HASBROUCK HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Superintendent’s Report
January 26, 2006

Curriculum and Instruction -
High School –
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT –

Mrs. Michaeli’s AP Statistics class learned how to recognize discrete and continuous random variables, and how to calculate their mean and variance. They also learned how to solve problems involving the binomial and the geometric distributions.
Mrs. Michaeli’s Algebra 2 classes learned how to perform operations with matrices, and to solve quadratic equations. They also reviewed HSPA problems involving Cluster 3.
Mr. Mastropietro’s Calculus AP classes just finished Chapter 4 Application of derivatives. The students will begin Chapter 5 soon.
Mr. Mastropietro’s Calculus/Stats classes are finishing chapter 3 and starting the stat portion of the class.
Mr. Mastropietro’s Foundations of Advanced math class is reviewing concepts for midterm and working on college entrance exams.
Mr. Mastropietro’s HSPA 10 class is currently working with HSPA geometry questions and also with rates and proportions.
Mr. Mastropietro’s HSPA 9 class is working with number sentences and inequalities.
Mrs. O’Brien’s Algebra I students are currently writing equations of lines.
Mrs. O’Brien’s Fundamentals of Algebra students are sketching the graph of linear equation.
Mrs. O’Brien’s HSPA 9 students are diligently working on word problems involving geometry.
Mrs. Healey’s Precalculus classes have completed the section on logarithms and have begun to study sequences and series to lay the foundation for an introduction to limits, their first experience with calculus.
Mrs. Healey’s Fundamentals Math IV class continues to practice algebra and basic math skills needed to meet the requirements of the college placement tests.
Mr. Strama’s Computer Programming is beginning to apply all the skills learned this semester and are writing programs. Students will be working on a midterm project the final week of the marking period. The students will be creating various games using words and numbers and will demonstrate their knowledge base and programs to the rest of the class.
Mr. Strama’s Geometry classes are concluding Chapter 3 where they have studied various theorems proving triangles congruent including; SSS, SAS, ASA, SAA, and HL theorem. Chapter 4 focuses mainly parallelograms and quadrilaterals.
Mr. Strama’s honors class is expected to cover at least half of Chapter 4 before the midterm.
Mr. Monks’ Algebra I class is finishing their work in Chapter 4 with graphing absolute value equations.
Mr. Monks’ Honors Algebra II class has moved on to quadratic equations and will be looking at graphing quadratic inequalities next.
Mr. Monks’ Geometry class will soon be completing their work on proofs of congruent triangles with similar triangles next on their agenda.
Mr. Monks’ Fundamentals of Geometry class has been studying quadrilaterals, specifically parallelograms, trapezoids and kites, and investigating their different properties.
Mr. Monks’ HSPA 11 class is working through extra problems from Cluster II and will begin Cluster III, probability scenarios, in January.
Mrs. Stoehs’ Fundamentals of Geometry class will finish working on the interior and exterior angles of a polygon. Using a formula they are able to complete a chart finding the sum of the measures, individual measures, and exterior measures.
Mrs. Stoehs’ Fundamentals of Algebra students have been working on algebraic equations. Presently, they are using these to solve word problems looking for consecutive numbers.
Mrs. Stoehs’ HSPA 11 is looking to finish up cluster 2, geometry, working on congruencies and similarities of polygons. All math classes are anxiously anticipating midterms!

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT –
Mr. Pignatiello’s AP/College chemistry students have just completed testing on thermochemistry.
Mr. Pignatiello’s AP students have been exploring equilibrium problems as well.
Mr. Pignatiello’s Chemistry CP and Honors students have just completed studying gas laws and are now being introduced to the history of the atom. The students are being exposed to the ways in which the atom was discovered including all of the modern uses that these experiments provided like the cathode ray tube, which is what is found in our TV’s and computer monitors. Our students are now seeing how even the cathode ray tube is being replaced with greater technology because we are now replacing our big bulky cathode ray tubes with plasma, and LCD. The next generation will have absolutely no understanding of what is meant by “Turn on the Tube”.
Mrs. Stoehs’ Earth Science class used the laptop to view different aspects of plate tectonics and the impact of “seafloor spreading” on earthquakes and volcanoes. Animation allowed the students to better understand the dynamics of Earth’s inner activity.
Mr. Binazeski’s Physical Science class has been studying plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and weather. The class has conducted experiments on Pangaea, earthquake detection, volcanic & plate activity and mechanical weathering of rocks. A comprehensive review of each chapter is being offered after school with the emphasis on a chapter a day for the next 2 weeks to help students with their midterms.
Mr. Binazeski’s Environmental Science class has been studying biomes with an emphasis on coniferous forests, deciduous forests, tundra, deserts and grasslands. A lab was conducted in December to illustrate the concept of predator and prey. A comprehensive review of each chapter is being offered after school with the emphasis on a chapter a day for the next 2 weeks to help students with their midterms. All midterm reviews are offered after school and are posted for students in the classroom.
Mr. Lentis’ CP Chemistry students have just completed the gas laws. Next they will be introduced to the history of the atom, how the atom was discovered, and different experiments performed to understand the atom as it is accepted today.
Mr. Lentis’ CP Physics students have just completed rotational mechanics and are now studying universal gravitation.
Mr. Lentis’ honors students have just completed heat measurement and will be exposed to the study of waves and wave mechanics.
Mr. Lentis’ AP students have completed rotational dynamics and will study wave mechanics and equilibrium of extended bodies.

WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT -

Mrs. Carr’s Spanish AP class will be working on subjunctive forms and practicing their speaking skills as preparation for the AP test.

Mrs. Carr’s Spanish II class continues to make progress with basic material.

Mrs. Carr’s Spanish IV class is reading short stories while checking their comprehension.
Mrs. Cafferty’s Spanish I class is learning how to talk about going to a particular place in a city and how to travel there.
Mrs. Squillace’s Spanish I class is learning the differences between “to be” in Spanish.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Mr. Ascolese’s reports that the concert and jazz bands are preparing for the “Pops Concert” to be held

March 2.
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT –

Mr. Smith’s English 9 classes are concluding their month long study of Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Time and attention has been given to analyzing various aspects of the text including the symbolism of the pearl and how this work can be classified as a parable.
Mr. Smith’s Genres class recently concluded their review of holiday movies. Time and attention was given to students’ perceptions of how different holidays are celebrated. At the conclusion of the unit, students were asked to complete a creative project in which they critically analyzed some of the music from the selections viewed and related it to their own customs in celebrating holidays. Our next genre is horror/thriller which is sure to be fun!
Mr. Smith’s HSPA English 10 class continues to develop various skills relating to the HSPA. Recently, time and attention has been given to how to approach an open-ended question and how to eliminate possible wrong answers in multiple choice assessments.
Ms. Monetti’s Genre and Critical Thinking Classes are in the middle of a unit on animation. Students have explored the process of stop motion animation by watching Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas. To further define this animation process students have watched the making of Burton’s movie. By the end of this unit students will complete a project in which they create their own animated characters.
Ms. Monetti’s English 10 classes are finishing up Unit 2, Defining a Nation. Students are also practicing persuasive writing for HSPApractice. In addition, students are continuing to learn SAT vocabulary.
Ms. Monetti’s English 11 classes are still working on the Medieval Period. The unit we are currently working on is The Prologue of the Canterbury Tales. Students will work cooperatively to analyze Chaucer’s characterization in the prologue and then present findings to the class.
Ms. Monetti’s HSPA English classes are still practicing. We are currently working on coming up with better support for persuasive essays. The students are learning to be creative and making up logical statistics to support essays so their writing is more vivid and exciting to read.
Mrs. Czekaj’s English 10 classes are reading FEVER 1793, which is set in Philadelphia during a deadly outbreak of Yellow Fever. In class they are continuing their survey of American Literature by reading short stories and excerpts from works written at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Mrs. Czekaj’s AP/College English class read complex short stories by Tillie Olsen, Flannery O’Connor, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Updike and others over the holiday break and in class discussed the literary elements used to create specific effects in each. They are continuing their study of Hamlet, and through it learning the complex possibilities of interpretation offered by this important play.

