Sunday, February 15, 2026

Bacon Weekly February 2/16 - 2/20, 2026

Winter Olympics in Mrs. Lunemann's class

Bacon Bears, 

We are BEARS! Be Excited About Reading in School 

It was another fantastic week here at Bacon, highlighted by our Family Valentine’s Dance, which was a  success! We had close to 200 students and family members for an evening filled with music, dancing, and fun. It was truly special to see so many members of our Bacon community come together to celebrate.

Events like this remind us how strong our school community is and how important it is to create opportunities for families, students, and staff to connect outside of the classroom. A special thank you goes to Ms. MacAvoy for coordinating the dance, as well as to all of our staff who attended and supported the evening. 

Attendance Update: February Challenge Going Strong!

Marking Period 2 Perfect Attendance 

Our February Attendance Challenge is off to a great start, and we are proud of the effort our students and families are making to prioritize daily attendance.

We would like to congratulate this week’s attendance leaders:

1st Place: Mrs. DiGiorgio’s Class — 98%
2nd Place: Mrs. Rodriguez’s Class — 97%
3rd Place (Tie): Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Catlett, and Ms. Anton — 96%

In addition, we have sent letters to families of students who are currently approaching or on the chronic absenteeism list. These letters are meant to offer support, guidance, and partnership, as we work together to improve attendance.

It is important to remember that there is still plenty of time to turn things around. Students who stay under 18 total absences for the year are not considered chronically absent, and every day moving forward makes a difference.

We encourage all families to continue making attendance a priority. 

Classroom Spotlight: Ms. Ruberton’s 4th Grade Class

Ms. Ruberton’s 4th grade class has been actively studying and researching famous African Americans in recognition of Black History Month. Students explored the lives, accomplishments, and lasting impact of influential leaders who helped shape our country and world.

Through this project, students developed their research skills, learned how to organize information, and created thoughtful final presentations highlighting their chosen individuals. We are proud of their hard work and the meaningful connections they made through this learning experience.

Researching 

Researching 

Final Product 

Final Product 

Final Product 

Final Product 

Final Product 

Final Product 

Classroom Spotlight: Mrs. Lunemann’s Kindergarten Class

Mrs. Lunemann has been bringing the excitement of the Winter Olympics into her kindergarten classroom! Students have been learning about different Olympic events and even participating in their own classroom versions of sports such as curling and figure skating.

This hands-on approach has allowed students to stay active while building teamwork, coordination, and school spirit. Mrs. Lunemann consistently finds creative ways to make learning fun, engaging, and memorable for her students, and her classroom is always filled with energy and excitement.

Curling competition 

Figure Skating 

Figure Skating 

Figure Skating 

Celebrating Our School Climate Survey Results

We are proud to share the results of our recent school climate surveys, which included feedback from students, staff, and families. These surveys help us reflect on our strengths and identify opportunities for continued growth. Thanks to strong participation across all groups, the results highlight the positive culture we have built together at Bacon.

Staff Survey Highlights
  • Staff reported feeling highly supported, valued, and respected by school leadership.
  • Staff also noted strong transparency and communication, reinforcing the collaborative culture of our school.
Parent Survey Highlights
  • Parents reported high levels of confidence in our school, particularly in the areas of:
    • Student safety
    • Respectful school environment
    • Academic support
    • Communication with families
  • Bacon had the highest number of parent survey responses in the district, reflecting strong family engagement.
Student Survey Highlights
  • Students overwhelmingly reported feeling safe in their classrooms
  • Students shared that teachers listen to them, care about them, and help them learn
  • Students also expressed a strong sense of belonging and pride in their school
  • These results reflect the collective effort of our students, staff, and families. While we are proud of these strengths, we remain committed to continuous improvement and ensuring every student has a positive experience at Bacon.

Weekly Overview 

Monday - 2/16 - No School - President's Day 
Tuesday - 2/17 - C Day - Welcome back 
Wednesday - 2/18 - D Day - 100th Day of School; Jump Rope for Heart Event
Thursday - 2/19 - E Day - Another amazing day at Bacon 
Friday - 2/20 - F Day - MP1 and 2 Honor Roll Ice Cream Social, 2:00 PM 

Pictures from around the school 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Learning in Mrs. Starcher's class

Learning in Mrs. Gandy's class 

Birthday Selfie 

Great minds dress alike 

Great minds dress alike 


Ms. McLaughlin is so thoughtful 

Ms. McLaughlin is so thoughtful 

Ms. McLaughlin is so thoughtful 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Valentine's Family Dance 

Valentine's Family Dance 


Mrs. Catlett's crew 

Mrs. Smith - Winner of Fun Friday 

Valentine's Spirit  

Birthday Selfie 

PJ Day

Birthday Selfie 

Birthday Selfie 

Birthday Selfie 



Stay current with RM Bacon School on Social Media:

Facebook – RM Bacon Elementary 

Weekly Blog – RM Bacon Weekly 

School Website - https://bacon.millville.org/ 

Our yearly theme is We are BEARS - (Be Excited About Reading in School)

Our Mission is Then, Now, Always Family! 

