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Volume 16, Issue 8
May 2011
In This Issue
May 2011 Calendar
2
3
Mon.
Tues.
May 2011 Calendar
SPARC meeting, SHS Rm. 228
Spring Concert (Gr. 8 performs) and Art Show
Teacher Appreciation Day
8:00 pm
7:30 pm
6
Fri.
Lip Sync Contest - Auditorium
7:00 pm
9-12 M-Th NJASK Make-Up Testing - All Grades
11 Weds. Spring Music Assembly - Gr. 6 and 7
2:00 pm
National School Nurse Day
12 Thurs. BOE Workshop Meeting - Wilson School
7:30 pm
13 Fri.
Advisory
Grocery Scrip sales - Concourse
8:00 - 9:15 am
16 Mon. June Panther Paws Articles Due
Gargoyle Articles Due
BOE Regular Meeting-Reorganizational Meeting - SHS
7:30 pm
18 Weds. Spelling Bee - Gr. 8 - Auditorium, Practice
2:45 pm
19 Thurs. Spelling Bee - Gr. 8 - Auditorium, Period 5
27 Fri.
Advisory
Grocery Scrip Sales - Concourse
8:00 - 9:15 am
30 Mon. Memorial Day - School Closed
PTO Green Team
Family Fun Night Thanks
SPARC Thanks You
SHS Theatre Arts and
Forensics
"Learn to Give...Give to
Learn" School Supply Drive
Summit Boosters
SEF Night In Pair-a-Dice
PTO News
Got Scrip?
Looking Ahead to June:
Th-Fri
Tues.
Weds.
Thurs.
Mon.
Article Headline
Teacher Appreciation Day
3-6 T-Fri. NJASK Testing - All Grades
2-3
7
8
16
20
NJASK at LCJSMS
Gr. 8 Washington, DC Trip
Scholar Laureate Presentations - Concourse
Middle Scholars - Concourse
Gr. 8 Pool Party (Raindate: Weds., June 15
Gr. 8 Graduation
Other Noteworthy Items...
7:00-9:00 pm
10:40-11:20 am
11:45 am-2:45 pm
7:00 pm
NJASK AT LCJSMS - A Message from Mr. Block
Every sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student in the State of New
Jersey will take the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge
(NJASK) during the first full week of May. Testing at LCJSMS begins
Tuesday, May 3, and the last day of testing is Friday, May 6.
Students in all three grades will be tested in Language Arts and
Mathematics. In addition to these two subjects, eighth grade students
will be tested in Science. Here are some things that you should
consider as the NJASK test approaches:
It is essential that students be in school and on time during
testing. Please have your child to LCJSMS and ready to go by
.
7:55 a.m. on May 3, 4, 5, and 6
Students will have no homework on the nights before testing
days. This is so they can get a good night's sleep. Research
shows that well-rested students do better on tests. Your
assistance with this is appreciated.
Students will be in their testing rooms for up to three hours on
each of the days of testing and will not have access to snacks.
As a result, it is essential that all students eat a good meal
before coming to school on the testing days. We know that
students with "pleasantly full" stomachs do better on these tests
than those who are hungry.
Encourage your children to do well. These tests are important to
each student because the results can influence his/her schedule
placement for the next school year. These tests also have
Quick Links
LCJSMS Website
Summit Public
Schools Website
PTO NEWS
Spring break is over, the
fourth quarter has begun,
and plans for the Eighth
Grade Graduation are in
full swing. Hard to
believe, but we are
heading into the end of the
school year.
April was a busy and fun
month for the PTO. We
held our annual Family
Fun Night (please see all
the thank-yous in the
Family Fun Night article),
provided chaperones for
the seventh and eighth
grade dance, and held our
last PTO Coffee with the
Principal. Science Expo
was held Wednesday,
April 27, and was a
wonderful
night
for
students, parents, and
teachers.
significant implications for the school and school district.
Encouraging your students and reminding them to try their best
highlights the importance of the test.
