Newsletter 9-17-18
Newsletter 9-17-18
Elysian Charter School of Hoboken
 Elysian Charter School of Hoboken
www.ecsnj.org  
Susan Grierson, Director
Elysian Charter School Weekly Newsletter
A Positively Different Public School

September 17, 2018                  Vol. 14  Issue 1
The school newsletter is sent out on Mondays. When there is a holiday, the newsletter is sent the following day. 
Please note:  Send news to deb.rosner@ecsnj.org by 9:00 AM on Mondays.
We already feel our caring community coming together and it's only  been five full days of school! Our students are busy settling in, getting to know each other, their teachers and their classmates. It's nice to see everyone focused and actively engaged in learning. 
A few reminders:
All classes participate in a community snack. There is usually one family assigned to bring snack for the entire class per week. Help us by sending in only  healthy nut-free snack choices. Please don't send in chips, cookies or anything overly sweet. While your child may tell you otherwise and try to convince you that their teacher wants double stuffed oreos, don't believe them. Refer the list on our website. Go to Forms and Information, drop down to Information and go to Nut Free Snack list.
Attendance matters. In the spring Elysian added a new attendance policy. After 10 or more unexcused absences, a student may be considered truant.  Additionally,  please make sure your child gets to school on time. If they arrive after 8:35, they are considered late. 
Fun Run: 
We are about 2 weeks away from kicking off the first Elysian Fun Run on September 28!  We are starting today with a pep rally in each class and then your family can begin to collect pledges.  At the end of the pledge period, every student will participate in the Elysian Fun Run by running, walking, or dancing laps in the gym. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for classroom enrichment and we need everyone on board!  We want this to be fun and easy for everyone. Please think of friends and family who can support your student as they run laps to support Elysian. Look for a pledgebook to come home today and register your child tonight.  
You’re invited to join us on September 28th and cheer on our students! More details to come. Questions - email tara.dublanica@ecsnj.org 
PTSO Corner

DUES ENVELOPES COMING HOME
PTSO dues envelopes are coming home today or tomorrow in your child's backpack. To help fund the PTSO, we are suggesting all families contribute $25 per child in dues. Please return the envelope with cash or check made out to Elysian PTSO to the main office. Your PTSO membership dues support Elysian in a variety of ways, such as funding school activities, offering childcare during PTSO programs, and providing scholarships for overnight trips, to name a few. 

BOOK FAIR SIGN-UPS
The Annual Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Elysian October 2nd - 5th and we need volunteers!
Please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C44A4A629A2F49-2018 to sign up for a shift (or two!)!

On the left, Bean Chili on Brown Rice with Shredded Cheddar, fresh pico de gallo and fresh pinapple
On the right, Melted Cheesy Pita Pockets (made with fresh baked whole grain pita) Mesclun Salad w/ Tomato Wedges & homemade ranch dressing and fresh cantaloupe. 

IT'S JUST LUNCH!

We are starting our third week into our new food program and it has been very well received!  Today we had a notoriously picky kindergartner, eat every last bite of the pesto chicken.  His teacher came to tell me! 

The older kids are really loving it.  Today I heard comments about the pesto that tasted like their families homemade - An 8th graders told me "It's delicious!  It's like gourmet!"  On Friday, the bean chili with brown rice and homemade pico de gallo was also a hit with all grades.  I had initially been a little skeptical about that menu item, but I was proved wrong at the end of the day.

I think the key here, is that the dishes are well prepared and seasoned - not spicy but just very flavorful. Also, the herbs in the sauces are ground very fine, to almost a powder, so kids don't see bit bits of green stuff in their food.  It's there, but they don't really see it - they just taste it.  Brilliant! 
If you have a picky eater, here are some things you might want to try:

When there is a sauce on the chicken you think they might balk at, tell them that today they have chicken, and don't mention the sauce.  This Friday, we have tofu fried rice.  Tell them they have Chinese fried rice, and don't mention the tofu. Tofu is very bland, and only takes on the flavors it is cooked with.  Let them explore it.

"It's just lunch!"  Our new motto!  One thing, parents can be assured that the food is all freshly made from scratch - whole vegetables - fresh cut fruit - bite size chicken -delicious sauces. 
Sign up for the whole month.  Do a test - let them try it for one month and see what the outcome is.  We bet it will be overwhelmingly positive.
HOW TO ORDER FOR THE WHOLE MONTH. October menus will be coming out this week.  Even though you are ordering weekly, before you submit - go to the bottom of the page and hit "Place another Order", then go to week two.  Do this for the 3rd & 4th week, then at the end - hit the "Submit for Payment".  This will tally your whole order.  Please make sure to pay for orders.  Orders pending payment are not submitted for the lunch cycle. 

Be sure to stop by the Red Rabbit table on Back to School Night.  They will be offering samples of the lunches being offered to our students.  We think you will be pleased!

Susan Gilbertson
Food Service

This year the middle school musical will be The Music Man, Jr!

We will rehearse on Tuesdays and some Mondays after school.  Students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th are invited to audition on Tuesday, September 25th from 3 to 4:15 in Diane's room. Interested students should make sure to get an audition packet from their teacher to learn more about the auditions. Please contact Diane Murray diane.murray@ecsnj.org with any questions.,
For the calendar: 9/25 Music Man auditions
      Elysian Collects Box Tops and LABELS for Education
          Look for the container near Deb's desk in the office!  Thank you!
As per state law, we no longer publish the exact location of trips for security reasons.
Please read the calendar weekly, as changes are updated regularly.
    SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

    Wednesday, Sept 19
    • Elysian Closed - Yom Kippur
    Monday, Sept 24
    • Board Meeting 7:00pm
    Tuesday, Sept 25
    • 3rd grade trip

    OCTOBER CALENDAR
    Monday, Oct 1 thru Friday, Oct 5
    • Book Fair
    Thursday, Oct 4
    • Back to School Night
    • Book Fair open late
    Monday, Oct 8
    • Elysian Closed - Columbus Day
    Thursday, Oct 11
    • 3rd Grade trip
    Wednesday, Oct 17
    • 1/2 Day - Staff Development
    Friday, Oct 19
    • Picture Day
    Monday Oct 22
    • High School Fair - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
    • Board Meeting 7:00pm
    Friday, Oct 26
    • Halloween Party - 6:00pm 
    A note about attendance:  The New Jersey State Law is very specific about school attendance.  By law, children are expected to be in school every day unless they are ill.  There is no room in the law or regulations to excuse any children who have prior plans. We must mark all children absent who are not in attendance.
    1460 Garden Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
    Susan Grierson, Director | Susan.Grierson@ecsnj.org | Phone:201.876.0102 | Fax:201.876.9576
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