Mendham Borough Schools Mendham, NJ

Mendham Borough Schools Mendham, NJ
WEEKLY BULLETIN
May 6, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 1
…………………………………
Message from the Superintendent
Page 2
…………………………………
News from Hilltop School
Page 5
…………………………………
News from Mountain View School
Page 11 …………………………………
Home School Association Happenings
Page 14 …………………………………
Mendham Borough Library Happenings
Page 15 …………………………………
Community Happenings
FROM DR. JANIE EDMONDS, SUPERINTENDENT…
5-6-11
Greetings from the cherry-blossom corner of Hilltop. Have you seen how beautiful the tree in the northwest
corner of the building is? It’s glorious.
Three things follow – Teacher appreciation, opportunities to provide advice concerning your new principals,
and a reminder of the cafeteria survey.
• This week has been Teacher Appreciation Week, which has special meaning in Mendham
because our teaching staff is both powerful and caring. While expressions of appreciation
for teaching excellence are always welcome, the Home School Association makes Teacher
Appreciation Week a very special time in the schools, a genuine feast. Thank you.
• As you know and may very well feel concern about, Mendham will have two new
principals next year. I add my public appreciation and congratulations to yours to these
two strong educators who have done so very much on behalf of Mendham’s children and
young people. We have been fortunate to have them here.
To help in the formation of a very good profile of the leader that we want to have in each
school, I am asking for the input of parents in a few focus-group style meetings. I’ll also
ask for perceptions about the strengths and needs of each school from participants’
perspective. Tentative, initial meeting times to consider a Hilltop principal are 9:00 a.m.
and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11. If you have an interest in attending, please contact
Naoma Martin at (973) 543-2295. If those times don’t fit your schedule, please send
comments to [email protected]. Meeting for Mountain View will be scheduled
as soon after as possible.
•
And… a reminder: If you have not yet responded to the survey concerning the cafeterias, it
is online on the website homepage. Please take a few minutes to tell us your experiences
this year –things that you have found good and those that you would prefer to see done
differently. Thanks.
Wishing you joy and a Happy Mother’s Day.
1
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL:
The Hilltop Parent Council wishes to thank everyone that served as a grade representative this
year. Our outgoing members are: Joanne Tziovannis; Nicole Geary; Kathy Day and Elise
Telloni. Lisa Fechhelm & Ann Staley are moving to Mountain View PC to rep 5th grade.
Thank you to the parents who volunteered to serve on Parent Council for the next two school
years. Incoming members are: Rebecca Braun and Stephanie Flourie for Kindergarten; Liz
Caravetta for 1st Grade; Christine Dellaratta and Jon Racich for 2nd Grade and Wendy
Parrinello for 3rd Grade.
UPCOMING IN MAY:
Monday, May 9th
Wednesday, May 11
Thursday, May 12th
Friday, May 13th
- N J ASK Testing Week, Grades 3 & 4
- 2nd Grade Parent Participation Poetry Day, 2 PM
- 1st Grade In House Field Trip – Schiff
- Kindergarten Class Trip to PaperMill Playhouse
- 3rd Grade Parent Participation Program, 1 PM
th
- 3rd Gr. Trip (two sections) to Schiff Nature Preserve
Wednesday, May 18
Piacenza and O'Grady to Schiff 9:15-12:45
Thursday, May 19th
- 3rd Gr. Trip (two sections) to Schiff Nature Preserve
McGoldrick and Stolten to Schiff 9:15-12:45
- H.S.A. Shakespeare Theatre Performance at HT, 7 PM
Thursday, May 19th
Friday, May 20th
- Kindergarten Fairy Tale Dress-up Parade, 9 AM
- 4th Gr. Parent Participation Poetry Day Program, 2:15
Monday, May 23rd
`
- 4th Grade Band Instrument Demo, 2 PM
th
Wednesday, May 25
- 1st Gr. Pizza Portfolio Day Program, 10 AM
- Mt. View Jr. Band & Chorus Concert – Gr. 2-4, 9 AM
Friday, May 27th
Monday, May 30th
- Memorial Day – Schools Closed
______________________________________________________________________________
Not too many rumors are actually true; however it is true that after forty-one years in public
education, I have submitted my resignation as Hilltop’s Principal effective the end of this 20102011 school year.
