Important Dates

January

3~ 12pm Dismissal~ Teacher In Service 

17~ Class Picture Day

20~ No School- Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Catholic Schools Week

Celebrate our Parishes – Sunday

Parents/Guardians,

During Catholic Schools Week, we take time to thank our parishes for their support. We ask that all SMRS Students wear their school uniform to church on Sunday, January 26th.

Celebrate our Community – Monday

Parents/Guardians,

There are many in our local communities that are in need of love, prayers and hope. As a Catholic school, we want to be able to share God’s love with those in need. On Monday, January 27th, we will be collecting personal care items by grade level. These items will be donated to guests of Good Shepherd Dining Room in Bridgeton, NJ and a local veteran’s home. A prayer service is planned for 1:30pm in the Church.

Celebrating our Students – Tuesday

Parents Guardians,

We thank God for the gift of our students, their health, their knowledge, and their talent. We are thankful that you have entrusted your most precious gift to St. Margaret Regional School for their academic and spiritual growth.

• Student Assembly – Paper Airplane Guy – A STEM hands-on experience with aerodynamics
• There will be an ice cream treat (dairy free options available for students with allergies) at lunch for each student.
• Casual Clothes Day – All clothes should be neat, clean and modest. If students come to school in outfits deemed inappropriate for school, students will be directed to call home to change into their gym uniform for the day.
• Annual Fund Giving Event – Day of Giving Donation Link
• Annual Art & Music Festival – doors open at 6pm.

Celebrating our Nation – Wednesday

Parents/Guardians,

• Parent Visiting Day 9am to 11am – Religion Fair available in the gym for viewing.

• American Flag bracelet sale for the 1^st Lt. Salvatore Corma Scholarship. We want to remember and pray for the freedoms with which we have been blessed and honor those in our Military who sacrificed much to help keep us safe as “One Nation Under God”. We invite our students to purchase an American bracelet for $1 – all proceeds will benefit the SMRS 1^st Lt. Salvatore Corma Scholarship which is awarded each year to a member of our graduating class who exemplifies great faith, courage, and leadership, especially in difficult circumstances. Salvatore Corma was an alumnus of SMRS and gave his life to save his platoon in Afghanistan. Aside from the bracelet sale, we will be collecting good-will donations for this scholarship as well. May God Bless America Always!
• Military Prayer Service – 1:30pm in the gym – All active and veteran service members of our community are invited to attend.

 Celebrating our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers – Friday

Parents/Guardians,

A fun day to wrap up a week of celebrating SMRS. We would like to thank our amazing faculty and staff for all they do. We would also like to thank our supportive volunteers, who help our school in so many ways.

• 8:30am Mass with a special blessing for Faculty, Staff and Volunteers. All SMRS volunteers are welcome to attend.
• Our Annual 8^th Grade VS. the Faculty Volleyball Game. Room Parents will be assigned to help cover classes for teachers to participate.

 Celebrating our Families – Saturday

Parents/Guardians,

Join us to let our voices be heard on earth and in heaven.

• 4pm Vigil Mass at Infant Jesus Parish
• Family Rosary Event 5:00pm – St Margaret Church immediately following 4pm Mass. SMRS families from gr. 1-5 will lead a decade of the Rosary. We encourage all SMRS families to attend. Throughout time, the Blessed Mother has asked children and families to pray for her Son’s intercession through the holy rosary. The rosary is our spiritual armor. As David overcame Goliath with 5 stones, we too can overcome our challenges with 5 decades. Watch for an invitation to join and help us lead this Holy Rosary Service.

February

7~ 12pm Dismissal~ Teacher In Service

14~ Valentines’ Day Party (more info to follow)

17~ No School- Presidents’ Day

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Awesome Animals

Letters: Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm

Math: Order by size and length, Numerical order, Problem Solving, Time order and Time words

Science/S.S: Pet Safety and care, Animal Homes, Animal Helpers, Animal Life Cycles

Religion: Jesus Belonged to a Family, We Belong to a Family, Jesus Has Many Friends, We Are Friends of Jesus

Morning prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I am small in size but very precious in your eyes.

Please help me in this day to see all the gifts you give to me.

