Dear ACS Families,
What a busy and picture-perfect week it’s been! Picture Day brought out so many bright smiles and sharp outfits. It was wonderful to see everyone looking their best.
Our classrooms have been buzzing with learning and laughter, and we’re all excited to feel a hint of that crisp fall air rolling in. Here’s to cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, and a fun-filled weekend ahead! 📸🍂✨
|
During the Week of Respect, our school community celebrated the power of kindness, empathy, and inclusion. Together, we learned that respect is the foundation for a positive and welcoming school for everyone. |
Pre-K students practiced helpful actions with Mrs. Almeida, while our fourth graders explored making responsible choices, both at school and online.
Across grades, our students are creating TRACK charts and posters to show how we can put respect into action all year long!
|
September was full of amazing moments as our students demonstrated what it means to stay on the TRACK—showing Tolerance, Respect, Attitude, Cooperation, and Kindness each day!
Students proudly earned 95 TRACK Acts for making positive choices, helping others, and contributing to a caring school community. We’re so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see even more TRACK Acts in October!
|
Our PreK students built structures designed to support the weight of a pumpkin. After construction, they tested their creations by asking, "How many pumpkins can it hold?" - a question that sparked excitement and curiosity. Through this hands-on experiment, children discovered important engineering concepts, such as stability and balance. They learned that wider bases create stronger, more stable structures, making it safer and easier to support a pumpkin’s weight. This activity encouraged problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking, all while making learning fun and memorable. |
Ms. Adermach's Pre-K class got hands-on, creating apple-scented play dough from cornstarch and conditioner! Students explored textures, practiced their fine motor skills, and enjoyed a sensory adventure that was as fun to smell as it was to squish! |
Second graders took math off the page and into the classroom! With cushions as their tools, students explored arrays, figuring out how numbers fit into rows and columns; even those tricky ones that don’t divide evenly. Hands-on math at its best! |
The halls are alive with color! Check out the art projects from grades 1–3 outside the art room, showcasing our students’ creativity and love of learning this fall. A little art can brighten anyone’s day! |
Earlier this week, families received an email/app notification from Parentsquare, with a secure documents which included Literacy and Math data from our Fall Benchmark Assessments. Below are the assessments reports you should have received
Grades K - 3 - STAR Early Literacy
Grade 4 - STAR Reading
Grades K - 4 - STAR Math
Families that have questions regarding this data are encouraged to reach out to their child's teacher.
|
|
ACS Fall After School Clubs will meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays for 10 weeks beginning on October 15th.
Clubs will meet from 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Students will proceed to the small gym at dismissal where they will wait for their club supervisor to pick them up. Student supervision will be provided in the small gym from 2:45-3:00 p.m.
All clubs will dismiss at 4:00 p.m. from the Broad Avenue entrance.
The cost per class is $160.
A separate ParentSquare message will be coming soon with instructions for payment.
This fee is waived for families who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch.
Below, please find which clubs will be running on each day:
Wednesdays
Coding and Programming Fun Grades 3-4
Cursive Creators Grades 2-4
Mind Masters Grades 1-2
The Crafting Nook Grades 3-4
Thursdays
Coding and Programming Fun Grades 1-2
Creative Critters Grades 1-2
Rubik's Cube - Grades 3-4
Computer Science Fundamentals - Grades 3-4
|
|
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is requiring all districts to participate in a mandatory NJSLA-Adaptive field test this fall. This test is essential to help the state develop the new computer-adaptive assessment, which will personalize the testing experience for students in the future. This is a field test only, which means students will not receive individual scores or results. The sole purpose is for the NJDOE to evaluate the quality and fairness of the test items before the NJSLA-A begins in Spring 2026.
NJDOE is requiring field tests at ACS for grade 4 only.
ACS Field Testing Dates:
Wednesday, 11/12 & 11/13 - NJSLA ELA
Thursday, 11/14 - NJSLA Math
The NJDOE has released tutorials and practice tests on the New Jersey Assessments Portal's Student and Families Webpage. The tutorials familiarize students with the items types, testing tools, accessibility features, test format, and navigation of the Test Delivery System (TDS) that will be used for the NJSLA-A. Practice tests provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with the types of items and to respond to test questions similar to the questions students will be asked to answer on each of the tests.
|
This winter, our Fourth Graders will once again have the opportunity to participate in the ACS Spelling Bee. Spelling Bees provide a stage for growth. The spelling stage becomes a place where confidence takes root, giving spellers the courage to stand tall, not just for a moment, but for a lifetime. Missed words build resilience by teaching the power of trying again with determination. When spellers cheer for each other's success, they discover the beauty of sportsmanship that shines brighter than any trophy. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. |
|
- Scan the QR code on the flyer below to view your child’s class shopping schedule (check your child's take home folder for a hardcopy of the flyer)
- if you cannot join your child, consider sending them with a Literati gift card: Literati.com/GiftCards (be sure to connect the card to the school!)
|
- Come out for some fun at the ACS Home and School Association's Annual Fall Festival Fundraiser, on Sunday, 11/2 from 1pm-4pm! There will be games, giant slides, face painting, crafts, music, food, and more!
