Brandt's Weekly Newsletter
6.2.2023
Inside this Edition
- Principal's Message
- Kindness Awards
- Grade Level Updates
- The Counselor's Corner
- Related Arts and Science Updates
- Nurse's Nook
- The Friday Playlist
Principal's Message
What a busy week!
In addition to continuing our regular academic excellence, our students had a wonderful time during Career Day! A very special thanks to Mrs. Hosbach, our school counselor, for organizing the wonderful event. Thanks to the PTO for sponsoring a luncheon for our Field Day presenters as well. Thanks to all of our community members who took some time to present to our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Thanks as well to the Hoboken Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service for stopping by with their vehicles for grades K - 2. Be sure to check out the Counselor's Corner below for a write-up and some awesome phots from throughout the day.
This upcoming week, we are schedule for our annual Field Days. There are a few important things to remember as we prepare for these events. Grades K - 2 will go to the field on Tuesday, June 6th. Grades 3 - 5 are scheduled for Wednesday, June 7tth. Rain dates are penciled in for June 8 & 9 if needed.
If you have not done so already, be sure to fill out the Field Day Lunch Order Form by Monday. The link is here: https://www.smore.com/q2zu3
For Field Days, remember:
- Parents and guardians to send their child in comfortable, athletic shoes (just as they would for phys ed class). Students may bring a towel, hat, and sunglasses.
- Parents/guardians should apply sunscreen to their child before school in the morning. You can send your child with additional sunscreen to reapply throughout the day, but staff members are not permitted to reapply sunscreen for students.
- Make sure students bring a water bottle and they hydrate before school!
Field Day is not an open event for parents to attend. Parents are not allowed to show up at the field and spend the day just as they cannot show up at school and spend the day in the classroom. Only volunteers who signed up through the PTO are permitted at Field Day, and that is only to serve in the capacity for which they volunteered.
Despite the fact that we are nearing the end of the year, remember attendance is critically important during these last few weeks. Continue to get your child to school on time every day so they can put the finishing touches on their academics while making great memories with their friends and teachers.
This week, we continue to have a lot of important information for you to be aware of, so be sure to check out the flyers for:
- Grade 5 Night Out on 6/2
- The Elementary School Spring Concert
- Participating in the Band, Stings, and Chorus for the 23/24 School Year
- PTO-Sponsored Golf Outing
Please be sure to check out some photos in the gallery below from our latest round of HPEF-sponsored Field Trips - 4th grade went to Ellis Island.
Our final trip is:
6/8 - Grade 5 - NJ Sea Grant Consortium at Sandy Hook
Other dates to keep in mind:
- Field Days (June 6th & 7th)
- Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremonies (June 20th)
- 5th Grade Moving on Ceremonies (June 21st)
As always, featured underneath our flyers section, I hope you take the time to read about all of the wonderful things happening in our grade level and subject area updates sections.
For this week's playlist, my daughter recently turned 15, so I took her to see Paramore at Madison Square Garden. I hope you enjoy three songs they played that night!
Please have a safe and wonderful weekend!
- Mr. Bartlett
PATH Summer Art Contest
On June 1st, Port Authority and PATH hosted Hoboken Public School District's students and families in a spectacular event held at the PATH terminal. Our Top 25, Top 3, and Grand Prize Winning students all gathered, along with their families, to celebrate being chosen out of over 500 pieces of art! The Top 25 summer themed artworks were proudly displayed and served as a colorful backdrop for the energetic performance by Brand Chorus, directed by Mr. Panfile. Their joyous voices and artwork certainly caught the attention of the entire terminal!
The Top 25 winners were each given a certificate by Clarelle DeGraffe, Director/General Manager, PATH. The Top 3 winners were also given a certificate and had their grand posters presented to the entire audience who was left to wonder, "Who is the Grand Prize Winner?"
The Top 3 students and their families were invited to board a special PATH Train car which was elaborately decorated in the theme of Summer. Winners then took a special train ride to the PATH administrative offices 5th floor conference room at Journal Square Transportation Center for a luncheon and presentation of gifts to winners.
