Looking ahead, May is a busy and meaningful month. Our third graders will take the NJSLA in English Language Arts and Mathematics. We look forward to showcasing student talents at our spring concert and art show. We will also gather as a school community for our annual Memorial Day Assembly, where we take time to honor and thank local veterans for their service.
June will bring celebration and joy as we wrap up the school year with end-of-year activities, including Field Day fun and special third-grade events. It’s an exciting time filled with memories in the making!

Wishing all of our families a joyful and successful end to the school year.

Upcoming Events for May/June

May 5-6, 12-14: NJSLA for Grade 3
May 7- 3rd grade photo
May 13: 1st grade field trip (Carlson/Ruskowski, Kosinska)
May 14: 1st grade trip (Valderrama, Minervini, Aleles)
May 15: Art Show
May 16: Field Day (Rain Date is May 20)
May 21: New Parent Orientation (Incoming 1st graders)
May 22: Veterans Assembly
May 23,26: Schools Closed
May 28: Walk to School with the Mayor
May 28: Concert Grades 1-3
May 30: All School Sing/Washington School Spirit Day
May 30: 3rd grade visits Pierrepont School
May 30: PTA Spring Lau
June 6: 3rd grade carnival
June 6: K Students visit Washington
June 10: Schools Closed/Teacher Professional Day
June 13: Science Fair-Grade 3
June 16: Grade 3 breakfast
June 17: PreK 4 moving up ceremony
June 18: PreK sneak-a-peek
June 18-24: One Session Days
June 23: All School Sing Assembly/Washington School Spirit Day
June 24: Last Day of School

Warm Regards,
Jessica Saxon

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Upcoming Events for March and April
March 3- One Session Day/Teacher Professional Development
March 3-7 Read Across America and Spirit Week
March 6-7 Book Fair with Family Shopping March 7 at 6:00
March 7- Trimester 2 ends
March 17- ColorDay/Green-Responsibility
March 25- Report Cards Issued via Parent Portal
March 28- Apex Fun Run
March 31- All School Sing/Bulldog Spirit Day
April 9- Color Day- Blue/Trustworthiness
April 11- Discovery Day
April 17- PTA spring celebration event
April 18-25 Spring Recess
April 30- All School Sing/Bulldog Spirit Day

Thank you for your continued partnership in making Washington School a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Warm regards,

Jessica Saxon

The post March April appeared first on Washington School.

I hope you had a joyful holiday season. I am excited to welcome you back as we begin 2025 together. As the winter season approaches, I want to keep you all informed and prepared for the months ahead. Here are some important dates and reminders.

1. School closures/Delays/Early Dismissals: Stay updated on weather-related announcements via our website, email, and phone alerts.
2. Dress warmly: Please ensure students come to school with warm coats, hats, gloves and scarves as they will need these items for outdoor recess when the weather permits.
3. Safety: Remind students to be cautious when walking or playing in snowy and icy conditions. Please help us support safety in the winter by encouraging children to walk slowly and not allowing students to pick up snow and ice on the school grounds.
4. Word of the Week: Each week we focus on a new word which is infused in our daily announcements and activities. We encourage you to discuss the word of the week with your children at home. Words of the Week for January are Joyful, Dependable, and Trust.
5. Arrival/Dismissal: The safety of our students is a top priority. Please help us maintain a safe environment during arrival and dismissal by following the procedures outlined in our handbook, such as no double parking or parking in the yellow- marked areas, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the safety of all students. We understand that arrival and dismissal can be hectic. Please be patient and considerate of other drivers and pedestrians. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Events for January/February

1. January 20: Schools closed-Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2. January 23: One Session Day/Parent-Teacher Conferences
3. January 24: School Closed/Parent-Teacher Conferences
4. January 31: All School Sing/Spirit Day- Wear Bulldog Gear or Blue/White
5. February 7: Parent Academy -Anxious Generation K-3 at Washington School Library/8:50 AM
6. February 7: Friendship Fun Night 6:30 PM.
7. February 13: 100th Day of School
8. February 14,17: School Closed/Winter Recess
9. February 25-26: Scooterville
10. February 28: All School Sing/Spirit Day- Wear Bulldog Gear or Blue/White

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our Giving Tree Initiative to help support the Bergen County Animal Shelter. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to a joyful and safe winter season for all our students and families.