Mrs. Czekaj’s Shakespeare Honors class finished reading the comedy Twelfth Night and is moving on to Shakespeare’s later tragedy, King Lear. The week before the holidays, they learned to play the recorder, an authentic Elizabethan musical instrument, and proved how well they had learned by playing carols in the hallways on December 23, 2005.
Ms. Kos’ English 9 class just completed a biography unit with the reading of Eli Weisel’s book, Night. Their study of this book was coupled with short history lessons about the Holocaust. Students are currently working on papers about this book and will move to a short story unit in their texts soon after.
Ms. Kos’ English 10 class is finishing work on Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. They will then begin reading Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman in their texts. A major test on these units is planned prior to midterm exams. Students continue to work on HSPA readiness.
Ms. Kos’ English 11 class is beginning their study of The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Their work on this unit will be punctuated with an increased number of HSPA activities in readiness for the March test.
Ms. Kos’ English 12 class just turned in major critical essays on the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. In continuing their world literature program with an emphasis on issues of race and tolerance, they will begin a short story and writing unit, which will include a study of Sandra Cisneros’ House on Mango Street. Students will then compile a collection of their own ‘vignettes’ with an emphasis on personal experience and clear direct story telling.
Mr. Van Dam’s three English 11/British Literature classes are continuing their unit on medieval literature. They are currently studying Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales and are reading for the purpose of identifying and analyzing characterizations. Students will also be reading selected tales that serve to further develop the characters developed in the Prologue.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 11-Honors/British Literature class has completed their study of Chaucer’s Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. Students will also be reading four selected tales that serve to further develop the characters developed in the Prologue. An introduction to Renaissance poetry and the sonnet will follow the completion of the Renaissance unit.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 12-Honors/World Literature class is currently studying Homer’s epic The Odyssey. A heavy emphasis is being placed on comparing this epic with the epics they have studied, as well as analyzing the human and social values that are depicted in this piece of literature. Each student is presenting thematic analysis on a selected chapter and the class will be using NBC’s video version of the epic to enhance their understanding of the themes and characters.
Students in Miss Venneman’s HSPA 9 class are writing in order to discuss the impression Harper Lee intended to leave on readers with her character, Atticus Finch, in To Kill A Mockingbird. Students will characterize Atticus and find evidence in the book to support their opinions. The students are practicing open-ended questions in preparation for the HSPA test.
Mrs. Schneeweiss’ Communications classes are currently immersed in their midterm projects which include discovering a distinct style of a particular director, reading a novel that has not been previously made into a film and justifying why the novel should/should not be made into said film or rewriting the ending to a specific film. The communications laptop has been in constant use as students use it to watch films, garner quotes, and write reviews.
Mrs. Geftic’s English 12 students are reading Oedipus Rex, Sophocles’ classic tale of a son who inadvertently killed his father and married his own mother. In conjunction with this unit, students are writing critical analysis essays that persuade the reader through supportive examples that their viewpoint is correct. Using the new lap top computer, they have viewed various websites that trace the legend of Oedipus as well as the structure of Greek theater.
Mrs. Geftic’s Journalism students have completed the third issue of the Pilot’s Log. This issue focuses on teenage drinking, the debate about teaching Intelligent Design in schools, and the state football game. Students have also examined various law cases that have impacted journalism. Currently, students are preparing their midterm exam. Using the new lap top computer, they have viewed various websites and researched elements that enhance their stories. In addition, the students are using the laptop computer to design a front page of a tabloid newspaper using such programs as Adobe PageMaker and Photoshop.
Mrs. Meyer’s English 9 students are reviewing SAT vocabulary words and various strategies for reading narrative and persuasive texts in preparation for eventually taking the HSPA. They are concentrating on ways to eliminate wrong answers in multiple-choice questions and methods to employ when answering open-ended questions.
Mrs. Meyer’s English 9H class is completely their study of John Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl and will begin reviewing for the midterm exam shortly after.
Mr. Pankiewicz’s English 10 Honors class completed the a unit on Romanticism and Fireside Poets by constructing original poems that incorporate Romantic trends, literary terms, and sound devices. A photocopied publication of the class’s poems was distributed to each student. Most recently, the class began Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and some correlating HSPA style tasks to be completed alongside the exploration of the novel.
Mr. Pankiewicz’s Creative Writing class has been utilizing a process approach to writing in completing a winter poem, a business letter, and an essay on “Courage in New Jersey.”
Mr. Pankiewicz’s Cycle Humanities class is exploring themes of freedom, love, and individualism in Rand’s novel, Anthem. Students are completing a reflective journal alongside their reading of the text.

HISTORY

Mrs. Valenti’s World History classes have just begun studying Ancient Rome. The development of the Republic, specifically government will be the focus of the class. Also, the students will be able to see the similarities between our government and that of Rome.
Mrs. Valenti’s Honors World History classes have just completed a unit project on the development of the Ancient Middle East. It involved library research and map-making. The students have just begun a unit on Ancient Greece. They will be focusing on the development of government in Greece, specifically the idea of Democracy, and the impact that the philosophers of the time had on Greece.
Ms. Cassidy’s U.S. History I students completed their study of the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. The students role-played the parts of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to gain a better understanding of the issues, which the delegates faced and discussed.
Ms. Cassidy’s A.P. History students have been moving along in their study of history. The students have been answering DBQ’s and essay related to the topic. The students will be studying the Gilded Age in American History.
Mrs. McGinty’s U.S. History I students considered the domestic challenges faced by the young republic and the American beliefs and principles reflected in the Constitution. This was accomplished through examination of the Articles of Confederation, the drafting of the Constitution, and the ratifying of the Constitution. The students analyzed the principles of the Constitution and summarized the purposes for and the processes of changing the U.S. Constitution. The capstone of this unit was the participation in a Constitutional Convention simulation. Students will begin reviewing for the midterm shortly.
Mrs. McGinty’s U.S. History II students completed there study of World War I with a position paper. An in-depth look at the politics of the Roaring 20s followed in which students traced the political and social changes after WWI and throughout the decade of the 1920s. Major areas of focus included: the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, the Red Scare, political radicals, labor activists, a return to isolationism, and the Teapot-Dome Scandal. The month will conclude with an examination of the prosperity of the 1920s, which led to the sharp rise in America’s standard of living. Students will begin reviewing for the midterm shortly.
In addition, Mrs. McGinty’s Honors class analyzed primary documents, and participated in a simulation as part of their chapter 19 project. Students will complete an Internet-based analysis of political cartoons from the era of the Red Scare.
Mrs. Lewites’ class started a new lesson on Ancient Rome, from the time of the early Republic to the Pax Romana. The students will learn about the wars of expansion and their social and economic effects. We will also study the political developments that took place. We will conclude the chapter with the decline of the Roman Empire and touch on gladiatorial combat, at which time we will watch the movie Gladiator.

