Building Bulldogs
Fall 2023
Back to School
As the leaves begin to change and a cool breeze fills the air, we are excited to welcome you all to the new school year. Fall is not just a season of transformation in nature; it is also a time for fresh starts and new beginnings in our classrooms and learning journeys. For students, this season marks a fresh chapter in their academic pursuits, a chance to embrace new challenges, set goals, and embark on a journey of discovery and growth. For our dedicated educators, fall represents an exciting opportunity to innovate and inspire. It's a time to refine your teaching strategies, explore new methods, and create engaging learning experiences for your students. Your dedication and passion play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our students, and we are here to provide you with the resources and support you need to succeed.
We invite you all to join us in making this school year a remarkable one—a year filled with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Let's embrace the fresh start that fall brings and embark on this journey together. We are excited to witness your accomplishments, both big and small, and we look forward to celebrating them with you.
"App"etizers
Skew the Script
Skew the Script uses real data from hot topics to make math relevant
Arduino Science Journal
Arduino Science Journal turns your phone into a lab sensor to collect and analyze data.
Adobe Express
Adobe Express features enjoyable and practical design tool supports creators of all ages.
Curriculum and Instruction Updates
Summer Curriculum Writing
K-5 teacher representatives from each grade level collaborated to revise our ELA and Math Curriculum to align with the newly approved NJ State Standards. They worked hard and had fun! Curriculum updates are still in process and are expected to be ready for Fall 2024 Implementation.
October 9th PD Day
Teachers participated in a variety of professional learning opportunities on October 9th during our full-day Professional Development day.
Teachables- Articles and Ideas for your classroom!
Opportunities
AI For Educators Professional Book Study Opportunity !
The educational world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) is at the forefront of this transformation. It's already changing the way we plan, teach, and assess students, and this is just the beginning of an exciting revolution in education.
In his book AI For Educators, Matt Miller explores the powerful ways AI is reshaping classrooms, making education more personalized, efficient, and engaging. Through practical examples, case studies, and a forward-thinking perspective, this book will provide you with valuable insights and strategies on how to harness AI to benefit your students and your teaching.
Please fill out this interest survey if you are interested in participating in a professional book study. All grade levels and subject area teachers, administrators, and staff members are welcome! Our first meeting will likely occur in January.
Classroom Spotlight
Ms.Economou is ready to welcome her 3rd Graders back to school.
Mr. Heller's 6th Grade science students learn about Earth's spheres.
Mrs. Reda's Child Development students determine if characteristics are more impacted by heredity or the environment.
Ms.Kenny's classroom library is well-stocked and ready for browsing.
Mr. Macaluso's 5th Grade Social Studies classroom is bright and inviting.
Mrs. McQueeney's Multilingual Learners created "Culture in our Community Projects" to share a little bit about their backgrounds and cultures.
Mrs. Marion's students got to know her and each other by completing a poll about likes and dislikes.
Mrs. Malone takes pictures of her students on the first day of school.
Students in Mrs. Gorecki's class put post-it notes on how they're feeling at the start of each class.
Be Well
This is a common Buddhist symbol knows as the Unalome. If any of you do yoga, you most likely have seen this symbol as part of that practice. I love the philosophy behind this symbol - as a person, I find myself always walking the line between spiritual and philosophical...the English teacher in me is always searching for the meaning behind symbols. I love this one as it symbolizes our life's journey. Regardless of our intentions, it is meant to remind us that the path will never be straight, perfect, or even in what we thought was the "right" direction. Our life's path's happiest moments are often results of missteps, lessons we learn along the way, and, at times, filled with the disappointments that remind us what joy and happiness should feel like. The top of this symbol shows us that, in the end, all will turn out for the best! A simple reminder to roll with what occurs, to enjoy the ride, to revel in the surprises...life is to be lived, not always planned out step-by-step.
Just For Fun
COFFEE CAKE COOKIES
Man...I love cookies! They are my one true downfall...no matter how disciplined I am, how many visits I make to the gym each week, how my water intake for the day has been, if I took all of my vitamins...if I walk past a Crumbl, I am dropping some money on cookies. If I show up to your house, and you just took cookies out of the oven, just know that I will eat them all. They are one of life's true perfections!
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 Cup of softened butter
- 1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup of Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 Cups of flour
Streusel
- 1/4 cup or softened butter
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup of flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Icing
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- splash of vanilla
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F. To make the dough, combine the butter, oil and brown sugar. Mix for a couple minutes until it is smooth. The mixture should be lighter in color and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix again. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until just combined.
To make the streusel, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon or your hand. Start with 1/3 cup of flour. The mixture should stick together, but should also crumble when you run it through your fingers. If it isn't crumbling, add 1 tbsp additions of flour until it crumbles.
Using a large cookie scoop, scoop a ball of dough onto a lined baking sheet. Using the back of your cookie scoop or your fingers, make an indent on the top of the dough. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of the streusel on the top of the cookie, into the indent.
- Bake the cookies at 350 for 10-12 minutes. While they are baking, make the icing. Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl and whisk until it's smooth and runny. Once the cookies have cooled slightly, drizzle on lots of icing!
ENJOY!
Closing Message
Thank you for being a part of our vibrant learning community. Together, we will make this school year an exceptional one, where every student thrives and every teacher excels. Here's to a fantastic year of learning and growth!