** Our SCA Father-Daughter Dance has been postponed to Friday, February 9th, at 6:00 pm**
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Every Friday, our first-graders get to perform for their classmates at “Fun Friday”. We have seen many talented students! Students sing, play the piano, tell jokes, demonstrate their karate skills, perform cheers, Irish dance, play the harmonica, read a story, tell a story, perform magic tricks and read poems they wrote…and this is just a short list of talents! Every week new students demonstrate a skill that makes them special. Below are some pictures of our students performing.
Grace and Katie demonstrate their karate skills
Caileigh the Irish Dancer
Mcees Layla and Drew Introduce Student Performers
Madelyn plays the piano
Tell Applebee’s Restaurant why your teacher is the best! Applebee’s Restaurant has recently announced its first “Above and “BEE“yond Teacher Essay Contest” which will recognize top teachers – as nominated by their students, awarding selected teachers with a sponsorship check of $500.00 and end-of-year class party, courtesy of Applebee’s. To nominate a Cedar Mountain teacher, students must submit their essay in person to the Newton Applebee’s Restaurant explaining why their teacher deserves to be an Applebee’s Teacher of the Year. All students who enter an essay will receive a free ice cream certificate. This contest runs through March 31, 2018. Winners will be announced on April 9, 2018.
In preparation to hear a bedtime story by author Jancee Dunn, Cedar Mountain students wore their pajamas to school on January 19th! Jancee Dunn came to talk to kindergarten and first-grade students about the inspiration for her first children’s book I’m Afraid Your Teddy Has Been Naughty Today (illustrated by Scott Nash- illustrator of the Flat Stanley series). Jancee Dunn has written several adult fiction and non-fiction books, but became interested in writing a children’s book when her young daughter spoke about all of her stuffed animals and the imaginary life they led…especially when everyone left the home. Jancee Dunn took her daughter’s imaginative thoughts and wrote about one of her daughter’s favorite stuffed animals, her teddy bear. Jancee Dunn asked the Cedar Mountain kindergarten and first-graders if they ever wondered what stuffed animals do while their companion humans are at school. She asked, “What if a teddy bear invited all his stuffed animal friends over?”. After teaching students a short history lesson of Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th president of the United States, and the origin of the first teddy bear, Jancee Dunn read her whimsical tale of teddy bear freedom and fun to the students. Students were delighted as they listened to the teddy bear hold a wild party complete with jumping (a little too hard) on the bed, coloring on the walls, dressing up in Mom’s clothes, having a bubble-bath sliding contest in the hall, and sledding down a “cushion mountain” on a cookie tray all with his other stuffed animal friends. To conclude her presentation to the Cedar Mountain students, Jancee Dunn shared Scott Nash’s early sketches of the pictures in the storybook and had students compare the stages of sketches to the final pictures in the book. Jancee Dunn had students vote on other teddy bear stories she is considering writing such as the teddy bear going to a zoo, going to a mall, and going to the principal’s office. Jancee Dunn personally signed each book purchased by the students. We thank Mr. Joseph and Sparta Books for organizing this special event for our students.
Rusty, the Cedar Mountain Seeing Eye Dog In Training, is growing so fast…Rusty is learning how to sit and be patient, a very important skill for a Seeing Eye Dog! Rusty enjoys greeting students when they arrive and leave for the day and walking through our hallways. Rusty even accompanies Mrs. Keane, his handler, during some of her class lessons.
Rusty the Seeing Eye Dog
Cedar Mountain’s January First-Grade Students of the Month
January First-Grade Students of the Month
Lauren
Meet: Lauren Nickname: LJ
Favorite:
Sport: Swimming Food: Lobster
Book: There was an Old Lady
TV Show: “Lego Girls” School Subject: Art
Name of Sister: Meghan
Lauren’s teacher should know that she really likes coming to school!
When Lauren is not in school, she likes to do arts and crafts and play with her Legos.
Lauren is really good at reading, swimming and playing soccer.
When Lauren grows up, she wants to be an art teacher.
Jayden
Meet: Jayden Nickname: Scotty
Favorite:
Sport: Baseball Food: Pancakes
Book: Mud Pies
TV Show: “Team Umizoomi” School Subject: Reading
Name of Brothers and Sisters: Adriana, Brooklyn, and Bentley
Jayden’s teacher should know that he likes Legos and he’s been waiting for this award his whole life!
When Jayden is not in school, he likes to play the Wii.
Jayden is really good at drawing.
When Jayden grows up, he wants to be a writer.
Caroline
Meet: Caroline Nickname: Firecracker
Favorite:
Sport: Swimming Food: Pancakes
Singer: Meghan Trainor Book: Dr. Seuss books
TV Show: “Just Add Magic” School Subject: Math
Name of Sister: Jessica
Caroline’s teacher should know that she is learning to play her Coco guitar (inspired by the movie “Coco”).
When Caroline is not in school, she likes to bake cookies.
Caroline is really good at dancing and drawing.
When Caroline grows up, she wants to be a teacher.
Jason
Meet: Jason Nickname: JJ
Favorite:
Sport: Basketball Food: Chicken nuggets
Book: Curious George
TV Show: “Dude Perfect” School Subject: Math
Name of Brothers: Christian (his twin) and Brian
Jason’s teacher should know that he likes Mrs. Hyche’s hairstyle!
When Jason is not in school, he likes to play with his baby brother, Brian.
Jason is really good at working in his math journal.
When Jason grows up, he wants to be a math teacher.
