Banyan Bulletin

Parent Newsletter for Banyan High School

Strong roots. Strong minds.

To educate students with learning disabilities by identifying individual strengths and abilities, continuously monitoring individual progress, and adapting the curriculum to to meet each students changing educational needs.

Principal's Pen - The Educational Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King

On the third Monday in January each year, we take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From service projects to diving deeply into his writings and speeches, to envisioning a better world based on his ideals and values, there are many ways schools and communities commemorate the impact of Dr. King.

During this month, we have asked our Social Studies teachers to take time with their students to further engage them in learning experiences that both honor the man and potentially open the door to discussions about how we can strengthen and grow as individuals and as a community at large. We are also participating in several school wide events that celebrate this legacy, such as the Kindness Challenge and a door decorating contest with themes of justice and kindness.

Teachers in all of our content areas have engaged students in the practices of Dr. King and kindness throughout the month as part of our Kindness Challenge. Students have been asked to keep checklists of their kind deeds throughout the month.

If you are searching for any service projects for home, please click on the link below:

https://www.jerseycares.org/MLK_DAY

And Introducing....... Kat Azzato - PT Nurse

Hi, I am nurse Kat. I have been subbing at Banyan schools for a few years now. I have been working with children for 15 years and have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from William Paterson.

I have 2 boys of my own who are 9 and 11. In my free time I enjoy being in nature. I also enjoy staying active through golf and skiing with my family. I love helping others, and being at Banyan is extra special because I am surrounded by staff and students that feel the same way.

Banyan provides such great opportunities for the children, and it is an honor to be a part of it.

Our Student Journalists at Work: Banyan Bulldog Basketball

Here is the latest article from our journalism class:

Banyan Basketball: Banyan team overview, game trivia and fun facts

Little Falls, New Jersey, 1/14/25 By: A. McGowan

This is our basketball Coach T. He will explain the following rules of basketball and what

it’s like at Banyan: “Basketball is a team sport where 5 players from each team play at one time. In our case we may play with 6. The object is to move the ball from your end of the court to your opponents by dribbling the ball (bouncing the ball) while not stopping the dribble. If you stop the dribble you must pass the ball to a teammate. Once on the opponent's side of the court you can not

let them take the ball from you.

There are 29 players on the basketball team and 13 cheerleaders.

We now will look to shoot the ball at the rim where the net is learned that as much as winning is important, it's not the end all. Learning the game, having fun and playing in a respectful manner matter. And that the Banyan students are tough and never give up. They want to see each other do well and will help and support each other no matter what the score is or who they are playing. To show sportsmanship, respect for each other, the game and our opponents while having fun

while learning to play the game of basketball.”

You will learn about some cool facts and stuff in this article about basketball.

Some of the facts are:

James Naismith invented Basketball. Naismith’s students won the first game with

1-0 points. The First woman’s game was played in 1892. The Harlem Globetrotters

was a flashy and entertaining team during the game’s popularity in the 1920’s.

Boston Garden and Madison Square Arena are still around today as they were

popular in the early years of basketball games. The basketball game was only for 35

minutes. Referees used watches before the clock was invented.

Classroom Spotlight: Learning Chemical Reactions with the Exploding Snowman

In science class, students made an exploding snowman model using bicarbonate and vinegar. This activity is a fun way of learning about the effects of chemical reactions. This experiment uses chemistry and physics principles to explain a range of scientific concepts. While it might sound like something out of a winter wonderland fantasy, this experiment is all about chemical reactions and the science behind rapid pressure build-up.

When you mix vinegar and baking soda, an acid-base reaction occurs. This means that the vinegar (an acid) interacts with the baking soda (a base) to produce a new substance: carbon dioxide gas. This gas rapidly fills up the space inside the snowman, and since gas takes up more space than the solid ingredients, it causes the snowman to "burst."

Not only do students learn about chemical reactions during this fun experiment, they also learn about the scientific method, states of matter, and following directions.

Fun was had by all!

Summer Camp: PerformCare Accepting Requests for Summer Camp Financial Assistance

Celebrating Lunar New Year with "Love without Borders"

On January 29th, Banyan High School will be hosting a group titled "Love without Borders". Love without Borders is an organization dedicated to promoting autism awareness and celebrating neurodiversity through meaningful cultural experiences. Their team is a vibrant collective of high school students and volunteers from across the country, united in our mission to foster inclusivity and understanding.

At the heart of their initiatives is the Autism Awareness Alliance (AAA)—a dynamic community with over 3,700 Facebook followers. Through our partnership, we provide opportunities for children on the autism spectrum to showcase their talents and participate in enriching, sensory-friendly events. They will be performing for us in a Lunar New Year celebration with an interactive performance for all of our students.

The Banyan students will be treated to a performance that includes masked Bian Lan, the magical art of face changing using masks, a magic show, and an interactive game show. We are looking forward to hosting these students in our school.

If you would like more information on Love Without Borders, please click on this link : https://lovewithoutbordersusa.org/

Learning with LIFE Academy - Person Centered Planning

Person-Centered Planning: Rituals vs. Routines

In our recent Person-Centered Planning class, we explored the difference between rituals and routines, and how each can bring value to our lives.

Routines are the sequence of actions regularly followed. They are practical and help us accomplish tasks efficiently. Think of a morning routine: waking up, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and leaving for school.

Rituals are actions performed with intention and meaning. They hold personal significance and can provide comfort, connection, or a sense of purpose. Examples include a family game night, a special handshake with a friend, or taking a moment of gratitude before bed.

We discussed how incorporating meaningful rituals into our daily lives can enhance our well-being by:

Providing a sense of belonging and connection
Offering comfort and stability
Creating positive memories and experiences
Adding depth and meaning to our days

As part of our Person-Centered Planning process, we encourage students to identify existing rituals in their lives and explore opportunities to create new ones that align with their values and goals. This will also be helpful in our other subjects when we are greeting new goals and working on independent living skills. Understanding the meaning of a routine and how to create one will be a skill that will last a lifetime.

Upcoming:

We will be delving deeper into the elements of effective rituals. Students will have the opportunity to design their own personal rituals.

We look forward to continuing this important conversation with our students!

PTSO Parent Corner

We would like to invite all of our parents to join our PTSO for Banyan High School! The PTSO hosts many events for our families, such as the upcoming Bingo, and provides events for our students. If you would like to join, please use the links below:

Here is the link to the PTSO membership on Google Form

PTSO are collecting dues and payment will be accepted via Zelle and check/cash. Checks made payable

To Banyan High School PTSO

Paypal: BHSPTO@banyanschool.com

Suggested amount $45

Please join our amazing parent/teacher organization!