Kinnelon Public Schools Newsletter
October - December 2016
October is National Bullying Awareness Month
Kinnelon students looked great in their costumes!
We showed gratitude for what we have on Thanksgiving
Kinnelon Students Paying it Forward
KHS Giveback Club
The KHS Giveback Club is providing 100 care packages filled with blankets, hats, gloves, and personal hygiene items to homeless veterans living at the Lyons Veterans Hospital this holiday season. The club has worked hard to collect the donations and wants to thank the Kinnelon community for their support.
PRM Student Council Builds Spirit and Supports the Wounded Warrior Project
The PRM Student Council, advised by teachers Mrs. Jeczo and Mrs. Cromwell have taken on the motto “One School, One Community”. The student council have been working together as a school to ensure students feel safe and enjoy the time they spend while at school. They have engaged in fundraising to support The Wounded Warrior Project as a reminder to students that giving back is an important quality to lift a community. As they worked to build school spirit, students took part in various lively grade level competitions to earn the Colts Cup. They have had various activities that included theme days, pep rallies, faculty/student athletic games, and most recently a winter-themed door decorating competition. For this latest competition students stayed after school on Friday afternoon to decorate doors to create winter door masterpieces! PRM is proud to announce that our 6th grade won the competition and did a wonderful job embracing the winter theme and showing their creativity.
PRM Students vs. Faculty Basket Ball Game at the Winter Pep Rally
PRM Collects Food for Local Food Pantry
PRM grade level class committees collected and organized over 200 food items for the Kinnelon Food Pantry making baskets for needy families for Thanksgiving.
PRM Social Outreach Club Visits Kiel for a Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving Feast Prepared by the Life Skills Class
Stonybrook Student Council Host Fundraisers for Two Good Causes
Stonybrook School’s Student Council is currently collecting new books for children aged 8-14 through Tilly’s Kids House of Mercy. The House of Mercy Mission is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit, inner-city mission located in Newark, NJ that provides programs such as food, clothing and help for needy families in the community.
The council is also running their annual collection for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) called Pennies for Patients. The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the leading source of free, highly specialized blood cancer information, education and support for patients, survivors, families and healthcare professionals
Tri-M Music Honor Society and the KHS Student Council Collect Toys for Tots
A "Full Value" Education
Kiel School Embraces Full Value with the Full Value Playground
The Full Value Playground was a created with funds from KEHSA mini-grant. The mini-grant proposal from teachers Mrs. Santagato and Mrs. Tinney was to have students paint the blacktop where they have recess behind Kiel school with the six Full Values and group calling procedures. In their proposal they stated that Full Value, used daily by their students, teaches them to effectively respond to each other and meet academic goals in a positive way. Students learn to “call group” by circling up when they are experiencing conflict to resolve it proactively and amicably. The guidelines for "calling group" expect them to be able to establish a leader, state the issue, listen for feedback, and agree on a resolution. The Full Value playground is a beautiful representation of how Kiel school embraces a Full Value education. The picture below is an aerial view of the playground and if interested you can click the play arrow on the second picture to view a video.
Kiel Students Recognize Each Other's Leadership Qualities
This year the students in Ms. Baskinger’s PE classes have been very excited about the “Peer-to-Peer” recognition piece of class. Throughout class, students recognize a peer who is doing a great job by following directions, playing safely, and helping others. At the end of class, students stand up and recognize that peer. This exercise allows students to develop leadership qualities by striving to be a role model, and it also provides students with a sense of accomplishment and joy for their efforts.
Other Happenings
8th Grade Students visit Cedar Crest to Demonstrate the Full Value of Caring for Others
The students in the 8th grade Full Value elective are visiting Cedar Crest residents once a marking period to give the students the opportunity to visit with the residents, socialize, and participate in activities with the residents. School counselors Mrs. Romano and Mrs. McClain hope this unique experience will help the students demonstrate the value of Caring for Others. They are also partnering up with some of the Kiel 2nd grade classes to participate and lead Full Value activities with them.
Stonybrook and PRM Teachers Team up to Teach about the 2016 General Election
Keyboarding at Stonybrook
Mindfulness at Stonybrook
Kids’ Yoga at Stonybrook
During the first half of lunch, Ms. Borowiec shares her time by teaching a yoga class to interested grade 5 students. Ms. Borowiec is passionate in her belief that the benefits of yoga are endless. Our students recognize their improved strength and flexibility, increased concentration, focus, and attention. Kids’ yoga increases self-esteem and decreases anxiety, increasing the ability to relax. Engaging in regular yoga practice also increases trust, compassion, teamwork and leadership skills as well as strengthening the immune system. Here at Stonybrook, we have observed a greater sense of community among these students.
