PTO Meeting

September 30, 2025

Meeting Started-6:05pm

School Updates

Mr Connelly 

• Welcome! Great crowd.  Thank you for being here. Parent involvement is very important.

• This year we had a Great Opening to the school year!  The smoothest opening yet.

• Right now we have 288 students.  We continue to have small class sizes with around 16-20 students in each class.

• Our theme this year is “Working hard and being kind”

• We are working with the students as we grow and improve and we ask parents to stress this at home.  

• Testing results are in from last year and as a school we were above district average.  

• A big message we are pushing this year is “be kind”.  Our staff is working with this but we also ask you to promote this at home too.

• Tomorrow is BulletFiller Day. The first of each month.

• A Parent Memo will be going out tomorrow but some highlights are

  • Arrival and Dismissal reminders

    • Arrival 

      • Doors will open at 8:45am

      • We ask that only students line up at the cones.  Parents/Guardians please stay off to the sides.

    • Dismissal

      • Dismissal starts with Kindergarten around 3:25pm.

      • Parents/Guardians please stay within the cone area by your grade level.  Please be cautious not to stand in the parking lot where the bus are driving.

  • Volunteer Badges

    • All Parents/Guardians will need a Volunteer Pass in order to Volunteer for any activities during the school day.

    • You must receive a new pass every year from our main Admin. Building on School Street in Woodbridge.  These passes are color coated and are only good for the school year you obtain them in.

  • Halloween

    • On Halloween, Friday October 31st, all students will come to school in there costumes.  All Grades PK-5

    • Please no toy weapons, swords, etc

    • The Halloween Parade will begin at 1:45pm.  Parents and Guardians will line Ira Ave up to Carson Ave.  Students will walk up and around Ira Ave.

    • Immediately following the Halloween Parade students will go back to their classrooms for their Halloween Parties.  Only Class Parents are allowed into the building.

    • Preschool students will have a parade at 10:30am on the basketball court.

Upcoming Dates

• 10/6-10/10 - Week of Respect

  • Students will be having classroom lessons and discussions about Respect.  There will also be school based themed event days

• 10/6-10/10 - Fire Prevention Week

  • Students will have Fire Safety Lessons

  • October 9th - our local Firefighters will be coming for an assembly

• Oct. 6th - Interim Reports will be available to only students who teachers have concerns about.  Not every student will receive one.

• Oct. 13th - No School for Students - In Service Day for Staff

• Oct. 20-24 - School Violence Awareness Week

• Oct. 22nd - School Spirit Day.  It will also be our first Tiger Buddy day of the year.

• Oct. 24th - Trunk or Treat

• Oct. 1-31 - First Food Drive for Sewa Diwali Food Drive to help support We Feed Woodbridge.

• Nov. 1-9 - No School for Fall Break

• Nov. 10th - Veteran’s Day Celebration at school

  • We will have an assembly with a Veteran.  Students will sing patriotic songs.

  • Grade 3 - will have a Veteran’s Day Poster Contest

  • Grade 4 - will have a Veteran’s Day Essay Contest

• Nov. 11th - No School - Veteran’s Day

Teacher Update

• Thank you for an amazing Welcome Back breakfast.

• Staff is asking for some new Recess Equipment if possible.

Treasurer Report

• Total- $18,117.11

• 5th Grade - $1012.78

• Bucket Filler - $749.41

• Autism - $303.27

PTO Updates

• The PTO was able to purchase planners for all students in Grades 1-5.  We also were able to purchase 2 new AC Units.  

• We also provided the Teachers with a Welcome Back Breakfast and a small gift on their first day back.   Teachers and Staff really appreciated it.

• Our Membership Drive is still going on.  Please fill out the form and send payment.

• We have a PTO Remind.  We will be sending out reminders about important information and Spirit days. Please text @66a794d to 81010

• We have a sign up for our Volunteer List in the back.  Please add your information if you would like to receive an email about volunteer opportunities.  All Volunteers need a Volunteer Pass.

• Our Apparel Sale is almost over.  We have 3 days left.

• Halloween Grams will be on sale from Oct. 15-24th. Grams will be delivered on Oct. 30th.