Kaitlyn
Meet: Kaitlyn Nickname: KK
Favorite:
Sport: Cheerleading Food: Mozzarella sticks
Singer: Taylor Swift Book: Sleeping Beauty
TV Show: “Stuck in the Middle” School Subject: Math
Name of Brother and Sister: Liam and Kelly
Kaitlyn’s teacher should know that she loves puppies because they are cute!
When Kaitlyn is not in school, she likes to go to Disney World.
Kaitlyn is really good at doing cartwheels.
When Kaitlyn grows up, she wants to be a marine biologist.
Taylor
Meet: Taylor Nickname: Tay
Favorite:
Sport: Soccer Food: Buffalo wings
Singer: Imagine Dragons Book: Meet Bubble Kitty
TV Show: “Teen Titans” School Subject: Music
Name of Sister: Ella
Taylor’s teacher should know that she sings and helps her mommy and daddy volunteer at the firehouse.
When Taylor is not in school, she likes to read and have dance parties.
Taylor is really good at listening and helping with her sister.
When Taylor grows up, she wants to be a teacher or a doctor.
Ella
Meet: Elizabeth Nickname: Ella
Favorite:
Sport: Skiing Food: Peanut Butter and Jelly
Singer: Justin Timberlake Book: Trolls
TV Show: “Descendants” School Subject: Math
Name of Sister: Eva
Ella’s teacher should know that she writes well.
When Ella is not in school, she likes to play with her sister, Eva.
Ella is really good at skiing.
When Ella grows up, she wants to be a teacher and be kind.
Jake
Meet: Jake Nickname: JW
Favorite:
Sport: Basketball Food: Olives
Singer: Woody Guthrie Book: Pokémon
TV Show: “Ninjago” School Subject: Math
Name of Sisters: Haley and Jayna
Jake’s teacher should know that he wants to be in a robotics club and start one if we don’t have one in his school!
When Jake is not in school, he likes to play with his hamster, build Legos, play video games, and ride his four-wheeler.
Jake is really good at building different kinds of Legos and riding his four-wheeler.
When Jake grows up, he wants to be a video game inventor.
Julia
Meet: Julia Nickname: Jewels
Favorite:
Sport: Cheerleading Food: Ice cream
Singer: Jo Jo Siwa Book: Any kind of puppy books
TV Show: “Lip Sync Battle Shorties” School Subject: Centers
Name of Brother and Sisters: Nathaniel, Chailyn, and Samantha
Julia’s teacher should know that she has a dog named Kmera.
When Julia is not in school, she likes to watch TV.
Julia is really good at helping her mommy at home.
When Julia grows up, she wants to be a horseback rider.
Aleeya
Some Upcoming Events…
SCA Snowflake Ball- Father/Daughter Dance: Friday, February 2nd, at 6:00 pm, in the gym…** Because of the snow day on Friday, February 2nd, our dance will be held on Friday, February 9th, at 6:00 pm**
SCA Meeting: Monday, February 5, 2018, at 9:30. At February’s meeting, we will have two guest teachers, Mrs. Lois Battista (grade one) and Ms. Cyndi Thomas (kindergarten), who will be teaching a guided reading group. You will be able to observe first-hand what this special instruction looks like in your child’s classroom. This will be a nice follow up to Mr. Joseph’s presentation earlier this month on how to select books for your child at home. Please note: the SCA is looking for a treasurer for the remainder of the school year. If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact the main office. You will receive training for this position.
Jump Rope for Heart Program: Week of February 5-9th: Jump Rope for Heart is a fundraising and physical activity program that is through the American Heart Association. It teaches children to keep fit and healthy, all while having fun and raising funds for heart disease research and education. This program allows students to raise money through their online account that can be set up through Jump Rope for Heart or accept cash and/or check donations. In return, students will receive thank you gifts from the American Heart Association. Some of the gifts include key chains, t-shirts, jump ropes and so much more! Parents can also help do their part by spreading the word about the fundraising program to family and friends or even co-workers to make donations. During Jump Rope for Heart week, students will be participating in different jump rope activities during physical education class to keep their heart healthy all while having fun! Students also have an opportunity to win prizes through a raffle during physical education class the week of Jump Rope for Heart. As a school community, we are going to try to stay educated about our heart health and promote physical activity each and every day! We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with this week-long program; if you can volunteer for any time during the week of February 5th-9th, please call the main office at: 973-764-2890.
Zufall Dental Program– Wednesday, February 7th this program is only for students who have registered their child to receive services from a dentist and hygienist. On this day, all students will be treated to a dental assembly program by Dr. Latiener’s office. We thank Mrs. Forrest, School Nurse, for organizing these two events for our school.
SCA Mr. Cupcake Fundraiser due: Friday, February 9th- pick up Tuesday, February 13th, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the cafeteria.
VTHS Key Club Winter Wonderland: Saturday, February 10th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, in the gym. This winter carnival is open to all preschool through third-grade students. There will be games, crafts, and other activities for your child. It’s a great indoor activity for your family!
School Spirit Day: Thursday, February 15th- Remember to wear blue and gold!
School Closed on Monday, February 19, 2018, in observance of President’s Day
100th Day of the Year- is on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Thank you for your generous donations for the Connect for Community program. We have collected a variety of hygiene items that cost approximately $1.00. There is still time to donate.
SCA Movie Night: Friday, March 2, 2018, at 6:00 pm- come see Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!
As a reminder, Check out the Vernon School District App…add it to your device to have VTSD information at your fingertips. The app will have you stay connected to all schools in our district. You will get notification of important school and district events, including delayed openings, early dismissals, and emergency school closing right on your phone.
It is an honor to have a parent partnership with you regarding your child’s education….
Rosemary Gebhardt