the

4/3-4/10 - Spring Break4/16 - Fifth Grade Musical4/30 - Science Fair @ 6:305/1 - PTO Volunteer Forms Due

S AV E T H E  D AT E

Shining Brighter Every Day - A P R I L 2 0 1 5

A P R I L F O O D  D AY S

P T O N E W S L E T T E RDOLPHIN DETAILS

A FROM OUR PTO PRESIDENT

I am very excited to report that “Project Happy Gym” is well underway! The PTO has employed artist Jim Houba who is painting artwork in our gym to make it a “happier” placefor our children. This project is expected to be completed during Spring Break, so if youhave an opportunity to pass by the gym, please take a peak. On April 30th, the PTO willsponsor a Science Fair, which is non-competitive and open to all students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Representatives from the chemical company BASF will be at the Fair creating hands on experiments with our children and delivering a “Wonders ofScience” presentation. ALT PTO Volunteer Forms have been distributed. Please, pleaseconsider volunteering your time!! Your continued support is truly appreciated!

Darleen Fenton, ALT PTO President

Note

Spring is in the air! Ice Cream

Pizza

Pizza

Pizza

LaStradaBagels

Turf n Surf

Subway Ling Ling

Bagels

O’Bagel Panatieri’s

Warren Deli

Moe’s

LaStrada

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BOOK FAIR.. .The ALT PTO Scholastic Book Fair was a

BIG success thanks to everyone’s support.As a result, we will receive over $5000 in“Scholastic Dollars” that will be used topurchase books and other educationalitems for our school. Thanks again to

Lorie Accarito and Dhruti Trivedi for all oftheir hard work!

Save the Date

Warren Township Schools Somerset Patriots

Game will be held onFriday, June 5th.

Volunteer Form for the 2015-16 school year havebeen distributed. Please volunteer your time sothe PTO can play its part in continuing to make

ALT a truly special place for our children!

ALT PTO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Summer Bridge BooksPlease place your orders by April 30th.Order Forms can be accessed here:http://warrentboe.org/_files/eblast/alt/960/Summer_Bridge_ALT_2015.pdf

Patricia Polacco’s visit to ALTleft a lasting impression withour students and staff!!

Thanks to Mrs. Jackson, Caroline Dicks and Jaime Demola for makingthis day a memorable one. Thanks to HeatherSilver for painting an absolutely beautifulmural in Mrs. Madden’s classroom!

THANK

GET OUT YOUR SCISSORS...Please cut then and send them into school with your child. Each classroom has a fancy box to place them in.

BOX TOPS Save-the-Date

Field Day FRIDAY, MAY 29TH

Save the Date - Our Final PTO Meeting/Luncheon willbe held on Thursday, May 28th at 1PM.

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WelcomeSpring!

• Encourage outdoor play and exercise• Get 8-10 hours of sleep per night• Healthy snacks• Plenty of water• Dress according to the weather

ALLERGIES……Please have your physician complete a WTBOE prescription formfor any medication (prescription or over-the-counter) for in school use as needed to control allergy symptoms…..

• Oral medications• Eye drops• Topical creams/ointments

Let’s work together to prevent uncomfortable distracting allergy symptoms for your child…..

Jan Brennan RN, CSN

WARREN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLSOffice of the Superintendent213 Mt. Horeb RoadWarren, New Jersey 07059908-753-5300

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BoardCORNER

About the Budget

The public hearing/Board adoption of the 2015-2016 budget will be held at the April27, 2015 Board of Education meeting (7:00 p.m.). The Board of Education takes theircollective responsibility to monitor district finances seriously. As always, maintaininghigh quality educational programs while being fiscally responsible is a challenge.Currently, the district must abide by the state’s cap of 2% on the increase in generalfund tax levy. The budget for 2015-2016 includes a 1.3% increase in the tax levy forgeneral operating expenses and a 4.76% decrease in the tax levy for debt service. Thefinal tax levy for the 2015-2016 budget amounts to a 1.21% increase over last year’slevy. The Board is committed to being responsive to public concern over potentialtax increases, to planning for both the short term and long term, and to focusing continually on maintaining academic excellence.

Features of the budget

Programs:• Chromebooks for all students in grades 4-8, iPads carts in every K-2 classroom• World Language offerings of Spanish, French, and Mandarin• 6th-grade Pre-Algebra course and in-district 8th –grade Geometry Honors

course• Funds to update curricula and resources• Continued small class sizes• Teacher training in Next Generation Science Standards/Mathematics• All support programs such as REACH (Gifted and Talented), ASAP (Basic

Skills), Guidance (cont.)

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• Full-Day Kindergarten• Pre-Engineering/STEM in grades 3-8 (I & D)• Courtesy busing and late bus for WMS• Job-embedded staff development through instructional specialists

Additional Purchases• School bus (one retired by law)• Smartboard for one classroom• Walk behind mower• Tilt bed trailer• Copiers

Reductions• 2 Elementary teaching positions• 1.5 Middle School teaching positions• Technology Coaches• 1 paraprofessional• Technology Supervisor• Breakage from retirees

Budget Controls• Cooperative Purchasing Arrangements• Energy Savings/Solar• Transportation Revenue• Maintenance Reserve Accounts• ROD grants• Health Care Contribution

Financial Impact:• Increase of $160 per year or $13.33 per month per average household

($690,295) The Board of Education believes that this is a responsible and responsive budget to present to our community. Feel free to reach out to a Board member, the Superintendent, or the Business Administrator with questions or concerns.