- This year’s festival will include a “Shop for Good” secondhand fundraising sale to support ACS activities. Donated items (new/like new) can be dropped off during the Pumpkin Decorating Event/Saturday Book Fair hours (10/25/25, 1-3PM)
|
* Click here to learn how to get ParentSquare messages in the language of your choice * Click here to support our school and donate to the ACS HSA
|
|
There have been a small number of instances recently of students using devices in school - most specifically, the use of smart watches.
This is a friendly reminder of the ACS Policy from our student/family handbook:
Cell Phones/Electronic Devices
- Cell phones are not permitted during school hours.
- Cell phones or other devices must be turned off and kept in students’ backpacks during the course of the school day.
- Cell phones or other devices shall be confiscated by any staff member if seen, heard, or used during the school day.
- This may result in the family being contacted and asked to pick up the phone from the main office.
- During school hours, cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in classrooms (including when there is a substitute teacher), the gym, the cafeteria, hallways, locker rooms, restrooms, or during recess.
- Earbuds and headphones may not be worn during hallway passing times or when moving throughout the building.
In the event you need to contact your child, please contact the main office. If your child needs to contact you, they will be sent to the main office by their teacher to make a phone call using our office line.
You can also learn more about the District wide policy here
|
Below are the health topics covered for the month of October according to grade.
The unit for October is: Our Healthy Selves
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade - How do we take care of our bodies?
4th Grade - How do we take care of our minds?
For questions related to our District Health Curriculum, please contact Steve Perrotta at Steven.Perrotta@leoniaschools.org..
|
|
Good attendance and class participation are essential ingredients for academic success. Excessive absence from class is detrimental to the learning process.
Classroom lessons foster and require social interaction, development of effective communication skills, critical thinking, and subject mastery.
While we recognize there are times that your child may need to be absent, we want to encourage parents to be aware of their child's attendance and monitor how absences are or may impact on your child's learning.
Research shows that absences that exceed more than 10% (18 days) of the school year could have a lingering impact on that child's academic progress.
Below, please find the ACS Attendance Policy and Procedures for reporting absences.
Parents of students who have excessive and/or unexcused absences, tardiness or early departures will be notified by telephone and by mail.
The school will:
- Maintain accurate daily record-keeping for attendance, absence, tardiness or early departure of each student.
- Utilize data analysis systems for tracking individual student attendance and individual and group trends in student attendance problems.
- Develop incentives to encourage student attendance.
- Develop early intervention strategies to improve school attendance for all students.
- Parents will be contacted for all student absences, even one-day absences. A call is not necessary if the parent contacts the school. A reasonable attempt must be made to reach the child's parent/guardian.
Type of Absences
Absence: Failure of a student to be physically present in school/class or an approved school activity/program.
**Please note that if your child is absent for any reason, excused or unexcused, your child’s attendance record will show an absence. Attendance is a legal record of whether or not your child is in our care; if they are not in the school building, they will be marked as absent. Communicating why your child is absent, and providing documentation when available, creates a story of your child’s attendance and helps our school to determine if more supports are needed.
Excused Absence: An absence for any portion of the day that meets the conditions specified under "Excused Absence;"
Unexcused Absence: An absence for any portion of the day that does not meet the conditions specified under "Excused Absence. "
Excused Absences:
- Illness of student
- Absence must be reported by the parent via phone or written communication
- Religious observance
- The student’s required attendance in court and supported by documentation
- Participation in observance of Veterans Day
- Participation in district board of election membership activities
- Take Your Child to Work Day
Unexcused Absence: Absence for any reason other than listed above will be deemed unexcused
|
|
Procedures for Reporting Absences
If a child is going to be absent, you can contact the school in one of two ways - in both instances, please provide your child’s name, teacher and reason for absence
For absences that last for an extended period of time due to illness, the school nurse may reach out for more information. For extended absences, home instruction may be offered.
In cases where your child must be released from a school prior to the end of the school day, parents must report to the main office to sign their child out.
In the event your child arrives after 9:00am, they should report to the main office.
|
Looking to set restrictions your child's meal purchases?
Need to add money to their account?
|
We know families are busy and may not always be able to read updates right away. No worries!
You can easily find posts later using the search bar at the top right. Just type in a keyword, phrase, or the poster’s name to quickly locate what you need to.
|
To learn more about our schools, follow us on:
281 Broad Ave.
Leonia, NJ 07605
Phone: (201) 302-5200
|
|
|
|
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
