Brandt's Weekly Newsletter
11.24.2021
Inside this Edition
- Principal's Message
- Friendsgiving
- HPEF - Moving Forward Together Campaign
- "Peachy" Toy Drive
- SEPAG Meeting Info
- GEOY Nomination Form
- eSTEM Sign-Up
- Grade Level Updates
- The Counselor's Corner
- Related Arts and Science Updates
- Nurse's Nook
- The Friday Playlist
Principal's Message
I want to take a minute to let you all know how grateful I am to be a part of this school community. We continue to grow and thrive through our wonderful relationships, and I am proud of the work we do together every day. Please be sure to check out the update below about our Friendsgiving initiative, as it is a perfect example of what we can do when we work together. No matter where you go or what you are doing over the Thanksgiving break, I hope you are safe and have some time to be with those nearest and dearest to you.
As we gear up for the season of giving, please see the important message below from the Hoboken Public Education Foundation (HPEF). The Moving Forward Together Campaign is their first fundraiser of the year, and the money raised will directly aide and augment the experience of our students.
Don't forget - we are collecting unwrapped toys and gift cards in partnership with the Hoboken Police and Fire Departments for the Sgt. Peter Zanin "Peachy" Toy Drive until December 3rd.
On behalf of the the Department of Special Services, please see the invite below for their next Special Education Parent Advisory Group meeting on December 7th.
If you'd like to nominate a teacher or educational professional for the Governor's Educator of the Year Program, we've included the Google Form for you to fill out below. You can nominate a staff member until November 30th.
There is also a form for you to fill out if you'd like your child to be considered to participate in the NJIT eSTEM Challenge. Please note that participation is limited, and the details are included in the form.
Square 1 Art order forms were sent home recently. Please take a look and consider placing an order as this is always a great fundraiser for our Brandt School PTO.
For this week's playlist, I hope you enjoy three of my favorites with a theme of gratitude...
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and stay safe!
- Mr. Bartlett
Friendsgiving!
With the help of our Brandt School PTO, our students and staff donated brown bagged lunches to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter. There were too many to count, so we just created a new unit of measurement and donated a "Brandtload" of lunches!
Thank you all once again for helping our children learn that there is no greater lesson than that of helping others.
HPEF - Moving Forward Together Campaign
The Hoboken Public Education Foundation is thrilled to announce our first fundraising campaign of the 2021-2022 school year! This Giving Tuesday, on November 30th, please consider supporting Hoboken PEF in our Moving Forward Together campaign.
We are also excited to announce that Compass Real Estate has pledged their support as our first matching donor! We are filled with such gratitude as we move closer to our goal. Thank you, Compass!
Our goal is to raise $50K this holiday season during our Online Giving campaign. 100% of the funds directly support initiatives at Hoboken Public Schools, including Brandt, Connors and Wallace elementary schools, Hoboken Middle School (HMS), and Hoboken High School (HHS).
With all of our students back in the classroom, we are focused on Moving Forward Together to fund important district initiatives including experiential and educational field trips for grades K-8, skill building trips for students with special needs, the HMS musical theatre program, Educational Family Nights, College Tours for HHS seniors, and smart board technology upgrades.
Like us on Facebook by clicking here and sign up for our mailing list on our website to receive important updates.
Thank you for your support as we strive to have our most successful #GivingTuesday yet! We look forward to Moving Forward Together!
Support Our Toy Drive!
