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Nut Swamp
Notebook
Principal’s Message (June 2010) Nut Swamp
Elementary School
Thomas Olausen
June 2010
Perhaps nothing signals that the end of the year experiences for our children. Many thanks to
is upon us than the 5th grade event, which took the PTA, and to all parent volunteers for your Volume 9
place on June 4th. As in years past, the All Pur- tireless efforts!
pose Room underwent an amazing transforma-
While on the subject of parent volunteers, there Principal’s 1
tion in a short period of time – I left Nut
is one group that is especially near and dear to
Swamp at 3:30 p.m. and when I returned at
my heart, and there is one tiny slice of New Message
6:30, it was literally New York. The event is
York that was not in the APR that night, but is
certainly a highlight and a culmination of the PTA President’s 2
certainly fitting. The famous inscription on the
year’s activities at Nut Swamp. It also offers
General Post Office at 8th Avenue and 33rd Message
an opportunity for our 5th grade students and
Street reads, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat
parents, and for the staff, to not only reflect on Nurse’s Corner 3-4
nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the
the year, but all of their years at the Swamp.
swift completion of their appointed rounds.” I
All of this was captured in an amazing video
am thinking of our volunteer valets, who are
that will be available soon.
out there with me every morning braving the
Our 5th graders will be leaving us soon. With elements, always with a smile. I can never
that said, I wish to thank and commend the 5 th
grade event committee, and all of the parent
thank them enough! Your
Finally, as I said in the above-mentioned video,
volunteers, for an incredible evening.
Nut Swamp is a true school community be- PTA
What they provided is something our soon-to- cause it has an outstanding teaching staff cou- Funds
be 6th graders should always appreciate and pled with very supportive parents committed to
never forget. our children. Thanks to all of the above for a At Work
very successful year at Nut Swamp, full of
As I strolled through the “city streets,” past the
wonderful experiences for all of our students!!
Central Park Zoo, I thought of all of the work
that not only went into this event, but every I would like to wish you all a happy and Fifth Grade Event
event for the entire year. I thought how lucky healthy summer break!! Please keep your chil- Kindergarten Fun Day
Nut Swamp is to have such a committed group dren reading – information about summer read-
of parents, all for the sake of providing great ing lists will be forthcoming. I’m Thumbody for first
graders
Conflict Resolution for
fourth graders
Free to Dance
Enrichment Program
Volume 9 Page 1
PTA President's Message
Judy Benedict
Boy was it a Fun Day!! Fantastic Lastly, some sappy stuff… I have learned an incredible amount
weather, relay races, a dunk tank, inflat- about the way the school and the District
It is hard for me to believe that my 2
ables and a ton of parent volunteers, function and the many challenges that
year term as your PTA President is up. I
what more do you need for a successful our schools face. But the most important
think we accomplished a lot. Our gym
event! Much thanks to Karen Prancl, thing I have learned is about all of the
received many upgrades including cafe-
MaryAnn Lamb and Denise Pfister for incredibly talented and generous parents
teria tables, window film, a horizontal
coordinating the kid’s favorite day of the in our Nut Swamp community that lend
climbing wall, and portable collapsible
year. All your hard work and planning their creativity and time to this school.
basketball hoops. Our classrooms re-
really paid off. I would also like to My proudest accomplishment will al-
ceived needed storage via custom-
thank Lana Clark and Debbie Ridgway ways be having been your representa-
crafted wood bookshelves and technol-
for coordinating the upcoming Kinder- tive.
ogy upgrades including 6 SmartBoards,
garten Fun Day.
28 mini-laptops and Smart Response I’d like to thank Mr. Olausen, Mrs.
