Dear Parents and Guardians,

We will be having our first virtual LIVE assembly! We are excited to offer this fun and educational experience to the children – as if we were in school. Thank you to the PTA for funding this program. Please check your teacher’s agenda on THURSDAY morning for the days’ lessons as well as the link for the assembly.

“Science and stories, together!” Join us for a virtual show of a ScienceTellers program called “Aliens: Escape From Earth!”

The event will be performed LIVE through Zoom on May 28^th.  The assembly should last 45-60 minutes.

Kindergarten, First and Second  10:00

Third, Fourth and Fifth 11:30

Get swept away in a zany, out-of-this world adventure. Along the way learn all about chemical reactions, air pressure and more!  The performer will answer questions, conduct polls/quizzes, and even teach a science experiment you can later do at home.

Enjoy!

Warmly,

Mrs. Healy

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Reminders

Please support Red Nose Day! Click here for information. You will also find some kid friendly jokes at the end of this email which your children will find funny! They can tell these or others to grandparents or aunts and uncles to make them laugh!

Join me for Kindergarten and First Grade Bedtime Stories on Thursday at 7:00. Your child’s teacher will post a google meet invite for the evening on Thursday morning.

No school on this Friday, May 22^nd and Monday, May 25^th.

Here are some enrichment opportunities from our district supervisors. A variety of fun learning activities for your children!

·        MATH

·        ELA

·        SCIENCE

The Smithsonian has many online resources for enrichment. These science activities range from easy to difficult. Try one or all!

·        SOCIAL STUDIES: Mr. Bickel takes on Super Heroes!

            JOKES FOR RED NOSE DAY

What kind of music is scary for balloons?

Pop Music

 

Why are teddy bears never hungry?

Because they are always stuffed

 

Why don’t sharks like fast food?

Because they can’t catch it.

 

Why do sharks live in salt water?

Because pepper makes them sneeze!

 

Why shouldn’t you give Elsa a balloon?

Because she will ‘let it go’

 

Where do pig eskimos live?

In pig-loos!

 

What do you call a skunk in a helicopter?

A Smelly-copter!

 

What is a dinosaur called when it’s sleeping?

A dino-snore!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are hosting a Student Council outreach event this week for Red Nose Day !  Just something cute and fun –after all Laughter is the Best Medicine ! 

Since 2015, Red Nose Day has been a campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated. Their mission is to use smiles and laughter to bring people together and raise life-changing cash for the children that need it most. The Red Nose Day campaign has raised $200 million and has positively impacted over 25 million children in America and around the world!

Harrison Student Council wants you and your family to be a part of this wonderful cause!

We’re calling all Harrison students to earn their digital Red Noses by showing a little kindness, spreading laughter, and bringing people together during this challenging time of physical distancing.

How can you earn your red nose at home?

Spread kindness and make someone laugh, in person, on the phone, or when having a video call! Earn a dollar by making someone laugh! We will be sending jokes home each night to help the cause!

YOU CAN:

Tell a joke…..      Make up a silly dance move…..    Make a silly face…..

Parents -follow the directions to get your child’s digital red nose. You do not have to post via social media; you can download the photo you created!

or

Create your own red nose using construction paper, face paint, etc. 

To learn more about the Red Nose Day campaign and make a donation,check out their website! Find out how to earn your digital red nose!

Please take a picture, and email it to chealy@livingston.org. We are excited to help those in need during this difficult time and bring a little laughter to your homes!

 

Warmly,

Mrs. Healy

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We had a wonderful response to our Field Day event and the children had a great time!  If your child has not completed the event or the guidance lesson, please do so by tomorrow.

We have just completed our eighth week of distance learning and quarantine! We certainly never expected this when we last were together in March. The children, their families and teachers have positively adapted to this crisis and risen to the occasion!  We are so proud of how we all came together to keep Harrison a strong and connected community !

We recognize, however, that the closing of school brings new challenges to our school community. Students are disappointed and saddened that they will not return to their classrooms, participate in traditional lessons or celebrate with our typical end of school activities. Parents as well as staff who have been balancing their work and family lives under drastically different circumstances will need to continue to do so for at least six more weeks. All of this is occurring while we face the physical, emotional and financial repercussions of Covid-19. 

But we are HARRISON and we are a strong, resilient and connected community!  We are in the last stretch of this marathon and will approach these last weeks with grit, determination and positivity! The staff continues to meet to discuss new and exciting ways to keep our momentum going and the children engaged in their learning. 

We recognize that each family pattern is different. Thus, we are providing curriculum based lessons which are necessary for all students to continue to progress academically as well as optional opportunities for enrichment. We will also be adding a few special treats for the children so they have something to look forward to each week.

