Woodland Park School District News
April 8, 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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BG Has Heart
Beatrice Gilmore School students recently participated in the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge (KHC). Students learned about making heart-healthy choices during the KHC lessons. KHC challenges students to fundraise in order to support people with heart issues, promotes physical activity through jump rope challenges and challenges students to be kind and respectful towards others.
BG's goal was to raise $1,500 and the school nearly raised $2,200! Thank you to all who participated! Everyone's efforts and generosity is greatly appreciated. Pictured above are jump rope class champions. These students exhibited endurance by jumping rope for the longest amount of time) and BG's MVF's - Most Valuable Fundraisers! Please join us in congratulating these individuals!
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Promoting Awareness
The Preschool Puppies at School 1 and Charles Olbon School took part in Autism Awareness Bubble Day last Friday with the aim of raising awareness and acceptance of Autism. Why bubbles? Autism Bubble Day helps "burst the bubble" on many of the myths about Autism and promotes positive thinking, awareness, acceptance, and understanding. Even Paws, our Preschool Mascot, joined in on the fun! Paws, wearing a cape emblazoned with an Autism ribbon, greeted all of the students!
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Walk For Autism
The student body at Charles Olbon School held an Autism awareness walk last Friday afternoon. Students walked a lap around the exterior of the school building while Paws the Preschool Puppy and Chip the CO Chipmunk, cheered everyone on! Look at the picture closely to find Chip!
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Musical Showcase
The Beatrice Gilmore School Fifth Grade Beginner Band presented its second music showcase of the year to parents and friends on Tuesday afternoon. This is only one of the few times this school year that the entire ensemble has performed together. Music teacher and Band Director, Mr. Schaefer, works with the instrument groups twice weekly. During this showcase, the band presented a selection of songs and pieces which they have been working on since January. The students played two full songs together in addition to showing various skills using ten shorter pieces. Prior to the show, the band performed for the third and fourth grade students. The performance can be viewed on YouTube here.
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Celebrating Our Differences
Ms. Amerise's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School class celebrated the end of the school-wide Autism awareness walk with a coloring activity. The students also read the book Just Ask to celebrate everyone's unique differences.
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Music Monday
The Week of the Young Child kicked off at both School 1 and Charles Olbon School with Music Monday. Members of the Passaic Valley High School marching band led by Director, Michael DeLuccia, visited to the preschool students to share different instruments. The PVHS Band played a number of selections and at the end of the performance, the children enjoyed some time to dance along!
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Forms & Fun
Mrs. Najim's students at Beatrice Gilmore School are seen above practicing the irregular verb form outdoors. The students discovered the correct verb form and practiced labeling and listing the proper spelling and practicing the correct irregular verb form. The students enjoyed the lesson!
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Junkband Parade
The PreK-4 classes in School 1 celebrated the end of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle study with a junk band parade. The students created instruments using various recycled items and played them while parading around the playground while PreK-3 was the audience and enjoyed the show.
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Making Bubble Wands
Students in Ms. Munro/Ms. Tobia's PreK-4 class at Charles Olbon School created pattern bubble wands for last Friday's bubble day. It was a great fine motor task that integrates patterning too!
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Tasty Tuesday
The second day of the Week of the Young Child was Tasty Tuesday, where students brought in special snacks and held indoor picnics, due to the inclement weather. During the picnics, the students viewed pre-recorded stories from Miss Linda and Miss Sara from the Alfred Baumann Library, as part of National Library Week. Miss Linda read We're Going On A Picnic by Pat Hutchins and Up, Down, And Around by Katherine Ayres.
Mrs. Woessner’s class was excited to wear and share the color of their favorite fruit or vegetable. Selena dressed up as a strawberry and Lucas was excited to share his favorite vegetable - a potato.
Mrs. LaSala’s PreK-4 class at School 1 celebrated “Tasty Tuesday” and National Library Week with an indoor picnic.
Mrs. Khalil’s preschool class at Charles Olbon School enjoyed their indoor picnic snack and story time. The top favorite snacks included blueberries, grapes, apples, and bananas.
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Family Fun
To honor National Reading Month, preschool families were given the opportunity to participate in a family activity in which they read a Dr. Seuss book together and then made a treat. Pictured here is The Cat in the Hat treat made by the Tamoor family.
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Get To Know The Special Police Officers
Through a shared service agreement with the Borough of Woodland Park, the Woodland Park School District is proud to have a Special Class Police Officers stationed at each of the schools. These officers work to keep the students safe, keep traffic moving safely around Borough schools, conduct security checks in the school buildings as well as follow up on residency concerns.
Special Class III Officer Andrew Poremba, or "Officer Andy" as the students know him at School 1, grew up and lived in Hawthorne, before moving to Wyckoff approximately 28 years ago. He and his wife, Jennifer ,have three children - Lindsay 38, Samantha, 28, and Andrew John, 24 - and one -grandchild, Savannah Grace, 3. Andy was a Police Officer in Wyckoff for 28 1/2 years and was sworn in as a Woodland Park Special Class III Officer in September of 2019.
When he is not working, Officer Andy enjoys saltwater fishing, the beach, old cars and trucks, although he currently doesn't have one, and finding old, unique pieces of oak furniture.
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Staying Focused
Students in Ms. Amerise's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School practice daily mindfulness. Students use different movements and breathing exercises to help keep their minds and bodies calm. It helps the children to remember that they have a variety of ways to center themselves and stay focused.
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Glow Party
On Music Monday during The Week of the Young Child, Mrs. Murray's PreK-4 class at School 1 had a glow party at the end of the school day.
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Guessing Game
Congratulations to jelly bean count contest winner, Mrs. Jaimie Partridge, our district-wide behaviorist! Mrs. Partridge supports our Preschool Intervention Referral Team and Child Study Team. Mrs. Partridge was the closest guess on how many jelly beans were in the jar, without going over. There were 531!
In March, Supervisor of Early Childhood Education, Mrs. Castrovinci, wanted to do something monthly fun for all the preschool staff in both buildings. Last month, the preschool teachers in both schools participated in a door decorating contest and this month was the jelly bean contest. More contests to come during the months of May and June.
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COHSA Kids Night Out
All Charles Olbon School students and families are welcome to attend a night of fun at Kids Empire in Fairfield on Friday, May 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $15 per child. Siblings are invited too. Parents are free. All proceeds will benefit the Charles Olbon HSA. No child will be allowed in on the night of the event without filling out the form and paying prior to the event. For more information, email Gina at charlesolbonhsa@gmail.com.
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BGHSA Reusable Bag Fundraiser
Starting May 4, New Jersey retail stores, grocery stores, and food service businesses may not provide or sell single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products. Single-use paper carryout bags are allowed to be provided or sold, except by grocery stores equal to or larger than 2,500 square feet, which may only provide or sell reusable carryout bags. Shop the Beatrice Gilmore School Home & School Association Boon fundraiser to pick up reusable bags. Check out the selections here.
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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.
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. - Weigh To Go. Join the weight loss journey and share your tips, stories, and more. Register 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.
Monday, April 11, 11 a.m. - Yoga & Meditation. Let your problems go and relax for a while. Register here.
Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. ESL Conversation Club. 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.
Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, April 14, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, April 14, 12 noon - Sit & Fit chair exercises in the Community Room in Borough Hall. Register here.
Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. - Lego Mania for children in kindergarten and up. Register here.
Monday, April 18, 3 p.m. - Spring Break Boredom Buster. Enjoy some old-school board games, crafts, Legos, and more! You can stay the whole time, or just stop by. Snacks will also be available. All ages are welcome. Register here.
Tuesday, April 19, 4:30 p.m. - Reading Rebels book club for grades 3 to 5. Register here.
Thursday, April 21, 4 p.m. - Flower Power. Celebrate Earth Day by recycling old coffee cans into beautiful flower pots. Decorate your coffee can, plant flower seeds, and learn all about how to help your flowers grow. All aged children are welcome. Supplies are limited. Register here.