Woodland Park School District News
Oct. 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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House Sorting Event
Last Friday, Memorial Middle School students participated in the annual House Sorting Ceremony. All students and staff at Memorial School are sorted into four houses: earth, wind, fire, and water. Each house represents a character trait that is instilled in the students and staff each and every day: earth - trustworthy, wind - respect, fire - responsibility, and water - caring.
The goal of the House System is to assist in improving the school’s overall climate, build a positive culture and provide every student, teacher, and staff member with a place to belong. The House assignment process is conducted through random sorting in order to ensure that each student is provided with opportunities to work and socialize with others outside of typical social circles and grade level in order to promote an overall sense of belonging and connections within the school environment.
All sixth grade students along with the new staff were individually called to a table and blindly select a colored gem, each color representative of one of the four houses. After everyone was sorted, the newly developed houses took part in a few friendly challenges, such as tug of war and scooter races.
In the upcoming months, each team will work together to participate in various events including, but not limited to, academics, athletics, school spirit, good citizenship, field day, and other opportunities which will take place throughout the school year. Each house will earn and accumulate points at each event which will ultimately be accumulated towards a final reward.
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After School Program Kickoff
Our after-school programs are in full swing at Memorial Middle School and Beatrice Gilmore School. In the Bear's Den program at BG, students in the Cinema Club voice a desire to collaborate with peers, write, act, design illustrations for movies through the creation on short film. Is the next famous artist, actor/actress, director, or screenwriter in our Cinema Club? Only time will tell! “Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: students. If they can do it, why not us?” The Cinema Club's first project was to produce a movie poster which are featured above.
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Storytellers
Beatrice Gilmore School is again this year participating in the Young Audience Arts for Learning of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania program. The program brings arts experiences by professional teaching artists directly to students.
Fourth graders are currently working with artist Summer Dawn. These students worked with the same artist in third grade as well. The program this year focuses on storytelling and theater. They are reviewing how to use their bodies, faces and voices to convey meaning by playing charades and using pantomime. Students will move on to creating a play together.
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Pumpkin Time
First graders in Ms. Tonti’s class at Charles Olbon School explored the inside of a pumpkin to gather evidence to support their hypothesis of what is inside a pumpkin as well as how it feels. The students also collected the seeds to take home. The pumpkins were then turned into jack-o-lanterns. The class continued their pumpkin study with a sink-and float-experiment. The results were surprising!
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Week of Respect
For Week of Respect, Ms. DiGiacomo's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School created a poster. They worked together designing, coloring, and signing their names on the poster. The students wanted to make sure that not just the class saw the message, so they shared it with Guidance Counselor Mrs. Sanducci. The class is proud and thankful to have it displayed for all the school to see.
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Number Practice
Students in Ms. DiGiacomo's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School recently during math played a game where they rolled dice and built a tower. It was great number writing practice as well as counting. The students were very determined and had a fun time building and writing numbers while working with their classmates.
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Kind Words
During Week of Respect, students in Ms. Morozowski PreK-4 class at Charles Olbon School learned how to respect their friends by learning how to use kind words. After reading the story, Can I Share My Ice Cream, written by Mo Willems, the students discussed kind and unkind words during a sensory experiment. While experimenting with the texture of pom-pom balls and sandpaper, students learned that when using pom-pom balls we use "pom-pom" words, they are gentle and kind words. When using "sandpaper" words with our friends, they are rough and hurtful, which is unkind. After the sensory experiment, students turned and talked to practice using kind words with a friend.
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Chemical Reactions
Students completed a lab in Ms. Ament's seventh grade science class at Memorial Middle School in which they tested out the rate of chemical reactions that occur in cellular respiration. Students used a pH indicator chemical that turns colors when carbon dioxide is introduced. The class tested it out at a resting rate and then did jumping jacks to test it at an active rate. Students made bar graphs to compare their results.
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Taking The Lead
In Mrs. D’Amico and Mrs. Davidson’s first grade class at Charles Olbon School, you will find student-led roles during Reader’s Workshop. These roles have been allowing students to help one another which helps create a smooth-running workshop. The class is really enjoying partner reading too. During Fundations, students have more opportunities to lead phonics activities. They have been practicing tapping out, building, and writing CVC words.