As I go through my busy day, I offer you my work and play.

Please bless all I say and do, and these will be my gifts to you.

Amen

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My Big World: Home Access

In our classroom we use the My Big World with Clifford magazine to help build knowledge and vocabulary. Now you can visit the My Big World website at home.  You and your child can review and participate in the lessons we do in school.

To access My Big World:

Login to http://www.scholastic.com/mybigworld

Our classroom password is : smspreschool

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Contact Information

You can reach me by telephone at school, during school hours. Any other time, I am available by email.  I am typically prompt with email responses, however, I will guarantee a response within 24 hours, with weekends and school holidays being the exception. If there is an urgent message please call the school, or send me a text using Remind (see below). As always, you can also send a note in your child’s folder as well.

email: pdavis@stmargarets-rs.org

school phone: (856)845-5200

text: see next section to sign up for Remind

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Sign Up for Text Alerts via Remind

I would like to use this app for updates throughout the school year. I only send out information that is urgent, or time sensitive. You are also able to reply to me using the app, or send a quick message. (For example, if you are running late for drop-off or pick-up. Information was sent home in your child’s folder.

Below are the class codes to sign up for Remind. 

Preschool 4- @2e33kg

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General Policies

What to bring?

• Your child only needs to bring a backpack, their folder (we will provide) and a change of clothes each day. I do not suggest they bring toys from home in case they get lost, but if they insist, it must be able to fit in the backpack.
• Please pack a snack and a drink. Please have it in a separate bag from their lunch
• Full day students should bring a lunch, and they may bring a blanket and stuffed animal or lovey to snuggle with at rest time(also must fit in the backpack).

What to wear?

• Comfortable clothes that your child can operate on their own in the bathroom. No belts, please! We like play outside each day, weather permitting.

Drop-Off and Pick Up

• Drop-Off begins at 8:15am. A teacher or aide from one of the classrooms will meet you at the door. If no one is there, please ring the doorbell. SMRS students are NEVER PERMITTED to open any doors for anyone, including faculty. This is for their safety, and the safety of all students in the school.
• Our day ends at 11:45am (half day)  3:00pm (full day). Your children will be brought to the doors and dismissed individually to their adult.
• You must park and walk up to the doors for drop-off and pick up. There is no car line.
• If you have children in older grades, they may be dismissed by the preschool doors. Please send a note to their teacher, and myself so we know to expect them.

Birthdays

• We love to celebrate birthdays at school! For birthday celebrations, you may send in a special snack for your child to share with the class. Please just let us know in advance.

Allergies

If your child has an allergy…

• We are a Peanut/Tree Nut Free Classroom
• Please make me aware immediately of any allergies your child may have, including environmental and insects.
• Epi-pens and inhalers are kept in the classroom, but must be registered with the school nurse. Please send them in a ziploc bag with your child’s name and the prescription label

Mouseketeer of the Week

(aka Star Student)

Beginning in October, we will start having a “Mouseketeer of the Week”. Each child will have a turn to share with the class. They will decorate a poster all about them, and they will bring in a favorite book and a special item. When it is your child’s turn, they will receive a letter with directions, and the poster in their folder. We generally go in ABC order, so don’t panic if you don’t see your letter right away!

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Attention Volunteers

Anyone who will be volunteering at our school must be fingerprinted and have attended Virtus Child Safety training. Please keep in mind that the trainings are only offered on select dates each month and may fill up. If you have any questions about child safety training, please let me know. 

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Preschool Awards

Our whole school participates in a program known as “Fruits of the Spirit.” A different Christian attribute is chosen each month and children from each grade level are nominated by their teachers for exemplifying those qualities. In preschool we call this recognition, a “Pat on the Back.” Each month we choose 2 preschoolers from our class to receive a Pat on the Back! Dr. Sole, our school counselor, will come into our classroom, explain each virtue with the help of the children, and then present our awards to our recipients. The children soon know the reason for Dr. Sole’s visits, love to be recognized, and learn a little bit about those virtues and what it means to emulate them.

These Christian attributes are: Goodness, Peace, Kindness, Joy, Patience, Love, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control.