Flipper's E-Newsletter - April 2022

A message from Mr. Masessa and Sra. Peake

Now that the madness of March is behind us, spring sports are firing up and your family calendar is beginning to fill up.

Remember to take time to BREATHE, and enjoy this time with your children. Please, enjoy the extra daylight and spend more time outdoors together after school and on weekends doing things you find both fun and relaxing.

With that said, we value the benefits of fresh air during the school day as well, so fresh-air walks after lunch and/or recess are a part of each day.

On that note, please make sure your child is properly dressed for outdoor activities.

This is a great time of year with minimal breaks in the school schedule, where we see terrific growth in our students' performances.

Our students recently completed the CogAT 7 test with minimal make-up testing needed due to great attendance.

PICTO Night was a huge success thanks to the efforts of our PTO, parent volunteers, generous donations from local businesses, our teacher volunteers, Mrs. Minch & Mrs. Anno, and our one and only emcee… Mrs. Klein!

Thank you for your support!

We also want to thank our PTO for their support in modifying the school garden and resizing it to the school's needs.

Take a few moments and come see the new look!

Class Lists Preparation

The creation of class lists is an important responsibility that classroom teachers, school counselors, and administrators work endlessly to manage. We spend a great deal of time and effort creating well-balanced class lists that ensure the success of students both academically and socially.

Many factors are considered in making placement decisions, including desirable social combinations of students, undesirable social combinations of students, numbers of students requiring academic support or enrichment, and overall number balance.

Placement decisions are not made casually. Because it is not as simple as placing a student with a teacher without considering all of the dynamics of each class and the individual and collective needs of the students, the Flemington Raritan School District does not honor parental requests for specific teachers.

Parents may write a letter to the principal stating specific needs that their child has which may be considered when placing the student.

Letters should be sent to Mr. Masessa at: mmasessa@frsd.k12.nj.us

The letter should state facts to consider and not request a specific teacher.

LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1st, 2022

International Children's Book Day

International Children's Book Day, which is celebrated on April 2^nd, is a day designed to promote and inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books from around the globe.

Our team at Flemington-Raritan School District works tirelessly to inspire a love of reading each and every day.

So we invite you to celebrate this occasion by joining our passionate champions of children's books and our media specialists who hand-picked resources for our students and their families to enjoy.

Ms. DiBetta	The Bruce Swap by Ryan Higgins
Ms. Larca	Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
Mr. Slomczewski	Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller
Mrs. Weil	Dreamers by Yuyi Morales Dreamers – Read in Spanish
Ms. Reed	How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Chapter 1)
Ms. Handren	Zombies Don't Eat Veggies by Megan Lacera and Jorge Lacera ¡Los Zombis No Comen Verduras!

PTO Happenings

Spirit Day

April 1st

Every first Friday of the month is spirit day at Desmares!

Our Dolphins are encouraged to wear their FAD swag on spirit days to show their school pride!

You can always buy spirit wear through membership toolkit by clickinghere and orders will be delivered to the students during school hours.

Spirit Day Contest

April 1st

Every spirit day, your PTO will ask the teachers to count how many Dolphins are wearing blue that day.

Winning classes from each grade will win a trophy which they get to keep in the classroom for the whole month!

Good luck to all our Dolphins!

School Store

April 1st

Your PTO runs the school store once a month (with the exception of June) during recess time for 1st - 4th graders.

The School store allows our students to buy fun school supplies like pencils, pens, erasers, and more. Prices range between 50 cents to $2.00 per item.

Please remember to send in no more than $5.00 with your child!

We will stop our Dolphins from shopping when they reach $5.00 in total.

4th Grade Talent Show

April 1st

Our Annual 4th Grade Talent Show will be held on Friday, April 1st virtually on Zoom at 7 pm.

Please click the link below to join the webinar and watch the amazing talents of some of our 4th-grade Dolphins!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86318388705?pwd=QkVoeG1UM0p4YzFNeVRrZGlKOWpmUT09
Webinar ID: 863 1838 8705
Passcode: 752164

You have the option to write encouraging comments in the chat section to our Dolphins!

Staff Appreciation Week

Now - May 2nd

Let's show our Desmares staff how much we appreciate everything they do to help our Dolphins bloom!

You can donate here to help us fund this well-deserved week! We are planning to have breakfast, lunch, dessert days, and more!

