K-12 :

• Thursday, January 1st - Friday, January 2nd-  Winter Recess- District Closed 

• Monday, January 19th-  M. Luther King Jr. Birthday- District Closed

• Wednesday, January 21st - Family Math Night

• Saturday, January 24th - International Day of Education

• Monday, January 26th -Muslim Heritage Month Celebration at 5:30 PM (4-7 Campus) 

• Monday, January 26th - 30th  School Choice Week

• Tuesday, January 27th - Parent Teacher Conferences

K-1 :

• Tuesday, January 27th - Parent Teacher Conferences (Report Card Night)

• Friday, January 30th - School Choice Week Assembly 

2-3 :

• Tuesday, January 13th - Winter Concert 

• Monday, January 26th -  School Choice Week Assembly 

• Friday, January 23rd -Monthly Attendance Winner Pizza Party

4-7 :

• Friday, January 16th - MLK Speech Contest

• Wednesday, January 21st - Healthy Eating Parent Workshop ( Cafeteria at 5:00 pm)

• Thursday, January 22nd - Winter Concert & Art Show

• Monday, January 26th -Muslim Heritage Month Celebration at 5:30 PM

8-12 :

• Saturday, January 17th - VEX Robotics Competition, High School Gym

• Wednesday, January 28th  - 8-12 PTO Meeting (in-person)

• Friday, January 30th - 8-12 Parent Conference 

PTO Information:
Our PTOs play an important role in supporting our school community. We encourage all families to get involved in upcoming meetings and events.

Contact Information:

• K–7 PTO: Ms. Scott – 973-333-4729, krishana.scott@pcsst.org

• 8–12 PTO: Mr. Lightner – 973-247-0600, william.lightner@pcsst.org
  
  

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or to learn more about how you can participate.

Academic Support

1. Khan Academy (khanacademy.org): Offers free lessons in various subjects to help students get back into the academic rhythm.

2. Scholastic (scholastic.com): Provides reading challenges, book lists, and tips to re-engage with literacy.

3. IXL (ixl.com): Interactive practice in math, language arts, science, and social studies tailored to each child’s level.

Time Management & Organization

1. Cozi Family Organizer (cozi.com): A free app for organizing family schedules and school assignments.

2. Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org): Offers resources to set digital boundaries and manage screen time effectively.

Mental Health & Emotional Adjustment

1. Child Mind Institute (childmind.org): Provides expert advice on helping children transition back to school routines.

2. GoZen (gozen.com): Offers tools and programs to help children build resilience and cope with stress.

Routine & Sleep Reset

1. National Sleep Foundation (thensf.org): Provides tips for getting children back on a healthy sleep schedule.

2. HealthyChildren.org (healthychildren.org): Offers advice on creating a balanced daily routine.

Building Motivation

1. Understood.org (understood.org): Provides strategies to motivate kids, especially those with learning differences.

2. PBS Kids for Parents (pbs.org/parents): Encourages learning through play with resources and games for younger children.

Parent Support Networks

1. Parent Toolkit (parenttoolkit.com): Helps parents understand what their children need to succeed academically and socially.

2. Facebook Groups and Local Forums: Many communities have local parenting groups that share tips and support for school adjustments.

Here are additional resources for parents to support their children in K-12 schools

• Common Sense Media: Provides age-appropriate media recommendations, tips, and resources for parents to guide their children's learning through movies, games, and apps. https://www.commonsensemedia.org

• Prodigy: A free, curriculum-aligned math platform offering engaging math games for students. Parents can use this to track progress and help their child improve math skills. https://www.prodigygame.com

• National PTA - Family Resources: Offers resources for parents to get involved in their child's education, including tips on fostering a positive school-home partnership and advocacy. https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources

• Parent Toolkit: An all-in-one resource for parents to track and support their child’s social, emotional, and academic growth from pre-K through high school. https://www.parenttoolkit.com

• ABCmouse: Provides a comprehensive early learning platform for children ages 2-8, offering interactive lessons across reading, math, science, and art. https://www.abcmouse.com

• IXL: Offers personalized learning in math, language arts, science, and social studies. Parents can use the platform to reinforce skills with tailored recommendations. https://www.ixl.com

• Starfall: A free public service for early literacy skills, offering interactive reading and phonics games designed to engage young learners. https://www.starfall.com

• Parents.com (Parenting Education Resources): Offers expert parenting tips and education resources covering topics from early childhood to high school. https://www.parents.com

• NWEA Family Toolkit: Provides insights into MAP Growth testing, explaining how parents can support their children’s progress with targeted strategies. https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/family-toolkit

• Learning Heroes: Provides parents with actionable information to support their child’s academic success, including readiness checks, skill-building tips, and personalized learning tools. https://www.bealearninghero.org

These resources cover a wide range of subjects and age groups, offering practical support to help parents engage with their child's learning at home.

Disclaimer: The information in this bulletin is accurate at the time of publication and is based on entries provided by each campus. In the event of any differences, updates communicated directly by building administrators should be considered the most current and accurate information. Please check your building administrator's emails regularly, as events, activities, or details may be adjusted throughout the week.

Here are some useful tips for parents of children in all grades and lower elementary schools;

General Tips for All Parents

• Establish Routines: Create consistent routines for bedtime, schoolwork, and free time, helping students manage their day and stay focused.

• Create a Homework Space: Set up a quiet, organized area where your child can do their homework, keeping distractions (especially technology) to a minimum.

• Communicate with Teachers: Keep an open line of communication with teachers and attend events like parent-teacher conferences, report card nights, and curriculum overviews to stay informed about your child’s progress.

• Attend School Events: Participate in school events like back-to-school nights, literacy nights, and workshops to understand your child’s learning environment and show support for their education.

