Woodland Park School District News
Jan. 14, 2022
Welcome to the Woodland Park School District e-Newsletter which is sent out weekly when school is in session. It serves as a glimpse of some of the wonderful things going on in our schools, as well as a point of reference for upcoming events.
Your Partner in Education,
Michele R. Pillari, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
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School Board Appreciation Month
January is School Board Appreciation Month. This is a time when our community members can show gratitude for the work of our Woodland Park Board of Education members. Our Board Members volunteer their time for the benefit of the students, community, and staff of the school district. I am humbled and grateful to work with these kind, selfless individuals. Their support and genuine caring for our community ensures that our schools are provided with all the necessary tools and resources to provide a high-quality learning environment for our children and staff. Please join me in thanking the WPBOE!
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Ms. D'Amico Honored As 2021 Hero
Charles Olbon School first grade teacher, Ms. D’Amico, has been named a 2021 Hero by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill in recognition of the meaningful difference she has made in the lives of others during the pandemic! The Congresswoman launched the program to recognize members of the community who have made a difference in NJ over the past year.
Ms. D'Amico was nominated by parent, Jessica Sterba, who said in part, “This teacher put her heart and soul into trying to make virtual learning an enjoyable experience. She even converted a portion of her basement into a makeshift classroom. She is just an outstanding and caring teacher. Through her efforts, my son was able to succeed and flourish."
Mrs. Sterba said that Ms. D'Amico worked tirelessly to keep the students engaged during a very difficult time being mostly virtual for the school year. "She created fantastic online lesson presentations which were very visually engaging," she said. Ms. D'Amico had students participate in multiple hands-on projects, had daily dance parties to "get the sillies out," and worked to celebrate the diversity of the students. One example was her birthday club, where students could sing their culture or language's "Happy Birthday" song.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. D'Amico!
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Gathering Evidence
Mr. Segarra’s eighth grade ELA classes at Memorial Middle School have been conducting research in order to gather evidence to support whether or not social media is harmful or helpful to our society as a whole. The culminating project for this research is to construct effective essays as well as participate in a whole class debate on the topic.
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Spirit of Giving
Students at Beatrice Gilmore School worked together to learn the true joy of giving this holiday season. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Reisman’s fourth grade class managed a philanthropic effort by raising awareness, promoting participation, creating ornaments for donors, providing announcements, and much more.
Mr. and Mrs. Morello from the Family Reach Foundation received the gifts during a holiday assembly. During the assembly, the teachers participated in a read-aloud about the intangible gift of friendship and students presented the founders with a gift of over $2,000 in gift cards collected from both Beatrice Gilmore and Memorial School students Gifts collected were given to families of sick children who were in the hospital over the holidays, with the hopes of bringing some relief and good cheer. The assembly concluded with a sing-along facilitated by Ms. Isnardi and students were treated to a special visit from Buddy the Bear and Santa himself! A heartfelt thank you to all who donated to this incredible cause!
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Presenting Pictographs
Students in Ms. Wilson and Ms. Serrano's fourth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School completed a Social Studies unit on the Lenape Native Americans of New Jersey by writing pictograph stories. Students used their creativity to write short stories which represented knowledge gained throughout the unit. The unit concluded with a celebration with the students presenting individual stories, “campfire side”.
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Problem Solvers
Ms. Elman and Mr. Lang's seventh grade math classes at Memorial Middle School have been learning about multiplying and dividing integers (positive and negative numbers). Students recently worked in small groups to solve word problems involving multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals. Students enjoyed working together to solve problems involving elevations, changes in temperature, and changes in altitudes. This was no easy feat (pun intended)!
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Lunch & Learn
School 1 hosted its monthly Lunch & Learn for preschool parents on Wednesday afternoon. Preschool Intervention & Referral Specialist, Ms. Dizzia, led a presentation about behavior management during the preschool years.
"If a child doesn’t know how to do something, we teach them", Ms. DIzzia said. "But if a child doesn’t know how to behave, what do we do? Teach them or punish them? Behavior is a communication tool and kids use it to tell us what they need to want", she said.
"Children use challenging behavior to either get something or get out of doing something." She said that "they will continue to use challenging behavior because it works."
"Parents can work to change this by discovering first what is causing the behavior then work to teach the child appropriate communication methods to show what they want or need. Parents need to help the child learn the new behaviors", Ms. Dizza said.
"To reduce challenging behaviors parents need to create rules, tell the child exactly what to do, use a visual schedule, catch their child being good and be sure to praise that. Timers are particularly helpful", Ms. Dizzia noted, as they teach a child how to properly wait.
