Woodland Park School District News
April 1, 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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Building Up
Memorial Middle School last week continued its work with a certified health coach and educator to grow the School, Culture & Climate Organization. Students and staff were provided with individualized coaching sessions focused on increasing empathy, learning to destress, communication and listening skills, and prioritizing life around needs versus wants.
"Learn it and share it with your classmates," as was encouraged during a conversation surrounding non-violent communication methods. "There's a way to talk to avoid blame and discuss issues in a balanced way. You have to get out your words in a peaceful, calm way."
The groups also discussed goals and visions for the remainder of the school year and how to build on strategies which have already been learned.
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Reduce and Reuse
Students in Ms. Munro and Ms. Tobia's PreK-4 class at Charles Olbon School last week worked on painting a recycling truck for the recycling unit. The students painted the truck and talked about recycling and trash. Students placed a label on the truck and identified the letters in the word “recycle.” The students also collected recyclable products, placed each item in the truck, and brought them to the recycling center the items were sorted into plastics and papers areas. What a fun week!
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Healthy Harvest
Ms. Ament's seventh grade science students at Memorial Middle School are growing vegetables through the process of hydroponics - the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients, but without soil. Currently, the classes are beginning a second harvest. The vegetables are grown to support the learning of how energy cycles through an ecosystem and to feed the class pet, Cardi P.
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Reading Pizza Party
In Mrs. D’Amico and Mrs. Davidson’s first grade class at Charles Olbon School enjoyed a non-fiction reading “pizza party.” Students have been working on reading non-fiction books. During the independent portion of reader’s workshop, all students enjoyed learning fun facts to share with their partner during turn and talk time. When each student was ready to share, they received a paper “piece” of pizza as their invite to the pizza party.. Students were seen chatting about facts from the books with a partner while “eating” some pizza. Reading sure is yummy!
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Young Poets
In preparation for National Poetry Month in April, Mrs. Hawkins' fifth grade classes at Beatrice Gilmore School enjoyed outside time to meditate and poetry note gathering.
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Waiting For Spring
Students in Mrs. Serrano’s Growing Minds class at Beatrice Gilmore School celebrated the welcoming of spring with a craft. Students linked paper to create chains to make a rainbow!
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Step By Step
Students in Ms. DiGiacomo's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School are learning "How To" writing and using the words "first, next, then, and last". They planted flower seeds, wrote, and illustrated the steps together. We sure are ready for spring, even though it still feels like winter!
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Problem Solvers
Over several STEM periods, Mrs. Bouroult's fourth graders at Beatrice Gilmore School worked among engineering groups to develop models that could solve a problem. Students defined the problem, brainstormed possible solutions, explored possibilities for their engineering design(s), then made their models how they chose to (pencil and paper, Google Canvas or Slideshow, etc.) The class demonstrated confidence, pride, and comprehension of the engineering design process through presentations this week.
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Sharing Their Thoughts
Students in Mrs. Greco and Mr. Melton's third grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School celebrated their published persuasive speeches. Students worked throughout the writing process and wrote speeches on various issues, great people in their lives, or community issues. The students were proud to share their speeches with classmates by reading aloud to the whole class and featuring it on the SMART Board.
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Analyze & Illustrate
Ms. Farrell's Art Portfolio students at Memorial Middle School have been learning how to draw human anatomy. Using a Sharpie marker and Newsprint pads, students drew a figure in one-minute gesture drawings as a warm-up. After completing several rounds, students then moved to a 14-minute study which was divided into two seven-minute sessions. In the first seven minutes, the completed a sketch of the figure and in the last seven minutes, the students applied color with chalk pastels. Google slides on a SMART Board project fashion figures for the students to analyze and illustrate.
"This is a collegiate-level lesson and our Art Portfolio students have been introduced to this style and are doing very well," Ms. Farrell said. "A true foundation of art is understanding human anatomy. If an artist can illustrate the human form, they can illustrate and design anything."
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Exploring Options
The BG Influencers met with representatives from Pomptonian Food Services to share feedback relative to the food served by the company. The informaiton was well-received and many of the suggestions will be explored and put into practice. Some ideas shared were: meatless options, and providing students with samples; entrees from other countries and cultures; more fresh fruit options and fruit cups; more variety of sandwich choices, including no meats. Prior to the meeting, students met with peers to obtain suggestions. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled in the upcoming months to monitor progress.
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Tally It Up
Students in Ms. Casasnovas' PreK-4 class at School 1 took part in a math lesson conducted during group meeting. Each morning, the students have the opportunity to practice early math skills by taking attendance. This included the practive of counting and connecting numerals with quantity!
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Week of the Young Child
The Woodland Park Preschools are celebrating the Week of The Young Child next week, April 4-8! Our preschool students at School 1 and Charles Olbon School will be taking part in several activities during the themed days: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. The public is invited to celebrate at two events: an open house at School 1 on April 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. and a performance by Ms. Jolie in Council Chambers on April 8 at 6 p.m.
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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.
Monday, April 4, 12:30 p.m. - Weigh To Go. Join the weight loss journey and share your tips, stories, and more. Register here.
Monday, April 4, 11 a.m. - Yoga & Meditation. Let your problems go and relax for a while. Register here.
Monday, April 4, 4 p.m. - Join Library and the William Paterson University Galleries for this virtual art program. First, read "Memory Jars" by Vera Brosgol, then make "memory mattresses" based on art on exhibition in the WPU Galleries. Supplies will be available to pick up. Register here.
Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. - Spring into STEM for kids in third to eighth grade. This month, we will be making bird feeders with recycled materials for Earth Day. Sign up now for all three spring sessions. Register here.
Wednesday, April 6, 4 p.m. - Snails & Tales. Children age 3 and up can join in for a story time, songs, and a craft with Miss Sara. Register here.
Wednesday, April 6, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, April 7, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, April 7, 12 noon - Sit & Fit chair exercises in the Community Room in Borough Hall. Register here.
Thursday, April 7, 6:30 p.m. - Teen Craft Night. April is National Poetry Month, so we will be making poetry-themed crafts including "poem in your pocket," concrete poetry, blackout poetry and more. Register here.
Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m. - Butterfly Gardening. Learn what to include in your yard to attract butterflies to your yard and all about Garrett Mountain's new butterfly garden. Everyone attending will receive a free butterfly plant. Register here.
Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. - Arts & Crafts for kids in grades kindergarten to fourth. Join the Library at the WP Health Fair at the WP Boys & Girls Club and make your own button at the Library's table. Registration not required but suggested here.
Monday, April 11, 10 a.m. - Bouncing Babies. Join this new program for toddlers age 1 to 24 months. Enjoy songs, rhymes, stories, and free play. Register here.
Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. - Dungeons and Dragons. Join in for the first meeting of our new club. Whether you are new to D&D or an experienced player, all students in grades 6-12 are welcome. Register here.
Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. - Pajama Storytime. Join Miss Sara for a special bedtime story time for all ages. Pajamas are encouraged! Register here.