We had a fantastic first full five day week of school for 2025. Classrooms are buzzing with excitement as students dive into new learning adventures, and our hallways are filled with smiles and positive energy. Thank you for helping make this transition back such a smooth and successful one.
Next week, we will begin our winter LinkIt assessment window for math and language arts. These assessments help us monitor student progress. The results of these will be available for students and families at the same time as Marking Period 2 report cards later in February. Reach out to your child's homeroom teacher if you have any questions.
We’re excited to announce a fun and engaging initiative to celebrate positive behavior. The two classes that receive the most positive office referrals this month will win an indoor fake snowball fight! This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight and reward the kindness, respect, and responsibility our students demonstrate every day (and have a bit of fun along the way). Let’s keep those referrals coming!
I’m also excited to share that this is our fourth consecutive year participating in the Great Kindness Challenge, which will take place the week of January 27th. This nationwide event encourages students to spread kindness through simple acts that can brighten someone’s day. We’ll share more details soon about the activities planned, but we can’t wait to see the creative and caring ways our students will make a positive impact.
On January 20th, we will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a special day of service. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and embody Dr. King’s legacy of giving back. Please see the details below on how your family can get involved. All are reminded that there is no school on Monday, January 20th in observance of MLK Day.
Also, please see the information below for the annual Hoboken Public Education Foundation Moms' Night Out Fundraiser. The foundation does incredible work to enhance educational opportunities for our students, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support. Mark your calendars and be sure to sign up as this event sells out fast.
There are also several other exciting things happening throughout our district in the near future, so be sure to read about them below. I also hope you enjoy our subject area updates featured in this week's newsletter.
For this week's Friday Playlist, I went with three songs that have a theme of positivity...
Please stay safe and have a great weekend.
Regards,
Mr. Bartlett
Principal
Joseph F. Brandt Elementary School
- A US News & World Report Best Elementary School
- A NJDOE/New Jersey State Policy Lab/Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University Positive Outlier for Student Learning Outcomes
- A 3x Great Kindness Challenge Kindness Certified School
- A Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence
- Niche.com #1 Elementary School in Hudson County
Kindergarten
This week in kindergarten, we had an exciting time learning the letter "O" and the sight word "you." The students practiced recognizing and writing both, helping to improve their reading and writing skills. The students explored the idea of different jobs people have, learning about various careers. In math, we worked on measuring objects around the classroom, comparing their sizes and discussing which were bigger or smaller. In Social Studies, we wrote and discussed our personal goals for the New Year and what we would love to achieve!
First Grade
This week in ELA, First graders focused on spelling, sentence writing, and digraphs! Students practiced spelling their weekly words and used them to create meaningful sentences. In addition, we explored digraphs—pairs of letters that make a single sound, such as ch, wh, ph, and tch. They sorted words with these digraphs into the correct columns, helping them recognize patterns in words.
In Math, students worked on adding and subtracting numbers up to 20, focusing on equations with 3 addends. We used dot representations to visualize the numbers and equations, which helped make the process easier. "Today’s Equation" and "Guessing My Numbers" were fun activities that boosted their math fluency through hands-on practice.
This week in Social Studies, students discussed their goals for the New Year! Students also continued working on reading and comprehension. They used strategies like prediction, summarizing, and questioning to better understand their DRA-level books. The goal was to improve fluency and comprehension scores, which were tracked through oral fluency assessments. Some students worked on higher-level texts, while others focused on mastering foundational reading skills.
Second Grade
Can you believe that we've already finished the first full week of 2025? Second graders are continuing to show their best work efforts after returning from winter break!
Second grade mathematicians continued to practice identifying attributes of 2D and 3D shapes. Students have described, drawn and sorted shapes based on different attributes such as the amount of sides, vertices and angles the shapes might have. They've learned about what makes a polygon and the specifications of quadrilaterals. They've also practiced how to identify right angles from other types of angles using math tools. Fractions of shapes will be the next task to conquer over the next week!
For a New Year's activity, students learned about choosing 'one word' to focus on for the remainder of the school year. After reading the book One Word for Kids, they engaged in discussions about choosing and following their one word. They wrote about their chosen word, specifying how they would follow it at school, home and in activities outside of school.
Third Grade
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We had a wonderful first full week of 2025!
Our third graders started the week with an exciting "Unlock the New Year" activity in Math. Working with a partner, students tackled ten different math challenges that put their problem-solving skills to the test. Each challenge was designed to reinforce important math concepts they have learned so far this school year, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. By collaborating with their classmates, they practiced their critical thinking skills and applied their mathematical knowledge in a fun and engaging way. This activity was a great way to review past lessons while kicking off the new year with enthusiasm.
Our third-grade students are making great strides in their writing skills! They have been focusing on two key areas: Literary Analysis and RST (Research Simulation Task) Writing. Through these activities, they are learning how to clearly express their ideas and support them with evidence from the text. In Writer’s Workshop, students are starting by crafting a strong introduction. This introduction tells the reader what their essay will be about, giving a preview of the main idea they will discuss. Next, students work on developing the body of their essay. This section includes details and examples from the text to support their claims. Finally, they are learning how to write a conclusion that ties everything together by restating the main point they made in their writing. We are very proud of the progress our third graders are making! They are gaining important skills that will help them become strong writers. Keep up the great work, and continue encouraging your child to share their writing journey with you at home.
In Social Studies, our third-grade students kicked off the new year by brainstorming their 2025 resolutions. They took time to reflect on areas where they wanted to grow and improve, both in and out of the classroom. After thoughtful discussions, they each selected three meaningful goals—one for school, one for home, and one for their personal growth. These goals ranged from becoming better readers and improving math skills to helping more with chores at home or being kinder to friends and family. Once they finalized their resolutions, students wrote a five-paragraph essay outlining their goals and explaining how they plan to achieve them. Each paragraph focused on a different goal, allowing them to dive deep into their aspirations and create a clear action plan. After completing their essays, they had the exciting opportunity to share their resolutions with classmates, offering encouragement and inspiration to one another. It was a wonderful way to start the new year with a positive mindset and a commitment to personal growth!
Fourth Grade
In reading, we have begun our new class novel - What Would She Do? - which focuses on 25 trailblazing women in history. We began this unit by putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and thinking about other perspectives and points of view. So far we have read about Cleopatra, the Trung sisters, Murasaki Shikibu, Joan of Arc and Elena Piscopia. They are off to a great start!
In writing, students are beginning to practice the skill of visualizing the author's writing, noticing the descriptive details in each response and discussing how we can all include these in our own writing. They practiced this skill by writing practice narratives about Winter Break. It was so fun to hear about how each student spent their break, and visualize it through their writing!
In math, we began unit 6 which focuses on fractions and decimals. Students began with modeling fractions, identifying equivalent fractions, and converting fractions into decimals. We began by modeling fractions and decimals, noting the similarities between the two. We ended the week with a fun activity where students were able to complete a fractions to decimals conversion table where each answer reveals a piece of a picture puzzle! We are looking forward to diving further into this next week.
Fifth Grade
Happy New Year from the 5th grade!
In English Language Arts, we have begun reading Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson. To begin the unit, students investigated primary sources leading up to Lincoln’s death. Students were exploring the sources and learning more about the difference between primary and secondary sources. As for writers workshop this week, students were introduced to the breaking news project. Students will be conducting a breaking news skit on Lincoln’s death and the manhunt for John Wlkes Booth.
In mathematics, we have continued working on Investigations 1 and 2. Students are continuing to apply the standard algorithm method to solve multi digit multiplication and long division problems. Students are also provided with real life examples on where and when long division will be used.
In Social Studies, we are continuing to explore life before the Civil War. Our 5th grade historians have been reading and analyzing the life and politics involved in the north and south. This week’s key topic has been on the underground railroad and key abolitionists.
Phys Ed
Art
This week in Art, students were really excited to learn about artist George Seurat and his style of painting, called pointillism. They learned about his life, works or art, and were amazed at how he created all his works of art using only dots of paint.
We then began to create our own George Seurat works or art, by first drawing out a landscape using pencil and paper, and then we will use markers dotting each one of our drawings to create our own pointillism effect.
