Woodland Park School District News
March 11, 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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Read Across Woodland Park
Ms. Face’s PreK-3 class at School 1 marked Read Across America week with several activities. They had special guest readers visit their class - Alfred Baumann Library Director Linda Hoffman and Youth Service's Librarian Sara Rappa.
Students in Ms. Candusso's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School celebrated Read Across America with silly socks, crazy hats, and a lot of amazing books. They send special thanks to STRIVE, STEAM and SEL teacher Ms. McGinnis for reading to them!
Ms. DiGiacomo's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School held an event called “Reading with Friends” for Read Across America week. Everyone got to bring in one favorite reading “buddy” (toys, dolls, etc.) and their favorite books from home or school. It was a very exciting and fun event!
Mrs. LaSala's PreK-4 class at School 1 marked Read Across America week with several activities. School District Business Administrator Mr. Murphy stopped by to read to the class. Students also created hats to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday!
Mrs. Odaman's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School enjoyed having BSI Instructor Ms. O’Donnell stop by to read to them in honor of Read Across America week.
Students from Mrs. Guariglia’s PreK-3 class at School 1 celebrated Read Across America week reading The Cat in the Hat and decorating hats to wear. After reading Hop On Pop, students hopped on bubble wrap popping bubbles to music.
Ms. Tonti’s first grade class enjoyed listening to The Cat in the Hat and America Is..., read by guest speaker, Mayor Keith Kazmark. The children read along with the Mayor, the Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner, and shared some facts. Ms. Tonti was impressed and proud of her students’ knowledge of their country! Afterwards, the class came up with 10 hidden lessons that could be learned by reading The Cat in the Hat. The students loved learning more about Dr. Seuss’ life and reading some of his works of art. They also had fun taking pictures with props to mark the end of day two of Read Across America week.
School 1 had numerous guest readers stop by to read to students including Director of Early Childhood Education and Principal Mrs. Castrovinci, Mayor Keith Kazmark, Superintendent Dr. Michele Pillari, Board of Education members Christine Tiseo and Shannon Marren, Alfred Baumann Library Youth Youth Service's Librarian Sara Rappa and Library Director Linda Hoffman, and Director of Special Education & Student Support Services Dr. Irizarry.
Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Lindsay's PreK-4 class at School 1 had a special guest reader for Read Across America - Mayor Keith Kazmark!
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LEAD Program Resumes At Memorial
The Woodland Park Police Department has resumed offering the LEAD - Law Enforcement Against Drugs - program at Memorial Middle School. LEAD is similar to the now-defunct DARE program. Officer Derrick Morrison is visiting all eighth grade social studies classes weekly.
Officer Morrison and Det. Omaira Carino had undergone training to become LEAD program instructors prior to the pandemic. The program was launched at Beatrice Gilmore School for fourth grade classes and Memorial for eighth grade students. After a hiatus due to COVID, the program is now back up at Memorial. Due to Carino's schedule, she is unable to take part this school year. Officer Fina Matranga is being trained so that lessons at Beatrice Gilmore can resume.
The program is presented in 10 lessons. The first unit is aimed at establishing and developing social and emotional competency skills. The second unit focuses on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and the effects of their use on the body. Additionally, the students learn about refusal strategies, using over-the-counter and prescription drugs safely and how making healthy choices will impact their life-long wellness.
In Morrison's first meeting with students last week, he went over the program and opened the floor for an open Q&A dialogue, working to get to know the students and their concerns. The conversations touched briefly on Internet safety. With regards to social media, Morrison told the students that there are bad people out there, targeting young people, especially girls.
"It's a real thing. It's a really scary thing," he said. "You have to be careful what you're putting out there, because once it's out there, it's out there."
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Logo Creators
Students created foam plates in the Memorial Middle School Art Club under the direction of Art Teacher Ms. Farrell by tracing the logos in reverse. They then chose ink colors and designs. Students chose whether they wanted the design colored or white. Last, they learned how to ink brayers, roll, and then press to create the print. Students will continue on the project this next week.
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Musical March
Ms. Tonti’s first grade class at Charles Olbon School continued the study of sound in science class by creating their own musical instruments. This coincides with March Music Month. Each child presented their instrument and provided answers to the following questions: What instrument did you create? How was it created? How does it make sound? How can the sound be changed? The students did an amazing job! To conclude the day, the class conducted a musical parade for their principal, Mrs. Barreto. Even School Nurse, Ms. Meyer, and her assistant joined in on the fun. What an enjoyable way to end a school week!
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Learning About Light
Mrs. Bouroult's fourth grade students at Beatrice Gilmore School observed and asked questions about how light transfers energy in our everyday lives. Students activated their prior knowledge to develop systems that transfer various forms of energy to light energy. The students will elaborate on their models to describe and explain how light reflects off of objects, which then enters our eyes so that we can see in the days to come!
