Bradford School Bulletin:
Friday, January 9, 2026
Weekly Hot Topics
Happy New Year! We hope that you enjoyed a restful winter recess and that 2026 is off to a great start! One special aspect of being a part of a school community is that we get to celebrate “two New Years;” one at the start of the school year and another with the start of the calendar year! We are very excited to begin a new month and year at Bradford!
Please click here for Dr. Sedita’s January 2026 monthly video update. Please be sure to visit the Bradford Family Calendar for a full list of Bradford events for the month of January (and the new year of 2026)!
Our focus in January will be on building healthy habits to support mindfulness, mental and physical health, as well as some of our new year’s resolutions. This week we kicked off this focus with our word of the week “Healthy.” At Bradford, we discuss how we are healthy when our bodies and brains are working well and feeling good. As we start this new year, we invite everyone to set some new goals to stay healthy!
This month we will also continue our Kindness & Justice Challenge! We began 2026 with an act of kindness by wishing “Happy New Year” to others! You may follow along at home with our January Kindness & Justice Calendar! In January, we have much to look forward to including a special Kindness Spirit Week from Monday, January 12th through Friday, January 16th.
Throughout the month of January learners will explore the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in their classes. Additionally, we will have a Day of Service on Thursday, January 29th in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We will also find out just how many kindness links our whole school has earned during our Kindness & Justice Challenge!
Bradford Faculty & Staff Welcome!
Please join us in extending a very warm Bradford welcome to the newest members of our team:
● Ms. Sharon Balsamo, Behavior Specialist (Child Study Team)
● Ms. Lorrie Hunter, Paraprofessional (Homeroom 19)
● Mr. Deon Mingo, Operational Aide
● Mr. Troy Robinson, Paraprofessional (Homeroom 21)
● Dr. Lisa Rollins, Fourth Grade English Language Arts Teacher & Homeroom 14 Teacher
● Ms. Tamara Villagran, Social Worker (Child Study Team)
Welcome to the Bradford family everyone!
Bradford CARES Spotlight
Please join us in extending a big congratulations to homeroom 21 (Ms. Morden & Ms. Choi) for earning this week’s Bradford CARES star! Homeroom 21 did a wonderful job this past week as they embraced the Bradford CARES value of acceptance. Great job, homeroom 21!
Save the Date: Montclair State University Literacy Workshop
The Bradford SATp is planning a Literacy Workshop facilitated by faculty from Montclair State University. The MSU Literacy Workshop is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 24th from 10:00 am-1:00 pm in the Bradford Library. Additional information to follow.
Kindness & Justice Challenge
Our Kindness & Justice Challenge began on Monday, December 1st and will last through Friday, January 16th! Please click here for the letter that was sent home to all families regarding this very special schoolwide challenge.
● A read aloud of Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller may be found here!
● A read aloud of At School Kindness Starts with You by Jacquelyn Stagg may be found here!
During the Kindness & Justice Challenge, we will be focused on completing as many activities as we can from our Kindness & Justice Challenge Calendars for January 2026. Please remember to check your child’s homework folder to cross off any acts of kindness and justice that have been completed each day. This week we encourage students to:
Say “Happy New Year” to someone.
Help push in chairs in your classroom.
Invite someone to play with you at recess.
Tell someone to “have a great day.”
Ask someone about their day.
Help sweep the floor.
Set the table for a meal.
Every time our learners do something kind, they will earn a link to add to our school Kindness and Justice Chain. So keep the kind acts coming so we can have the longest Kindness & Justice Chain ever!
We will also have a Kindness Spirit Week from Monday, January 12th through Friday, January 16th.
The themes for each Spirit Day are as follows:
★ Monday, January 12th: We Dream of Kindness- Wear your pajamas to school!
★ Tuesday, January 13th: Kindness is a Lovely Idea- Wear red, pink or hearts!
★ Wednesday, January 14th: Work it Out with Kindness- Wear workout clothes!
★ Thursday, January 15th: Peace, Love & Kindness- Wear tie dye or rainbow colors!
★ Friday, January 16th: Share the Spirit of Kindness- Wear Bradford spirit wear or blue and yellow!
Wellness January
This week we began our January focus on building healthy habits to support
mindfulness, mental and physical health, as well as some of our new year’s resolutions!
We invite you to extend this exploration at home by checking out the following resources:
● Emotional Wellness
● The Reflection in Me
● Brain Gym Exercises
● Friday Dance Along
Upcoming January Field Trip
The following Field Trip will take place in January:
● Genius Gems Field Trip (KV/F & KB): January 16, 2026 (Genius Gems) Fourth & Fifth Grade
Band Now on Thursdays
Fourth and fifth grade students participating in band should bring their instruments to school on Thursdays moving forward. Thank you!
Neurodiversity Celebration: Volunteers Needed
We are in need of volunteers to help plan Bradford’s Neurodiversity Celebration to be held this spring. If interested in helping with the planning of this event, please email Laura Giasone. Thank you!