Stay tuned for more details to follow!

Dolphin Painting Session with Hammer & Stain

Now - April 7th

*** Please note the Dolphin will be drawn on the canvas with a pencil ahead of time ***
The session will be instructed by

Hammer & Stain – Flemington

Date: Monday, April 11th

Time: 3:30 - 5 pm

Grades: K - 4

Location: FAD Outdoor Classroom

Price: $35 (a portion will go back to our school).

Dolphins can bring a nut-free snack to enjoy before the session.

Flyer / En Espanol

Maddalenas CheeseCake

Now - April 18th

Surprise that special person in your life with Maddalenas CheeseCake and benefit your school!

Your PTO has partnered with Madalenas CheeseCake & Catering Inc. – family-owned since 1982 and brought to you locally made gourmet cheesecakes with pure natural ingredients & real dairy ingredients – the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.

Get yours today through April 18th on Membership Toolkit by clickinghere!

You can sell cheesecakes to Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Neighbors & Friends too.

A portion of the sales will go back to our school!

Orders can be picked up from school on May 3rd at 3:30 pm!

Flyer / En Espanol

Gertrude Hawk Spring Chocolates Pick Up

April 5th

Thank you Desmares community for selling Gertrude Hawk Chocolates to benefit our school!

You can pick up your orders on Tuesday, April 5th from school between 3:30 - 5 pm.

Email your PTO at FADpto@gmail.com for other arrangements!

Spring Flowers Pick Up

April 8th

Thank you Desmares community for ordering spring flowers and benefiting our school!

You can pick up your orders on Friday, April 8th from school between 3:30 - 5 pm.

Email your PTO at FADpto@gmail.com for other arrangements!

Dolphin Canvas Painting Session

April 11th

Our participating Dolphins will gather for an outdoor instructional canvas painting session of our school mascot FLIPS!

The session will be instructed by

Hammer & Stain – Flemington

Date: Monday, April 11th

Time: 3:30 - 5 pm

Grades: K - 4

Location: FAD Outdoor Classroom

Dolphins can bring a nut-free snack to enjoy before the session.

PTO Meeting

April 13th

At 7:30 pm via Zoom

Join us and be heard!

Meeting Agenda & Zoom Information

Dine-Out at Mi Sabor

Mi Sabor: Adjective

A unique flavoring that creates a one-of-a-kind dish.

April 27th

3 - 8 pm

Join us for a dine-out at Mi Sabor on April 27th between 3 - 8 pm and enjoy delicious Mexican dishes while supporting your school!

10% of sales will be donated to our school.

Please call (908-788-9003) for reservations (at their indoor seating area or outdoor patio) or to place your order for take-out.

(www.misabornj.com)

All you have to do is mention Desmares fundraiser at checkout!

21 Central Ave., Flemington, NJ 08822

Flyer / En Espanol

The Stephen Austin Maszczak Scholarship Award

Ongoing

The Stephen Austin Maszczak Scholarship Award started after FAD lost one of its Dolphins to brain tumor in 2011.

It is awarded to graduating students of Hunterdon Central Regional High School and is to be used for college or vocational school expenses. Desmares former students are able to apply for this scholarship in early 2022 through the counseling office at HCHRS. Students are asked to name past and present teachers or administration that influenced them in some way, big or small. Please know that your donation is making a meaningful impact on a former student, as well as continuing remembrance of a very special Desmares student, Stephen Maszczak.

You can donate here!

No Cost Fundraisers

Ongoing

An easy way to support the many activities your PTO offer throughout the school year is through no-cost fundraisers.

Here are a few ways you can help!

Amazon Smile / En Espanol

Box Tops Education Program / En Espanol

Coca-Cola Give / En Espanol

Birthday Visit By Flips

Ongoing

Does your Dolphin have a birthday coming up?

Flips can show up at your door to wish your Dolphin a very Happy Birthday with a special gift from 5 Below!

To book your visit, please go to:

Birthday Visit By Flips!

FAD Digital Sign

Ongoing

It's time to have a digital sign at Desmares' entrance! Your PTO will be asking for donations towards the digital sign throughout the year.

The digital sign will help your PTO advertise FAD events promptly instead of our amazing parent volunteer changing it manually every month.

It might take us more than one year but together we can make it happen! You can donate to the sign by clicking here.

SUBJECT: Flipper's E-Newsletter - April 2022