Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that June is already here but it is always a joy to look back on such a successful year. Our collaboration between staff, students and families is always the key to Coleman’s success. It is truly an honor to work with such a dedicated group of professionals, our teachers and assistants. They generously share their knowledge and show how much they care each and every day. 

This year’s Field Day was one of the finest ever. Feedback from staff, families & students, was unanimous, with the picture perfect weather a plus! Thanks to Mr. Polles for his thoughtful planning and working with our students all year developing these games and activities; with the focus on skill, teamwork & fun! Students relished their role in making choices and eagerly anticipated their “favorite day of the year”! Along with our staff, fifth graders, & parent volunteers’ support, and everyone’s enthusiasm, together we made this day one to be long remembered…our Discovery Begins at Coleman water bottles will be used throughout the year!

Bringing the Read-a-thon Plaque back to Coleman with 59% of our students participating was an honor. Coleman readers swept almost every grade level category! A great deal of thanks goes to our families and our staff, with Ms. Kauffman leading the way to simply instill a love of reading in our students.   Keep reading all summer long!

My sincere appreciation goes to our H.S.A. Board for giving so generously of their time and working to provide countless enriching opportunities to all of us at Coleman School. It has truly been a pleasure to work with each of you~ Emily Sadowski, Amy Martin, Kristen Heller, Liz Stutzke, Stacy Hendl, Jessica Taromina and Joe Quvus.   Together with our inspirational and hardworking staff and volunteers, we collaborated on projects and activities that extended through our classrooms and into after school and evening events, with our school community benefitting in a most positive way.  It always puts a smile on our faces to see new families participating, as our membership continues to grow. We are grateful for the support of our class parents, event chairs & countless volunteers! Please go to our H.S.A. webpage to see all of the opportunities they continue to provide to Coleman School!    http://www.colemanhsa.com/Pages/default.aspx

My newsletters are often inspired by memorable moments at Coleman and June has many, but this year’s fifth grade class is something special. To watch them learn and grow is a joy and to see how they support and care about one another is well beyond their years. At Coleman we hold high expectations for our students to do what is right every day and these fifth graders and their teachers, Mrs. Caffrey & Mrs. Wisz, set the bar high and reach it every day. Along with our staff, they have been positive role models whose minds and hearts are always open. Congratulations to all of our fifth graders who will be honored on Class Night June 17. We are so proud of their accomplishments and certain they will continue to make as proud as they move on to Middle School. Along with their teachers and all of our parent volunteers, they have contributed so much this year, with their most recent effort~a kickball game raising $2500 for the Julia Anne Kirsch Foundation. Mrs. Caffrey and Mrs. Wisz, we value your efforts to make this year such a successful one! Your leadership and tireless dedication is sincerely appreciated! 

Please continue to check our school and district website throughout the summer months for updates. As another school year winds down, we wish you a summer filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and be an inspiration to others. Relax, rejuvenate and enjoy every moment with your precious families! 

Dawn Cappadona

Principal

cappadonad@glenrocknj.org

Dear Families,

It was a pleasure to welcome you back to school!   The efforts of our staff to get us off to a smooth start are appreciated!  The children were excited to share their summer adventures and to be back at Coleman!  Each morning teacher assistants are on duty outside at 8:25 supervising students.  No one should arive before then. When the weather is incluement and it's an “IN” day for arrival, please remember, you may not remain in the hallway after dropping off your child.  Teacher assistants are there everyday to supervise.  Teachers pick up their classes at 8:33. 

We’ve been busy these couple of months preparing for our opening day and a successful school year!  Thanks to our fifth grade class of 2012, our third grade and resource center doors have been painted, brightening our hallway!  Laptops for grades 2 and 3 will be in each class thanks to our H.S.A.  We are welcoming Ms. Cristina Ameika to our new special education (LLD) class and Mrs. Lora Foster to our resource center.  Ms. Ameika will be working with students transitioning from Mrs. Stevens’ Pre-K program, as well as district kindergartens, and Mrs. Foster will be working every morning at Coleman.  Mrs. Foster comes to us from Hamilton School where she worked for 3 years and joins the rest of our special education team, Ms. Bonaguaro and Mrs. Caverly.  We wish Mrs. Cinquegrana, our health assistant, the best in her School Nurse position in another district.  Mrs. Pierides and I have been working together to hire a new health assistant for our schools.  In the interim, Mrs. Lisa Blumenfeld, a certified school nurse, will be substituting and working closely with Mrs. Wright.  Mrs. Blumenfeld substituted in Glen Rock last spring.  Ms. Pavese has also left our district and Mrs. Jessica Falkenstern, will be our new elementary counselor.  Mrs. Falkenstern worked for several years in Upper Saddle River and will be with us Monday & Wednesday all day, and Friday mornings.  She will spend the remainder of the week at Hamilton School.  Ms. Ann Chon will be the elementary counselor for Byrd & Central Schools.  A warm welcome back to Mrs. Nicole Dextraze (grade 3), Mrs. Jennifer DiLoreto (ESL), and Mrs. Cathy Mitchell (grade 4).  Most of our special education assistants will be returning this year, as well as a few new comers.  They are all are certified teachers with experiences that make them a good match at Coleman. 

Every elementary school has adopted the following healthy nutrition guidelines  Birthdays will be non-food celebrations. Classroom teachers will determine age-appropriate activities to recognize each child's special day and share them with you.  Halloween will be celebrated with a parade and will be a non-food celebration. Valentine's Day, December, and End-of-the Year parties will be celebrated with one store-brought sweet treat, one store-bought healthy treat, and water. Teachers will be working with class parents on how these items will be purchased. Families with a child with allergies would know exactly what is being bought so they could determine what would be best for their child.  Activities which are tied to an educational initiative will remain (Gingerbread Houses; International Luncheon, Café Luncheons, Yearbook Breakfast, etc...).  H.S.A. functions involving food will continue as they had in the past (Pizza & Ice Cream Days, Bake Sales, Family Fun Night, etc....).

On a personal note, Bill and I were delighted to return to Martha’s Vineyard this summer with friends.  We scoured the island in our car and on our bikes, relaxed at the beach, read, and shopped at local markets almost daily to prepare meals with fresh and simple ingredients.  My “Beach Parking” screensaver reminds me the memories we captured with our camera this simmer will remain in our hearts for a long time to come!  As always, we continue to relish time with our family, especially with our niece and nephews, now 9, 7 & 5- whether at the pool, buried in a book one of us adores, or just sharing a story around our table….

Our school theme is Discovery Begins at Coleman, and we look forward to a year filled with enriching activities and special memories. We can’t wait to see you and hear about your special “discoveries” this summer!

Sincerely,

Dawn Cappadona

Principal