We are overjoyed to share our Top 3 Winners:
K-2: Gabro Younan, Brandt
3-5: Rose Simons, Wallace
6-8: Will Rakela, Hoboken Middle School
Grand Prize Winner:
Rose Simons! Congratulations, Rose!
We are thrilled to celebrate the Top 25 Winners:
Alexandra Crimmins - Brandt, grade 5
Emma Maydick - Brandt, grade 1
Reese Katzman - Connors, grade 2
Camille McCauley - Brandt, grade 2
Nolan Goldberg - Connors, grade 1
Miriam Rasul - Wallace, grade 2
Vivienne Kostopoulos - Wallace, grade 2
Eva Balagula - Brandt, grade 1
Piper Morales - Hoboken Middle School, 7
Jayda Acevedo - Hoboken Middle School, grade 8
Harrison Green - Hoboken Middle School, grade 7
Maya Newfield - Connors, grade 4
Nicholas Pickerel - Connors, grade 4
Paige Forman - Brandt, grade 5
Aaliyah Rosario - Brandt, grade 4
Kamora Beals - Connors, grade 4
Ella Resnick - Brandt, grade 4
Zoe Nguyen Mueller - Brandt, grade 5
Liam Keegan - Brandt, grade 4
Kabir Sahu - Wallace, grade 5
Isaac Vainshel - Wallace, grade 3
Veer Bhardwaj - Wallace, grade 3
Serena Bufano - Connors, grade 3
Noah Vasseur - Brandt, grade 4
Maria M. Otero - Brandt, grade 3Hoboken Public Schools is honored to be partnered with the Port Authority and the PATH Summer Poster Contest. Now, the Path trains will shine bright all summer long - even while underground. We look forward to 2024 where we will participate in the next annual partnership with Port Authority/PATH Summer Poster Contest Event.
Thank you to our District and Building Administrations as well as our enthusiastic Art Instructors for their support in this tremendous experience.
Girls on the Run!
This week, the Girls on the Run group from the Passport to Learning program worked on and completed our Community Impact Project. The girls as a group decided to contribute to the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. They got to work baking dog treats, designing posters, and making cards for the staff and adoptable dogs and cats!
We were able to donate the treats/cards along with generous donations of peanut butter, pumpkin puree, paper towels, laundry detergent, bleach, gently used towels, garbage bags, and handmade bandanas! The coaches are extremely proud of the girls for coming up with this idea and giving back to those in need.
Tuesday we WILL be running so please have the girls wear sneakers, hydrate, and have a snack ready :) Hope you enjoy seeing the pictures and the girls hard at work to help the Liberty Humane Society!
Spring Concert
We proudly announce our 2023 Spring Elementary Concert featuring the Band, Strings, and Chorus of grades 3-5. Our spectacular showcase will take place on Friday, June 9 in the Hoboken High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:15 PM and we have a 7:00 PM showtime. We cannot wait to sing and dance with you!
Please see the following communication regarding ticket sales and ticket purchase limits. Tickets will be sold exclusively at the door, not through BookTix, and we must limit sales to 3 tickets per family. However, any child 5 and under may sit on your lap and be charged admission, but not made to use a ticket. 2023 Elementary Spring Concert: Ticket Sale Update
If there are any questions, please contact:
Supervisor Jessica Fasolino
Music Program for 2023/2024
The wait is over! Be a part of the soundtrack of our artful District!
As we round the culminating corner of our successful 2022-2023 school year, we reflect on the gleaming talent of all children involved in our award winning Hoboken Music Programs. We applaud you and invite you to make more memories with us and join us next year! We are now offering the gift of music to our rising 3rd through rising 12th grade families.
- Our rising 3rd graders, current 2nd graders, are now eligible to sign up for our Chorus programs. Come sing with the awe inspiring voices that sell out our Winter and Spring concerts each year.
- Our rising 4th graders, current 3rd graders, are now eligible to sign up for next year's Band and String programs!
