Third-grade students at Faber School celebrated Music in Our Schools Month by having their recorder and choir concert on Tuesday, March 26. The focus of the night was World and American Folk Songs.
Terri Anastasi, band director, and Karl Geiger, vocal music director, held a concert that showcased the third-graders' musical talents. Anastasi and Geiger said the parent support of the music program is amazing. They appreciate all that the parents do to help their students succeed.
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The night began with Dettlinger’s, Blount’s and Cody’s classes showcasing what they have learned this year on the recorders by playing: "A Ram Sam Sam" and "Polly Wolly Doodle." O’Neill’s and Johnstons’s classes showcased their talents by playing "Lightly Row" and "Shoo Fly." The students enjoyed showing their families what they have learned this year.
To finish off the night, Geiger had the third-grade choir sing American Folk Songs. These songs included: "America the Beautiful," "Old Dan Tucker," "Davy Crockett," "Cotton Eye Joe," "Dinah/Johnny," "Coffee Grows on White Oak Trees," "Great Big House" and "This Land is Your Land." The night ended with the choir and the audience singing one verse of "This Land is Your Land."
Brendan Tennant, vice principal, said, the students were able to showcase how music in our schools can inspire students and help encourage them to find new talents. They also learned about folk tales through the singing of folk songs.”
Middlesex Public School District hosted their fourth NJ Makers Day @ Middlesex on Friday, March 22. Taking place in Von E. Mauger Middle School’s Library Media Center/ Makerspace, this statewide event involves many in the education, library and tech communities across New Jersey. Featuring more than 20 stations, this year’s NJ Makers Day was able to provide opportunities for the children and adults of the community to explore various iterations of iSTEAM, maker education, crafting, coding and interactive learning together. Maker Coaches included National Honors Club students from the high school, Middlesex Education Association (MEA) representatives, members of the administration, Bound Brook Robotics students, teachers from across the district, and many students and teachers from Mauger School. Funding from the MEA Pride Grant allowed the district to supply resources for the stations, utilize an extra 3D printer, provide volunteer T-shirts and pizza, and give free snacks to attendees — which helps for those who stayed all three hours.
Overall there were 23 adult volunteers, 30 student volunteers; 46 adult attendees (not volunteers); 127 student attendees (not volunteers). Total count: 226.
Misericordia University recently promoted Dr. Kathleen Scaler Scott, Ph.D., speech-language pathology, to full professor. Scaler Scott, of Flemington, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who specializes in child language disorders, literacy, autism spectrum disorders and fluency disorders. A practicing clinician for more than 25 years, she has presented numerous papers nationally and internationally in the areas of social communication disorders, literacy and fluency disorders. Scaler Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech-language-hearing sciences from Douglass College/Rutgers University, a Master of Science in communication disorders from Emerson College, and her doctorate in applied language and speech sciences from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.
New Jersey PTA announced North Hunterdon High School PTSA has been recognized as the recipient of a special Award of Merit in membership and recruitment at the NJPTA 118th Convention Awards Celebration held on Saturday, March 23. North Hunterdon High School PTSA was recognized for its outstanding contribution to improve the lives of the children at their school. North Hunterdon High School PTSA is one of the 600 PTAs across the state.
“New Jersey’s PTAs continue to strive for the children of New Jersey. They are committed to making every child’s potential a reality,” said Rose Acerra, president of New Jersey PTA. “We are pleased to recognize the leadership and dedication of North Hunterdon High School PTSA. This PTA is making a significant contribution to PTA, their school and community.”
North Hunterdon High School PTSA committed to make their PTSA compliant with NJPTA. A PTSA is a special kind of PTA that not only has parents and teachers as members but also students . Their PTSA involved more students as members and grew membership by 94% in a six-month time-span. A PTSA brings a unique outlook to PTA by involving the students’ perspective to the school’s PTA. The membership increase shows that students can make a significant impact on the PTA.
“This award was given out for a remarkable push to increase PTA membership. Local PTAs bring amazing, innovative programs and services to children and families every day,” said Rose Acerra, president of New Jersey PTA, “and we are honored to recognize and celebrate their achievements.”
For more information about the NJPTA, visit http://NJPTA.org.
Plainfield High School students will perform “A Hollow Place,” a play written and directed by student Ay-yaan Muhammad, on Friday, April 12, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 13. at 3 p.m. at Plainfield High School Auditorium. Admission free.