Dressing for Colder Temperatures
As the temperature continues to drop, please be sure to send your child to school each day with warm clothing. As a reminder, outdoor recess is held outdoors when the real temperature is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or above (when there is no inclement weather). Jackets and dressing in layers for temperature fluctuations is strongly encouraged.
Lost & Found/Labeling Personal Belongings
Our lost and found continues to collect some nice items that have been left behind at various locations in the school. The Bradford lost and found is located on the tables near the all purpose room right when you enter the building through Door P (YMCA Before/After Care Door) We also recommend labeling various items when possible (i.e. water bottles, coats, etc.) so that they may be returned to the owner in the event that they are left behind somewhere.
Important Bradford Neighborhood Traffic Safety Reminders
Please carefully review the important Bradford neighborhood traffic safety reminders as outlined below. These protocols and safety precautions must be carefully followed at all times to ensure safety for our entire school community and neighbors.
-drive below the speed limit
- no illegal parking beyond signage to corners (especially troublesome between Carlisle and Mt Hebron where there is no sidewalk)
- no illegal parking in front of hydrants
- do not block driveways, even a tiny bit is blocking
- no 3 point turns or driveway turns
- you cannot park on both sides of College Ave (or any of the streets), this creates terrible vision for pedestrians and other drivers, school buses cannot fit through if both sides have cars parked. I personally have witnessed road rage from drivers unable to get through because of this, which can escalate to being very dangerous.
- no idling or double parking
- Carlisle Rd, Amherst Pl and Hamilton Ter do not have sidewalks, be extra vigilant and drive slowly on these streets.
- be nice!
*The Montclair Police Department enforces all traffic laws pertaining to buses and traffic. The Montclair Police Department Traffic Division will support as needed with monitoring traffic around Bradford, as well as to ensure that everyone is legally parking and crossing surrounding roads.
As always, thank you for your partnership in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our entire school community!
Arrival & Dismissal Safety
Please carefully review the important Bradford School arrival and dismissal information available here. These protocols and safety precautions must be carefully followed at all times to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal.
As always, thank you for your partnership in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our entire school community!
Important Arrival & Dismissal Safety Reminders:
For the safety of all children, please follow these guidelines during drop-off and pick up:
1.) Please note that all buses will be dropping off in the front of the building. Do not block the main driveway or interfere with the flow of traffic on Mt. Hebron Road.
2.) All students being dropped off to school by a parent, guardian or caregiver will enter the car line on College Avenue via Mount Hebron Road. THIS IS A DROP OFF. Parents, please do not get out of the car! This will keep the car line moving, otherwise there will be a major traffic backup.
a.) This is a one-way street during drop off hours.
b.) Drop off begins at 8:40 am and ends at 8:50 am.
c.) Please have your child exit the car by themselves.
d.) If you do arrive late, after 8:50 am, please come to the Main Entrance (Door A) to sign in.
3.) CROSS CHILDREN ONLY AT THE CROSSWALKS.
4.) Students cannot play on the playground before or after school without adult supervision.
5.) If not using the carline, park your car and walk your child(ren) to the Courtyard door (Door F).
6.) Do not double park or block traffic on College Avenue.
7.) At all times, watch out for other children and pedestrians.
8.) Do not use the school’s parking lot for drop-off or pick up.
9.) At all times, follow posted parking signage.
10.) Carefully monitor the speed of your vehicle.
Bradford Visitor Form & Protocols
● Please click here to review Bradford’s visitor protocols. Visitors must complete the visitor form prior to a visit.
○ Please remember that visitors must report only to the location of the building
that was indicated on the visitor form. Visitors may not visit other locations in the building. Thank you for your support with this important safety measure!
○ Please wear a visitor’s badge for the duration of your visit. The visitor’s badge must be visible at all times.
○ Please do not prop doors open under any circumstance.
○ Please do not hold open the door for anyone behind you when entering or exiting the building.
Bradford Spirit Wear Fridays
Every Friday at Bradford is School Spirit Day! On Fridays students may participate by wearing either a Bradford shirt, a favorite college/university shirt or our school colors blue and yellow! Spirit wear is available for purchase through our PTA.
Bradford Faculty & Staff Compliment Club
It is our absolute honor and pleasure to serve the learners and families of the Bradford community! Our passionate faculty and staff work tirelessly to foster a nurturing and nourishing learning environment for each of our learners every day.
In appreciation of our faculty and staff, we invite all members of our community to join our “Compliment Club” by recognizing and celebrating the unwavering dedication of Bradford’s talented faculty and staff. Please utilize this Google form to recognize individual faculty/staff members and/or groups/teams at Bradford. The compliment will be shared with the spotlighted faculty/staff member(s) and/or group(s)/team(s).
This form will be open throughout the course of the 2025-2026 school year and multiple compliments may be shared by a community member. Please feel free to revisit and submit compliments at any time!
Thank you for embracing Bradford's CARES values by showing your appreciation of Bradford’s amazing faculty and staff!
Bradford School Instagram
Bradford is on Instagram! Follow us @mpsbradfordschool (or click here) for a peek into the teaching and learning at Bradford!
Nurse’s Notes
Please see the below reminders from Nurse Erin Nightingale
(Direct Phone: 973-509-4153
Phone: 973-509-4155 ext. 11751
Fax: 973-509-9523
E-mail
Dear Parents, Guardians & Caregivers:
As cold and flu season is upon us, we want to remind everyone of important guidelines to help keep our school community healthy and minimize the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses.
When to Keep Your Child Home:
Please keep your child home from school if they experience flu-like symptoms, which can include:
● Fever (100°F or higher)
● Cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose
● Body aches, headache, chills, fatigue
● Vomiting or diarrhea
Your child should stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine (like Tylenol or Motrin) and their other symptoms are improving.
How to Prevent the Spread:
● Get Vaccinated: The flu vaccine is the best way to protect your family.
● Wash Hands Frequently: Teach your children to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
● Cover Coughs & Sneezes: Use a tissue or cough/sneeze into their elbow.
● Avoid Touching Face: Teach kids not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
● Clean Surfaces: Disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Erin Nightingale, RN, FNP-BC
Important Dates: Mark Your Calendars!
● Kindness & Justice Challenge: Began December 1, 2025-Ends January 16, 2026
● Muslim Heritage Month: Began January 1, 2026-Ends January 31, 2026
● Kindness & Justice Spirit Week: Begins January 12, 2026-Ends January 16, 2026
● SEPAC General Meeting: January 12, 2026 from 8:00 pm-9:00 pm (Virtual: Zoom) ● Genius Gems Field Trip (KV/F & KB): January 16, 2026 (Genius Gems)
● Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (District Closed): January 19, 2026
● Abbreviated Day for Students (1:40 pm Student Dismissal): January 22, 2026
● MSU Literacy Workshop: January 24, 2026 from 10:00 am-1:00 pm (Bradford Library)
● PTA Meeting: January 28, 2026 at 6:30 pm (Virtual: Zoom)
● Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: January 29, 2026 (All Purpose Room)
★ Information pertaining to future Bradford community events is available within the Bradford School Family Calendar.*
*Please note that this calendar is subject to updates/changes throughout the school year.
● What is the School Action Team for Partnerships (SATp)?
The School Action Team for Partnerships (SATp) brings together
parents/guardians/caregivers, teachers, and community leaders to enhance our children's academic and social/emotional development. We work on the School's Improvement Plan, focusing on math and literacy, as well as promoting cultural responsiveness and inclusion. Getting involved is a great way to get to know teachers, staff and the administration. If interested in potentially joining Bradford’s SATp during the forthcoming 2025-2026 School Year, please email Dr. Frank Sedita. you may also sign-up for a subcommittee directly within this document. Thank you!
PTA News & Upcoming Events
● Please click here to view the Bradford PTA website and resources.
To help ensure a smooth transition in the new year, MFEE & PTAC have partnered with the district to launch a new volunteer program across all 11 district schools. This program will connect screened and trained community members with schools to provide additional support. Community members interested in volunteering can begin the screening and training process through the district’s online portal.
To meet Bradford's immediate need while the volunteer program gets off the ground, the Bradford PTA is directly requesting assistance from our community in the following areas:
● Car Line Volunteers: We need up to three volunteers each morning at drop-off to help staff keep the car line moving safely and efficiently
● Recess Volunteers: We are currently in need of extra support during recess. We are seeking three volunteers for each recess shift:
○ 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
○ 11:50 AM – 12:40 PM
Please consider signing up for a shift here:
We want to be clear that this is a temporary measure, not a permanent solution or a replacement for staff. This effort is solely intended to support our staff and students through the initial weeks of January. All shifts will be done in conjunction with Bradford staff.
District-Wide Updates
● Montclair Public Schools
● MFEE
● SEPAC
○ All monthly parent/caregiver meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of the month from 8:00 pm-9:00 pm on Zoom. Please check out our updated SEPAC Calendar page that you can now subscribe to (select the Subscribe button). The calendar will be updated and contains all monthly meetings and district events (Back to School nights, holidays, BOE meetings, etc.).
○ SEPAC Liaisons & Contact: Lynn Mendelsohn and Amy Waynik are the SEPAC Parent Liaison for Bradford. Please use this SEPAC Liaison Google Form to share any questions and/or concerns that you have pertaining to Special Education at Bradford with the school’s SEPAC liaisons.
● Community Events
● Digital Backpack: Please click here to view community and organization events in town.
● Housekeeping: Please check the district website for district policies and school procedures (In our Family Handbook and on our website).
Our Mission:
Bradford is dedicated to cultivating confident, curious and kindhearted citizens capable of asking thoughtful questions, navigating complex challenges, and connecting with the world around them. Through our rigorous university-backed academic and social-emotional curriculum and our deeply invested faculty, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community of life-long learners.