Warm regards,

Jessica Saxon

The post A Word From Mrs. Saxon – January/February appeared first on Washington School.

Looking ahead to December, our focus will be on the value of generosity- not just in giving gifts but in sharing kindness, time and support with one another.  As we move into the holiday season, we will continue to build on these important lessons. I hope this time of the year brings joy, warmth, and special moments. Thank you for helping to make Washington School a place of learning, growth , and community. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

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The post October/November at Washington appeared first on Washington School.

The Student and Parent Handbook is updated annually and is available on the school website at the start of the school year. Please visit our website at www.rutherfordschools.org. Click on Washington School and then on Washington Quick Links. The Rutherford Public Schools Code of Conduct for K-3 can also be accessed via Quick Links.

The District utilizes an online registration system. Parents must log in to review and, when necessary, update student demographic information. 

Information for families who wish to apply for Free and Reduced lunch may do so on the District Website under “District Lunch Program”. For the lunch ordering program (grades K-8) and/or Free/Reduced Price Lunch Application, please visit https://payschoolscentral.com/.

Below are some Key Dates as you prepare to join us in September.

• First Day of School for all students :  September 5, 2024
• Back To School night:  September 18, 2024
• Picture Day: September 20, 2024
• PTA Meeting: October 8, 2024

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an amazing year ahead.

The post WELCOME to the 2024/2025 School Year appeared first on Washington School.

As we transition into the third trimester, I look forward to continued growth for all of our students academically, socially, and emotionally. Our staff has been working hard to ensure that our students achieve grade level benchmarks and milestones. We have been focused on activities and messaging that encourage and build a Growth Mindset culture. As parents, you play an important role in all of these initiatives. We welcome our partnership and encourage your involvement in helping your children reach their full potential. Please read on for more information about school events and programs.

Scooterville

An all-time favorite activity for our students returns to Washington School on Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14. Mr. Melfa and a team of PTA volunteers will be transforming our multipurpose room into the town of Scooterville! Making their way on scooters over tar paper roads surrounded by numerous cardboard buildings – pizzeria, bakery, etc. – the students practice skills learned in a unit on pedestrian and vehicular safety. They can also participate in races at the Scooterville Raceway and play games such as Scooter Basketball and Scooter Soccer. Each class visits Scooterville on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Color Days – Character Education

During the month of March, the focus of our Character Education program is on the Pillar of Responsibility. On Friday, March 15 we will wear green to recognize this important Pillar (and to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!). Our Physical Education teacher, Mr. Melfa, will read a book on Responsibility to our students. He and the Character Education committee have planned activities for our students to work on both in school and at home. Our next Color Day will be on Wednesday, April 10. We will all wear blue to celebrate the Pillar of Trustworthiness.

PTA Happenings

Thank you to our Washington School PTA for coordinating the Scholastic Book Fair that was held March 5 through March 7. Our students enjoyed shopping for new books by day, and many families enjoyed shopping together in the evening on March 7. On Thursday, March 28, the PTA will provide a Spring Celebration for our students complete with an egg hunt and other activities.

Discovery Day

On Friday, April 26, we celebrate this longstanding Washington School tradition. During Discovery Day, we focus our entire day on one particular theme. Discovery Day themes in the past have included Space, Oceans, the Jungle, and Going Green, among others. This year, our theme will be “Move and Groove”. We are planning to have our day begin and end with assembly programs in the multipurpose room. In between, classes rotate through different learning stations in the library, art/music room, and the multipurpose room. We are looking forward to this great day of fun and learning. More details will be shared as the day gets closer. Discovery Day is provided through the generosity of the Washington School PTA.

The post Spring, 2024 appeared first on Washington School.

Giving Tree
Thanks to all of our Washington School families who contributed to our Giving Tree. The multitude of items collected are being donated to the Bergen County Animal Shelter.