• Encourage a Growth Mindset: Praise effort and persistence over outcomes. Teach your child that challenges and setbacks are part of learning.

• Technology & Internet Safety: Talk regularly about internet safety, set boundaries around screen time, and model responsible technology use. Monitor their online behavior and adjust guidelines as they grow.

Lower Elementary (Grades K-3)

• Read Together: Spend 15-20 minutes reading with your child each day. Attend literacy nights and school reading programs to make reading a shared, enjoyable activity.

• Encourage Playtime: Balance learning with unstructured play. It helps develop social, emotional, and creative skills that support classroom learning.

• Support Social Skills: Teach your child basic social skills like sharing, taking turns, and managing conflict. Attending school social events can help reinforce these skills.

• Build Independence: Allow your child to take small responsibilities, like packing their backpack or organizing their schoolwork, to foster independence.

• Internet Safety: Introduce internet safety at an early age. Teach them to only visit websites you approve of, avoid talking to strangers online, and never share personal information (like their name or address). Parental controls and filtering software are useful for limiting access to appropriate content.

• Limit Screen Time: Set clear rules for screen time and ensure devices are used for educational purposes. Encourage offline play and social interaction with peers.

Upper Elementary(Grades 4-5)

• Develop Study Habits: Help your child establish good study habits by setting a regular time for homework and breaking tasks into manageable parts. Encourage them to use a planner to track assignments and deadlines.

• Encourage Responsibility: Allow your child to take on more responsibility, such as organizing their own school materials, completing homework independently, and helping with chores at home.

• Talk About Friendships: Friendships become more complex in 4th and 5th grades. Encourage open discussions about peer relationships, including how to deal with peer pressure and conflicts.

• Internet Safety & Technology Use: At this age, children may start using social media or communication apps. Teach them the importance of privacy, not sharing personal information online, and avoiding inappropriate content. Reinforce that they should come to you if they encounter anything unsettling online.

• Monitor Screen Time: With increasing use of technology for schoolwork, it’s important to balance screen time. Establish rules for when and where screens can be used and ensure time is set aside for physical activity and in-person socializing.

• Attend School Events: Join events like report card nights, math and science nights, and student showcases. These events not only allow you to monitor your child’s progress but also provide opportunities for them to demonstrate what they’re learning.

• Encourage Critical Thinking: Engage your child in activities that promote critical thinking, such as problem-solving games, puzzles, or even discussing real-world issues. Participate in school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) nights to support this.

Here are some useful tips for parents of children in Middle and High School.

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• Organization and Time Management: Help your child use a planner or digital calendar to manage assignments and deadlines. Encourage participation in academic workshops and report card nights to stay organized.

• Encourage Responsibility: Allow your child to make decisions about managing their time and schoolwork. Attending study skills events can reinforce these lessons.

• Talk About Friendships: Middle school can be a socially challenging time. Have regular discussions about friendships, peer pressure, and bullying, including online bullying.

• Internet Safety & Social Media: Middle schoolers are often more active online, so talk to them about the risks of social media. Teach them about privacy settings, respectful communication, and the dangers of oversharing. Explain the importance of reporting cyberbullying and not engaging with inappropriate content. Set ground rules for using devices in common areas of the home.

• Monitor Screen Time: Set limits on both educational and recreational screen time, ensuring there is a balance between technology use and other activities. Consider using apps that monitor and control screen time, especially with mobile devices.

• Attend Events: Join school events like family nights or report card conferences to stay involved. These events help you understand your child’s academic progress and social environment.

High School (Grades 9-12)

• Set Academic Goals: Work with your teen to set academic and personal goals for the year. Use report card nights and teacher conferences to track their progress and discuss strategies for improvement.

• Prepare for the Future: Encourage your teen to participate in college nights, career fairs, or financial aid workshops. Attend these events together to explore options for life after high school.

• Foster Life Skills: High school is the time to teach practical life skills like managing time, balancing school with work or extracurricular activities, and financial literacy. Attend parent workshops on college readiness and career pathways.

• Internet Safety & Social Media: At this age, it’s critical to discuss the long-term impact of their digital footprint. Talk to them about responsible social media use, being cautious about who they interact with online, and the risks of sharing too much information. Explain the consequences of cyberbullying, inappropriate behavior online, and digital permanence (what they post can last forever). Encourage them to build a positive online presence for future college or career prospects.

• Discuss Screen Time Boundaries: High schoolers need to self-regulate, so have ongoing conversations about balancing screen time with responsibilities. Encourage device-free time for study, sleep, and family activities.

• Support Extracurriculars: Attend school activities such as sporting events, performances, or art exhibitions to show support for your teen’s interests and achievements.

Remember that each child is unique, and these tips can be adapted to your child's specific needs and interests. Being involved, supportive, and flexible as a parent is key to helping your child succeed at every stage of their education.

Student Database System: 

• How can I access my child(ren)’s assessment  results, grades and attendance as well as discipline records 24/7?

Yes, if you log on the Genesis Student Database, all the information is on your finger tips.

• I don’t know how to access the Genesis Database. What should I do? 

You can  reach out to school secretary or any of the admins and request your username and password. 

• I do not know how to navigate the database, Where can I receive help?

Please watch the online training video or check out the manual.

• What do you need to do if you want to update your child’s information on the database?

Reach out to you campus Secretary and provide the updated information and necessary documents if asked.

Transportation: 

• How can I get information on School Transportation?

Please visit our transportation webpage to learn all about transportation at PCSST.

Food Service:

• How can I check school’s daily breakfast and lunch menu?

All our campus lunch information can be reached for our Food Service provider Maschio’s website.

Anonymous Reporting:

• How can I report an incident anonymously?

• You can report any incident that is a concerning you but you do not want to be identified, you can use our school’s “STOPit” platform to report and get rapid respond from a school administrator.