"Using rules at home, just as they have at school, is essential. Rules should start with “do” not “don’t” and be very specific and visual. Using photos or clip art is very helpful." In addition, Ms. Dizzia said parents should tell their child what to do, not what not to do, such as telling them to use their inside voice instead of yelling.
Preschool parents with concerns can contact Ms. Dizza at cdizzia@wpschools.org. She has many resources for parents available on her district web page here.
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Get to Know The BOE Trustees
Each week we will spotlight one of our Board of Education members.
Christine Tiseo has lived in Woodland Park for 14 years. She and her husband Jay have two daughters - Izzy, a freshman at Passaic Valley Regional High School, and Patty, a sixth grader at Memorial Middle School. Jay is a special education teacher at Passaic Valley, where he also serves as head baseball coach and assistant football coach. Mrs. Tiseo works as Deputy Municipal Clerk, Registrar, and Board of Health Secretary for the Borough of Woodland Park.
Mrs. Tiseo has been a Board of Education member for three years. As current board president, she serves as Ex-Officio. She previously chaired both the Pre- K Committee and Community Relations Committee.
Her primary goals for the District for 2022 include the addition of air conditioning for all schools, securing a second preschool location, at least one major fundraiser for the Woodland Park Education Foundation, more programs for Mustang Academy, and to support our own before and after-care programs.
In addition to serving on the Board, Mrs. Tiseo is Vice-Chair of the Stigma Free Task Force committee and is a member of the Woodland Park Good & Welfare Committee.
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Snow Day
Ms. Tonti's first grade students at Charles Olbon School enjoyed their snow day off from school last Friday by having lots of fun outside.
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Snowflake Creation
Pictured on the right is Mrs. Castrovinci, Director of Early Childhood Education, and her friend, Bryce, from Mrs. Munro’s PreK class at Charles Olbon School. He created a snowflake for Mrs. Castrovinci in his art center. This is just one of the many creative and fun projects our preschool students create which reflect several preschool learning objectives. He was so proud of his work that he even autographed it for her!
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Snowmen At Night
Students in Mrs. Hope’s second grade class at Charles Olbon School read each edition of “Snowmen At Night” and used their imaginations to come up with their own version. After writing, the students had a great time bringing their own textured snowmen to life!
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Learning About Bugs
The Memorial Middle School Animal Club met on Wednesday afternoon to learn about the Somerset County Park Commission's Environmental Education Center, which is located in Lord Stirling Park, nestled within 425 acres of the western portion of the Great Swamp Basin of the Passaic River in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township.
The students viewed an educational video about bugs produced by the staff of the education center. The variety of habitats in the park provides homes for very diverse plant and animal populations. Students learned about praying mantises, butterflies, millipedes, and cockroaches in particular. They learned that millipedes for example are decomposers, who are very important for the environment as they chew up dead things that no one else wants and create nutrients for things to grow.
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PV Freshman Orientation
Passaic Valley Regional High School’s Freshman Class of 2026 parent orientation is next Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be virtual. Please click here to access the meeting.
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Last Chance For HSA Laser Tag Vouchers
The Memorial Middle School Home & School Association has extended its laser tag voucher sale until Jan. 20, 2021. A parent vs. student game is being planned for Feb. 17, 2021. You can go on your own any time or join in on Feb 17. Email the HSA at wpmemorialHSA@gmail.com to let them know you'd like to join the parent versus student game after you purchase your tickets. Purchase tickets at https://memorialhsa.square.site/.
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BGHSA Valentine Grams
The Beatrice Gilmore School Home & School Association's fifth grade committee is selling Valentine Grams for $1 each. The deadline to order is Jan. 26. Forms were sent home with the students. If you need a copy of the form, email bghsa1075@gmail.com.
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COHSA Valentine Grams
The Charles Olbon School Home & School Association is selling Valentine Grams for $1 each. The flyer went out to every classroom. This image can be printed out if you need more. The deadline for orders is Jan. 21. Any questions, email Gina at giespo@hotmail.com.
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Chipotle Giveback
The Memorial Middle School Home & School Association is hosting a giveback night on Monday, Jan. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Chipotle, 70 Willowbrook Blvd. Wayne. Show this flyer and the HSA will get a portion of proceeds from sales during that time.
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Spirit Socks Sale
The Memorial Middle School Home & School Association is running a spirit sock sale. Students from all district schools are encouraged to order. Orders will be delivered to each of the schools. Each pair is $10. Please order your sock size based on your shoe size. The socks are made from combed and compacted cotton and are extremely comfortable to wear for everyday use and athletics.
