PARENTS’ HANDBOOK - Lopatcong School District

1 parents ' HANDBOOK . 2017-2018 School Year Lopatcong Township School District Lopatcong Township Elementary School and Lopatcong Township Middle School Phillipsburg, New Jersey Grades PreK through 4 Grades 5 through 8. Lopatcong Township Elementary School Lopatcong Township Middle School 263 Route 57 321 Stonehenge Drive Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865 Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865. Telephone: 908-859-0800 Telephone: 908-213-2995. FAX: 908-213-1339 FAX: 908-213-0373. Special Services: ext. 2800 Special Services: 908-213-2995, ext. Cafeteria: 908-859-3960 2800. Cafeteria: 908-213-2995, ext. 2520. Lopatcong Township Board of Education Offices 321 Stonehenge Drive Telephone: 908-213-2995, ext. 2500. FAX: 908-213-2875. 2. Administration Rainie Roncoroni Superintendent Rick Bonney Middle School Principal Noelle Kondikoff Elementary School Principal Donna Tolley Business Administrator Laura Newman Special Services Director Child Study Team Personnel Laura Newman Psychologist Kelsey Sessions Social Worker Lisa Zittis Social Worker Elaine Giaimo LDT/C.

2 Jocellyn Hayes Speech Therapist - Elementary Margaret Normile Speech Therapist Middle School Jessica Verrelli Speech Therapist - Elementary WCSSSD Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist Ginny Remetta Special Services Secretary Office Personnel Terry Lynch Administrative Assistant Middle School Ginny Remetta Administrative Assistant Elementary School Laura Ruggiero Administrative Assistant Elementary School Chris Ferri Assistant to the Business Administrator Debbie Winters Payroll & Benefits Specialist/Human Resource Assistant Noelle Kondikoff 504 Compliance Officer Rick Bonney Transportation Coordinator Director of Technology Adam Boyer Custodial Staff Brian Fleming Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds John Feleppo Head Custodian (E). Steve Hassan Custodian (M). Henry Hooper Custodian (M). Robert Marinelli Custodian (M). Matt Maslonka Custodian (E).

3 Maynard Reeves Custodian (M). Benjamin Whitehead Custodian (E). Lunchroom Staff Linda McQuade Lunchroom Supervisor (E). JoAnn Buckley Lunchroom Supervisor (M). Jackie Gritz Lunchroom Aide (E). Kim Koslowski Lunchroom Aide (M). School Nurses Ann Bertsch (Elementary) Betsy Fania (Middle School ). School Counselors Angela Sodtalbers (Elementary) Stacy Conner (Middle School ). Elementary School Staff Middle School Staff 3. Theresa Duaime Preschool Nicole Schuitema Art Michelle Balogh 5th Grade Social Studies Nicole Schuitema Art Jessica Lee Kindergarten Rudy Crevani Music Donna Bellfy 5th Grade Math Rodolfo Crevani Music Instr. / Vocal Krista Wayne Kindergarten Heather Burke PE Sonnie Hall 5th Grade Science Michael Alvino PE/Health Stacie Behme 1st Grade Patricia Steele PE/Health Patti Raniszewski 5th Grade ELA Denise Cumiskey PE/Health Susanna Ludlow 1st Grade Patti Hernandez Spanish / ESL Lisa Beenders 6th Grade Science Patti Hernandez Spanish/ESL.

4 Courtney Piccolo 1st Grade Gary Hank 6th Grade Math Richard Maisto Literacy Bonnie Ruesch 1st Grade Judy Erikson After Care Dir. Kevin Osifchin 6th Grade Social Studies Rene Boylan 2nd Grade Donna Tedesco After Care Asst. Kimberly Thompson 6th Grade ELA. Amy Harman 2nd Grade Kelsey Sessions After Care Asst. Julie Duffy 7th Grade Science Noreen Stansberry 2nd Grade Renee Fernandez 7th Grade Social Studies Janine Arnold 3rd Grade Lauren Mazza-Spigner 7th Grade ELA. Deborah Highet 3rd Grade Angela Nassi 7th Grade Math Lauren Umholtz 3rd Grade Diane Bower 8th Grade Math Amanda Wayne 3rd Grade Kathleen Knarr 8th Grade ELA. Kelli Cherry 4th Grade Ben Mehlman 8th Grade Science Susan Mahoney 4th Grade Traci Ruane 8th Grade Social Studies Lynette Stone 4th Grade Elizabeth Mansfield Special Ed / Autistic Class Alison Pogirnicki Special Ed Jennifer Allmer Special Education Lisa Roberts Special Ed Maria Barna Special Education Valerie Turker Special Ed Margaret Fehnel Special Education Heather Weidlick Special Ed Jennifer Gable Special Education Juanita White Special Ed James Thompson Special Education Susanne Chew Academic Support Jessica Sherwood BSI/Academic Support Jessica Lee Academic Support/BSI.

