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Monday, September 14: Advanced Choir auditions (additional details below)
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Tuesday, September 15: Single Session Day* & First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
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Tuesday, September 22: CEHASA Public Meeting @ NAS Library, 6:00PM
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Thursday, September 24: ERS Chick-Fil-A fundraiser (details below)
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Tuesday, September 29: Board of Education Meeting @ CMS Cafetorium, 7PM
*Please be advised that ERS dismisses at 12:53pm on single session days.
Important Upcoming Dates
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Tuesday, September 29: Full-Year and Fall Session After School Activities and Clubs begin
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Tuesday, October 1: Rush & New Albany Socktober kickoff (details to follow)
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Monday, October 5: Rush School Picture Day
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Monday, October 5 - Friday, October 9: Week of Respect
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Hispanic Heritage Month, also known as Latinx Heritage Month, takes place from September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.
WHY DOES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH START IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH?
You might think it makes more sense to pick one month and declare it National Hispanic Heritage Month. There’s a special reason, though, that it starts on September 15th. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five “Central American neighbors,” as Johnson called them — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Other Spanish-speaking nations have anniversaries close to those dates as well. Mexico, our neighbor, declared independence from Spain on September 16th, 1810. Chile did the same on September 18th, 1810.
People from these 21 Spanish-speaking countries are considered to be of “Hispanic heritage”:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
8 Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids
From tasty eats to virtual tours, here are some Hispanic Heritage Month activities to engage the young people in your life:
Dish Up Some Delicious Flavors
Mexican food is ubiquitous in the United States and often a kid favorite. Before cooking or going out to eat, talk about the specific ingredients and spices that make these dishes special. Taste and smell cumin and paprika. Discuss kids’ favorite dishes and whether they include common Mexican ingredients, such as corn, chili peppers, shredded beef and chicken, beans and tomatoes.
Bring some new cultures to the table by trying the following Hispanic and Latino dishes:
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Chimichurri sauce originated in Argentina. This herbaceous green sauce tastes best when served on top of proteins or vegetables or employed as a marinade.
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Migas are kid-friendly, and you’ll likely have the ingredients on hand. A popular dish in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Texas, migas combines scrambled eggs, tortilla chips, melty cheese and pico de gallo.
With origins in both Columbia and Venezuela, arepas are the ultimate sandwich – fried corn cakes stuffed with chicken, avocado and more. To earn extra kid points, watch the movie "Encanto" before making the cheese-filled arepas from the film.
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Take a Virtual Tour
Virtual tours provide an accessible way to explore contributions of Latino communities and individuals.
Learn About Hispanic and Latino Celebrations and Traditions
Celebrations create connection and fun everyone can enjoy. Plus, experiencing how a culture celebrates is a great way to learn.
Take some time to explore Hispanic and Latino traditions around celebrations. Piñatas are often a hit with younger kids. Meanwhile, older kids can learn the fascinating background of Día de los Muertos (which falls early in November). Latin American teenage girls celebrate their 15th birthdays with elaborate quinceañeras.
Whether you’re attending a cultural celebration or watching one on TV, prompt a conversation with your child with these questions:
- What is the purpose and history of this celebration?
- What are the values and beliefs being celebrated?
- What music is being played and how is it contributing to the event? If there are dancers, are they wearing special costumes or accessories?
- What are the symbols and meanings of the objects and activities associated with this celebration?
- What foods and drinks are served?
- How does this celebration help to keep the culture alive?
- How can I be respectful of this culture and its traditions?
Give Your Game Night a Hispanic Heritage Month Twist
If your kid enjoys a game of chance, then odds are they’ll enjoy the card game Lotería. Lotería is Mexico's version of Bingo. Players will match words called out (such as el arbol– the tree, or el camaron – the shrimp) to their game board. When they’ve got a row, the winner shouts “¡Buena!” to end the game.
The Smithsonian also has a collection of games and activities for purchase from their "Nuestra America" series. Play their bilingual memory card game or piece together their puzzle to learn about famous Hispanic Americans.
Explore Latinx Heritage Through Art
Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Diego Velazquez and Francisco Goya – Hispanic artists are some of the most famous of all time.
View their masterpieces and discuss what makes them stand out. Then, ask kids to try to recreate some of these famous art styles at home or in the classroom. As part of their fine arts program, Variety Boys & Girls Club dedicates a whole week to Frida Kahlo as members recreate her many self-portraits.
