CDW Weekly Wrap-Up

The CDW Students will choose their Curriculum Extension (CE) choices for Marking Period 1 of the 2024-2025 School Year. Students need to make sure that they are completing the form for the grade level that they will be entering. The forms will be open to students on Dr. Sullivan's Google Classroom on Thursday, May 30, 2024. In addition, students will be able to sign up for Art Lunch.

Please see the descriptions of the possible CE choices below. We will do our best to get students into their first choice, but it is not guaranteed.

The Northern Valley Criterion-Referenced Tests are developed by committees of teachers from schools in the Valley. The tests, which provide useful program planning information, are a viable measure of inter-district commitment and cooperation in order to achieve a sequential and articulated curriculum among the elementary and secondary schools in the region. The testing program is supported by the Northern Valley Schools Consortium and local boards of education in the region.

CDW students in Grades 5-7 will take the Criterion-Referenced Test on Friday, June 7th, which will provide specific information about a student's understanding of math content according to their grade levels.

For Current Grade 5 Students:
All Grade 5 students will take the Grade 5 Criterion-Referenced Test, as explained above. This test offers us a gauge of student performance. For students who perform extraordinarily well on this test, earning a score of 95% or higher, they will be asked to sit for a secondary assessment. Families of these identified students will be notified. The purpose of a secondary assessment would be to ascertain the selected students' potential success in skipping Grade 6 Math and moving directly into accelerated Pre-Algebra as a sixth grader. You will be notified by July 1st if your child is eligible to make this Grade 6 Math skip.

To be eligible for this Grade 6 course skip, the students would have to:

• Earn a score of 95% or higher on the Grade 5 Criterion-Referenced Test, as stated directly above
• Earn a score of 90% or higher on the secondary math placement test, as explained above
• Earn a minimum average of 95% or higher for each marking period in Grade 5 Math
• Earn teacher recommendation, based on class performance, work ethic, motivation, ability to work independently, and participation

• Earn a 796 or higher on the NJSLA-Math Grade 4 Assessment

For Current Grade 6 Students:
In Grade 7, we offer two courses of study: Pre-Algebra, which is an accelerated course, and Grade 7 Math, which is an average-level course. Prior to placing students into either Pre-Algebra or Grade 7 Math, the following criteria are considered:

• Teacher recommendation, based on class performance, work ethic, motivation, ability to work independently, and participation
• Criterion-Referenced Test Score (math placement test) of 85% or higher - see test explanation above
• Year-end math average of 93% or higher
• Earn a 775 or higher on the NJSLA-Math Grade 5 Assessment

*Notification of course placement will be communicated to all families by July 1st.

For Current Grade 7 Students:

We use the Criterion-Referenced Test to assess students' current placement and to determine if movement into Algebra I is appropriate in Grade 8. Families of these identified students would be notified within 10 days of the last student taking the Grade 7 Criterion-Referenced Test. The purpose of a secondary assessment would be to ascertain the selected students' potential success in skipping accelerated Grade 7 Pre-Algebra and moving directly into Algebra as an eighth grader. You will be notified by July 1st if your child is eligible to sit for this secondary assessment during the summer to determine if an accelerated Grade 7 Pre-Algebra skip is appropriate.

To be eligible for this accelerated Pre-algebra course skip, the students would have to:

• Earn a score of 95% or higher on the Grade 7 Criterion-Referenced Test
• Earn a score of 90% or higher on the secondary math placement test
• Earn a minimum average of 95% or higher for each marking period in Grade 7 Math
• Earn teacher recommendation, based on class performance, work ethic, motivation, ability to work independently, and participation
• Earn a 775 or higher on the NJSLA-Math Grade 6 Assessment

If your child(ren) still has a CDW library book in his/her possession, please have him/her return it to Mrs. Melillo in the CDW Media Center no later than June 1st. If your child(ren) does not return the book or reimburse Mrs. Melillo for a lost book, he/she will not receive his/her report card on June 19th.

On Monday, May 13th, the Old Tappan Board of Education recognized the outstanding accomplishments of our students. The students who made the Marking Period 3 High Honor Roll received a certificate from the BOE, in addition to the students who earned the AMC 8 awards listed below.

Below are AMC 8 awards earned by CDW students at our location.

• Archer Ring - Certificate of Achievement. (Student in 6th grade or below who scored above a 15 on the AMC 8.)

• Justin Lee - Honor Roll (Score in the top 5% nationally.)