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Crazy Hair Day
Students enjoyed the special theme days for Read Across America week, including Crazy Hair Day. Shown from top left and clockwise are students from Ms. Face's class at School 1, Mrs. Murray’s class at School 1, Ms. Odaman's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School, and students from Beatrice Gilmore School.
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Learning To Sew
Students in Mrs. Guariglia's PreK-3 class at School 1 are practice sewing skills during their clothing study.
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Historical Scavenger Hunt
To celebrate Black History Month, Memorial Middle School, Social Studies Teacher Ms. Brickner, Media Specialist Ms. Moore, and Assistant Principal/Supervisor of Math 3-8 Ms. Calderon created a 50-clue scavenger hunt of various historical figures. Each clue described the biographies, memoirs, or enduring legacies of some of the most prominent and influential Black Americans in U.S. histories such as the pioneering abolitionist Frederick Douglass and our 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama.
The top three students who uncovered the most clues received a prize: a gift card to Amazon, Dunkin Donuts, Memorial's School Store, and an Abercrombie & Fitch Black History Month t-shirt. The winners were K. Valencia (grade 8), L. Aspirany (grade 6), and M. Guevara (grade 6/not photographed). Congratulations to the winners!
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Silly Sock Day
Students in Ms. Brunini's fifth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School enjoyed Silly Socks Day as part of Read Across America week.
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Get To Know The BOE Trustees
Each week we are spotlighting one of our Board of Education members in order to celebrate and honor their volunteer service and dedication to the students and families of Woodland Park.
Adam Chaabane has lived in Woodland Park since 1996. He and his wife Mariem Feki have two children, daughter Amira, and son Karim. Mr. Chaabane has served the Board for four years.
Currently chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, he has also served on the Community Relations, Negotiations, and Education committees.
Mr. Chaabane's primary goals are to provide air conditioning in all District classrooms and gym, and to build enough classrooms to house all our PreK-3 and 4 students.
Please join us in thanking Mr. Chaabane for his time and service.
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Memorial HSA Sweet Treats Extended
The Memorial Middle School Home & School Association's Meadow Farms Sweet Treat Fundraiser has been extended until March 18. Items will be delivered to school at the end of March or early April. Don't have a child at Memorial? You can still order. Items can be delivered to your home or the HSA will do in-town delivery. Shop the sale here.
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BGHSA Clothing Drive
The Beatrice Gilmore School Home & School Association will be running a clothing drive on Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the WP Boys & Girls Club parking lot, 8 Memorial Dr. Place your gently used/unwanted items in tightly tied bags. Every bag counts. Give your items a chance to be worn/used again. The more the collection weighs the more the group raises.
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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, March 12, 11 a.m. - Arts & Crafts for kids in grades K-4. This month, learn about positive and negative space by painting shamrocks. Register here.
Monday, March 14, 12:30 p.m. - Weigh To Go. Join the weight loss journey and share your tips, stories, and more. Register here.
Monday, March 14, 11 a.m. - Yoga & Meditation. Let your problems go and relax for a while. Register here.
Monday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. - ESL Conversation Club. Register here.
Tuesday, March 15, 4:30 p.m. - Reading Rebels book club for kids in 3rd to 5th grade. This month, the group will be reading "Matilda" by Roald Dahl. The book will be provided at the program. Register here.
Wednesday, March 16, 4 p.m. - Snails & Tales. Join in for a story time with Miss Sara for ages 3 and up. Register here.
Wednesday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, March 17, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, March 17, 12 noon - Sit & Fit chair exercises in the Community Room in Borough Hall. Register here.
Thursday, March 17 - Register for a "Be An Archeologist: NJ Makers Day Kit" and pick it up at the Library between March 25 and 26. Register here.
Thursday, March 17, 4 p.m. - Jedi Training for kids in 3rd to 8th grade. Complete Star Wars-themed activities, games, crafts, and more. Browse the Jedi Library and earn stars for our winter reading program, Read You Must. Register here.
Saturday, March 19, 11 a.m. - LegoMania for grades kindergarten and up. Register here.
Wednesday, March 23, 4 p.m. - Space bingo for kids in kindergarten and up. Register here.
Wednesday, March 23, 7 p.m. - Join in to discuss "The German House" by Annette Hess. The selection is available on Hoopla in eBook or downloadable audiobook. Print copies are available at the library. Register here.
Thursday, March 24, 5 to 7 p.m. - Passaic County Clerk will provide full passport services, notary oath and renewal, and free Veterans ID cards. This event will be held in the Municipal Building. For more information on all fees and services, call the Clerk's office at 973-225-3690.
Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m. - Healthy Comfort Foods with Heather Shasa, Registered Dietician with Little Falls ShopRite. Register here.
Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m. - Join in for the annual New Jersey Makers Day program. Enjoy Lego challenges, create with Air-Dry clay, make a paper catapult game, and more. Stay for the whole time or just drop in. Registration is required. Register here.