February 8, 2016

Tim and I hope you enjoyed the Super-Bowl and had a relaxing weekend, and maybe even won a few dollars.  This is the lead up to Valentine's Day, and we wanted to have some fun this week and play our version of Love Connection.  We have posted the image of one person who is part of a famous couple in each of your rooms/mailboxes.  Your job will be to find the missing piece of your couple.  Everyone~teachers, aides, custodians, cafeteria staff, secretaries, and administrators have a picture.  The first three couples to call the office with their match wins what every teacher desires-Dunkin Gift Cards.  

Great Things Noticed

In Lori Loredo's class students were working independently on a writing draft.  While this was taking place Lori pulled one student at a time to conference about a previous piece of writing.  She was able to give specific feedback using the 'data tracker' in her classroom.  The students are able to take the information from the conference and then apply parts of it into their new piece of writing.  These conferences lasted about 7 minutes each, which is an optimal amount of time for students to receive meaningful feedback and allow the teacher enough time to meet with several other students in the same time period.   Way to go Lori!

In Mike Linskey's class students are in control of their learning.   Students enter the class, grab their folders and begin to work.  Instead of waiting for everyone to trickle in and wait to give instructions, the students have already scheduled for themselves what they will be working on the moment they enter class.  Students were cognizant of the scheduling factor, and not wanting to fall behind.  I even heard a few of them discussing what they would have to do to get back on track without the teacher even present.  Not only are they learning math, but life-skills as well!

Mrs. Randall's class had students discovering how oxygen levels in their lungs change through exercise.  The students conducted experiments which everyone in the class loved, but then she was able to have students follow through from the 'fun' part of the class to the piece where they needed to think more critically.  Students had to write a concluding paragraph about the experiment and were provided 'how to' cards to scaffold the learning.  7th graders then had to tackle this problem:  Does gender affect the rate of cellular respiration? Great question Melissa!

The chorus and band traveled to Lenape for their All-Schools Concert this past week. The students blew the audience away with their performance. Dante Cornella and Cori Scaturo were able to have the students practice songs during rehearsals, but then when they went to Lenape they played/sang with Stanhope and Netcong and Lenape Valley. They were able to put together a huge musical jigsaw puzzle, and the students performed brilliantly!!! Huge props to Dante and Cori!

Mrs. Naimo's class was recently in the Township Journal, as her students were highlighted for the great work they did with their art illustration pieces. Check out the article HERE.  We are so lucky to have art work that is this wonderful displayed in our hall-ways on a daily basis.  

8th Grade ELA has tackled Shakespeare this year.  Amy Stevens and Lori Loredo provided TONS of scaffolding for the students, who now feel confident reading from The Bard of Avon.  Their write up was also featured in the Township Journal, but I cannot seem to find the link on their website, if someone locates it please send it to us!

Upcoming Events:

February 8 Faculty Meeting

February 11 I & R S Meeting

February 12 BIS Spotlight

February 15-17 Winter Break – SCHOOL CLOSED

February 22 IDE Visit

February 24 BOE Meeting


Nuts & Bolts:

• Now that we are half-way through the year please work with your teams to determine if anyone is in danger of failing a subject for the year.  This would mean if they have earned a D or lower for the 1st two marking periods we need to send a letter home notifying the parents.  As always, please be sure to contact parents if you notice a student is struggling a great deal.  Having the parents checking parent portal is not enough for some of our students, we need to work together to develop a plan.

• As technology is becoming more and more a part of everyone's life we would like to form a Technology Committee made up of educators, parents, and even students.  Each person has a slightly different perspective on how technology should be used both in and out of school and by working together we hope can have a technology department that keeps students safe, while allowing them learning opportunities that interest and excite their minds.  If you are interested in being a part of this committee please fill out the form below.  We are hoping to have one parent and teacher from every grade level on the committee.  

Tech Tips:


Top Ten Teacher Add-ons for Google Chrome


Writing Worth Reading:
Mindful Facilitation: In a PBL class  by Laura Thomas