James Monroe School
45 Wilus Way
Iselin, NJ 08830
(732) 452-2970
www.edison.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Lynda Zapoticzny
Principal
Edison Board of Education
312 Pierson Ave., Edison, NJ 08837 (732) 452-4900
Mission Statement
The mission of the Public Schools of Edison Township is to ensure that all students achieve at the highest level of academic success. The district, in partnership with the community, will provide a safe, supportive learning environment, which promotes self-worth and encourages productive contributions to a diverse and constantly evolving global society.
Frank Heelan – President
Beth Moroney – Vice President
Deborah A. Anes Lori A. Bonderowitz
Ralph Errico Veena Iyer
Shivi Prasad-Madhukar Jerry Shi
Theresa E. Ward
Central Administration
Dr. Richard O’Malley / Superintendent / 732-452-4963Daniel P. Michaud / Business Administrator
Board Secretary / 732-452-4965
Margaret DeLuca / Chief Academic Officer C&I, Grades 6-12 / 732-452-4951
Tara Beams / Assistant Superintendent of C&I, Pre-K-5 / 732-452-4951
Dena Feldman / Elementary Supervisor / 732-452-4932
Christopher Conklin / Assistant Superintendent, Special Services / 732-452-4948
Erin Madara / Supervisor of Special Education / 732-452-4924
Ralph Barca / Director of Technology / 732-452-4949
Ken Stromsland / Supervisor of Facilities / 732-452-4550
Table of Contents
School Closing/1:30 Dismissals / 4
Tentative Calendar of Events / 5
School Schedule / 7
Marking Period Schedule / 7
Parent Teacher Conferences / 7
State Testing Dates / 7
School Procedures / 8
Arrival/Line Up/ Delayed Opening Procedures / 9
Lunch/Recess Supervision / 10
Bus Dismissal Supervision / 11
Attendance Policy/Homework Requests / 11
1:30 Dismissal Days / 11
Black Board/Parent Portal / 12
Parent Custody Issues / 12
A.B.C. After-Before School Child Care/Visitors/Parking / 13
School Rules/Indoor Rules / 14
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying / 16
Dress Code / 16
Phone System/Lunch / 17
Lunch / 17
Newsletter/Conferences/Lost & Found/Electronic Devices / 18
Annual Assessments / 19
Grading / 19
Staff List / 21
Map / 23
Message From The School Nurse / 26
Physical Education Regulations / 26
Library / 27
Curriculum & Instruction / 27
Special Programs / 27
Reading Specialist / 27
Counseling / 27
Intervention & Referral Service Committee (I&RS) / 28
Response to Intervention / 28
The Child Study Team / 29
What is an IEP / 29
Gifted and Talented / 30
School Activities / 30
Field Trips/Chaperones / 34
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) / 36
PTO Special Programs & Activities / 37
BOE Policies / 38
Principal’s Message
Welcome to the start of the 2016-17 school year at James Monroe. Whether you are returning or brand new to this school community, you will be part of quite an exciting journey. This will be our third and final start at 45 Wilus Way. As we get ready to transition back to 7 Sharp Rd., our theme for the year is appropriately, “There is no place like home.”
Last year we welcomed the Self-Contained Autistic K-2 classrooms to the building. After a very successful year, we are pleased to announce the opening of a 3-5 section, and with it introduce teacher Ms. Kerri Colletto, and paraprofessional Ms. Jackie Morrell. Two other additions to this specialized program that happened last year were Mrs. Dawn Chessere, and Mrs. Uzma Athir.
Other staffing changes include the addition of Mr. Kyle Barry to our 1st grade team, Mrs. Therese Blair as Math Specialist, Ms. Elissa Both in the LDTC role, and Mrs. Mary Walworth in Speech. Having met with all of these professionals, I am excited about the energy they will bring to our programs.
Our school motto of a “Whole New World” was really tested last year as we welcomed 9 babies to our extended family. The last of these, both girls, were born on the same weekend, with Mrs. Reif giving birth to Alexandra Nicole on August 13th, and our Supervisor, Mrs. Feldman delivered Weiland Sunshine on the 14th. This year, so far, we are not that fertile, but congratulate Mrs. Rokosz (now Tortorello) and Miss Mateicka (now Steinhart) on their June weddings.