Our Vision is We believe that a happy child is a successful one. 

We are committed to providing a positive, safe and stimulating environment for children to learn, where all are valued.

Published by Spike Cook, Bacon Principal, Millville




Sunday, February 8, 2026

Bacon Weekly - 2/9 - 2/13, 2026


Bacon Bears, 

We are BEARS! 

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and learn about the achievements, contributions, and lasting impact of Black leaders, innovators, artists, and activists. Throughout the month, students will participate in age-appropriate lessons, discussions, and activities that promote understanding, respect, and appreciation for Black history and culture. We are proud to foster an inclusive school community where all voices and stories are valued.

January Attendance Winners Celebration

We are proud to recognize our January Attendance winners, who earned their reward on Friday! Mrs. Smith, Ms. Ruberton, and Mrs. Bingham’s classes had the best attendance in the entire school for the month of January at Bacon.

Each of these homerooms achieved at least a 96% attendance rate, which is an outstanding accomplishment and truly deserving of recognition. These classes should be commended for their consistency, responsibility, and commitment to being at school every day.

As a reward, students enjoyed a fun celebration building their own ice cream snowmen. We hope they had a great time, and we thank our families for continuing to prioritize daily attendance—it truly makes a difference!

January Attendance Winners 

January Attendance Winners

January Attendance Winners

January Attendance Winners


Valentine’s Day Fun at Bacon

February is also full of Valentine’s Day excitement! Our PTO and 5th grade students will be selling “BEARY Good Friend” Valentine Grams for $1.00 each, beginning February 3, 2026. Students can send a special message to a friend, which will be delivered along with a healthy, school-approved chocolate bear snack on Friday, February 13. All orders must be received by Wednesday, February 11, and proceeds will support 5th grade end-of-year activities.

We are also excited to host our Valentine’s Day Dance on Thursday, February 12 from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Bacon gym. The evening will include music, dancing, and food. Admission is $2 per person, and students must be accompanied by an adult at all times. We hope to see many of our Bacon families there for a fun night together!

Important Plumbing Update

We would like to provide an important update and ask for everyone’s help as we continue to address recent plumbing issues in the building. After extensive work, Northeast Plumbing identified a significant blockage in the system. Items found in the pipes included wipes, feminine hygiene products, mop strings, and articles of clothing. These items cannot be flushed and were a major contributing factor to the backup and flooding we experienced.

To help prevent this from happening again, we ask for everyone’s cooperation:

  • Only toilet paper should be flushed

  • All other items (including wipes and hygiene products) must be disposed of properly

  • Staff will continue to monitor and reinforce bathroom expectations, especially during transitions and high-traffic times

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to keep our school safe, clean, and running smoothly. 

Thank you, 

Dr. Cook 

Weekly Overview 

Monday - 2/9 - D Day - Another Awesome Day at Bacon! 

Tuesday - 2/10 - E Day - Administrator Learning Series, Reick Ave; 

Wednesday - 2/11 - F Day - Workout Wednesday; Grades 3-5 PLC, Library, 8:00 AM; PBIS Team Tier 2 meeting with Rutgers, 9:30 AM -12:00 PM

Thursday - 2/12 - A Day - PBIS Team Meeting, 9:30 AM;  PTO's Family Valentines Dance, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 

Friday - 2/13 - B Day - Wear your Bacon Gear 


Pictures from around the school 

Great minds dress alike 

Birthday Selfie 

Mrs. Fleck was the Fun Friday winner 

Birthday Selfie 

Mrs. Ortzman was the Staff Winner 

Great minds dress alike 

Birthday Selfie 

Congratulations Mrs. Ortzman 

Birthday Selfie 

Birthday Selfie 


Support our PTO 

Birthday Selfie 



Stay current with RM Bacon School on Social Media:

Facebook – RM Bacon Elementary 
Weekly Blog – RM Bacon Weekly 
School Website - https://bacon.millville.org/ 
Our yearly theme is We are BEARS - (Be Excited About Reading in School)
Our Mission is Then, Now, Always Family! 
Our Vision is We believe that a happy child is a successful one. 
We are committed to providing a positive, safe and stimulating environment for children to learn, where all are valued.
Published by Spike Cook, Bacon Principal, Millville

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Bacon Weekly - 2/2 - 2/6, 2026

Candyland winners! 

Bacon Bears, 

We are BEARS!!! 

Attendance Update: Small Steps, Big Impact!
We are excited to share some positive news around chronic absenteeism at Bacon! Our current rate is 18%, down from 20% in December and 21% in November. While that may seem like a small change, even a one-percent decrease represents meaningful progress and is absolutely worth celebrating.

A huge thank you goes to Ms. Sacco and Ms. Berry, along with Violet Richter and Peter Gonzalez, for leading our attendance efforts and working closely with students who needed extra support. Your dedication and consistency are making a real difference.

