Milton Express
March 31, 2022
Message from the Principal
Regardless of the month, each day we continue to stress the importance of instructional content areas such as reading and writing in preparing our children for a successful future. Another way we can prepare our children for a successful future is to allow them to recognize the importance of our planet, and how to take care of it. During the month of April, Earth Day signifies the perfect time to do this!
There are a number of engaging activities and important lessons you can consider when raising environmental awareness in your household with your children. Here are a few suggestions for your family to consider...
Save Energy
Explain to your children that televisions, computers, and lights use energy. Teach them to turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
Conserve Water
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a family of four uses 400 gallons of water every day on average. To conserve water in your household, be sure your children know to turn off the water while they are brushing their teeth. Perhaps they can even take shorter showers.
Recycle
Explain to your child that waste that is thrown away simply sits in a local dump or landfill if we don’t recycle. Be sure they are involved in the process of recycling paper, plastic, bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. Perhaps you can even find new and creative ways to use these materials in your home after cleaning them.
Small Things You Can Do...
Walk or ride a bike instead of traveling by car when possible.
Donate old clothes, toys, shoes, or other reusable items instead of throwing them away.
Take nature walks to recognize the beauty and inspiration that surround us!
Plant a tree or create a garden!
Although Earth Day is marked on our calendars only once a year, it is important to teach children and adults ways we can make everyday Earth Day.
CLASS PLACEMENT
In the next few weeks, we will begin the process of compiling class lists for the 2022 – 2023 school year. Our goal is to create well-balanced classes and to provide the most appropriate learning environment for each child. When determining placement, we also consider boy/girl ratio, academic ability, peer relationships, learning style, students who require support services, and social and behavioral characteristics.
As parents, you may have additional information for us to consider. You are welcome to send me an email about your child to assist with class placement. Please include information such as your child’s learning style, any social challenges, and /or any emotional needs your child requires. Kindly do not request friends or a specific teacher. The key ingredient in this process is trust. I ask that you trust the staff to use the available information and our professional assessment to make the best possible placement decision for your child. All emails should be sent to me at nandreazza@chatham-nj.org no later than Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
April Highlights and Reminders
April 8 - Early Dismissal - NO LUNCH WILL BE SERVED. Full Day K, Grades 1, 2, and 3: 8:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. Kindergarten: AM session hours: 8:35 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. and PM session hours: 10:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. Preschool: Full Day session hours: 9:00a.m. - 12:00 AM session hours: 8:40 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and PM session hours: 10:40 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
School Closed April 11 to April 15 for Spring Break. There is a scheduled Delayed Opening on Monday, April 18. Please note: only AM Kindergarten and Preschool sessions will meet on April 18. Full Day Kindergarten and Grades 1-3 begin at 10:35 a.m. AM KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-SCHOOL ONLY - AM Kindergarten only - 10:35 TO 1:25, AM Preschool only - 10:40 TO 1:00, Full Day Preschool - 11:00 to 2:30
April 21: PTO Meeting at 9am in MAS Media Center. Dr. LaSusa is our guest speaker.
April 25 - Tentative BOE Meeting for Public Hearing on Budget
April 26 - Grade 3 Spring Concert
April 29 - Pizza Parlor Day
Stetho-Scoop
News from our School Nurse, Erin Zotti
Stay Healthy Milton!! Just a reminder to keep your child home if they are sick and continue to notify the school nurse of any positive COVID-19 cases. Practicing good hand hygiene and correct respiratory etiquette at home will help to keep our students in school.
Medication Administration and forms: If your child suffers from seasonal allergies and needs medication administered at school, please complete this form and return it to the school nurse with the ordered medication. Over the counter medications MUST have a physician order.
Students who are symptomatic for COVID -19 should remain home while sick, test for Covid, and follow the current isolation parameters.
Symptoms include: Two of the following:-Congestion/runny nose-Chills-Rigors-Myalgia -Headache-Sore Throat -Nausea or Vomiting Diarrhea -Fatigue OR-Cough-shortness of breath-difficulty breathing-new loss of smell-new loss of taste.
If your child tests negative for COVID-19, then all requirements must be met from the Required Exclusion Time for Contagious Diseases
Please submit negative test results to Erin Zotti, RN at ezotti@chatham-nj.org
Testing sites are available here. Please select the COVID 19 tab on the district home page to access testing site information.
Counselor Corner
Our counseling lessons this month included the book, Same, Same but Different. This is a story about two boys, Elliot and Kailash who are best friends who have never met in person. They live in 2 different parts of the world. Through letters and pictures that they exhachnge with one another, they learn that they have many things in common, even though they live in very different places.
We did partner projects after the reading with the objective of finding out more about our partner/classmate and, what we have in common or “the same,” and ways that we are different.
Milton Meeting
We held a virtual monthly Milton Meeting on March 29. Congratulations to all of our students who were recognized at this special Milton Meeting!
Principal’s Student of the Month Award: Leila Tully, Briella Zotti, Edward Zilnicki, and Carter Wong
Outstanding Artist: Avery Zeronda, Mary Hamel, and Aiden Sheth
Marvelous Musician: Matthew Gould, Luna Perdomo, and Marlowe Cashin
MVP Award: Joseph Carey, Thomas Tarnok, and Neal Alteveer
Library Legend: Gwendolyn Stein, Zara Livermore, Kaito Brouillard, and Ethan Sherman
STEM Superstar: Anders Latourelle, Abigail Espino, Ben Alteveer, and Elena Guralchuk
What's Happening in Physical Education
The foundation of the physical education program is wellness, motor skill development and fitness. Understanding each of these concepts provides the foundation for participation in games, sports, dance, and recreational activities. All activities are designed to engage appropriate types and intensity of activity for each grade. Basic manipulative skills like throwing, catching, striking and kicking are incorporated into different games. Fitness components of cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility are discussed when related to different activities. Teamwork, sportsmanship and best effort are part of character development when they participate in team or individual challenges.
Activities during the school year include scooters, parachutes, climbing wall and various skills used in sports in modified games. Over the course of the year, students and families are encouraged to participate in the Milton Duathlon, Milton Mile and Field Day!
If you have any questions, please let us know!
PTO NEWS
Spring is here! The PTO is really excited to share the lineup of upcoming activities planned for the MAS school community to enjoy. This month, we look forward to a visit from the Kona Ice Truck, our first annual outdoor movie night at Milton, and the third grade Mr. A party. Our superintendent, Dr. LaSusa, will be our guest speaker at our PTO meeting on April 21st, which will take place in person in the library.
Thank you to Raquel Zilnicki, Johanna Hamel, Erica Wu, Tanu Kumar, and Gina Roof for volunteering this weekend for Spring Clean Up. And many thanks to Christina Norcia and Lindsey Lyons for organizing the baby product drive, our April school-wide service project in partnership with Hope for Ukraine.
We are preparing for a very special Staff Appreciation Week in May–a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude to the Milton teachers and staff for all their hard work this year. Please consider donating one (or more) items–all donations should be sent into school or dropped off at 47 Elmwood Avenue by April 22nd.