MEDIA CENTER

Mrs. Mikulka-

Using the Library Media Center for research this month were Mr. Pankiewicz’s and Mrs. Geftic’s Journalism classes, Mrs. Nestory’s class, Ms. Squillace’s, Mrs. Cafferty’s, and Mrs. Washburn’s World Language classes, Mrs. Valenti’s World History classes, Mrs. McGinty’s U.S. History I class, Ms. Cassidy’s A.P. History class, Mrs. Shannon’s class, Mrs. Meyer’s Public Speaking cycle class, and Mrs. Kos’ English class. Tattletaping continues. Our new security system has arrived, but is not yet installed. The Library was used to administer the SAT test to students who were involved in Hasbrouck Heights’ football game at Giant’s Stadium in the Meadowlands, as the test and the game were at the same time. The alternate site SAT was administered on Wednesday, December 7, 2005, four days after it was originally scheduled.

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT

Mr.Ketcho’s Life Management classes- covered a banking customer simulation was during the entire month called – Security First Bank. The simulation is a hands on tutorial of banking services and fees. Twenty-Seven activities spread over three lessons show how using bank services such as checking and savings accounts are used and managed. Three quizzes on banking services, checking accounts, and bank transactions were given. Along with a cumulative final test. Security First Bank Simulation is a great first step towards next year’s consumer economics material.
Mr. Ketcho’s Accounting I classes- discussed Daily business current event topics, started and finished Chapter 4 – Journalizing Transactions and began Chapter 5 “Posting To A General Ledger. Tests, study guide quiz, work together problems, on your own problems, and homework assignments covered. Plus an Annual Report Project was started with two parts one due in December and the second part in January.
Automated Accounting II classes – discussed Daily business current event topics, finished Chapter 4 – Purchases and Cash Payments & Chapter 5 “Posting To A General Ledger. Tutorials, practice problems, applying your information skills all completed. Plus the Annual Report Project.
Mr. Ketcho’s Word Processing I and II classes--Microsoft Excel software was utilized to help students learn how to manage, format, replicate, and add formulas to spreadsheets.
Mr. Ketcho’s Word Processing I & II- continued the assignments #37 to #75 in “101 Spreadsheet Exercises” pages # (39-83) for the month.
Mr. Ketcho’s Computer Applications 8 Cycle class completed the following two application projects in Excel, PowerPoint:

TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Mr. Ketcho's#1 – “101 Spreadsheet Exercises” # (37-75) pages # (39-83) #2 - PowerPoint Presentations on Technology Company
The Annual Report Project is a two-month assignment that is broken into two sections or test grades. Each accounting student selects and tracks a publicly traded company. Part I is a six page Annual Report consisting of the following: Overview, Industry, Products/Services, Competition, Financial, and Analysis/Conclusion which was due 12/21/05. Part II is a ten to fifteen minute presentation later in the month utilizing ten to twenty slides in Microsoft PowerPoint. Both parts will be graded as a test in this marking period.
Mrs. Marano's Computer Applications class is working with the Apple Works database module. Students are learning how to create and modify fields and how to create sorts, searches, reports and various layouts. Students are becoming familiar with the data manipulation
capabilities of a database.
Mrs. Marano's Computer Cycle 9 is completing their research PowerPoint presentations. Students must research a topic and put together a coherent presentation using the research findings and appropriate images.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION / HEALTH / INDUSTRIAL ART DEPARTMENTS –

The High School physical education classes are finishing up the volleyball and fitness unit, which includes pilates, yoga, and tai-bo and fitness center.
Mr. Tessaro and Mrs. Kolich are reviewing their 10th grade driver education classes for the state driver education test to be given during the mid term exam.
Mrs. Kolich 12th grade health class is discussing drug and alcohol abuse.
Ms. Gaccione’s 9th grade health class is currently working on the family life unit to conclude the marking period. Students have been working on daily assignments to fulfill the family life requirements.
Mr. Masucci’s Industrial Arts class is making shaker tables.

Middle School-

Mathematics Department

Miss Krysz’sGrade 6 Geometry classes have been working with similar figures, congruent figures and circles. They can identify parts of circles and measure central angles. They have also been exploring slides, flips and turns and can identify translations, reflections and rotations. In preparation for the Buehler field trip students designed and built their own spectroscopes for use in viewing the diffraction of light. The Honors Geometry class completed their chapter project. They used toothpicks and their knowledge of geometry to build towers that could support the weight of a baseball. They were able to conclude that using triangles in their designs made the structures stronger. The Algebra class has continued working with fractions. They have been adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators and will be working with division and multiplication

Miss DiPiano’s 6th grade algebra students have been investigating fractions. They are learning how to add and subtract mixed numbers mentally and by renaming. They are also learning how to multiple fractions as well as mixed numbers. The students are completing a new section in their GEPA packets. Students are also preparing for their midterm examinations that will cover three chapters they have worked on. Topics will be available on the sixth grade website as well as given in the classroom. The geometry students began Chapter 9, Geometry and Measurement. They are currently learning how to calculate area and perimeter of rectangles, triangles, and parallelograms. They will also be able to use pi to find the circumference and area of a circle. We will complete the chapter by understanding how to find the volume and surface area of rectangular prisms. The students will complete a project from the Prentice Hall website www.http://www.phschool.com/atschool/MGM/Course1. Students will design a cereal package and calculate the surface area and volume of the package

Mr. Strama’s 6th grade class is beginning to get into the algebra portion of the course. The students are learning how to write and solve simple linear equations. They will learn to write their own equations from statements. More practice will be given with order of operations.

Mrs. Caputo’s mainstream classes we are working hard learning the basic algebra rules. We just had a quiz on one step equations and will continue working with algebra throughout this month. A mid chapter test is scheduled for Friday, January 13th. Our exam review will be handed out very soon and will we have class time for review work as well. In honor’s math class is working on two-step equations with distributive property. The students just completed a quiz and will continue with algebra methods throughout the month as well. A mid chapter test is scheduled within the next week or so. Exam review sheets will be given out very soon. Class time will be available for review as well. All students will be getting the GEPA Cluster IV B right before exams and will reviewed and collected within a week after exams.

Mr. Sickel’s mainstream classes just finished with Chapter 7 Geometry. The students also just handed in and completed GEPA HW Cluster II B. Currently the students will be working with Area of Parallelograms and heading towards Area of Triangles and Trapezoids using formulas and math basic skills. In the honor’s math class, the students have completed Chapter 8 and were tested in geometry; they are currently working on Chapter 6, Exploring Ratios and Rates. Next they will study proportions and transformation using proportional reasoning skills.

