Yesterday, Ms. Warchol's 7th grade students participated in Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day, which is an event sponsored by the Academy of Poets during National Poetry Month. This day is an opportunity to share a poem you have written or a poem you love with others. Thank you to all the teachers and members of our educational community who allowed students to read to them and in their classes. Shout out to Mrs. Perez who always hooks us up with cool buttons for the day!

Once again, Mrs. Gibbons, Mrs. Marranca and Ms. Spampinato teamed up with their students to continue their Earth Day tradition. This year, the students in their classes planted flowers by the electric sign in the front of the school building. Established in 1970, Earth Day was started to bring awareness to the environment and today 193 countries participate in various events around the world. In Global Studies and US II, the students learned about the value of their environment and how they need to be the catalyst for change. They were also taught about how fortunate we are to live in the environment that we do and how others around the world may not have access to some of the basic necessities that at times we take for granted. Every year we look forward to helping our students learn the value of giving back to their community.

Last week Mrs. Donough's class paired up with Tiffany D'Arpa's class to tie dye t-sheets green and blue for Earth Day. The classes get together each year to do this project. The students are put in pairs, one 4th grade student with one 2nd grade student. The 4th graders assist the second graders tying up their shirts with rubber bands. The pairs dye the shirts together with help from our room mothers. We all wore our shirts yesterday and watched The Lorax together to celebrate.

Just a reminder that our Board Approved calendar notes that if we have one snow day unused, the schools are closed May 26. Please plan accordingly. Twelve-month employees are working that day, unless they use a vacation or personal day.

This week international award-winning musician, Sujeet Desai, performed at Brearley Middle / High School. He also spoke about his experiences as an adult with Down syndrome.

Previously featured on “The View” and “Oprah Winfrey,” Sujeet shared his experiences with us in an inspirational discussion and performed for us as well. Desai plays more than eight instruments and is an ambassador for Down Syndrome International.

Sujeet also spoke about his pathway to success and his mother made an information presentation on parental advocacy, struggles for inclusion and Multiple Intelligence Theory.

Students in Mrs. Grimaldi dissected a flower called, "Alstroemeria", commonly called the ,"Flower of Friendship." They observed the flower's structures and functions while learning about pollination and fertilization of Angiosperms. Students worked in groups and were able to take pictures using their phone's cameras of the pollen and eggs under the microscopes.

Thank you to Mrs. Johnson at Harding for reminding us about National Inventors Month -

Below is a link to a fun quiz on inventions/patents I thought you and your students would enjoy.

You don't have to be special to be inventor! Even an elementary school librarian can be an inventor! I've attached a scan of a patent I received many years ago...long before I thought about being a librarian.

Click Here

KENILWORTH – The Friends and Family of Tim Carbone Scholarship Fund have scheduled a car wash/clothing drive for Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the front of Harding School, 426 Boulevard, Kenilworth, New Jersey.

Please drop off your clothing between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. If you are unavailable to drop off your clothing, please contact Josephine at 908-298-1094 prior to May 13, 2017 and we will schedule a time to pick up your bags.

All proceeds will benefit scholarships for students at David Brearley Middle and High School.