Superintendent's Spotlight

May and June, 2023

Superintendent Update


The months of May and June bring warm weather, longer days, and many exciting end of year events at the Developmental Learning Centers! Our May/June edition of the Superintendent Spotlight will feature all of our end of year festivities and much more!

What’s Happening at the DLCs

Progress Reports


The final progress reports of the school year will be emailed to parents the week of June 5, 2023.


School Spirit Day


Tuesday, May 2, and Tuesday, June 6, are School Spirit Days! Wear a DLC shirt or blue to celebrate your school spirit!

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DLC-New Providence


Staff Volleyball Game, Wednesday, May 3rd


The DLC-New Providence staff volleyball game is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at 8:15 a.m. in the gymnasium.

Staff Dessert Day, Wednesday, May 10


Parents have been asked if they wish to donate desserts and, if they choose to do so, to send them to their childs’ DLC on the school bus. Desserts will be set up for staff during their lunch periods as part of Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you!

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Cultural Diversity Week, May 22 - May 26


DLC - New Providence students will focus on the various cultures of students and staff in each classroom. Students will learn about different customs, food, and clothing.


Student Tours for students transferring to DLC – Warren, May 23 or May 30


Students who will be transferring to DLC – Warren for the 2023 - 2024 school year will tour DLC – Warren on either Tuesday, May 23 or Tuesday, May 30. 

Special Person’s Celebration, May 25


DLC – New Providence will celebrate Special Persons Day on Thursday, May 25, This year’s theme is  “Bring Someone to Lava” which will include music, snacks, and a photo booth! Please see the flyer that was sent home for further details and classroom schedules. Up  to 2 guests are invited to join us for this fun filled event!

 Moving Up Ceremony, Tuesday, June 6


On Tuesday, June 6, at 1:00 p.m. DLC – New Providence students who will be attending DLC - Warren next year will participate in a Moving Up Ceremony in the Professional Development Center. Parents and families for these students will receive invitations soon!

DLC Warren


Parent Series: Principal Discussion, Monday, May 1


As a friendly reminder, please join the DLC-Warren principals for the next installment of our Parent Series on Monday, May 1, at 12:00 p.m. Damon Murtha, Speech & Language Specialist, will be presenting "Tips on Developing Communication and Language Skills: A Veteran SLP's Perspective." The Google Meet link will be provided in our Electronic Bookbag (EBB). Principals look forward to connecting with you!

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Staff Dessert Day, Thursday, May 11


Parents have been asked if they wish to donate desserts and, if they choose to do so, to send them to their child’s DLC on the school bus. Desserts will be set up for staff during their lunch periods as part of Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you!

DLC Yearbook


There is still time to order your yearbook that is filled with favorite memories.  Orders will be taken online until Friday, May 5. If you have any questions about the yearbook, please contact Kim Spurlock at kspurlock@mujc.org or 908-762-5600 ext. 4410.

DLC Prom, May 25


On Thursday, May 25, DLC-Warren will be hosting its annual Prom! Prom Committee members have been hard at work making sure that our 18-21 year old students and graduates have a wonderful, memorable experience. Parents of graduates are invited to join our “Luau” that day as well! A Save the Date was previously sent and formal invitations to graduating parents are on their way!

DLC-Warren Graduation, June 7


It’s time to start thinking about Graduation! DLC-Warren’s Graduation will take place on Wednesday, June 7, in the DLC – Warren gymnasium at 1:00 p.m. Families of students who are graduating will receive further information regarding this event shortly. We look forward to celebrating with you.

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DLC - Warren Plant Sale


Students have been working hard in the greenhouse in growing milkweed, tomato plants, pea plants and more. More information will follow for our annual DLC Plant Sale in EBB.

Transition Talk by Matt MacDougall and Ramon Colon, Transition Coordinators 

Person-Centered Planning


The Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) is participating in a project with the Boggs Center and the New Jersey Department of Education called the Person Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition (PCAST). The purpose of this project is to support students in successful education and transition from school to adult life. Person-centered planning is a holistic, collaborative, comfortable, and strength-based process. This process uses a facilitator to guide participants through various conversations to assist with understanding who an individual is at a deeper level, what is most important to them; and how they may be best supported as they work towards the vision they have for their future.

 

Please take a moment to visit this website to view the PCAST project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHKF3R0T_ng

 

Participation involves the people closest to the student and persons who know the student in all areas of life including school/work, home, friends and family.  Participants help complete a relationship map and a questionnaire prior to the planning meeting.  It is expected that parents will attend their child’s person-centered planning meeting, which is about two hours in length.  Information gathered during the planning meeting will be incorporated into a plan that will be shared with the parents.


We look forward to developing these opportunities for our students and their families!

Tech Tip by Evan Abramson,

Director of Technology and Innovation


In addition to staying hydrated and trying to stay out of the heat, we also need to protect our technology during hot weather. Electronics don’t handle heat well and it will get harder to keep them cool as the summer progresses. Here are eight tips to help you protect your tech against the heat this summer.


Stay out of the sun

This tip might seem like common sense, but as the weather warms up, we all tend to spend a lot more time outdoors. Taking your devices with you might make sense unless you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the sun. Direct sunlight is a great way to overheat your electronics. If you are working outside, keep your laptop or other electronics out of direct sunlight. Staying in the shade can drop the ambient temperature by 10-15 degrees.