Mr. Aldea's classes will be working on applications of proportions. GEPA Cluster 3 preparation will end in January. The honors class will be finishing the introductory chapter on probability and will have an introduction to trigonometry. A project may be assigned right after midterm exams that involve important concepts in Geometry and the use of technology. On the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of January all classes will review for Midterm exams.

Mrs. Dunne’s Algebra I class is completing graphing linear equations using the slope-intercept form of the equation. The class will then write equations of the line given specific information. The Math 8 classes just completed the chapter on rational and irrational numbers. The classes are beginning to solve one and two-step equations.

Science Department

Mr. Rispoli’s 6th grade student's science classes had a successful trip to the Buehler Challenger and Science Center. The students accomplished their simulated mission by building a probe and launching it to meet with Comet Halley. Gas samples were collected and identified by the students. After returning home, the “astronauts” were involved in a press conference during which their classmates acted as the press and asked questions about their mission. Next the students will be learning about the sun, Earth and moon. They will learn about tides, the seasons, rotation and revolutions.

Mrs. Toy’s 7th grade students are completing the unit on DNA. The next controversial topic to be discussed is cloning. The students will research and then debate the pros and cons of cloning. Students received a midterm exam review guide in which they will use to prepare for the exams at the end of the month.

Mr. Cassiere’s students are being introduced to solutions, mixtures, and chemical compounds. The students will be learning about the fundamental structures of compounds and how they influence the properties of a material. They will also be preparing for their Science mid-term.

Art Department

Mrs. Reed’s Art 7 class has completed their surrealism, Chagall project. The class has learned about the life and works of Warhol and has created a four-image project from popular images. The cycle ended with a cycle quiz on the artists discussed and their work. A new cycle has started and students are learning about the life and works of Matisse. Students are creating simplified paper cutout from detailed drawings.

Mrs. Brinker’s Art 6 cycle class completed their work for the second cycle of the year right before the holiday break. This group created anti-smoking posters for a poster contest that was sponsored by our HS SADD club. The winning poster was created by Victoria Rojas. Congratulations to Victoria and all the artists that participated in the contest.

Mrs. Kritzer’s Art 8 cycle started off the New Year with 5 days of drawing. The students start with line only and learn to look at the object they will draw. By the 5th day the students are shading and using perspective in drawing the art room. They are now totally confident to conquer a high school drawing class.

Physical Education

Physical education classes. The Middle School classes are participating in a volleyball unit. They are also participating in the free throw competition.

Mrs. Miller’s 6th grade Cycle 1 health class worked with the Lions-Quest curriculum and discussed various issues dealing with adolescence. The class is working on the unit entering the teen years the journey of adolescence.

Mr. Delcalzo’s 7th grade health class are discussing drug and alcohol abuse how ads influence young people and adults.

Ms. Gaccione’s 8th grade health is learning CPR through lectures, written assignments, and videos with practice sessions.

Mr. Masucci’s Life skills class reviewed all of the hand tools, their parts and uses. The students took a safety test on the tools.

Social Studies

Mrs. Wallace’s 6th Grade Social Studies classes began the new year with two PowerPoint Presentations about Ancient Rome using the laptop and LCD projector. One of the Presentations was interactive, and included an audio story about the assassination of Julius Caesar that the students talked about for days afterward. In addition, an interactive map and interactive timeline helped students to see the enormity of the Roman Empire. The interactive map, traced the growth of the empire visually and the timeline pinpointed important dates and places.

The architecture of many of the important buildings such as the Coliseum, Forum, and Circus Maximus was explored through drawings done in Ancient Rome, and through photographs of the ruins as they stand today. These photographs and drawings were shown to the class using the laptop and LCD projector.

Ms. Wallace is researching a new textbook series that includes all sorts of interactive activities utilizing the sixth grade Laptop Program. All of the resources that were part of the review package sent to Ms. Wallace have already been put into use. All of the resource material is on a set of CD’s that can be shown with the LCD projector. There is even a set of maps, a set of audio stories for each chapter, and a CD of music from around the world to be played on the laptop. Since the curriculum for the new books is the same as the ones being used in class, Ms. Wallace has already been able to utilize the teacher resource material in class with videos, and PowerPoint presentations.

The Internet has been used to explore the area of the world that the Roman Empire occupied. Google Earth has again been a great resource for locating the ruins of buildings that were built during ancient times. Students have been bringing in pictures of the ruins of buildings such as the Coliseum since many were instructed how to download the free Google Earth program at home. This program has become a center of the ongoing geography units.

Once Rome is finished, students will begin preparing for the social studies midterm. Review will include a study outline that will be handed out and posted on the Sixth Grade Web Blog: www.socialstudies6.blogspot.com

After exams, Black History month will be celebrated in the sixth grade social studies classes using Internet resources, the Scholastic Magazine (which is delivered monthly), and other text resources.

Mrs. Gay's Social Studies students are exploring some of the major decisions
and conflicts which faced the framers of the United States Constitution at
the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. In order to understand the conflict
regarding representation, they redesigned the Middle School student government using both equal and proportional representation. They are beginning to appreciate how vital the art of compromise was in getting the Constitution created.
The class is also becoming familiar with the biographies of the men who
wrote the plan for our government, with a special focus on the framers from New
Jersey.

Mrs. Rucci’s 8th Grade Social Studies Classes recently analyzed the administrations of the first few U.S. Presidents. Learning about the impact of the Louisiana Purchase made it clear to all that writing the Declaration of Independence was not Thomas Jefferson’s only claim to fame. War hero Andrew Jackson did increase democracy for the “new” Americans but he was certainly no friend to the Native Americans. Students also enjoyed some “fun facts” about our presidents from the book Wooden Teeth and Jelly Beans.
As we prepared for the new year, students completed a News Project based on top stories from 2005. These posters are displayed in Room 322 and they really provide a varied summary of events as well as a showcase for creative talents.
The Junior Scholastic magazines also reviewed their top 10 stories from last year. Then we read about how the devastating effects of the mudslides in Guatemala have been compounded with years of political strife. The latest issue of J.S. has maps, facts, and graphs about the United States for us to explore

English Department

Ms. Wolf’s English classes are very busy finishing up the Parts of Speech unit. The students are going to be working together to create a project to review the unit. They will compete in a contest with one winning group in each class. The students are still building their vocabulary skills with a “Word of the Day” and new spelling units. The students are also continuing to improve upon their writing skills through weekly to bi-weekly time writing assignments. Beginning in approximately two weeks, the students will begin reviewing for their midterms that will be taken beginning in the last week of January.

Technology has been used in several ways this month. As team leader, Ms. Wolf continues to use the computer to record minutes from each team meeting and parent meetings that we have. This comes in quite helpful when a teacher is absent and the minutes must be reviewed to keep everyone up to date.

For record keeping and clerical work, Ms. Wolf continues to type all tests and quizzes on the computer to provide for the students. This month, Ms. Wolf was able to type and work on the midterm that the students will be completing. Ms. Wolf also records the students’ test and quiz grades as often as possible so that she can have an accurate average when speaking to the parents.

In addition, Ms. Wolf continues to find ways to use the computer as an instructional tool. Ms. Wolf has found several online programs to help with review for the “Parts of Speech” unit. These will be used in the following months. She also continues to ask the students extra credit questions that they can research and submit via email. Ms. Wolf was part of the team’s use of the computer and projector during the week of Buehler Science Center activities.

