March Dates
Friday 3/6/26 - End of Trimester 2
3/10 Ice Cream Wars at Nicholas Creamery Tinton Falls from 6-8
Wednesday 3/11/26 - 12:30 Dismissal, Cafeteria Closed!
*Please note that there will be PM Care on Wednesday 3/11 (half day) and on 4/1 which is the day before Easter break begins.
February Dates
Wednesday 2/4/26 - 12:30 Dismissal
Friday 2/6/26 - SOUPer Bowl Can Collection and Dress Down
Thursday 2/12/26 - 100th Day of School! Please wear 100 day shirt!
Monday 2/16/26 - No School for President's Weekend
Wednesday 2/18/26 - Ash Wednesday
Friday 2/27/26 - End of Trimester 2
February 10, 2026
Hello families!
Starting NEXT WEEK, our reading tests will officially be changing to support reading comprehension. Students will be given a story to read and one page (front and back) of questions to answer about the story. For the first couple of weeks, I will be reading the story, questions, and answers with the students. I will gradually release independence so by the end of the year, your first graders will be able to complete these tests independently. It is important to be reinforcing this skill at home. When reading, please ask questions about what your student just read. At the end of a story, ask questions about characters, setting, plot, etc. We have been practicing looking in the text for answers, so this is a great skill to practice at home as well! If you have any questions, please email me or message me on teams!
January Dates
Monday 1/5/26 - Back to School!
Friday 1/16/26 - Progress Reports
Monday 1/19/26 - No School (MLK Jr. Day)
Monday 1/26/26 - Catholic Schools Week/Mass at 9am
Friday 1/30/26 - Student Appreciation Day
January 18, 2026
Dear Parents,
On Friday, January 16, 2026 your child will be receiving a progress report for the second trimester. A progress report is a way to communicate about your child’s ongoing progress. Please be mindful that we are only a month into the school year. The First Grade Progress Report is a skills-based report that assesses first grade ONLY. This report is a representation of your child’s growth. Each child is assessed individually. Please keep in mind that this is not a traditional grading scale. Our Progress report also looks at all of the skills your children will be learning THIS year, not the skills that they should have come in with.
The first section “Approach to Learning” looks at how your child’s work study habits and behavior affect your child’s learning. If your child received a “+”, “*”or “^”, it is an indication that your child has a strength or weakness in this area.
Each child develops at different rates in different times. Academic areas are assessed according to skills taught at the current time of the report. If a skill is not assessed, it has not been formally taught or assessed.
The assessment key represents how your child demonstrates that given skill. If your child receives a four, this is an indication that your child needs teacher guidance to perform this. If your child receives a three, your child is performing this skill with minimal guidance from the teacher. If your child receives a two, your child is capable of performing this skill independently without assistance.
These skills are introduced this year and then revisited next year in second grade. We do not expect kids in first grade to truly 'master' anything. Many of the skills they will continue learning in the upcoming years. We hope that by the end of first grade they will be able to accomplish many of these tasks with minimal guidance or independently.
Fondly,
Mrs. Carrie Cisar
Mrs. Dorothy Paul
Ms. Victoria Gioia
December 17, 2025
Thursday, December 18th @ 7PM is our Christmas show in the AAC. Please don't overdress your kids, the angel gowns keep them very warm so anything heavy underneath makes them overheat that day (No one can see what they are wearing undeneath anyhow). The kids will also wear halo headbands so please refrain from including hair bows in their hair. Also, please have them wear regular rubber souled shoes so they don't slip while climbing up and down the stairs on the stage. (NO HEELS)
Friday is Polar Express Day. Kids are allowed to wear pajamas. Please refrain from one pieces if the kids cannot use the bathroom with ease. Also a normal sized stuffy and blanket is allowed to be brought in.
Our Prayer Service is on Monday, December 22nd at 10AM. It is also Sunday-best Christmas dress up day. Please don't send the girls in with heels, we do not want them to fall in the church. Please note that the parents section is reserved for 2 parents per child. Any additional family members that attend will be asked to sit on the side of the church. This is meant to accomodate all of the first grade parents.
December Dates
Tuesday 12/2/25 - Children's Corner 11:30
Friday 12/5/25 - Half-Day Dismissal !CHRISTMAS HAT DAY!
Saturday 12/6/25 - Christmas Bazaar from 9am-3pm
Monday 12/8/25 - Mass at 9am in recognition of the Immaculate Conception
Tuesday 12/9/25 - Vocal Ensemble Showcase at 4pm in AAC
Friday 12/2/25 - !CHRISTMAS SOCK DAY!