Shut off your devices

If you have to take your laptop with you or leave it in a hot car while you run into the store, shut it off. Even if your screen is dark or your device is in sleep mode, there’s still a trickle of power running through the circuits. Shutting devices off means they have a chance to cool off completely and aren’t generating heat while in storage. If you can’t shut devices off, opt for the lowest power consumption mode — such as hibernation mode on Windows devices — and reduce the amount of time it’s exposed to heat.


Store them properly

Whether your summer travels are for business, pleasure or a combination of both, it’s tempting to bring your devices with you. High heat is detrimental to just about everything. While you don’t usually have to worry about delamination with electronics, the heat and humidity of a trunk can do many types of damage. Avoid leaving your devices in your car whenever possible.


Turn on battery saver

Phones, laptops and other mobile devices are constantly trying to connect with the world around them. These features are great if you need to hook up a set of wireless headphones or connect to the internet, but each feature consumes battery power and increases the heat output of the device. If you’re worried about overheating, shut off all the extra features — wi-fi, GPS, Bluetooth, etc. to help keep your device cool. Some Android devices come with a DU Battery Saver option that can scan your phone and shut off any devices that generate excess heat when it detects high temperatures. The DU saver is a tool that helps one easily manage and control the use of a battery.


Monitor temperatures

All you need is a weather app to monitor the outdoor temperature, but what about the temperature inside your devices? Consider installing an app or program that will allow you to monitor your device and take steps if it begins to overheat. CPU temperature monitoring software works for laptops and desktop computers. Check Google Play or the App Store for more options for mobile devices. Take the time to research your device’s maximum temperature. Use that information to decide when to shut things down and let them cool off.


Invest in support equipment

A decade ago, you couldn’t set a laptop directly on your desk without causing it to overheat because you were blocking the fans. Today, we’re working with better heat transfer technology, so laptop fans aren’t necessary, but they can be a valuable tool if you’re worried about overheating during the summer months.

Sometimes, all it takes is a laptop stand that gets your device off the desk, allowing air to circulate beneath it. Support equipment can help keep things cool while you work.


Be patient

There’s nothing more frustrating than having your cell phone overheat and shut off while you’re using it. Instead of trying to turn it immediately back on — which could cause damage to the phone’s internal components and shorten the lifespan of your device — be patient. Let the device cool off completely before you restart it. Trying to rush this process will just come back to bite you later.


Light colors are better

We get it. Black looks sleek and goes with everything. Unfortunately, it’s not the best color choice if you’re trying to protect your devices from the heat. Opt for lighter colors whenever possible, both in your devices and the bags you carry. A white or beige laptop bag will reflect more heat than a black or dark blue one. If you spend a lot of time on the move with your devices this summer, opt for light colors to reflect sunlight and keep your laptop cooler.


Stay cool this summer

Thanks to climate change, summers may continue to get hotter. Protecting your devices from these high temperatures will become more challenging and important as the years go by. Use common sense when it comes to handling your devices in the heat. If it’s too hot for you to work comfortably, the chances are high that it will also be too warm for your devices. Stay cool this summer, and don’t forget to stay hydrated!

DLC-Warren’s Climate Change Club has been very busy planting vegetables seedlings into the outdoor garden and transplanting other seedlings into larger pots to prepare them for the upcoming plant sale. Other club members designed earth-friendly transportation solutions for the monthly Lego challenge.


DLC - New Providence students are looking forward to using the worms and bess bugs that they are raising to help make compost for the DLC - New Providence garden. Students eagerly await the release of our butterflies.  Every classroom has the opportunity to have their very own caterpillars to watch as they transform into chrysalis and then emerge as butterflies!    

Extended School Year Program 


As a reminder, the dates for the six-week 2023 ESY program are Wednesday, June 28, through Wednesday, August 9, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The Developmental Learning Centers will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in observance of Independence Day. You will receive classroom assignments on or about June 14. Please click here for the ESY 2023 school calendar and click here for the 2023 - 2024 school year calendar.

Staff Recognition


Congratulations to DLC – New Providence teacher, Colleen Morrisroe, and DLC – Warren teacher, Erin O’Connor, who were chosen for the Union County Teacher Recognition Program! They will be celebrated at Kean University on May 23 at the Union County Teacher Recognition Breakfast. Congratulations, Colleen and Erin!

Pictured above: Colleen Morrisroe

Pictured above: Erin O'Connor

We also congratulate DLC – New Providence teacher assistant, Samantha Esnes, and DLC – Warren teacher assistant, Ji Jong, for their nomination for the Morris-Union Jointure Commission’s Teacher Assistant of the Year. Hooray and Congratulations, Samantha and Ji!

Pictured above: Samantha Esnes

Pictured above: Ji (Angie) Jong

Mark your Calendar


The Developmental Learning Centers will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. We hope you enjoy the day with family and friends.  


Thank you!


My warmest thanks to our wonderful DLC families and our entire MUJC staff. It’s been quite a year! Thank you for your unwavering support, understanding, and positive messages. Most of all, thank you for giving us the privilege and your trust in allowing us to work with your children. Best wishes for a wonderful summer!

Dr. Janet L. Fike

Superintendent

Morris-Union Jointure Commission

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