Muhammad said he wrote this play because it is his last chance to write as a Plainfield High School student since he is graduating in June.
He said he based his play on women because of the many women in his life.
"I wanted to show the black women in my life that raised me, something they can relate to and something that would maybe help them. That’s why this play means so much to me,” Muhammad said.
A Hollow Place tells the story of a young woman haunted by the ghost of her great-great-great grandmother’s former slave. It’s a psychological play analyzing the past’s effect on the present and future. Members of the cast: Ameelah Carvin, Jhaneyja Fowler, Noah Torres, Jonathan Price, Adriana Inoa, Kenia Castellanos and Ay-yaan Muhammad.
Maxson Middle School began a program that will require all students in grades 6-8 to lock their phones in a pouch during the length of the school day. The students will be able to keep their phones with them at all times but their phones will be locked in the pouch until dismissal.
At a presentation for students, Jade Mathis, a representative of Yondr, the company that makes the pouches, said their company works with schools, celebrities and professionals to create a phone-free environment. “At schools the Yondr allows the students to focus more on their school work and school activities,” Mathis said.
Mathis asked the students what they would do if they were not on their phone. Many said, “I would talk to my friends,” others said, “I would do my school work.”
The lockable pouches are getting popular after artists such as Dave Chappelle, Cardi B, Alicia Keys, and other artists are demanding their audiences lock up their phones during their shows.
Kevin Stansbury, principal of Maxson, said in a video to parents, “This year we are beginning to roll out a policy change for phone use, where students won’t have access to their phones during the school day. We did a lot of research and found that students are being taken off task because of their cell phones. In order for us to do better and perform better academically, we have decided to introduce Yondr, a pouch that allows students to carry their cell phones during the day but they cannot have access to them.”
Stansbury invited the parents to visit the school so they can learn first-hand how the pouch works. He urged them to support the school with this new initiative.
Yankuba Camara, a student at Maxson said he thinks this is a good idea especially for the students who are addicted to their phones, “The schools have finally found something to help them get off the phone. I think it’s a great program and I really appreciate what they are doing.”
The pouches are rented at a cost of $15 per student for the remainder of the school year. Next year, the more schools that join the program, the lower the cost according to the leasing company.
Alexander Chen of Warren, a sophomore in the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School, was recently accepted into the 2019 New Jersey Regions Orchestra (Region II) and the New Jersey All-State Orchestra.
As part of the orchestras, Chen will be performing multiple concerts around the state. He is a seven-year member of the New Jersey Youth Symphony and his favorite music to play is classical from the Baroque Period. Currently ranked 14th among high school violinists in the state, Alexander has been playing violin for about ten years and practices daily to sharpen his skills.
Chen said, “I believe that music is far from notes on a sheet. To me, music has been an outlet for me to not only relieve my stress but also as a way to connect to my community. Through this accomplishment, I hope that I am able to inspire others in representing our school in other areas.”
Although unsure of what exactly he wants to do in the future, Chen knows it will involve “helping other people.” Chen is the founder of the Music for More club, which is a community service based club most recently performing at the Abingdon Care & Rehabilitation Center in Green Brook.
Dressed in lab coats, student scientists at Angelo L. Tomaso (ALT) School had the opportunity to “Show-Off their Science,” on Thursday, March 14, during the annual science fair. More than 130 students in Kindergarten through fifth grade participated in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)-sponsored event. The remainder of the students were present to engage with their peers about their projects by asking questions and getting a first-hand look and understanding of each display.
Prior to the event, the ALT PTO arranged for a science assembly for all students. “For the third year in a row, the ALT PTO kicked off its "Show-Off Your Science" event by providing a highly visual and highly interactive assembly presented by INSECTS ROCK®. Children listened to a dynamic video presentation and were able to engage with several display tables” stated Arelis Buzzerio, ALT PTO Science Committee co-chair.
As the Science Fair Teacher Liaison, Wendy Pillar, ALT Reach teacher, made visits to each classroom in the weeks leading up to the fair to provide guidance, help brainstorm ideas and spark curiosity and a love for science. Students were encouraged to ask age appropriate questions, experiment and get creative. “Mrs. Pillar’s own love of science helped inspire even the youngest scientist to engage in scientific thinking and exploration,” said Carina Bellman, ALT PTO Science Committee co-chair.
Students were inspired as evidenced by the interesting, creative, colorful and clever projects on display during the fair. “The ‘Show-0ff your Science’ event was a non-competitive science and inventors fair open to all ALT students. All students were encouraged to find a topic they were interested in and simply explore, experiment and create a project they would like to share with their peers,” said Sonia Gomes, ALT PTO Science Committee co-chair.
Student projects included a variety of topics including the solar system, a robotic hand, the effects of magnets, the impact solar energy has on seawater, cookie chemistry, how to create the best bath bomb, chromatography, the mechanics of a bow, and a comparison of what chocolate melts the fastest and what color candle burns the quickest and so much more.
The success of the “Show-Off Your Science” event can be attributed to all of the parties involved, Bellman said. “This highly engaging and interactive STEM day could not happen without the time and support of our dedicated parents, staff and teachers. ALT teachers continuously encourage and support inquiry, foster a love for science and show great flexibility and creativity when allowing the PTO to complement their curriculum with these programs. The 20+ parent volunteers attentively engaged every presenter and each visitor, making them feel special and proud of their work. It is always great fun and a great honor to work alongside this incredible team!” Bellman said.
Niharika (Nina) Iyer, who is finishing up her junior year at Watching Hills Regional High School, first reached out to Mt. Bethel Executive Director Carolann Garafola in 2017 with a desire to bring art projects to Mt. Bethel's developmentally disabled adults. The projects were designed to be done in two or three hours and could be taken back to each adult's apartment to be enjoyed later. They grew beyond day projects and are now part of the fabric of life at Mt. Bethel Village (MBV), at 130 Mt. Bethel Road in Warren. During the month of April, Iyer continues visiting MBV, completing to date more than 22 projects over 66 hours on-site with countless additional hours of prep time including the purchase of materials. The projects are planned, in writing, and tied to seasonal events and holidays and are tailored to each individual's capabilities.
"Through these activities, Nina has taken time out of her weekends to come on-site to motivate our adults to create their own art," said Garafola. "She also encouraged and helped them learn how to get along in a group, how to clean up after the activity, how to have fun with art and how to be proud of what they accomplished."
Garafola has recommended Iyer for recognition by the National Honor Society.
"She did not get glory on a sports field, on a stage, but in the quiet walls of MBV," she wrote. "For a young woman to initiate such a project took a lot of fortitude, strength and commitment as working with adults with special needs is very challenging."
Mt. Bethel Village is an apartment-style residential community for adults with autism, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.
There is no shortage of civic-mindedness in Westfield Public Schools and Community Service Week was no exception. Through the coordinated efforts of school Parent Teacher Organizations, students across the district packed lunches, designed greeting cards, made care packages, picked up litter, and participated in many other activities as a way of giving back to those in need.
Community Service Week ran from Monday, March 11, through Friday, March 15 with parent volunteers coordinating and organizing the many activities. The elementary school activities took place outside of school hours and followed the same basic format of different stations with projects in support of homeless shelters, fighting hunger campaigns, senior citizens, rescue animal organizations, and others in need of charitable help.
At Lincoln School, the youngest learners colored a pictures for Color A Smile, a non-profit organization that “distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile.” The intermediate schools used a portion of their lunch periods to participate. At Roosevelt Intermediate School, parents organized and directed the assembly of snack packs to be given to the Rotary Club of Westfield’s backpack initiative for children who receive food assistance through school programs but who may not have enough to eat throughout the weekend. Students at Edison volunteered their time as well during a portion of their lunch period to create birthday cards for the troops, dog treats for local animal shelters, and care packages, felt hats, and extra lunches for people in need.
A sea of Westfield High School students crossed from WHS to the Armory on Friday, March 15, delivering nearly 2,000 sorted/bagged toiletries assembled that morning for local charitable organizations including the Westfield non-profit Bonds of Courage which supports our troops, veterans and their families. "It's always nice to see the school come together in such a great way," said Community Service Club President Emma Wolynez.
Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan thanked all who organized and participated in Community Service week, saying, “This amazing, well-coordinated week of community service truly embraced the school district’s mission of partnering with families and community to educate our students to reach their highest potential as productive, well-balanced and responsible citizens.”