• Juwon Jeong - Honor Roll (Score in the top 5% nationally.)

• Juwon Jeong - Team Member (2nd Place at our location.)

• Hannah Moon- Honor Roll (Score in the top 5% nationally.)

• Hannah Moon - Team Member (Top score at our location.)

On Tuesday, May 14th, the 2024 National Junior Honor Society Induction took place in the Rossi Gym at CDW. Each student successfully met the criteria and will continue to demonstrate the pillars of the National Junior Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. The prestigious ceremony was led by Ms. Santa, the NJHS Adviser, and the current Grade 8 NJHS students.

The 8th grade National Junior Honor Society members displayed their Changemaker projects. Some of the Changemaker projects that were displayed included: Operation Gratitude scarves, Kindness Rocks, Book Drive, Sports Equipment Drive, Pajamas for Pediatrics, and more.

As always, Mr. Rosolanko and the CDW bands, along with Ms. Osbahr and the choir, filled the CDW Lynch Gym with joyful sounds of music! The students have improved immensely since the Winter Concerts, and they should be proud of their accomplishments.

Spring Program

Grade 5

Midnight Mission by Brian Balmages

The Lost Kingdom by John O'Reilly

Grade 6

Majestica by Brian Balmages

Battle Command by William Owens

Happy by Pharrell Williams

Grade 7

Prelude and March by Bob Margolis

Enter the Olympians by Steve Rouse

Fires of Mazama by Michael Sweeney

Best Song Ever by One Direction

Grade 8

Aggressivo by Randall Standridge

Temblor by Sean O'Loughlin

Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Choir

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish

Seaons of Love by Jonathan Larsen

No One Is Alone by Stephen Sondheim

Today, the Grade 8 band students left early in the morning to take a trip to perform at Manchester Township High School where they scored a SUPERIOR rating, the highest you can get! Their hard work paid off because then they enjoyed the rest of the day at Great Adventure!

7th Grade Update - Any 7th graders who are interested in joining OTBN, there will be an interest meeting with more information on Tuesday, May 21st right after school in Room 401. If you cannot make that meeting, there will be a second meeting on Thursday, May 23rd right after school. Any questions or concerns, please have your child(ren) see Mr. Johnson.

Due to the 8th Grade Band Trip to Six Flags, OTBN was a bit short-staffed today, but Ava Puma came to the rescue by doing the entire broadcast by herself, which is a new OTBN record! Thank you for stepping up, Ava!

Thank you to the PTO for providing foods from a variety of countries for the CDW students to enjoy! A special thank you to the servers and cooks who participated in this successful event.

On Friday, May 10th, the PTO hosted the Color Run on the CDW Field. It was a blast, and the students had so much fun!

After learning how to conjugate -AR verbs in Spanish class. Students in 6th grade collaborated with a classmate (or two) to create a song and music video. They picked a song, made new unique lyrics, and recorded a music video that demonstrated how to conjugate AR verbs in Spanish. See examples below.

Video 1

Video 2

The CDW band students will once again perform together during the Old Tappan Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27th. The parade starts around 9:30 AM at NVOT and concludes at approximately 10:15 AM at Oakes Park.

If band students have any questions, they should contact Mr. Rosolanko at rosolanko@nvnet.org.

Ms. Vetrero will be doing a fun activity with her TBD students in music class, and she is requesting the donation of the materials listed below. Please drop them off at the TBD or CDW Main Office.

Plastic Straws

Empty Kleenex Boxes

Empty Paper Towel Rolls

Old Plastic Eggs that are not being used

Rice

Beans

Empty Metal Coffee Cans

Plastic Forks/Spoons

8th Grade

On Thursday, May 16th, NVOT sent out an email providing information about this year's 8th Grade Social at NVOT on June 3rd from 4:00 PM-5:30 PM. Students should arrive at 3:45 PM. Please note that the pizza social is for students only. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Ms. Heather MacRae at macrae@nvnet.org.

Please see below if 8th graders are interested in participating in sports and/or performing arts:

Athletics: NVOT Sports Interest Survey

Performing Arts: NVOT Performing Arts Interest Survey

Grade 8 Past Due

Please remember to notify Ms. Adamo if your child is NOT attending NVOT in the fall. Here is the link to the form that needs to be filled out and returned to her by ASAP. If she does not receive this form, then your child(ren)’s records will be sent to NVOT. If your child is attending the IIDT or Sports Medicine programs at NVOT, you need to fill out this form, as they are Bergen Tech Students. Their records will be sent to Bergen Tech.

Reminders for All Grades

Wellness Wednesday lunches:

Grades 5 and 6 lunch with Ms. Adamo is in room 414.

Grades 7 and 8 lunch with Dr. Polizotto is in room 308.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic, social or emotional needs, please contact me at adamoj@nvnet.org or 201-664-1475 ext. 2203.

Baseball

Old Tappan Baseball defeated Haworth on Monday, May 13th 6-3, and they defeated Harrington Park on Tuesday. It was a great performance all around from everyone.

After earning top seed in the league, the baseball team will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Softball

The softball team won their 4th game on Monday, May 13th, beating Haworth. Sophia Demarco pitched a great game and played strong defense on the mound. Captain Lea Savino called another great game from behind the plate. Mia Ranu and Lyla Murphy got yet another hit! Ella Meringolo stole many bases and scored runs to help the team with the win.

The softball team will be playing at Stone Point Park versus Harrington Park on Monday, May 20th at 3:45 PM in the first round of the playoffs. Come out and support the team!

Track

The track team has been practicing hard to prepare for their May 22nd Meet at NVOT versus Norwood.

Please click HERE for the baseball, softball, and track schedules.

Saturday, May 18th Eagles Car Wash 10 AM - 2 PM:

We will be holding a Car Wash Fundraiser on Saturday, May 18th from 10 AM - 2 PM (weather permitting) at Trinity Reformed Church (located at the corner of OT Road and Washington Ave). We are asking for players in grades 3rd-8th please sign up for a slot to help wash cars (please bring a beach towel). Money raised from the car wash will help cover the cost of the purchase of new helmets.

Car Wash Volunteer SignUp

(For any player requiring community service hours for Honor Society, Confirmation, etc., a letter can be furnished upon request.)

Wednesday, May 29th PUNT, PASS, KICK CONTEST

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: NVOT Turf 100 Central Ave, Old Tappan, NJ

Grades: Boys & Girls entering PreK - 8th in September 2024

(Must be residents of Old Tappan, Northvale & Rockleigh)

Register in advance (FREE event)

Registration for 2024 season (PreK - 8th Grade) is open on the website.

Prices for 3rd - 8th grade will increase after May 31st

Register for the 2024 season now on our website https://nveaglesfootball.com/

On May 21st and 22nd, the PTO will be hosting a Book Fair at TBD; however, the CDW students are invited to shop from 3-4 PM since there will be middle school leveled books for sale.

Here is the perfect chance for the 4th graders to meet the CDW students before September! The PTO will be hosting a High Exposure Fun Day of Rock Climbing on June 11th at 3:30 PM. Please sign up on OTPTO.org.

Parents/Guardians who can volunteer for the Grade 8 Pool Party and/or the Grade 8 Dance, please sign up HERE.

The PTO is always looking for volunteers for the events during the school year!

Volunteers play a huge part in the PTO and what we are able to offer our students and teachers. Without volunteers, many of the programs that students, teachers, and families enjoy will not be able to happen. Volunteer descriptions can be found at: OTPTO.org under "More Info" and then "Flyers."

If you have interest in joining the PTO Board, joining or running a committee, or just want to learn more- please reach out to the PTO by visiting OTPTO.org and selecting "Contact Old Tappan PTO" under the Help tab.

On Monday, May 20th, the Old Tappan Police and the Municipal Alliance will be hosting an assembly about, "Safe Summer and Good Choices." Presenting will be an Old Tappan Police Officer, a young person in recovery, and a parent who has lost a child due to substance use.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child attending the assembly, please reach out to Ms. Santa at santaj@nvnet.org.

On Wednesday, May 22nd, CDW will welcome back Timothy Shoemaker. He has been featured on both the television and radio news. He is an author, editor, and media consultant. He served for over 25 years as a police officer, where he received international acclaim as the U.S. National Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer of the Year. Additionally, he was also named as the NJ DARE Officer of the Year and eventually received more than two dozen notable awards for his distinguished accomplishments within the community. Timothy spent over a decade visiting multiple K-12 schools. Please see a synopsis about each assembly below.

5th Grade - Description: Drug-Free Decisions
Tragically, drug use has become the leading cause of death and disability for most Americans. It is a worsening trend that threatens the lives and long-term happiness of all American children today. Fortunately, there is an inspirational alternative for kids to turn to. Drug-free decisions don't simply help kids avoid the common pitfalls of substance abuse, they steer kids directly toward the strongest, happiest, and most resilient version of themselves.