Students who miss any part of the test will be required to make
up that part the week following "testing week." While we do not
hold any academic classes during the regular week of the test,
we do hold all classes during make-up week. Consequently,
students taking make-up tests will have to miss classes to
complete the assessment. This is another reason it is so
important to have your child in school and on time for the testing
days (as long as they are healthy enough to do so).
As always, your support is greatly appreciated. We have great
students and are confident that they will do well.
ATTENTION SEVENTH GRADE PARENTS
Our seventh grade students will be selecting their cycle classes for the
2011-2012 school year in their Social Studies classes Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, May 18, 19, and 20. Descriptions of both the
required and elective eighth grade cycle classes can be found by going
to the LCJSMS website http://www.summit.k12.nj.us/schools/LCJSMS
/index_lcjsms.html. We encourage parents to access these course
descriptions in order to discuss the selection process with their
children.
TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY - TUESDAY, MAY 3
At the PTO Coffee with the
Principal, held Thursday,
April 14, the slate for the
2011-12 PTO Executive
Board was announced
and approved.
Next
year's officers are:
President
Lesley Greenstein
First Vice President
Tracy Forsyth
Second Vice President
Donna Miller
Treasurer
Amanda Greenblatt
Assistant Treasurer
Sheila Herr
Corresponding
Secretary
Nellie Stewart
Recording Secretary
Maureen Alvidrez
Tuesday, May 3, is Teacher Appreciation Day. Please take this opportunity to
write a personal note to a teacher you feel has had a positive impact on your
child's experiences at LCJSMS this year and send it in with your child that day.
Encourage your child to write a note, as well. So many of us can remember
teachers who guided and inspired us during our middle school years and wish
we could let them know what it meant to us. Let's take advantage of this day to
let the LCJSMS teachers know now what their efforts mean to our children.
PTO GREEN TEAM BOOK AND VIDEO GAME SWAP
Don't throw away that old video game or book! The Environmental Action
Club, the LCJSMS Library/Media Center and the PTO Green Committee will be
holding another used book and video game swap on Tuesday, May 24,
immediately after school in the Library/Media Center. Any student who brings
gently used books, comic books, or video games to swap can participate in the
swap event. You can drop off your gently used books (appropriate for middle
school readers), comic books, and "E rated" games (Nintendo DS, Wi PSP,
etc.) to swap in the Library on Monday or Tuesday, May 23 or 24, between 7:30
and 8:00 a.m. or after school on Monday, May 23, from 2:45-3:30 p.m. We will
needstudent and parent volunteers to help with this event. If you would like to
volunteer, please contact Mrs. Priya Patil priya_kubair@yahoo.com or Mrs.
Marjorie Fox mfox1@mac.com.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT Thank You!!!
Family Fun Night 2011 was a great success! Thank you to all the students,
parents, teachers, and staff who attended the event, bought raffles and food,
played games, and volunteered their time. We couldn't have done it without
you.
We would like to especially thank the following people:
Mr. Matthew Block, Mr. Jeffrey Heaney,
Mrs. Regina Hlll, Mrs. Eunice Churchill
Mr. Jack Sturm, Head Custodian, and the entire LCJSMS Custodial Staff
Many thanks to these
wonderful women for
stepping forward and
agreeing to serve as next
year's PTO Executive
Board. They are sure to
do an outstanding job.
With the support and help
of the entire parent
community we can look
forward to a great year.
Planning is underway for
the
Eighth
Grade
Graduation. scheduled to
take place Monday, June
20. The PTO Graduation
Committee is planning a
Pool Party for the eighth
graders on Thursday, June
16 (raindate: Weds., June
15), as well as a reception
for parents, and dance for
the eighth graders on
Monday, June 20. This is
sure to be a festive, fun,
and memorable night.
This effort is financed
through donations from
eighth grade parents. Any
donation will be gratefully
accepted. Please make
your check payable to
LCJSMS PTO and note
Eighth Grade Graduation
in the memo area of your
check.