- Our current 5th graders, please use the Hoboken Middle School form as you will be rising 6th graders next year.
Please choose your rising grade below to fill out the registration form related to Band / Strings as well as Chorus.
Once this form closes, your music educators will be in contact with you to provide you with additional program information as well as the rental link, if applicable.
Please complete your forms by Friday, May 19th.
Thank you and we cannot wait to have you!
Jessica Fasolino
Supervisor of Fine & Performing Arts
JFasolino@hoboken.k12.nj.us
(201) 356-3733
Scenes from the 1st and 3rd Grade HPEF Trips
PTO NEWSLETTER - SUBSCRIBE!
The PTO is excited to share our newly released newsletter. To stay connected and informed please SUBSCRIBE HERE:
Kindness Awards
Madeleine Grossi has been very welcoming and helpful to a friend who is learning English. She's worked hard to become a leader and supportive friend this year!
Nyla Senhaji helps her teachers and friends.
Elena Crimmins always helps clean up the classroom and put all materials away where they belong.
Gabriella Nicolosi is a great helper in the classroom.
Rosie Mandel is a good friend to everyone in the school and always willing to help a friend.
Jason Gilbert works so hard in class and is always helping others.
Shikhee Gautham is always helping friends around the classroom if they need it.
Riley Klapper always is willing to help her friends in class.
Kindergarten
In ELA, we are learning about words with long e sounds, along with the Sight Words come and does. We also discussed how things are alike and different. In Math, we are reviewing addition and subtraction and introducing money. In Social Studies we are learning the words to move up ceremony song and practicing choreography!
First Grade
This week in first grade ELA, students used a realistic fiction mentor text to retell and identify the author's purpose. Carrying over from last week, students continued to practice cause and effect. In phonics, students were introduced to 3 letter consonant blends str, spl, spr, scr, shr and thr. Additionally, students engaged in practice with pronouns and compound words.
In Math, students are continuing to learn about 2D and 3D shapes and their characteristics. Students have been practicing using vocabulary words such as vertices, edges and sides. Students were able to identify different 2D and 3D shapes and real life examples of each shape. Students have been reviewing telling time to the hour and half hour.
In writing, students read the mentor text Couch Potato then practiced reflecting on what they read by expressing how they will not be a couch potato this summer break!
Second Grade
Second grade had a busy week filled with a lot of science activities, reading, and math skills!
In math, students have continued working on Unit 7 which is all about even and odd numbers. Students have been deciding if amounts can be split into teams and partners. We have also started tying arrays and repeated addition into multiplication and understanding division.
In reading, we have been reviewing a variety of skills from the year. We focused on nonfiction text features and finding details in a story.
In writing, we have been working on our rough drafts for our animal research projects. We found a lot of different facts and information by reading non fiction texts and put our ideas to paper. We will be revising and editing our writing next week!
In social studies, we have been working on showing kindness and skills on how to be a good friend. We discussed the importance of Memorial Day and why we celebrate.
Finally, for science, some classes participated in a variety of projects and activities to review different skills from the beginning of the year. These include understanding the design process and the steps engineers take to invent new things, and describing the properties of matter and making observations.
Third Grade
In ELA, students are participating in Reader’s Theater. In reader's theater, students "perform" by reading scripts created from grade-level books or stories. It is a strategy that combines reading practice and performing. Its goal is to enhance students' reading skills and confidence by having them practice reading with a purpose.
Students are also working on their Who Was/Is Cereal Box Book Report. They are finalizing their chapter summaries on Google Slides and will begin decorating their cereal boxes with facts about their person. Next week they will present their projects to their classmates.
In Mathematics, students are beginning their Food Truck Project Based Learning Project. This project based learning activity puts all the job responsibilities in the hands of the students. The activity focuses on students creating and designing while using math skills, applying problem solving techniques, and collaborating with others. It allows for easy differentiation, so students can work at a pace they will be successful at. There are steps and procedures to assist students through this project, but the work and results will be determined by their ideas that each student adds. Students will work with a partner and personalize a food menu and miniature 3D version of a food truck, along with a business they can call their own. By the end of this project each student will create an absolutely unique business based on their ideas, imagination, and application of skills.
In Social Studies this week, students focused on symbols and founding documents as well as features of the United States. They read about the region’s features and identified them on a map. Students were able to identify the states for each region; Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. They used U.S. Desk Map, Raised Relief Maps, and map markers to outline the borders of each region and label each region appropriately. Next, students found their state on both desk maps and they outlined the state’s borders on the U.S. Desk Map. Using the Raised Relief Map, students grouped name features of the state. Last, groups were able to compare and contrast various states and similar features.
Fourth Grade
For math, students are immersed in Unit 8 - Penny Jars and Towers, the last unit in our curriculum. This unit pivots towards analyzing the Patterns and Rules strand. It develops student ideas about the ways in which situations with two varying quantities can be mathematically modeled and analyzed. Students worked on arithmetic patterns which use letters to represent the unknown. They have solved multistep problems to generate symbolic notations to model situations involving penny jars, floors, and towers. They have used the knowledge acquired over the school year to create these expressions and be able to solve them in a given situation.
For Language Arts, we are diving into the Novel Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans. As we have started reading the first few chapters, students described in depth a character or setting in the chapter. They have drawn on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions) by using close reading strategies.
Our fourth grade agents of change are working hard to understand the causes and effects of Westward Expansion. Students have read and discussed topics such as Manifest Destiny, the Oregon Trail, the Mexican-American War, the Louisiana Purchase, and the California Gold Rush. Students learned how the birth of the railroad also transformed travel during the 19th century. These agents of change have explored how Westward Expansion negatively impacted the indigenous peoples and forced them off their land.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders had a great 5th grade Picnic on the Pier! We also had a fun time with all the visitors coming out to share at career day.
In ELA this week students continued to read and study the novel, Number the Stars. Readers are closely rereading chapters and seeing big ideas in small details to complete the graphic organizer for chapters 6-9.
In Math, mathematicians started on a personal financial literacy project by creating a balanced personal budget by determining a career path and potential expenditures to accurately identify the values for each budgetary item.
In Social Studies, Historians learned about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by closely watching one video and engaging in discussion to complete five video tasks. Students learned about the cultures of the many Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups by closely reviewing a timeline, researching, and engaging in discussion to complete a lesson reflection.
The Counselor's Corner - Career Day Edition!
Our school community participated in our 2nd annual Career Day on Friday, June 2nd. We invited parents and community members to come speak with our students in grades 3-5 about their careers.
We also welcomed our Hoboken Police Department, Hoboken Fire Department and the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps for our K-2 classes. The students were able to tour the fire truck, police motorcycle and truck, and the ambulance to learn the different aspects of the job.
The goal of career day is to familiarize our students with the paths they can choose to achieve their goals. The students had an amazing experience getting to learn all about the different career paths that are open to them in the future.
I'd like to thank Mr. Bartlett and Mrs. Dellafave for allowing us to provide our students with an insight into the world of careers.
Thank you to the PTO who generously provided lunch for our presenters and always goes out of their way to support our school community.
Thank you to the following community members that volunteered their time to our students today!
Ariella Mendez
Giovanni Giuntoli
Briana Straten
Amy Gross
Ray Falco
Lee Miller
Kelly Genuardi
Nicholas Pasquenza
Rocio Grubelich
Brittany Corn-Agostini
Mickey Bresman
Anat Navot
Jessica Chen
David Hodge
Emily Jabbour
Kristen Karotkin
Catherine Willhoit
Casey Repetti
Hoboken Police Department
Hoboken Fire Department
Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
One last thank you to my 5th grade peer leaders who assisted today with the presenters and escorted them around the building!
