HASBROUCK HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Superintendent’s Report
March 29, 2007

Curriculum and Instruction -
High School –
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Mr. Aldea's AP Calculus class will be finishing the study of applications of integration in Chapter 6 and then will cover Chapter 7 on derivatives and integrals of the natural logarithm. A comprehensive review of all material will begin at the end of the month in preparation for the AP exam.
Mr. Aldea's Statistics class will be studying the postulates of Probability in Chapter 6. These include independent and mutually exclusive events. Students will also learn Bayes' Theorem. We will then study mathematical expectation in Chapter 7.
Mr. Aldea's Honors Algebra II class is currently studying powers, roots, and radicals in Chapter 7. We will then begin Chapter 8 on Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.
Mr. Aldea's Foundations of Advanced Math class is currently working on laws of logarithms, solving exponential and logarithmic equations, and applications of exponential/logarithmic functions.
Mrs. Healey’s Precalculus classes are completing the section on applications of exponential and logarithmic functions. They will explore various types of investments as a culminating activity which is a life-skill. In addition, the honors class completed an inter-disciplinary, collaborative PowerPoint project investigating the Avian Flu. The honors class has also begun to study the derivative in preparation for AP Calculus.
Mrs. Healey’s HSPA 11 class has worked hard and completed preparations for the HSPA which will be administered the week of March 5th. They will begin SAT and ACT test preparation for the remainder of the term.
Mr. Heller’s Geometry classes are completing their study of similar polygons, then moving on to the special characteristics of right triangles. In particular, we are focusing on the Pythagorean Theorem and trigonometry and the numerous relationships between the sides and angles of right triangles. Students are learning and proving a variety of theorems and formulas associated with these relationships. Classroom exercises have included group discussions in problem solving and the many practical applications of the relationships within right triangles.
Mr. Heller's HSPA Math 9 class is completing its preparation for the March 5th math portion of the NJ PASS exam, solving numerous word problems, many of which include algebraic equations. The class is then moving on to a review of the perimeter and area of various geometric shapes, as well as the fundamentals of statistics, particularly focusing on means, medians, modes, and ranges.
Mr. Heller’s HSPA Math 10 class is completing its preparation for the March 7th math portion of a full practice HSPA exam, solving numerous word problems, many of which include algebraic equations. The class is then moving on to a review of the fundamentals of statistics, particularly focusing on means, medians, modes, and ranges, as well as an overview of data displays, including a variety of charts and graphs.
Mrs. Marano's Fundamentals of Advanced Mathematics class has continued working on review of skills needed for college placement exams. Students are currently reviewing repeated multiplication and division to sharpen their skills.
Mrs. Marano's HSPA 11 class has completed their review for the HSPA and, will all juniors, they have taken the HSPA exam. Students will shortly begin work on SAT and ACT problems.
Mrs. Marano's HSPA 12 class has completed their work on the SRA process.
Mrs. Marano’s SAT Math review class is reviewing areas of math covered on the SAT and taking practice SAT quizzes each Friday.
Mrs. Michaeli’s Algebra 2 classes learned how to use properties of exponents to simplify expressions and to solve equations. They used the formulas for compound interest and exponential growth and decay. Students also reviewed HSPA problems involving clusters I – IV.
Mr. Monks’ Fundamentals of Geometry class is finishing up their work in Chapter 7 with translations in a coordinate plane and identifying them with coordinate and component notation.
Mr. Monks’ Algebra I class has begun solving inequalities and will be incorporating absolute values and the graphs into their problems.
Mr. Monks’ Geometry class will start their work in Chapter 5 which deals with ratios and proportions, as well as similar triangles.
Mr. Monks’ HPSA 9 class is now working on Geometry topics beginning with angle measurements and classifying triangles.
Mrs. O’Brien’s Algebra I students are busy preparing for the NJ PASS. As well in class we are learning how to solve systems of equations utilizing three methods. We will then be applying these methods to solve real world problems.
Mrs. O’Brien’s Fundamentals of Algebra I students are busy preparing for the NJ PASS. As well in class we are learning how to solve systems of equations utilizing three methods. We will then be applying these methods to solve real world problems.
Mrs. O’Brien’s Fundamentals of Algebra II students are busy preparing for the HSPA. As well in class we are solving systems by graphing, substitution, linear combination and applying these methods to real world problems.
Mrs. Stoehs' Geometry class worked on finding the area and perimeter of polygons. Students used the dimensions of the classroom to compute both. Next they worked on irregular figures where they used their knowledge of properties of parallelograms to find unknown measures and the total area and perimeter.
Mrs. Stoehs' Algebra students compared numbers using ratios. This involved a review of fractions and their equivalencies. Students then used these ratios to make proportions and to solve word problems.
Mrs. Rad's Fundamentals of Algebra 2 class is solving for a fractional part of a number, finding a given percent of a number, as well as solving problems involving percent.
Mrs. Rad's HSPA 9 class is applying concepts and methods of discrete mathematics to model and explore a variety of practical situations.
Mrs. Rad's HSPA 10 class is applying the concepts and methods of discrete mathematics to model and explore a variety of practical situations.
Mrs. Rad's Math IV class is studying percents and their usage in credit cards.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS -

Mrs. Marano's Computer Applications I class is beginning work on Photoshop CS. Students will begin with a study of tools and selection methods.
Mrs. Marano's Computer Applications II class worked on the same projects with the Computer Applications I class.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT -

