Woodland Park School District News
Jan. 12, 2024
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
Mustangs of the Month
Congratulations to the Memorial Middle School December Mustangs of the Month! Students are nominated by staff members based on the Six Pillars of Characters, which is also utilized as the basis for Memorial's Positive Behavior Intervention Support program, the house system, at Memorial. All recipients receive recognition over a special school announcement, a displayed photo, and a certificate of recognition from 1Principal Mrs. Socha and Guidance Counselor Mrs. Williams. A special prize will also be received.
Congratulations to:
- 6th - Saladin Alshaikh
- 6th - Maliha Mojumder
- 7th - Noah Delpiu
- 7th - Raemonia Facey
- 8th - Christian Vazquez
- 8th - Zuzanna Siewior
Using Their Skills
Ms. Face’s PreK-3 class at School 1 used household items to make their very own play-dough! Students used their math skills to measure the ingredients and their literacy skills to follow the recipe!
Letter Practice
Last week, Ms. Bernardo and Mrs. Bouroult's kindergarten class at Charles Olbon School practiced their letter formation in the snow. Students used their fingers to trace the letters in the snow depending on the sounds that they heard.
Tool Time
Ms. Wittig's PreK-4 class at School 1 has been learning about simple machines. Last week, children were practicing working with simple machines, screws and levers. They were using different types of screwdrivers to turn the screws and a hammer as a lever to remove nails.
BG Influencers
Before winter break, the Beatrice Gilmore School Influencers were announced. The BG Influencers join the BG School Climate and Culture Team. These students will be integral participants in maintaining a climate at the school. Influencers will meet with committee sponsors on a regular basis in order to plan activities and solicit student input. Committee subgroups are aligned with the "Pillars of Character" which are also in place at Memorial Middle School.
BG Influencers are the face of the school community. These individuals represent the following characteristics: non-judgmental, problem solvers, positive role models and approachability. All students had to reapply if they were an influencer last year and many students were new this year. The majority of students are in the fifth grade as role models for the younger students.
Congratulations to the 2023-2024 BG Influencers:
- 3rd Grade: Sarah Ali, James Iannacone, Idelisse Arredondo, Shardae McIntosh
- 4th Grade: Joleen Ayesh, Dzhaneta Bisultanova, Alexa Chiaravallo, Deniz Durmus, Julie El-Sadek, Nicole Maldonado Lindo, Natalija Pesev, Gavin Rogacki, Issa Shanaa, Lucas Zapata, Eric Beagin
- 5th Grade: Audrey Verdes, Sara Velkoska, Elianna Teran, Adelynn Rosa, Selma Rodriguez, Justin Perez, Navel Naveed, Veronica Murphy, Hazel McQuin, Victoria Lebid, Caroline Kazmark, Lauren Issacs Rojas, Amal Ijbara, Arianna Hernandez, Gabriella Grimes, Cameron Giannino, Melina Figarella, Jessica Espinal, Jaxson Coffey, Jacob Camacho, Isabella Castillo, Delilah Buonocore, Hassna Bouzaitoun, Sama Abudayya
Memorial Artist of the Month
Milly Bursac is a seventh grade Art Club student at Memorial Middle School who has been a strong participant in the creation of our House Murals and many other projects. She is an excellent illustrator and mixed media artist. She recently completed a colorist artwork depicting a rock concert with symphonic instruments. Please take time to view her beautiful colorist work in the front glass display cabinet. Her deco hits are applied with purpose and excellent creativity.
Family Reach Foundation Charitable Effort
Beatrice Gilmore School took part in the annual Giving Tree initiative for the Family Reach Foundation this past holiday season. This is the 18th year that teachers at BG have organized this charitable event.
The Family Reach Foundation is a national non-profit dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of cancer. It provides immediate financial assistance, education, and navigation to families before they hit critical breaking points.
Gift cards collected by the school community were given to the foundation a presentation prior to winter break to Family Reach Foundation founder Marilyn and Rick Morello, who expressed their gratitude for the donations to help those in need. The donations help families offset the bills they may incur while traveling to and from hospitals for treatments.
This program has always been a wonderful experience for our students to appreciate and participate in the generosity that this season encourages. For more information about the Family Reach Foundation, click here.
House System Krispy Cream Fundraiser
The Memorial Middle School House System is running a Krispy Cream fundraiser. Money raised will support House System activities for all Memorial Middle School students. Donut choices: $20 per dozen - original, glazed, glazed kreme, glazed lemon, glazed raspberry, and chocolate iced glazed. Coffee choices: $10 per bag - regular and decaf. Order forms were sent home with all Memorial School students and are due by Jan. 29. Orders will arrive at the school on Feb. 7.
WPEA Plans Educational Workshops
The Woodland Park Education Association will be hosting four educational events for parents, all held at Memorial Middle School. Open to all parents/guardians, these events are free and food will be provided.
The first event, on Jan. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m., will focus on "How to Use RealTime and Google Classroom to Support Your Child." Volunteers from the WPEA will be your expert companions, guiding you through how to get onto RealTime and Google Classroom. They're dedicated to ensuring you harness the full potential of these tools to engage actively in your child's academic journey.
Healthy School Lunch Challenge
Pomptonian, our District food service provider, is kicking off the New Year with its Fifth Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge. Students are invited to submit a healthy recipe with a picture of their meal. Winners are broken down into three grade groupings, PreK-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The super grand prize winner (first place winner) of each category will receive a vertical garden for their school. For full details, click here.
Library MLK Service Project Food Collection
The Woodland Park Library at Berkeley College is running a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Project "Weekend Eats" from Jan. 15 to Feb. 17. The Library is collecting meal bags for local families (see the three choices below). Drop off your items in a paper or reusable bag. Please avoid glass items. Grocery store gift cards are also accepted. Donations can be dropped off at the Library, currently located on the campus of Berkeley College, 44 Rifle Camp Rd.; the Woodland Park Municipal Building, 5 Brophy Lane; or any Woodland Park school building.
- Chili night: chili beans (large can), pinto beans, chili seasoning packet, diced tomatoes (large can), tomato sauce, and whole grain pasta
- Spaghetti dinner: spaghetti sauce (24 plus ounce plastic jar or can), whole grain pasta,
- parmesan cheese, and garlic powder
- Breakfast Bites: fruit cups, natural applesauce, fruit in natural juices, individual boxes of cereal, granola bars (high fiber, 3+ grams fiber per bar), peanut butter and jelly (plastic jars), oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup
Coming up at the Woodland Park Library at Berkeley College
The Woodland Park Library at Berkeley College, 44 Rifle Camp Rd., in Renaissance Hall, 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, Jan. 13, 11 a.m. - Arts & Crafts for grades K-4. Make an adorable Yeti snow globe for our winter reading program, "Get Yeti to Read." Register here.
Monday, Jan. 15 - The Library is closed in observance of Martin Luther King. Jr. Day
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers for grades K-8. Register for only one timeslot per day. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers for grades K-8. Register for only one timeslot per day. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m. - Books & Barks for grades 1-5. Read to Daisy, a registered therapy dog, for a 10 minute session. Practice your reading skills in this judgment-free space. Be sure to arrive at least five minutes before your assigned time. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 4 p.m. - Snails & Tales Story Time - Mystery Letters. Join Miss Sara for a story time with songs, rhymes, stories, and a craft. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join Pat to unwind with the craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join Pat to unwind with the craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 12 p.m. - Sit & Fit. Have fun exercising from the comfort of your chair. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers for grades K-8. Register for only one timeslot per day. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers for grades K-8. Register for only one timeslot per day. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. - Afternoon movie for all ages. Join in for free snacks, drinks, and a movie. This month, we will be watching "Frosty the Snowman." Register here.
Friday, Jan. 19, 10:30 a.m. - Little Movers. Join in for a fun story time for toddlers ages 18 to 36 months. Register here.
Friday, Jan. 19, 1 p.m. - The Older & Wiser Driver. AAA will provide tips on how older drivers can stay safe on the roads. Register here.
Saturday, Jan. 20, 11 a.m. - Legomania for all ages. Use your imagination and create using Legos. Register here.
Monday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. - Dancercise classes return. Join certified instructor Karen as she leads the class doing low-impact dancing. It's a great way to get your exercise in while having fun. Don't forget to bring your water to stay hydrated. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 1 p.m. - Crafternoon. Enjoy creating a beautiful craft to take home. Come relax and let your creative juices flow with Linda. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. - Craft Crew for grades 5-8. Meet monthly to make cool and creative crafts. Register here.