5 Eleni Burd Instructional Support Alexis Andransky Instructional Support Barbara Franklin Instructional Support Carmen Camunas Instructional Support Kathleen Horsch Instructional Support Cheryl Doerfer Instructional Support Stefanie Parmese Instructional Support Annie Lazorchak Instructional Support Melissa Smart Instructional Support Gwendolen Olah Instructional Support Mary Stumpf Instructional Support Sharon Orth Instructional Support Krista Tietjen Instructional Support Angela Schappert Instructional Support At High School : Tami Stucker Instructional Support Eleni Burd Instructional Support Melissa Yeisley Instructional Support Becky Johnson Instructional Support Susan Yount Instructional Support Jenn Kozak Instructional Support JoAnn McGann Instructional Support Lopatcong Township 4. Office of the Superintendent Board of Education Dear Lopatcong Township Families, 2017-2018 School Year The 2017-2018 School year has arrived with many positive additions.

6 We Ernie Gallant, President welcome Mr. Bonney as our new Middle School Principal. Mr. Bonney has Matthew Herzer Bob MacFarlane worked in the District for several years as a teacher in both the middle and elementary schools. He has also served as the Assistant Principal at the Middle Debra Hille Steve Ruane School for 3 years. As a Highly Effective teacher, he brings experience and Gena James Bill Taggart knowledge of best practices to the role of Middle School Principal. As a lifelong Barbara Lance Pam Thomas resident of Lopatcong , he also demonstrates a sincere passion and commitment to the students and families of the township. I am excited to have Mr. Bonney as part of our Administrative Team. Treasurer of School Monies Lorraine Rossetti Business Administrator/Board Secretary Donna Tolley After the adoption of The Next Generation Science Standards in the Middle School last year, we will expand the focus as we provide our 3rd and 4th grade Superintendent Rainie Roncoroni students with the online tech-book experience.

7 Teachers will be working Principal (MS) Rick Bonney together to design and implement high quality, innovative science lessons for Principal (ES) Noelle S. Kondikoff students. The middle School academic schedule remains the same as last year Director of Special Services Laura Newman which provides teachers the opportunity to fine tune their craft based on past experiences. We are also happy to announce that a certified Librarian will be on Regular Board of Education meetings are conducted on the second Tuesday of hand one day per week to assist the students in the areas of library/media skills each month and on the fourth Tuesday of each month (as needed) at the and research. She will also work with our library volunteers to help support their Lopatcong Township Middle School , 321 Stonehenge Drive in the Country Hills tremendous efforts in making sure that the students have access to the books on a section of Lopatcong Township at 7:00 in the instrumental music room regular basis.

8 Unless otherwise indicated. We welcome parents to attend our Back to School events to learn more about District Mission Statement curriculum and programs specific to your child(ren). Look for information on The Lopatcong School District is committed to provide a safe, secure and the website, in PTA Newsletters, in Virtual Backpacks and in Principal supportive learning environment that challenges all students to meet or exceed Newsletters and Tweets. As part of a District wide goal to increase parent developmentally appropriate expectations based on New Jersey Core Curriculum involvement, we are planning multiple events for parents to increase awareness Content and Common Core State Standards through interaction with highly about School initiatives or simply to talk with administration. I look forward to qualified and dedicated staff. the upcoming School year and hope to see you at one of our many back to School With community collaboration, the District will promote a positive atmosphere events, at PTA meetings or throughout the School year!

9 That acknowledges diversity and encourages students to be self-reflective and civically responsible. Sincerely, By providing a comprehensive educational program using varied instructional strategies, recognizing individual differences, incorporating technology and digital literacy and encouraging critical thinking, the District will prepare students Rainie Roncoroni for college and careers in the 21st century. Superintendent School CALENDAR 2017-2018 5. EMERGENCY CLOSING OF School : The Board of Education reserves the right to revise the 2017-2018 OUR ALERT SYSTEM is used to notify all parents with regard to calendar as conditions warrant. emergency closings and important announcements (make sure you are Aug. 24 (Thursday) First Day for Staff Schools Closed registered). Additionally, all School closings, delayed openings, and early Aug. 25 (Friday) Teacher In-Service Schools Closed dismissals will be announced over radio stations: WODE-FM ( ).

10 Aug. 28 (Monday) First Day for Students Schools Open WEEX (1230 AM); WAEB-FM (B104); WCTO CAT COUNTRY 96. Sept. 1 & 4 (Fri. & Mon.) Labor Day Schools Closed ( ); and TV Station WFMZ (Channel 69). Sept. 29 (Friday) no lunch Early Dismissal (ES-12:00)(MS-12:30). Oct. 9 (Monday) Teacher In-Service - Schools Closed 2 HOUR DELAYED OPENING of School due to an emergency: Nov. 9 & 10 ( ) NJEA Convention - Schools Closed Elementary School Doors Open 9:40 AM / School Begins 10:00 AM. Nov. 16-21 ( ) * Parent Conferences Early dismissal Kindergarten and Preschool AM session 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. (ES-12:45 MS-1:00) with lunch Kindergarten and Preschool PM session 12:35 AM to 2:35 PM. Nov. 22 (Wednesday) no lunch Early Dismissal (ES-12:00)(MS-12:30) Middle School Doors Open 10:15 AM/ School Day Begins 10:25 AM. Nov. 23 & 24 ( ) Thanksgiving Recess - Schools Closed Lunch will be served on the days of delayed openings.