A MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Monroe Public Schools in collaboration with the members of the community shall ensure that all children

receive an exemplary education by well-trained committed staff in a safe and orderly environment.

PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER December 2017

Dear Parents,

This school year is flying by! All of our students have been working very hard in their classrooms! Our

teachers and staff have been working to help each child grow, and continue to seek out opportunities to

engage the kids in authentic learning experiences. Students are working to become improved readers, and

are being challenged in mathematics to master grade-level appropriate content and develop skills for

confronting word problems. In social studies, students in their respective grades are learning about

exploration of the Americas, colonial life, and government. In science, teachers are implementing

inquiry-based STEM/STEAM projects and learning activities.

Our Maker Space is now set up and students have begun to visit! Ms. Lin, our Media Specialist, has

created a dynamic learning space in which students will be visiting to engage in real-world exploration,

problem solving, and creation. In addition, our School Goals Committee has begun planning the next

phase of a school wide STEM/STEAM project that began last year. Details will follow over the next few

months!

Our students spent time this fall helping those less fortunate and those who have fallen on hard times.

Our Hurricane Harvey supply drive in September, sponsored by the BB/BS PTA, produced 250+

backpacks full of supplies for students in Texas. Our student council has also been very busy planning

their activities for the year. We began with fundraising for Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico and

continued with the collection of goods for our annual Thanksgiving food collections.

Our school wide character reward incentive program is rewarding students for following the school rules

and being good citizens. Each month we are focusing on one of the following character pillars:

Responsibility, Respect, Caring, Trustworthiness, Fairness, Cooperation, Honesty, and Citizenship.

Individually, students can earn blue tickets that are put into a container in their classrooms.

At the end of each month, three student names from each class are chosen to receive a reward; Some

possible rewards include: first in the lunch line, lunch with the assistant principal, basketball with the

principal, and lunch with a friend – to name a few.

In addition, each homeroom can earn feathers for their falcon posted outside their classrooms.

Congratulations to all of our students for working toward displaying positive character traits each and

every day!

This year, the window for PARCC assessments for grades 3-8 is April 16 – May 25, 2018. Each grade

level will have 5 days for PARCC testing (Three sessions of English Language Arts, and Four sessions of

Mathematics). Dates for individual grade levels are included in the attached newsletter. Parent

information, including a scoring guide and resources to help your child prepare for PARCC, can be found

on the district website by clicking on the “PARCC” tab at the top right of the page. A direct link can be

found at: http://monroenj.schoolwires.com/Page/9084

As many of you know, the Board of Education adopted a resolution to hold a special election on March

13, 2018 for the purpose of placing a Referendum Question before voters. This Referendum, if approved,

authorizes the District to raise funds through the sale of bonds to finance the construction of a second

middle school. The Referendum proposes a new 152,315 square foot, 1000-student middle school, which

would alleviate the overcrowded conditions in the current middle school and provide equity in programs

offered to students. There are some School Referendum Fast Facts included at the end of this newsletter.

In addition, please review the Referendum information on the district website, that can be found at:

https://www.monroe.k12.nj.us/Page/12811

As I stated earlier this year at Back to School Night, we embrace the opportunity to become partners with

you in your child’s education and social/emotional development. As parents and guardians, I encourage

you to communicate with your child’s teacher and become advocates for their educational program.

On behalf of our staff, I would like to thank you for sending us your children each and every day!

They make Brookside such a great place to be. We would like to wish you and your family all the best as

we enter 2018!

Respectfully,

Mr. Antonio J. Pepe

Principal

(@AntonioJPepe)

VISIT US ON THE INTERNET AT http://monroenj.schoolwires.com/Domain/570

Follow Brookside happenings on Twitter via the hashtag #WeAreBrookside

MAKEUP PICTURE DAY

The makeup day for pictures is December 5. If you would like to have your child’s picture retaken and have

received pictures of your child from the original picture day, please send the package of pictures in with your child

and they can have their picture retaken on December 5. Order forms were distributed to new students to Brookside

and students that were absent on the original picture day. In addition, students that participate in the following

activities: TAG, student council, safety patrol, band and chorus will have pictures taken that day. Additional

order forms are available in the main office if you need one.

