Graduation Day

By Brooke Lefferts
In a few days, my youngest child, Eli, will bust through the double doors of Marshall for the last time. I've had a kid in that school for nine consecutive years! My oldest son was there in the stone age, when kindergarten was only half-day. I'm a sap so milestones like this always kick me in the gut. It makes me a little sad—the realization that time marches on, like little feet lining up on the blacktop, and there's nothing we can do to slow it down.

Use Your Words

On Thursday May 1st, Words Bookstore was overrun with Marshall families looking for some great summer reading and Marshall teacher celebrity sightings. While grown-ups shopped and Marshall alum cavorted, Marshall students gathered on the rug for story time with the wonderful teachers who volunteered their time to help promote reading and raise money for the school. Fun was had by all and the money raised will help support cultural arts, field trips, community events, and technology funded by the Marshall PTA.

Where Young Minds Blossom

The Marshall Garden Crew has been hard at work all year in The Learning Garden and the results are really showing this spring. Colorful tulips now decorate the borders of the raised beds that are home to many varieties of flowers, vegetables and herbs. Composting—which gives the plants valuable nutrition—is also underway. The students get to see firsthand how each season brings new growth as the plantings go in and out of season. See if you can guess what favorite fruit will be coming into season next!

Mark This Groove

Mark Murphy from Mark Murphy's Music in South Orange donated their time to GROOVE ON GROVE with our students during lunchtime. All members (including Marshall's very own Mitchell) are elementary aged students from the area. They played Pharrell’s “Happy” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” while our students had lunch. A great time was had by all!

Dancing Off To Africa

A journey to Africa, with vibrant drumming and dancing, Kamate Traders showed the students how to tell a story while dancing. Through authentic instruments and costumes, the use of the drums to communicate was demonstrated. The story that the Patterns on clothes described such as what part of the region you are from. Teachers and students were chosen to participate in the dancing and drumming.

Write This Way

BJ Ward came to Marshall in December and again in March to do a Writers in Residence with our 2nd graders. An accomplished poet, Mr. Ward's poetry has been featured on NPR, New Jersey Network's "State of the Arts" as well as in national publications, including the New York Times.

Spring Has Flung

On Saturday, April 12th, students from Marshall and Jefferson gathered for a morning filled with bagels, books and crafts: the Spring Fling Books & Brunch. Kindergarteners through fifth graders brought books to swap and enjoyed time with friends as they ate, read, discussed their books, and made bookmarks. As part of the PTA Spring Fling to raise money for both schools, students not only walked away with new books to read, but with new friends in both schools!

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Marshall School celebrated World Bubble Day. Each student, staff member and family member was provided with a bottle of bubbles before converging on the front lawn of Marshall School. After a brief discussion about how just like the bubbles “we're all different and that's okay,” the school community spent about 15 minutes blowing and chasing bubbles together.

Let’s Dance

On Friday, March 7th Marshall Elementary School students danced, slid, spun and formed conga lines during the first-ever Marshall Dance-a-thon. In an effort to help support fitness-based activities and “living” CATCH, the PTA's dance-a-thon not only helped raise funds for the school but also provided students a fun way to shake off the winter blues.

Fun? You Bet!

It’s not every day the historic Orange Lawn Tennis Club is transformed into a full-on casino, but that’s exactly what happened at our sold-out fundraiser. Who knew so many Marshall parents could “double down” with the best of them? And if classic casino games like roulette or blackjack weren’t your speed, you could make a bid on a wide array of silent auction items or take a chance on the 50/50 drawing. Add great food and drinks for an altogether winning evening.

That's a Bingo!

A great time was had by all at Pajama Party Bingo! We had the largest crowd ever and tons of kids won prizes. Check out the pics:

We Heart Marshall

The Marshall PTA showered LOVE for the very special people in our children's lives February 12th. We indulged the teachers and staff with sweet treats to show our love and appreciation for all they do each and every day.

Good Morning, Marshall!

Friday, January 31 was Pajama Day at Marshall School AND the first ever school-wide Student Broadcast from Marshall's very own Broadcast Booth!
 Broadcast Booth is brand new this year, with second grade students writing the scripts, rehearsing their roles and manning the controls.

Let’s Take a Walk!

The Marshall Mileage Club will be available to our second graders during their recess time. The 7-8 year olds will have the opportunity to participate in a walking program designed to utilize the walking track on property. As an incentive to move and set personal wellness goals the students will receive a toe token as a measurement of success for certain distances achieved.

The Doc Is In!

During our recent Scholastic Book Fair, students were invited to vote to choose a costume to be worn by our own Mrs. Samuels. Most of the students voted for “Mystery Costume” and were delighted when Mrs. Samuels showed up as television (and Scholastic book) favorite, Doc McStuffins!

Groove On Grove

Did you know that thanks to funds from the PTA, your children get to listen to some cool jams during lunch? The Groove On Grove series started last year as a way to bring a variety of musicians in to play for the children during their lunch. This means the children get great exposure to music and so far they have loved it!

Kindergarten Open House

The district is planning to hold an open house for incoming kindergarten families on Saturday, February 1st from 9:30am – 10:30am. The format will be similar to last winter’s very successful program, with a brief overview from administrators, followed by an open forum where parents can ask questions of building administrators and PTA representatives.