Woodland Park School District News

Welcome to the Woodland Park School District e-Newsletter which is sent out weekly when school is in session. It serves as a glimpse of some of the wonderful things going on in our schools, as well as a point of reference for upcoming events.

Your Partner in Education,

Michele R. Pillari, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Commencement was held on Thursday evening for the Memorial School Class of 2023 on the school field complex. The theme was “Dreams and Memories.” The event featured performances by the seventh and eighth grade chorus and concert band. Speakers included Class President Yoseph Khaled, Class Vice President Jenan Moraktan, and class representative Jordin Campbell. We wish all the very best to our graduates on their next chapter in high school!

The class of 2023's last two days at Memorial Middle School were busy ones. Yesterday, the class spent part of their morning signing each other's yearbooks and then enjoyed an ice cream treat courtesy of the Home & School Association Eighth Grade Committee. This morning, following the taking of the annual class photo, the eighth grade students enjoyed some games of volleyball with their fellow classmates and staff members.

PreK-4 students at School 1 and Charles Olbon School held moving-up celebrations in their classrooms for their parents/guardians to close the year. The students showcased their skills and took part in a visual storytelling of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which was the theme of the event and marked the end of the students' study on insects.

Beatrice Gilmore School held its clap-out this afternoon for the fifth grade students moving up to middle school (above). The clap-out line stretched the sideway from BG to the Memorial School blacktop, signifying the move up. The second grade class at Charles Olbon School, below, walked the halls for the last time this afternoon and were clapped out of the building by family and friends.

The Memorial Middle School eighth grade dance was held last Friday night at The Cosmopolitan in Wayne. Before dancing the night away at the beautiful event, the students took some photos at Dowling Gardens. Thanks to the Memorial Middle School Home & School Association Eighth Grade Committee for all its hard work this year to organize and nearly fully fund the formal.

An orientation for Charles Olbon School second grade students was held Monday morning at Beatrice Gilmore School. At BG, the second graders got guided tours courtesy of the BG Influencers in addition to an overview of the school.

The Beatrice Gilmore School fifth grade celebrated the end of their elementary school years with a fun day Monday. Following their orientation and tour at Memorial Middle School, they enjoyed the Wild & Wacky Show, which was provided to them through the fundraising efforts of the BG Home & School Association. The HSA also provided the students with t-shirts and ice pops.

The seventh grade class at Memorial Middle School enjoyed a field trip this year to Liberty Science Center. Students watched an IMAX presentation on climate change, explored various exhibits and even the teachers had some fun hanging around (see photo at top left). Students and staff had a blast!

As an end to their fairy tales reading unit, Ms. Healey and Ms. Burke’s second grade class at Charles Olbon School performed reader’s theater skits for the first graders in the outdoor classroom at CO. The students did an outstanding performance!

Memorial Middle School's House of Water enjoyed a house field trip to Dave & Busters in Wayne as a reward for being the winning house for the 2022-2023 school year. This was the first year of having the winning house earn a field trip.

The LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program concluded at Memorial Middle School with a pizza party and graduation Wednesday for all the eighth grade students. LEAD is similar to the now-defunct DARE program. Special thanks to Woodland Park Police Department Ofc. Derrick Morrison, Det. Omaira Carino, Det. Al Panicci, and Ofc. Lidia Aguilar for bringing this program to the students.

Over 10 weekly lessons, LEAD teaches real-world issues and how to make good choices for their future. The program was also presented to all fourth graders at Beatrice Gilmore, which also concluded with a pizza party and graduation.

The Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday evening recognized six long-time members of the District. We send our gratitude to each for their dedication and service to our students and wish them the very best in the next chapter of their lives.

• Nancy Munro – 28 years
  
• Anna Maria Tundo – 26 years
  
• Donna McCluskey – 26 years
  
• Kerry McGlame – 22 years
  
• Sharon Riggi – 20 years
  
• Lynn Meeker – 16 years
  

This week, Memorial Middle School's staff celebrated Mrs. McCluskey, sixth grade math teacher, for her 26 years of service at Memorial School. On the final day of school, the school held a clap out for her. Her daughter, Ms. Lori McCluskey, seventh grade social studies teacher, and her son surprised her with flowers and balloons. It was an emotional event for all. We wish her the best in retirement and hope she comes back to visit!