WINTER CONCERT

The winter concert performance will take place on December 19 at 7 p.m. at the MTMS performing arts center.

On Tuesday, December 19, zero period for advanced band students will be held at the Monroe Township

Middle School for rehearsal. Please drop your students off at the Middle School that morning in front of

the performing arts center no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Falcon Care students will be transported from Brookside to

the Middle School by bus at 8:15 a.m. Chorus students will be bussed over to the Middle School for rehearsal that

morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. Please remind your child to bring their instruments and music that

morning. Our band and chorus students have been working very hard preparing for their performance and they

look forward to performing for you. In addition, there will be no zero period for band and chorus students

following the concert until January 3.

WINTER RECESS

We have a 4-hour session on Friday, December 22; dismissal is at 1:05 p.m. School’s closed from December 25

through January 2. School re-opens on January 3. Have a wonderful and safe winter recess!

CHORUS – NEW STUDENTS

Any fourth or fifth grade students interested in joining chorus must complete a permission slip and return it to Mrs.

Griffin by December 15. Zero period for fifth grade chorus is Monday and Friday mornings and zero period for

fourth grade chorus is Thursday and Friday mornings. If your child is interested in joining chorus, please use the

link supplied to sign up. For fifth grade students use the following link, https://tinyurl.com/y7zyvojb and

fourth grade students use the following link https://tinyurl.com/ybal6vgg.

PARCC TESTING

This year PARCC testing will take place once during the year. The schedule is as follows:

Grade 3 will test from April 18 through April 24; Grade 4 will test from April 25 through May 2; Grade 5 will

test from May 7 through May 11. Makeup testing days are as follows: May 3, 4, 14-18 and 21-25 as needed.

There will be no PARCC testing on “Take Your Child to Work Day” which is Thursday, April 26.

STUDENT COUNCIL

In October, Brookside students raised money for hurricane Maria relief for Puerto Rico. Brookside School

donated over $800 to Mano y Mano, an organization that helped to support efforts in Puerto Rico. In addition,

the students came together to help to those less fortunate. We decided to integrate community service into the

classroom and raise awareness of the value of giving. During the month of November, students donated food

items so others can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Local families received the donations.

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

As part of our character education program, each month beginning in October a student from each grade level is

selected that best represents the month’s character trait. The students of the month for October who represented

the character trait of “responsibility” were Gabrielle Siochi, Emily April, and Summer Reneo. The students of the

month for November who represented the character trait of “respect” were Arjun Reddy, Sophia Piansay, and

Adiel Pompee.

REQUESTS FOR HOMEWORK

Teachers will comply with requests for homework when your child is absent from school due to illness; however,

it does take time to collect materials and assignments during the day. Therefore, if you request homework, you

should call the main office prior to 10 a.m. and the work will be ready in the afternoon for pick up.

MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL NURSE, MRS. TALOCKA

REMINDERS:

Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the cold weather when coming to school. As the temperature

can vary throughout the day and in different areas of the building, many students find it helpful to have an extra

sweater or sweatshirt that can be used as needed. Outdoor recess and activities will continue throughout the winter

and all students are expected to go out. Therefore, coats, hats, and gloves are needed each day. You are welcome

to call the school nurse should you have any needs or concerns.

Health screenings are underway and will continue through the winter. Parents will receive a notice only if the

screening results are not in the normal range. Please remember to call in absences to the health office at 732-521-

1101 menu option 1 to report your child absent. I hope everyone enjoys a healthy and relaxing winter break.

PTA

The PTA has sponsored assemblies for our students. In October, our students saw an assembly called “Start 2

Finish.” The students enjoyed the assembly and found it entertaining while learning important lessons. It shows the

students to take on challenges through inspiring stories of children who started things and never gave up. It also

encourages children that there are some things we should never start: bullying, unhealthy choices, and dangerous

media; while there are some things we should never stop: kindness, caring, and helping.