Place
your
donation in an envelope
addressed to the LCJSMS
PTO, marked ATTN:
Graduation
Committee
and mail or deliver it to the
Mr. Mike Martino, Summit Schools Electrician
Mrs. Diane Sottile, Volunteer Coordinator
Mrs. Marilee Klaschka, Games
Mrs. Betsy MacPherson and Mrs. Regina Daly, Food
Mrs. Heather Kapsimalis, Cake Walk
Mrs. Tina Spotts, Face Painting
Mrs. Susan Orrell, Admission and Ticket Sales
Mrs. Veronica Bonnet, Photo Booth
Mrs. Beth Tully, PTO Treasurer
Mrs. Mary Mokuvos, Mrs. Susan Donnellan, Mrs. Clelia Biamonti,
Mrs. Sarah Kaplan and all the LCJSMS families who so generously
donated to the Tin Can Raffle.
Simply the Best Inflatables (www.stbinflatables.com)
Taylor Rental, Berkeley Heights
We would also like to commend the students for their exemplary behavior at
Family Fun Night. Our games vendor commented specifically on the good
manners and courteous behavior of our students.
Thank you!
Mrs. Regina Feeney and Mrs. Christine Murray
Family Fun Night Co-Chairs
SPARC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - MON., MAY 2
SPARC will hold its last general meeting of the school year on Monday, May 2,
at 8:00 p.m. in the Summit High School Band Room, Room 338. (Note: This is
a change from our usual meeting location in Room 228.) Join
us aswe enjoy student performances from Summit school productions, honor
this year's SPARC Mentors, and share information about upcoming performing
arts events and opportunities.
SHS THEATRE ARTS:
Forensics Summer Workshops
Directors' Showcase Announcements
SUMMER FORENSIC WORKSHOP - JULY 25-30
Any eighth grader interested in joining the award-winning Summit High School
Forensics Team is encouraged to register for The Perfect Performance
Forensic Workshop July 25-30 at Summit High School. The second annual
summer workshop will once again be conducted by national speech and
theatre consultant, Demond Wilson. This workshop is focused on preparing
students to be competition ready, with one event, in six days. The workshop
includes lectures, study guides and coaching time. It is a great way to
jump-start a hectic school year in which students struggle to fit everything in.
All of the interpretation, speech, and debate events will be offered. To register
for the summer workshop, go to The Perfect Performance website:
http://www.theperfectperformance.com/main/summer_workshops.htm
For more information, contact Mrs. Anne Poyner, Forensic Coach, at
apoyner@fc.summit.k12.nj.us.
DIRECTORS' SHOWCASE - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
The Advanced Theatre class will present its annual Directors' Showcase
Wednesday, June 1, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium. Six
half-hour plays are selected, produced, designed, and directed by members of
the advanced class. Over 40 students have been cast in this year's
productions which include Clue, directed by Melannie Vasquez, Marco
Rodriguez, and Annie Schmidt; Lend Me a Tenor, directed by Mariah Dalton,
Nora Boylan, and Erin Fitzpatrick; You Can't Take It With You, directed by Will
Mink, Conor Donnally, and Griffin Cooper; I Hate Hamlet, directed by Nikki
Theriot, Martin Jimenez, and Elizabeth Akudugu; Brighton Beach Memoirs,
directed by Ellie Terrett and Sarah Grewcock; and Chicago, the Musical,
directed by Katt Claypoole and Melanie Porras. The performances will be
followed by a Critics' Panel conducted by theatre professionals. Admission to
the Showcase is free and open to the public.
Main Office at the Middle
School (272 Morris Ave.)
by Friday, May 20.
And, of course, as always,
please visit the Summit
Schools website to review
information regarding the
entire district. You won't
believe everything that is
going on! See the website
for details.
Mary Mokuvos
PTO President
Got Grocery
Scrip?
LCJSMS
GROCERY SCRIP
CARDS DON'T
LEAVE HOME
WITHOUT THEM!
All are welcome to stop in
at the Middle School lobby
between 8:00 and 9:15
a.m. on Grocery Scrip sale
days to purchase grocery
scrip (debit cards) in
various denominations.
The
Grocery
Scrip
Program will run on the
following
remaining
Fridays: April 29, May
13, May 27, and June 10.
Don't forget to stock up
for the summer on one
of the last two sale
dates!
Convenient home delivery
is also offered for those
who can't make it to the
Middle School to buy their
scrip. Please contact Mrs.
