Milton Express
October 29, 2021
Message from the Principal
Back in January 2020, teacher team leaders and I started to talk about the idea of adding an outdoor learning space to Milton Avenue School. We wanted to take learning outdoors and be able to incorporate the study of nature. We talked about the things we would like to see in an outdoor classroom, such as seating, patio area, and plants. We knew that in order to have an outdoor classroom that we could all be proud of, we would need help from a lot of people in our community! Who knew then how important outdoor spaces would be today for mask breaks?
In June 2020, Mark Piskadlo, the husband of then PTO President Sharon Piskadlo, provided a plan that would eventually become the blueprint for this space. We found a construction company, Dubey and Lay, that would help us build the patio area. The cost of the project, however, would be about $50,000!
At about that same time, I submitted a grant in the hopes that our Chatham Education Foundation would help support the construction of this outdoor classroom by providing money towards the total cost. In the end, the CEF awarded $16,000 towards the outdoor classroom project!
Our wonderful PTO then voted to contribute $35,000 towards the construction of our new learning space, allowing us to move forward with our plan. Construction began in August 2020 and our students were able to use this space on Day 1 of our school year last year.
In February 2021, I met with Mrs. Piskadlo to talk about the next steps for our project and we worked with Kathy Abbott and others to identify the best native plants to plant in our new space. Mrs. Hollingsworth, Mrs. Piskadlo, and then PTO President Nicole Mahoney worked together to buy plants from our very own Great Swamp, and our third graders last year planted them in our outdoor classroom. Mrs. PIskadlo and the PTO also went ahead and ordered the beautiful benches that we now use each day and that will be a part of our outdoor classroom for years to come!
After actively using the outdoor classroom, we knew that we needed one more big item for this space - an awning that would provide shade on those hot, sunny days. We are thrilled to have a shade awning that now stands tall over our outdoor classroom. Our PTO President, Laura Bojanowski, and the rest of the PTO voted to give our school another $20,000 for this project! In addition, we were able to pay for this awning thanks to the support of a special family.
In January 2020, Frank O’Neill sent me an email introducing himself as the husband of Adele O'Neill. Adele was a special education teacher at Milton Ave School, but she passed away on March 21, 2001. The preschool playground at Milton Avenue School was constructed in her name a few years later. To honor the 20 year anniversary of Adele's passing, Frank O’Neill and representatives from other families donated a total of $10,000, which went towards the addition of our awning. We added this awning in honor of Adele O’Neill “who always looks over and protects the children at Milton Avenue School”
Our outdoor classroom is a perfect example of the amazing learning community we have here at Milton Avenue School. Thank you teachers, students, parents, and other members of our community (both past and present); we worked together to bring amazing things to our school! Please check out photographs of our dedication ceremony at the end of this Milton Express.
November Highlights
November 1 - BOE Meeting 7:30 pm at CHS Library Media Center
November 3 - Early Dismissal (see below for hours)
November 4 and 5 - School closed for NJEA Teachers' Convention
November 9 and 10 - Author's Day with Kathryn Otoshi
November 12 - Pizza Parlor Day
November 15 - BOE Meeting 7:30 pm at CHS Library Media Center
November 24 - Early Dismissal (see below for hours)
November 25 and 26 - School Closed for Thanksgiving Recess
Hours for Early Dismissal Days
We have an early dismissal on November 3 and 24. Hours for our students are as follows:
Full Day K, Grades 1, 2, and 3 - hours are 8:35 am to 12:35 pm NO LUNCH SERVED
Half Day K - AM session hours are 8:35 am to 10:35 am
PM session hours are 10:35 am to 12:35 pm
Preschool Hours Full Day - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
AM session hours - 8:40 am to 10:30 am
PM session hours - 10:40 am to 12:35 pm
Stetho-Scoop
News from our School Nurse, Erin Zotti
It’s getting colder and sniffles are getting more common! Please refer to the Rules for Return and keep your child home when they are ill. Also, ALL unvaccinated siblings must stay home from school if a student is ill and waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
Travel Guidance: Please refer to the CDC guidelines at this time. Please contact me with any questions.
ALL students under the age of 5 years old MUST submit a record of their yearly influenza vaccine to me by December 31st, 2022. This year it is so important to get your flu shot early due to the expected arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-12 years old. The CDC recommends receiving your influenza vaccine from now until October 31st if possible.
Please update your child’s Emergency contacts in the Parent Portal. We need to have an alternate contact besides the student’s primary caregiver in case of a medical or unforeseen emergency that is within 15 minutes of the school.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!
Counselor Corner
News from our Guidance Counselor, Carole Soder
Our theme for the month of October was Inclusivity and for the SEL classroom lessons I chose "All Are Welcome" by AlexPenfold to read and discuss with the students. In particular , we focused on the importance of including others, and discussed examples of how we can do this throughout the school day. Students created "Welcome MATs" for their classrooms, listened to "we're all Amazing," a song about being unique and special, and we talked about feelings associated with being included and being part of a community.
Student counseling groups are now forming. If you are interested in your child participating in one of the following, kindly email me to let me know. Just click on the "email me" button below.
Social Skills/Friendship
Emotional Regulation
FISH- families in separate households
A culminating activity that students participated in for our week of respect was to write down ways in which we can show respect and kindness in school, at home, and within our community. Their responses were used to create this "Rainbow of Respect" featured in our main hallway on the first floor.
Milton Meeting
We hosted a very special monthly Milton Meeting on October 28. Mr. Andreazza paid tribute to all those involved in our outdoor classroom. Please read the "Message from the Principal" detailing his thanks. We followed up with our student awards. Congratulations to all of our students who were recognized at this special Milton Meeting!
Principal’s Student of the Month Award: CJ Garlewicz, Juliet English, David Aguilera, and Vivian Horn
Outstanding Artist: Blair Yanocha, Sam DiMarco, and Jake Ryan
Marvelous Musician: Sam Treloar, Rachael Dutta, and Tristan Perez Correa
MVP Award: Shanna Wang, Maxime Souni, and Ella Henningson
Library Legend: Ella Osika, Max Strickland, Sunny Wiedbrauk, and Desmond Bazadona
STEM Superstar: Sienna Karas, Yassine Berrima, Ava Guerra, and Alex Bastidas
MILTON STAFF RAISES OVER $1800 FOR BREAST CANCER
PTO NEWS
President's Letter: Please read this letter from PTO President, Laura Bojanowski for information about upcoming PTO events and a thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and contributors to the General Fund!
Mark your Calendar! MAS Holiday Shop returns December 8th and 9th - More information in the coming weeks, including how you can volunteer!
Call for Luminary Block Captains! Block Captains are needed for the annual MAS Luminaria Sale. For every kit sold, the MAS PTO receives a portion of the proceeds. An easy, fun job that you can do with your children--sign up here!
Community Projects
Nov. 1-3: Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Give Back Program--donate excess Halloween candy to military and first responders. Candy will be collected in bins outside the Main Office.
Nov 8-19: CUMC Food Pantry Collection: Non-perishable items to help stock the pantry in time for Thanksgiving. Look out for more information on where to drop off donations.
MAS Volunteer Opportunities: Check out the MAS Signup Page for volunteer opportunities during the year.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR K-9 ASSEMBLY, OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DEDICATION, AND HALLOWEEN PARADE
On October 28, we dedicated our outdoor classroom and celebrated students at our monthly Milton Meeting .
We ended our busy week on a high note - the Halloween Parade. Despite the chilly weather, our students had a wonderful time parading around the school.
