Woodland Park School District News
March 5, 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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Dr. Pillari honored for contributions to the community
At Wednesday evening's Mayor and Council meeting, four women were honored in recognition of Women’s History Month for their contributions to the Borough: Barbara Wood, co-owner of Magic Years Pre-School; Sherry Van Dyk, a long-time local union official and Planning Board member; Linda Pinsky-Mauro, COO of Berkeley College, Woodland Park campus; and Dr. Michele Pillari, Borough Superintendent of Schools. Each has made invaluable contributions to the community, according to Mayor Keith Kazmark.
"I don't think we could have assembled four more deserving individuals to be recognized for this honor," Mayor Kazmark said.
Dr. Pillari has been serving the students of Woodland Park as Superintendent of Schools since 2013. Before coming to Woodland Park, she served in Principal positions in Haledon and North Haledon as well as Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Wyckoff District.
During her years in Woodland Park, the District has seen immense student improvement on state testing. Dr. Pillari also oversaw the implementation of the District’s Technology Plan, which has resulted in a 1-1 student laptop program and upgrades to internal operating systems. Under her leadership, and working with the Board of Education and administration, the District has remained fiscally responsible to residents with its annual operating budget by providing the very best possible for the students with the least amount of financial impact.
"There was a lot of transition when Dr. Pillari inherited this School District," Mayor Kazmark said. "We had gone through some tumultuous times, but she steadied the ship and brought our District forward."
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Random Acts of Kindness Week marked in the District
Last week, the School District marked Random Acts of Kindness Week.
Charles Olbon School and Beatrice Gilmore School students talked about spreading kindness by learning how to be bucket fillers. Everyone has an invisible bucket that can be filled each day. By saying and doing kind things, a person can fill buckets! Students created their own buckets and did kind things, such as complimenting one another and the teachers.
Memorial Middle School students delved deeper into kindness. Classes wrote their own definitions of kindness, learned the science behind kindness, and wrote thank you letters. Spreading kindness makes our schools and town better places to be! Keep the kindness going!
The goals:
1. Continue to fill our own buckets
2. Continue to fill the buckets of others (which fills ours as well!)
3. Work daily to be aware of our words and actions to avoid dipping into the buckets of others
4. Learn to use our lids to prevent others from dipping into our buckets
We will continue to work with all students and families to engrain these practices into their everyday lives. Please reach out if you or your child needs any additional support.
Videos about being a bucket filler created by Mrs. Farraye are posted on her website here.
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Saluting Dr. Seuss
Mrs. Dizza's students at Beatrice Gilmore School made their own hats for crazy hat day!
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Special guest reader
Mrs. Casanovas’ Pre-K4 class at School 1 enjoyed a special guest
reader to kick of Read Across America Week - Master Teacher, Kim Leary, read The Lorax.
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Mastering math
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Silly socks
In celebration of Read Across America and Dr. Seuss, students wore Silly Socks on Tuesday. At left and center are some of Ms. Macchiavello's first grade students at Charles Olbon School and a student in Ms. Brunini's class at Beatrice Gilmore School share their socks.
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Presenting their research reports
Mr. Sans' fifth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School recently culminated Black History Month with commemorative stamp research projects. Students chose someone who had a positive and lasting impact on our country. The students used multiple online sources and ELA skills to create their commemorative stamp visual and informational writing piece. Some of the people selected, include John Lewis, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, Kobe Bryant, Michelle Obama, Muhammed Ali, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Studying signs
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Sending thanks
The Alfred Baumann Library would like to send its thanks to all those who contributed to its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service baby and youth toiletry collection. It was a great success. Special thanks to the event partners Mayor Kazmark, Girl Scout Troop 96790, and the School 1 Early Childhood Advisory Council, as well as Jayden Perez/From the Bottom of My Heart.
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Library program focuses on the history of schools in town
The Alfred Baumann Library hosted a special Zoom webinar on Feb. 25 with Woodland Park historian Rick Lijoi, who talked about the history of schools in the Borough. “One-Room Schoolhouses in WP” was attended by dozens of community members, as well as our local Brownie troop.
It is not known exactly when in the early- to mid-1800s our first school opened. However, the first school in town, School 2, was a building next to Bromilow’s Chocolates on Rifle Camp Road. Formerly a church, it's now used as storage for the store. As the town grew, in 1868, School 3 opened on McBride Avenue, which is still used today as the Board of Education building.
Until 1914, our Borough was the West Park section of Little Falls, and our two schools were part of Little Falls’ five-school district. Our two schools were districted, just as our schools are today. In 1912, School 6 was built, which is now known as School 1, on McBride Avenue.
Our two early one-room buildings were served by a single teacher who very strictly taught all subjects to students in first to eighth grade. Students broke up into groups to study, and there were very few books in those days. The basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic were the focus, but students also sang, acted, learned about geography, and enjoyed recess outside.
Students wrote with chalk and slate, and pen and ink, and the classroom was heated with a pot-belly stove. There were big windows to get lots of light, as there was no electricity. Attendance was poor in the early days, as children had chores on their family’s farm, especially in the spring and fall. Woodland Park had several dairy farms back then. Mr. Lijoi noted that only about 50 percent of children went to school in the early days. Attendance of school was not made mandatory, for those aged 7 to 16, by the government until 1915.
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Nutrition news
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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.
Tuesday, March 9, 11 a.m. - "Foods That Boost Immune Function" - Join Heather Shasa, retail registered dietitian at ShopRite of Little Falls, for a virtual discussion about foods to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. She'll be sharing information, recipe ideas, and ways to help support your immune health. Register here.
Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. - St. Patrick’s Digital Breakout - Can you find the Leprechaun's Pot of Gold? Join Ms. Scillieri for a digital breakout to see if you can beat the clock and reach the end of the rainbow! Open to grades 3-8. Register here.
Wednesday, March 10, 4:30 p.m. - Virtual storytime with Miss Phil and Miss Sara. Register here.
Thursday, March 11, 4 p.m. - Join William Paterson University Galleries for a Virtual Arts Education Workshop for grades six to eight. Investigate themes of identity and masks through a discussion of the book "New Kid" by Jerry Craft (available on Hoopla) and the artist book titled "Runaway Girls" by Sarah Blake and Robin Kahn. Supplies for the craft will be available for pick up at the Library. Register here.
Thursday, March 11, 5 p.m. - Books and Barks - Sign up here for a time slot to read to Ms. Parker's therapy dog Delilah.
Friday, March 12, 6:30 p.m. - Join Miss Dana and Miss Sara for a fun craft! Supplies will be available for pick up at the Library. All ages welcome. Register here.
Tuesday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. - Chill Out With STEM - Join in for a hands-on, interactive Zoom session. Pick up your "make and take" STEM kit from the Library prior to the event. Register here.
Saturday, March 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - NJ Makers Day - Join in for a very special virtual NJ Makers Day! Spend some time on Zoom making and experimenting with four unique STEM activities. Each kit will have supplies for all four STEAM activities. Kits are available for pick up at the Library. Register here.
The Library's website is www.abwplibrary.org. Its phone is 973-345-8120. Email is library@abwplibrary.org.
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