Dear Cedar Mountain Parents and Guardians:
In this mid-November Cedar Mountain blog post, I focus on how special our students are and how grateful we are to be in school learning from our wonderful teachers every day. You will see how kindergarten teacher Mrs. Stoeckel teaches her students about Veteran’s Day with some hands-on fun with our Retired Police Officer, Officer Ed. We have first graders with some really great talent who love to read as well as do good deeds for our community…Of course, check out November’s First Grade Students of the Month. And finally…congratulations also to our Head Coordination Custodian, Mrs. Diane Joyce, for being selected as the Vernon Township Education Association Educational Support Professional of the Year!
Veteran’s Day: Our students learned the importance of this national holiday and all the work that our Veterans do for our country to keep us free and safe. Mrs. Stoeckel’s class wished Happy Birthday to the Marines and they learned about “Basic Training” from our very own Officer Ed leading students in doing push-ups with the class.
Veteran’s Day Coloring Contest Winners: Congratulations to the first-grade students listed below for winning this year’s Vernon VFW Coloring Contest. Students received their picture framed along with a gift certificate from Dairy Swirl. The students were presented their awards by Mrs. Auberger from the Vernon VFW.
Top Row: L to R:
Delaney from Mrs. Start’s class
Nicholas from Miss Corbutt’s class
Tatiana Hannouche from Mrs. Yarosz’s
Bottom Row: L to R:
Brayden Handal from Mrs. Yarosz’s
Austin Vazquez from Mrs. Hartman’s
Preston Brock from Mrs. Hartman and Mrs. Ollert’s class
Pet Passion Project: In this next edition of the CM Vlog, Hunter tells us all about being a goat farmer and his love of animals. Hunter is currently collecting cat and dog food as well as toys for the Vernon Animal Shelter. Check out this inspiring interview with Hunter.
Reading to Classmates: Student Clayton loves to read and share books with his classmates. Below, you will hear Clayton reading part of a story to his peers.
Congratulations to our First Grade Students of the Month of November!
Below are pictures of this month’s Students of the Month, especially hand-selected by their teacher based on the qualities they exhibit such as…
Acts of kindness towards others
Helping others
Using good manners and being polite
Cleaning up after ourselves
Greeting others and asking about their day
Perseverance on difficult tasks
Talking about our feelings
Using classroom and school materials appropriately
Including others in activities and play
Our students enjoyed a special “private luncheon” together and they were honored in a Students of the Month Medals Ceremony.
Teacher of the Year Program
You are invited to nominate a teacher for the annual NJ Department of Education Governor’s Teacher of the Year and Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year. Please use this form to nominate a teacher at Cedar Mountain. Our building selection will be made in early December. There are so many outstanding professionals in Cedar Mountain for you to consider! Last year’s recipients were Mrs. Gwen Bicskei, kindergarten special education teacher, and Mrs. Kim Gibson, Speech/Language Specialist.
Each candidate should:
- Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;
- Serves as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator in a public or charter school;
- Expresses themselves in an engaging and articulate way;
- Plays an active role in the community as well as the school;
- Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom;
- Has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues
Congratulations to Mrs. Diane Joyce for being selected as the Vernon Township Education Association Educational Support Professional of the Year! Mrs. Joyce is the Coordinating “Head” Custodian of Cedar Mountain Primary School, fulfilling this position in an exemplary manner. Mrs. Joyce truly treats Cedar Mountain Primary School as her second home. Mrs. Joyce is a positive, approachable individual; she has a commendable rapport with all faculty, staff, and most importantly, the children of Cedar Mountain. Mrs. Joyce has a special way with the kindergarteners and first graders of Cedar Mountain; the children of the building just love Mrs. Joyce and look up to her; all students know her name and know they can go to her as a trusted adult in the building. Good luck Mrs. Joyce as you go on to the Sussex County level for County ESP!
Mrs. Joyce VTEA ESP of the Year
Mind Traveler’s Program: Annually our Board of Education sponsors the Mind Traveler’s reading program. Students are encouraged to read and record the books they have read. Two students from each grade level, preschool through fifth grade will be selected for their reading effort. Students selected will be honored at the January Board of Education meeting. Here is the form if you need another one to record books that have been read.
Project Self-Sufficiency Toy Drive is underway. If you would like your child to donate a new unopened toy, please do so by early December. The toys that are donated will go to less fortunate families in Sussex County. Students that have made donations are very proud of the gifts they personally selected. Monday and Tuesday, November 22-23 are “Toysgiving Days” at Cedar Mountain! Here is the informational flyer.
The Giving Tree Program-Annually all of our school’s SCAs sponsor the Giving Tree Program where gift cards are given to VTSD families in need. We will be holding a Spirit Day on Wednesday, November 24 across the district in order to raise funds for this cause. All students are requested to donate $1.00 for this program. Thank you for your generosity.
Upcoming SCA Events:
- Cookie/Coffee Fundraiser Pick-Up – Tuesday and Wednesday, November 16th-17th after school
- Gertrude Hawk Fundraiser Pick- Up – Friday, November 19th after school
- Pochuck Farm Pie Fundraiser Pick up at Pochuck Farm on Thursday and Friday, November 18th & 19th between 6 am & 5:30 pm
- Giving Tree Spirit Wear Day – $1 Donation – Wednesday, November 24th
- Holiday Shop – Monday, December 6th through Wednesday, December 8th kids will shop for family members and everything is a dollar. A flyer will be sent home at the end of November.
- Cookies with Santa – Friday, December 10th (snow date, Friday, December 17th) A flyer will be sent home shortly
A few more reminders…
November 24: Early Dismissal 1:20
November 25-26: School CLOSED for the Thanksgiving holiday
December 3: District-Wide Tech Awareness Day
December 7: Trimester One Ends
December 17: Trimester One Report Cards will be available for viewing in Genesis (report cards are not printed; however, you can print out the report card for your child).
December 17: Field trip to Glen Meadow Middle School to see the Winter Concert- you will be receiving a permission slip in the coming
Updated Parent/Guardian Bus Handbook– Please refer to THIS LINK to read our updated 2021-2022 Bus Handbook.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving…
Sincerely,
Rosemary Gebhardt
Principal