6th Grade - Description: The Digital Dilemma

Studies indicate that up to 80% of 6th graders have cell phones and 70% of fourteen-year-olds are using social media. They also show that cell phone and social media use are correlated to an alarming increase in the rate of failing mental health, obesity, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, and self-harm. Excessive screen time has been linked to poor sleep habits, declining attention span, reduced cognitive ability, impaired memory, and retention faculties.

To learn more about Timothy's unique story, visit www.TimothyShoemaker.com, or click on the picture above. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Lauriello at lauriello@nvnet.org.

Each year, CDW offers transition meetings for parents to learn about their child(ren)'s next grade level. Topics that will be presented include academics, extracurricular activities, and other highlights for the upcoming grade level. Although we foster an environment of independence at the middle school level, home and school partnership is always a necessity. This year, the dates of the transition meetings are as follows:

• Grade 4 to Grade 5 Transition Meeting- Monday, May 20th, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 5 to Grade 6 Transition Meeting- Thursday, May 23rd, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 6 to Grade 7 Transition Meeting- Thursday, May 30th, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Grade 7 to Grade 8 Transition Meeting- Wednesday, June 5th, 7:00-8:00 PM

The meeting presentations will be posted to the school's website following the last meeting date.

The Northern Valley Regional Technology and Engineering department is proud to announce that they will be running the Girls in Engineering and Technology Camp this June 25th to June 27th. The camp is free for rising 7th and 8th grade girls who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math and live in district.

Students in Grades 5-8 are invited to participate in the annual Old Tappan Environmental Commission (OTEC) digital photo contest. Please see the information below if your child(ren) is interested. Monetary gift cards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

The link to the online newspaper can be found HERE. If any writers want to join the club, please see Mr. Johnson for more information!

The CDW Homework Club is offered to all students in Grades 5-8 and is FREE! Please sign your child up each week that you are interested!

If you would like to purchase insurance for your child(ren)'s school issued Chromebook, please refer to the information below, or you may purchase directly from smarttechinsurance.com/old-tappan.

New to our insurance policy this year is that all Chromebooks must be in cases or the insurance will not cover any claims.

If your child is not going to attend school, please contact Mrs. McCarthy at 201-664-1475 ext. 2103 or McCarthy@nvnet.org.

In an effort to minimize the potential spread of illness at school, please keep your child home if he/she:

• has a fever. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school.
• is nauseous or is vomiting.
• has diarrhea.

May

Monday, May 20th~ Grade 4 to 5 Transition Meeting in the CDW Lynch Gym at 7:00 PM

Tuesday, May 21st~ PTO Meeting in the CDW Media Center at 7:30 PM

Thursday, May 23rd~ Grade 5 to 6 Transition Meeting in the CDW Media Center at 7:00 PM

Monday, May 27th~ Memorial Day; School is closed.

Wednesday, May 29th-Friday, May 31st~ Grade 8 Trip

Thursday, May 30th~ Grade 6 to 7 Transition Meeting in the CDW Media Center at 7:00 PM

June

Monday, June 3rd~ NVOT Grade 8 Social

Tuesday, June 4th~ Knights' Fest and Coffee House 6-8 PM

Wednesday, June 5th~ Grade 7 to 8 Transition Meeting in the CDW Media Center at 7:00 PM

Thursday, June 6th~ Grade 6 Field Trip

Friday, June 7th~ Grades 5-7 Math Criterion Reference Test

Monday, June 10th~ The BOE Meeting will be held in the BOE Conference Room at 8:00 PM.

Wednesday, June 12th~ Grade 5 LEAD Picnic; Grade 8 Pool Party

Thursday, June 13th~ Rain Date for Grade 5 LEAD Picnic and Grade 8 Pool Party

Friday, June 14th~ Grade 8 Ice Cream Social

Sunday, June 16th~ Father's Day

Monday, June 17th~ Grade 8 Graduation at NVOT

Tuesday, June 18th~ 12:30 PM Dismissal; Grade 8 Dance

Wednesday, June 19th~ Last Day of School 12:30 PM Dismissal; MP 4 Report Cards via the Genesis Parent Portal at 12:00 PM

2023-2024 Revised School Calendar

Instagram: cdw_middle

Email: santaj@nvnet.org
Website: https://cdw.oldtappanschools.org/
Location: 275 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-664-1475
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldTappanSchoolDistrict/