Principal's Message

WELCOME TO THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR

  Washington Avenue Elementary is fortunate to have the best highly qualified professional and dedicated staff members who are truly committed to providing your child with the best education in a caring environment.  Our scholars take pride in being respectful, kind and giving.  They enjoy coming to school. Please feel free to contact me. I love talking about how academically challenging, and student centered our school is.

 Proud to be your Principal,

  Dr.  Cynthia Ruiz-Cooper,  Principal

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

• Comprehensive Bilingual Program K-5
• Comprehensive English Language Learners support: sheltered instruction, high intensity ESL, full immersion dual language, Transitional Bilingual tutorials, etc.
• Warm and inviting school climate.
• Rigorous curricula
• Early literacy initiatives (Foundations and Guided Reading) Wilson Fountas & Pinnell.
• Each classroom has a Promethean Board or Smart Board
• One to one Chromebooks
• Active Parent Teacher Organization
• Partnership with Stockton University tutoring
• Partnership with Young Audiences (Grant Artist) 

Important People to Know in our School

You can reach them by calling the main number: 383-6865 

Vision Statement :

The Vision of Washington Avenue School is to provide a quality education where all students reach their potential.

The Mission Statement :

The mission of Washington Avenue School is to provide a nurturing educational environment that prepares all students academically and socially, yet instills pride that encourages achievement, excellence, leadership and responsibility.

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  Washington Avenue School is a 21st Century School of Communication and Media.  We welcome you and your children to our educational environment that has made a commitment to teaching your child 21st Century skills also known as STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). There will be changes in programs and use of technology. Our teachers have met to learn the opportunities that will challenge your children to learn and produce excellence. We invite you to take this journey with us to give your children the best we have so they can succeed in the future.

We have received a fruit and vegetable grant that will provide students with a fruit or vegetable snack in addition to lunch. Our goal is to help our students understand the benefits of good snacks. We want  them to be physically healthy and eat healthy too.

Wonders is our reading program that also offers spelling and language arts. You will see ELA's on your child's schedule. That stands for Language Arts Literacy. We understand that reading, writing and spelling are integrated. Students will come home with small books, paper readers, and or library books.  We expect them to read every night for at least 20-45 minutes for older elementary students and 5-15 minutes for the lower elementary grades.  

  “This is your school and we want you to be a part of it throughout the year".

DATES TO REMEMBER

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU

Regular attendance in elementary school sets up a good pattern for your child’s entire school career. Show him that school comes first by trying to keep days off for illnesses and family emergencies. Also, schedule routine doctor and dentist appointments for after school or over school breaks.

ABSENCES IN EARLY GRADES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON SCHOOL SUCCESS.

►Missing school in the early grades can have an impact throughout your child’s school years. New studies show that often, these early absences create a cascading effect from which your child can never recover.

►The early grades are where students learn and master the basics. Without that strong foundation, they may face learning problems throughout their schooling.

WASHINGTON AVENUE SCHOOL WELCOMES KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

Kindergarten is the time to instill lifelong attendance habits. As the parent of a new kindergartener, you’re starting with a clean slate. You have the chance to instill positive habits from the very beginning of your child’s school career. And few habits are more important than coming to school on time each day.

Your child must be in school unless there is a legal excuse, such as an illness or farmily emergency. 

Character Corner

As a parent, you are  the most important person in your child's life, and your child needs you to be interested and involved in his/her education. The following are tips that will help ensure that your child has a successful school year.

• Insist on daily attendance. Unless your child is ill, he/she needs to be in school.
• Make sure your child has the recommended school supples. 
• Help your child create a schedule. Make homework part of the daily routine. Be available to help with difficult assignments.

​ Studies show that parental involvement significantly improves a student's performance.

• Talk to your child about what your child is learning, and his/her academic progress.
• Make sure your child gets enough sleep. Elementary aged children should get 9-11 hours of sleep each night
• Monitor technology use. Have technology guidelines and limits, insist that all devices be turned off an hour before bedtime, and charge all devices in a central location at night.

Encourage your child to:

• Address the teacher by name. Simply saying “Good Morning, Mrs. Jones”, is an easy way to show respect.
• Be courteous. Say please and thank you to the teacher and classmates.
• Raise your hand. When you want to be called on, that demonstrates self-control and respect for others,
• Do what is expected. Everyone in school has a job to do. If the teacher doesn’t plan any lessons,no one can learn anything. If students don't do their jobs - completing homework, listening to the teacher - it makes it more difficult to learn.
• Listen to the teacher’s comments. Teachers want students to learn and to succeed. That means they have to point out mistakes. Your child will do much better in school if she can recognize and accept constructive feedback.

           "Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.”

                                                                                                                  -Lawrence sterne

  HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD'S BEING BULLIED?

        If you suspect your child is being bullied:

• Observe your child . Bullying victims often start avoiding school. Their grades may drop. They may withdraw from activities. The stress may cause frequent stomachaches, headaches, panic attacks or difficulty sleeping. Their self-esteem may plummet, or they may take out their frustration.
• Talk and listen. Encourage your child to tell you about what goes on in school or other activities. Ask about the trip to and from school.
• Let the school know . Keep a record of the  times you child is bullied. Save harassing emails, text messages, etc. Make sure school officials know about these incidents at once.

Facts About Bullies:

• Both boys and girls bully, usually same-sex classmates. Boys often use physical force, threats and ridicule. Girls often use more subtle ways such as spreading rumors or excluding others.
• Bullies at school are often victims at home. Experts say bullies experience more hostile and abusive treatment at home than their peers.
• Sixty percent of boys identified as bullies during middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24. Forty percent had three or more convictions by the same age.
• Bullies don’t usually act alone. They are often part of a group where intimidating others establishes group identity, dominance and status. Bullies often depend on bystander “assistant bullies” and “reinforce bullies” in the group for support.

Susan Arthur, Guidance Counselor

The theme for our school is “Washington Avenue is Wild About Learning”. 

Worth Quoting:

STAY SAFE, STAY SMART, STAY APART - WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY