Abigail and Michael auditioned and made Junior Area Band! Playing the flute and clarinet, they will be representing Little Falls at the January Concert at Mount Olive High School.

At our December Board of Education meeting, the Little Falls Education Foundation presented our teachers with over $14,000 in grants. These grants help to offer staff and students programs, materials, and supplies that enhance our curriculum and provide cutting opportunities. Some examples of the grants provided are: flexible seating, CPR instruction materials, art supplies, books for One Book One School initiatives, positive message decals, field trip opportunities, brag tags and more! Thank you LFEF.

On November 6th, the 8th grade class visited the United States Military Academy at West Point. Rainy weather did not deter the group from seeing the West Point Museum, going on an interactive tour of cadet life, viewing trophy point, and learning about the history of West Point. In the spring, the 8th grade class will be visiting the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Grade 5 Language Arts was lucky to have a special guest storyteller, Gerry Fierst, from Storytelling Arts, Inc. He was the perfect compliment to our Greek Mythology unit. Students really enjoyed hearing the story of Perseus and Medusa in such an active and engaging way! They had the opportunity to be a character in the story and to later apply their ideas in narrative writing.

The following students entered a Spooky Story writing contest around Halloween. They won and their stories will be published into hardcover books to keep forever! What an amazing memory! Congratulations!

Max Bowers

Santino Coletta

Nate Redden

Isaiah Sumeersarnath

Natalia Marecki

Logan Rodriguez

Emily Wallace

Madisyn Kleiser

Adrianna Cataldo

The staff at the Hornet Highlights eagerly received a special guest speaker, Mr. Al Kahwaty.

A Little Falls local, Mr. Kahwaty has an extensive background in broadcast journalism. Reporters gleaned some great tips!

Center photo: Many thanks to the students who participated in the Hornet Highlights scavenger hunt!

8th graders- Please post your baby picture to the Google Classroom page by February 1st.

Making gingerbread houses with Mrs. Castaldo

January 1- School Closed

January 2- School Reopens

January 2- Board of Education Meeting

January 9- Hornets at Home 6:30 School No. 2 Cafeteria

February 1- Preschool registration opens

February 4 & 5- Kindergarten registration 9:30 am -2:30 pm

February 6- Kindergarten registration 4:30 pm- 7:00 pm

The Sources of Strength club has recently run two campaigns focusing on two slices of the Sources of Strength Wheel. We talked about have positive and trusted adults. Students made a hand with the name of a trusted adult and also were given post cards they could send as a thank you to their trusted adult. Next we focused on being grateful and took the Thankfulness Challenge. Each student and staff member were challenged to think of three things they are grateful for. The next slice of the wheel we are looking at it generosity. SOS is running a sock drive to benefit MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless).

On December 13th School #1 held their annual Geography Bee. Congratulations to Zackary Fernades who was the winner of the Bee! Good job to all of the contestants who participated in the Geography Bee this year!

The NJHS has elected officers for the 2018-2019 school year. With their leadership, the NJHS is off to great things!

Co-Presidents - Emma Giron & Lauren Tucci

Vice President - Mia Barone

Secretary - Mallory Cestone

Treasurer - Annabella Heaney

The NJHS sold snacks at the Winter Concert and all money raised was donated to families in Little Falls. We hope this will make their holiday that much brighter.

The New Jersey Center for the Books held a poetry contest entitled, Poetry Indeed, 4th -8th grade G&T students submitted a number of their poems. There was a reception for the poetry contest held on October 26th at the Livingston College Student Center of Rutgers University. At the poetry event, the students read their poems aloud and had the opportunity to meet author Wil Mara. Our Little Falls students did very well.

In Level 1:

Michael Kahwaty - 1st Place

Sally Capizzi - 2nd Place

Abigale Mugleston - 3rd Place

Eamon Cathcart - 3rd Place

Distinguished Honors:

Alessandra St. Ledger, Leah Conroy & Baylee Mugleston

In Level 2:

Rumaan Shoaib - 2nd Place

Selin Deniz - 2nd Place

The 7th Grade G&T students participated in a Logic Problem Solving Competition in North Haledon on November 26th. Three of our students placed in this competition.

1st Place - Sarah Zampella

2nd Place - Aiden Corage

3rd Place - Bianca Ionescu

The Jr. Municipal Alliance and Student Council are collaborating at School #1 to collect soup cans and cereal boxes for three local food pantries. Community food drives like ours help children and their families receive emergency food assistance when they need it.

Our "Souper Cereal Bowl" food drive will run the week before and after the Super Bowl - from Jan. 28th - Feb. 8th. Please donate what you can. Donations will be collected during the students' 1st period class.

We greatly appreciate your support!

Jr. Municipal Alliance & Student Council

The Chorus and the Instrumental Band provided School No. 1 parents and students with a wonderful evening of music, song and fun.

The annual 5th Grade Family Math night was a hit once again! A dozen or so 5th grade students brought a parent out to School 1 on Thursday, November 29, for two hours of math puzzles, games, challenges, and FUN! It was a great time not only for skill-building but also for family bonding. Mrs. Lachman and Mr. Campbell send a big "Thank you!" to everyone who came out to enjoy Family Math.