Woodland Park School District News
April 30, 2021
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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Five To Be Inducted To Memorial National Junior Honor Society Chapter
The National Junior Honor Society is the nation's premier organization established to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding students. More than just an honor roll, the NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship.
Memorial Middle School's NJHS chapter was established last year, to recognize the accomplishments of students. This year's inductees were announced this week: Ave Beirne, Anthony Billson, Mila Dragisic, Leah Marain, and Amayiah Pena. Congratulations! These students will be inducted into the society at a virtual ceremony on June 10.
Seventh and eighth graders who achieved first or second honors in the first two marking periods of this school year are eligible to apply. The criteria for acceptance includes: school activities, community service roles, special accolades, leadership positions, teacher recommendations and a written essay. The students were accepted based on a state mandated rubric.
Memorial School's NJHS chapter will meet regularly and complete various community service activities in order help to make our community a better place. Individuals who have been accepted into NJHS are expected to complete four hours of community service outside of the community service work accomplished with the school.
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Recycled Robots
Ms. Antunez's first grade students at Charles Olbon School show off their Earth Day robot projects. The students were required to reuse recyclable items in order to create the robots.
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Helping The Earth
Ms. Morris' second grade students at Charles Olbon School were given an Earth Day choice board. The students were provided with various activities to participate in as a way to celebrate our planet. Many students chose to help their families recycle, plant seeds, make posters, and many more activities. They had so much fun!
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We Love Our Planet
Mrs. Munro's kindergarten students at Charles Olbon School celebrated Earth Day by learning about ways to help and protect our environment. Students enjoyed drawing a heart-shaped earth to show their love for our big beautiful planet, earth.
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Reusing Recycling
For Earth Day, Ms. Krasnomowitz's PreK-4 class at School 1 reduced, reused and recycled cardboard, newspaper, the back of old papers, and package wrapping to create beautiful paintings! Keep reducing, reusing and recycling, Pre-K!
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Trash To Treasure
Mrs. Wilson's fourth grade students at Beatrice Gilmore School took on a creative challenge for Earth Day this week. The students discussed and debated the positive and negative qualities of the 3R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students were then challenged to find a piece of "trash," or something found at home that no longer served its purpose well. The trash was repurposed into something useful. Some students repurposed water bottles into pencil holders or bird feeders. Other students used old candle jars to hold various items, such as erasers. One student even repurposed old cardboard to construct bumpers in order to protect a baby brother from running into the corners of a table. Trash into treasure - what a great way to reduce our consumption by reusing materials we already have!
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Scavenger Hunt Showcase
The Memorial Middle School language arts classes recently participated in a virtual scavenger hunt. The activity supported Diversity Month and Social and Emotional Learning while at the same time incorporating language arts skills.
The students were given a list of items to search for at home. The items were brought to class on presentation day. Some of the items on the search list included: something that represents a favorite book or genre, something that represents the student at an earlier age, and something that represents what the student likes to do in their free time.
The students enjoyed communicating with each other and learning about each other as unique and special individuals.
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Celebrating Earth Day
On April 22, students in Ms. Ayala's fourth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School worked on Earth Day themed lessons across all content areas each and every day.
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Taking The Challenge
Mrs. Yesonosky's fourth grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School has been working on the power of positive thinking...learning to believe in themselves and their potential. Each student has a reminder message posted on their individual desk noting, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” The students talk about how change is a part of life and is a necessity for progress! This serves as an extension of the growth mindset and Beatrice Gilmore's whole school initiative: TRY2.
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Two Receive BG Certificate of Recognition
Beatrice Gilmore School has launched a Certificate of Recognition program, whereby deserving students are nominated by teachers to be recognized for accomplishments, such as: consistent diligence and effort, and improved participation in class.
This week, two students were surprised with certificates by Building Principal, Mrs. Tomback. Fourth grader, Yazan, was acknowledged for exceeding expectations in class by writing additional pieces and sharing with his classmates. Yazan also worked well beyond the expected number of practice minutes on math assignments. Fourth grader, Emilio, was honored for his outstanding contributions in class!
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Fifth Grade Poets Share Their Work
The fifth grade students at Beatrice Gilmore School recently invited Building Principal, Mrs. Tomback, Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Farraye, and school nurse, Ms. Roehrich, to join a poetry reading. The students will be entering poems in the Alfred Baumann Library poetry contest. Various poems will be hung on the walls of the school building for all to read and enjoy!
Mrs. Farraye was so inspired by the poems that she quickly wrote her own! In her poem, our amazing guidance counselor shared her feelings about BG and the various activities the students and staff have been enjoying during the month of April. Enjoy her poem below:
April
By Mrs. Farraye
What a month has April been
Learning about diversity and how we all fit in
We all learn differently and isn’t that just great!
For that we show more love because there is no room for hate
We all look different on the outside, there is beauty in all
Just like a precious rose or a perfect leaf in the Fall
Inclusion you say - we all belong
Yes, because together we are beautiful, joyful and strong
I love that we learned this at our school we call BG
I love BG because you can be you and I can be me!
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Free Video From Pomptonian Discuses Importance of Physical Activity
Pomptonian, our food service provider, announces another edition of Nutrition News with award-winning pediatrician, author and keynote speaker, Dr. Jill Garripoli Pedalino. Dr. Jill and Pomptonian’s corporate dietitian Toni Bowman will be discussing physical activity. View the video here.
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BGHSA plans Chipotle Fundraiser
Don't cook on Monday, May 3. Dine at Chipotle, 70 Willowbrook Blvd., Wayne, from 5 to 9 p.m. and help support the Beatrice Gilmore School's fifth grade committee. Show the flyer to the cashier and 33% of your order will benefit the committee, which is working to plan a great event for the fifth grade class to send them off to middle school.
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Memorial School 8th Grade Dance Committee Holding Two Fundraisers
The Memorial Middle School Eighth Grade Dance Committee is holding another Nothing Bundt Cakes fundraiser. Bundtlets are $6 each and full cakes are $30 each. Flavors are: chocolate chocolate chip, vanilla, white chocolate raspberry, carrot, red velvet, lemon and funfetti. Send orders to Lina Stigliano at 973-725-0802 or linastigs@optonline.net and pay via Venmo to@MMS2021-Ryan. Deadline for orders is May 3.
The committee is also selling school pride and graduation lawn signs. There are two sizes: 18x24, which are $30, and 24x26, which are $40. They are customizable with your student's name. Custom banners are also available at $7.50 a square foot. For more information or to order contact Lina Stigliano at 973-725-0802 orlinastigs@optonline.net.
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Deadline for Library's Annual Poetry Contest Extended
Deadline for Alfred Baumann Library's annual poetry contest, which is open to Woodland Park residents, Passaic Valley High School students, and Berkeley College students, has been extended to Saturday, May 10, by 1 p.m.
Poems may be written in any form, must be original, and unpublished. Poems must be typed or clearly printed on a single sheet of 8 ½ by 11 paper. Include your full name, address, telephone number, and category and drop off at the library or submit via email as an attachment here. Put your full name in the subject line. Categories: grades K-2; grades 3-4; grades 5-6; grades 7-8; high school students; and adults 18 and older (not in high school).
All works submitted will be bound in a book and added to the library’s permanent collection. Prizes will be awarded. Winners will be asked to read their selections for a virtual poetry-reading program on June 8.
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Coming up at the Alfred Baumann Library:
The Alfred Baumann Library will host the following children's programs. All programs are VIRTUAL unless noted. To view virtual programs, click here.
Monday, May 3, 10 a.m. - Virtual Weigh to Go group meeting. Register here.
Tuesday, May 4, 4 p.m. - William Paterson University Virtual Arts Education Workshop for grades K-4. All supplies are provided and available for pick-up at the Library. Register here.
Tuesday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. - May the Fourth be with you digital breakout. Power up your lightsaber and try not to get tripped up by the dark side in the Star Wars themed breakout. Open to grades 3-8. Register here.
Tuesday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. - ESL Conversation Club. Register here.
Wednesday, May 5, 11 a.m. - Join in for a farm adventure-themed Move & Groove with Miss Jolie on Zoom., offering silliness, stories, music, and fun for ages 0-6 and up. Register here.
Wednesday, May 5, 7 p.m. - Join Miss Sara and Miss Phil for a weekly virtual storytime on Zoom. Each week will have a new theme with stories, songs, rhymes, and more. Register here.
Thursday, May 6, 7 p.m. - Join best-selling author and organizing humorist Jamie Novak as she shares what to keep, toss, share and sell when spring cleaning. You will create your own cleaning checklist and log off with ideas and advice to tidy up. Register here.
Saturday, May 8, 11 a.m. - Join in for an outdoor nature scavenger hunt and storytime. Find and draw as many items as you can, from animals to plants, and more. Space is limited. Masks and social distancing are required. Register here.
Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. - Spring into STEM with this interactive "make and take" exploration for grades 3-8. Register here.
The Library's website is www.abwplibrary.org. Phone number is 973-345-8120. Reach the Library via email at library@abwplibrary.org.
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