Thursday 12/18/25 - Christmas Play at 7pm in the AAC
Friday 12/19/25 - Polar Express Day/Fall Pep Rally
Monday 12/22/25 - Half-Day Dismissal, 1st Grade Prayer Service at 10am in the Church, Dress Up Day
Tuesday 12/23/25 through Sunday 1/4/25 - SCHOOL CLOSED for Christmas Break
November Dates
Friday 11/7/25 - Father/Daughter Dance sponsored by the Father's Club
Thursday 11/6- BNL Picture Makeup Day
Monday 11/10 - Scholastic Book Fair @ 11:30am
Friday 11/14 - Mass at 9:00AM/Thanksgiving Feast Day
Wednesday 11/19 - 1st Grade Author Visit
Thursday 11/20 - Thanksgiving Donations Due
Tuesday 11/25 - Kindergarten Prayer service at 10:30AM in the church
11/26-11/28 - SCHOOL CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break
Thank you to the Nolan family for donating our frozen turkey for the school Thanksgiving Project!
October Dates
Friday 10/3/25 - Blessing of the Animals
Thursday 10/9/25 - 12:30 Dismissal (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Monday 10/13/25 - School Closed (Columbus Day)
Friday 10/24/25 - School Closed (Faculty Professional Day)
Wednesday 10/29/25 - 12:30 Dismissal (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Friday 10/31/25 - FULL Day; Parade at 1:15
October 9,2025
Halloween Day - Friday, October 31st is a full school day.
- Students are invited to wear costumes to school - no masks or toy weapons allowed.
- Students should be able to manage their own costumes in order to use the bathroom.
- Parade time starts at 1:15 PM.
- Halloween Goody Bags- No food or candy is allowed. Non-perishable items only. Please do not label goody bags with student's names as it is difficult for them to distribute. Thank you!
October 1,2025
Here are some updates:
-Per administration, there is no keychains or toys hanging from backpacks permitted. Please remove before school tomorrow!
-Blessing of the animals permission slips have been sent out!
-Mass will be held on Friday, please make sure students are in uniform.
-Yellow folders will be sent home on Monday this week due to Mass and Blessing of the Animals.
September Dates
Tuesday, 9/2 - First Day of School! (12:30 Dismissal)
Wednesday, 9/10 - Back to School Night - 6:00pm
Monday, 9/22 - BNL School Picture Day
September 2, 2025
Happy First Day of School!
We had such a wonderful start to first grade today!
Your child is bringing home their red folder and planner. Please remember:
Sign your child’s planner each night (Monday–Thursday).
Empty the left side of the folder (keep those papers at home).
Check the right side of the folder for papers that need to be returned to school ASAP.
The Icebreaker Bag and All About Me Sheet can be sent back by Friday.
Tonight is also a perfect time to review our school expectations together:
✔ Listening to teachers
✔ Using school-appropriate behavior
✔ Treating everyone with kindness
We’re off to a fantastic year already!
August 27, 2025
WELCOME BACK!
We hope you are enjoying the last few days of summer. We look forward to meeting all of the children on September 2! Listed below are some important things for the first day. However, most of what is highlighted below is also located in the tabs to the left. Please be sure to read through all of those as well.
September 2nd is a half day which means we have a 12:30 dismissal. Please send in a note on the first day of school letting us know how your child will be going home that day. Feel free to include the weekly schedule as well. If your child is a bus rider, please attach a copy of their bus pass to the inside cover of the RED folder. If your child's schedule will change weekly, please send in a note on Mondays (if possible) with their schedule and if anyone other than their parent or guardian will be picking up.
We will eat lunch at 9:30 on the first day since it's a half day. Please send in a lunch/large snack. The cafeteria is closed on half days and the children cannot buy snacks or drinks. If your child has an allergy please send a note on the first day. We will need to know if your child does or does not need the Nut Free table or any other accommodations. You may also email me anytime before school begins!
The RED folder will be the TAKE-HOME folder and will hold all classwork and school correspondence as well as any notes that you send in to us. Please be sure to write your child's name/attach name label to the outside cover.
If you bought your own supplies, please send in everything on the first day so we can get organized. Each child has a cubby to keep their extra items until they are needed. Please send everything in a bag that has your child's first and last name written clearly. If you ordered supplies they will be delivered to school and we will organize them. Thank you!
August 6, 2025
Welcome to 1C!
My name is Ms. Gioia and I am somewhat new to the Saint Leo family. Even though this is my first year teaching here, I grew up at Saint Leo's from Pre-K through 8th grade! I am so excited for this school year!
As the beginning of the school year approaches, please review the 'First Day of School' tab to gain information about our first day on September 2nd. More information to come soon!