Ms. Dolan’s 6th Grade Literature classes are beginning to read the historical fiction novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. This Newberry Award winning novel gives the students a glimpse into the racism faced by African Americans in the 1930s in Mississippi. The students will not only be reading the novel, but exploring the effects of racism. Additionally, the students will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16, 2005. This unit will last through February 2006 in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month.

Additionally, the sixth graders will prepare to take their first mid-term examinations ever. In literature, the students will be given a one-week review, which not only will review what they learned in literature, but also provide some hints on how to survive mid-term examinations.

Mrs. Rowland’s 7th grade English class has completed subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement. Presently students are working on the literary term flashback. Incorporating good mechanics and literary terms will enhance writing skills.

Miss Venneman’s Literature 7 classes are practicing persuasive writing by creating a product related to survival, the central theme present in The River, and will then write an advertisement to promote the product. Students will write a slogan as well as product features to persuade consumers to purchase his or her survival product.

Mr. Sicilian’s English 8 classes are beginning a unit on “Persuasion”. The unit will cover all elements of persuasive writing, with an emphasis on GEPA strategies, as well as the use of persuasion in advertising—radio, television, and print. After the writing activities, classes will begin work on the advertisement portion of persuasive writing. Some anticipated projects are print ads and Infomercials, which will include a large technology component—video, audio, digital.

Mr. Stillman’s Literature 8 and Literature 8 Honors classes are about to begin formalized GEPA preparation utilizing new books. Both classes are beginning to review materials for midterms as well.

Mr. Colangelo’s Literature 7 classes will continue their reading of The River, a novel by Gary Paulson. At the conclusion of the book, the class will take a unit test. Following the test, the students will be viewing Castaway and will be responsible for a comparison and contrast essay between the movie and the book.

Mr. Colangelo’s Literature 8 class is about to begin a formalized GEPA preparation while using new books. Mid-term review will begin shortly.

Mr. Colangelo’s Study Skills 6 class is in transition. The new Study Skills cycle will be introduced to the various topics covered in class, given numbered workbooks, and placed in cooperative learning groups. They will begin the cycle by constructing HW Survival Kits.

Mr. Colangelo’s Creative Writing 7 class is in transition. The new Creative Writing cycle will be introduced to the various writing topics covered in class. They will begin the cycle with an extensive study of literary terms and quizzed on those terms at the conclusion of the lesson.

Foreign Languages:

Mrs. Cafferty’s seventh grade Spanish cycle students are learning the names of various classroom objects, animals, and food and how to describe them.

Mrs Squillace’s eighth grade cycle students are making group projects on South American countries in Spanish.

Miss Krysz’s sixth grade Spanish class have been learning places in the world where Spanish is spoken by labeling maps of Spain, South America, Central America, and North America. They have also discussed the art and architecture of Spain as well as the food and customs of the country.

Music Department

Ms. Moroney indicates that a new instrumental cycle has started with school instruments being distributed to students who have never played before. Tone production is the first thing to be learned. Preparations are under way with the sixth and seventh grade bands for the “Pops Concert” in March with sight reading new selections. After that, students will start rehearsing the theme from “Titanic”, “Harry Potter”, and the “Prisoner of Azkaban”.

Euclid School –
Math-
The PSD class is working on recognizing and writing the numbers 16 through 20. They are using Millie’s Math House to reinforce number recognition. They are identifying items that have the shape of a rectangle.
Kindergarten is working with the symmetry of shapes. They are classifying equal parts within objects. They are identifying various geometric solids such as a sphere, cone, cylinder, and cube. Grade One has completed their chapter on graphs and tables. They are now identifying groups of items between 10 and 20. They are writing numbers as tens and ones. They are modeling groups of 10 and orally stating numbers between 10 and 50 as tens and ones and as standard numerals. Grade Two is practicing their double-digit subtraction. They are learning to use addition to check their subtraction equations. They are also focusing on writing their equations in both a horizontal and vertical format. They are estimating differences between two given digits. Grade Three is working on their problem solving skills to create a table for given information. They are working with money and comparing amounts. They are reviewing addition and subtraction facts. They are identifying median, and mode. They are beginning their study of metric units. Grade Four is focusing on mean, median, mode, and range. They are being introduced to decimals and identifying how fractions and decimals are relating. They are working with decimals to the thousandths place. Grade Five is working on reducing fractions to lowest terms. They are renaming fractions and mixed numbers. They are changing mixed numbers to fractions. They are comparing and ordering fractions. They are comparing mixed numbers with unlike denominators. They are finding equivalent fractions.

Science-

The PSD class is learning about the characteristics of snow. They are learning to identify different Polar animals. Kindergarten is learning about the characteristics of winter. They are creating lists that identify the traits of snow. Grade One has completed their chapter on the life cycles of the frog and butterfly. They have identified the various stages in the life cycles of each and have created visual charts to show these cycles. Grade Two has completed a review of the chapter on Natural Resources. They are taking an assessment in relation to the information learned. They are creating a winter class mural and discussing erosion. Grade Three has completed their descriptive paragraphs about animal adaptations. They are realizing how fossils tell about the past. Grade Four is learning all about weather. They are creating warm and cold front diagrams. They are identifying various cloud types and different types of weather. They are listing the steps to the water cycle and orally sharing experiments. In the computer lab they researched facts about hurricanes and hurricane Katrina. Grade Five completed their charts on the water cycle. They have identified the steps and their ability to determine the differences between clouds. They learned about cloud formation. They are studying air and learning how air moves and what an air mass is. They are describing air pressure.

Social Studies-

The PSD class is learning to state their own address. They listened to stories about Martin Luther King. Kindergarten celebrated Chinese New Year with an authentic Chinese meal eaten with chopsticks. They are learning the parts of the United States map and differentiating between land and water on the globe. They are learning to identify landforms such as the plains, the forests and the mountains. They are participating in a Lewis and Clark Expedition. They celebrated Martin Luther King Day by reading and listening to stories and creating footprints to exemplify their dreams. Grade One has worked on various Martin Luther King projects. They listened to the story Martin’s Big Words and practiced written responses. They sequenced the story events depicting his life. They also made mini books about facts from his life and created a bulletin board of their own dreams. Grade Two completed a writing piece on community law. They are learning about local government and have invited Mayor Jones in to talk about his job. They are learning about Susan B. Anthony and the importance of voting. Grade Three is completing their study of local government. They are taking a video tour of Washington DC and reviewing current events. Students read a biography on Martin Luther King, participated in a discussion, and completed a writing activity entitled, “I Have a Dream”. Grade Four listened to a story about Martin Luther King’s life and identified key facts in his efforts for civil rights. They are identifying why MLK was a star and writing an essay on why they are stars. Grade Five read about and completed a fact sheet on Martin Luther King Jr.