Mr. Binazeski’s Physical Science students continued their study of physics with an emphasis on velocity, acceleration, displacement, Newton’s 3 Laws, inertia and momentum. An acceleration and free fall lab will be conducted at the end of the month.
Mr. Binazeski’s Environmental Science students reviewed for HSPA with an emphasis on chemistry and physical science. Seniors will work on a biome project while the juniors continue to review for HSPA. Students will resume their study of environmental science once testing has been completed this month
Mrs. Hicswa’s Biology classes have completed their study of evolution and classification. Many of the students opted to prepare reports and poster displays on human ancestors and/or prepare a visual concerning virus shapes. The classes have begun a study of viruses and bacteria. After describing and discussing their various characteristics, modes of transmission, positive uses of these organisms were reviewed- for example, the role bacteria play in the making of cheese, yogurt, etc. The students will also be discussing the various forms of food preservation- canning, pasteurization, salt curing, smoking, etc. and they will be sampling foods that undergo these methods.
Mr. Pignatiello’s Chemistry have been preparing for the HSPA which takes place in the beginning of March. The students have reinforced many of their biology skills by taking a variety of tests in the computer lab.
Mr. Pignatiello’s Honors Chemistry class have been working on periodic trends and have now started to experience one of the most important chapters on bonding. The students will be working hands on to understand how bonds form and the shape that they take.
Mr. Pignatiello’s AP Chemistry have reviewed their periodic trends and reviewed all of their bonding skills. The students have practiced many AP bonding problems this week and will be tested early this month on those concepts.
Mr. Stine’s Physics classes have begun the study of electric current and circuits. Students are using Ohm’s Law to solve electric current problems. We have also completed a lab involving the construction of both series and parallel circuits and the measurement of currents and voltage drops at various parts of the circuit.
Mrs. Stoehs' Biology students made a pile of items including things from make-up to loose change to school supplies. Students then had to divide their piles into two using similarities. They continued to divide the groups, according to their common components. We then went into our study of classification. We discussed how living things are organized beginning with large diverse kingdoms to very specific species.

HISTORY DEPARTMENT –

Ms. Golle’s World History classes completed a unit on East Asian Empires, with an emphasis on India, China, and Japan. They began with a look at India and the Muslim foreign invaders that took over the Northern regions. Next, they studied the Mongols. The students were able to differentiate between Mongol rule in India versus their rule in China and Eastern Asia. Finally, the students studied elements of Chinese and Japanese culture. They were reintroduced to the concept of feudalism, this time specific to Japan’s samurai class. Next, the students will begin a unit on the Renaissance. They will be introduced to elements that made up this cultural “rebirth,” including an in-depth examination of artists and philosophers of the time period.
In honor of Black History Month, the students participated in a jigsaw study of many African American achievers, including reformers, entertainers, scientists and inventors, civil rights leaders, athletes, and writers. March is Woman’s History Month, and the students will learn about the women who shaped history.
Mrs. Lewites’ U.S. History I class is starting a new chapter on American Reforms in the 1800s. We will see how religion played a significant role in these changes. Also since this is Women’s History month, we are tying in the impact women had during this time to gain their rights and freedoms and how these changes were carried over into the 20th and 21st centuries. The class will participate in an internet activity that explores the gains women have made on society and we will culminate this unit on reforms by making collages depicting such changes.
Mrs. Stinziano’s classes have examined how African Americans impacted our society. They studied how the issue of slavery influenced the lives of Nat Turner, Frederick Douglas & David Walker.
In March to celebrate Women’s History month the students will be studying how Harriet Tubman becomes a conductor on the Underground Railroad and her efforts to help the elderly African Americans. They will also examine the affects’ Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin had on the issue of slavery. All classes will be learning about the growing conflict over slavery and how it divided the North & South eventually leading to the succession of the Southern states from the Union.
Ms. Cassidy’s U.S. History I classes have completed discussion of Westward movement and the Mexican War. During this time the students viewed the movie “The Alamo”. Study will begin on sectionalism and the beginning of the Civil War.
Ms. Cassidy’s A.P. History Class will begin studying the Progressive era in American History and begin the study of World War I. The students will be on a field trip to the New Jersey State House to see first hand how our state laws are created.
Mrs. McGinty’s U.S. History II classes completed Black History Month with the viewing and discussion of the film The Tuskegee Airmen. They then began their study of Cold War conflicts in the period following WWII. They focused on understanding the international and domestic tensions resulting from the Cold War. Themes of study included: economic opportunities resulting from a peacetime economy, civil rights and free speech (McCarthyism), and science and technology focusing on the fear of impending nuclear holocaust over the 1950s.
To highlight Women’s History Month, students examined a research study conducted by the National Council for the Social Studies which analyzed history textbooks in use in the United States over the last 5 decades and the frequency in which women’s contributions were spotlighted. To our surprise, The American’s (the text series used for more than a decade in Hasbrouck Heights) received the highest ratings of all texts compared. The students completed an activity in which we put their results to the test.
Mrs. McGinty’s Honors class - In addition to critically analyzing primary source documents, the students have completed their Unit 3 projects.
Mrs. Marzi’s Psychology class: We are currently working on sleep, including its relation to our health and common sleep disorders. We are also studying hypnosis, meditation, and drug induced altered states.
Mrs. Marzi’s Sociology class: We are studying conformity and deviance, with a focus on peer pressure, theories of and a brief look into the criminal justice system.

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER

Mrs. Mikulka

Among the teachers who brought classes in to use the Library this month were Mrs. Healey, Mrs. Czekaj, Mrs. Cafferty, Mrs. Lewites, Mr. Braitsch (for Mrs. Meyer), Ms. Perdomo, Mr. Schimel, Ms. Golle, Mr. Pignatiello, Mr. Binazeski, Ms. Cassidy, Mr. Pankiewicz, Mrs. Meyer, and Mrs. Washburn. The Library was also used for HSPA testing.

BUSINESS

Mr. Ketcho’s FDU Business Idea Competition:
All student entries were submitted before the deadline of Feb. 17, 2007.

Accounting I – Finished Chapter 6 “Cash Controls Systems” and began a very difficult Chapter 7 – “Work Sheet for a Service Business.” Tests, Study Guide Quizzes, work together & on your own problems, along with homework assignments were completed.

Automated Accounting II – Finished Chapter 5 “Sales & Cash Receipts” and began Chapter 6 – “End of Fiscal Period for a Partnership.”

Life Management – Finished Chapter 10 – “Saving for Your Future” and began Chapter 11 – “Managing Your Investments”. Tests, activity sheets, terms, facts & ideas in review, life situation problem solving, and applications for decision making were discussed. All Chapters covered in Consumer Economics this semester will be a part of our final exam project – “Financial Household Budget”.

Word Processing I and II – Began Suncoast Civic Center – An Office Assistant Simulation – Jobs #1 to #27 were completed. Word Processing II continued a Microsoft Word project.

Computer Applications 7 and 8 Cycles – Century21 – Keyboarding – p. #(3 – 26) and T - Shirt Factory – A Keyboarding Simulation Jobs #1 - #6 were completed in cycle four. First week of Feb. cycle three completed 101 Spreadsheet Exercises – Exercises #1 - #17.

Computer Applications 9 Cycle - Century21 – Encore – A Keyboarding Simulation Jobs #1 - #23 and 101 Spreadsheet Exercises – Exercises #37 - #51 were finished during this month.

WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT -

Mrs. Cafferty’s Spanish III students are learning about the differences between living in the country versus the city.
Mrs. Squillace’s Spanish I class will be able to describe the weather, discuss clothing and accessories as well as describe the geography of the place, its plants and animals.
Mrs. Carr’s Spanish II class has completed studying the preterit tense of both regular and irregular verbs.
Mrs. Carr’s Spanish IV class is reading “Bodas de Sangre” and students are discussing different parts in Spanish.
Mrs. Carr’s Spanish V class has just completed the play “Yerma.”
Mr. Eggmann’s French III/IV class are reading the novel “The Little Prince” and will do a book report in French.
Mrs. Washburn’s classes are preparing for the Italian festival. The preparation activities include researching artists, painters, writers, and scientists on the internet that contribute to the Italian culture and the rest of the world.
Ms. Perdomo’s Spanish I class has learned to talk about different sports while practicing the verbs “saber” and “pensar”. This will lead to research about the latest news of their favorite sport and report in Spanish on it.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT –

Mr. Ascolese’s Music Theory students will be beginning their final projects in which each student will write an original composition and have it performed and recorded. All bands are busy preparing for the March 14 “Pops Concert.”
Mr. Taylor reports that rehearsals for the “Pops Concert” which include the “Newsies Medley” and “Seize the Day” are underway.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT -

Mr. Smith’s English 9 classes are currently studying Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. After recently finishing Act I, students were tested. We are now working through Act II which includes the famous balcony scene. Students will soon be assigned a project in which they need to update the balcony scene in to a modern day setting.
Mr. Smith’s HSPA English 10 class has completed thorough preparation for the 10th grade practice HSPA in Language Arts Literacy. After completing the practice test, students will be working on a critical film viewing unit which will be followed by the study of a summer reading novel for English 11.
Mr. Smith reports that the 2007 yearbook is now complete and looks great! With the exception of checking proofs, students will begin writing a handbook for next year’s yearbook students.
Mrs. Geftic’s Journalism students are currently working on the third edition of the Pilot’s Log. This issue features in-depth articles about global warming and its effects on New Jersey. Other articles of note focus on such school events as the preview of the upcoming play, “High School Musical,” a new, controversial alcohol test for students and the Ready-or-Not-Tots program that takes the glamour out of teenage pregnancy.
Mrs. Geftic’s English 12 students are currently reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Lessons focus on sensitizing students to the complex nature of revenge as it is portrayed in the play. Students learn how Shakespeare's play interprets Elizabethan attitudes toward revenge.
Mrs. Fernandes’s Genres & Critical Issues students have completed the fantasy world of animation and now face the realities within the documentary genre. The classes are examining violence in America with Bowling for Columbine, marketing and nutrition in Supersize Me, and the human drive in Everest. Students will be completing in class activities and take home extension projects.
Mrs. Fernandes’s HSPA English 10 after preparing for the HSPA practice exam this month, students are working on writing assignments. Students will be watching films and writing creative character sketches. These assignments will lead us into the study of the summer reading assignments.
Mrs. Fernandes’s HSPA English 11 after thorough preparation of the HSPA exam, students in this class will also be working on writing assignments. Students will be watching films and writing creative character sketches. These assignments will lead us into the study of the summer reading assignments.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 11 classes completed their preparations for the March HSPA and continue to work on their research projects.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 11-Honors class completed their analysis of various treatments of the Arthurian legend and continues to research and apply citations techniques as they complete their research papers. The class will be starting a unit on Renaissance poetry and drama that will include analysis of various poetic forms and styles as well as a study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 12 class continues to read and analyze Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Students will compare the characters and conflicts in Shakespeare’s tragedy to the other tragedies that they have studied.
Mr. Van Dam’s English 12-Honors class has completed their comparative study of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone. The culminating activity required the students to compose a thesis essay that analyzed a selected commonality between the two tragedies. The class will next embark on a study of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Mr. Pankiewicz’s English 10 and English 10 Honors classes completed a process approach to writing an essay, a literary critique of The Great Gatsby. Currently, the classes are transitioning from a study of the dark Romantics into Transcendentalist authors.
Mrs. Meyer’s English 9H and English 9 classes continue to explore the world of William Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and ancient Rome and Verona through their study of Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet respectively.
Ms. Kos’ English 9 classes are continuing their work on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Students are enjoying reading the play aloud in parts and are looking forward to viewing the film version later this month.
Ms. Kos’ English 10 class is currently finishing up a unit on Black literature with the reading of Maya Angelou’s autobiographical story, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. At its completion, students will work on personal narratives with special emphasis on the writing process.
Ms. Kos’ English 11 class is happy to have the HSPA behind them and will spend the early part of March on a special film unit. During this 3-week unit, students will view a number of British films or movies filmed in England and will write critical essays about them. Students will be urged to consider the film as a narrative tool and will apply their knowledge and understanding of literary devices/mechanics to the genre of film.
Ms. Kos’ English 12 class just finished its reading of Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Students enjoyed the novel immensely and are now engaged in a research project/literary analysis, in which they use on-line resources to research the novel and to identify a thematic perspective from which to consider the novel. A two-week computer lab unit will ensure that students have the time and help to develop their research capabilities and improve their writing skills.
Ms. Monetti’s Genre and Critical Issues class is finishing up the “war” genre with Bridge on the River Kwai. We will move into our cultural unit where we will watch movies that reflect important cultural or historical aspects of specific countries. Our first movie will be In the Name of the Father, based on a true story of four Irish people who were falsely accused of the bombing of an English pub. Another movie we will watch in this unit is Whale Rider, a movie set in New Zealand that shows the life of a young, Maori girl struggling with her culture’s expectations of women.
Ms. Monetti’s English 10 classes will be moving into our unit on the 1920’s now that HSPA practice and testing is complete. We will be reading and analyzing The Great Gatsby and students will be working on the 10th grade research project. For this project students will be researching a topic from the 1920’s.
Ms. Monetti’s English 11 classes are finishing up HSPA testing this week. Once testing is over, we will be going back into our unit on Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Students have each read, analyzed, and presented an explanation of one character from Chaucer’s prologue and we will be reading The Pardoner’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale to finish up.
Mrs. Schneeweiss’ Communications classes are working on voice overs, 3D animation, sound effects, and two new editing programs on the three new computers. They are also planning their final videos that they are hoping to share with the school at a film festival in the spring. They also read to the elementary school students as well as worked on guiding the upper levels of elementary students while they created original stories on Read Across America day.
Mrs. Schneeweiss’ Drama class is diligently working on behind the scenes projects to prepare for our upcoming spring musical Disney’s High School Musical including typing the program, Who’s Who, and set and costume design. They also participated in a workshop on stage makeup and acting which was run by the makeup designer and swing actor from The Lion King , had lunch at Bubba Gump’s, and watched a matinee performance of the show on February 28th .
Miss Venneman’s HSPA 9 classes have recently completed reading The Bridge to Terabithia, a short novel (novella) by Katherine Paterson. Students read the book, exploring its various themes, and responded to various types of open-ended questions in order to help them prepare for the HSPA exam.
Mrs. Czekaj’s English 10 classes have been reading The Great Gatsby and using teacher-prepared assessments to prepare for this month’s practice HSPA. As homework, they are writing a formal research paper on a historical aspect of the 1920’s, the setting of this novel.
Mrs. Czekaj’s AP English class has been observing Black History Month and Women’s History month by reading Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved. This challenging book tells of the horrors of slavery, most particularly as they affected women and the family structure.
Mrs. Czekaj’s Shakespeare Honors classes have celebrated their learning of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by attending an exciting performance at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ at Drew University. Sadly, the juniors couldn’t attend because of HSPA testing, but the seniors who went shared the experience with the juniors by describing it in class the next day. All are now busily preparing their performance for the ninth grade next month.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION / HEALTH EDUCATION