• Our Clothing Drive is on Saturday, October 18th.  All clothing must be dropped off by 1:45pm.  If you can not make it that day, please reach out to the PTO.

• We had our 1st School Store on Sept 22nd.  The Students love to shop.  We made $466 on our first School Store of the year.  Our next one will be on Oct. 22nd.

• Our Annual Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 24th.  Flyers will be sent home next week.  We need approx. 25-30 cars.  Each family must donate a club size bag of candy to participate. Please make sure your children’s name is on the candy bag.  We will be having a Pumpkin Contest this year.  There will be a winner for the Best Car and the Best Decorated Pumpkin.

• Class Parent Information - In order to be a class mom you must be a paid member of the PTO, you must volunteer for at least one school event (either night or during the school day),  and you must attend all 3 parties (10/31, 12/22, 6/22).  There is a maximum of 3 parents per class.  You must work well with the other class moms to plan a craft, games, and food for the parties.  PTO will reimburse $3 per student for Halloween and Holiday Party and $5 per student for End of Year Party.  All reimbursements must be submitted with original receipts within 1 month.  You can ask parents for donations if you would like.  Mr. Connelly must approve the donation letter first before it is sent out.  All Class Parents must have a valid Volunteer Pass.

• We will be selling Dave and Buster’s Gift Cards again this year from Nov. 12th through Dec. 4th.  This is a great fundraiser.  Families receive more credits than from buying directly from Dave and Buster’s.  The PTO receives 50% back on each Gift Card.

• Our first Book Fair of the year is November 13-14.  Family Shopping will be open on Thursday night, November 13th during the PTO Meeting

Open Forum

• Our 5th Grade Raffle is running.  $10 ticket to win either an Ipad or Nintendo Switch.  Drawing will be at the next PTO Meeting.

• If you have any fundraising ideas you would like to share with us please email us @ lynncrestpto@gmail.com 

• Our Next Meeting is November 13th at 6pm.  This meeting will be in the Art Room due to the Book Fair Family Night in the APR.

Meeting Adjourned 6:49pm

April 10, 2025

PTO Meeting

April 10, 2025

Meeting Started at 6:04pm

Mr Connelly Updates

• Spring Break is coming soon.  After Spring Break school will be over very quickly.

• April. 2- We celebrated Paraprofessional Day.  This day is celebrated on the First Wednesday of April each year.  We have 32 Paraprofessionals in Lynn Crest, which respect a large amount of our staff.  We appreciate them and want them to know.

• April 2 is also Autism Awareness Day.  We celebrated at Lynn Crest by all wearing blue and also Bubbles for Autism day.  

Upcoming Events

• Kids Heart Challenge will be next week - Mr. C. Sent home information about this.  Throughout next week will be learning about heart 

• Report Cards will be available on Tuesday 4/15

• April 15 - Student Council and NHS students with Colonia High School students will be doing a service project and will do a spring clean up and eat lunch with the students.

• Testing begins last week of April for Grades 3-5

-Science 5th Grade only 2 days

-CoGat -  G&T testing for Grade 1

-LA & Math 5 consecutive days the following week

Upcoming Dates

4/17 Spring Picture Day

4/18 Walk A Thon and Crazy Sock Day

4/18 Early Dismissal 

5/12 Spring Concert at CHS 6pm

5/16 Dare Graduation 10am

Teacher Update

• Thank you to the PTO for donating money for the school to purchase flowers and soil for the Student Council and NHS Beautification.

Teasurer Report

• 5th Grade Account-$6230.28

• Bucket Filler Account - $1597.03

• Autism Account- $193.55

• Overall - $31,218.88

PTO Updates

• Walk A Thon  is Next Friday, April 18 donations are accepted. Donations are being donated to a student at CHS battling brain cancer.

• Nominations are open for positions for next year’s PTO Board.

• Discounts cards are available to purchase. Flyer will go home this week.

• Multicultural night - Friday, May 2nd at CMS

  • 43 families and 17 countries are being represented.  Sign up due by Monday 4/14.

• Teacher appreciation week - sign up genesis will go out to help with donations.