The PTA also held a book fair for our students. The students enjoyed visiting the book fair and shopping for

books and other items to enjoy. The PTA has purchased birthday books for our students. On their birthdays,

students come to the office and pick out a book. Thank you to the PTA for making our students’ day special!

SUBSTITUTES NEEDED

We are currently seeking applicants for Substitute Nurses and Substitute Paraprofessionals. Please apply at the

Board of Education Central office at 423 Buckelew Avenue in Monroe Township. If you have any questions,

please contact Dorothy Domke at 732-521-2111 ext. 5227. The processing hours are from 9-12 and 1-3 p.m.

DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE

During the winter months due to inclement weather, it may be necessary to have a delayed opening. If there is a

scheduled delayed opening, school will start two hours later at 11:05 a.m. Students should report to their bus stops

two hours later than their usual time. The students will have lunch on delayed opening days.

REMINDER - INCLEMENT WEATHER

Parents will be notified of school closings and delayed openings due to inclement weather through the District’s

Alert Now system. The information will also be available on the TV station “News 12 New Jersey” and the

following radio stations:

WCTC & WMGO 1450 AM/98.3 FM Between 5:40 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

NJ101.5 101.5 FM Between 5:10 a.m. and 6:10 a.m.

NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY Morning Edition - Beginning at 5:30 a.m.

FIOS NEWS TELEVISION 501 AND 1 ON VERIZON TV (Click on weather)

The district website will have it posted once the decision is made.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Occasionally, conditions exist which necessitate an early dismissal from school. Deterioration of the weather or

facility problems such as loss of water or power may require such action.

Parents: please review the procedure with your child in the event the child arrives home and the parent is not there.

If your home, work or cell numbers change, please notify the school immediately. Please note that if there is an

emergency early closing, there is no Basic Skills and TAG classes.

Parents of students participating in the Monroe Falcon Care Program should have received a handout with

information regarding closings. If you have any questions about the Falcon Care Program, please call 732-251-

0266.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

I have attached Kindergarten registration information to this newsletter. If you have a child that will start school in

the 2018-2019 school year, please refer to the attachment for the dates and times to register. You will need to

contact Barclay Brook for a registration packet. If you have any questions, please contact Barclay Brook main

office at 732-521-1000.

DATES TO REMEMBER

December 1 School’s Closed / Staff In-service

5 Picture Makeups/Retakes/Group Photos –TAG, Safety Patrol, Student Council,

Band and Chorus

6 Grade 3 Assembly “Garbage – What a Waste!”

8 Grade 3 - First Trimester Ends / Grade 5 Student Assembly “From the Mixed

Up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler”