Email: jhosbach@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
On Mondays - Wednesdays during the Individualized Learning Pathway (ILP) period, students who have qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) programming engage in a wide array of math course offerings that address their specific strengths and interests. Johns Hopkins CTY believes in researching and advancing ways to identify and nurture academically talented learners. CTY furthers research, guides educators and families and inspires students from diverse communities and backgrounds to pursue their intellectual passions and create the world of tomorrow. This week, we would like to highlight a field trip that was rescheduled from last semester with our CTY Verbal course students:
This week students in grades 4 and 5 from our CTY Verbal courses last semester FINALLY got to enjoy their rescheduled field trip at the Meadowlands Environment Center! “Environment Through the Artists’ Eyes” gave students the opportunity to create sketches and renderings of what they observed in nature at the Meadowlands Environment Center. Later on in the day, they created a personal work of art to portray the environment through their own eyes. They had the opportunity to create a masterpiece based on the above-mentioned sketches and selected their media of choice. All masterpieces and artist statements were presented and shared in a gallery display at the end of the day as a post assessment and culminating activity. Students did a fabulous job with their artwork!
Physical Education
Hurry quick... there's a mouse in the Brandt gymnasium. Luckily the physical education teachers built a Mouse Trap!
Our classic board game/video games unit has come to life these past few weeks. This week students transformed into mice. Players scurried around the mats collecting cheese, but they need to watch out for the trap! Students worked on straight pathways, running, crawling, and strategizing to be able to get the cheese. The mice who were caught had to give up all of the cheese and contribute it to the main pile under the trap!
World Languages
This week in Mandarin class, the students are learning about Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most important Chinese festivals. They learned the story of Qu Yuan, the traditional food “zong zi” and the celebrations during the festival.
Art
Music
This week, members from our Brandt Chorus participated in the Hoboken PATH Ceremony at the Hoboken Path Terminal. The group performed two selections, "The Power of One," & Trolls Medley from the movie Trolls. Our group was very enthusiastic as they gave a terrific performance in front of honored guests and community members. This performance was an awesome tune-up for our Spring Concert on Friday June 9th. I am very proud to be working with such wonderful talented students who make the difference for not only Brandt School, but the entire community.
Science
This week in Kindergarten Science, students completed the final activity of the PLTW Structure and Function: Human Body. In this activity, students had the chance to design and build a cast for Angelina. They followed the design process as they worked with their table mates to solve the problem.
This week our first graders talked about the phases of the moon. We learned that there are eight different phases that we can observe during the month. We also learned some new vocabulary words including, waxing, waning and gibbous. We observed a chart on the Promethean Board and colored our own matching charts.
This week in second grade science, students participated in our science workshops! Each class engaged in three days of science experiments. The experiments focused on key concepts such as the engineering design process, how to build and test for solutions as well as matter and the different states in which they exist. Students were able to test for which materials made the best pillows and how they can improve their lunch boxes.
This week in third grade science we started preparing for our last quiz of the year in our unit on weather. Students worked together to complete various review questions and then we went over them as a class. The next step of our reviewing process is playing an exciting and challenging game of Kahoot. It is a favorite among the students and it's something they are already looking forward to playing.
This week in 4th grade science students continued their end of the year projects! Many students began working on their final posters, presentation slides and models. We are all looking forward to finishing up next week and presenting to other classes!
This week in 5th grade science, students conducted their final robot tests by participating in the exciting "bot battle" round! In teams, students worked together to get the colorful cubes out of the arena before their opponents. Students worked hard on engineering a perfect model of their robot by carefully going through the design process. Each group considered how their robot should be created in order to have the most success within the final round!
Nurse's Nook
Dear Parents/Guardians: **IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS** There are 2 required immunizations to enter 6th grade as per the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The 2 required immunizations are as follows: N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.10: Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine (TDap). Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 on or after September 1, 2008 shall have received one dose of DTap, given no earlier than his/her 10th birthday. N.J.A.C. 8:57-4:20: Meningococcal Vaccine Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 shall have 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine such as the medically preferred meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Please provide proof of immunization to the middle school nurse no later than September 22, 2023 or your child could be excluded from school. Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact middle school nurse Nicole Kirwin at nkirwin@hoboken.k12.nj.us. Thank you, Nicole Kirwin, School N