Dear Travell Parents, Families, and Students,
Welcome back to Travell School for the 2016-2017 school year. I’d like to offer a special welcome to those of you who join us for the first time. You have become part of a caring and supportive community.
A few important dates to put on your calendar now:
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 6th
- Morning Kindergarten 8:35 until 11:20 a.m.
- Grades 1-5: 8:35 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Send a snack.
- Afternoon Kindergarten: 12:15 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Welcome Breakfast: September 6th, 8:45 a.m. in the Tiger’s Den
New Family Meeting: September 6th, 9:00 -9:30 a.m. and 12:20 for PM Kindergarten parents in the Library
Back to School Picnic: Friday September 16th, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Back to School Night: Tuesday, September 20th
7:00-7:45 Grade K-2 classroom presentations
7:45 -8:15 Principal and HSA presentations in the gym
8:15-9:00 Grade 3-5 classroom presentations
School Photos: Friday, September 23rd with a rain date of October 5th
Home and School Meeting: Wednesday, September 28th, 1:30- 3:00 p.m. in the Library
Please be sure to make Travell’s webpage your homepage so that you don’t miss any important events: http://travell.school.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/. In addition, you will receive an email every Tuesday which will announce all upcoming events and announcements. If you happen to miss the email, you can always check our website under “Weekly Notices”. All our past notices are archived there.
For the first day of school only, all morning kindergarten, Grade 2, and 5 students will line up on the basketball court. All students in Grades 1, 3 and 4 will line up on the Fairfield blacktop. Look for the signs identifying your class. After the students have entered the building, please join us for coffee in the Tiger’s Den. There will also be a meeting for new parents in the library at 9:00 a.m. Afternoon kindergarten will line up by the Bogert Avenue door at 12:15 p.m. and there will be a meeting for new parents at 12:20 in the library. After the first day, children may enter any door at 8:35. Teachers will be posted at the doors to ensure that students enter the school.
Kindergarten students are dismissed from the door closest to the basketball court. Students in grades 1 and 3 are dismissed from the Fairfield Avenue door and Grades 2, 4, and 5 are dismissed from the exit near the playground and Reading Garden. Children are expected to check in with their parents or guardians before returning to play on the playground. All children must be supervised by an adult when on the playground after 3 p.m. If you are in need of before or after school care at Travell, please contact Mary Agnello at the YWCA (201-444-5600 x 352) to make arrangements.
We had a few changes to the building thanks to our custodial staff and the district. We have new Chrome books and carts for second grade. Each class in Grades 2-5 now has their own chrome book cart! The capstone on the Fairfield retaining wall has been replaced by the district. The Home and School Association has helped to renew the nurse’s office. Mrs. Caruso has a new floor, new paint, and new cabinets. The girls’ bathrooms have new stalls and all the bathrooms were scrubbed. The custodial staff has worked hard to clean this summer. Everything looks clean and fresh.
Just a reminder about lunch times: Grades 1 and 2 will have lunch from 11:30-11:50 and recess from 11:55-12:15. Grade 3 will have recess from 11:30-11:50 and lunch from 11:55 -12:15. Grade 4 will have lunch from 12:15–12:35 and recess from 12:40-1:00. Grade 5 will have recess from 12:15–12:35 and lunch from 12:40-1:00. We hope that this will provide a relaxed and pleasurable lunch experience. School lunches will begin on September 7th. If you plan to order through Village Fresh, please go to the school website and you will find the link posted there.
Don’t forget to keep the first days of school positive. Ask your child to share the best part of the school day. The next morning, ask your child what they are looking forward to most. Please note the words "best" and "most” because they help to keep the focus positive. Asking about specials, announcements, and recess may initiate a wonderful conversation.
As you start to get back into the routine of school, I encourage you to read to your child or have them read with you every day. Reading is a wonderful way to stave off summer boredom and increase a child’s vocabulary, fluency, and background knowledge. If you send me a picture of your child reading… at the beach, on a plane, in a hotel, or in their bedroom…I will post it on our electronic bulletin board in the front hallway for all to see.
We look forward to partnering with you this year to ensure your child’s success and to make it the best school year yet! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Principal of Travell for another school year. Enjoy your last few days of summer. I am anxious to see all of you on September 6th!
Dr. Margaret Leininger