Color Days – Character Education
During the month of January, we focus on the Pillar of Fairness. Our students will be practicing actions such as playing by the rules, taking turns and sharing, being open-minded to the ideas of others, etc. Our Color Day will be Wednesday, January 10. Students and staff are encouraged to wear Orange to commemorate the Pillar of Fairness.

During the month of February, the focus within our Character Education program is on the Pillar of Respect. Our Color Day will be on Wednesday, February 7. Students and staff are encouraged to wear Yellow which is the color of this important Pillar. Throughout the school year, we focus on five main areas of respect with our students: Others, Yourself, School, Diversity, and Environment.

Our Physical Education teacher, Mr. Melfa, will be reading an applicable book to our students during each of these Color Days. He and the Character Education committee have planned activities for our students to work on both in school and at home. The students can earn “swag tags” for their backpacks by completing these activities.

School Closures
Reminder that the Rutherford Public Schools and/or Washington School will be closed on the following days:
Monday, January 15 – Martin Luther King Day
Thursday, January 25 – One Session Day for (evening) Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, January 26 – School Closed Full Day for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, February 16 and Monday, February 19 – President’s Day Weekend

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Many of you scheduled your Parent-Teacher Conference at Back to School Night. If you still need to schedule an appointment, please contact your child’s teacher(s). Our goal is 100% family participation.

Valentine’s Day
Our students and staff are encouraged to wear Pink and/or Red on Wednesday, February 14 in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Students are permitted to bring small Valentine’s greeting cards for their classmates. Should they choose to do so, they must have one for each child in their classroom. Please refrain from sending any other items or gifts to school, including candy. These types of items will not be distributed and will be returned to home.

The post January/February 2024 appeared first on Washington School.

On behalf of our entire staff at Washington School, welcome for the 2023-2024 school year! I trust that you have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer with your respective families. While much information has been provided to you through our summer correspondences, there is still more to share. Please take the time to read on so that you will be well informed with regard to school policies and procedures. I look forward to working with you as partners in education.

Student Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct

Our Student/Parent Handbook is an important reference tool for parents and guardians. An updated version is now available on our Washington School website. Please visit our website at www.rutherfordschools.org. Click on Washington School and then on Washington Quick Links. The Rutherford Public Schools Code of Conduct for K-3 can also be accessed via Quick Links.

Important Dates

• September 7 First Day of School for all students
• September 20 Back to School Night
• September 21 School Pictures
• October 3 PTA meeting

Attendance and Tardiness

Regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to student learning and efficiency in our classrooms. Students in grades 1-3 should report to school between 8:20 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and enter via the “triple doors” (door #6) unless otherwise noted. Students arriving after 8:35 a.m. will be considered tardy. If you are in danger of being late, do not drop your child off and leave the area. Please do not put your child in this predicament. Students arriving after 8:35 a.m. must report to the main office and be signed in by a parent.

Notification of Absences

Parents/guardians are to notify the school secretary, prior to 8:30 a.m., if their child is going to be absent. This is an essential safety measure which allows us to readily account for each of our students. Upon returning to school, the student must deliver a note written by a parent or guardian explaining each day of absence as per Rutherford Board of Education policy. Medical excuses from doctors should be submitted immediately upon a child’s return to school. These medical notes become part of the student’s attendance record and are necessary should a student exceed the limit of allowable absences and an appeal need to be made by the parent(s). The school district will not honor retroactive medical excuses from doctors.

Student Dress Code

Students are expected to be dressed appropriately for a school setting. Frayed jeans and frayed or cutoff shorts are not permitted. Shorts should be long enough to provide adequate coverage. All students should wear shirts and tops that cover their shoulders and chests sufficiently. Tank tops and basketball style jerseys with open sleeves are not permitted. For safety, no open backed footwear (flip-flops, etc.) is permissible. For our complete dress code, please consult the handbook.

Forgotten Items

Parent/guardian visits to drop off forgotten items will be limited. Acceptable items for drop off are glasses, forgotten lunches, and sneakers. This should not occur, however, on a regular basis. Parents should not come to school to drop off non-essential items such as water bottles, pencils, and other items that the school already has.

