News

Last week, the students enjoyed a visit from Perth Amboy’s Bravest Firefighters. They share basic fire safety information with children and show them the fire engine and what a firefighter looks like in bunker (firefighting) gear. The presentation focuses on teaching children that firefighters are their friends, not to play with matches and lighters, and how to safely exit the home in case of fire. During National Fire Prevention Week, October 9 – 15, 2011 attention at the ACS was focused on promoting fire safety and prevention. All age groups were also  taught about  the dangers of playing with fire, what to do in case of a fire, and the importance of smoke detectors.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011 the smell of barbecue drifted through the Assumption Catholic School neighborhood. The faculty was hosting its sixth Back to School Barbecue. They offered a delicious variety of meats and salads. Choices ranged from a simple hot dog to tasty shish kebab. The salads included the regular potato salad and beans to a barbecue corn salad. This year, thanks to the generosity of The Roughnecks Motorcycle Club of Monmouth County, families were entertained with music by Sound  Worx. While the dance floor was made up of mostly children, occasionally an adult could be seen venturing out to dance. The barbecue was a great way to welcome new families, and for old families to catch up after the summer break. We hope those that attended had a great time!

Morning and afternoon drop-offs and pick-ups are special, critical times for the safety of our students. Parents/guardians are asked to please drive slowly throughout the area during these times. In the afternoons please do not double park in front of the school and block traffic. The parish has also requested that you do not use the Handicap Parking slots when picking up/dropping off your students; it prevents handicapped families from using them when visiting the Church or attending Mass. Your assistance is greatly appreciated – by all!!!

The days have been muggy and warm. It has felt more like a day in the middle of July instead of the end of September. The grounds of our school look great and offer opportunities to observe nature at its best.

If you were dropping off or waiting for your children, you may have noticed beautiful white flowers off to the right pond. Further up the path the butterfly bushes are attracting multicolored butterflies. Hydrangea blossoms add another vivid color to the grounds.

One of the unique benefits of the muggy side of the weather is the chance to observe the fungus among us! On the stump next to the school you will see different types of fungus growing. Some looks like crushed seashells while others look like white ribbons that have been dropped near the stump. We have even had regular button mushrooms showing themselves in the grass.

So the next time you are waiting for you children, take a walk around the school grounds. There is always something interesting to look at!

A few new faces have been seen on campus this year at Assumption Catholic school.

Spot broke free from his chrysalis and visited the fourth grade class.

Samantha doesn't like to sweat but she sure did when she helped prepare food for thread back to school bbq.

A new school year has barely begun and ACS faculty members could be found after school attending a workshop given by the Diocese of Metuchen in which Assistant Superintendent Irene Sena presented a new program for teachers. The Success Factor Program offers teachers and principals a chance to work as a team to focus on ways to support school and teacher goals. Time is a precious commodity to most adults, and since this program is computer-based, year-long communication can take place without losing class time.

by Mrs. Bernstein’s Terrific Third Grade
The Terrific Third started backed to school with an art project that was anything but ordinary! A glyph is defined as a symbolic figure or picture. Students were asked to create individual glyphs using symbols that represented answers to a set of questions. The questions included: How many children are in your family? What is your favorite subject? What is your favorite free time activity? How many pets do you have? Once the glyphs were completed each one was framed. Next the students will use the data on the glyphs to create tally and bar charts. Finally, the students will become detectives as they try to discover the glyph’s true identity! The glyphs are on display in the third grade classroom!

Dear Family, Friends, Students and Prospective Students,

On behalf of our principal Mr. Michael Szpyhulsky, our faculty and our school community – welcome to the new school year at the Assumption Catholic School. It is hard to believe that summer vacation is already over.  I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun summer and is ready for the new academic year. As we begin this school year, I pray that it would be another fruitful year of on-going academic and spiritual growth for our students, and a rewarding experience for everyone involved in their education.

We at ACS work hard to ensure that our school remains a safe and supportive environment where learning is valued and where students and teachers can work together to their highest potential. The school has been cleaned and shined over the summer to welcome your child for the new school year. The newly revised and slightly sleeker Family Handbook is now available for your use. Please consider this handbook a valuable guide throughout the school year.
I want to assure you that we will do  our best to help your child experience spiritual, academic, social and emotional growth. By working together, we will have another outstanding school year.

Why Should Your Child Arrive At School “ON TIME”
Students who are continually late miss an important part of the day. First thing in the morning, teachers go over the timetable for the day, often take up homework and frequently give out and collect paperwork. Coming in late creates a disruption for the rest of the class and interrupts the lesson which has already begun. These students start the day behind and often stay behind for the rest of the day. In addition knowing that he/she is going to be late causes them to rush and often means not eating properly, which makes for a bad start to the day for all concerned. The student arrives stressed and embarrassed to come in after everyone else. Obviously there are valid reasons for being late such as medical/dental appointments, but sleeping in because the alarm didn’t go off is not a good reason. Coming to school on time is an important habit to develop and will ensure success at school and at work in the future.

Something to think about: If a child is late 5 minutes every school day he/she will miss a total of 650 minutes of instruction.

When Your Child Is Not Feeling Well?
It is important to keep your child home from school when he/she is not well. Your child will be more comfortable and it will help prevent the spread of infection to classmates. Keep your child home and call your doctor for advice whenever your child has any of the following:

• Vomiting or diarrhea through the night or before school.
• Any fever—temperature over 37 degrees C or 98.6 degrees F
• Ear ache or any drainage from the ear.
• Red irritated eyes, with yellow discharge.
• Sore throat.
• Stomach aches or headache
• Any rash that the doctor hasn’t seen.
• Persistent runny nose with thick mucous or a cough that does not go away.
• A cold that makes it hard to pay attention at school.

The school policy is if your child is well enough to come to school, he/she is well enough to go outside for recess and lunch breaks.

If you have questions, please contact Sr. Yosaphata, MSMG at 732-826-8721