Language Arts-

The PSD class is listening to fairy tales. They are identifying the colors blue, white, and gray. They are learning about the antonyms hot and cold. They are identifying and writing the letters j, b, and r. They are utilizing Bailey’s Book House to reinforce letter recognition. The Kindergarten is working with the letters h and l. They are creating word walls and focusing on the short “i” vowel sound. They are reading and writing words with the phonograms “ip”, “ig”, and “it”. They are practicing oral fluency with their decodable books. Grade One is working with the sounds of ke, au, hw, and wh to build words. They are blending and practicing the writing of dictated sentences. They are identifying characters within a story. They are using comprehension skills to retell the important events of a story. They are working with special titles for people and proofreading to edit capitalization errors. Grade Two is practicing their vowel diphthongs “oi and oy”. They are using a glossary to locate words. They are creating story maps and answering questions in a complete sentence. They are using describing words to tell about color, shape and size. They are learning the components of a personal essay. Grade Three is working with prefixes and suffixes to identify how they change the meaning of words. They are drawing conclusions and answering guided reading questions. They are working with abbreviations and reading leveled readers to answer comprehension questions. They are reviewing singular and plural nouns. Grade Four is working on a novel study. They are learning about the characteristics of a historical fiction novel and writing similes. They are utilizing a dictionary to identify word meanings and origins. They are participating in literary circles and focusing on foreshadowing. They are identifying various abbreviations. They are working with plural nouns and possessive nouns. They are completing timed editing exercises. They are working with compound sentences and practicing peer-editing skills. Grade Five is demonstrating their ability to write a persuasive essay. They are discussing methods of becoming a better writer. They are publishing their DARE essays and writing star essays by outlining, writing, and peer conferencing. They are working with main ideas and details as they read The Island of the Blue Dolphins. They are creating word lists and identifying troublesome words and phrases. They are creating analogies of common and proper nouns and are writing creative appositions.

Art –

The PSD class is learning about the shape of a star. They are cutting and tracing and writing a star word. Kindergarten is creating and decorating a pinch pot. They are reviewing the method of dip the tip when painting and how to hold and wash the brush. Grade One is drawing clowns. They are using glue and colored chalk. Grade Two is creating posters with candles. Grade Three is working on paper weaving. Grade Four is creating paper mache puppets. Grade Five is creating three-dimensional masks.

Music –

Kindergarten is using movement while they sing. They are practicing to clap and stomp. Grade Three is working on musical performance. Grades Four and Five have begun learning their concert material for the Spring Concert. All classes have worked on Lift Every Voice and Sing in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Also all classes have rehearsed Save Our Students for the Drug Awareness Rally.

Physical Education –

All students in grades PreK – Grade 5 have rehearsed and participated in Jump Rope for Heart. In addition, students in grades K-2 are working on the development of the overhand throw and the two handed catch. Students in grades 3-5 are learning the under/over hand serve, the bump, set, hit and spike while playing volleyball. Emphasis is being placed on learning a zone.

World Language-

Students in Grades 1-5 are learning their numbers with Kindergarten meeting “Ricky” and learning colors while Grade 1 worked with familiar house vocabulary and colors. Grade 2 is learning how to express hunger and thirst along with familiar house vocabulary and colors. Grade 3 is learning their numbers from 1-30. Grade 4 is learning to talk about where things are and their colors, along with food. Grade 5 is talking about things they are doing right now (eating, sleeping, playing, etc.) through dialog presentation and learning how to express their phone numbers in Spanish.

Library/Computers –

Pre School is identifying weather changes found within the four seasons. They are listening to the big book Caps, Hats, Socks and Mittens. Kindergarten is creating text boxes and shapes with drawing tools. They are demonstrating how to create a text box and use “shift” to make a capital letter. Grade One is listening and reacting to a story about MLK. They are using Claris Writing Pad to type sentences about facts they have learned. Grade Two is logging on to the Internet, typing web addresses, and practicing how to add to “Favorites”. Grade Three is practicing keyboarding, reviewing posture, and utilizing Type to Learn. Grade Four is reviewing Internet safety vocabulary and creating crossword puzzles. Grade Five is identifying characteristics of a predator and making wise choices when using the Internet. They are opening a power point presentation in the I-Safe folder, viewing and discussing each slide.

Lincoln School -

Mathematics:
Kindergarten classes are learning number 10-30 while practicing graphing with goldfish. They are also practicing patterning and sequencing. Our first graders are concentrating on comparing and ordering numbers – greater than – less than. They will next be applying these skills into related problem solving strategies and number pattern. The second grade has been focused on performing calculations with money as well as identifying and counting coins. They are also integrating money into problem solving. In third grade, our students have been exploring elapsed time and will begin a unit on customary units of measure. they are also practicing for mad minute testing for the MP2 benchmark. Fourth graders have been working on long division and will soon be moving on to fractions along with NJASK 4 test preparation. The fifth grade recently completed a unit on adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals. They are currently working on a geometry unit with polygons, coordinate graphing, and translations.
Science:
Kindergarten classes recently finished a chapter on the lifecycle of a frog which included a study of how plants animals develop over time. Our first graders are studying how animals and plants grow and change (frogs, butterflies, kittens, and puppies). This week they are targeting plant growth. The second grade is studying plants, animals, and their habitats. The third grade is currently studying how to protect natural resources and recently used a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast reusing and recycling. The fourth grade is learning about the earths surface – volcanoes, weathering, and earth quakes. Our fifth graders recently completed a unit on ecosystems and are now exploring a unit on electricity related to open and closed circuits and series and parallel circuits.
Social Studies:
Our kindergarten students recently explored the need for rules and laws and people and places in our community. The first grade is learning about ‘needs and wants’ as related to community workers and jobs. The third graders are presently studying cultural groups within a community and why people form new communities. They are also identifying the importance of acts of civil responsibility. Language Arts:
The kindergarteners are focused on the letters I, L, and F. They recently read the story Does the kangaroo Have a Mother Too? They will be moving on to the letter H in the near future. Our first graders are reviewing the days of the week and capital letters. They will continue to focus on capitalization and proper nouns. They recently read On Our Way to the Pond from the reading series. The second graders recently read Pumpkin Fiesta and are learning all about cause and effect within a story. They are also studying about words with more than one meaning as well as subject/verb agreement. The third grades recently read The Talent Show and are working on drawing valid conclusions based on informational text. They are also learning to discriminate time order clues. They are also focused on open-ended writing prompts in preparation for the NJASK3. The fourth graders have been focused on proper, common, singular, and plural nouns. They will begin action and linking verbs next week. The class recently began reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins. The fifth graders are reviewing subject verb agreements and persuasive speeches. They are currently reading the Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Physical Education:
Student in grade K-2 worked on their basketball skills and are engaged in cardio vascular conditioning activities as well. Student in grade 3-5 are participating in basketball skills developing activities as well as games. They recent participated in the Elk’s Hoop Shoot. All student have been practicing their jump rope skills to prepare for jump rope for heart day on Wednesday, 1/18.

Music:
All students have been practicing singing the DARE song to be utilized in the Drug Awareness ceremony on 1/20. The fifth grade has also been practicing for the DARE graduation. The third graders are practicing a musical which they will perform for the younger student in the school.

World Language:
Students in grades 1-5 are learning their numbers with Kindergarten meeting “Ricky” and learning colors while grade one worked with familiar house vocabulary and colors. Grade two is learning how to express hunger and thirst along with familiar animal vocabulary and colors. Third graders are learning their numbers from 1-30. Fourth graders are learning to talk about where things are and their colors, along with food. Fifth graders are talking about things they are doing right now (eating, sleeping, playing, etc.) through dialog presentation and learning how to express their phone numbers in Spanish.