Grades 9 – 12 All classes are participating in units in floor hockey, basketball, and fitness in the cardio room. As the weather breaks the units will switch to tennis, soccer, power walking and wiffleball.
Ms. Gaccione’s 9th grade health class has completed the unit on alcohol. Students discussed the film “Without Limits,” and the effects of driving under the influence. Students explored the impact on the community and local laws about drinking.
Mr. Delcalzo’s Mr.Scuilla’s 11th grade health is covering dating abuse and domestic violence. They are learning various techniques in effort to brake the cycle of violence.
Mrs. Miller’s 12th grade health class is continuing with the “Ready-or-Not Tot” parenting program which has been a great experience for the Seniors. They will be discussing the financial and emotional responsibilities of caring for and raising a child in today’s society.

INDUSTRIAL ART

Mr. Masucci’s classes are making dog cut outs for the field. The advance classes are making shelves for the band room for their instruments.

USE OF LAPTOP

Mrs. Healey: The laptop has been used to calculate grades, write reports, and communicate with students, parents, and teachers. It has also been used for research purposes. The students will use it to make their class presentations on the Avian Flu during the week of March 12th.

Mr. Monks: Grades and reports were calculated on Excel. Lesson plans have been generated in Word. Tests, quizzes and extra help worksheets have been generated in Word. Email has been used to communicate with parents and department teachers.

Mrs. Stoehs: In biology we used the laptop to find the classification of several species such as the bobcat and humans. In our HSPA class we were able to do one last review before the test. The laptop enabled us to locate practice problems for specific areas of difficulties. Using the disc with examples from each of the clusters, we could quickly find a particular type of problem and cover more material.

Mrs. McGinty: Utilizing the LCD and The American’s software, students participated in a PowerPoint review game of the chapter. Students benefited from reviewing the chapter notes for their WWII assessment.

Mr. Ketcho is using the laptop for everything that he does. Word, Excel, PowerPoint files help me manage all of my day to day tasks. Coupled with a document camera and LCD projector I lead my instruction with my laptop everyday.

Mrs. Geftic used the laptop computer to show students a Discovery Channel web presentation of Hamlet. Journalism students used the laptop to view National Scholastic Press Association’s Best of High School Press on CD-ROM which included three publications of the Pilot’s Log.

Mr. Pankiewicz used the laptop to model databases available to students through the school’s web site. It was also used for layout and design of The Pilot’s Log and research for creative writing class.

Mrs. Schneeweiss and students are using the laptop to prepare for our upcoming musical, for 3D animation, Read Across America, and to research for their third marking period projects.

Middle School-
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT-

Miss Keller’s 6th grade mainstream Geometry classes will begin March learning how to find the volume of rectangular prisms. Through the use of unit tiles the students were able to tactilely and visually grasp the concept of volume. When the students have mastered the concept of volume, we will move on the creating models to help us solve multiple step word problems. Through class and group work the students will practice creating different types of models to help them with different types of math problems. After completing this section the students will begin to review for the NJ ASK. Through class discussion and practice problems the students will prepare themselves for their standardized test.
Miss Keller’s 6th grade Honors Geometry class will begin March exploring similar figures. The students will use what they learned about ratios and proportions from Algebra to determine if sets of figures are similar. They will also use ratios and proportions to find missing side lengths of similar figures. Once the class has completed this section, the class will begin to explore maps and scales. Using the maps displayed in their text books, the students will learn how to use scales to determine the lengths between two different locations. After exploring this section, the students will begin to learn about three dimensional figures. Through the use of a power point the students will learn about the different characteristics of several types of three dimensional figures. Next the students will begin to review for the NJ ASK.
Miss DiPiano’s 6th grade Algebra students have just completed working with ratios. They are learning how to use ratios and set up proportions. They have also been reviewing different types of word problems and working hard preparing for the NJ ASK. We have completed many lessons from the NJ ASK Prep Book and have reviewed numerous topics together. During the next two weeks the students will be investigating integers. They will become familiar with algebra tiles and be able to model the addition and subtraction of integers using the tiles. They will complete integer practices and activities from http://edhelper.com. These activities will give the students a better understanding of integers and how to add and subtract other than simply memorizing the “rules”.
Miss DiPiano’s6th grade Honors Algebra students have also been busy working with ratios and proportions. Students have also been working hard to prepare for the NJ ASK. The honors class (along with period 3) have been involved with Mr. Ketcho’s classes in the Stock Market Game. They are busy each week researching, buying, and trading different stocks through thestockmarketgame.com. The students look forward to completing the project and hopefully winning some prizes.
Mrs. Caputo’s 7th grade mainstream Algebra classes recently had their gepa Test on Cluster IV. This will conclude the gepa preparation for the year. The students are starting Chapter Six on Proportions and Percents. We are currently working with ratios and unit price.
Mrs. Caputo’s 7th grade Honors Algebra class will continue with chapter seven entitled, “Applications of Percent”. We are currently working on decrease and increase of percent. Our mid-chapter test of the second half of the chapter will be later next week.
Mrs. Caputo All of the students have just taken the Cluster IV test. Our gepa folders are almost finished. The students are also in the process of bringing in the math-a-thon money they raised and soon we will have a total for St. Jude’s Hospital.
Mr. Sickels’ 7th grade Geometry mainstream students are currently taking tests on Chapter Eight, Geometry and Measurement. The next chapter that we will continue to work on is Chapter 9, Using Probability. This chapter includes: experimental probability, theoretical probability, sample spaces, permutations, and combinations.
Mr. Sickels’ 7th grade Geometry Honors class is currently taking tests on Chapter Six, Applications of Proportions. The next chapter that we will work on is Chapter 9, Geometry and Measurement. We will learn about surface area and volume of three-dimensional figures.
Mr. Sickels: We are on schedule with the gepa assignments, currently completing III C and D. We will soon review and score these two gepa packs, as we prepare to take the last gepa quiz on or around March 13. NJASK review packs will soon appear in the students’ notebooks as we prepare for this year’s NJASK Test.
Mr. Mastropietro’s 8th grade Geometry classes are working hard on final gepa preparation - review questions and problems. The students are also working on Chapter 9 in the text entitled, “Surface Area and Volume”.
Mr. Mastropietro’s 8th grade Honors Topics class is preparing for the gepa test. The chapter this class is working on is entitled, “Algebra Inequalities”.
Mr. Mastropietro: The students were informed of their midterm and semester grades. All of the students are striving for success in the third marking period. Mr. Mastropietro is currently coaching tennis and Teaching the gepa Prep class on Tuesday’s after school.
Mrs. Dunne’s 8th grade Algebra I class have completed the 3 methods of solving systems of equations. After the GEPA, the class will solve verbal problems in two unknowns.
Mrs. Dunne’s Math 8 classes have completed the Percents and Applications chapter. The class finished the last 2 GEPA Cluster 4 packets and took the Cluster 4 assessment.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT-

