Dear Cedar Mountain Families:
We are excited to announce that on Monday, April 1, we are introducing our first One School, One Book program! We will all be reading We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio. The story of a young boy who is just like everyone else, with one special difference, he doesn’t look like everyone else. This beautiful story reminds us all that we are all special and unique, and to remember to look for those differences in each other. Students will spend the beginning of April reading and discussing the book in class, as well as participating in classroom and school-wide activities. I encourage parents to join us as a family by engaging with the book and our FlipGrid activities from home. You can see how to do that below. If you need help with this, call Cedar Mountain at 973-764-2890. We look forward to hearing all about the Wonders in your world! At our Monday, April 1st SCA meeting, I will be explaining how to use the FlipGrid and how families can do many activities at home with We’re All Wonders. The directions are below, just click the play button.
Mrs. Barone’s students wrote about a “Wonder” in their lives. Here is a picture of some of her students holding their work of art
Mrs. Barone’s Students
Brynn proudly stands next to her picture of Auggie in We’re All Wonders
Kindergarteners wrote what made them a”Wonder” and drew a self-portrait during Mr. Maurice’s School Counseling lesson.
When students do things that exemplify kindness, looking with wonder, or being kind to others, they can wear the crown…here are some “Wonders” wearing their class crown…
Spotlight on Miss Chmielowiec’s Class: Miss Chmielowiec’s students completed a habitat research project! The students chose which habitat they would like to learn more about! Students chose from the rainforest, arctic, ocean, and the desert. In Reading Workshop students have been learning so much about non-fiction books and how to use them that they were ready to put their new skills to work! Our librarian, Miss Winzer, assisted students to find nonfiction books on a habitat and students worked in small groups to practice and apply all the skills they have learned in Reading Workshop. For example, students practiced using a glossary to figure out which page to read, they read the heading to know what information that page will teach us, and students looked at real pictures from the habitat they studied. The students researched the type of animals that live in the habitat, they described what their habitat looks like, and found three new and interesting facts. Once their research was complete, each group presented their new knowledge to the class. Students worked very hard on their first research projects!
SCA Pounds of Pennies: The SCA will be holding a penny collection friendly competition at Cedar Mountain from April 8th to April 18th. The class that collects the most pennies will be treated to a pizza party. In addition, the winning class will select the t-shirt design for this year’s Fun Day! The pennies collected will go directly to activities held at Cedar Mountain for our stude
nts. Thank you for your generosity!
SCA Elections for 2019-2020– The CMPS and RHPS SCAs are looking for parent volunteers to serve in an officer position. All seats are available for president, vice president, treasurer, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary. Please see this link for the flier that was sent home.
Join us for the Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 pm, Public Board of Education meeting, held at Vernon Township High School, where our district will be publicly congratulating and honoring all district NJ Governor’s Teachers of the Year, NJ Governor’s Educational Support Professionals of the Year. Please join us as we once again congratulate Mrs. Connie Horn as Cedar Mountain’s NJ Governor’s Teacher of the Year, and Ms. Laurie Nelson, Cedar Mountain’s NJ Governor’s Educational Support Professional of the Year!
First-Grade Poetry Out Loud: As part of our poetry unit, students are learning how to read and recite poetry. On Tuesday, April 16, we will be holding a first-grade poetry reading. Your first-grade child will be coming home with a poem to practice reading. Your child is not required to memorize the poem, only learn how to read the poem. Thank you for supporting this academic activity. Throughout April our first-graders will be reading various poems over the loudspeaker for all students to enjoy.
April is Autism Awareness Month: Thank you to Mrs. Patalita, Ms. Kusma, Mrs. Polhemus, and Mr. Maurice for organizing various events for our school during the week of April 15, 2019, where we will be “Celebrating the “Wonders” in all of us” to recognize Autism Awareness Month, tying into our One School One Book program with We’re All Wonders. Students will be reading books and doing activities in the classroom surrounding this topic. Students will be doing simple things like:
Compliment someone that you don’t normally talk to at school
During outdoor or indoor recess, invite someone to play that you don’t normally play with
Give a high-five to someone new
Help a friend clean up his or her materials
Monday, April 15, 2019, will be “Wear Blue for Bucks” for Autism awareness. Students, faculty, and staff will be requested to wear royal blue and donate $1.00. Money donated will be presented to SCARC for its programs that support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Traveling Lantern Company will be performing “Dorothy and the Land of Oz” on Thursday, April 18. We are very excited to have a professional acting troupe come to our school to be entertained! Traveling Lantern has been educating and entertaining children nationwide since 1985. Their mission is to bring great stories to children, to draw them into an active theater experience, to excite children’s minds and to tickle their imaginations. We thank the SCA for bringing this program to our school.
School Spirit Day is Thursday, April 18- Wear Blue and Gold!
Our next Buy-One-Get-One-Free Book Fair will be held in the library on Thursday, May 2 and Friday,3 from 4:00-6:00 pm, in the gym. Thank you for supporting all of the book fairs we hold at Cedar Mountain!
Upcoming Events:
- Father/Daughter Dance- Friday, April 5, at 6:30 pm
- Mad Science Assembly- Tuesday, April 8
- Spring Field Trip II- Thursday, April 11, to see a preview of “The Sound of Music” at Glen Meadow Middle School; thank you for returning your child’s permission slip
- School Closed: Friday, April 19 through Friday, April 26, school resumes on Monday, April 29, 2019- Enjoy the week with your children!
- SCA Mother’s and Father’s Day Shoppe-April 29-May 1
- PGA Golf Pro from Black Bear Golf Course-coming the week of April 29 and May 6 in all gym classes
- Optional Spring Pictures: Thursday, May 2
- Family Literacy Night: Wednesday, May 15, at 6:00 pm, dinner will be served!Here’s a flier for additional information.
- Daniel Kirk Author Visit: Friday, May 17
Thank you for your support and continued dedication to the education of your child; you are your child’s first and best teacher. We appreciate your partnership with us at Cedar Mountain School developing a strong foundation for years to come!
Rosemary Gebhardt