Woodland Park School District News
Feb. 10, 2023
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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Book Fair Returns
The Scholastic Book Fair returned to Beatrice Gilmore School this week for the first time since 2019. Students had the opportunity to come shop during the school day. The shop was also open during parent-teacher conferences for parents to visit. All classroom teachers were also able to shop the sale and each get some books for their rooms using Scholastic dollars accumulated from previous fairs.
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Congratulations Ms. Mc Glame
Memorial Middle School celebrated their guidance counselor, Ms. Kerry Mc Glame on her retirement. Ms. Mc Glame joined the Memorial School family on Sept. 1, 2001, and quickly sprang into action and began to make a difference. When the attacks on New York City happened, Ms. Mc Glame and then-Principal Mr. Silverstein worked diligently to keep everyone calm and provide the necessary support needed to get through that horrific event.
Twenty-two years later, Ms. Mc Glame was still providing the same support to staff and students. She was the leader of the Anti-Bullying Club, the Intervention & Referral Services Team, and the Climate and Culture Team to name a few. Her priority was always students and families first while always supporting the staff. She advocated for those who needed a voice and was truly devoted to everyone in Woodland Park. Congratulations to Ms. McGlame. Thank you for all of your efforts during your tenure and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
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Celebrating School Counselors
This week is National School Counselors Week. Please join us in celebrating our school counselors - Mrs. Sanducci, Mrs. Farraye, Ms. Williams, and the recently retired Ms. Mc Game - for all their hard work and dedication to our students, staff, and families. They each provide invaluable service to the District, especially over these last few challenging years.
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Making A Difference
A big shout-out to Dylan Baccaro from Mrs. Behnken’s class. Dylan loves and cares about the environment and realized that Memorial Middle School was not recycling. He wanted to change that so he got a container for his classroom so his peers could recycle. As a result of his activism, Principal Mr. Scholtz ordered a large recycling bin for the entire school to use. Dylan, you are helping to protect our environment and making a difference. Great job!
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Around the Country
Students in Ms. Reisman, Ms. Wilson, and Ms. Seavy's fourth grade classes at Beatrice Gilmore School participated in a postcard exchange with the other 49 states. Students researched a list of interesting facts about New Jersey, then composed a letter as a class. The classes are enjoying receiving new postcards from other states and are learning fun facts from around the country. Postcards that arrive are attached to a map in the fourth grade hallway for all to learn from and enjoy.
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Decorative Designs
Students in Mr. Melton and Mrs. Nyenhius' "Be Crafty" program in the Bear's Den after-school program enjoyed creating paper plate looms. Students used multiple colors of yarn to create different patterns in their looms.
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Strive Solar Sprint
Ms. O'Donnell's sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Strive students from Memorial Middle School took a field trip last week to Lakeside Middle School in Pompton Lakes for a Solar Sprint Strive event. Once given the materials, the students worked in groups to create a battery-operated car. They tested, improved, and finally raced their cars against other schools. In addition to working hard on their cars, these students displayed excellent behavior and good manners as well.
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Mandala Designs
Third grade students at Beatrice Gilmore School are in the homestretch completing their mandala designs in art class with Ms. Farrell while understanding radial symmetry.
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Kindness Cards
Mrs. Hawkins' fifth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School created Kindness Cards for the Woodland Park Kindness Valentine Card program sponsored by the Alfred Baumann Library and Mayor Kazmark and the Borough Council. They wrote beautiful paragraphs about what kindness means to them. Valentine's cards are being collected for our community's seniors and will be distributed among the Woodland Park Senior Citizens club and the Passaic County Adult Day Care. All are welcome to participate. Cards can be dropped off in the big red mailbox outside the library entrance. Kindly only include your first name. The deadline to drop cards is Feb. 13.
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Eighth Grade Art
Eighth grade band students finished up marking period two in art class with Ms. Farrell at Memorial Middle School completing a Max Ernst inspired project using frottage, a technique of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface to form the basis of a work of art. Students choose their own seating that would accommodate them with peer to peer teaching and assisting.
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Mural Painting
The Memorial Middle School Art Club, under the direction of Ms. Farrell, this week began painting the house logos mural outside the cafeteria. Three of the four houses have been illustrated. House of Earth will go up next week. In addition, the Mustang logo will be added on the ends. Stay tuned for the mural's progress!
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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.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. - Arts & Crafts for grades K-4. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. - Weigh To Go weight loss support group. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. - Chair Yoga. Come and find inner peace through chair yoga and meditation. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. - Dungeons and Dragons club for teens in 6th to 12 grade. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m. - ESL Conversation Club. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m. - Pajama Story Time for all ages. Pajamas are encouraged! Register here.
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join Pat to unwind with the craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 12 p.m. - Sit & Fit chair exercise class. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers. AP students will assist students with test review and homework. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 4:30 p.m. - Afternoon movie for all ages. Join in for a viewing of "Turning Red." Snacks and drinks will be available. Register here.
Saturday, Feb. 18, 12:30 p.m. - A Very STEAM-Y Winter for grades 3-8. This month's theme is ice age icons. Learn about the beasts of our last ice age. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m. - Crafternoon. Enjoy creating a beautiful craft with Miss Linda to take home. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 4:30 - Reading Rebels book club for grades 3-5. Register here.
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 4 p.m. - Picture bingo for graders K-4. Register here.
Thursday, Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m. - Spice of the month club will meet to discuss this month's spice. Pick up a packet and try something new! Register here.