesday, September 20th

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30PM)

Wednesday, September 21st

12PM School Close: Back to School Night (6:00PM) & BTSN Bake Sale

Thursday, September 22nd

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30PM)

Friday, September 23rd

CSHS Lunch Delivery Ordering Window for October CLOSES (www.myfooddays.com)

Monday and Tuesday, September 26th and 27th

SCHOOL CLOSED: Rosh Hashanah

COMMUNITY NEWS

Fall Electives Re-Sign Up

Earlier in the week, our students had the opportunity to sign up for fall elective courses that we will be introducing in a few weeks. These exciting, credit-bearing, graded courses will meet twice a week and each will run through the trimester. Below are the electives available for the fall:

The Art of Public Speaking

Improv Theater

College Writing (11th and 12th Grade)

Intro to 3-D Printing

Art Portfolio

Oceanography of NJ

Intro to Psychology

College Math (11th and 12th Grade)

Crossfit:

Art History

Collaborative Story Telling-Dungeons and Dragons

Banned Books

Creating Vector Art

Shark Tank

Yearbook

Core.Agility.Strength.Sports Training

Environmental Science

Weight Lifting Basics

Craig High Senior, Josh’s Summer Adventure in Ghana

CSHS Senior, Josh spent 6-weeks of his summer abroad in West Ghana where his father is the Director of a school. During Josh’s time there, he volunteered at the vacation bible school where he supported teachers who came from a variety of US states such as Virginia and North Carolina. He was a member of the “Auditorium Team'' that led the children in a variety of skits and dances which definitely is right up Josh’s alley! All in all, Josh amassed over 40 community service hours but even more impressive, he left a lasting and loving impact on all of those that he encountered in his weeks abroad. We are so proud of Josh! See him in our gallery.

NEWSLETTER GALLERY

ATHLETICS

Badger Cross Country Season is Here: Badger X-Country starts up this week with our first official practice on Tuesday. Practices will be held from 3-4:30PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays into late October. Our cross country race schedule for the season traditionally includes two to three 5K races usually held somewhere in Morris County. Races are on the weekends (Saturday or Sunday) starting in late September and we wrap up our final race usually in late October.

Fairfield 5K Oct 2021 photo in our gallery

Races are optional but are an amazing experience. We will register our student runners but parents will be responsible for the cost of the race ($30 per). The cost for all races and our x-country team shirt is $75 (checks made payable to Craig School). Parents, siblings, friends, and relatives are welcome to register on their own and run with us! Our race schedule will be announced during the first week of practices. Any questions, contact CSHS Cross Country coach Ms. Crum at JCrum@craigschool.org

DEVELOPMENT

Welcome to a new school year from Development and Fundraising! Thank you to all parents who had the chance to attend the first Head of School Coffee of the year on Wednesday, 9/7/22. It was nice to meet new parents, and to see so many returning ones, too.

I will be sending out a survey next week for your input on fundraising ideas and events. If you have any questions, or would like to speak further, please reach out to me at 973-334-1234 x229, or mcalvano@craigschool.org. I look forward to hearing from our Craig Community!

Mary Calvano

Coordinator for Development & Fundraising

PACS

A Big Welcome Back from PACS

I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing summer. I can’t believe we are back on campus and getting into the swing of things already. We are excited to start planning the new school year.

Thank you so much to all the parents who have filled out the PACS membership form. Your membership allows us to organize fun and meaningful events for the students, parents and teachers.

You can still send your form by email and can pay via Paypal to pacs@craigschool.org OR send a check made out to the Craig School-PACS.

As a reminder, All PACS forms and information will be on the Craig school website under the community resource menu.

Would you like to be a Homeroom Class Parent?

Our overall goal this year is to increase communications between PACS and our parents to make sure every parent is aware of each event and feels welcome to come. PACS' earliest school year goal is the recruitment for Homeroom Class Parents. Without this connection to each classroom, our ability to coordinate programs that benefit the entire school would not be possible.

Class Parent Responsibilities:

Help your classroom teacher coordinate any classroom celebrations. Your role would be simply to reach out to the other parents and organize a list of who will bring what for the celebration in each classroom. You know, like the peanut free snacks, beverages, activities, moves..etc. Now it would be ideal if you could attend the celebration as well; however it's not required. Please don't let your schedule prevent you from getting involved!
If there are any new students that are added to your classroom through the year, you would reach out to the family and introduce yourself and answer any questions they may have.

Help PACS as needed to communicate upcoming events and recruiting volunteers..
Reaching out to teachers in your homeroom to make sure they know you are the point person and making them aware of any help you are getting from various other parents.
If needed, helping PACS with collecting membership dues.

There are usually several people that would like to be a Homeroom Class Parent so if you are not chosen, please do not be discouraged. Your participation in school activities is vital to our school and supports child development. There are many school events that we will need your help with!

If you are interested in becoming a Homeroom Class Parent, email me at pacs@craigschool.org with your name and the class you are interested in.

Warm regards,

Heather Soufan

PACS President

IMPORTANT INFO

Craig High “Back to School Night” (BTSN) Wednesday, September 21st

In two weeks, parents will have the opportunity to put a teacher face with a name/email address as well as find out a little bit about many of the courses that your teen has daily. Gym doors will open at 6PM. We will be starting in the gym so parents are welcome to park alongside the left side of the building or in the back behind the gym. You will see our official Craig High sandwich sign as you get closer to the gym entrance! Upon your arrival, Mrs. Maas will make sure you have your schedule for the evening and guide you to our student-run senior bake sale. Our seniors will throw in a free cup of coffee or bottle of water with every Craig purchase! PACS will be on hand and Dr. Cap will share how the evening will unfold. Then it's off to classes for our parents! The evening should wrap up closer to 8 PM. RSVP to Mrs. Maas (DMaas@craigschool.org)

School Spirit Fridays

Students, join your teachers each Friday as we celebrate being part of this great Badger community by wearing Craig School branded clothing. No Badger gear, no problem. Wear any red or black clothing and show your school pride. Go Badger Nation!

DROP IN OPEN OFFICE HOURS with Dr. Loftin, Head of School

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday- LS/MS Campus 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.

kloftin@craigschool.org

973-334-1234

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:

Craig Notification Call System: The Craig Notification call is a voice activated system so you need to say HELLO once and allow the system to activate. If you say HELLO followed by another HELLO in rapid succession, the system will not activate and not start the recorded message. If you are unable to take the call, it will leave a message.

School Email Blast: We will send out an email blast to all of our families and students. Keep in mind that emails are dependent on the internet so if that’s down, so are emails.

News12: We also post any change in our status on News12 on Cablevision. It scrolls along the bottom of the screen and updates regularly (https://newjersey.news12.com/new-jersey-school-closings)