Our Back-to-School Night will take place on Tuesday, September 20th. At that time, you will be presented with a much more comprehensive picture of what a day in the life of a James Monroe student looks like, and how that may or may not change once we transition back to the new building at 7 Sharp Road after the Christmas break. Since the play was unveiled last Halloween (The Wizard of Oz), the only surprise to share is that we will perform it on Friday, April 7th, right before the Easter/Passover break.
The first traditional community event will be our 20th Harvest Eve Celebration, which will take place on Friday, October 14th from 5-8PM at Edison High School. Since many volunteers are needed to make this evening a success, please be on the lookout for flyers from our PTO, led by its coordinator, Sandie Takach. Speaking of the PTO, we are in desperate need of volunteers to reorganize this worthwhile service organization. At the present time, we have no President, and funds are so low that we may not be able to support class trips. Last year, the revenue from the play helped subsidize many events, but with that being put off until the Spring, the school account is empty.
All of the district forms are available online through the Parent Portal. Make sure to read through and sign off on this information. A copy of our school handbook will be available on our homepage on the district website. This contains all of the procedures/program descriptions, as well as our calendar for the year. You can access it at http://www.edison.k12.nj.us, as well as watch the live camera feed of the daily progress at 7 Sharp Rd.
I hope to see all of you on the 20th!
Sincerely,
Lynda Zapoticzny
2016-2017 School Calendar
1:30 Dismissals/school closings
Tuesday / September / 6 / First Day of SchoolMonday / October / 3 / Schools Closed - Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday / October / 4 / Schools Closed - Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday / October / 12 / Schools Closed – Yom Kippur
Tuesday / November / 1 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences *
Thursday / November / 3 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences **
Tuesday / November / 8 / Schools Closed – Professional Development Day
Thursday / November / 10 / Schools Closed
Friday / November / 11 / Schools Closed
Tuesday / November / 15 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences*
Wednesday / November / 23 / 1:30 Dismissal
Thursday / November / 24 / Schools Closed - Thanksgiving Recess
Friday / November / 25 / Schools Closed – Thanksgiving Recess
Friday / December / 23 / 1:30 Dismissal
Monday / December / 26 / Schools Closed through January 2
Tuesday / January / 3 / School Reopens
Monday / January / 16 / Schools Closed – Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Monday / February / 20 / Schools Closed – President’s Day
Thursday / March / 2 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences*
Tuesday / March / 7 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences**
Tuesday / March / 14 / 1:30 Dismissal – Parent/Teacher Conferences*
Monday / April / 10 / Schools Closed – Easter Recess
Tuesday / April / 18 / Schools Reopen
Monday / May / 29 / Schools Closed – Memorial Day
Tuesday / June / 20 / 1:30 Dismissal
Wednesday / June / 21 / 1:30 Dismissal – Last Day of School
* Parent Teacher Night Conferences
** Parent Teacher Day Conferences
Tentative Calendar of Events
6 / First Day of School
20 / Back to School Night 7 PM
27 / PTO Informational Mtg. 7 PM
October / 3-4 / Schools Closed – Rosh Hashanah
7 / 4th Gr. Field Trip – Sandy Hook
10 / Fire Fighter Phil Gr. 1-3 9:30 AM
12 / Schools Closed – Yom Kippur
14 / Harvest Eve at EHS 5:00-8:00 PM
KDG. Pumpkin Patch TBD
26 / Class Pictures
31 / Halloween Parade 9:15 AM
Halloween Parties 2:15-3:15 PM
November / 1 / 1:30 Dismissal – 6:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
3 / 1:30 Dismissal – 2:00-4:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
10-11 / No School Fall Recess
15 / 1:30 Dismissal – 6:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
18 / End of MP 1
23 / 1:30 Dismissal
Gr. 3 Thanksgiving Feast
24-25 / Thanksgiving Break – No School
29-30 / Camp Bernie Trip 1
30-Dec 1 / Camp Bernie Trip 2
December / 5-9 / Holiday Boutique
6 / Report Cards available on line Grades 2-5
Winter Concert 7:00 PM at James Monroe TBD
23 / Class Parties K-2:12-1; 3-5: 12:30-1:15
1:30 Dismissal
26 - Jan. 2 / Winter Recess – No School
January / 16 / Schools Closed - MLK Birthday
February / 3 / End of MP 2
17 / Report Cards available on line K-5
20 / School Closed – President’s Day
March / 2 / 1:30 Dismissal – 2:00-4:00 Parent /Teacher Conferences
3 / Read Across America
7 / 1:30 Dismissal – 6:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