At the end of last month, two more grade voting technology. And by the time this Brennan, Mrs. Citarella, Nurse
-specific programs were completed. The school year ends, every classroom at Nut Lucille, Mr. Rocky, Mr. Carlos and
4th graders were offered 2 afterschool Swamp will be equipped with an ampli- Matt and Christine, our nighttime cus-
workshops on effective ways to deal fication system to ensure every child has todians, for all of their assistance these
with conflict and anger management the opportunity to learn in the best envi- past 2 years. To all of the Exec Board
thanks to Nichole Ruggeri, and Michele ronment possible. All of this, of course, members that I have been lucky enough
Foreback. Also, Elaine Stemmer and was accomplished through the fundrais- to serve with I thank you for your in-
Kris Alexander coordinated the “I’m ing efforts of our volunteers and your credible support and most of all, for all
Thumbody” program for 1st graders to generosity in realizing that our children’s the laughter. My sincere thanks to
teach them about self esteem. Thanks school is a priority. Michele Walla and Sue Bonardi who
for all your efforts. are both retiring from the Executive
I am also very proud of our new fund-
Board. They have been an incredible
Throughout the entire year, 5th grade raising approach. By abandoning sale-
asset to our PTA and I thank them for all
parents are working to raise money to based fundraisers and focusing on get-
they have done for our school.
create a spectacular send-off for our ting money from community partners,
graduating kids. An entire year of fund- via our grocery card program, we have I would like to send my best wishes to
raising, planning and hard work just to set a great precedent moving forward for all those families who will be graduating
pull off one incredible night. Our thanks alternative ways to raise funds that cost from Nut Swamp. Thanks to all of you
go out to Christine Klimek and Kelly parents nothing and still raise money for for your years of dedication to our chil-
D’Emilia, our fifth grade event chairs, our school. You have to love free dren. We wish you all luck as your chil-
for manning the helm of this massive money! Lastly, while initially a little dren move on.
endeavor. Thanks also to MaryAnn painful as all change can be, our new
I’d also like to take this opportunity to
Fleming and Kathy Froelich for coordi- website and digital backpack have
welcome our new PTA Executive Board
nating the Fourth Grade Serving volun- proved to be an amazing resource to
members: Tracey Keogh, our new PTA
teers. parents. Just about everything you could
President, Karen Koedding, our 2nd
ever want can be found on our site. Our
I’d like to also thank our teachers for the Vice President Barbara Esposito, our
“going green” initiative has proved to be
incredible spread of treats they provided Treasurer and Dawn Turanski, our Re-
more efficient and provides information
at our final PTA meeting honoring all cording Secretary. They join returning
on a more timely basis to parents. It has
our volunteers. And a special congratu- members, Nichole Ruggeri and Karin
also saved countless hours of administra-
lations to Mrs. Dupree, our teacher of Green. Best of luck to all of you for a
tive and volunteer time and a substantial
the year, and Mrs. Seeley, who will be successful upcoming school year.
amount of money. Thank you for your
retiring from our school after many years
patience in this regard, it only gets easier Finally, to the entire Nut Swamp com-
of dedicated service to our children.
from here… munity, thanks for everything. It’s been
a crazy, fun ride… I wish you all a won-
derful, fun-filled, relaxing and sunny
summer!!
Volume 9 Page 2
Nurse’s Corner: June 2010
Lucille Orchanian RN
It’s already the end of the year and an-
other wonderful and exciting year has
come to and end. Congratulations to
our fifth grade class and success in mid-
dle school. The seeds of learning and
growth were planned here at Nut Swamp
School. May you grow and blossom
through out your life and never stop
learning and reaching for your goals.
Many thanks to our wonderful PTA (a
dynamic team of devoted women), our
principal Mr. Olausen, our dedicated
teachers (always there for our children),
our wonderful secretaries, Anne Brennan
& Dorothy Citarella (they do it all), our Myth Fact
paraprofessionals and support staff,
Rubbing the rashes won't spread poison ivy to other
(Rocky & Carlos) who work together for
parts of your body (or to another person). You spread
our children and community. Poison Ivy rash is
the rash only if urushiol oil -- the sticky, resin like sub-
contagious.
The health focus for the summer is stance that causes the rash -- has been left on your
Contact Dermatitis or known as hands.
“poison ivy, oak or sumac”.