Media Center:
The kindergarten students were exposed to Classlink 2000 while the first graders have been working on spacing, capitalization, and the ‘shift key.’ The second grade is working on Appleworks as well as saving to the server while the third grade is utilizing software to design a room and placement and arrangement of architectural objects. Grades four and five completed the I-safe Internet safety program.

Workshops -

High School –

W. Eggmann attended workshop on HSPA Score Interpretation Training on January 4, 2006.
W. Eggmann attended a roundtable of Supervisors of World Languages on January 17, 2006.
W. Eggmann attended workshop on HSPA District Test Coordinator Training on January 24, 2006.

Middle School- Nothing to report

Euclid School –
1 / 2 - Review of arrival procedures with lunch aides
1/9 – Test Coordinator Meeting – Mrs. Weir
1/9, 1/10, 1/17, 1/18 – NJASK Preparation – Ms. DeFilippis, Mrs. Gant, Ms. Hrablook
1/13 Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Raymond met with the Kiwanis Club to implement the BUG Program
1/23/06 – Library Committee – Review of Number the Stars
1/26/06 – Professional Development – Jointure – Linda Simmons/Donna Mikulka

Lincoln School -
1-02-06: Staff Meeting- logistical issues – Created committee to determine how Lincoln will spend $25,000 Governor’s School of Excellence award: Mrs. LaTorre, Mrs. McGreevy, Mrs. Rau, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Cicero, and PTA reps Mrs. Smith & Mrs. Kalmowitz.
1-04-05: Teacher orientation meeting to prepare for Saturday NJASK 3 & 4 test prep classes – beginning January 18, 2006.
1-09-06: First grade team met to review results of grade-wide problem solving assessment used to ensure that all teachers are teaching problem solving in a similar fashion with similar expectation.
1-09-06: Testing coordinator’s meeting: Ms. Unglert and Mrs. Weir held a meeting to ensure that standardized testing procedures were similar at both end schools.
Mrs. LaTorre, Mrs. Marino, and Miss Sigl attended a four day mathematics NJASK workshop on 1/9, 1/10, 1/17, & 1/18.

General Administration - fire drills, day, date and time - from beginning of school year

High School –
Successful fire drills were held on:

9/12/05 @ 10:15 am
9/20/05 @ 9:01 am
10/5/05 @ 1:20 pm
10/18/05 @ 2:02 pm
11/7/05 @ 1:15 pm
11/21/05 @ 9:02 am
12/8/05 @ 9:49 am
12/19/05 @ 1:18 pm
1/4/06 @ 9:49 am
1/10/06 @ 1:16 pm

Lockdown:

12/14/05 @ 9:48 am

Elevator Tests –
Successful tests completed on:

9/28/05
10/17/05
11/02/05
12/02/05
1/16/06

Middle School-
Successful fire drills were held on:
9/12/05 @ 10:15 am
9/20/05 @ 9:01 am
10/5/05 @ 1:20 pm
10/18/05 @ 2:02 pm
11/7/05 @ 1:15 pm
11/21/05 @ 9:02 am
12/8/05 @ 9:49 am
12/19/05 @ 1:18 pm
1/4/06 @ 9:49 am
1/10/06 @ 1:16 pm

Lock Down-
12/14/05 @ 9:48 am

Euclid School –
Fire Drills
9/12/05@2:30pm
9/16/05@2:50pm
10/19/05@11:15am
10/28/05@2:20pm
11/14/05@2:30pm
11/28/05@11:05am
12/16/05@10:30am
12/20/05@9:30am
1/19/06@1:55pm

Lockdowns
9/30/05
11/15/05
12/13/05

Elevator Checks
9/29/05
10/13/05
11/15/05
12/14/05
1/19/06

Lincoln School -
09-13-05: Elevator Emergency Test
09-22-05: Fire Drill @ 11:35 AM
09-22-05: Lock Down @ 2:00 PM
09-30-05: Fire Drill @ 2:20 PM
10-07-05: Elevator Emergency Test
10-11-05: Fire Drill @ 1:35 PM
10-26-05: Fire Drill @ 2:00 PM
11-08-05: Elevator Emergency Test – Failed – institutional called 15 minutes after test – they claim that message must have the word “code 1” added to it. Work order #124 addresses issue.
11-08-05: Lock Down @ 1:30 PM
11-14-05: Fire Drill @ 1:10 PM
11-28-05: Fire Drill @ 1:35 PM
12-14-05: Elevator Emergency Test @ 10:56 AM – OK (call back within 4 minutes)
12-14-05: Lock Down @ 2:15 PM
12-19-05 Fire Drill @ 2:00 PM
12-21-05: Fire Drill @ 1:05 PM
1-10-06: Fire Drill @ 2:30 PM
1-16-06: Elevator Emergency Test
1-19-06: Lock Down @ 12:50 PM
Lincoln School -

Accomplishments -
High School –

On Friday, December 16, students in Mr. Eggmann’s French Club presented French holiday songs and customs at their annual Noel fete. Songs included Vive le Vent (Jingle Bells); Noel Blanc (White Christmas); Mon Beau Sapin (O Christmas Tree) plus some traditional carols like Il est ne le Divin Enfant. Homemade pastries under French recipe were enjoyed by all.
Mrs. Carr’s Spanish IV class is using “show and tell” to enhance their conversational skills and vocabulary.
Mrs. Cafferty’s Spanish I class drew their own maps of a city and used pictures to create sentences.
Mrs. Squillace’s Spanish I class sang holiday songs in Spanish.
Mrs. Washburn’s Italian classes will be completing a project in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was courageous because he spoke up against prejudice and racism and showed the way that all Americans could live without segregation.
Mr. Vanamo reports on a successful winter concert program with the concert choir on December 21, 2005 as well as singing carols in the high school hallways on December 22, 2005.
Mr. Ascolese reports that Conor Cafferty will be auditioning at the Junior Region 1 band auditions in February.

Middle School-

Middle School Student Council

In December, the Student Council, advised by Ms. Dolan, sponsored a candy cane sale to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. More than $700 was raised by the Middle School. Thanks to everyone who participated in this extremely successful fundraiser. The Student Council’s next meeting will be held on January 4, 2006 to discuss the agenda for the second half of the year.

Middle Level Activities

The 7th and 8th graders are having their winter dance on 1-13-06.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mrs. Squillace’s eighth grade cycle class learned and sang holiday songs in Spanish and completed their South America’s country project. Mrs. Cafferty’s seventh grade cycle class created flashcards for study as well as vocabulary games.
Mr. Vanamo reports on a successful winter concert with the middle level choir on December 21, 2005.
Mr. McCarthy reports on the start of the third cycle for seventh grade on the baroque period and for the eighth grade on early American music. Some students sang solos for extra credit at the end of the second cycle.

Teachers Attending Workshops

Mrs. Caputo will be attending GEPA Workshops at Rutgers in January and May.
Mr. Sickels’ will be attending a GEPA workshop in January at Rutgers.