Following each weekly session, the students eat lunch with Ms. Borowiec in her classroom. Ms. Borowiec feels blessed to share her passion with our students. If you would like to see Stonybrook Yoga in action, visit the Stonybrook School Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StonybrookElementary/.
KHS Science Class Approved for College Credit
Kinnelon High School has just been approved to offer college-level science courses through State University of New York at Albany. Starting this school year, Mrs. Nancy Rinaldi, who was trained by the university last summer, will teach Methods in Science Research classes over the course of three years. Students will have the opportunity to earn four college credits per course, for a total of 12 college credits. We are very excited for the opportunity this will provide for our students.
Science Research Club
Computer Science and Hour of Code Week
Strategic Planning Meeting 3
Thursday, Jan 5, 2017, 07:00 PM
Kinnelon High School, Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Proposed School Calendar
Celebrating Students
National Merit Scholarship Corporation Recognizes KHS Students
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Scholar (Top 1%):
- Calais Cronin
National Merit Scholarship Commended Scholars (Top 2%):
- James Armstrong
- John Barry
- Ryan Chien
- Kate Dolph
- Patrycia Glowiak
- Pranav Reddy
- Sarah Wang
We offer congratulations to the students, their respective families, and the Kinnelon community with a special thanks to the staff, teachers, administrators and BOE members who developed and maintained an educational environment founded on high expectations, rigor and excellence.
PRM Teacher and Band Director Mr. Scanlon and 6 students Selected to North Jersey Area Band
Mr. Brian Scanlon reports that 6 Pearl R. Miller Middle School student instrumentalists have earned spots in the junior high North Jersey Area Band. Maya Vaitovas, Julia Hackney, Gavin Hurtado, Matthew Melada, Cameron Faison and Braedon Carroll will represent Kinnelon and PRM in the group.
Additionally, Mr. Scanlon has the distinct honor of conducting the North Jersey Area Band Junior High Percussion Ensemble.
We are proud of our students and their teachers and commend them for their hard work and dedication!
To find out more about the NJAB, go to http://www.njab.org.
Mr. Ryan Stroud reports that KHS Musicians have found success in auditioning for the North Jersey Area Band!
Overall, 5 musicians have passed through the audition process and secured spots. Freshman Daniella Rizzo (Bass Clarinet) and sophomore Evan Lane (Clarinet) have been chosen for the Symphonic Band.
Three students were accepted into the Wind Ensemble, the top group for North Jersey Area Band. They are sophomore Mitchell Polevoy on Trombone, sophomore Peter Davin on French Horn and senior Erin Mickey on French Horn.
This matches the most students KHS has placed in the Wind Ensemble and the 9th consecutive year we've had at least 5 students clinch spots in NJ Area Band.
Congratulations to Mr. Stroud, these fine students, the KHS Music Program and KHS!
For more info about the NJ Area band, go to http://www.njab.org.
Kiel and Stonybrook Students Showcase Art at the Kinnelon Public Library
Another Successful STEM Night at Stonybrook School
Student and Staff Volunteers for STEM Night
Congrats to our Swim Coach, Mr. Boardman, for receiving the NJSIAA Swimming Award!
Upcoming Events
- 12/16/2016 - Kiel and Stonybrook Report Cards mailed
- 12/23/2016 - Minimum (1/2) day
- 12/26/2016 - 01/02/17 - Winter Break Happy Holidays!
- 01/03/2017 - Schools are back in session in 2017!
- 01/04/2017 - Board of Education Re-organization meeting
- 01/05/2017 - Straegic Planning Meeting #3
- 01/16/2017 - Staff Professional Development Day - Students do not attend
Happy Holidays from Kinnelon Public Schools!
During this holiday season the main focus of this newsletter is on the great work our students and staff do to generously provide for those who are less fortunate. We are proud of our students, staff and greater community in the Kinnelon Schools.
So no matter what you are celebrating during this time of year, may peace and happiness fill your home. We are all ringing in a New Year on January 1 so make 2017 the best one yet!