Faust News
3rd Marking Period
Principal's Message
Dear Faust School Families,
I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and in the best of health. Thank you so much for your understanding and patience as we all continue to adjust to the recent changes in our everyday lives and your child's education. As we go into the 4th and final Marking Period, we find ourselves at Becton Regional High School. I am greatly appreciative of all stakeholders in both districts that have allowed our hybrid students, teachers, and professional staff members to finish out the year with in-person instruction. We remain dedicated to our students' academic, physical, social, and emotional health and will always be available to support our families.
On behalf of the administration, students, and staff of Faust School, we would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Sforza, Superintendent & Principal, Mr. Bononno, Assistant Principal, Mr. Caputo, Supervisor of Building, Grounds, and Transportation, Mr. Annitti, Business Administrator, Mr. Gbaguidi, Supervisor of Technology, and all faculty and staff for making our transition to Becton such a welcoming one. It was apparent that the entire Becton administration and staff put in a great deal of planning and effort to ensure that this transition went smoothly for all involved. We very much appreciate their hospitality, and it is a pleasure to have our districts work together for the best interest of our students and families of East Rutherford. Special thanks to the Faust School Custodial Staff for their hard work, dedication, and effort in helping with the move to Becton.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers and professional support staff members for being so flexible since the start of the Pandemic. Their endless hours of hard work and creativity keep our hybrid and all-remote learners actively using technology and simultaneously engaged in lessons focused on growth and student achievement. Their commitment is ongoing, and our students' education and well-being will always be their #1 priority!
Please take the time to read through our Faust School Newsletter and see all the wonderful learning activities and projects our teachers have been doing with their students.
All of us at Faust School look forward to seeing our students and their families together again. I will continue to keep you informed of any changes or adjustments throughout the remainder of the school year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Stay well and in the best of health!
Sincerely,
Regina Barrale
Mrs. Regina Barrale
Alfred S. Faust School Principal
Theatre with Ms. Clemens
In Theatre, 5th and 6th-grade students are continuing to explore the art of critique by viewing professional performances and using evaluative language to score productions. They have also explored the role of a critic in theatre and how other forms of arts also have critics, such as Art, Music, Film, and even foods.
Students in 7th and 8th grade are beginning to explore careers in theatre with the jobs of Director and Producer and the on-stage jobs of Leading Actor and Leading Actress. They are investigating what the responsibilities of each role are and deciding if they feel they have the qualities that would fit the job description. Students will move into the roles of the Design Team with Lighting, Costume, and Sound Designers.
Faust Future Stars
5th Grade
5th Grade Math
Art with Ms. Machere
Music
Band
Mr. Schweikardt could not be more proud of all the band students at Faust School. Their devotion to band lessons is a testament to their dedication, and the pride they take in themselves and their classmates. The hybrid students and remote students have been practicing safely, respectfully, and diligently together. The band students have been learning how to practice their band literature while listening to backing tracks consisting of full band ensembles.
The band students have also been choosing music selections of their “Own Choice” by utilizing the “Songbird” app on YouTube. This application provides the students with the fingerings and note charts needed to play the song of their choosing. In addition, it provides the printed solo part and appropriate accompaniment. Students are also able to control the tempo of the song they are working on. The band students have worked on specific techniques needed to master their respective instruments. These skills will be the foundation to the future success of our ensembles as we look towards the future.
Science with Mrs. Yang
Mrs. Yang's 8th-grade science class developed and used models to describe the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, and how different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
When two objects interact, each one exerts a force on the other that can cause energy to be transferred to or from the object. For example, when energy is transferred to an Earth-object system as an object is raised, the gravitational field energy of the system increases. This energy is released as the object falls; the mechanism of this release is the gravitational force. Likewise, two magnetic and electrically charged objects interacting at a distance exert forces on each other that can transfer energy between the interacting object. Students have been able to apply this knowledge with PhET. PhET is a learning platform where students can practice the concepts of potential and kinetic energy. Here are the activities the students have participated in, Energy Skate Park, Hooke’s Law, John Travoltage, and Pendulum Lab.
Pandemic Life
Guidance
Science with Mr. Rizi
Nurse Pacelli Spring Safety Tips:
Sun Safety: Getting some sunshine is healthy and important but please remember to apply sunscreen whenever outside playing in the sun. The sun is strongest from 10 am-4 pm. It is recommended to use SPF 30 even when it is cloudy, to help keep your skin safe from the sun’s rays.
New Immunization Schedules: Now is a great time to check with your Medical Provider to make sure you are up-to-date on immunizations. This is especially important for all incoming 6th graders. It is never too early to have everything ready to begin the next school year.
Asthma/Allergy Action Plans: Seasonal Allergy and Asthma Action Plans are important to review and update with your health care provider. Please also share a copy with your school nurse. Be mindful of what your child’s triggers are such as pollen, grass, mold, exercise, etc.