I have been very fortunate to have worked with the amazing educators and the unsung
support staff in this school district in our combined quest to provide the young people of
Mendham with the gift of a first rate education.
I have genuinely enjoyed working for the Mendham Borough Schools and sincerely appreciate
the opportunity to have served the children and supportive parents of the Mendham Borough
School Community as a Principal at both Mountain View and Hilltop School over the past
twenty-four years. The memories that I will be taking with me into retirement are … priceless.
eÉuxÜà TA `tÜÉÄw
2
First Grade Hilltop News
The First Grade has so much to celebrate! Everyone wore their pajamas
to school because “Pajama Day” received the most votes on Election
Day. We used this special day as an opportunity to also celebrate the
culmination of our “Authors as Mentors” unit in writing workshop. The
children read their small moment pieces with great expression as they
sat in our “Author’s Chair”. They demonstrated all of the crafts that
they learned from Donald Crews and other authors. They are amazing
writers!
You should hear the way our first graders read with fluency. They have
been practicing their reading and are enjoying a variety of books and
poems.
Our mathematicians have completed a geometry unit. They learned
about polygons and three dimensional shapes. We created a shape
museum in the classroom with objects that were brought in from home.
One of our culmination projects was to create a three dimensional shape
using marshmallows and toothpicks.
We are completing our unit about the body. We learned about how our
body systems work together. Stop by our hallway and learn about what
first grade brains are thinking.
Next week, we have an in-house presentation by the Schiff Nature
Center about insects. We are looking forward to our new insect unit.
3
Lunch Volunteer Schedule
May
5/9 Monday
5/10 Tuesday
5/11 Wednesday
5/12 Thursday
5/13 Friday
5/16 Monday
5/17 Tuesday
5/18 Wednesday
5/19 Thursday
5/20 Friday
5/23 Monday
5/24 Tuesday
5/25 Wednesday
5/26 Thursday
5/27 Friday
5/30 Monday
5/31 Tuesday
June
Greco, Higgins, Maresca
Jennings, Nelson, Patyk
Oths, Racich, Tarazi
Kear, Lupo, Perrin
Klayman, O’Neill, Rowley
Rollins, Schreibman, Slutsky
Minhas, Sparno, Melanie Smith
Stanton, Walsh, Wheeler
Salem, Shafran, Zychowski
Wilcock, Alpert, Barsily
Anderson, Caminiti, Conti
D’Agostino, Day, Dellaratta
Dickens, Doherty, Euvino
Fagan, Farlekas, Gangemi
Graham, Grieco, Higgins
**NO SCHOOL**
Greco, Jennings, Nelson
6/1 Wednesday
6/2 Thursday
6/3 Friday
6/6 Monday
6/7 Tuesday
6/8 Wednesday
6/9 Thursday
6/10 Friday
6/13 Monday
6/14 Tuesday
6/15 Wednesday
6/16 Thursday
6/17 Friday
6/20 Monday
Maresca, Byrne, Patyk
Lupo, O’Neill, Salem
Kear, Klayman, Tarazzi
Rollins, Perrin, Schreibman
Melanie Smith, Sparno, Walsh
Wheeler, Zychowski, Alpert
Shafran, Racich, Stanton
Slutsky, Wilcock, Anderson
Barsily, Oths, Caminiti
Caminiti, D’Agostino, Euvino
Conti, Day, Dickens
Dellaratta, Farlekas, Gangemi
Doherty, Fagan, Graham
Greco, Grieco, Higgins
From the Hilltop Library
Last day of circulation
Friday, May 13th ...
last day for Kindergarteners to check out books from the Hilltop Library
Friday, May 20th ...
last day for 1st-4th graders to check out books from the Hilltop Library
All library books must be returned by Friday, May 27th.
Exceptions will absolutely be made for research needs, classroom book clubs, and any
other learning opportunities that require additional literary resources.
4
MOUNTAIN VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
May 6, 2011
Principal’s Corner
An enormous THANK YOU to all the parents who contributed their time,
money, culinary talents, and creativity to create a wonderful week for all staff
members at Mountain View. Special thanks to Mrs. Frigo and Mrs. Lackland who did
an incredible job planning and coordinating the effort. We all felt truly special and
appreciated. Your efforts humble us all!