• Clothing drive - May 10th - if you need to drop off before please reach out to Andrea Sobriero 

• Flower sale - May 8 & 9 if you would like to volunteer, please reach out to the PTO.  All volunteers must have a township volunteer  pass.

  • We can also use boxes if you would like to donate any boxes.  

  • Prices will be similar to last year.

• Field day - May 30 rain date 6/6

  •  Inflatable and Italian ice ordered. 

  • Volunteer sign up will be out soon

• School Store -Our Last School Store of the year will be on May 22nd.

Open Forum

• No Questions.

Meeting Adjourned 6:29pm

January 9, 2025

PTO Meeting

January 9, 2025

Meeting Started at 6:03pm

Mr Connelly Updates

• Announced the following Faculty have received the following awards for the 24-25 School Year

  • Governor Teacher of the Year -Mrs. Jackow

  • Support Person of the Year- Ms. Tonery

  • WTEF - Excellence in Education Support Person of the Year - Mr. Ed

• The Winter Concert was beautiful.  Thank you to all who attended and helped out.

• This was our first year doing the Book Swap.  Students gave books they were done reading and got to pick out different books.  We received over 3,000 books.  We didn't realize the volume of books we would receive.  Student Council and National Honor Society Students sorted the books by age and genre.  Great event.

• We held our Holiday Toy Drive where we received over 100 toys from families and faculty to be donated to St. Peters Children Hospital.  Thank you!

• In January, we kicked off our Ready, Set, Read program.  It will continue through the month of January.  This Friday is the end of the first week.  Teachers will let the office know how many students returned their forms and each student will receive a prize each week they return their form.

• We are approaching our Mid Year point.  90th day of school is January 31st.

• Teachers are administering Mid Year tests in each class to help individualize and personalize each student's instruction.  Tests will be in LinkIt and iReady.

• We just began our Have a Heart Food Drive.  This event runs until Feb. 14th.  Schools are asked to collect 214 lbs of food.  Please bring in non perishable items to donate.  Please also explain to your children why we are doing this so they have a better understanding.

• We are celebrating Indic Heritage Month this month.  Students from WHS will be coming over to teach Indic Art, Music, and Story Telling to Grades 1 & 2.

• The district is reinforcing Attendance Letters this year.  Students will receive a letter when they are absent for 4 days and again at 9 days.  This is to provide a visual cue to let parents know how many days they have been out.  We can do remarkable things when your child is present in school.

• Chronic Absenteeism is considered after a student is absent more than 10% of the school year.  10% of the school year is over 18 days.  After 18 days, students will receive a letter from the District.  Students can be considered to be left back if they have chronic absenteeism.

• Mid Year Report Cards will be available the first week in February for all students in Grades K-5.  Report Cards will be posted in the Genesis Parent Portal.

• The 100th day of school will be on February 14th (Valentines Day) unless there is a snow day.

• Please follow our Lynn Crest Instagram as we will be posting about our DEI Project, home tips, and health and fitness tips.

Upcoming Dates

January 20th - No School

January 22nd - School Spirit Day, Tiger Buddy and School Store

January 29th - Wacky Wednesday

Teacher Update

• Thank you to all of the Holiday Shop Volunteers.  Everything worked out perfectly.

• Please follow our Instagram to learn more about our DEI Showcase this year.

Teasurer Report

• General Account $22,084.23

• 5th Grade Account $485.14

• Autism $1469.87

• Bucket Filler $7811.98

PTO Updates

• Valentines Grams will be running from February 4th- 10th.  Grams will be distributed on February 13th.  Valentine Grams will be Cheez-Its.

• Gertuade Hawk will be running from February 25th - March 11th.  Delivery will be the week of April 7th.

• We had to change our Sweetheart Dance this year due to the Middle School already being booked.  The New Date is Friday, March 7th.  The dance will be a Bring your VIP Spring Fling Glow Party.  We will still have a DJ, Photo Booth, etc.  We may cut back on food and only do Pizza to lower the cost.

Open Forum

• Field Day Question

  • When will sign up and information come out?  Will we still have the Dunk Tank?

