November – December 2007

President's Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherry Caravano (973) 426-9092

This fall has been a busy time for us. The Walkathon was a great success. Once again, thanks to all the students, parents and teachers who participated in the Walkathon. Your efforts helped to make this event a great success. At this time, we have raised $6,405.81. There are still sponsors out there who have not sent in their pledges. We have one last check coming to us. Please remember that each pledge will increase the monies raised for our school. Please remind your child’s sponsor that if they have not sent in their pledges, to please do so as soon as possible. Remember this money that we have raised will be going towards spot and stage lighting for the stage and/or a piece of outdoor playground equipment.

The fall book fair was also a great success. We were able to donate over $1,100 worth of new books and reference materials to our library. As always, Mrs. Hoffman, our librarian was a great help during the book fair. Many thanks go out to the following volunteers who helped set up/break down and worked during the book fair:

Carmela Berger, Sherrin Claesson, Karen Connelly, Molly Ferguson, Christine Ferraro, Dawn Goula, John Goula, Cindy Graeber, Beverly Hayes, Dawn Heinen, Robbin Kenny, Anita Kron, Cathy Lamicella, Dawn Mortell, Carolyn Mulreed, Ruth Najemin, Melissa Sant, Tami Stricchiola, Gina Thomas, Diana Truglio, Rose Tucker, Lori Wihlborg and Rebecca Yanagi. I would also like to thank our junior volunteers who helped during set up: Francesca Caravano, Victoria Connelly, Rebecca Hand, Lauren Kenny, Gabriela Tucker, Juliana Tucker and Nicole Tucker.

Our holiday events just took place, the Craft/Vendor Fair and the Holiday Boutique. I would like to thank Carmela Berger for her hard work with the Craft/Vendor Fair & the Holiday Boutique. As for the Craft/Vendor Fair, I would like to start by saying what a great holiday event it was. There are many people I want to thank for being part of this holiday fair: Carmela Berger, Robbin Kenny, Dawn Goula, John Goula, Liz Allen, Sharon Anderson, Karen Connelly, Heather Costanza, Joelle DeMasi, Rebecca Davies, Dawn Heinen, Michele McNeilly, Liz Stanley, Linda Stiner, Kelly Swiencki, Lauri Trowbridge, Rose Tucker, and Becky Yanagi.

A special thank you to Mr. Brown, Mrs. Perro and the office staff for all their support and cooperation.

A special thank you to Jim and Winnie for all their help with setting up and cleaning up.

A special thank you to all the homeroom parents and helpers who donated baked goods for our bake sale.

A special thank you to all the 8th graders who helped us during our craft/vendor fair.

Thanks to Stephanie McDonnell for compiling the Stanhope School Family Directory once again this year.

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the HSA’s Membership Drive. First place went to Mrs. Moscatello & her 4th grade class, second place went to Mr. Kleczka & his 4th grade class, and third place went to Mrs. Morrison & her first grade class and Mrs. Henry & her second grade class. We would like to thank all the families and faculty members who supported the HSA through our membership drive.

The Harlem Wizards are coming to our school for a family fun night on Friday, February 22nd, 2008. Please mark your calendars! More information will follow in January, 2008.

The Tricky Tray is right around the corner. Please mark your calendars for our Tricky Tray on Saturday, March 29th, 2008. If anyone is able to help or has any ideas they would like to present, please come to our next meeting on January 8th or feel free to contact me.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the HSA. I would like to take this time to thank all our new volunteers. Your time and help has meant a lot to us. Please remember that when we all work together, our children are the winners.

COMMITTEE NEWS . . . . .

Ways & Means . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmela Berger

One of my favorite services we provide is the Holiday Boutique where the children get to pick gifts for family members and friends. A special thank you to Mrs. Perro and Mr. Brown for allowing us use of the hallway near the gym during this busy time. Thanks to the following volunteers who contributed to this great Holiday event! It means a lot to us for taking the time out of your busy schedules to help with this event: Robbin Kenny, Sherry Caravano, Karen Connelly, Patti Vance, Linda Stiner, Lisa Taylor, Chris Ferraro, Julie Smith, Cathy Cetrulo, Cristina Castillo, Dawn Lamicella, Anita Kron, Molly Ferguson, Lauren Mortell, Michelle McNeilly, Regina Carhart, Liz Stanley, Cindy Graeber, Melissa Slahor, Michelle Madonna, Sherrin Claesson, Chris Raymond-Snyder, Annie Ryan and Kim Moppert. I would also like to thank our junior volunteers who helped during set up: Victoria Connelly, Rebecca Hand, Lauren Kenny, and David Vance.

Without your help, we could not offer this shopping experience to our children.

The Gertrude Hawk Candy Sale will begin soon. The sale runs from January 14th through January 23rd. We greatly appreciate your continued support.

CLASSROOM NEWS . . . . .

We would like to thank the Home and School Association for their help with the new butterfly garden in our courtyard. Michelle from Nestor’s Greenhouses on Sparta-Stanhope Road in Hopatcong, provided the plant recommendations and garden layout, but the HSA paid for all the plants. Each of the students in my classes had a part in the planning, measuring, grass, and rock removal, planting, and watering. The perennial plants are all butterfly favorites and should be beautiful when they bloom in the spring. We are hoping to see a steady flow of monarch butterflies stop in our courtyard to rest before beginning their long, migratory trips to Mexico. We expect to be able to observe the life cycle of a butterfly from the egg stage, to the larvae, to the chrysalis, and finally to the emergence of the adult butterfly. What an amazing sight!

Thank you, again, to our super Home and School Association.

Sincerely,

All the students in Mrs. Connallon’s classes