Countryside Elementary School

Sub-heading will go here

115 Schoolhouse Lane, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054  |  P: 856-234-2750  |  F: 856-222-9755
Mount Laurel Schools - Inspiring Potential. Enriching Futures.

Welcome to Countryside Elementary!

Inspiring Potential. Enriching Futures.
 
Ms. Lori Zataveski
Principal

The Countryside School is home to 320 students in Grades PK-4, and 70 staff members each school day. Here are just a few of the many opportunities our students have been given to encourage active learning:

Through our Buddy Program, each preschool child in our school is paired with a fourth-grade buddy. The buddies meet for one period a week and participate in a teacher-directed learning activity. Through our Student Announcer Program, the students in kindergarten through fourth-grade conduct the morning opening exercises, and announcements.

We have a very active and caring Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). In addition to raising funds for technology, assemblies, field trips, and playground equipment, the PTO consistently generates ideas for school improvement.

Our School Motto

Communicate, Create, Collaborate, Celebrate...Together is Better at Countryside!

PARCC Testing Schedule Change Process

Monday, March 2: PARCC Testing starts this week. Each of our principals sent out a letter with the testing schedule recently. Of course, the schedule has already been thrown-off somewhat by today's delayed opening, so know that changes may be fluid if the weather does not cooperate. Any changes to the PARCC Testing Schedule will be communicated to parents at the school level as they are made. They will also be posted on school web pages.

Questions on Parent Refusal to PARCC Test Answered

Numerous questions have been raised by parents who have submitted letters refusing to have their child participate in PARCC Testing. This letter from Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Rath clarifies the district procedures that are in place for the current PARCC testing period.

Students

Participate in an important and fun contest! Write an essay, make a poster or a video and tell us what you think it means to be an Upstander.
 
Here's an entry form.

Low Cost Preschool Program Offered for 2015-2016 School Year

The Mount Laurel Township Public School District is offering a low cost preschool program for a limited number of four to five-year-old children for the 2015-2016 school year. Classes will be held in our district elementary school buildings. These Preschool Inclusion classes will enroll preschoolers with disabilities along with their peers in order to provide public school opportunities according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. See more information here.

Do You Have A Little One Joining Us Next Year?

Kindergarten Roundup - March 9 Through March 13
Will your child be five years old on or before October 1? Do you live in Mount Laurel?
If so, you'll want to join us for Kindergarten Roundup Week from March 9 through March 13. That's our annual Kindergarten Roundup Week to register new students coming in next year. You will register your child at the school they will attend. During this special week, there will be plenty of information on hand for you about our schools, as well as "veteran" parents who will help you through the registration process. Here's all of the information you will need. If in doubt about what school your child will attend, call the Office of Communication Services at 856-235-3387.
 
Extended Kindergarten Option Registration Open Now
Meanwhile, Extended Kindergarten Option (EKO) registration is now open for the 2015-2016 school year for all students entering Mount Laurel Kindergarten in September. You may register for EKO now, but only those children who are officially enrolled for kindergarten in our schools later will be permitted to attend EKO. Registration is open on a first come, first serve basis. Registration forms are available here and at our Extended Day Care office located at 436 Masonville Road. Each registration form must be accompanied with the non-refundable registration fee of $75 and be mailed or hand-delivered to our Extended Daycare Office at 436 Masonville Road. Check out our EKO page for rates, schedules and frequent questions.

Here's The Latest News

Center Dedicated to Margaret L. Haynes
The district's Transportation and Learning Center on Mount Laurel Road was formally dedicated to long-time Board of Education Member Margaret L. Haynes on December 16. Haynes has been a member of the board consistently since 1981, and has served in nearly every capacity in terms of leadership and committee work. Dedication of the center in her honor marks the first time in district history that a board member has been so honored. The Thomas Harrington Middle School and the Hattie Britt Board Building were both named for former staff members, but no such honor has ever been bestowed upon a board member.

PARCC Testing Window Open March 2 Through March 27

This year, students in Grade 3-8 in Mount Laurel Schools will take a new mandatory state test to assess their skills. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers(PARCC) Test has been adopted by the State of New Jersey to replace the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (ASK). In development since 2010, PARCC was administered here last year under field-test conditions, but will this year establish achievement and performance levels. While the mid-year testing window is open from March 2 through March 27, individual students will test only a small portion of that time. The state estimates "time on task" as approximately 4.5 hours in third-grade and 5.5 hours for students in Grades 4-8.


It's Snow Season!
Receive Mount Laurel Schools Emergency Texts On Your Cell
Emergency texts from the Mount Laurel Schools are the quickest way to stay informed. In order to receive them you must opt-in to the system. To do that, simply text the word subscribe to the number 68453 from your cell phone. You'll receive an immediate reply confirming your subscription to the service. You may sign-up for text messages using this method on as many cell phones as you would like.