    • The sign up will be coming closer to the event.  Dunk Tank depends on the weather and teachers.

Meeting Adjourned 6:40pm

November 14, 2024

PTO Meeting 11/14/24 

Meeting started 6:04pm

Mr Connelly Update

-Meeting in the Art Room today.  Thank you for being so accommodating since the Book Fair is going on in the APR today.

-We are starting a new Book Swap program in December.  Students can bring in a book into their classroom and students will get one credit for each book they bring in.  Teachers will sort through all the books and then students can use their credits to pick out new books.

Updates since Last Meeting

 -We held School Violence Awareness Week.  Students had activities, learned about being kind, cyber security lessons, and lessons from our Police Dept.

-On our October School Spirit Day,  we started our Tiger Buddies program again.  Students were partnered up with another class for the year and will meet through the year.

-Our Annual Trunk and Treat was a great success.  Thank you to everyone that came out, donated treats, or decorated their cars.

-Our Halloween Parade and Parties on October 31st ran very smoothly.   This is a wonderful tradition for the kids and families.

-On November 1st we held our Veterans’ Day celebration.  We had a visiting Veteran who explained about his experiences and why he listed.   We also recognized our Veteran’s Day Student Award winners during our assembly.

Important Upcoming Dates

-The end of the Sewa Diwali Food Drive is Friday, November 15th.

-American Education Week is November 18th-22nd.  There are planned activities throughout the week.

-On Thursday, November 21st Report Cards will be available for students in Grades 2-5.

-There will be significant changes on report cards for Grade 2 after Marking Period 1.  Students in Grades 1 and Kindergarten have standard report cards and Gr 2 will be changing to standard report beginning in MP2.

-Attendance is very important and we have alot of days off coming up.  Unless your students are sick, please make the best effort to bring your students to school.  We want your students in school.

-Attendance Letters are going home again this year.  If your student is absent for 4 days a letter will be sent home and again after 9 days.

-Students will be going outside to the Playground and Recess.  We will be getting them outside unless extreme temps and wetness.  Please send students in with coats and dressed warm.  Please write your student’s names on their coats.

-Emergency Drills and Fire Drills are held every month.  We will send an email home whenever we have a drill.  Please talk with your students about the drills to make them comfortable.

Upcoming Dates

-Thanksgiving Break is coming up.  Students have an Early Dismissal on Wednesday and off on Thursday and Friday. 

-December 2-6th is Parent Teacher Conferences Week.  Students have Early Dismissal all week from Monday-Friday. 

-Teachers have an In-Service Monday afternoon and Conferences are held Tuesday- Friday.  Please sign up through Genesis.  Tuesday and Thursday are afternoon conferences and Wednesday and Friday are night conferences.

-The District has a new policy this year, you can request virtual or in-person conferences.  Virtual Conference will be held on Google Meet.  There are also Translation options available if needed.

-If your teacher is out on an extended leave, the teacher will reach out to the parents when they return to set up conferences.

-Winter Recess schedule

-Students have an Early Dismissal on Friday, December 20 and are off from MOnday, December 23 through and including Wednesday, January 1st.  School reopens on Thursday, January 2nd.

-Student Holiday Parties will be 12/19 at 2:15pm

-December 9th- Winter Band and Chorus Concert at Lynn Crest School

Teacher Update

-Thank you to all class parents for Halloween parties.  The parties ran very smoothly and kids enjoyed them.

-The Book Fair went smoothly.  Thank you to all our volunteers for making it a success.

Treasurer Update

Current Bank Account - $32,573.98

5th Grade Account - $ 9,176.20

Autism Class Account - $485.14

Bucket Filler Account - $1469.87

PTO Updates

-Dave and Buster Gift Card Fundraiser is running until December 4th.  We receive 50% back in sales.  It is cheaper to buy through us than Dave and Busters.  Please fill out the Google form if interested.

-The Book Fair is running 11/14 and 11/15.  We are looking for volunteers to take over the Book Fair for next year.  Next year would be a year  to train with Michele.

-Candy Cane Grams are on sale 12/3 through 12/12.  They will be distributed on 12/18.

-The Holiday Shop is 12/12 and 12/13.