Euclid School –
1/3, 1/10,1/17,1/24 – Lunchtime Reading Program
1 / 4 – PAC Meeting
1/5 – GT Speeches – Students in grades K-2 who completed the after school GT program presented speeches to their parents.
1/11,1/18,1/25 – After school Art Program
1/16-1/21 DRUG AWARENESS WEEK
Students in grades Pre K -5 participated in a variety of activities reinforcing the theme: “Too Smart to Start!”
1/16 – Students received red ribbons to wear. They wore different colored socks to participate in “Sock it to Drugs Day”. In addition, Grades Pre K – 2 attended an assembly presented by Steve Maxx.
1/17 – “I Turn My Back on Drugs” – Students wore their clothes inside out. Grades 3-5 attended an assembly about peer pressure, bullying and self-esteem.
1/17 – Student Council Meeting
1/18 – “Have a Heart Day” – Students wore red and participated in Jump Rope for Heart.
1/18 – Social Sills Group Activity – Lunchtime inclusion
1/19 – “Wake Up Drug Free” – Students wore their pajamas to school.
1/19 – DARE Graduation
1/20 – “Be a Star – Stay Drug Free” – Students wore their Drug Awareness T-shirts or favorite sports jerseys. They received an apple to promote “healthy eating”. Students in grades Pre K – 5 attended a Drug Free Rally with visits from the superintendent, The Mayor, and HH Police Department.

Students in grades 3-5 wrote essays on why they want to be a star.
Each day ribbon numbers were called and give a-ways were presented.
Each class decorated red ribbons.
Students learned the DARE Pledge and practiced the Drug Free Song.1/20 – Students will participate in the Spelling Bee hosted by the Jr. Woman’s Club.

Lincoln School -
12-13-05: Visions screening for special needs students
12-14-05: Student council leopard sale at lunchtime
12-15-05: Italian Club performed holiday music for students in grades pre-k through 2
12-15 & 16- 05: All students participated in safety lessons with regards to safety in the streets and roads
12-16-05: MP2 Progress Reports were distributed to the students
12-20-05: Spectacular 4th and 5th grade holiday concert facilitated by Mrs. Cerasuolo and Ms. Moroney. The students and teachers did a wonderful job!! Parents attended the 2 PM performance.
1-03-06: Jump Rope team did demonstration for the entire student body. Team parents came to observe the performance. Mr. Hoskin and the team are doing a fabulous job!!!
1-18-06: Jump Rope for Heart for all students in grade pre-k – 5.
1-19-06: All fifth grade students participated in a DARE graduation ceremony at the HH High School. Special thanks to Lieutenant Mullins for another great year of DARE instruction and continued commitment to our students.
*Students in grades 1-2 are writing short sentences while grades 3-5 are writing short paragraphs. Students in all grades listened to Spanish holiday songs. Some even created Spanish holiday cards with a Spanish greeting

Student Recognition

High School –

Congratulations to Caitlin Scanlon who performed Sunday, January 15th, at Bergenfield High School as a member of the 210 voice Bergen County Chorus.

Middle School- Nothing to report

Euclid School –

Mrs. Simmons sent letters of appreciation to the students who won the spelling bee for their class.

Mrs. Simmons sent letters of congratulations to GT students for speech presentations.
The Star Students were recognized.
Birthday Recognition was given.
Mr. Minichiello sent certificates to those who qualified for the HOOP Shoot.
Kaitlyn Iappelli read a poem written by her grandmother in honor of Martin Luther King.
Mrs. Simmons signed off on tests with a 90 or higher grade.

Lincoln School -
Women’s Junior Women’s Club Spelling Bee Winners:
Grade 4
Rikky J., Akruti P., Aneri S., Robert S.,
Caroline B., Alec P., Danielle R., Kimberly T.,
Fiona B., Kushal P., Mathathi M., Swati S.
Grade 5
Dharti U., Nicolette G., Ray E., Nicholas H.,
Chris S., Connor D., Sarah A., Santiago S.,
Ryan O., Brian M., Erin P., Frairee D.

Staff Attendance by percentage & number

High School –
Attendance from 12/9/05 to 1/17/06 = 97.8%. 30.5 teachers were absent. Total absences from beginning of the year to present is 97.8%.

Staff punctuality by percentage and number
Punctuality from 12/9/05 to 1/17/05 = 100%. 0 teachers were tardy. Total tardiness from the beginning of the year to present is %.

Substitute Information
During 12/9/05 to 1/17/06, 54 substitute teachers have been hired. Total substitutes hired from the beginning of the year to present = 176.

Based on sick days, professional, field trips, testing, and
office sub.

Middle School
Attendance from 12/9/05 to 1/17/06 = 98 %. 14.5 teachers were absent. Total absences from beginning of the year to present are 96.7%.

Staff punctuality by percentage and number
Punctuality from 12/9/05 to 1/17/06 = 99.5%. 3 teachers were tardy. Total tardiness from the beginning of the year to present is 99.5%.

Substitute Information
During 12/9/05 to 1/17/06, 20 substitute teachers have been hired. Total substitutes hired from the beginning of the year to present = 61.

Based on sick days, professional, field trips, testing, and office sub.

Euclid School –
Attendance from 12/15/05-1/18/06=97.7%. 16-1/2 teachers/paraprofessionals were absent. Total absences from beginning of the year to present is 98.9%.

Staff Punctuality by percentage and number
Punctuality from 12/15/05-1/18/06=100%. 0 teachers were tardy. Total tardiness from the beginning of the year to present is 100%.

Substitute Information
During 12/15/05-1/18/06, 33-1/2 substitutes were hired. Total substitutes hired from the beginning of the year to present = 54-1/2.

Lincoln School -
Attendance from 12/15/05 to 1/18/06 = 97.3 %. 20 teachers were absent. Total absences from the beginning of the year to present is 137. Attendance from beginning of the year to present is 96%

Staff punctuality by percentage and number

Punctuality from 12/15/05 to 1/18/06 = 100%. No teachers were tardy. Total tardiness from the beginning of the year to present is 100%.

Substitute Information

During 12/15/05 to 1/18/06 - 19 substitute teachers have been hired. Total substitutes hired from the beginning of the year to the present = 121.

6th Grade Technology Pilot Program

January 2006

Sixth Grade Team

In December the sixth grade team created a PowerPoint presentation which was shown at the annual Buehler Press Conference. Using the teachers’ personal digital cameras, pictures were taken of all of the students while they partook in the Buehler activities at the Buehler Challenger Center. These pictures were then uploaded to the new laptops and presented using PowerPoint. This presentation was set to music from Star Wars. For the first time ever, parents were given a visual presentation and saw exactly what the students did on this fun and educational class trip

The sixth grade website is up and running. It can be viewed through the district website on the Sixth Grade Team page. Look for important upcoming events on this site, as well as a direct link to the Sixth Grade Team e-mails. Also listed are some fun and educational sites that the teachers have researched for their classes. Finally, a link to the Buehler PowerPoint presentation will be put on the site, giving the parents who were unable to attend the Press Conference a chance to see their children in action.

One sixth grade teacher will go “live” by submitting his/her grades for the 2nd marking period 1 semester grades after mid-term examinations. This is the point where the kinks will be worked out so that all sixth grade teachers can go “live” at the end of the Y~’ marking period and all grades will then be submitted electronically.

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Superintendent’s Report January 26, 2006