Looking ahead to February, Ms. Berry will be launching the Groundhog Attendance Challenge! Students will track our school’s attendance, and the groundhog’s “shadow” will reflect our attendance percentage. This challenge will be fun, engaging, and rewarding for students and it reinforces an important message: being in school every day matters. We need to keep the momentum going, because we are making a difference!

Class pictures will take place on Wednesday, February 4, in the Bacon gym. A schedule with specific times will be shared directly with teachers ahead of the day to ensure a smooth process for all classes. We’re looking forward to capturing these special moments with our students!

The Bacon PTO will also be selling Valentine Grams beginning Tuesday to support our 5th grade students. Valentine Grams are $1 each and are a fun way for students to send a special message to friends while helping support 5th grade activities. Thank you to the PTO and our families for always finding meaningful ways to support our students!

February is Heart Health Month, and Bacon will be participating in the Jump Rope for Heart / Kids Heart Challenge on February 17. This event helps students learn the importance of heart health while supporting a great cause. We will be holding a kickoff assembly (date to be determined) to get students excited and ready to participate. More information will be shared as we get closer, and we look forward to another successful and heart-healthy event!

Thank you to all staff for encouraging daily attendance and for communicating consistently with families. This work truly matters and it shows.

Spotlight of the Week: Candy Land Champions!

Our Candy Land Challenge winners were celebrated this week, and it was a sweet success! Congratulations to our 1st grade and 4th grade classes, who earned the most points by showing great manners and keeping our cafeteria clean. As their reward, both grades enjoyed their special winning lunch and after voting, they chose a Chinese Chicken lunch as their favorite! Smiles were everywhere, and it was wonderful to see students enjoying the reward they worked so hard to earn.
Great job to our Candy Land champions, we are so proud of you! 
Candyland winners! 

Candyland winners! 

Candyland winners! 

Candyland winners! 

Candyland winners! 

Candyland winners! 

Valentine’s Family Dance - Thursday, February 12 from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

We are excited to invite our Bacon families to our Valentine’s Family Dance, sponsored by the Bacon PTO! Join us on Thursday, February 12, from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Bacon gym for a fun-filled evening with a DJ, dancing, and light refreshments. This is a family event, and students must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The cost is $2 per person, and it promises to be a great night of music, fun, and community.  Our PTO will also be selling Valentines Grams and Baked Goods. We hope to see you there! Please let us know at the bottom of the flyer by 2/10 how many people are coming so we can plan. 

Weekly Overview 

Monday - 2/2/26 - E Day - Heart Health Month starts 
Tuesday - 2/3/26 - F Day - K-2 Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM, Library, PLC;  PTO Valentine Grams Sale 
Wednesday - 2/4/26 - A Day - 3- Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM, Library; Class Pictures;  PTO Valentine Grams Sale 
Thursday - 2/5/26 - B Day - PTO Valentine Grams Sale 
Friday - 2/6/26 - C Day - Super Bowl Friday - Wear your favorite sports team gear; PTO Valentine Grams Sale 

On the Horizon 

February 2026 - Character Theme - Kindness 

February 2 - Report Cards Posted in Portal

February 2-6 - School Counseling Week

February 2 - 13 - Valentine Grams 

February 4 - K,1  & 2  Meeting - Topic PLC 8:00 am

February 4 - Class Groups & Spring Portraits

February 4 - 2nd MP Ends

February 5 - 3,4 & 5 Meeting - Topic PLC 8:00 am

February 9 - K-2, 9:30 AM; 3-5 10:30 AM 

February 12 - PBIS Team Meeting am

February 12 - PTO Valentines Dance, 6:00 PM

February 16 - No School, Presidents Day 

February 17 - Jump Rope For Heart, 9:30 am (Tentative - D Day)

February 18 - I&RS Team Meeting

February 18 - Student Council Meeting 8:20am

February 19 - PTO Meeting, 5:30 PM

February 24 - Bear Bucks Store - Teachers have schedules

February 25 - School Improvement Meeting 8:00 am

           February 25 - 1st Grade Authors Afternoon 2:00 pm

February 27 - PBIS Assembly - K-2 2:00 pm - 3-5 2:45 pm


Pictures from around the school

Mrs. Smith leading a discussion 

Girl Scout leggings! 

Fun Friday Winner - Ms. Brandy

Birthday Selfie 


Stay current with RM Bacon School on Social Media:

Facebook – RM Bacon Elementary 

Weekly Blog – RM Bacon Weekly 

School Website - https://bacon.millville.org/ 

Our yearly theme is We are BEARS - (Be Excited About Reading in School)

Our Mission is Then, Now, Always Family! 

Our Vision is We believe that a happy child is a successful one. 

We are committed to providing a positive, safe and stimulating environment for children to learn, where all are valued.

Published by Spike Cook, Bacon Principal, Millville