14 / 1:30 Dismissal – 6:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
April / 5 / Play Practice - full cast at EHS 5-7
7 / School Play - EHS 6:30/8:00
End of MP 3
10-17 / Schools Closed – Easter/Passover Recess
28 / Report Cards available on line; Grades 1-5
May / 1-5 / Teacher Appreciation Week
5 / Gr. 1 Dinosaurs Rock
8-19 / PARCC Testing: Grades 3-5
Fifth Grade Dance
Spring Concert 7 PM at James Monroe School
Grade 5 Philadelphia Trip
3rd Grade Trip to Planetarium
Gr. 2 Field Trip – Edison Tower
Field Day
Field Day (Rain Date)
29 / Schools Closed – Memorial Day
31 / NJASK Testing: Grade 4 Science
June / 5th Grade Sports Day
16 / Awards Assembly – AM
16 / End of Year Parties – 2:15-3:15 PM
20 / 1:30 Dismissal
Gr. 5 Celebration – 10 AM at James Monroe
21 / Last Day of School 1:30 Dismissal, Report Cards available on line K-5
Slide Show 12:30 PM
BOE Mtgs. 7:00PM – 9/26 WWMS, 10/24 Lind, 11/21 Wash, 12/19 JMI
PTO School Store – 9/28, 10/26, 11/30, 12/21, 1/25, 2/22, 3/29, 4/26, 5/24
PTO Silly Days – 9/14, 10/6, 11/2, 12/7, 1/11, 2/1, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3, 6/7
School Schedule
Bus pick-up is approximately 30 minutes before school begins. Specific time varies with the particular stop on each route.
Regular Hours Gr. 1-5 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Regular Hours Gr. K 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM AM Session
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM PM Session
Delayed Openings Gr. 1-5 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Delayed Openings Gr. K 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM AM Session
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM PM Session
1:30 Dismissal Gr. 1-5 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
1:30 Dismissal Gr. K 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM AM Session
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM PM Session
Marking Period – Report Card Schedule
Marking Periods
No. 1 – September 6, 2016 – November 18, 2016
No. 2 – November 21, 2016 – February 3, 2017
No. 3 – February 6, 2017 – April 7, 2017
No. 4 – April 18, 2017 – June 21, 2017
Report Cards Available On-Line
Grades 2-5 December 6, 2016
Grades K-5 February 17, 2017
Grades 1-5 April 28, 2017
Grades K-5 June 21, 2017 Be sure to print out the final report card before June 30th. As of July 1st the Parent Portal closes down for the summer.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 – Night Conferences
Thursday, November 3, 2016 – Day Conferences
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – Night Conferences
Thursday, March 2, 2017– Day Conferences
Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Night Conferences
Tuesday, March 14, 2017 – Night Conferences
VERY IMPORTANT DATES ABOUT NEW STATE ASSESSMENTS
39
School Procedures and supervision plan
READ CAREFULLY
Pages 9 through 12 contain vital informAtion about arrival and dismissal procedures, as well as how your child is supervised throughout the day.
PARENT NOTIFICATION
By April, the Township of Edison Board of Education adopts the school calendar for the next school year and distributes it to each student to bring home. This calendar clearly states scheduled school closings and early dismissals for the next school year.
The Township of Edison Public Schools will post the school year calendar on the district’s Website: http://www.edison.k12.nj.us. In addition, each residential household receives a district/township calendar of events in late August. These calendars clearly state scheduled school closings and early dismissals.
Schools shall distribute information pertaining to student safety, including arrival and dismissal procedures to each student to bring home in the fall of every school year. High schools shall obtain and verify with parents/guardians permission for students to be on an early release schedule.
Schools will distribute or post on the district website a school calendar of scheduled school closings and early dismissals. In addition to the monthly calendar, schools will utilize Black Board, the automated telephone relay system to send notices for scheduled half days and school closings.
The Township of Edison Public Schools has daily access to ESN network, Channel 118 on the local cable station. All emergency information including but not limited to early dismissal, delayed openings, and school closings is posted on Channel 118.
In the case of an emergency early dismissal or closing, the Black Board telephone relay system will be used to contact the parents/guardians of every student to inform them of the need for an emergency early dismissal or school closing and to make sure students will be supervised at the time of the dismissal.