-There is a new vendor this year.  A link will be sent home of what we will be having for sale.  Please be aware  things may sell out and do not get restocked. Please have multiple choices for students to pick. You can buy Gift Cards online and print and send them in for kids to shop.  Otherwise Cash only.  The Kids love it. We need  volunteers to work all day Thursday and Morning only on Friday.  All are welcome to volunteer.  Please make sure you have your district ID.

-Class parties will be on 12/19 beginning at 2:15pm.  You will receive $3 per student, please put in the reimbursement form by the end of January.

-Halloween reimbursement forms are due by November 22nd.

-Reimbursement forms are available on the website.

Open Forum

-Do we do a second run of apparel sale?

We will maybe run one in the spring.  Everyone loved the black color.  Maybe we can do black again but with a different design.

-Can we add events for the kids? Color Run in the spring was fun.  More email blasts with communications?

Please email the PTO with any ideas you may have.

Meeting adjourned at 6:40pm.

September 19, 2024

September 19, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Started at 6:04pm

School Updates:

• 299 currently enrolled students

• This year’s theme is “Achieving Excellence Together” 

• Lynn Crest is the highest performing Elementary School in Woodbridge

• We want students to fail and learn and grow from their failure

• ”Work Hard,Be Kind” - School Motto

• Students are completing pre-test right now on LinkIT! To determine starting points for Math and Language Arts

• There are 4 autism, 4 preschool, and 2 classes per grade in the school

• We are a safe school with a security guard, video camera, and door bell alarms.

• All Classrooms have Chromebook carts.  All Kindergarten, 1st, and Autism classes have IPad carts.

• Each classroom is receiving the new “SonicView Boards”

• We have a brand new IReady Math program.

• October 1st is Bucket Filler Day.  Students will be rewarded for good behavior.  Teachers have stickers and pencils to give out.  The first Monday of each month will be Bucketfiller Day.

• Student Arrival is at 8:45am.  Please make every effort to have your student here on time.

• Student Dismissal is 3:25pm with Kindergarten exiting first and then following grades.

• Please use crosswalks.

• No Dogs or other animals are permitted on school grounds.

• Students will be going outside for recess as much as possible.  Please keep in mind for students to wear safe playground appropriate footwear and also jackets for cooler weather.

• Please have students keep all toys and games at home.

• Please talk to your student about safe playing on the playground.

• All students from Preschool- 5th Grade will have a Halloween parade at 1:45pm with class party to follow.  Students will walk up and down Ira Avenue.

• Please have students wear their costumes to school.  No weapons.  Please have students wear safe footwear.  Make-up must be done at home.

• Students in Kindergarten will have Fingerprinting done in October.

• Fire Prevention week is October 7-11.

• 5th Grade Students will have a Vaping Assembly on October 9th.

• No School on Monday, October 14

• School Violence Awareness Week is October 21-25.

Teacher Updates: 

•  are thankful for their first day of school breakfast. Tons of food and well put together. Thank you!

Treasurer Updates:

• Current bank account is $18,836.11

• Bucketfiller Account - $981.87

• Autism Account - $485.14

PTO Updates:

• Membership drive ends is still going on.  You must be a member to be a class parent.

• Walk-a-thon on Friday, September 20 to support Pediatic Cancer.

• D’Italia Fundraiser on Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24.  We will receive 15% of sale when you mention you are with Lynn Crest.

• Lynn Crest apparel sale will run from September 24 through October 4.  Please look for flyer.

• Please sign up for PTO notifications on Remind.  Text 81010 Message: @6c7dhg

• Class parents can sign up and will receive an email. Halloween, winter, and end of year parties. Must be a pto member.

• Halloween grams will run from 10/16 to 10/24.  Please look for flyer.

• Pocketbook Bingo is October 4th.  Space is limited, please sign up if you are interested in attending. 

• Clothing Drive - October 12th

• Trunk-or-Treat is Friday, October 25th.  The raindate is Monday, October 28.  Please look for flyer for details.

Open Forum:

• Walk-a-thon

  • Parent Volunteers

  • Anyone can donate money to cause

Meeting Ended: 7:09