Dear ACS Families,
What a wonderful week it’s been at ACS! Our classrooms were filled with energy and engagement as students dove into new learning experiences, and our Pre-K students had a fantastic time on their trip to the pumpkin patch It was the perfect fall adventure filled with discovery and laughter!
As a reminder, school will be closed on Monday, October 20th in observance of Diwali. We wish all families celebrating a joyful and light-filled holiday! 🌟
Please enjoy a preview from our upcoming concert of Ms. Albanese's class singing "Diwali is Coming" during Chorus with Mr. Babos.
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Our K–2 classrooms are alive with learning as teachers bring our Orton-Gillingham Phonics program to life! We’re so proud of their dedication and excited to see our students’ enthusiasm and growing confidence as readers. |
In Ms. Kim’s 4th grade class, students took on the role of teacher as they presented their math projects to classmates. They shared their thinking, explained strategies, and highlighted the most important concepts about addition and subtraction. It was a great way to show true mastery! |
Smiles, sunshine, and pumpkins galore! Our youngest learners enjoyed a wonderful trip to Wood Park, celebrating the season with outdoor fun and hands-on learning. |
First graders explored their creativity by painting Magic Animals, inspired by Joan Miró. Each artwork is bursting with color, personality, and playful imagination |
Our kindergarten mathematicians in Ms. Hafner and Ms. Macaluso’s class had a blast using spinners and manipulatives to compare numbers 1–5. Through teamwork and play, they’re building strong number sense, one spin at a time! |
Students in 3rd Grade Orchestra spend the first month of class learning to play their string instruments using a technique called pizzicato—an Italian musical term meaning “to pluck the strings.” By mid-October, students are awarded their Bow License, which signifies that they have a solid understanding of the pizzicato technique and are ready to begin playing with their bows. This is a big milestone in elementary strings! These students from Ms. Chernick’s class were very excited to be the first 3rd graders at ACS this year to earn their Bow Licenses. |
Students in Ms. DaSilva and Ms. Lim-Goo’s class had a blast in music with Ms. Jufer, exploring rhythm and melody on the xylophone! Their smiles and steady beats filled the room with joyful sound and creative energy. |
Our students are excitedly building their English reading and writing skills! From discovering new stories to creating their own written pieces, they are growing in confidence and creativity every day. The classrooms are full of curiosity, collaboration, and a love for learning! |
Our monthly TRACK Campfire brought Grades 1 and 2 together to celebrate students who shine through teamwork, respect, and kindness. Today we talked about how to problem solve with kindness.
What a wonderful way to keep our ACS values glowing bright!
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We’re excited to celebrate Halloween with our annual ACS Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 31st at 9:15 a.m.! Please note that the parade will take place weather permitting — if there’s heavy rain, we’ll need to cancel.
Students should arrive at school in costume, ready for the fun! The parade will begin at 9:15 a.m., as students march out through the Fort Lee doors, along the school yard, across Broad Avenue, and around the Crescent Circle before heading back inside through the Crescent Circle doors.
Families are welcome (and encouraged!) to line up along the parade route to cheer on our students We can’t wait to see your smiles and waves!
If you prefer that your child not participate, please let your child’s teacher know. We’ll have an alternative activity available during the parade.
Classroom party times will be coordinated by your child’s teacher and class parents. Stay tuned for those details soon!
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- Please refer to the schedule below to see when your child will be at the fair.
- ALL parents/guardians are encouraged to attend with their child.
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If you cannot attend the book fair, please send your child with cash or a Literati gift card. Please connect the gift card to our school (so it can be looked up even if lost).
- Saturday 10/25 is a great day to come as a family and visit our Pumpkin Decorating event too!
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- Don’t miss this annual fun, family event!
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Purchase tickets HERE now or purchase them on the day of / when you arrive.
- There will be a LOT of fun activities for the kids and adults, including games, food, and “Shop for Good” - a second hand sale of new or like-new clothing and accessories.
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Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Justine Choi & Melissa Freeman
ACS HSA Presidents
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* 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
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Chromebook insurance is available through Smart Tech for the 2025–2026 school year. The annual coverage fee is $26, which protects against accidental damage, theft, liquid damage, and battery issues.
Please note that without insurance, repair or replacement costs can be significant, for example, a broken screen is $98, and a lost Chromebook is $298.
The deadline to enroll is December 1, 2025.
You may also register by phone or mail using the flyer attached to this post.
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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
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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..
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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
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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.
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Looking to set restrictions your child's meal purchases?
Need to add money to their account?
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281 Broad Ave.
Leonia, NJ 07605
Phone: (201) 302-5200
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