Mr. Rispoli’s 6th grade science classes continued learning about our solar system. They worked in pairs to research a planet or object in our system. They created a data sheet and wrote a creative story about their topic. They also made a visual aid to be used during a presentation. After completing their assignment, each pair gave a 3 minute oral report to the class using their visual aid. The students are currently finishing the solar system unit.
Mrs. Toy’s 7th grade science students have completed their unit on Forensic Science. They are now beginning discussions on Genetics and Heredity. The students are beginning to prepare for the Middle School Science Fair. Projects will be displayed in room 313 at 7:30 pm on April 17th.
Mr. Cassiere’s 8th grade Students will be introduced to molecular forces and chemical bonding. Several labs are planned to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of these bonds. A brief introduction to nomenclature and stoichiometry will also be covered this month.

ART DEPARTMENT-

Ms. Caputo’s technology class has started a new cycle. Students have been introduced to the class and know what is required and what is expected of them. Students are currently working on a challenge, (create a box using an origami method.) the students will spend the rest of the month working on two other projects, (create a desk design, and create and design their own foil boats.)
Mrs. Kritzer’s Cycle 8 art has completed a unit on learning from the Great Masters. 8th grade students learned art techniques through the world of Art History.
Mrs. Brinker’s Cycle 6 Art Class currently working on creating Navajo Indian yarn weavings.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT-

Ms. Gaccione’s 8th grade Health class has completed the CPR unit. Students will take an oral test, demonstrating child and adult CPR skills. Students who fulfill all the requirements for the CPR test will receive a card at the end of the cycle.
Mrs. Miller’s 6th grade Health cycle is beginning a tobacco unit. Miss Judge (Student Teacher) and Mrs. Miller will be discussing the harmful effects of tobacco and smokeless tobacco.
Mr. Delcalzo’s 7th grade Health class has started a unit on nutrition and fitness.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION-

6th, 7th and 8th grade PE classes are all participating in a hockey unit.

SOCIAL STUDIES-

Mr. Warren's 6th grade Social Studies classes wrapped up the month of February with an in depth look at the landmark civil rights case, Brown v. Board of Education. The students analyzed how this affects school systems nationwide. The students were also introduced to the ideologies behind segregation and how it fit into everyday lives of African Americans for over a hundred years. The students also viewed a documentary video on what African American children did to aid the fight against segregation in Alabama during the 1950s. Afterwards, the students engaged in a writing assignment using critical thinking skills to express what current humanitarian injustices they would try to put an end to. Moving beyond Black History Month, the students finished their chapter on Ancient China by using classroom/internet sources to translate their name and a personal quote into Chinese characters. In March, the class will explore the origins of the Hebrew religion and government, including how some religious laws also make their way into different countries governments. The students will be digging into the formation of the ancient Hebrew nation of Israel and such events as the Exodus and the emergence of Judaism. For Women's History Month, the students will be building a bulletin board that features quotes from famous women. The students will research famous women through textual and internet resources. The students will also be given a short-term group project that asks them to select a woman or group of women and propose a new federal holiday earmarking their accomplishments.
Mrs. Gay’s Seventh Grade Social Studies classes have finished a mini-unit on the Underground Railroad for Black History Month and are currently engaged in another mini-unit about the Holocaust. Students are reading articles from a special edition of Junior Scholastic entitled Holocaust. They are analyzing Eve Bunting's allegory Terrible Things, creating a timeline of Holocaust events, and comparing maps of the time period with current maps of Europe. They will be attending a performance of My Heart in a Suitcase, a play about the experience of a young girl and the Kindertransport.
Mrs. Rucci’s Eighth Grade Social Studies classes Following our winter break, continued with coverage of the Reconstruction. Students remarked that learning about President Johnson’s impeachment was pertinent to a question on the new quiz game TV show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Our next topic in the textbook was the wild west of the post Civil War era. Students were asked to make a critical analysis of the U.S. government’s treatment of the Native Americans as well as the inaccuracy of Hollywood’s portrayal of the people and events of the West. In the Junior Scholastic magazines, we read about the lost childhoods of millions of children in Africa as they are forced to do dangerous, backbreaking jobs. Presently, we are spending some time with the issue about China. Students read and discussed the economic and social changes in the country with a population of 1.3 billion, and they answered some map questions, too. In the afternoons during GEPA week we will continue with JS activities such as the American History play about the Great Migration of African Americans after the Civil War. We will also continue to talk about current events, both tragic and inspiring.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT-