Beth Boak at 273-2055 or
emboak@gryphondev.com
to sign-up.
We hope we can count on
your support!
LCJSMS
LEARN TO GIVE...GIVE TO LEARN SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
The Annual Learn to Give...Give to Learn School Supply Drive will take place
at all SUMMIT schools during the weeks of May 2 and May 9. Collection bins
will be located outside the school offices. Please refer to the attached flyer for
a list of suggested supplies (click here to view attached flyer). All donations
will go to needy children in Summit before the start of the 2011-12 school year.
This event is sponsored by the Christ Child Society of Summit, Bridges ,and
Westy Self Storage.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE BOOSTERS
The Boosters Association is a parent volunteer organization that promotes and
supports all athletic programs at SHS and LCJSMS. The Boosters provide
athletic scholarships and host events such as Hilltopper Weekend and the
Athletic Open House for LCJSMS. In addition, they support teams by supplying
funding for needed equipment. This is all possible through fundraising
activities, the sale of merchandise and the publication of our Annual Sports
Journal. Join us and make a difference for our children! We welcome your
time and talents! Please come to our next meeting, Wednesday, May 11, at
7:30 p.m. in the SHS Library. For more information about the Boosters, visit
our website www.summitboostersnj.org.
SEF's Night in Pair-a-Dice!!
This year's "Night in Pair-a-Dice" was a huge success! On Saturday evening,
March 26, SEF held a sold-out event at the Elk's Club for more than 350
people. Casino games with professional dealers were featured, but the live
and silent auctions provided plenty of entertainment, as well. The merchants
and restaurants in Summit were extremely generous and supplied SEF with
raffle-basket and auction items, as well as delicious food donations that were
served at the event. Night in Pair-a-Dice proved to be a fun evening for the
parents and a profitable one for Summit's students. The chairs, Mrs. Carin
Parella, Mrs. Lucia Beauchamp, Mrs. Jenna Sullivan (Washington School
parents), and the entire committee did a fabulous job. Thank you to all of our
volunteers, donors, and guests.
Shape The Future.....
Participate in the important work of advocating for our
students, teachers, and the strength of our public schools.
The Summit Educational Foundation (SEF) needs your skills
and talents, whether you are a writer, love to throw a party,
great at bringing people together, incredible with numbers, or
anything in between. Use your skills for good, gain a new
experience, and support your local community. Please reach
out to Nicole Blomfield, SEF President, at
blomfield.family@verizon.net or 908-277-3447 to learn more.
MAGAZINE
DRIVE
Please continue to
support the LCJSMS
Magazine Drive by
placing orders or
renewing online. Our
school will receive 50%
of all magazine orders
placed!
Go to www.QSP.com
and follow directions to
SHOP NOW.
Our Magazine Drive
account number is:
LCJSMS.425016388.
Questions? Contact
Mrs. Jane Murphy,
Mrs. Regina Daly or
Mrs. Rebecca Morano.
CALLING ALL
SUMMIT HIGH
SCHOOL
ALUMNI:
WE NEED YOU!!
The first annual Welcome
Home Hilltopper Weekend
will be held Friday and
Saturday, October 14 and
15, 2011. All Summit High
School Alumni are invited
to attend sporting events,
musical performances,
dramatic showcases, and
much more. There will be
an Open House at the
SHS Friday, October 14,
and more events are in the
works. In order to make
this event a huge success,
we need your help!! There
are many opportunities to
share your expertise and
get involved. From
marketing to PR to event
planning to alumni
outreach, WE NEED
YOU! This weekend is the
perfect opportunity to plan
your reunion and get your
friends back to Summit!!
Please contact Mrs. Kim
Bredahl at kbredahl@
comcast.net, Mrs. Laura
Coburn at lgc1010@
comcast.net, or Mr. Peter
Laughlin at peter@
thelaughlins.org to find out
more.
Panther Paws is a monthly publication of the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School.
The deadline for submissions is approximately the 15th of the month prior to publication.
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LCJSMS PTO | 272 Morris Avenue | Summit | NJ | 07901