Next Thursday- May 21^st

·        Student Council will be leading our participation in Red Nose Day 2020! It’s a simple and fun way for the children to be silly while helping others !

·        I will be reading a bedtime story to our K and 1^st grade students at 7:00. Children-Wear your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal!

Friday May 22^nd and Monday May 25^th

School will be closed! Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!

While our end of the year activities will look differently than in the past, we will do our absolute best to make June a fun and engaging time for the children! More information to follow!

Warmly,

Mrs. Healy

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow! It's what the sunflowers do!”

~Helen Keller

Dear Parents,

Today is FIELD DAY!

The links for the Field Day Activities and the Guidance lesson can be accessed through your child's teacher's Google Classroom.  The links are also here for your convenience:

Field Day

Guidance Lesson

Enjoy!

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow is National Field Day! Please see this presentation for a preview of the event. This will help you prepare for the event! National Field Day Preparation Slides  

 ·  Please follow the typical early morning procedures and reply to your teacher’s email as attendance.

 · Your teacher will post the NEW slideshow/required lessons in her google classroom.

 ·  The Field Day slideshow has embedded video clips of each activity demonstrated by Livingston PE teachers.

 ·  There are many events –the children are required to do at least five. This event can be done as a whole family, individually or with siblings-which should be fun.

 ·  The activities can be done inside or outside. Due to possible weather conditions as well as parents' work schedules –the events can be done throughout the weekend!

·  There is a google form for your child to complete after the event! Please send pictures –we would love to see your child!

 ·  There is also a guidance lesson focused on sportsmanship in your child’s google classroom with a google form.  

PE Questions?

Please contact our PE teachers.

Mrs. DeVito at rdevito@livingston.org

Mrs. Adams at badams@livingston.org

Guidance Questions?

Please contact our Guidance Counselors

Mrs. Imbimbo at  Imbimbo@livingston.org

Mrs. Siti at csiti@livingston.org

 Enjoy!

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We are trying to host our traditional events in a different manner! Field Day is definitely a “favorite” amongst the children. Please build upon their natural excitement and enthusiasm. 

This event can be self-paced in order to balance all aspects of life at home! Our expectation is that your child complete at least 5 activities and then fill out the google form which will be in the presentation. 

Watch the Virtual Torch travel the country!  

 

Start gathering materials and practicing for our Field Day! 

Your homeroom teacher will send you the links for the guidance lesson and the Field Day slideshow with embedded videos on Friday. Please respond to the email as always for attendance. 

Thank you! 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’re excited to announce that our elementary community will be participating in the OPEN National Field Day event on Friday, May 8^th!

Field Day is an important Harrison tradition at our school. It is a significant day for our students and our staff, and we feel that in these incredibly challenging times this national event is a unique way that we can stay connected as a community and support one another in a fun and meaningful way.

OPEN (Online Physical Education Network) is a national public service organization that provides curriculum and training support to more than 90,000 teachers in all 50 states. We will be using their resources and social media network to help us organize our school’s participation in #NationalFieldDay. All Livingston elementary schools are participating!

All #NationalFieldDay events are designed to be done indoors or outdoors using common household items. You won’t be asked to purchase any specialized equipment or supplies. The supply list is at the end of this email.

Here’s how it will work:

Harrison Elementary School is now registered as a participant in this event. 

Your family will have early access to a set of 20 event cards through Harrison’s Field Day Slide Show. Click here . National Field Day Preparation Slides  

Your family will be asked to choose a minimum of 5 events to complete on Field Day. However, you may complete as many events as you’d like.

PLEASE CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THEM ALL.

We will send another document next week that will have videos and scheduled events.

We will keep the event open all weekend so you can work together whenever it works best for you! 

From May 3 thru 7, we will follow #NationalFieldDay and watch the Field Day Torch travel across the country in preparation for the main event. 

On May 8, our entire school will participate in events, share photos and videos with your PE teachers, and participate nationally on social media using #NationalFieldDay.

The events use household items. You will find a list in the powerpoint and also at the end of this note. Tomorrow may be a rainy day-your children might want to start to gather materials!

Every student that participates will receive an OPEN National Field Day certificate thru email and a charm for their lanyard when we return to school.

Please wear Harrison gear or school colors (blue and gold/yellow) while participating in OPEN National Field Day so we can show our school spirit!

We hope that your entire family will use this event as a fun and meaningful way to be physically active together and as part of our entire school community. More information to follow! 

We appreciate your cooperation! 

Mrs. Healy

Mrs. DeVito

Mrs. Adams

 Questions –Please email Mrs. DeVito or Mrs. Adams                         

rdevito@livingston.org      badams@livingston.org

You can also find updates via social media using #NationalFieldDay or @HarrisonHawks90.

List of items to use in events:

•      6 Large Socks (to create sock balls)

•      1 Laundry Basket (or bucket)

•      6 Medium to Large Plastic Bowls

•      Paper (to keep tally points)

•      Pencil or Pen

•      1 Empty Water Bottle

•      10 Plastic Cups

•      Clock or Stopwatch

•      1 Coin

•      2 Paper Plates (or cardboard to use as a fan)

•      3 Balloons

•      1 Ping Pong Ball (can use a small balloon)

•      10 Clothing Items

•      1 Kitchen Spatula

•      1 Plastic Container Lid

•      5 to 10 Pairs of Shoes

•      2 1-Gallon Milk Jugs

•      3 to 6 Sheets of Paper (for making airplanes)

•      Scavenger Hunt Worksheet

•      1 Medium-sized Bucket

•      1 Plastic (Tupperware) Container

•      1 Spoon

•      1 Small Object that Fits in Spoon

•      1 Large Towel

Dear Parent and Guardians,

We were so excited to have our first virtual Hero Groups on Friday! The teachers and kids had a wonderful time. Please send a picture of your child with his or her letter or message to me at chealy@livingston.org. I’ve received over 150 so far! See my video thank you to the children at https://www.wevideo.com/view/1669936170   

Tomorrow’s weather looks promising and we hope all the children get out to play! There will be a salute to those on the frontlines by the Blue Angels Thunderbirds at 12:00. Not sure if we will be able to see it but it is worth a try! I’m sure it will also be televised!

https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/blue-angels-thunderbirds-flight-path-maps-times-set-for-nj-ny-to-salute-coronavirus-first-responders.html

Additionally, for those who are looking for guidance regarding how to speak to littles ones about Covid19 please see Sesame Street’s Town Meeting. Please view it before watching with your child. https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/25/us/cnn-sesame-street-town-hall-coronavirus-trnd/index.html  

Our next SEL activity will be a district-wide elementary Virtual Field Day on Friday May 8^th!  More info to follow.

Thank you for your commitment to our Harrison School Community. Your enthusiasm and participation in our community events helps to keep the children focused on the positive as we try our best to attend to business as usual during these unusual times!  

Warmly,

Mrs. Healy

Dear Parent/Guardians,

Thank you for joining us this morning for our first “Harrison at Home” Hero Group and for being patient with some bumps along the way! It was such an exciting time for the students to see other friends that are not in their class. We are proud to announce that almost everyone attended their Hero Group. If you had a problem and your child didn’t make it into their group please email Mrs. Imbimbo or Mrs. Siti and they will create a small group and recreate the lesson! dimbimbo@livingston.org or csiti@livingston.org. Thank you to our guidance counselors as well as the entire staff for bringing the children together on this dismal day!

The theme of our Hero Group today was finding the things that have made you smile these past few weeks at home. We learned from our story, The Breaking News, that even the smallest act of kindness can bring a smile to someone. You can watch the story again here, THE BREAKING NEWS- Storytime Read-Aloud. This was the second time the children have read this book. We used it when we were helping out the animals endangered by the Australian wildfires. Little did we know that it we would need it again for the current crisis.  

Just like the story, you are now being given the opportunity to bring a smile through an act of kindness! I am challenging YOU to bring a smile to the many people who have been working hard to make our community better over these past few weeks by creating homemade THANK YOU cards! These can be large or small creations. You can choose the materials such as crayons, chalk or paint. Please include a nice message to brighten someone’s day.

It is so important to practice being thankful. When we think about what we are thankful for, it brings us happiness. This weekend, you can spread kindness through creating a card to say thank you to someone who has been helping you and our community. It is even more special to think of helpers we may not always remember to thank, such as:

·  Postman and postwoman

·  All medical personnel

·  Garbage or recycling collector

·  Grocery store workers

·  Amazon/FedEx/UPS delivery person

·  A food delivery worker

Children, YOUR JOB is to also spread kindness around in your family! In order to earn a stamp for your card, you will have to complete a helpful chore around your house.  Important: Be sure to have someone take a picture of you either doing your chore or showing the thank-you card you created. Then email your photo to Mrs. Healy. She has something very special planned!

Additionally, with it being a rainy day, you can also choose to create the craft that is at the end of the story video that the author demonstrates. You are to draw a plant just like the one from the story. On the leaves, you draw or write the things you can do to grow kindness! You do not need to complete this, it is optional.

We hope you had fun today and have a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Mrs. Healy