Read Books by Hispanic and Latino Authors
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Make it a Movie Night
Kid-friendly movies that explore Hispanic and Latino culture are perfect for movie night.
- The hit 2021 movie "Encanto" takes place in Colombia. While your kids enjoy the magical family Madrigal, they’ll also see Colombian fashion, architecture, animals and food. Expect to learn a few Spanish words along the way.
- Inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, the 2017 animated film “Coco” explores family and tradition.
- Set to the musical stylings of Lin-Manual Miranda, 2021’s “Vivo” on Netflix celebrates the culture of Cuba as a rain forest creature seeks to deliver a message on behalf of his owner.
- If you're looking for more movie picks throughout the month, check out these other kid-friendly movie options.
Hit the Dance Floor
If your child considers every room a dance floor, it’s time to introduce them to the vibrancy of Latino dance styles. There are plenty of new moves to learn:
Exploring culture is a great way to learn about other people while deepening respect for diversity and inclusion. With these Hispanic Heritage Month ideas, you can celebrate Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 with the young people in your life!
Sources:
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Google sign-up forms were previously posted on ParentSquare. Sign-ups are now closed and this is just a reminder of our upcoming audition schedule.
This year we will be holding auditions for our vocal music clubs, Advanced Choir and 4th Grade Music Makers or 5th Grade Music Makers which will meet after-school during the 2026-2027 school year. Our audition process will take place during recess for any 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade student who is interested and signed up by a parent/guardian no later than Friday, September 11th @3PM.
Auditions will take place during recess on Monday, September 14th in the Band Room 101. Each homeroom will be assigned a day for students to come and audition, if a student is absent the day their class is scheduled to audition there will be one make up day on Monday, September 21st. Advanced Choir and 5th grade Music Makers will begin on October 7th and 8th.
For the audition, please click the link HERE to see what your child will be asked to sing. Once auditions are complete, an email will be sent out to parents/guardians through the email provided on Google from by September 18th, letting them know which group they are accepted into. There is limited space in each group so unfortunately, not everyone will be accepted.
The deadline for sign-ups has passed. Any requests beyond Friday, September 11th must be made via email to the teacher at shieldsc@cinnaminson.com. If you have a conflict with the audition date or any rehearsal/concert dates please let Ms. Shields know so she can make accommodations as necessary.
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- Our school hours are as follows:
- FULL DAY SCHEDULE 8:35 AM to 3:04 PM
- SINGLE SESSION DAY 8:35 AM to 12:53 PM
- DELAYED OPENINGS 10:35 AM to 3:04 PM
Please take a few minutes to review the Rush School Handbook with your child/ren. This guide offers helpful information on several aspects of your child's school life at ERS. Please pay close attention to the expectations related to attendance (p. 5), morning drop-off/PM dismissal (p. 6), health protocol (p. 8), behavior (p. 10) and cell phones/smart watches (p. 18). The handbook will also be at the front of your child's homework agenda book that they will receive on Wednesday.
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(UPDATE) Daily school breakfast costs $2.00 and lunches will cost $3.05 this year. For the 2026-27 school year, we strongly encourage all parents to prepay for your student’s meal account and to create an account at no cost through https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/. More information on this option, as well as the September menus, can be found below. If you believe your family may qualify for free/reduced lunch or has in the past, please complete the 2026-2027 Application for Free and Reduced School Meals. This application can be found on our district website under "Departments">”Food Services”>"Application for Free & Reduced Price School Meals"
- To ensure the safety of our students and staff, if you choose to drop off or pick up your child, please adhere to the procedures outlined on page 6 of our student handbook. Please inform the main office of their alternate dismissal routine and schedule prior to the first day by emailing the office staff at ersmainoffice@cinnaminson.com.
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When picking up a student during the school day, please have your driver’s license, or state-issued ID card ready. Please inform the office if someone other than a parent or legal guardian will be picking up your child. Provide that person's name and relationship to the child.
- Rush School follows a 6-day cycle for its related arts classes. Each day, students will attend one related arts class, which include Vocal Music, Art, STEM, Spanish, Health, and Physical Education. Your child's teacher will share their individual schedule with you and it is important to note the day that your child has PE so that proper footwear (athletic sneakers) may be worn.