11-12 PTA Holiday Shop

11 Nominations are due for Governor’s Awards (Teacher of the Year/Educational

Services Professional) to the Main Office / Accelerated Math Parent Information

Night for Grades 4/5 only at 6:30 pm – Brookside School

12 PTA Meeting @ 7 pm – Brookside School

13 Board of Education Meeting @ 7p.m. - MTHS

14 Grade 4 Spelling Bee / Grade 5 Spelling Bee

15 Grade 3 Report Cards available on Parent Access at dismissal

19 Zero Period for Advanced Band will be held at the MTMS PAC @ 8:30 am/

Winter Concert Rehearsal for Band/Chorus students – MTMS PAC/

Winter Concert Performance @ 7 pm – MTMS PAC

20 Winter Concert Student Assembly @ 9:30 a.m. – MTMS PAC /

Grades 4/5 Progress Reports for MP2 available on Parent Access

22 4-Hour Session/No Lunch Served

25-31 Closed for Winter Recess

January 2 School’s Closed

3 School Re-opens / Board of Education Meeting @ 7 p.m. – MTHS

10 School Wide Spelling Bee @ 9:45 a.m. – Cafeteria

11 Grade 3 Student Assembly “Nuggett & Fang” – Barclay Brook School

12 4-Hour Session / No Lunch Served / Staff In-service / Tie Breaker Round of

Geography Bee if needed

15 School’s Closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

16 PTA Meeting @ 10 am – Barclay Brook

18 School wide Geography Bee

22-25 No Basic Skills for Students

24-25 Basic Skills Parent/Teacher Conferences

31 Grades 4/5 MP2 Ends

February 7 Grades 4/5 Report Cards available through Parent Access at dismissal

9 PTA Cultural Fair

13 PTA Meeting @ 7 pm – Brookside School

16 4-Hour Session for Students / Staff In-service

19 School’s Closed in Observance of Presidents Day

21-22 Parent/Teacher Conferences

22 Brookside Evening Conferences

21-23 4-Hour Session Days

26 Student Assembly for All Grades “African Folk Tales

2018-2019 Kindergarten Registration Monroe Township Public Schools

To register for Kindergarten your child must be five (5) years of age by October 31, 2018.

ONLY a parent or legal guardian can register their child.

The following documents are necessary for registration:

Child’s original Birth Certificate

Current Physical Form & Immunization Record signed and dated by the Doctor

Proof of residency – 4 forms required – Deed, Tax Bill, Closing Disclosure or Lease AND three (3)

current Utility Bills

Residing with another family – They need to provide proof of residency and accompany you to the

registration.

Sales Contract to purchase a home in Monroe Township with a closing date on or before October 31,

2018 is acceptable

IEP or 504 (if child has one)

Custody papers, proof of legal guardianship papers, foster parent papers, adoption papers (if applicable)

Contact your area school below to obtain the Registration Packet Fill out and bring the Registration Packet with you to registration

Oak Tree Elementary School – February 26 & 27

Kindergarten registration for Oak Tree Elementary area residents will be held at the Oak Tree Elementary

School

226 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township, NJ. Call (609) 655-7642 to receive the Registration Packet.

Last names beginning Date Time

A – G Monday, February 26 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

H –M Monday, February 26 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

N – R Tuesday, February 27 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

S – Z Tuesday, February 27 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Mill Lake School – March 6 & 7

Kindergarten registration for Mill Lake area residents will be held at the Mill Lake School.

115 Monmouth Road, Monroe Township, NJ. Call (732) 251-5336 to receive the Registration Packet.

Last names beginning Date Time

A – G Tuesday, March 6 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

H –M Tuesday, March 6 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

N – R Wednesday, March 7 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

S – Z Wednesday, March 7 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Barclay Brook School – March 14 & 15

Kindergarten registration for Barclay Brook area residents will be held at the Barclay Brook School,

358 Buckelew Avenue, Monroe Township, NJ. Call (732) 521-1000 to receive the Registration Packet.

Last names beginning Date Time

A – G Wednesday, March 14 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

H –M Wednesday, March 14 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

N – R Thursday, March 15 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

S – Z Thursday, March 15 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Questions regarding which school your child should attend, call Central Registration 609-642-6128 ext. 4013

Please share this information with any friend or neighbor having Kindergarten age children who

reside in Monroe Township. (OVER)

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR STUDENTS Each student entering the Monroe Township Public Schools for the first time is required by law (Public law 18A:40-4) to have a physical examination prior to entry into school. This examination must be completed no more than 365 days prior to the first day of attendance. Signed documentation of the examination by the student’s physician must be submitted to the school nurse. If you have a problem complying with this health mandate, please contact your school nurse. Children without physical examinations will not be permitted to enroll. Additionally, state law mandates that your child will not be allowed to attend school in September 2018 without proof of completed immunizations with a doctor’s signature. The attached information regarding immunization requirements for pupils in schools has been taken in part from the NJ Department of Health and Senior Service bulletin dated December, 2000. If you have any questions regarding the attached immunization requirements, please contact your pediatrician or call the school nurse at the school your child will be attending. Even though all needed immunizations may not be given at the time of registration, please bring a record of those immunizations received up until that date. (New immunization information can be shared with the nurse until August 31. All immunizations should be completed by that time.) Barclay Brook School Nurse (732) 521-1000 Mill Lake School Nurse (732) 251-5336 Oak Tree School Nurse (609) 655-7642

Monroe Township School District Board of Education, 423 Buckelew Avenue, Monroe, NJ 08831 Phone: (732) 521-1500

YES, YOUR VOTE COUNTS Mark Your Calendars NOW

What?...a Middle School

A special Referendum Question to

authorize the District to raise funds

through the sale of bonds to finance

the Strong Schools = Strong

Communities facilities program is

planned for Tuesday, March 13,

2018.