An Invitation from Special Services
Parents and guardians of children with special needs are invited to the next SEPAG Resource Sharing Event
December 7, 2021
6:00 pm
Hoboken Middle School
(No childcare is available)
Special guests: George Bostory of Special Dragons and Jeannie Callahan of Angel Sense
Parents are invited to email Dr. D’Elia (delia.cecilia@hoboken.k12.nj.us) by December 3, 2021 any resources that they would like to share with other parents. These resources will be compiled and shared via our website
Parents who would like to sign up to receive calendar reminders, please send your email address via this Google Form
Invitamos a padres de niños que necesitan atención diferenciada a la próxima reunión de SEPAG en la cual vamos a conversar sobre recursos para nuestros niños
La reunión incluirá presentaciones de Special Dragons (un programa de karate para niños que necesitan atención diferenciada) y de Angel Sense (una compañía que produce un producto para localizar a niños extraviados)
Fecha: 7 de diciembre 2021
Hora: 6:00 pm
Si quiere participar en la reunión presencial: Hoboken Middle School (158 4th Street) (No hay cuidado de niños)
También se puede participar a través de este enlace para Google Meet a la misma hora
Si quiere recibir notificaciones por correo electrónico, por favor complete este formulario
Si requiere mas informacion, por favor comuníquese con la directora D’Elia (cdelia@hobokne.k12.nj.us)
Governor's Educator Of The Year Nomination Form
NJIT e-STEM Challenge Sign-Up
Kindergarten
In ELA, we are reviewing the letter Aa along with the Sight Word "we." In Math, we are learning to connect number names, numerals and quantities up to 10. In Social Studies we are writing and discussing what we are thankful for. We also decorated bags for the sandwiches that are going to the homeless shelter!
First Grade
This week in ELA, first graders continued to practice using their reading strategies, such as retelling all of the important details in sequential order from beginning to end and asking questions regarding the text. Students also worked very hard disguising their turkey from the farmer!
In Math, students continued to review their work with shapes, including sorting by attributes, comparing 2D & 3D shapes, and manipulating smaller shapes to fill a larger shape. Students also created a Math Fact Turkey!
Second Grade
In Writer's workshop we have wrapped up our very first unit of Small Moments. We have been working on developing a new Small Moment for the Winter Wonderland Arts and Literacy night on December 12th, so make sure to come and check out some amazing writing pieces!
In Social Studies we have studied Native American Heritage and discussed various articles to help students understand the people that lived here as well as comparing and contrasting various tribes and understanding where they came from and how they lived.
In Math we have wrapped up our Unit 1 assessments and have been working continuously on addition and subtraction now with 2-digits along with our work on IXL and Classworks.
Third Grade
We had a wonderful short week together!
The third grade students began working on their Winter Wonderland Essays for the district’s First Annual Arts and Literacy Family Night. Students brainstormed what the holidays mean to them, discussed family traditions, and began writing their essays. When we get back from break, students will peer edit, conference with their teacher, then “publish” their writings. All third grade students wrapped up their mini-novel study: Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. When we return, students will begin the novel study: Underground Railroad. We will learn about American Girl Addy and her journey escaping on the underground railroad.
In math we are working on Unit 2 Investigations Graphing and Collecting Data. Students are enjoying creating line plots, pictographs, bar graphs, and pie charts. Students are getting opportunities to create a survey question, collect data, organize data, then draw a graph. Students were introduced to measuring using yards, feet, and inches. In Ms. Tainter’s class students used a yardstick to create their own ruler! Students then had a fun time measuring how far we could jump and then turned our jumping data into a class line plot. In Ms. James’ class students are exploring the process of collecting and analyzing data. This week students learned how to create and send out their own surveys using Google Forms. Next week students will practice showing their data using both bar graphs and pictographs. Ms. Waag’s class is reviewing key skills such as rounding, 3-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, multiplication, and division through Thanksgiving themed partner work, IXL, and Khan Academy videos. In Ms. Kontogiannis' class students worked on a Thanksgiving Meal Math project. Students worked with a partner to create a thanksgiving meal using a budget. Students used the weekly ad from ShopRite to plan and shop for their Thanksgiving meal.
For social studies students are continuing our Geography “What Was America Like 500 Years Ago?” unit. Third grade students discussed Native American Heritage Month. In Ms. Waag’s class, the students read and discussed the significance of learning about Native Americans’ culture and traditions. The class discussed the meaning of “gratitude” and developed their own “Gratitude Jars.” Students got the opportunity to write, draw, color, and create their own gratitude jar. We have much to be thankful for in our class!
For ILP students are continuing to work on Classworks and IXL to enhance reading and math skills. Students can continue to use these online resources to improve their skills at home. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving break with your families.
Fourth Grade
What does the winter holiday mean to you? Our fourth graders are busy composing an essay for this prompt during this week. Students completed the circle thinking map by including four detailed descriptions of what the winter holidays mean to them. They were encouraged to include sensory descriptions, personal narrative, and winter memories. They are in the process of using the circle thinking map to help begin to draft on the essay organizer. These essays will be published next week. They will be showcased during our district's first annual Arts and Literacy Night.
Our mathematicians are computing the product represented by an array by using strategies that involve breaking apart numbers. Students have to look at two arrays that are combined, determine the dimensions and total of the larger array that is created. Students also draw two smaller arrays to show the solution to 12 x 7. These investigations will be the basis of learning to solve complex multiplication problems.
Fifth Grade
In ELA, students are enjoying working on culminating projects and summative assessments related to our class novel, Esperanza Rising. Students had the opportunity to choose three assignments to add to a final portfolio that will document their knowledge and understanding of the concepts learned throughout this unit. We are also gearing up to read our next novel, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.
In Math, 5th graders have begun our unit on Fractions. Through group activities, math centers and IXL practice sessions, students are finding fractional equivalents, comparing fractions and ordering fractions and will use that knowledge to add and subtract fractions in the next investigation.
The Counselor's Corner
1. Have a conversation with loved ones, express how grateful you are for them
2. Donate to a local shelter
3. Volunteer in your community
4. Take time for yourself and reflect on what you are grateful for in your life
I'd like to say I am grateful for each and every one you. I hope you and your families have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving!
Email: jhosbach@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
On Mondays - Wednesdays during the Individualized Learning Pathway (ILP) period, students who have qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) programming engage in a wide array of verbal course offerings that address their specific strengths and interests. Johns Hopkins CTY believes in researching and advancing ways to identify and nurture academically talented learners. CTY furthers research, guides educators and families and inspires students from diverse communities and backgrounds to pursue their intellectual passions and create the world of tomorrow. This week, we would like to highlight one of the CTY courses offered to our Hoboken students this fall:
Young Readers Series: Mystery Stories
Become an investigator and search for clues within each story, then try to solve the puzzle! In this course, our young detectives will uncover some of the reasons why things are not always what they seem. Our students will journey to 19th century London and to a modern African wildlife preserve while reading stories that include danger, fantasy, suspense. Sifting through these enthralling stories on the hunt for answers, we will analyze and draw inferences from clues found in the setting, plot, and characters, crafting creative writing and discussion forum posts and sharpening your critical thinking skills along the way. Practice being curious, aware, and reflective as we try to solve each mystery!
Physical Education
While the weather is unpredictable. the PE department is always prepared with fun activities! This week we focused on Thanksgiving fitness. Students performed various exercises that started with each letter in the word Thanksgiving as a warm up. We played a "Would You Rather..." fall edition, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Things I am grateful for, and Fitness Thanksgiving feast game. All the games are based on decision making, choices, and fitness. Students demonstrated kindness, support, and ultimately thankfulness for being in school and being able to have fun in class.
World Languages
Kindergarten students are currently working on the unit of “numbers." They are counting from 0 to ten in Mandarin! First to fourth graders will be finishing the unit of “Parts of Body." The students had fun playing the matching game to review the vocabulary.
Art
Music
Science
This week, our 1st graders had some fun learning about light. After a discussion about reflection and refraction they created rainbows by using a dvd, a flashlight, and a white board. They experimented by holding the materials at different angles and seeing how much light it took to create colors.
This week 2nd grade students have learned about different inventions and what the meaning of a patent is! The students were able to distinguish why and how these designs were created as well as how people learned about the new device/idea.
The 3rd graders finished their unit on simple machines this week by building and testing a pulley. They learned and investigated how some simple machines just changed the direction of the force, but others swap distance for force to make a load seem lighter.
Mr. Metcalfe's 4th Grade Engineers successfully finished their collision projects, and have now entered the exploration of measurement of wavelength and identifying the parts of a wave. His 5th Grade Scientists are researching the interaction and connective relationship between organisms in order to mutually support each other in their survival.
Nurse's Nook
Reminders:
Thanksgiving Travel: Refer to Mr. Bartlett’s email regarding COVID testing and travel guidelines for reminders about COVID-19 testing protocol for travel during Thanksgiving break.
Health and Safety: Continue wearing masks, hand washing, and covering coughs and sneezes. This is especially important for potential large gatherings during the holiday break. Be sure to fill out the daily COVID-19 form. Please do not send your child to school if he/she is experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Renee Banks
School Nurses - Brandt School
201-356-3757
Email: rbanks@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fsteps-whe