Hello all Roland Rogers FSA Family.

 The end of the year is quickly coming upon us.   It is time for board nominations and elections.  If you would like to run for a position or nominate someone, please come to the next meeting.

All people being nominated must attend the meetings and must be a paid FSA member.

Nominations will take place at the April meeting, which has been changed to Monday, April 8 at 8am in the Library.

Elections will be held at the May 7th meeting, also at 8am in the Library.

Thanks so much. If you have any questions, please call Gail at 748-0485.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        December 10, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As you know from Public Information Messages, there is an increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the country.  We have had a case of suspected pertussis identified at Roland Rogers. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air by a cough or a sneeze. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough, which become much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughing fits followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. There is generally only a slight fever. People with pertussis may have a series of severe coughing fits followed immediately by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath. The cough is often worse at night, and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.

If your child has been around someone with pertussis, s/he might become sick with the disease. This is especially true if your child is not up-to-date with his/her pertussis vaccine shots. Even if your child’s shots are up-to-date, s/he might still get pertussis.

If your child has been in contact with someone with pertussis, antibiotics prescribed by your doctor may prevent him/her from becoming ill. If your child is already sick, giving antibiotics early can help your child get well faster and lower the chances of spreading the disease to others.

Please consider the following New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services recommendations:

1. Infants under one year old, especially those under six months, are most likely to have severe symptoms if they develop pertussis. When possible, young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Infants with any coughing illness should be seen promptly by their doctor.

2. Pertussis vaccine has until recently, been given only to children under 7 years old. However, a new adolescent and adult pertussis booster vaccine is now available for person’s ages 10 – 64 years. If you have children who have not been completely immunized against pertussis (particularly infants under one year) we recommend you now talk to your child’s doctor about the benefits of vaccination.

3. If your child comes down with cold symptoms that include a cough, talk to your child’s doctor immediately. Tell the doctor that pertussis has been identified at your child’s school.

4. It is generally recommended that those persons having close contact with a pertussis case receive antibiotics from their doctor to help prevent them from getting pertussis.

5. Do not send your child to school if s/he has any signs or symptoms of pertussis.

We continue to monitor the situation at school and if additional actions to control the spread of pertussis among pupils become necessary, we will again notify parents.

If you have general concerns or questions about pertussis, contact your local health department at 645.7700 Ext. 4236. If you have specific concerns or questions about your child’s health, contact your health care provider.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robin Moore

School Principal

Come Celebrate the Love of Reading with Your Children

Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program created by NEA, National Education Association, that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

The Purpose of Read Across America

Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.

Parents are invited into the school to read to their child’s class.  They can contact their child’s teacher.  Click Here for Schedule

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
March 2, 2012

(unless otherwise noted)

Kindergarten

March 1 – Cat in the Hat visit at 9:15 – 9:45 in Library (Sponsored by NJEA)

March 2 – Room 1, 4 & 5: PM Miss Galloway Teen will visit rooms
Room 2/Gruber: 9:30 GTMS Drill team will read to students and give a  demonstration
Room 4/Marti: AM Older sibling reading partners
Room 5/D’Angelis and Polisano: AM Making green eggs and ham

First Grade

9:15 – 9:45 Guest readers from Staples for all classes
9:55 – 10:25 1^st and 6^th grade “Big Buddy” reading
Latham and Burke/Esposito
Bustard and Albert/Esposito
Richardson and Whittaker/Wagner/Esposito
Provenzano/Argenti
10:25 – 11:40 Random classroom activities
10:30 – 10:55 Pareene and Dolente/Newman/Esposito
12:40 – 1:40 Round Robin reading with all 1^st grade teachers

Second Grade

Room 9/McCarty: 9:30 – 11:30 Parents reading in classroom, limit of 5 parents
Room 11/Bishop: AM “Read In” plus Dr. Seuss activities
Room 12/Smoaks: AM Students will create books and have a guest reader
All classrooms – Dr. Seuss activities in classroom – no parents

Third Grade

3^rd grade:  9:30 – 11:00 GTMS Drill/Step team will be reading to the students
2:00 – 3:00 Students will rotate to all 3^rd grade classrooms for reading activities

Fourth Grade

4th grade:  Sibling Soiree 9:30-10:15

Fifth Grade

5^th Grade: 12:05 – 12:45 Parents coming in to read with students

Sixth Grade

9:55 – 10:25 1^st and 6^th grade “Big Buddy” reading
Latham and Burke
Bustard and Albert
Richardson and Whittaker/Wagner
Pareene and Dolente/Newman

Specials

ELL Students – Reading Dr. Seuss and doing Dr. Seuss activities all week on the iPads.

Grades 1 – 3 Combined Library (reading activities) and Art (painting) project all week in the library and the art room

 Traffic in and around school zones can create significant hazards for children and teens, as well as crossing guards, school officials, and volunteers. Parents often unknowingly create traffic hazards as they drop off or pick up their children from school. 

To ensure everyone’s safety, be sure to do the following: 

• Please review and always follow your school’s student drop off plan.
•  Drop your child off on the school side of the street, next to the curb. 
• Follow instructions provided by school crossing guards.
•  Slow down and comply with the posted speed limit not only in school zones, but where children are walking or biking along the road.
•  Resist the urge to “drop off and dash.” Pull out slowly and look not only ahead, but alongside and behind your vehicle for pedestrians, bicyclists, cars, and buses. 
• Eliminate all distractions‐‐particularly cell phones and other electronic devices that reduce your ability to react quickly in driving situations involving young children and their spontaneous actions. 
• Teach your child to look all ways before crossing and to cross only in crosswalks or at corners.  
• Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained in the appropriate child safety seat or booster seat or seat belt. New Jersey law requires all children under 8 years of age or who weigh less than 80 pounds to ride in a properly installed car or booster seat. All children between 8 and 18 years of age and all adults must wear a seat belt.

Visit Galloway Township Public Schools District Page about“Safe Routes to Our School”  http://www.gtps.k12.nj.us/SRTS/SRTS.htm

 Academic Resources:

There are are academic resources to help parents assist their children improve in reading and math.  Roland Rogers has extra resources such as:

• Everyday & Connected Math Student Resource Books
• Everyday & Connected Math materials in Spanish
• Low-level, high interest reading books / short stores
• Study Skills guide
• Understanding meaning – How We Learn & Think guide
• Parent Math Newsletter will be published throughout the year and made available to parents.

These materials can be accessed through the school’s Intervention & Referral Service Committee (MAT) or contacing Dr. Moore.

Everyday Math information:

• Home links are sent home at the start of each unit.  Parents will find detailed explanations of what is being taught along with answers to homework assignments.
• http://www.norman.k12.ok.us/155/Math/EverydayMath.htm -Great site for information!

Connected Math Information:  Numerous weblinks are available in the student textbook.

Language Arts Information:

• http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/parentsHome.jsp
• Google the words, Balanced Literacy, Literature Circles, or New Jersey ASK Writing Prompts for more information

Homework Help:

• http://www.infoplease.com/homework/

Health & Family Services:
Our school counselors and school nurses are available to assist with many health & family issues and services.  They have additional resources available if needed.