Also, Union County Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados present a resolution to members of the Westfield High School's Model United Nations Club congratulating them on being awarded the Outstanding Delegation Award at the annual the YMCA Model UN Program conference held in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The YMCA Model UN Program (Y-MUN) is a Model UN experience that serves more than 2,000 young people annually across the Mid-Atlantic States.
The conference provides an unprecedented simulation of the UN that highlights the themes of collaboration, cultural understanding and problem solving that are at the core of the organization’s real-life goals
The convention helps students develop their debate skills and find their voice, but in a one-of-a-kind conference that brings together servant leadership, public speaking and global problem solving rather than a singular emphasis on debate. Approximately 2,000 students from 80 Mid-Atlantic schools attended the conference this year
The Westfield High School Model UN program is run in conjunction with the Westfield Area YMCA.
Also, Approximately 160 Westfield High School students along with several alumni, teachers, and community members, came together on Friday, March 22, to attend the Guy & Girl Thing, an annual event aimed at improving the mental health of students and forging connections among peers.
“I want kids to know they are not alone in the challenges they face and that they can offer support to one another,” said health teacher Susan Kolesar, who created the program in 2004. Kolesar says the Guy & Girl Thing is “a way for upperclassmen to share their stories and give back to their school by serving as role models of young people, being vulnerable, yet strong and resilient.” This year’s theme was “Level Up!”, a play on the video game term about getting to the next level. The event challenged student to “level up” in life, as individuals, friends, and support system for their peers.
Speakers for the evening included, Mary Claire Gilvelber from the Caring Contact listening line and School Resource Officer and WHS alumnus, Ricardo Johnson, who spoke about overcoming personal struggles but ultimately being able to find success in life. Johnson stressed the need to stay clear of drugs and alcohol, to find a support system and take part in positive activities, and to set personal goals.
Hawthorne high school assistant principal and motivational speaker Craig Jandoli took the group on what he called “an emotional rollercoaster.”
Jandoli invited current students and alumni to share deeply moving stories that covered a variety of issues, including mental health challenges, family troubles, bullying, substance abuse, unhealthy relationships, and more. “The audience was obviously touched and affected." Kolesar said.
Dubbed the “Wingmen” and “Cover Girls” because they “take underclassmen under their wings and provide emotional cover,” 45 WHS juniors and seniors facilitated the event. “It was nice to know that people were just able to listen and hear everyone’s stories instead of trying to fix the problem,” said “Cover Girl” Sydney Butler. “Sometimes people who are struggling just need to speak and have someone listen.
Kolesar thanked the many individuals and organizations who made possible the Guy & Girl Thing through their generosity, support, and efforts. Funding was provided by the WHS PTSO, the Westfield Municipal Alliance, and longtime WHS substitute, Frank Browne. Health teacher Michelle. Spreitzer and health/physical education teacher Lauren Hauser worked alongside Kolesar to plan and run the event.
“There is no doubt the students left that evening feeling more supported, more aware of self and others, and more connected as a student-body,” said Kolesar. “Many attendees were already talking about attending next year and asking how to get involved. They truly 'Leveled Up!' "
Also, There was ingenuity and imagination at work in Westfield Public Schools as students enjoyed makerspace activities in recognition of New Jersey Makers Day, a statewide celebration that has taken place every March for the past five years.
At Roosevelt Intermediate School, there were robots to program and conductive play dough to teach the basics about electrical circuits and 3D Doodle pens to create designs in midair with heated plastic from the pen’s nozzle. There were Makey Makey stations with simple circuits, alligator clips and conductive fruits and vegetables, along with snap circuits with specific challenge cards.
At Jefferson Elementary School, fifth graders were presented with three different Makerspace challenges. Some students used recycled materials and lots of tape to build a Marble Run that could outlast any others. Others viewed simple Rube Goldberg chain reactions, then used dominoes, matchbox cars, Legos, and other materials to design runs with the most transfers of potential energy. And, in Fun with Catapults, the students designed simple catapults using rubber bands, popsicle sticks and bottlecaps, testing and revising their creations while trying out their prototypes playing “Connect Four Shots” and “Ping Pong Paint.”
“Students work in teams and are presented with a problem to solve. They brainstorm ideas, formulate plans, create a prototype, or several prototypes, test them, revise the plan, and repeat,” Ciotti said. “Kids are encouraged to think outside the box and use the materials in the room in whatever creative ways they come up with, to solve the problem.”
Student and School news appears on Fridays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com