If not a Memorial student, please note the school name at checkout. Orders can be placed here. Contact the Memorial HSA at wpmemorialhsa@gmail.com with any questions.
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Coaches Wanted
The Borough of Woodland Park is still accepting volunteer coaches for the spring baseball and softball. Please fill out the volunteer form here and email it to Director of Recreation & Parks Tom DeSiervo at tdesiervo@wpnj.us.
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Library Awarded $2.8 Million Grant
The Alfred H. Baumann Free Public Library in Woodland Park has been awarded a $2,883,577 grant for the renovation and expansion of its building on Brophy Lane by the state as part of the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act. This second round of funding allocates $37 million to 36 projects across New Jersey. It is the largest grant ever received by the Borough.
The Library Bond Act, approved by voters in 2017, authorizes $125 million in state bonds for technology updates, building improvements, and other library projects across the state.
“I would like to congratulate the community of Woodland Park,” said Library Director Linda Hoffman. “This was a community-driven project, from Woodland Park’s youngest citizens to our senior citizens, our local businesses and organizations, and of course our governing body, Library Board of Trustees, Library staff, and the Friends of the Library. Everyone worked together to bring this project to fruition.
“They imagined the possibilities for the library and the community, and then got to work,” she said. “On behalf of everyone that was part of this project, thank you, I could not be more grateful than I am right now.”
The grant, in addition to capital reserve that the Library Board has saved over many years, money fundraised by the Friends of the Library, and some funding from the Borough will match the State grant 1-to-1 to complete this project.
“The work to secure this grant has occurred since 2016,” Mayor Keith Kazmark said. “Our new Library is something that our Director, Linda Hoffman, her staff, the Library Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Library, and our patrons have been working for – for a very long time. It’s a testament to their work and advocacy that we have been granted this money and will have a state-of-the-art library built within the next two years.”
The Library expects to go out to bid this summer and break ground in the fall. Work is anticipated to take about two years to complete. The Library has not had any major renovations or expansions in the 42 years it has been at its current location and is in dire need of updates, rehabilitation, barrier-free improvements, and more space overall. It has outgrown its current footprint and needs upgrades for technology infrastructure and more to best serve its patrons.
Plans for the expansion were unveiled at the Library’s Casino Night in March 2019. The Friends of the Alfred Baumann Library and Library administration have been working for many years to bank funds in anticipation of renovations.
An inclusive and thoughtful rehabilitation and expansion was designed that will permit increased accessibility with ADA and barrier-free improvements. The addition will include a larger children’s room with emergency exits, teen area, offices, generator, amphitheater, and outdoor plaza. A divisible community room, conference room and new bathrooms will be available for programs and meetings after the main library closes.
The renovations will create a dedicated computer and innovation lab, flexible lounge and study space, storage space, “floating” service points, a double-sided electric fireplace, art exhibit space, and a redesigned entrance. The plan includes new furniture, flooring, decor, and new infrastructure.
“Historical artifacts will be also included in the design - keeping the rich history of Woodland Park alive for generations to come,” Hoffman added.
The Library and its services will relocate during construction. More detailed plans will be announced as they are available.
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Coming up at the Alfred Baumann Library:
The Alfred Baumann Library will host the following programs. Visit the Library's website here or Facebook page here. Its phone is 973-345-8120. Email is library@abwplibrary.org.
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. - Reading Rebels book club for grades 3 to 5. We will introduce the book, read an excerpt, then enjoy activities, crafts, or games based on the book. This month we will be reading "Matilda" by Roald Dahl. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 4 p.m. - Snails & Tales for ages 3 and up. Join in for a story time, songs, and a craft. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join Pat to unwind with the craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 4 p.m. - Jedi Training for grades 3 to 8. Join in for a monthly program and complete Star Wars-themed activities, games, crafts, and more. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. - The NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking will present Human Trafficking 101 via Zoom, which covers a range of topics about human trafficking identification and prevention. Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. Find out how traffickers trick and manipulate victims. Register here.
Monday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. - Weigh To Go weight loss journey discussion group via Zoom. Share stories, recipes and more. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m. - Pajama story time for babies to kindergarten-age children. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 4 p.m. - Monthly winter picture bingo for kindergarten and up. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m. - January Adult Book Club will be discussing "The Lost Apothecary" by Sarah Penner. The eBook and audiobook version of this title is available for instant download with your library card via our Hoopla app at hoopladigital.com. Register here.