Ms. Wolf’s sixth graders have been getting more involved with grammar and rules for creating successful pieces of writing. The students have worked hard to understand the rules for and importance of subject/verb agreement in their writing. In the coming month, the students will take the NJ ASK standardized test. In preparation for this, the sixth graders will have a week long unit on techniques and skills for taking the test during the third week of March. The students have continued enhancing their writing skills with bi-weekly writing assignments. All of the writing assignments follow the format of the NJ standardized tests. The writing is based on pictures or scenarios for writing tasks. Many of the writing tasks ask the students to create “persuasive writing” pieces. In addition, the students have also continued to broaden their vocabulary with daily words and bi-weekly spelling units.
Mr. Colangelo’s Study Skills class is in transition. The new cycle class will be introduced to the various topics covered in class. Each student will receive an in-class workbook titled You Can Take Charge. There will be a heavy emphasis on the student’s ability to take complete and accurate notes.
Mr. Colangelo’s Creative Writing class is in transition. The new cycle class will be introduced to the various writing tasks covered in class. The writing tasks include: journals, autobiographies, stories without endings, news articles, and two, one fiction and one non-fiction, movie reviews. The students will be expected to have plenty of lined writing paper for their daily writing assignments.
Mr. Colangelo’s Literature 7 classes have completed their interdisciplinary lesson on The Underground Railroad. The students read a story about Harriet Tubman and traced her journey from Maryland to Canada in search of freedom. Their assessments included a unit quiz and a map project. The students will now begin an extensive review for the NJ Ask test. They will learn test taking strategies as they prepare for the test.
Mr. Colangelo’s Literature 8 class has been spending a majority of its time preparing for the GEPA examination. The class has focused its attention in the areas of reading comprehension and open-ended narrative questions. At the conclusion of the GEPA, the students will begin a unit surrounding key events of the 1960’s.
Mrs. Rowland’s 7th grade class has sharpened skills on quotations. They are presently working on state standards pertaining to the NJASK booklet. Students are applying varied sentence structure, literary term usage, vocabulary, and quotations to enhance writing techniques.
Mr. Stillman’s Literature 8 and Literature 8 Honors classes are geared up for the GEPA. After the statewide test, the classes will begin an interdisciplinary unit looking at the 1960’s and the film Planet of the Apes. During this unit the honors classes will also be reading the novel On the Beach and relating it to the theme of the unit. The honor class is also getting ready to read Romeo & Juliet.
Mr. Sicilian’s English classes are completing final GEPA review activities the early part of the month. Once the testing is over, classes will resume with vocabulary development units as well as selected units on print advertising, news writing using newspaper headlines, and video infomercials. The Honors section will begin working on their autobiography projects. The autobiography project will encompass original writing, multi-media presentations and the reading of selected excerpts of several autobiographical writings.
Miss Venneman’s Literature 7 classes have recently completed a unit on Harriet Tubman. Students were able to experience one of Harriet Tubman’s arduous journeys on her way to freedom with eleven fugitive slaves. Students are currently preparing for the NJ ASK test with an extensive review of test-taking strategies.
Ms. Dolan’s 6th grade literature students are continuing to read the Newbery Award winning novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor. In conjunction with this unit on African American history, the sixth grade will be attending a play on Friday, March 23, 2007 called “Freedom Train” at the Bergen County PAC in Englewood, New Jersey. This play depicts the journey of African Americans who escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad. Additionally, the students have been diligently preparing for the NJ ASK which will take place during the week of March 19. The students’ writing folders are bulging at the seam.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES-

Mrs. Cafferty’s eighth graders learned about South American countries that speak Spanish. They did oral reports in Spanish in front of the class as well as a poster on why one would want to vacation there.
Ms. Perdomo’s seventh graders are learning about important reasons to study Spanish, the use of cognates to understand dialogs, and school supplies.
Ms. Perdomo’s sixth graders are starting to become familiar with the Spanish language. They are learning the differences between Spanish and English alphabets, the use of cognate words to understand general ideas, and commands they will hear and say in the classroom.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Mr. McCarthy reports that the seventh grade vocal music cycle is working on breathing, voice placement and production.

Mr. McCarthy’s seventh grade general music cycle is working on the Baroque period with special attention to Bach.

Mr. McCarthy’s eighth grade general music cycle is working on early American music with special attention to Stephen Foster.

Ms. Moroney reports that the sixth and seventh grade instrumental students are preparing for the “pops concert.” After the concert, they will begin sight reading new music and continue to work on new scales.

Mr. Taylor reports that the middle level choir is currently working on the “pops concert” material such as the “Lion King Medley.” Working on simple choral techniques and polishing what is already learned are the goals of the middle level choir at this time.

6th Grade Technology Pilot Program

Michelle DiPiano – Math

Weekly quizzes, tests, and worksheets are created using Microsoft Word. Weekly lesson plans are created weekly using Microsoft Excel. Grades are entered weekly using the Grade Quick Program. The program was also used to calculate marking period 3 progress report grades, as well as a reference when speaking with students and parents.
The students are becoming familiar with algebra tiles as they learn to model the addition and subtraction of integers using the tiles. They will complete integer practices and activities from http://edhelper.com. These activities will give the students a better understanding of integers and how to add and subtract negatives and positives other than memorizing the “rules”.
The honors class, along with my mainstream period 3, has also been participating in the Stock Market Game. They are busy each week researching, buying, and trading different stocks through thestockmarketgame.com. The students look forward to completing the project and hopefully winning some prizes.
Miss DiPiano’s webpage at teacherweb.com is still being used daily. The students check homework, update notes, and to complete extra practice on the topics they are learning in class.