Drop-Off Lane

The Washington Avenue side of the school has been established as a “drop-off only” zone. Wait to have your child exit your vehicle until yours is one of the first three cars at the front of the drop-off lane. Parents will not be permitted to exit their cars at all in this area. Prepare your child to exit your car from the passenger side only. Depart immediately once your child has safely exited your vehicle.

Parking and Student Safety

If you choose to walk your child to the door, park on the blocks near the school, but not on those adjacent to the property. There can be no sustained parking in front of the school on Wood Street or in the designated Washington Avenue drop-off lane. There is a crossing guard at the corner of Wood Street and Washington Avenue. All students should cross into the supervised, safe zone. Students and parents should not cross the street in front of, or through, the drop-off lane.

Double parking will not be permitted at any time, including during dismissal. Please allow yourself extra time to park on the blocks near the school and walk to the building. Do not block intersections by illegally parking near corners. With the safety and well-being of the children in mind, strict adherence to these policies will be enforced with assistance from the Rutherford Police Department.

Jeans Days

Periodically, you will notice that our staff members are wearing jeans. The purpose of our Jeans Days is to raise money for the Rutherford Education Foundation (REF) and the Rutherford Education Association (REA) scholarship program. Our teachers and support staff enthusiastically support the efforts of the REF and the REA.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Bill Mulcahy

The post September 2023 appeared first on Washington School.

The Box Challenge
Our third grade students recently competed in The Box Challenge. The students were divided into four groups within each homeroom. Given limited supplies, they were given the challenge of working as a team to agree on an idea and build their project in a limited time frame. In each class the four groups were assigned a different theme – make something useful, make something fun, make something beautiful, or build a place you can go. They were given 15 minutes to brainstorm and 50 minutes to build their project. The projects were then transported to the multipurpose room for viewing and voting. Winners were announced in each category. The Box Challenge is one example of an activity we are providing our students to foster a Growth Mindset culture at Washington School.

Color Days – Character Education
During the month of March, the focus of our Character Education program is on the Pillar of Responsibility. On Friday, March 17 we wore green to recognize this important Pillar (and to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!). Our Physical Education teacher, Mr. Bligh, read a book on Responsibility to our students. He and the Character Education committee have planned activities for our students to work on both in school and at home. Our next Color Day will be on Wednesday, April 5. We will all wear blue to celebrate the Pillar of Trustworthiness.

Scooterville
An all-time favorite activity for our students returns to Washington School on Wednesday,

March 29 and Thursday, March 30. Mr. Bligh and a team of PTA volunteers will be transforming our multipurpose room into the town of Scooterville! Making their way on scooters over tar paper roads surrounded by numerous cardboard buildings – pizzeria, bakery, etc. – the students practice skills learned in a unit on pedestrian and vehicular safety. They can also participate in races at the Scooterville Raceway and play games such as Scooter Basketball and Scooter Soccer. Each class visits Scooterville on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Discovery Day
On Friday, May 5, we celebrate this longstanding Washington School tradition. During Discovery Day, we focus our entire day on one particular theme. Discovery Day themes in the past have included Space, Oceans, the Jungle, and Going Green, among others. This year, our theme will be Science. We are planning to have our day begin and end with assembly programs in the multipurpose room. In between, classes rotate through different learning stations in the library, art/music room, and the multipurpose room. We are looking forward to this great day of fun and learning. More details will be shared as the day gets closer.

Discovery Day is provided through the generosity of the Washington School PTA.

PTA Happenings
Thank you to our Washington School PTA for coordinating the Scholastic Book Fair that was held February 28 through March 2. Our students enjoyed shopping for new books by day, and many families enjoyed shopping together in the evening on March 2.

On Thursday, April 6, the PTA will provide a Spring Celebration for our students complete with an egg hunt and other activities.

The PTA will be hosting a Friday Fun Night/Spring Fling “Luau” on April 21.

The post Spring 2023 appeared first on Washington School.