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Changing Landscapes
In Ms. Sturdy's eighth grade science classes, students last week modeled Earth’s history by creating a geologic time jar. Students used different materials to model Earth’s changing landscape and evolution of species. In addition, students reviewed for an upcoming exam by completing a geologic time escape room. Students solved different puzzles earning a different key making them one step closer to their great escape.
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Bracelet Sale
Memorial Middle School's House System is running a Halloween bracelet sale during lunch periods. Bracelets are $1 and all proceeds go toward the House System.
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Bundt Cake Fundraiser
Memorial Middle School Home & School Association is running a Nothing Bundt Cakes fundraiser. Please print the form out and send in checks payable to Memorial HSA or cash in an envelope marked "Bundt Cake Sale" to school. Individual bundtlets are $6.50. Eight-inch cakes are $31 and 10-inch cakes are $10. Feature flavor is pumpkin spice. The last day to order is Nov. 11 (no exceptions). Cakes will be available for pick up on Nov. 22 at 15 Westerholt Ave.
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Fleece Pants Sale
The Memorial Middle School 8th Grade Dance Committee is holding a WP fleece pants fundraiser. This is not approved spirit wear. It cannot be worn to school. Cost is $30. Show your pride in your school by wearing these pants while also supporting the committee in their goal to make the class of 2023’s formal a success! Any questions, contact Trish at wpmemorialclassof2023@gmail.com or 201-452-9212.
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Discount Card Fundraiser
Memorial Middle School's 8th Grade Dance Committee is running a community discount card fundraiser. The reusable card is $20 each and offers a year's worth of savings to all your local favorites. You’ll be sure to save much more than $20 from using your card. Discount cards also make great gifts! To order a card, contact Trish at wpmemorialclassof2023@gmail.com or 201-452-9212
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Halloween Party
Beatrice Gilmore School's Home & School Association will be hosting a Halloween party on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Watch for the permission slip for the event to come home.
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Spirit Wear Sale
The Beatrice Gilmore School Home & School Association is running a spirit wear sale through Oct. 31. To shop the sale, click here.
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Volunteer Trunkers Needed
The Woodland Park Municipal Alliance Against Alcoholism & Drug Abuse would like to again host Trick or Trunk on Halloween, Oct. 31. Registration for volunteer trunks (only) is open. Please consider helping out to make this event a success. Currently, only 28 trunks have registered. Registration for children will not open until enough cars have registered to take part - ideally 40 to 50. To sign up to be a volunteer trunk, please email your name and phone number to wptrunks@gmail.com as soon as possible.
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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, Oct. 15, 12:30 p.m. - Fall Into STEAM for grades 3-8. This month, join in for "Earth Is An Onion," where we will learn about each unique layer of our home planet. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. - Bouncing Babies story time program for ages one to 23 months and a caregiver. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. - Weigh To Go no judgment weight loss sharing group. Share stories, tips, and struggles, or just listen. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. - Yoga & Meditation. Let your problems go and relax with us in the Community Room in Borough Hall. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. - Dungeons & Dragons for sixth to 12th grade. New and experienced players are welcome. Register here.
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. - Crafternoon for adults. Join in to make a beautiful fall craft. Register here.
Tuesday, Oct. 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. The book will be provided at the program. Register here.
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. - Snails & Tales for ages 2 and up. Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, a craft, and more. Register here.
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 12 p.m. - Sit & Fit Exercise Class. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water to hydrate. A health waiver needs to be completed prior to the program. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m. - Afternoon movie for all ages. Join in for a special Halloween screening of "Hocus Pocus!" Snacks and drinks will be available. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m. - Spooky Zentangle with Maria. Create a design that will send you into a Zen state of mind. No experience is necessary. Register here.
Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m. - Lego Mania for children of all ages. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. - Spice of the Month Club. Pick up a packet at the Library with a spice, recipe, and the history of the spice. Then meet on the last Thursday evening of the month to discuss your findings. Register here.