Holiday Express

On November 10, both DLCs will enjoy a virtual party hosted by Holiday Express, which includes singing, dancing, and special visits by various holiday characters. There will be gifts for all students as well as a delicious lunch all courtesy of Holiday Express. Stay tuned for more information on how families may view the holiday video which will be available throughout the holiday season. It’s always a wonderful way to begin the holiday season. Thank you, Holiday Express!

World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day will be celebrated on November 15 at DLC -Warren through activities organized by Dr. Debbie Kiraly, our school social worker. DLC - New Providence students will feature World Kindness Day on November 16, by having school-wide lessons and activities focused on being kind and will also make sandwiches which will be donated to Summit Helping Its People (SHIP).

DLC – New Providence

Our “new” playground is now open! Click here to view the video. Students are enjoying playing on many exciting new pieces of equipment including musical toys, a roller slide, and a climbing wall. Students will celebrate Election Day on November 2 by learning about the election process and participating in a voting activity. Daylight Savings Time (“Fall Back”) will be celebrated on November 8 with Fall Back - Backwards Day when students and staff will wear their clothes backward. During the week of November 8, students will decorate ornaments for the Festival of Trees, an indoor exhibit of trees decorated by various community groups and individuals held at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge. Ornaments will reflect this year’s DLC theme, “Everyone Shines so Be Bright.” Students will visit First Responders this month to deliver thank you cards and baked goods. They are our heroes! To celebrate Thanksgiving, students will be making pies in STEAM class for Brightview Senior Living as a service project. Happy Thanksgiving to all from DLC – New Providence!  

DLC – Warren 

Martial Arts has been very popular as a wonderful learning experience for our students at DLC - Warren. Instructor Paul Del Sordo of Pediatric Martial Arts provides weekly instruction on teaching skills such as balance and acuity. The Fall Transition Fair will be taking place during Parent /Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, November 18, with virtual and in-person offerings. Please join our Transition Coordinators and visitors at your convenience! Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition (PCAST) and Person-Centered Planning (PCP) Meetings will be offered throughout November to select students. Our Pancake Breakfasts are always deliciously wonderful and staff, students, and their parents who have been able to join us are always excited when it’s time for our Pancake Breakfast. We look forward to having you join us on your scheduled day! Students will engage in many fun activities for Thanksgiving and the harvest, such as exploring how Thanksgiving is celebrated, playing Bingo games, and engaging in interactive puzzles and games. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, from DLC – Warren!

Transition Talk

We invite all DLC families to look up The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute’s website: https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org. The Family Institute was developed as a resource for families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its goal is to help families find the tools and resources they need to navigate the system of care for their family members with disabilities. The Arc Family Institute is dedicated to providing timely information and bridging the gap between service changes and families. This is accomplished by providing advocacy and education on services, transition and system issues, individual issues, and more. We invite you to browse through its site where you will find links to all 21 county chapters of The Arc, monthly E-Newsletters, timely updates, action alerts, webinars, and fact sheets pertinent to issues being addressed today. If you need guidance and support, feel free to contact the Arc Family Institute at (732) 828-2022 or complete this form.

Spirit Wear

We have actively been working on a new online Spirit Wear Store available to the entire MUJC Family. The store will include a wide range of items that are all customizable with various logos, colors, and designs both as embroidery or digital print. Please keep an eye out for the Grand Opening of the store coming soon!  

Winter Weather

With the winter months ahead of us, I want to remind parents about our inclement weather procedures. You will receive a telephone call and/or text message via School Messenger and an email by 6:30 a.m. if the DLC is closed due to inclement weather or if there is a 2-hour delayed opening. If we have an early dismissal at 12:45 p.m., you will receive a telephone call or text via School Messenger by 11:00 a.m. The DLC notifies all bus companies of our closings, delayed openings, and early dismissals. Please ensure that you have updated your contact information (home telephone number, cell telephone number, and email address) if there have been any changes. This can be done via the MUJC website (www.mujc.org) by clicking on the “Parent” tab at the top of the page. Our school closings and delays are also displayed prominently on our website, Facebook, and Twitter as well as on the voicemail message at the MUJC Central Office number, which is 908-464-7625, or at the telephone numbers of the Developmental Learning Center sites (DLC – New Providence: 908-508-1345; DLC – Warren: 908-762-5600) as well as NBC News Channel 4.

Mark Your Calendar

The DLCs are closed on Thursday, November 4, and Friday, November 5, for New Jersey’s annual Teachers’ Convention.  

The DLC Parent/Administrator Chat is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is our annual DLC Parent/Administrator chat with the DLC Principals, MUJC administrators, as well as the Morris-Union Jointure Board of Education President, Dr. Elizabeth Jewett, Superintendent of the Watchung Hills Regional School District. Dr. Jewett will join us to offer comments on behalf of the entire MUJC Board of Education and to participate in our informative “chat.” We hope you can join us! 

Parent/Teacher Conferences this year will be held on Thursday, November 18, and parents will have the option of virtual or in-person conferences. We hope parents will participate in this opportunity to talk about their children, meet the staff who work with their children, and have questions answered. There is no childcare option for the in-person conferences.

To celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be an early dismissal at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, and school will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26. Happy Thanksgiving!