August 2023
I hope everyone has had a great summer so far! I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning for our students, filled with academic, social, and emotional growth. Academic achievement and development start with the partnership we form with parents throughout the year. As the start of the new school year draws near, I wanted to provide you with some updates and important information.
Additionally, please join me in welcoming our Kindergarten students and our new students to Coolidge School. Go Cougars!
Here is the BOE-approved 2023-2024 student calendar.
There is still time for summer learning. Here are some links to support learning at home and to help prepare students for the year ahead:
How to Support Math Skills at Home (From Mrs. Mendes)
Suggested Summer Reading Activities (From Mrs. Zivkovich)
Keep Reading and Learning All Summer Long (From Mrs.Needleman)
Wyckoff School District- Summer Reading Lists
Parents will be able to access class placement for their child(ren) via the Genesis Parent Portal after 3:00 PM on Friday, August 25th after they complete their child/children’s respective school form. ALL parents must log on and fill out the respective school form for each child (CCE Form is for Coolidge School) prior to being able to see their child’s homeroom teacher (or schedules at the middle school). The form must be completely filled out and submitted for ALL children prior to viewing any tabs on Genesis. New families should have received an email from the Genesis Help Desk regarding setting up their parent portal login information. If you did not receive this email or have any difficulty logging into Genesis please contact the helpdesk at Genesis HelpDesk: genesis@wyckoffps.org.
As you may be aware, the Wyckoff Board of Education has partnered with the Township Committee and the Wyckoff Police Department on the hiring and placement of a Special Law Enforcement Officer III (SLEO III) at each Wyckoff Public School. More information regarding this will be forthcoming.
Kindergarten Orientation will take place on Tuesday, September 5th from 2:00-3:00. Parents and students should meet on the "upper blacktop" on the left side of the school just prior to 2:00. Students will go with their teacher and classmates to their classroom while parents will meet with Mr. Famularo.
Grade 1-5 students new to Coolidge School are invited to our "buddy day" orientation on Friday, September 1st at 11:00 AM. During this time students will take part in a fun activity with a new classmate and will tour the school. If you have any questions or have not received information about this please reach out to our school counselor Mrs. Mapes at amapes@wyckoffschools.org.
Parents may want to view our Parent/Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.
If you ordered school supplies through the PTO, those supplies should have already been delivered to your home. Please reach out to the PTO with any questions at coolidgeptopresident@gmail.com. If you did not order supplies and would like to review the supply list please click here to access the list on our website. Please note that supplies for Kindergarten students are provided by the school.
SMART/APPLE/GIZMO WATCHES- I know that many of our students have watches (Gizmos, Apple watches, etc.) that have built-in texting or video game-playing capabilities. I understand that communication with your child outside of school hours, particularly if he/she is walking or biking home, is important. However, we have seen an increase in students using these devices for purposes that distract them from their learning. Teachers will ask students to place their watches in their backpacks during the school day if they are being used for texting, playing games, etc., or are causing a distraction. Parents and students should not text each other during the day. Instead, you can reach your child by calling the main office or wait until 3:20. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we want our students to be as focused as possible on their school work and the learning environment.
DRESS CODE POLICY- Per the Wyckoff Board of Education Dress Code Policy, “hats, hoods, visors, and other headgear”, including baseball hats are not permitted to be worn in school. These items can be a distraction to the learning process. Students may wear these items when outside for recess or on designated spirit days.
DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY: Per Wyckoff Township Ordinance 849, “all domestic animals, leashed or unleashed, are prohibited on school property.” If you are bringing your pet for drop-off or pick-up, please be sure to stay on the sidewalk along Grandview Avenue.
VOLUNTEER GUIDELINES- Guidelines are being reviewed with the PTO and will be shared with parents who volunteer in school for pizza/bagel lunch, in the media center, or in other areas.
I would like to welcome our new teachers to Coolidge School! Miss Tracy in 5th grade, Mrs. Han in 2nd grade, Mrs. McCurry in Physical Education, and Mrs. Provost in Technology. Here are the grade-level staffing rosters:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Britting, Mrs. Visbeen
1st Grade: Mrs. Aloia, Mrs. Auxter, Mrs. Barone, Miss O’Connor
2nd Grade: Mrs. Garcia, Mrs. Han, Mrs. Magna
3rd Grade: Miss Dulmage, Ms. Fournier, Ms. Sangiorgi
4th Grade: Mrs. Doughan, Mrs. Kang, Mrs. Ten Kate
5th Grade: Ms. Jones, Ms. Mitas, Miss Tracy
New Student Buddy Day- 9/1 11:00 AM
Kindergarten Orientation- 9/5 @ 2:00 PM
First Day of School- 9/7 (minimum day 1:05 dismissal)
Second Day of School- 9/8 (minimum day 1:05 dismissal)
WEF Color Run @EMS- 9/9 11:00 AM
Back to School Night- 9/19- 6:30 PM (schedule to follow)
School Picture Day- 10/16 (more information to follow)
Visit our website for Friday Folder Handouts
Visit the Coolidge PTO's website for handouts and PTO-related information.
Students should arrive at school between 8:35-8:50. Students will not be permitted to enter the building prior to 8:35 unless for a scheduled class or program as there will not be supervision available at that time.
Upon arrival at school, students will report directly to their classroom doors where they will line up until entering the classroom. See drop-off procedures below, but typically students in grades K-2 will enter via the front entrance and students in grades 3-5 will enter via the back doors by the baseball field.
For safety and security reasons, parents are not permitted to enter the school with their children at this time.
The late bell sounds at 8:50. At this point, attendance will be taken and classes will begin preparing for the day of learning ahead. Any student arriving after that time should enter via the main entrance and report to the main office for a late pass.
If you have a K-2 student you may use the front circle for drop-off. You can drop off your older child here as well as long as you have a K-2 student. Students should exit quickly from the right side of their cars. Exiting the car on the left-hand side is dangerous and slows traffic. Students will enter the school via the main entrance and report directly to their classroom. The goal is to keep traffic flowing. Cars should continually move up. When exiting our parking lot, all traffic must turn right towards Wyckoff Avenue.
Our main parking lot (along the gym/MPR on route 208 side) should be used for drop-off for students in grades 3-5. It is important that students are ready to exit vehicles from the right-hand side. Exiting the car on the left-hand side is dangerous and slows traffic. The goal is to keep traffic flowing. Students will enter the school via the doors by the baseball field and will walk to their classroom. When exiting our parking lot, all traffic must turn right towards Wyckoff Avenue.
Please use common sense and make safety a PRIORITY when driving on our side streets and parking lot at dismissal. Let's all be courteous to each other and our neighbors who live on the side streets adjacent to Coolidge School. For safety reasons, our main parking lot will be CLOSED when the parking lot reaches capacity. Cones will be placed at the parking lot entrance indicating that the lot is full. Please plan accordingly and do not try to circumvent this rule. Depending on the time of year and the weather, the lot may be closed by 2:45 and other times will never get closed. Please do not enter the front circle or staff parking lot after 2:45 pm. This presents a safety hazard and is disrespectful to those following the rules.
Grade K-1 students will be dismissed from the “upper blacktop” doors.
Grade 2 students will be dismissed from the main entrance doors.
Grade 3 students will be dismissed from the doors by the back baseball field.
Grade 4-5 students will be dismissed from the “lower blacktop” doors.