Congratulations to MaggieRose Connell who is a winner in the 2011 Luna
Kaufman Writing and Art Contest.
MaggieRose’s original piece “Lights Out”
chronicled the heartbreaking and true story of the harrowing experiences of
Holocaust victim Nadine Schatz. The piece, written in the first person, pays tribute to
the courage and enduring spirit of all who suffered.
MaggieRose will be honored at the Annual Colloquium sponsored by the Holocaust,
Genocide, and Human Rights Education Center at Brookdale Community College.
MaggieRose’s piece is under consideration for publication in the fifth volume of the
Student Anthology published by the Holocaust, Genocide, & Human Rights Education
Center. We are so proud of the writing our students are producing and are delighted
with the recognition and accolades our young authors receive!
The 5th grade has several important messages. First and foremost, many thanks to all for enthusiastic parental
participation in our 1st annual “Games for Family” convention! Our young scientists are very creative!
Secondly, please note that there will not be any extra help in the mornings with any of the 5th grade teachers
next week, as we will be preparing for the administration of the NJASK. This includes The Poetry Club on
Friday, May 13th. This brings us to our final message: the entire 5th grade will be taking the NJASK on
Monday, May 9th through Thursday, May 12th. It is very important that our students are well rested – that means
early to bed! Please be sure that they come to school having eaten a good breakfast. We have been preparing
for the last few weeks and our students are ready! It would be wonderful if you would take some time over the
weekend to review with your child some of the materials on which we have been working.
We are entering the home-stretch now — let’s all have a wonderful spring to the finish!
5
Dates to Remember:
May 3-6
9-12
20
24-26
27
30
6-8th grade NJ Ask Testing
(make-up testing May 9-13)
5th grade NJ Ask Testing
(make-up testing May 16-20)
Dorney Park band trip
8th grade Washington Trip
Mt. View Junior Band & Chorus to
Hilltop School 8:30 am
No School – Memorial Day
June
2
13
14
16
17
20
Festival of the Arts
Student Teacher Day
Flag Day
7 & 8th grade class picnic – Lewis Morris
5 & 6th grade Field Day
Move up day for students
8th grade Graduation
Last day of school (tentative)
6
Mountain View Class of 2012
Hanging Basket Sale
Just in time for MOTHER’S DAY! Free delivery in Mendham Boro
Proceeds go to Class of ’12 Washington DC trip
*Full sun premium annuals, a total of 6 plants, 2 each of 3 different varieties that
may include: verbena, petunia, lantana, biden, calibriachoa, lobelia, angelonia,
bocopa. Photo does not show combination basket.
12” combination white basket*: $25
FAMILY NAME
ADDRESS
2 baskets: $45
QUANTITY
REQUESTED DELIVERY
DATE
TOTAL:
We will deliver May 5, 6, or 7 (option to pick up at MV too)
Make checks payable to: Mendham Borough H.S.A.
Send form to MV office, Attn: plant sale
Orders must be placed by: Tuesday, April 26
7
8
Students of Mountain View Middle School’s Class of 2014, are running a series of service
projects throughout Mendham Borough on May 6th & 7th, as a fundraiser for their Fall 2011
Environmental Education Trip.
Projects align with the principles of the trip.
Funds collected go to underwrite the per student cost of attending.
Please support them and help them Make it Better!
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Electronics Recycling Collection
Mountain View Middle School
May 7th 9am—1pm
Partnering with GreenVision to collect:
anything with a plug or battery but
without freon; including TVs and
monitors smaller than 32”, telephones
& cellphones.
Clothing & Textiles Collection
Mountain View Middle School
May 7th 9am—1pm
Partnering with Millenium
International Textiles, Inc. to collect:
Clothing, bedding, footwear,
handbags, small hard & soft toys and
stuffed animals
How can you support the Class of 2014?
Make a pledge at www.mendhamboroHSA.org/MakeItBetter
Bring your used clothing, textiles and electronics to our collection
While there pick up a treat for Mother’s Day at our Bake Sale
Make it Better today!
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STUFFED ANIMAL COLLECTION
May 16th -June 1st
As you start your spring cleaning please set aside your unwanted
stuffed animals for the class of 2012 - they will be used as prizes
at the 2011/12 8th grade fair. More info. to come.
10
HSA HAPPENINGS…
H.S.A. presents:
Friday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m.