Karen Dolan – Literature
Once again, Ms. Dolan utilized the laptop provided by the pilot program to assist her in her planning for sixth grade literature. Not only were all of her tests and quizzes created using the laptop, but her mid-term examination and mid-term examination outline were also created using this valuable teaching tool.
Ms. Dolan used her laptop in many different ways to benefit and assist her in her teaching duties in March 2007. Once again, all quizzes and tests are created using this valuable tool. Additionally, Ms. Dolan did extensive research on the 6th Grade ASK test. By accessing information on this test, Ms. Dolan was able to ascertain exactly what needed to be addressed to prepare the students for this test.
Additionally, Ms. Dolan supplemented the school generated progress report with a more detailed progress report completed using the GradeQuick program. The parents were able to see their child’s progress in literature, including a list of all their test and quiz grades, as well as all of their homework assignments.
Finally, Ms. Dolan will complete a lesson plan showing the students various things about the Underground Railroad in preparation for their class trip on March 23, 2007. By using interactive websites and depictions, the students’ trip will be enhanced and they will be better prepared to their experience. Ms. Dolan will utilize both the laptop and LCD projector.
Michelle Keller – Math
Recently Miss Keller has had the opportunity of having Grade Quick installed on her computer. With this new program Miss Keller has been able to organize her classes test and quiz grades. Grade Quick has also allowed Miss Keller to create monthly progress reports which she sends home to parents in order to keep them aware of their child’s progress.
Miss Keller has also used her computer in other helpful ways. Through the use of Microsoft Word, Miss Keller has created test, quizzes and worksheets that have been used in her Geometry classes. Having internet access allows Miss Keller to keep in contact with parents and administrators through the use of e-mail. Educational websites have also helped her with lesson plans and group activities, which the students can complete in order to grasp the topic in which they are learning. These educational websites also provide Miss Keller with additional problems the students can use to practice their math skills. Lastly, Miss Keller has used Microsoft Power Point to create a slide show on three dimensional figures in order to help her students visualize the different types of prisms and pyramids.
During the month of February, Miss Keller will use her laptop in a number of ways. She uses an Excel spreadsheet as a grade book for each of her classes. By using Excel she is able to easily input grades and calculate quiz, test and marking period averages. Miss Keller will also utilize her laptop for lesson purposes. Later on this week, she will be using Microsoft Power Point to present a power point presentation on three-dimensional figures. During this presentation she will also use internet explorer to show the students an interactive website that allows the students to fold and manipulate nets.
Miss Keller also uses her laptop to create and organize her lesson plans. She also uses Microsoft word to create worksheets, quizzes and test for her classes. Miss Keller has also found a number of websites that she uses to locate lesson plan ideas and worksheets to use in class.

David Rispoli – Science

The laptop in Mr. Rispoli’s possession has been used daily for recording grades, homework and preparing worksheets. It was used to create tests, quizzes and study guides. It was also used to get the latest information regarding astronomy, since the information changes so rapidly.
The laptop was placed in the room for the students to use for a week. Each pair of students had the opportunity to use the computer to research information for their project. They were allowed to print out the information they found. Some students printed pictures to use on the posters they made.
The LCD was used in conjunction with the laptop to show various video clips of our solar system as well as movies showing missions to Saturn and its moon Titan. The video showed actually video and pictures of Saturn and its moon.

Michael Warren – Social Studies

The school issued laptop was used to add visual aid to our studies of Black History Month in February by researching pictures of segregation, famous civil rights activists and leaders of the African American community. The laptop was used to update the teacher website with homework/classnotes/activities to enhance both the students and parents access to the classroom. In our study of Ancient China, the internet allowed the students to look up and translate their names in Chinese characters for an in-class project. The CD-ROM of teacher resources that comes included with the textbook offered up invaluable graphic organizers and map projections that aided students by keeping incoming information organized and focused for better processing.

Allison Wolf – English

Ms. Wolf has made great use of technology in the past month with her school provided laptop. The laptop has been used as an instruction, communication, grading, and preparation for class.
As an instructional tool, Ms. Wolf has used the laptop to help students in her “Pull out Support” class. They use the programs and games as a review of material learned in class. In addition, Ms. Wolf has just had a system installed in her room to allow for projection of information from her computer to a screen for the students to view. She looks forward to using this in the upcoming months.
The laptop continues to be a great source of communication with the parents. Ms. Wolf is able to communicate quickly with parents about their child. This is a great tool for a specific response to a question, an update on a grade, or a behavioral issue.
Over the past few months, Ms. Wolf has started to use the “Grade Quick” program on her computer. This program allows Ms. Wolf to keep record of all of the grades for tests, quizzes, and homework. The program also allows Ms. Wolf to send home computer-generated progress reports to parents to update them throughout the marking period. In addition, the laptop continues to be used to create all tests, quizzes, and assessments for Ms. Wolf’s classes. This is a very quick and convenient tool.

Euclid School –
Math-

Kindergarten is completing their unit on money. They worked hard at mastering their identification of coins. Now, they are measuring all types of things. They are using rulers and working with capacity and weight.
Grade One continues to work on telling time. They are learning how to read a calendar. They are measuring objects with a ruler. They are practicing their use of a schedule to solve elapsed time.
Grade Two is brushing up on their multiplication skills for 0, 1, and 2. They are continuing their timed addition and subtraction tests. They are reinforcing their geometric shapes and learning about measurement. They are working with bar graphs and pictographs. They are practicing the ordering of numbers and expanded notation.
Grade Three is comparing fractions and developing their measurement skills. They are regrouping with multiplication and focusing on vertex edged graphs. They are working with algorithms and utilizing flash cards to improve their mad minute drills.
Grade Four is working on a review for NJASK. They are practicing mixed addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They are reviewing fractions and geometric shapes. They are completing word problems with multiple steps and strategies.
Grade Five is working with various types of angles. They are classifying triangles through their measurements. They are working with mean, median, and mode. They are reviewing fractions and percents.

Science-

Kindergarten is continuing their study of the frog. In addition, they are learning how food moves through their intestines. They are also staying focused on their planting project. They are following the tracking of the Monarch butterfly.
Grade One is working on understanding the water cycle. They are learning about water vapor and gas. They are reading The Magic School Bus to further explore this topic. In addition, they are learning the purpose of the sun and about the energy it produces.
Grade Two is focusing on natural resources and the types of things that cause them to change.
Grade Three is working on patterns of the earth, sun, stars, and moon. They are completing projects related to shadows, the earth’s revolution, the phases of the moon, and the patterns of the stars.
Grade Four is working on the food chain. They are understanding how waves behave differently in different media. They are discussing how light travels. They are learning about ways that energy can be transformed. They are focusing on open and closed electrical circuits.

Social Studies-

Kindergarten is studying patriotic symbols. They are learning about the Statue of Liberty, the flag, and the White House. They are also learning some facts about our national bird, the eagle.
Grade One is learning about “Earning an Income”. They are focusing on goods and/or services that a seven year old can provide. They created posters advertising their businesses.
Grade Two is working with American symbols. They created “My Country Tis of Thee” posters.
Grade Three is studying our government of the past. They are exploring the importance of the Declaration of Independence. They are identifying former American leaders and determining ways to be a good citizen.
Grade Five is learning why the English founded a colony on Roanoke Island. They are also focusing on the conflicts between Spain and England. They are creating cause and effect charts to show these differences. They are analyzing the problems the first Jamestown colonists encountered and how they solved them.

Language Arts-

Kindergarten is practicing their reading words with the “ox” phonogram. They are working with their words of the week. They are focusing on the letters “v” and “j”. They are sharpening their listening skills through read a-loud stories. They are working hard to learn their sight words. They are practicing their oral reading.
Grade One is focusing on words that end in y. They are concentrating on y having a long e sound. They are retelling stories to form main ideas and provide details. They are practicing their journal writing and listening to stories to develop their auditory listening skills. They are using pronouns and working with inflectional endings.
Grade Two is working on their script writing. Students are practicing their names and upper case letters. They are trying a little note taking and journal entry writing. They are working with compound words and reviewing nouns. They are writing words that end in er and est. They are working with pronouns and reviewing contractions.
Grade Three is working with object pronouns. They continue brushing up on their editing skills. They are responding to picture prompts and working with novels. They are writing paragraphs with supporting details and analyzing poetry.
Grade Four is continuing their novel study of George Washington Socks. They are creating definitions through the use of contextual clues. They are working with adjectives, run-ons and fragments. They are writing narratives using figurative language.
Grade Five is publishing essays that summarize, discusses character traits, and responds to literature. They are working on persuasive essays and identifying pronouns. They are completing review tests within their Essential Reading Skills books.

Art –

Kindergarten is creating stick puppets and springtime wreaths.
Grade One is creating hot air balloons through sculpting paper. They are creating shamrocks and practicing their cut and fold methods.
Grade Two continues their creation of paper mache houses.
Grade Three is continues their weaving.
Grade Four is completing their puppets by adding felt bodies.
Grade Five is working on plaster sculptures.

Music –

Kindergarten is learning about instrument technique. They are working with the transfer of a beat.
Grade One is listening to Beethoven and discovering rhythm.
Grade Two is working on the creation of a rhythm with rhythm sticks.
Grade Three is focusing on a rondo form piece and critiquing.
Grades Four and five are working with improvisation and creating rhythmic pattern.

Physical Education –

Kindergarten through Grade Two are working on a game called “Garbage”. This game enables students to work on their over hand throw and their two handed catch. Emphasis is placed on the proper mechanics and the rules of the game.
Grades Three through Five are finishing with hockey and involving themselves in various games. They include Scatter Ball, Gaga Ball, and Guard the Pins. Classes determine the game through the democratic process of voting.

World Language-

In Kindergarten, students are learning their colors and familiar animals and described them using big and small.
In grade one, students are learning the parts of the body in Spanish.
In grade two, students are presenting their original stories to the class using the names of the community workers in Spanish.
In grade three, students are learning the parts of a house and what’s inside each of the rooms.
In grade four, students are creating their own Spanish towns and naming their buildings in Spanish.
In grade five, students are learning the names of familiar animals and creating flashcards of them.

Library/Computers –

Kindergarten is working on opening, operating, and closing a program.
Grade One is working on connecting with the Internet and identifying letters and their sounds.
Grade Two is discussing personal safety online and typing in web addresses.
Grade Three is summarizing and reviewing the Internet safety unit. They are taking the online Posttest.
Grade Four is identifying the icons of the drawing tool bar, and their functions.
Grade Five is learning to type in columns.

Lincoln School -
Mathematics:

Kindergarten students have had a lot of fun learning about money and time. We have been working at identifying coins and their values. We have also just learned to tell time to the hour. We are now moving on to addition.
Our first graders This month the first grade concentrated on counting money. We discussed the values of the quarter, dime, nickel and penny. We are continuing to practice our addition and subtraction facts.
The second grade classes reviewed the skills of addition and subtraction of three digit numbers with and without regrouping. They are currently working on fractions, measurement, and pattern blocks.
The third grade students are identifying and predicting probability. We are also relating fractions and money to decimals. We are still reviewing for NJASK.
Fourth graders are in their final preparations for the upcoming NJASK Test on March 19th-March 23rd. The learners have spent the beginning month of March working on Perimeter, Area, and Volume. These topics were covered with hands-on activities. For example, the learners worked on perimeter by measuring their math books using different manipulatives such as erasers, chalk, paper clips, pencils, and so on. In addition, they measured different polygons in groups using rulers, and then finalized the lesson by finding out the perimeter of a pattern-shaped house using Cheez-Its. The Cheez-Its tied into the lesson because not only were they a healthy snack, but they also measure one square cm, which worked well with a lesson on area. In addition, the learners are working with Decimals to the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths, as well as being able to add and subtract decimals. During each lesson, the learners continue to work with open-ended questions, which will be needed for the NJASK test.
The fifth graders have completed a geometry unit are reviewing various 5th grade math skills learned throughout the year in preparation for the NJ Ask test.

Science:

Kindergarten classes reviewed what humans need to live, including food, shelter, and clothing. We have also discussed the difference between the things we need and the things we want.
In our first grade classes weather was the focus of our lessons this month. We are beginning lessons on Matter.
The second graders completed their unit on dinosaurs and fossils. They will be reviewing facts about matter and energy.
The third graders have been investigating motion and simple machines.
The fourth grade students have been reviewing for NJ ASK testing using Measuring Up Practice books. Students have been reviewing Body Systems, Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter, The Earth and the Solar System.
Our fifth graders have begun an electricity unit. They are learning about insulators, conductors, parallel and series circuits.

Social Studies:

Our kindergarten classes celebrated Valentine's Day and learned about its meaning. We also learned about community helpers, jobs, and earning and spending money. St. Patrick's Day was so exciting, as our classrooms were visited by some magical leprechauns.
The first grade classes introduced lessons on Landforms: Mountains, Grasslands, and Forest. We also discussed Lakes, Oceans, and Ponds. We discussed Native Americans as the first farmers in Iowa.
The second grade classes learned about the contributions of Abraham Lincoln by having a special visit from "President Lincoln". They also celebrated Valentine's Day, Read Across America Day, and St. Patrick's Day.
The third graders are currently studying community environments, resources, and recycling.

Language Arts: