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

Mrs. Skibinski, Ms. Omran, and Mrs. Behnken’s class from Memorial Middle School visited LifeTown in Livingston, an inclusive and accessible center designed to celebrate and experience life together. At the heart of LifeTown is a simulated town square with shops, sidewalks, streets, traffic lights, a park, and a movie theater, where students practiced real-life skills.

The students had the opportunity to withdraw real money from the bank to make real purchases, such as designed t-shirts, snacks and drinks at the ShopRite, ice cream, popcorn, bicycles rentals, and nail and hair services. Some students chose to take on jobs alongside the friendly and helpful volunteers, earning money in the process. Students also enjoyed recreational activities in the gymnasium, including basketball, trampolining, tunnel climbing, and sliding into the ball pit.

When asked if they’d like to return, their enthusiastic response was a resounding, “YES!” The experience was both educational and fun, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Charles Olbon School on Tuesday kicked off its annual American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge. Each grade was given a short assembly by Ms. Lori with the American Heart Association to introduce the program and provide the initiative timeline.

Throughout the Kids Heart Challenge program, students will be learning ways to keep their hearts happy and healthy and how to save a life when completing Finn’s Mission. Families are encouraged to complete this mission together, where they will learn the warning signs of stroke and how to perform hands-only CPR. The class from each grade with the most Finn’s Missions complete will receive the Golden Duck Lifesaver Award.

Students and families are asked to help raise funds for the American Heart Association throughout the campaign. As an incentive, if the school community raises over $6,000 Mr. Volpe will get slimed and if over $7,000 is raised Mrs. Scholtz will get slimed.

Beatrice Gilmore School ESL teacher Mrs. Najim led a special and unique event, Read Around the World, on Wednesday morning. Each student and their family presented a story in their native language as well as in English. Third grade classes had the opportunity to listen to and enjoy stories in two different languages, starting with one language before rotating to the next. To create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, students wore their pajamas and brought their stuffed animals. It was a spectacular event!

Charles Olbon held its monthly CO Heroes assembly on Friday. These students were recognized for exhibiting the CO rules (be a leader, be a worker, be a friend) as well as adhering to the character education program the Six Pillars of Character. The Six Pillars are caring, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship.

First graders in Miss Webb's class at Charles Olbon School have been working on collecting and comparing data during math. On Jan. 31, students learned about Groundhog Day and predicted whether they thought the groundhog would see his shadow or not. As a class, they put the data from those predictions into the three different types of graphs/charts they have been working on.

Students in Ms. Odaman's PreK-3 class at School 1 learned all about pet care by feeding and taking care of pets in their pet shop play area.

In Mrs.DiBona's third grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School, students watched and discussed Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech I Have a Dream. Students wrote, drew, and shared their personal dreams for the world and they made it into an Our Dreams for the World book for the classroom library.

The students in Mrs. Herbert and Ms. Bonnie’s PreK-3 class at School 1 listened to the book Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins. After listening to the story they drew a picture about the book and then retold the book in their own words.

Mrs. Tobia and Ms. A’s PreK-4 class at School 1 had a visit from Mr. Kyad, Clementine's dad, who came into class and showed them how to make a popper out of a tube, pom-poms and balloons. The students ripped and glued tissue paper to decorate the paper tube and put a balloon on one end. They put pom-poms inside and POP the pom-poms flew out of the tube!

Mrs. DiBona's third grade class at Beatrice Gilmore School was so excited to welcome their January mystery readers. The all really enjoyed listening to the read-alouds and taking part in the fun activities with Yusuf's parents and with Jaime’s mom when they visited the class over the past two weeks!

Mayor Tracy Kallert, the Borough Council, and Alfred H. Baumann Public Library are proud to partner with Sen. Kristin Corrado’s Socks for Soldiers initiative for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project.

Clean, unworn socks are one of the most requested items by service members — and you can help make a difference! Collection dates: Jan. 20 to Feb. 15. Drop-off locations: Alfred H. Baumann Public Library (44 Rifle Camp Rd.), the Woodland Park Municipal Building (5 Brophy Lane), and the WP Boys & Girls Club (8 Memorial Drive.)

The Alfred Baumann Library, 44 Rifle Camp Rd., 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. Register for events here.