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All Cinnaminson Township Public Schools will continue serving breakfast and lunch this year. Students receiving Free/Reduced Lunch will be eligible for free breakfast. A menu is posted on our district website, and linked below. Breakfast will be served daily beginning at 8:25am when students arrive, and does not need to be ordered ahead of time. Students who wish to purchase breakfast should enter through their assigned grade level entrance, and proceed directly to the cafeteria for their meal before reporting to homeroom where they will eat. Bus duty teachers will help direct students during our opening days, and a staff member will be stationed in the cafeteria to provide supervision and assistance as needed with the check out process.
The district will continue using the LunchTime Payment Portal this school year for parents to deposit money to students’ accounts. The LunchTime Portal also gives you the opportunity to track purchases, create reminders and set up automatic payments. Below is a guide to setting up your student’s account. If you do not want to pay online and would like to continue sending in cash or check with your student, you are still able to create a username and password to track your students’ purchases and see how much money is on the account.
Payments made online have NO FEES or other charges!
If you would like detailed information, use the “ Parent Guide to School Payment Portal”. This document will assist new users with setting up their School Payment Portal. Any questions or concerns with a student’s account should be directed to Lisa Friedrich, Food Service Director.
- Click the green “Parent Login” button, then the green “Create Account” button to set up your account.
- Enter your First Name, Last Name, email address and a password. Click the Create Account button located in the lower right corner.
- You will see confirmation that your account has been created successfully. Next, click the Login Page button in the lower right corner, then enter your login credentials and click Sign In
- Once you are logged in, click the Add Student button.
- Enter the School's Zip Code, 08077, in the field for zip code, then click Continue
- Available schools will be displayed. Click on the blue Select to the left of the School name
- Enter the student’s last name and Student ID number (available in the Genesis Parent Portal), then click Continue
- Verify the information and click on the blue Add Student to the left of the student's name
- You will be returned to the Student Access page. Follow the above steps for each student you wish to add to the account
To make payments to lunch accounts:
- Visit the LunchTime Portal and sign in to your account: https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/
- Click the blue button marked Make Cafeteria Deposit
- Enter the Deposit Amount for each Student listed and click the Continue button.
- Follow the screen prompts to set up your payment options.
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🚌 Any student who rides the bus to/from school can view their pickup location and time in the Genesis Parent Portal.
Our #1 priority at Rush School is to ensure student safety. In order to do so, there are procedures in place. As a partner in your child's education, we ask that you please abide by those procedures, as follows:
🕣 Students MAY NOT be dropped off to school before 8:25AM. Students need supervision and our staff is unable to do so before this time. Before 8:25AM, students will not be permitted in the building. If you are in need of before-school care, please contact the SAC program at 856-829-7600, ext. 2814.
🚙 If you are driving your child to and from school, you will pull into the driveway and turn immediately right into the staff parking lot. Loop around the back of the parking lot and staff will be posted to receive your child/ren on the walkway at the end of the lot. Please do not let your child out of the car until a staff member is present. Also, please do not pass the vehicle in front of you on the left while in the staff parking lot.
⌛ If you would like to drop your child/ren off in front of the building, you must wait until all Rush School buses have left the premises.
📣 Students who are walkers will be called to dismiss after all of the buses have been called. Students will walk to the intersection of Buttonwood and Wynwood. At the end of the day, no cars will be allowed onto the property to pick up students until all buses have left the premises.
🚙 If you are dropping your student off at the front of the building, please follow the protocol below:
- As you enter the school grounds, be sure to drive around the flag circle to drop off your child safely on the school’s sidewalk. Do not stop before the flag circle and have your child exit from your vehicle and walk between vehicles to get to the sidewalk.
- Once around the flag circle, please proceed beyond the canopy if there are other vehicles behind you. This will maximize the number of vehicles along the sidewalk in front of the school.
- To avoid delaying vehicles behind you, be sure your child is ready to promptly exit the vehicle. If for any reason you need to assist your child, please park in the parking lot and escort your child across the walkway to the school.
- After your child exits your vehicle, please wait in the drop off line for the vehicles ahead of you to move forward. Do not pass the vehicles ahead of you.
As always, use caution at all times, and please drive slowly when entering and leaving the school grounds. Your cooperation in assisting us in the safety of the students is appreciated. Our crossing guards are employed by the Cinnaminson Police Department. They are trained to keep our students safe, and follow protocol set forth by the CPD and Rush School Administration. We thank you for treating them with respect.