These are the facts… Direct contact is needed to release urusiol oil. Stay
You can catch poison
away from forest fires, direct burning, or anything else
ivy simply by being
that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac near the plants
lawnmower, trimmer, etc.
Most common allergy in the country
claiming half the population
Leaves of three, let Poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch, although
Sensitivity to urushiol oil can de- them be poison ivy and oak have 3 leaves per cluster.
velop at any time
Solutions or cures are those that
Do not worry about Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead
annihilate urushiol
dead plants plants, for up to 5 years.
Everyone appears to react slightly
different to all the remedies.
First published records of poison ivy Breaking the blisters Not true. But your wounds can become infected and you
in North America date back to 1600s releases urushiol oil may make the scarring worse. In very extreme cases,
Poison Ivy coined by Captain John that can spread excessive fluid may need to be withdrawn by a doctor.
Smith in 1609
Western Poison Oak discovered by
David Douglas (1799-1834) on Van- Not necessarily true. Upwards of 90% of people are al-
couver Island. Douglas fir also I've been in poison ivy lergic to urushiol oil, it's a matter of time and exposure.
named after him. many times and never The more times you are exposed to urushiol, the more
broken out. I'm likely it is that you will break out with an allergic rash.
People with serious deficiency in
immune. For the first time sufferer, it generally takes longer for
cellular (T-cell) immunity such as the rash to show up - generally in 7 to 10 days.
AIDS patients may not have prob-
lems with dermatitis.
Volume 9 Page 3
Nurse’s Corner: June 2010
Lucille Orchanian RN
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Signs of an Emergency Management
(continued) About 15 percent of the 120 million Wash skin thoroughly with soap
Americans who are allergic to poison and cool water if exposured and
oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac are launder contaminated clothing
so highly sensitive that they break out in
a rash and begin to swell in 4 to 12 Loose dressing may help discour-
hours instead of the normal 24 to 48. age scratching
Their eyes may swell shut and blisters Apply calamine lotion, ivarest, or
may erupt on their skin. This is one of caladrly to dry lesions
the few true emergencies in dermatol-
ogy. Get to a hospital/doctor as soon as Topical 1% hydrocortisone cream
possible. A shot of corticosteroids after blistering
(steroids) or a course of steroids over Observe for infection and/or
5-10 days may be needed will bring the spreading
swelling down.
Refer to doctor if not improving,
spreading or worsening.
Reminder for fifth graders Always see doctor for poison ivy on
Need one dose of the Tdap Vaccine & Meningitis vaccine is needed for the face and eye area.
sixth grade
Fax to Nut Swamp 732-671-3526
Send in MD note with vaccine dates to the health office
Reminder for school attire during warmer weather
Sneakers are best for school safety
Pants should be up to the waist
Tops should cover the waist
Shorts can be worn to school, no short shorts
Summer dresses that cover the shoulders are appropriate, no halter tops or
spaghetti straps
HAVE A SAFE, RESTFUL AND WONDERFUL SUMMER
Prevention is the Key to Wellness
Lucille Orchanian RN
Volume 9 Page 4
Nut Swamp Quote Corner…
Elementary School “SUMMER afternoon, summer
afternoon; to me those have always
925 Nut Swamp Road been the two most beautiful words
in the English language.”.
Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: 732-671-5795
This is the last ~Henry James 1843-1916
Newsletter for
Fax: 732-671-3529 American Writer
“Deep SUMMER is when laziness
this school year.
www.middletownk12.org/
finds respectability.”
nutswamp
~Sam Keen, American Author,
Principal: Have a safe, fun Professor, Philosopher
Thomas Olausen
Newsletter Editor:
and peaceful “There shall be eternal SUMMER
in the grateful heart.”
AnnMarie Rung
a.rung@att.net
summer! ~Celia Thaxter, 1835-1894
American Writer
We’ve gone Green!
Our Web Address:
http://www.middletownk12.org/nutswamp
Volume 9 Page 5