Students in Ms. Ament and Ms. Elman’s science classes received science awards this week. This is an end-of-the-year tradition in seventh grade science. Awards include the Albert Einstein Award, Potential Energy Award, the Magnetism Award, and many more. Students loved guessing which student won each award!

Students in Ms. Rengulbai and Ms. Elman’s seventh grade math classes competed throughout the year to earn a reward for the most iReady Math MyPath minutes and passed lessons. Students in Period 2/3 were the winners and earned a class pizza party! Students were very excited and proud of themselves for this academic achievement!

The Woodland Park American Legion Auxiliary Unit #238 Americanism essay contest winners for 2023 were celebrated on Wednesday evening. The following Beatrice Gilmore and Memorial Middle School students were the winners at the Unit Level:

• Third grade winner - Ava Kharel
• Honorable mention - Emily Carfi, Alexa Chiaravallo
• Fourth grade winner - Hazel McQuinn
• Honorable mention - Lucas Ortega, Francesca Huelmo
• Fifth grade winner - Alex Billson
• Honorable mention - Lauren U. Navales
• Seventh grade winner - Jenai Cariello
• Honorable mention - Chelsea Sorto, Patricia Tiseo

The following students are winners at the Passaic County level:

• Class I - Grades 3 and 4 - Ava Kharel and Hazel McQuinn
• Class II - Grades 5 and 6 - Alex Billson
• Class III - Grades 7 and 8 - Jenai Cariello

All county winners’ essays now move on for consideration at the state level. Congratulations to all the winners!

Memorial Middle School eighth grade student Alexander DeSantis was honored at the Passaic Valley Elks Lodge in Totowa following its Flag Day ceremony for his Americanism essay contest win. Alexander's essay on "What Is The American Dream?" was both lodge-level winner and district-level winner this year. He was presented with a certificate and gift card at the ceremony. Congratulations Alexander!

Ms. Face’s PreK-3 class at School 1 has been studying balls. Students experimented with different balls seeing which ones sink and which ones float. They discussed why they float and sink - which were solid and which were hollow.

Ms. Wittig and Ms. Pam's PreK-3 class at School 1 has been enjoying the balls study. Students compared and contrasted sensory balls today and then got to play with them. They've been having a ball!

Memorial Middle School staff on Tuesday celebrated Ms. Katzenberger’s upcoming wedding with a shower at lunchtime. Ms. Katzenberger is Memorial’s new social worker. We are so lucky to have her join our staff this year!

The Alfred Baumann Library will host the following programs. Visit the Library's website here or Facebook page here. Its phone is 973-345-8120. Email is library@abwplibrary.org.

Until June 24 - Library programming will be limited as the staff and volunteers pack and move to the temporary location at Berkeley College while building renovations are being done.

Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. - Shell Science STEAM for grades 3-6 (to be held in the Municipal Building community room). Register here.

Monday, June 19, 10 a.m. - Weigh To Go weight loss support group (to be held in the Municipal Building community room.) Register here.

Tuesday, June 20, 1 p.m. - Crafternoon (to be held in the Municipal Building community room.) Enjoy making a beautiful craft to take home Register here.

Wednesday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join in to work on a craft of your choice (to be held in the Municipal Building community room.) Register here.

Thursday, June 22, 11 a.m. - Unwind With Pat. Join Pat to unwind with the craft of your choice (to be held in the Municipal Building community room.) Register here.

Thursday, June 22, 12 p.m. - Sit & Fit chair exercise class (to be held in the Municipal Building community room). Register here.

Friday, June 23, 11 a.m. - Legos for Seniors (to be held in the Municipal Building community room). Who said Legos are just for kids? Come get creative building with Legos. Register here.

Tuesday, June 27, 6 p.m. - Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Woodland Park Public Library at Berkeley College, 44 Rifle Camp Rd. All are welcome to help the Library open its temporary space on campus.

Tuesday, June 27, 6:30 p.m. - Summer Reading Kick-Off with Miss Jolie for all ages at the Library at Berkeley College, 44 Rifle Camp Rd. Help kick off summer reading with special guest Miss Jolie. Enjoy her songs and participate in her fantastic bubble show. Register for summer reading, receive free giveaways, and enter for a chance to win two tickets to a Red Bulls game. Register here.

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Email: mpillari@wpschools.org
Website: www.wpschools.org
Location: 853 McBride Avenue, Woodland Park, NJ 07424, USA
Phone: 973-317-7711