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For the safety of our students, any time a student will not be using his or her regular means of transportation home or to SAC, a written note or an email must be sent in to the child’s teacher and the office staff at ersmainoffice@cinnaminson.com that day. Any change in the normal dismissal for a child must be in an email or writing so that the teacher/office has confirmation of these plans. Please mention in the email if there is a change in dismissal for an after school club or intramural.
If you need to pick up your child early, and it is after 1:00PM, please call the main office. We cannot guarantee a teacher will see an email in the afternoon when they are teaching. Also, students cannot be called out of class for any dismissal changes once the afternoon announcements begin at 3:00 P.M. Therefore, if you want to have your child called for an early dismissal, please send an email or written note that morning and come to the office before 2:50 PM on a regular school day or 12:40 PM on a single session day. To be credited with a full day of attendance, a student must be in school for a minimum of four hours. (Cinnaminson School Board Policy #5230)
In order to pick up your child for early dismissal, you must sign the student out in the front vestibule. You will need your driver’s license or a valid legal identification in order to do so. At no time are you to take your child out of a line or of the bus without first signing him or her out.
A STUDENT WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN A DESIGNATED GUARDIAN UNLESS THE OFFICE HAS AN EMAIL OR WRITTEN NOTE STATING WHICH INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD. THE PERSON PICKING UP YOUR CHILD MUST BE PREPARED TO SHOW PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.
Please note that the Transportation Department will not transport students on different buses unless there is an emergency situation. If an emergency situation occurs, parents need to contact the Transportation Department (856-829-8812) to request a change in their child’s transportation.
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The use or possession of any electronic devices, including smart watches, iPads, and hand-held games as well as unauthorized use of cellphones during the school day is prohibited. Students who bring these items to school and/or use them inappropriately, will have them confiscated by the staff and risk disciplinary action. If a student carries a phone or wears a smart watch, it must remain in their book bag for the entire day, from the time they board the bus in the morning until they exit the bus in the afternoon.
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The Cinnaminson Elementary Home & School Association (CEHASA) is dedicated to enhancing the environment in our schools. Every parent/guardian is a member of the association. Getting involved benefits you, your children, our schools, and our community. This is an opportunity to give back to our children through programs provided by Home & School during the school year. Our first CEHASA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 6pm in the New Albany School Library.
Volunteers are needed in order for our programs to run smoothly and efficiently. The success of the Home & School activities depend on the members who generously volunteer their time and talents. It doesn't matter how much time you have to commit. Any amount of time you donate is appreciated and we are grateful for whatever time a parent can give. Think of all the good you can do by getting involved. You may even learn a little about yourself. You can use your talents to make a difference and make some new friends along the way.
VOLUNTEER AND STAY INFORMED ON OUR FUNDRAISERS!
CEHASA has a new landing page that will link to all of our events and fundraisers, and also has the sign ups for volunteering. Click here to sign-up to volunteer and be caught up on the latest fundraising events: cehasa.cheddarup.com
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Come out and support Rush School on 9/24 from 5-8pm at CFA in CINNAMINSON!
A portion of your sale will come back to your school!
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Project Graduation is a volunteer-led committee dedicated to providing our graduating seniors with a safe, drug- and alcohol-free celebration following graduation. Throughout the year, the committee works to raise funds and plan an exciting and memorable event where our graduates can celebrate together in a safe environment.
We are currently looking for parents and community members to join the Project Graduation Committee. You do not need to have a senior—or even a student at the high school—to get involved! We welcome volunteers from all of our schools and grade levels.
While we are busy planning this year’s Project Graduation, this is an event that every Cinnaminson student will eventually have the opportunity to enjoy when they graduate. Keeping this tradition going takes the support and involvement of our entire community.
Whether you can help with fundraising, planning, volunteering, or simply bringing new ideas to the table, we would love to have you join us! Please email any questions to cinnaminsonschoolspg@gmail.com
Please join us for our first meeting!
📅 Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 PM
📍 Cinnaminson High School Library
Come learn more about Project Graduation, meet the committee, and find out how you can get involved. All are welcome!
Stay connected and follow Cinnaminson Project Graduation on:
Instagram@ cinnaminsonhspg
Facebook@Cinnaminson High School Project Graduation
Thank you for helping us continue this important tradition for our students!
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