Unfortunately, It Is Also Flu Season ... The Burlington County Health Department has observed an increase in reports of norovirus, commonly known as the “stomach flu”. Symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping and last for 24-48 hours. Norovirus is easily spread and can be a challenge to control in a school setting. Students will be sent home if they are experiencing symptoms. Students can return to school when their symptoms subside. However, they can remain contagious to others for several days. For this reason, strict adherence to handwashing and environmental cleaning polices is essential. Attached is a fact sheet on norovirus, and some handwashing guidelines that may provide helpful reminders.
Board Reorganizes For New Year Of District Business
The Mount Laurel Board of Education reorganized for the new year on January 6, making traditional annual appointments and setting meeting dates. As the first order of business, Maureen Sojka was elected by fellow board members to serve as Board President for the year, and Marc Jones was chosen as Vice President. Board Members Diane Blair, Chris Dickson and Margaret Haynes took the oath of office, having been elected to new three-year terms of office in November's election. Annual appointments such as district treasurer, auditor, board solicitor, architect, purchasing agent and board secretary were approved. The complete meeting agenda with exhibits is available here. The board will continue to hold two meetings per month, as a matter of course. The agenda will be reviewed and discussed, and presentations made, at the work session. Action will follow at the regular monthly meeting. In general, the work-session will be held on the third Tuesday of each month, followed by the regular session on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Some months, that schedule will change, so please refer to our online calendar for specific dates, times and locations of all board meetings. That calendar may be found here.













































2014 Education Summit Webpage Link
More than 100 community members participated in the district's 2014 Education Summit on May 15. Discussion centered on the transformation facing our schools, namely the new Common Core Standards, the new PARCC Test to be administered in 2015 and student attendance rates. The resulting group discussion led to a number of suggestions for better communication within the community.
Check out our 2014 Summit webpage here to view the presentation and check for frequent updates.

Quick Links

 
It's HERE! YES! PowerSchool on the GO!
Our PowerSchool Mobile App portal is now open!  Click here for complete instructions on how to set-up your mobile device!

Events Calendar
March 2-6
Dr. Seuss Week
 
March 4
Kindergarten Magic Show
 
March 4
Grades K-4 Conferences Evening
Grades 5-8 Conferences Afternoon
Early Dismissal
 
March 5
Grades K-4 Conferences Afternoon
Grades 5-8 Conferences Evening
Early Dismissal
 
March 8
Family Bowling
Playdrome Cherry Hill
11am-1pm
 
March 9-13 
Kindergarten Round Up
 
March 11 
PTO Meeting, CS Library 7pm
 
March 12
Lenape High School, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Register online by March 6
  
March 15
March Madness
 
March 17
Board of Education
Work Session, 7:30 p.m.
 
March 19
Staff In-Service
Early Dismissal
 
March 20
Boys of Countryside Event
Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club
7pm-9pm
 
March 23-27
Theatre Week
 
March 24
Board of Education
Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
 
March 24-April 23
Math-a-thon
 
March 27 
Theatre Week Performance
7pm at Lenape
 
March 31
Pizzeria Uno Night
Route 73, Maple Shade
 
April 3
Eve of Passover/Good Friday
Schools Closed
 
April 6-10
Spring Recess
Schools Closed
 
April 13
Third Marking Period Ends
 
April 21
Report Cards Issued
 
April 21
Board of Education
Work Session, 7:30 p.m.
 
April 28
Board of Education
Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

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Parents: Looking for a program to keep your children safe while surfing the Internet? The program we use here in school is now available to you at home.
Here's more information.

School Performance 2013-2014

How May We Help You?

Just looking for a quick and basic guide to specific information about our schools? The links below will provide you with a basic fact sheet on the topics listed. Don't see something you wish was here? Just yell! We'll get it up right away for you.

Registering a child new to the district
Kindergarten registration
Job Opportunities - Certified
Job Opportunities - Support and Substitute
School Locations and Contact Info
Map of our schools and sending areas

Anti-Bullying
District Anti-Bullying Coordinator
Kelly Neiman
Mount Laurel Hartford School
397 Hartford Road
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Telephone - 856-231-5899

Student & Parent Info

School Hours:
 Grades SLD K, 1-4: 8:30 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
Preschool A.M.: 8:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Preschool P.M.: 12:30 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
 Kindergarten A.M.: 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
 Kindergarten P.M.: 12:25 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
Early dismissal grades SLD K, 1-4: 12:30 p.m.
 *On half days, P.M. Kindergarten begins at 10 a.m. and dismisses at 12:30 p.m. A.M. Kindergarten remains the same. There will be no Preschool classes held on half days.

Countryside School Anti-Bullying Specialist is Claudia Horner,
115 School House Lane, 856-234-2750

Local Weather

Current Conditions:
Forecast:


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