Dear Washington Wizards,
We're already at the end of October! Next week promises to be busy with our School-Wide morning meeting and our Halloween Parade. As we wrap up the month, let's remember to “spark kindness” into everything we do. For the upcoming week, I encourage everyone to perform one small, random act of kindness each day, such as holding a door open, giving a genuine compliment, or leaving an encouraging note for a friend. The New Jersey Department of Education has designated the week of October 20th as School Violence Awareness Week. This initiative reinforces our ongoing message to students about finding peaceful ways to avoid and resolve conflicts with classmates and to consistently show kindness. In light of this important week, I also want to take a moment to express our gratitude to Officer Mendez for his unwavering dedication to our school and for his tireless efforts in helping to keep us safe!
Shout-Outs & Spotlights
Battle of the Minds - Shout out to Mrs. Ascrizzi and our 4th and 5th grade teachers for their hard work in planning and launching our Battle of the Books! We're excited to see our students immerse themselves in the fantastic book selections.
Brave Students - A huge shout-out to all 5th graders who auditioned for Finding Nemo with Mrs. Manzo! Their courage and preparation were truly remarkable.
Safety Awareness - A big thank you to Officer Zivkovich and Officer Scalise for visiting us this week! They spoke with our students about important topics such as staying safe, promoting kindness among peers, and identifying trusted adults who can help ensure their safety.
Fire Safety - A belated thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Joachim and the Wyckoff Fire Department! Last week, they joined us to teach our kindergarteners and first graders about fire safety. The assembly on our new stage was a great success, and everyone enjoyed seeing the fire truck!
Reminders for Families
The Student Council is collecting leftover Halloween candy to donate to the “I Matter Project”. Please send in your extra, unopened candy between November 3rd and November 14th.
As the weather gets colder, please remember that students must wear safe footwear that fully encloses their feet. Footwear such as Crocs, Uggs without backs, or slippers, are not permitted on play structures or in active recess areas. These types of footwear are only allowed in designated safe areas and students wearing these will not be allowed in certain recess areas.
Families in 4th and 5th grade, please see this letter from Grace White, our Assistant Superintendent regarding the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments–Adaptive field
test administration for English Language Arts and Math. It is also attached below in our Friday Folder documents.
Family Conferences will take place on November 10th from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on November 17th from 2:00-7:00 PM. There will be no school for students on 11/10 and a minimum day on 11/17. Additionally, November 18th is a delayed opening with a 10:20 start time. New this year, we are offering conferences with our specialist teachers. If you wish to discuss your child's progress, please sign up using the links provided below. As our specialists work with 365 students, we kindly request that you be mindful when selecting time slots. Please arrive on time for your scheduled conference, and contact us in advance if you need to reschedule.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Sincerely,
Kelly O’Brien
Friday Folder Documents: Please click here to see the most recent Friday Folder documents.
2025 Creative Cooking November (K-2)
Wyckoff Connected Parents Series: Supporting Your Musician at Home
Wyckoff PTO Coordinating Council Family Connectedness Series
New Jersey Student Learning Assessments–Adaptive Field Test Administration
Upcoming Events:
10/31/25 - Washington Halloween Parade @ 2:30 pm for Parents - Back Field
11/5/25 - Spirit Day
11/6-7/25 - Schools Closed - NJEA Conference
11/10/25 - Schools Closed - Parent/Teacher Conferences
11/11/25 - Washington PTO Meeting @ 9:15 - MPR
11/14/25 - District 5th Grade Bingo - 6:30-7:30 @ EMS
11/17/25 - Minimum Day for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Dismissal @ 1:05 pm
11/18/25 - Delayed Opening - Arrival Starts @ 10:05
11/26/25 - Minimum Day - Start of Thanksgiving Break - Dismissal @ 1:05 pm
11/27-28/25 - Schools Closed - Thanksgiving Break
12/3/25 - Spirit Day
12/5/25 - End of the 1st Marking Period
12/12/25 - Report Cards Released @ 3:30 pm
District 5th Grade Bingo - 6:30-7:30 @ EMS - Snow Date
12/19/25 - 4th & 5th Grade Winter Choral Concert for Parents @ 2:30
12/23/25 - Minimum Day - Start of Winter Break - Dismissal @ 1:05 pm
12/24-1/2/26 - Schools Closed
1/5/26 - Schools Open
1/7/26 - Spirit Day
1/13/26 - Washington PTO Meeting @ 9:15 - MPR
1/15/26 - 5th Grade Advanced Band Concert for Parents @ 2 pm
Washington Family Game Night @ 6:30 pm
1/19/26 - Schools Closed for Students
1/22/26 - Washington Family Game Night Snow Date @ 6:30