In the Hilltop gymnasium
Open to all students and parents of
Mendham Borough Schools
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s educational division, Shakespeare LIVE! offers a
fresh, imaginative take on this perennial audience favorite. When starry-eyed young lovers and
zany would-be actors cross paths with mischief-making fairies in a magical forest, the result is
one of the world’s most uproarious comedies. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the ideal “first
Shakespeare” for elementary grades, and a riotous roller-coaster ride for teens (and teachers).
Recommended for grades: 3 – up
Performance is 75 minutes
Free of charge but email: Sharon Corbett at [email protected] to reserve a seat
Visit the theatre’s website for more information about the show.
http://www.shakespearenj.org/Education/LIVE/Midsummer/Info.html
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BALLOONS IN JUNE!!!!!!!!!
A WONDERFUL TRADITION TO
CONGRATULATE OUR MV GRADUATES!
Imagine coming home to find the mailboxes and front porches of
Mountain View graduates covered with cheerful graduation balloons!
Each balloon holds cards of good wishes and congratulations from
family and friends. Please help us make this a reality by supporting the
sixth annual “Balloons in June” fundraiser sponsored by the 7th grade
class. This is a fun way to congratulate your child, neighbor,
babysitter, or friend… on this milestone.
-18” Mylar Balloons will be delivered to the graduate’s home
(with your personal messages attached)
-Deadline for ordering is June 10, 2011
-$5.00 per balloon (please use a 3x5 index card for your
personal messages)
After the June 10th deadline, $10.00 per balloon
-Make checks payable to Mendham Borough HSA
-Questions? Contact Jennifer Lackland at (H) 973-543-0129
Or (C) 973-557-8511 or Kathy Fischer at (C) 862-222-2932
-Mail completed form with payment and personalized cards to
Jennifer Lackland at 14 Balbrook Dr., Mendham, NJ 07945
Your Name:_________________________
Phone #:__________________________
Graduate’s Name:______________________
Address:___________________________
# of Balloons: _____ x $5.00 Total $:_____
Leave at Mailbox: _____ Other Location: _____
-If you are ordering balloons for more than one graduate, you must fill out a separate order form for each person
-Your index card with your personal message should accompany each order form and payment
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THANK YOU TO H.S.A. VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BROUGHT SPRING TO THE FRONT OF OUR SCHOOLS:
LINDA BARTZAK, at Hilltop and KATHERINE
SCHMADEL and LOU ANN CHIOTELIS at Mountain
View. YOUR TIME AND CREATIVITY IS APPRECIATED
MY THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
H.S.A. IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN
UP FOR VOLUNTEER POSITIONS, PROVIDE DIRECTORY
INFORMATION, AND PAY YOUR H.S.A. DUES – ON LINE!
NO MORE “PINK FORMS”. LOOK FOR DETAILS IN YOUR
EBLAST AND BULLETIN, SOON!
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MENDHAM BOROUGH LIBRARY HAPPENINGS…
Special and New Programs at Mendham Borough Library
Mother’s Day Craft and Puppet Show – Saturday, May 7 at 11am
Plant a flower and decorate a flower pot for Mom for her big day! The fun will kick off at 11 am with a
special puppet show performed by 5th grade students from Mountain View. Mother’s Day craft will be
available between 11:30 am – 2:00 pm.
Chess Club – Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 pm
Join us for the last meeting of the school year!
Caterpillar Craft – Friday, May 13 at 3:30 pm
Enjoy a snack and make your own friendly caterpillar!
Bird Biscuits – Friday, May 20 at 3:30 pm
Enjoy a snack while you make one for the birds.
Pottery Class with Shelley Rosen Howard – For 5th graders and up
Join us on Tuesday afternoons in May for four sessions of the popular program.
Kids will learn special building techniques and create and decorate their own clay clock. Classes are sequential
so participants should plan on attending all four sessions: May 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Space is
limited, so please call or stop by to sign up.
Books and Bagels: Saturday May 14th at 10:30.
Join others who love to read. Do you or your book group want reading suggestions? Mendham Borough
Library will sponsor an informal book discussion group in the Fletcher Gallery. Come meet your neighbors and
enjoy a cup of coffee and a bagel.
Please register for these programs at the library or by calling 973 543-4152
Ongoing Programs
Sing-A-Long with Mary Kornick
Monday: Toddlers at 10:30 am
Kindergarten Kids
Tuesday at 3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Preschool Story times
Thursday at 2:00 pm.
(10:30 am Cancelled)
After School Book Clubs
1st Grade – Thursdays 3:15 – 4:15
2nd Grade – Mondays 3:15 – 4:15
3rd and 4th Grade Book Club – Wednesday 3:15 – 4:15
Middle School Book Club – Thursday 3:30 – 4:30
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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS…
Mendham Township Library
What You Can Do About Cyber Bullying!
Young Adult Leadership Council
Invites You to a Community Forum with
Mark Castellano, Detective Supervisor
Of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
Thursday, May 19th 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Brookside Community Church
Grades 5 +, Parents, Community
To Register call 973-543-4018 or email [email protected]
The Pastime Club is proud to sponsor Circus
Vidbel The Original Olde Tyme Circus Under the
Big Top!
Friday, May 13, 2011
5:00 pm & 7:30pm
at
Mendham Borough Park
Mountain & Park Avenues
Tickets $12 in advance
$15 at the door, kids under 2 are free!
Seating is limited, so get your tickets in advance at:
Mendham Books
Blue Ridge Pool—Fireplace Center
Robinson Drug Shop
Please buy your tickets in advance, as the money
from advance ticket sales stays in Mendham!
Questions? Please call Tom Callahan – 732-319-2033
The Pastime Club has been donating to athletic groups in the Mendhams and Chesters for nearly a century.
Last year, the nonprofit club donated more than $25,000 to schools and community programs such as Little
League, youth soccer and football. Founded in 1915, the group is one of the area’s most generous
sponsors. There is a sense of responsibility to the surrounding area’s youth. “It’s the reason the club exists,”
says John Petrella, Pastime president.
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Cub Scout
Pack 133
Mendham, NJ
Cub Scout Pack 133’s Den 6
Collection in Support of the
Raptor Trust
through May 13th
The Raptor Trust, one of the premier wild bird rehabilitation centers in
the US, is located in Basking Ridge, NJ. At this time of year the Trust is extremely busy
rehabilitating injured birds - especially young nestlings. Many items are needed to help care
for the 50 hawks, eagles, falcons and owls that have a permanent home at the center, and the
thousands of birds they help rehabilitate annually. Please consider sending in one of the items
on the following list and help support the work of this fabulous organization:
Tissues (unscented without lotion)
Paper Towels
Trash bags (large, medium, and small)
Towels (without frayed edges)
Corn meal
Apples
Grapes & Blue Berries
Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy Chow
Beech Nut Chicken & Chicken Broth Stage 1
Small block suet
ZuPreem™ ferret food
Birdseed (any and all)
Heating pads
Plastic cat and dog food bowls
Especially needed right now are tissues and paper towels, which are used to line the nests and
need to be changed daily. There will be a clearly labeled collection box in the front hallway of
both Hilltop and Mountain View schools, where you can place your donations. Donations will
be collected through May 13th.
In addition, there are several other items that can be donated to help the trust, but which
would be difficult to manage through the collection boxes at school:
Gift Cards to Supermarkets or Pet stores
Artificial Christmas Trees
Bleach
Gallon jugs of distilled water
Reams of 8 ½ x 10 ½ copy paper (blue, white, and yellow)
Please contact Adriana Doherty, [email protected], or Amy Johanson,
[email protected], if you would like to arrange for a scout to pick up one of these items
from you.
For more information about the Raptor Trust please visit www.theraptortrust.org.
The Raptor Trust and the scouts of Den 6 thank you!
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Mendham Cub Scout Pack 133’s
Annual Open House
Friday, May 6th @ 7:00pm
Fellowship Hall of Hilltop House
Join us at our May Pack Meeting, meet the scouts & leaders of Cub Scout Pack
133 and learn about the many programs & activities we offer.
Stay for our Late Night, where we will show the film
Up (PG)
Boys entering 1st through 5th grade in September are welcome.
For more information or to request a registration packet,
Please contact one of the names listed below:
Tricia Elgarten
Pack Co-chair
973-540-0665
[email protected]
or
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Adriana Doherty
Membership Coordinator
973-543-8851
[email protected]