Woodland Park School District News
Oct. 28, 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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Pumpkin Patch
The Home & School Associations at both School 1 and Charles Olbon School provided a pumpkin patch to all the students last week. Each student was provided the opportunity to choose their very own pumpkin and was also given a craft. Many classes decorated their pumpkins that day.
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Breakfast Club
Last Friday, the Memorial Middle School staff members gathered for their first breakfast of the school year. The Breakfast Club hosts a breakfast once a month for all those in the club to enjoy. This month's theme was Halloween, and there was a raffle for staff members to guess the number of candy corn (88) in a jar. Mrs. Carlo had the closest guess of 87 and Mrs. Sonnors had the second closest guess of 85.
The staff also participated in a "boo-gram" activity this month. Staff members received treats from anonymous coworkers and then had to secretly pass on treats to two other staff members. This activity started at the beginning of October and is wrapping up just in time for Halloween. These activities were created to improve the climate and culture of the staff members at the school.
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Halloween Party
The Beatrice Gilmore School Home & School Association hosted a Halloween party on Oct. 19. Some 219 BG families and staff enjoyed themselves at this wonderful fundraising event.
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Learning About Music
To enhance the "Music Making Study," the PreK-4 students in School 1 were visited by Mr. John Murray. Mr. John showed the children the guitar and the saxophone. He explained both instruments and had the children sing while he played.
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Scene It?
Cinema Club students in Beatrice Gilmore School's Bear's Den have been discussing and watching movie scenes. Movie scenes are powerful when they make us feel real emotions or when they remind us of our own lives. Students felt connected to movie scenes that reminded them of personal experiences or family relationships. Frankly my dear WP, the best scenes can simply be entertaining. The Cinema Club played the game Scene It, students acted out popular movie scenes, and students produced images of their favorite movie/show scenes. Have you seen the scenes above?
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Fall Fun
Students in Ms. Flores' Growing Minds class at Charles Olbon School have been enjoying a number of fall activities, including a visit from the local police and fire department, and the pumpkin patch.
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Unity Day
To mark Unity Day, students throughout the District wore orange to show their solidarity against bullying. Unity Day, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, has been recognized in the U.S. since 2011. To participate, individuals, schools, communities, and businesses wear or share orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent students from being bullied. Shown are some Memorial Middle School students showing their support.
Mrs. Morozowski PreK-4 class at Charles Olbon School created a Friendship Quilt for Unity Day. Each student was asked, "How can you be a super friend?" Students used art materials to draw a picture of one way they are a super friend. They talked about when they are a super friend, they are showing unity by being a positive influence on others.
During School Violence Awareness Week, students in Mrs. Behnken’s class at Memorial Middle School discussed the meaning of the word “Unity.” Room 107 continues to work together and support each other during times of celebration and times of challenges. The class decided to make a sign and post it outside of the classroom. Dylan helped to create the class sign that everyone signed.
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Problem Solvers
This week in math, second graders in Ms. Greco's class at Charles Olbon School learned to use the CUBES strategy to determine what operation is needed when solving mathematical word problems. They solved the word problems by drawing models and writing equations.
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Pumpkin Fest
First graders in Ms. Tonti’s class at Charles Olbon School ended their pumpkin learning season with a Pumpkin Fest. Students were given the opportunity to bring in any special snack treats made from pumpkins. They showed off their treats while eating with friends. The class listened to various pumpkin-themed fiction stories, too. But, the best part of this Pumpkin Fest was picking their very own pumpkin from a patch to decorate. The children proudly showed off their creations.
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Writing Buddies
Ms. Tonti’s first grade class at Charles Olbon School learned about the different components of Writer’s Workshop. The students learned the roles of editors and publishers and how they work with authors. The children enjoyed taking on these roles with their “Writing Buddy” in special “Writing Nooks” around the classroom.
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Reading Project
Mrs. Behnken’s class at Memorial Middle School started the year by reading their first independent novel. Students were able to choose which book they wanted to read based on their individual reading levels and their interests. They learned how to “Stop and Jot” by using Post-It notes. Students began to learn how to analyze characters and the setting and completed two reading book checks using details from their books. Finally, students completed a project of their choosing. Room #107, Ms. Dalia, Ms. Petrecca, Ms. Filitz, and Mrs. Behnken are very proud of the students for all their hard work. (Emily and Ryder missed the picture, but they completed all of this work as well.)
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Guest Reader
New Charles Olbon School Principal Mrs. Nussbaum has been stopping by all the classrooms, getting to know the students, and reading them stories. The classes love getting to spend time with her and hearing fun stories. Shown is Mrs. Nussbaum with Mrs. Macchiavello's first grade class.
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Fleece Pants Sale Ends Nov. 4
The Memorial Middle School 8th Grade Dance Committee is holding a WP fleece pants fundraiser. This is not approved spirit wear. It cannot be worn to school. Cost is $30. Show your pride in your school by wearing these pants while also supporting the committee in their goal to make the class of 2023’s formal a success! Any questions, contact Trish at wpmemorialclassof2023@gmail.com or 201-452-9212.
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Axe Throwing Fundraiser
The Memorial Middle School 8th Grade Dance Committee is holding a fundraising axe-throwing event at Stumpy's Hatchet House in Fairfield on Wednesday, Nov. 23. This event is for adults only. Cost is $40 per person. For tickets or any questions, contact Trish at wpmemorialclassof2023@gmail.com or 201-452-9212.
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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, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. - Bouncing Babies story time program for ages one to 23 months and a caregiver. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. - Weigh To Go no judgment weight loss sharing group. Share stories, tips, and struggles, or just listen. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. - Yoga & Meditation. Let your problems go and relax with us in the Community Room in Borough Hall. Register here.
Monday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. - Dungeons & Dragons for sixth to 12th grade. New and experienced players are welcome. Register here.
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m. - Coffee and ... Looking for a friend or someone to chat with? Stop by the library, have a cup of coffee, and...Bring a friend or make some friends! Register here.
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m. - Fairy Story Time With Judy Toma. Join Judy Toma, the author of "Twinkle Fairies," for a magical story time with coloring, stickers, and more. Learn about the importance of diversity and kindness to animals, the environment, and others. Aimed at ages 3 to 5. Register here.
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. - Snails & Tales story time for ages 2 and up. Register here.
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m. - Teen Advisory Board meeting, for grades 6 to 12. Members have the opportunity to share ideas for programs, help decide what to add to the collection, promote the library's role in the community, and more. Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. - Wonder Babies. Join in for an interactive and fun program for babies and toddlers age 6 to 24 months to help develop sensory skills through touch, sight, sound, and more. Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 3, 12 p.m. - Sit & Fit Exercise Class. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water to hydrate. A health waiver needs to be completed prior to the program. Register here.
Friday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. - Lunch & Movie. Join in for lunch and a movie. For adults only. Movie title to be announced. Register here.
Monday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. - Baumann Book Club. Join in to discuss "The Day the World Came to Town" by Jim DeFede. Copies are available at the library. The club will meet in person, however there will be a Zoom link available for those who wish to participate virtually. Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m. - The Silk Road. Join the William Paterson University Galleries for a unique arts education activity for ages 4 and up. Read "Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella" by Paul Fleischman. Then, follow along as educator Nadia Estrela helps you create your own paper kimono based on silk textiles and costumes. Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. - The Silk Road. Join the William Paterson University Galleries for a unique arts education activity for ages 8 and up. Read "Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella" by Paul Fleischman. Then, follow along as educator Nadia Estrela helps you create your own paper kimono based on silk textiles and costumes. Register here.