CGSD Newsletter
December 2019
Dear CGSD Community,
The holiday season is a magical time of year. Winter delights us with spectacular landscapes and the scent of woodsmoke filters through crisp, cold air. This month, we are afforded the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, cozy up to the fireplace with that book we've been too busy to read or binge-watch that favorite series streaming on demand (if Baby Yoda doesn't tickle your fancy, there are plenty of other options to choose from!).
This is also the time of year when people are most generous and moved by the season to give to those less fortunate. Students, staff and families across the CGSD take part in so many wonderful activities during the holiday season, some of which are captured here in our newsletter. It's this demonstration of gratitude, kindness and care that gives people hope and part of what makes our learning community such a special place for our kids.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year!
#WeAreCedarGrove
Sincerely,
Michael J. Fetherman
Superintendent
Work towards the completion of our security projects continues. New digital infrastructure is in place to support recently installed upgrades to our security platforms (surveillance cameras, alarm systems, electronic door locks, backup power generator, and phone systems) and protective window film has been installed on our windows.
That said, we have encountered delays with the completion of security vestibules located at each school. The subcontractor originally hired had to be terminated and a new specialist retained to complete the unfinished work. We have confidence in this new partnership and anticipate timely attention to these remaining projects.
In the meantime, our staff will continue to make safety and security a top priority through ongoing emphasis on vigilance, communication, and participation in routine and frequent security drills alongside our partners within the CGPD, whose members frequent our buildings and campuses.
It's the most wonderful time of the year!! Students in both elementary schools continue the time honored tradition of creating winter sculptures for each family!
While it may look simple, many important concepts are taught and implemented in the design of each one; most significantly, fractions. Each child is asked to divide their own model magic into fractional parts, including halves, quarters, thirds, fourths and even eighths!
SE Grinch Day was a success in First Grade! Students worked on Grinch-related rotations throughout the day. The stations included a writing piece on "What would you do to make the Grinch grin?", read and unscramble Grinch sentences, solve Grinch addition and subtraction story problems using ornament manipulatives, and making a Grinch ornament. The day ended with 'Pin the heart on the Grinch'. There are certainly no Grinches in our first grade classrooms!
Kindergarten Holiday Extravaganza highlighted a STEM challenge. Students worked in teams to see who could build the tallest trees out of solo cups. Students also created shape reindeer to review two dimensional shapes where they had to provide the number of sides and vertices of the shape reindeer they chose.
A combination of English Language Arts and Engineering created a hands-on project in Mrs. Danieli’s fourth grade class at NE. Students used various materials to construct their own replica of Little Bear’s longhouse.
“Omri watched him in utter fascination. The longhouse was about half finished. The twigs, which had been taken from the birch tree on the lawn had been stripped of their bark, leaving them shining white. Each one had been bent into an arch, the ends thrust into the earth, and crosspieces lashed to the sides with thread...
- Indian in the Cupboard, page 68.
NE 1st graders in Mrs. Jacob's class also took some time this month to read holiday stories to their friend, Buster.
NE 2nd graders in Ms. Dimler's and Ms. McLaughlin's class have been learning about Government Services. Students wrote letters to CGPD officers thanking them for their service. Afterwards, two officers visited their class so that the students could share their letters and ask the officers questions about their job. It was a great experience for the kids!
NE 4th graders in Mrs. Danieli’s class took a virtual field trip, via Skype, to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming! They visited The Buffalo Bill Center (https://centerofthewest.org/) and journeyed through different habitats: alpine, forest, mountain meadow, and plains/basin to explore how different animals adapt to their environments. This field trip culminated our Science unit on animal adaptations. How cool is that?
Jake Saraiva invited MMS families to donate a new, unwrapped toy. The toys collected are delivered to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in memory of his brother, Sebastian, who passed away. Unfortunately, Sebastian spent Christmas and other holidays in the hospital. These toys will be used to spread cheer to other children who will be doing the same.
Part of our community outreach in the CGSD is to invite nursing students from Ramapo University to the Middle and Elementary Schools to learn about school health services. Here is Shannon McGowan checking a student's height. The nursing students also help with hearing screening and teach our students with severe food-allergies what actions to take in case an allergic reaction occurs at school.
MMS Social Connections and Character Education cycle classes, as well as Random Acts of Kindness Club members, made holiday cards for soldiers.
MMS Student Council made tags for our annual holiday giving tree. Our holiday tree is up and we are ready to fulfill wishes!
MMS Principal, Mr. DeCorte, shadowed a 5th grade schedule for the day to gain a different perspective of student life at MMS, from homeroom to lunch and recess to Mrs. Kelly’s 8th and 9th period language arts class. Mr. DeCorte plans on "visiting" other grade levels for a day and will meet with grade-level staff to share his perspective.
MMS 5th grade math teachers attended a workshop at Conquer Mathematics on Interdisciplinary Lessons. They were tasked to build a roller coaster tower that met specific mathematical requirements. Their tower was built using a variety of geometric shapes cut out from index cards and tape. The Cedar Grove teachers earned the most points and the team is excited to share this experience with their students!
MMS 5th grade ELA classes created their own Mini Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. First, they read about the history of the parade. They then wrote persuasive essays to explain why a certain literary character should be included in the parade. Based on their character, they used balloons and supplies to create their own balloons for the parade. Students marched up and down the 5th grade hallway to showcase their balloons!
CGHS students under Mr. Valenzano's care received a visit from Wendy Berk of the Brain Injury Alliance (https://tinyurl.com/wemn3ow) and were awarded a $750 stipend for participating in the annual Driver's Ed. project. It's our 8th year of participation in this meaningful work!
Music Matters is a family-school organization supporting the music program at Cedar Grove High School. We work with the students and teachers to partner with and support community events and organizations in our wonderful town.
Please visit CGHS Music Matters online at: https://www.cgschools.org/cghs-music-matters/
On Facebook: CGHS Music Matters
On Instagram: cghsmusic
On Twitter: @cghs_Music
The mission of the Cedar Grove Education (CGEF) is to enrich and enhance the educational experiences of Cedar Grove students above and beyond the scope of the curriculum and to provide lifelong learning opportunities for the entire community.
See details below for the CGEF Fundraiser - Bingo at CGHS, Dec. 8 at 1PM. Hope to see you there!
Follow us on Facebook: Cedar Grove Education Foundation
CGSD Social Media: GET CONNECTED!
Email: fetherman.michael@cgschools.org
Website: www.cgschools.org
Location: 520 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ, USA
Phone: (973) 239-1550
Facebook: facebook.com/CedarGroveSuperintendent
Twitter: @Cgssuper