Woodland Park School District News
April 23, 2021
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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Toiletry Bags Are Now Available
Free toiletry bags for families in need are now available to pick up. Bags can be picked up on any school day during food service times from 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. at the main entrances of Memorial School and Charles Olbon School and the back entrance of School 1. This project was a result of a collaborative effort between the Alfred Baumann Library, Mayor Kazmark, Junior Girl Scout Troop #96790, and the School 1 Early Childhood Advisory Council in order to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Artsy Thursday
Last week, School 1 celebrated The Week of the Young Child, an annual event by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Mrs. Mete's PreK-4 class celebrated “Artsy Thursday” by creating a ladybug art project as a culminating activity to their study of insects!
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Getting A Little Lift
All students at Beatrice Gilmore School were treated to the talents of Bobby Beetcut from the Young Audiences program. Bobby is a musician and songwriter. His work uplifts and promotes mindfulness practices.
Bobby’s program, Your Life is a Work of Art, tied in wonderfully with the school's theme this month of diversity and inclusion with songs, such as Everyone is Different. Bobby also made sure to include mindfulness into the program by assisting the students with breathing exercises and reminding them to stay focused on life goals.
Classes participated in writing an original song that included some of their aspirations. Bobby’s final song, You Can Be Who You Want to Be, reinforced what all BG students know: “I Can Be Me at BG!”
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Celebrating The Young Child
The Week of the Young Child is a celebration sponsored annually by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Students in Mrs. Casasnovas' Pre-K4 class enjoyed the activities held during the week. On "Work Together Wednesday", students were asked to bring an activity to small group in which they needed to work with someone in their home. Children used puzzles, legos, blocks and other manipulatives. They verbally explained the process of completing that task. On "Family Friday", students were asked to bring a family photograph to class. Each child shared the photo by explaining who was in the photo, where and when the photo took place as well as any other memory the student wanted to share relative to the photo.
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Art and Science Connections in First Grade
Mrs. D’Amico’s first grade class was lucky to have two visitors this week - Mrs. Toole and Ms. Indri. Mrs. Toole led the class with an art lesson that integrated the current science topic being studied. While following along with a guided drawing lesson, the students were able to identify and label the parts of a flower. Ms. Indri showed the class a plant she is growing at home. She discussed with the students that like a flower, everyone is unique and grow in different ways. This is what makes everyone so special. This lesson was a perfect recipe for success!
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BG students share their differences
Ms. Bouroult's students at Beatrice Gilmore School had fun sharing what makes them unique after they listened to Mrs. Partidge's read-aloud of The Masterpiece.
Some students drew physical traits that make them stand out while other students shared different learning styles and/or personality traits. Some students even drew pictures of their special interests. We are so very proud of the students as they demonstrated their confidence in sharing individual differences with one another.
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PreK-4 students enjoy Tasty Tuesday fun
Last week School 1 celebrated The Week of the Young Child which is sponsored annually by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Lindsay's PreK-4 class participated in various fun activities to celebrate each day's theme. Highlighted here is "Tasty Tuesday" in which the children enjoyed eating their roll-up creations.
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Charles Olbon Students treated to a Science Showcase
The Charles Olbon School Home & School Association hosted a science assembly through the company Mad Science entitled, Spin, Pop, Boom! for all students. The host was Jupiter Julie and the experiments were conducted by Jurassic Johnny. This was a fun way to introduce the students to the world of chemistry with steaming chemical reactions! For example, the presenters made slime, showed how water would stay in a cup if you spun it over your head, made elephant toothpaste foam explode out of the beaker, and even had a flame come out of a beaker!
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Dancing To Dreams
Mrs. LaSala’s class at Beatrice Gilmore School really enjoyed the visit by Bobby Beetcut from the Young Audiences program. The class learned about breathing, focusing and beatboxing to music. The students created their own song based on goals and aspirations.
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BG Choir Premieres its Spring Concert
The Beatrice Gilmore School Choir's premiered its April concert on YouTube this week. The virtual chorus members have been working since January. Choir director, Mr. Schaefer, congratulated the students on a job well done. This is certainly a performance you do not want to miss. View the performance here.
If your child hasn't joined chorus or participated in any of the virtual concerts to date, this is the perfect time to get started! The choir will soon begin learning two final songs for the year. The students will record themselves singing at the end of May for one final virtual performance ready for the last week of school.
Choir meets every Tuesday from 2:15p.m. to 3:00p.m. To join the Google classroom, students should click "join a class" and enter the code sdrhvj5.
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Board of Education will host budget hearing on Monday
The Board of Education will hold a budget hearing on Monday, April 26 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom and be broadcast on public access television (Cablevision channel 77 - PVTV and Verizon Fios channel 24) and will also live stream on the District's Facebook page here.
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Police Department issues construction safety alerts
Construction being conducted in several spots along McBride Avenue. They are as follows:
1. The former Kearfott building at 1150 McBride Ave. building will undergo demolition in the near future. At some point, the sidewalk in front of that building will be closed, removed, and eventually replaced during the process. The Woodland Park Police Department asks that if anyone from your family walks to or from school, please cross to the opposite side by the crossing guard at Lackawanna Avenue and McBride Avenue. This will help to avoid anyone being forced to walk in the roadway and to keep everyone safe.
2. The sidewalk along Park West Meadows strip mall at 989-1031 McBride Ave. is undergoing streetscape improvements. If your child walks past this area - whether to or from school - please have them use Dowling Parkway to Wallace Lane, and enter the field to gain access to the school in the morning and travel the opposite way to travel home until work is complete.
If you have any questions or concerns on this matter, please feel free to reach out to Acting Police Chief John Uzzalino at juzzalino@wpnj.us or at 973-345-8115.
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Cub Scout Pack 31 will start taking applications this Sunday
Cub Scout Pack 31 will be accepting new Scout applications beginning on Sunday, April 25, at the American Legion Post 238, Mt. Pleasant Ave, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during its Bags of Hope service project.
If you would like to sign up your son or want more information, please stop by to see us (and hopefully you can bring a donation for the children fighting cancer). Registration will close on June 21 or when Dens are full.
There are limited spots at all grade levels, so please come sign up your son if you wish to join. If you cannot make it or would like more information, e-mail Pack 31 at WPCubScouts@gmail.com.
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Free support groups are available through Montclair State
The Montclair State University Community Counseling Clinic is offering no-fee support groups weekly in April and May to assist during this challenging period in our lives. The groups are held on Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information or to register, e-mail counclinic@montclair.edu.
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Coming up at the Alfred Baumann Library:
The Alfred Baumann Library will host the following children's programs. All programs are VIRTUAL unless noted. To view virtual programs, click here.
Monday, April 26, 10 a.m. - Virtual Weigh to Go group meeting. Register here.
Wednesday, April 28, 7 p.m. - Join Miss Sara and Miss Phil for a weekly virtual storytime on Zoom. Each week will have a new theme with stories, songs, rhymes, and more. Register here.
Wednesday, April 28, 7 p.m. - Join Brianne for the April Adult Book Club discussion of "Under the Tulip Tree" by Michelle Shocklee. The title is available for instant download with your library card via the Hoopla app here. The eBook can be found here and audiobook can be found here. Register for the discussion here.
Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m. - Spice Club - Early each month, come to the library to pick up a new packet. The packet will include a spice sample, recipe and history of the spice. Explore some new, exotic spices as well as old favorites. Choose to make the suggested recipe or one of your own, and join in at the Zoom meeting to talk about what you made. Register here.
Tuesday, May 4, 4 p.m. - William Paterson University Virtual Arts Education Workshop for grades K-4. In this workshop, we will read "Miss Maple's Seeds" by Eliza Wheeler and then discuss how artists are inspired by natural wonders like butterflies, seeds, and pods. All supplies will be provided and available for pick-up at the Library. Register here.
Wednesday, May 5, 11 a.m. - Join in for a farm adventure-themed Move & Groove with Miss Jolie on Zoom., offering silliness, stories, music, and fun for ages 0-6 and up. Miss Jolie brings a twist to classic children's music in addition to original interactive songs. Register here.
Thursday, May 6, 7 p.m. - Join best-selling author and organizing humorist Jamie Novak as she shares what to keep, toss, share and sell when spring cleaning. You will create your own cleaning checklist and log off with ideas and advice to tidy up. Register here.
Saturday, May 8, 11 a.m. - Join in for an outdoor nature scavenger hunt and storytime. Find and draw as many items as you can, from animals to plants, and more. Space is limited. Masks and social distancing are required. Register here.
The Library's website is www.abwplibrary.org. Phone number is 973-345-8120. Reach the Library via email at library@abwplibrary.org.
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