Elysian         

Charter

School

Newsletter

April 21, 2008

Vol. 3, Issue 30

              www.ecsnj.org

         www.friendsofelysian.org

Gilberto Girardi, “Mr. G.”, as he’s called by students – has won a very special award.  It’s the Jaffe Memorial Award in History.  The award is for one student, in any given year, who has demonstrated excellence in historical studies and “a concern for the pursuit of the truth about the past”.  Mr. G. is a student at Montclair State University.  We are so proud of him.  Mr. G.’s son, Daniel, graduated from Elysian in 2005.  He and Ruti, his wife, are living in Brazil and Mr. G. is up here, studying and working at Elysian.  When he completes his studies, he’ll return to family in Brazil. 

It’s that time of year again when the chicken pox virus rears it ugly head.  We have not had any confirmed cases in either building.  However, the best defense is a good offensive and knowing the signs and symptoms of the chicken pox virus is a good start.  Chicken pox is contagious and can be spread.  Someone who has the virus is usually contagious 24 hours before the rash appears and until all the pox have formed a scab.  The incubation period is 14 to 21 days after exposure.  Please check your child for any suspicious rash.  The chicken pox can start like a pimple but quickly forms a blister like rash.  Also, many of the children who have come down with the chicken pox have had the vaccine.

Chicken pox may start out seeming like a cold.  The child can have a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough or fever.  But 1 to 2 days later a rash begins as bunches of spots on the chest and face.  From there it can spread to other parts of the body even in a persons ears or mouth.  At fist the rash looks like pinkish dots and quickly develops a blister on top.  After about 24 to 48 hours, the fluid in the blister gets cloudy and the blisters begin to crust over.  After about a week all the blisters should get scabs and begin to heal.

There is a vaccine available that many students have already received as babies that prevent chicken pox.  For those who have not received the vaccine, they are at risk for developing the virus.  Parents may choose to consult with their physicians about having their child receive the vaccine now.  In instances, even children who have had the vaccine come down with mild cases of the chicken pox.  The recommendation is now that children receive a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine to boost immunity .  Also, encourage children to wash their hands frequently, it is still the best method of preventing the spread of germs.  We will also make sure the classrooms are thoroughly disinfected.  There are no other precautionary measures we can take as a school to prevent the spread of the virus except for those already mentioned.

If your child does develop the chicken pox, he or she may not attend school until all the blisters are scabbed over.  We will also require a physician’s note stating the student is able to return to school.  Chicken Pox is not a reportable disease to the health department as per the State Department of Health.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school.  I will be happy to address any of your questions or concerns,

Sincerely,

Diane DeSombre RN

I wish to take this time to thank the School Board for funding the After School Fruit Program for the remainder of the year.  This program was the brainchild of Susan Gilbertson, the Food Service Director at the OLG building.  The program provides each student with a piece of fruit at dismissal each afternoon.  The program started in January 2008 and was funded from Susan’s lunch budget for 7 weeks.  During that time, many kids got into a great habit of eating a piece of fruit each day.  Once the funding ended, many kids and parents expressed their disappointment at not receiving the afternoon fruit.  Some parents even brought in fruit for their own child’s class. 

As a Board member at the time, I felt I needed to do something to get fruit for every child who wanted it. The availability of that popular and healthy snack should not depend on the generosity of a few parents who were willing and able to make that contribution each week. 

At last March’s Board meeting, Susan Gilbertson, Pamela Strell, and I presented the idea of the Board funding the program for the remainder of the school year.  We agreed to get the funding for next year through grants or other monetary donations.  

Currently, Kristen Jordan and Lisa Cavanaugh are researching grants to get that funding.  We have been able to solicit some money, but not enough to continue the program next year, as it is not feasible to start the program if we do not know our sources of funding it throughout a full year.  Do you or anyone you know have information about grant money for this type of program?  If so, please contact me, at DonnaOR@optonline.net or 201-792-2682, or Susan Gilbertson at 201 795-4692 or SuzGilbertson@yahoo.com.

In addition to grants, this year we need some volunteers to help with washing and transporting the fruit.  To cut costs, we are getting the un-washed fruit delivered to one building.  We need 2 volunteers each week to wash and deliver the fruit to the other building.  The entire process takes about 1.5 hours and currently needs to be done at 1 PM on Tuesdays.  Again, please contact Susan or me if you can help out.

Donna Olah-Reiken

Tuesday, April 22

·         Any last minute club proposals?  They

Must be turned in by 9 AM to Susan Gilbertson.

Wednesday, April 23

·         Track practice for Kindergarten – 4^th graders, Pier A Park. 

Thursday, April 24

·         Track practice for 5^th – 8^th grade, Pier A Park

Friday, April 25

·         8:30 AM Community Meeting. All

      students should be dropped off at OLG

      in the AM.  The Special Chorus performs!

·         Track registration forms are due today!

Monday, April 28 – May 1

·         7^th and 8^th graders take NJ ASK Test. Parents should make every effort

to ensure their child has a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and arrives on time.

Monday, April 28

·         Clubs begin today

·         Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 PM, Rue

Friday, May 2

·         6^th grade trip to the Great Swamp

Monday, May 5 – Thursday, May 8

·         5^th and 6^th grade ASK Test.  Parents should make every effort to ensure their child has a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and arrives on time.

Tuesday, May 6

·         6:30 PTSO Meeting at Rue,

      Pizza and Childcare provided

Saturday, May 10

·         Elysian Rummage Sale, Church Square Park, 10 AM – 4 PM, Call Corrine to sign

up for a table: 201 725-7444

Monday, May 12

·         Arts to Grow Performance of Alice in Wonderland, a.m.  performance for

Families, friends and grades K – 6. 

Details to follow.

Tuesday, May 13

·         3^rd and 4^th grades to  PEEC, Pocono Environmental Education Center

Wednesday, May 14

·         7^th grade to New Victory to see Past Half Remembered, a play that spans a Soviet Century, from WWI to the present day

·         3^rd and 4^th grades return from PEEC

Monday, May 19

·         Board of Trustees Meeting, 7PM, Rue

Wednesday, May 21

·         6^th and 7^th grades to ILJK at the New Victory Theater

Thursday, May 22

·         5^th and 6^th grades to Newark Bears!

Friday, May 23

·         9 AM performance of Elyian’s 3^rd – 6^th grade chorus, OLG. 

·         4:30 performance of Past Half

Remembered at the New Victory

Theater, open to 6^th and 8^th graders only.

Monday, May 26

·         School Closed for Memorial Day.

Thursday, May 29

·         5:30 PM performance of the school play, The Secret Lives of Toads, Directed by Diane Murray

Friday, May 30

·         9:30 AM performance of the school play, The Secret Lives of Toads

·         Last day of Clubs

Saturday, May 31

·         9:30 AM Orientation for incoming kindergarten students and their families.

Current kindergarten students and their

 Families are invited to help host the event.

 More information to follow.