COVID-19: Please continue to wear masks when out in public, socially distance by keeping a 6ft distance from others, and get tested if you are experiencing any symptoms. Please continue to be in touch with your school nurse regarding any exposures or symptoms.
Travel- Notify the school nurse of any travel plans. The school nurse will be able to help give you guidance regarding quarantine and help assist with a safe return to school.
Head lice- Anyone can get head lice and it is not uncommon. Most head lice are transmitted from head to head contact. Check your children regularly. If you do find head lice it is important to consult with a health care provider regarding treatment and clearance.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kristin Pacelli BSN, RN, CSN
2018049694
7th Grade ELA
5th Grade Science: Journey to the Edge of the Earth
Dance with Ms. Setlock
Dance this year at Faust looks a little different, but we are making the most of it! In 7th & 8th grade, students just finished up learning how to choreograph their own dance. Students participated in each part of the choreographic process such as selecting their music, organizing an artistic intent, and executing a choreographic structure in their movement. In 5th & 6th grade, students are currently learning about tap dance and how to perform basic tap steps. Students were able to view videos of world-famous tap dancers such as Gene Kelly, the Nicholas Brothers, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines. All students are progressing greatly and having fun while moving their bodies!
Student Council
6th & 7th Grade Math
Our sixth-grade students have been working extremely hard in the wonderful world of geometry. We have learned about various area formulas as well as how to find surface area and volume. The students have also been working hard, preparing for the NJSLA in May. Soon, we will be diving into the world of statistics, data, and graphs. We hope everyone has a great spring break! The 7th grade Math and Pre-Algebra students have been working hard to strengthen and master their skills. They have been exploring Probability and various aspects of Geometry. Keep up the good work!
6th Grade Science
World Language Department
Due to “COVID19”, the World Language Department Spanish 5th-8th grades, are learning in one marking period this year. Students had the opportunity to continue their learning in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We also continued to use the many learning platforms as mentioned in previous newsletters such as Wizer.me, Flipgrid, Edpuzzle, and more.
- In 5th grade, students were able to watch an authentic video series to practice their Spanish comprehension skills. Furthermore, they were able to express preferences of activities and pastimes.
- The 6th-grade students learned about mealtimes (desayuno, almuerzo, y cena), food (saludable y chatarra/rápida), and restaurants of choice in East Rutherford. Students shared their personal preferences related to food using the verbs gustar, and preferir. Check out their work below!
- The 7th graders learned about various famous Hispanic Americans. They were also able to discuss their food preferences and learn about various food dishes eaten in different Latin American countries.
- Finally, 8th graders went on imaginary trips learning and writing about many festivals in Spain. Students visited Las Fallas, La Feria de Abril, Los SanFermines/El Encierro, as well as the famous Tomatina. Students practiced their writing and speaking skills by using Venn Diagrams to compare many of the Hispanic festivals learned with celebrations in the United States such as; El Día de Acción de Gracias. In addition, 8th graders also learned about the history of the Piñata, and all Holidays and celebrations during the months of December and January in the Spanish-speaking world.
Advisory
During advisory class in marking period 3, discussions arose about cyberbullying, time management skills, self-esteem, friendship, self-control, shaming, understanding diversity, and other topics. On #SELday March 26th, students were able to participate in discussions about teamwork and relationship-building skills to develop a more healthy and rewarding connection with diverse groups and individuals. Mrs. Fox and Ms. Cuello were able to continue and maintain a safe, comfortable, and collaborative atmosphere for students to create more positive learning experiences.
Financial Literacy
Students in grades 6 and 7 are exploring the world of money management, including budgeting, wants and needs, supply and demand, income and expenditures, and forms of payment, among other topics. Students ended the cycle by creating and advertising their businesses, with the seventh grade using the persuasive rhetorical appeals learned in their ELA class. Students were introduced to finance concepts that they will use now and throughout their lives.
Physical Education
Marking Period 3 was a busy one for our Faust School Physical Education classes. As we transitioned and adapted to the many changes put forth, our students were resilient and enthusiastic both virtually and in person. The students continued to follow home fitness routines, while the hybrid students were able to add in some group fitness activities and walking to stay active. Health continued to be a large portion of the 3rd marking period as the students maneuvered through the Human Body Systems. Our students are excited to see what the 4th marking period has in store for them as we transition again to our new “home” for the school year, Becton.
6th Grade ELA
As if this winter wasn’t cold enough, sixth-graders dove into an informational unit on arctic exploration. Brrr! Our initial read was the biography of Matthew Henson, who was one of the first men to discover the North Pole. After reading about Henson’s story, students read journals from modern-day explorer and climate change activist, Will Steger. Finally, we watched documentaries to learn all about the supplies needed for such a trip and exactly what explorers do to cope with the severe climate. As our unit came to a close, students compiled their notes into a research essay comparing each source of information. Although the number of future arctic explorers is low, students walked away from this unit feeling inspired to work to meet their own goals, just as the explorers did in their reading.