The scope of work is the culmi-

nation of the 2015 District-wide Long

Range Facilities Plan which docu-

mented continuing enrollment

growth, the need for expanded

school facilities and takes advantage

of Township transfer of the “best

available” site.

The Referendum proposes a new

152,315 square foot, 1000-student

Middle School at the northeast cor-

ner of Applegarth and Cranbury Sta-

tion Roads. A complete description

of the project will soon be found in

documents on the District’s website.

More Information

For detailed information visit us after Nov 1 at www.monroe.k12.nj.us and look for the Referendum page.

Contact Us

Email questions or comments to Referendum@Monroe.k12.nj.us

How Much?...State Aid? Now is the time

The Board of Education is aware of the difficult economy with which everyone is learning to live, and we are aware that it has an impact on education. The positives in New Jersey’s slowly improving economic climate are that construction costs and interest rates are near historic lows and we can take advantage of that now by supporting the Strong Schools = Strong Community referendum.

Tuesday

March 13, 2018

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

To be made at all Schools and at Community Centers

SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Impact on Your Taxes

The District’s Financial Advisors have made a preliminary analysis of the costs of the $68.8M bonds, minus the annual Debt Service Aid, over 30 years, with a Borrowing Rate of 3.5% and an Assessed Value Growth Rate of 0.75% through 2047. The Average Tax Impact for every $100,000 of Assessed Value will be $41.35. That is $129.10 on the average Monroe Town-ship Residential Assessed Value of $312,219. We are making it easy to get your tax impact. There will soon be a Tax Impact Calculator on the District website with which you can input your specif-ic property’s Assessed Value and obtain the specific estimated annual tax impact … there is no need to calculate from averages.

Special Election on March 13, 2018

Strong Schools = Strong Community REFERENDUM

The Referendum amount on which we will vote, is the Total Project Cost of $68.8 million. We have made applications for Debt Service Aid and anticipate that the State of New Jersey will pay $7.1 million of the overall cost of the pro-ject. The local taxpayer will be re-sponsible to pay the remaining por-tion of the project costs. Conservative assumptions include 1/3rd of the project as eligible, and reflects historic State budgetary reductions in this aid. These Debt Service Aid payments are made in annual installments over the life of the bond.

Voting will take place at all 24 locations used in Monroe Township elections.

Why? … Continued Enrollment Growth

Enrollment has grown by over 1,500 students in the last 10 years; and is projected to increase substantially in the next 5 years. The most serious deficit is at the Middle School and it is being ad-dressed first. The Board of Education knows that the financial impact of construction at all grade levels was too immense to be undertaken in one program. This initial project meets the most serious immediate needs.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Middle School Enrollments

Current Capacity 1,206 Students

New Middle School

Ground Floor 2nd Floor 3rd Floor

▪ The proposed 152,315 SF new Middle School is conceptually arranged as a 1-story Core and

3-story Classroom wing.

▪ It will double the student capacity at the grade 6-8 level and meet the 5-year enrollment needs

when completed for the school year starting September 2021.

▪ The design provides a parity of academic, athletic and extra-curricular spaces supporting district-

wide fairness in facilities and opportunities.

The 35 acre site at Apple-

garth & Cranbury Station

Road is readily accessible,

generally flat, has all required

utilities, and no environmental

or construction issues.

The Township is transferring

ownership of the site to the

School District at no cost.

Bus Drop-off and Loading is

separate from pedestrian and

other vehicular traffic.