Music
This week, our 1st graders focused on the concept of melody and rhythm using the ever-popular percussion instruments, the boomwhackers! Our students got a chance to play "Hakuna Matata" from Disney's The Lion King and a popular favorite, "Baby Shark." Boomwhackers are a part of the percussion family. The students were able to perform these pieces by following the correct colors which corresponded to the notes that they were playing. What is most important about this lesson is that our students mastered another concept and will be able to put it in their musical toolbox as they continue to grow throughout the remainder of the year.
Theatre
The first grade dual language class dove into the artistic creation of characters. Using the story How I Met My Monster by Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam as inspiration, we discussed how characters are people, animals and creatures who can think, feel and act. Using this criteria students created their own monsters that would fit into the story. Students were responsible for coming up with character traits and names for their monsters!
Additionally, 4th graders are continuing to work on their showcase performance material. Their showcase is February 3rd at 10:00 am. All fourth grade families are invited to attend our showcase.
Science
This week in Science, the Kindergarten students are learning about various instruments that are used to measure the weather. They learned about the functions of a thermometer, wind sock, wind vane and a rain gauge. They viewed pictures of each tool and were able to identify them. They learned how to read a thermometer and tell the temperature. Some new Science words that we learned this week were degrees, Fahrenheit, and meteorologist.
First Grade
This week our first graders completed PLTW Module 2, Observing the Sun, Moon and Stars. Their final group project was designing and building a structure that would create shade for an outdoor playground. After creating plans and selecting their materials, the groups worked together to demonstrate how something could be constructed to offer a comfortable outdoor play space. The students used cardboard, clay, popsicle sticks and felt to build model playgrounds and an effective way to block the sun.
Second Grade
This week our second graders continued their studies on landforms, the natural features of the earth's surface. Mountains, valleys, oceans, rivers, cliffs, beaches, caves, volcanoes - they are all landforms. We learned that wind and water can change the shape of the land. That water is found in the ocean, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Water exists as solid ice and in liquid form. We learned that lakes are large bodies of fresh, standing water, and that ponds are usually smaller. We discussed that rivers are a natural stream of fresh water that can flow into a channel to the sea, a lake, or a smaller, narrower stream, or creeks. Last, we reviewed that oceans are made of salt water and cover approximately 75% of the Earth's surface. For our activity, we created a four -square visual organizer to show the differences between each of these bodies of water. Also included, independently, were written facts of each body of water that your child connected to the lessons.
Third Grade
This was an exciting week in third grade science! We have finally begun our final project of our forces and interactions unit of Project Lead the Way. Students have been working hard on designing and then creating a compound machine that will save a tiger that fell in a moat. The students have been having so much fun deciding which simple machines they will combine to make a compound machine and then drawing that design in their launch logs. They had even more fun when they finally got a chance to build it using their VEX IQ kits. It has quickly become a favorite activity of the year!
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade classes were excited to put the finishing touches on their field trip book this week. It is ready to be sent off to the publisher! We also started a new unit titled Plant Structure and Function. In this unit, students will learn the functions of internal and external plant structures and how they aid in growth, survival, behavior and reproduction. Next week fourth grade classes will begin to work on their lab activities and experiments for the upcoming Science EXPO, scheduled for February!
Fifth Grade
This week in 5th grade science students began working on their science expo projects! In groups, students began analyzing the procedure they must follow in order to successfully complete each experiment. Students worked hard following the scientific method as they gathered information, researched their topic, and collected data based on their chosen lab. Students began brainstorming different objects they will build, different ecosystems they will explore, as well as which foods give us the most energy. Students are very excited to begin this project, and are looking forward to conducting their experiments!
Dear Brandt Parents/Guardians:
In New Jersey, public schools are required per N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2 (l) that students receive health
screenings.
HEALTH Screening Schedule:
Health screenings will take place during the months of December through February
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2 (l) requires New Jersey school districts to ensure that students receive health
screenings:
Height, weight, and blood pressure: Annually for grades K–12
Visual acuity: Biennially for grades K–10
Auditory acuity: Annually for grades K–3
HEALTH Screening Results:
1. If results of the screening warrant further follow up you will be notified and Documentation
will be sent home.
2. You will not be notified if your child has a normal screening.
Warmly,
Cassandra Nuovo, BSN, RN
School Nurse
Joseph F. Brandt. Elementary School
201-356-3697
