Woodland Park School District News
Dec. 23, 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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Lending a Hand
The school community at Charles Olbon School held a giving tree initiative to support children living in foster care in Passaic County. Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) advocate for the best interests of vulnerable children in foster care. Each year, CASA gathers holiday wishes from the children they work with throughout the county. The school had a giving tree set up in the lobby decorated with snowflakes. Each snowflake included the name, gender, age, and wishes of children involved with the CASA program. Students and staff were able to choose a snowflake to bring home to fulfill the child’s wish.
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Seasonal Showcase
The Memorial Middle School bands and choirs held their winter concert on Wednesday night, under the direction of music teacher Mr. Schaefer. There were performances by seven ensembles: the sixth grade choir, seventh and eighth grade choir, combined choir, jazz band, sixth grade band, eighth grade band, and symphonic band.
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End of Year Fun
The Memorial School Climate and Culture Team gathered last week to celebrate all the work they have done this year to improve the climate and culture of the school! Students and staff enjoyed breakfast and a hot chocolate bar. They also participated in a holiday craft while listening to holiday music. Each member received a bookmark thanking them for being students of good character and role models for their peers.
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Family Creations
This month's Pre-K family engagement activity was creating a gingerbread person. School 1 and Charles Olbon School Pre-K families decorated and sent in their gingerbread man or woman and they have been on display for all to enjoy.
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Toys For Tots
The Memorial Middle School Student Council sponsored a toy drive in December with all items benefiting Toys for Tots. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
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Making Snow
First graders in Ms. Tonti’s class at Charles Olbon School learned how snow comes to be. The students were amazed to learn that not one snowflake is alike just like fingerprints. The children were even more excited to make their very own snow. Each student took home a cupful of snow. The class is eagerly awaiting some more snowfall to observe snowflakes.
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Celebrating Traditions
Ms. Healey’s second grade class at Charles Olbon School enjoyed learning about the different holidays their classmates celebrate with their families all year long. Students created posters telling when they celebrate their holiday, the types of foods eaten, and their families’ special traditions during their holiday!
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Gingerbread Making
Students in Ms. Tobia and Ms. Bonnie's PreK-4 class at School 1 created their own gingerbread play dough. The students had so much fun measuring and mixing the ingredients.
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Winter Spirit Week
All this week, district students and staff in district schools enjoyed winter spirit days. Monday was wear white like snow. Tuesday was flannel day. Wednesday was winter hat day. Thursday was cozy socks day. Today concluded with sweater weather day.
The students in Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Coffey's PreK-4 class at School 1 enjoyed celebrating White Like Snow Day. They identified the letters of the alphabet and then wrote those letters in their own personal snow. It was snow much fun!
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Season of Giving
Ms. Tonti’s first graders at Charles Olbon School read books on being generous during the holiday season and throughout the year. Students each designed their very own gift boxes and came up with ways to show generosity and thoughtfulness. The class used these ideas to come up with a "how-to" writing piece to teach others how to be generous. The children also learned that you don’t always have to buy something to show that you are generous, but you can do kind acts, too. For example, some students said we can donate old toys or clothes that don’t fit or even collect food to give to the less fortunate. These students are building positive character traits that they can carry with them throughout their life’s journey.
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All About Bugs
Ms. Wittig and Ms. Pam's PreK-3 class at School 1 have been sorting different kinds of bugs that are found on or around trees. This activity is not only fun, but students are developing eye/hand coordination, improving fine motor skills and classifying the various bugs by their attributes.
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Paying Tribute
Author Charles O'Donnell, a former Woodland Park resident who went through our local schools and graduated from Passaic Valley Regional High School, recently published his latest book Read To Succeed, and dedicated it in memory of all the teachers he had in his school years here. O'Donnell was a member of the very first graduating class of Memorial Middle School in 1959.
O'Donnell noted that he was just an average student and was challenged by an English teacher that told him that he would never amount to anything and gave him Ds and Fs. He overcame this because at Passaic Valley, he got A's in English, had a very successful career, and was a CEO for 10 years before retirement. He currently lives in Des Moines, Wash.
"Your current faculty might appreciate knowing that even 63 years later, I have not forgotten the names of a single one of them and thank them yet again for all the skills and knowledge they imparted to me during those early years," he wrote to us, adding that if any of the teachers were still around they would probably chuckle over the fact that the two subjects he struggled with resulted in two published books encompassing math and English principles. "I guess this proves that teaching persistence pays off, even when it is not immediately evident."
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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, Dec. 24 - The Library is closed
Sunday, Dec. 25 - The Library is closed
Monday, Dec. 26 - The Library is closed
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 6:30 p.m. - Pajama Story Time. Join Miss Sara for a bedtime story time. Pajamas are encouraged! Register here.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. - Spice of the Month Club. Expand your palate! Each month receive a packet with a new spice, recipe, and history of the spice. Then, join the meeting to discuss your findings. Register here.
Friday, Dec. 30, 11 a.m. - Noon Year's Eve for all ages. Practice ringing in the new year at this special celebration. Play games, make crafts, enjoy a story, and countdown to noon with a balloon drop. Register here.
Saturday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. - Lego Mania for all ages. Register here.
Sunday, Jan. 1 - The Library is closed
Monday, Jan. 2 - The Library is closed
Tuesday, Jan. 3 - Coffee and… Looking for a friend or someone to chat with? Stop by, have a cup of coffee, and... bring a friend or make some friends! Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers. Join AP math and English students from Passaic Valley High School for math, science, and English test review, homework, and tutoring help. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 3:30 p.m. - Zine Workshop for grades 5 to 8. Create your own zine! All supplies will be provided. Register here.
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers. Join AP math and English students from Passaic Valley High School for math, science, and English test review, homework, and tutoring help. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 5, 3 to 4 p.m. - Homework Helpers. Join AP math and English students from Passaic Valley High School for math, science, and English test review, homework, and tutoring help. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 5, 4 to 5 p.m. - Homework Helpers. Join AP math and English students from Passaic Valley High School for math, science, and English test review, homework, and tutoring help. Register here.
Thursday, Jan. 5, 4 p.m. - Snowy Snacks with ShopRite dietician Heather Shasa for grades K to 4. Register here.
Friday, Jan. 6, 11 a.m. - Lunch and a Movie. Join in for lunch and a viewing of "Ticket To Paradise." Register here.