

The Weekly Update #4
September 29th, 2022

Hello Bulldog Community!
MEMORIAL FIELD RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
It Takes More To Be A Bulldog
On Saturday, September 17th, the Butler School District held the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Memorial Field Turf and Track Project. It was a great night during which our community who filled the stands and the complex. The evening had three guest speakers: Coach Bob Jones, Coach Jason Luciani, and BOE President Tracy Luciani, all whom spoke about the significance of having this project completed and what it will mean for the children in the Butler and Bloomingdale communities. The Butler Bulldog Cheerleaders assisted in the celebration, escorting the panel onto the field and then holding the Gold Ribbon which was cut to signify the opening of the field for all of our Bulldogs.
BUTLER HALL OF HONOR
On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the Butler School District inducted the fourth class of honorees into the Butler Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor was established in 2012, with the purpose of honoring the accomplishments of outstanding individuals who graduated Butler High School or who served the Butler School Community. Through this program, the Butler School District's goal is to connect our current students with past students whom they may see as role models. Honorees spend time with students answering questions and sharing what they learned during their time as a student in the Butler School District that helped them become successful beyond our walls.
This year, we inducted the following individuals:
- Suzanne Conklin Akbari - Class off 1982: Akbari, a graduate of BHS's class of 1982, earned her B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in 1984. At Columbia University, she earned an M.A. in English in 1989, a Master of Philosophy in English and Comparative Literature in1991, and a Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature in 1995. She began teaching at the University of Toronto in 1995, where she served as a Professor in the Department of English, as well as the Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies from 2013 to 2019. Akbari's first monograph, Seeing Through the Veil (2004), ties medieval use of allegory to the medieval debate about whether visual perception occurs through extramission or intromission. Her second monograph, Idols in the East (2009), presents a prehistory of orientalism in which Western Christian medieval writing associated Islam with idolatry. Later work includes research as a co-Principal Investigator for an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant, "The Book and the Silk Roads," begun in 2019 to study medieval transmission of book technologies along the silk road trade routes between China and Europe. In July 2019, Akbari left the University of Toronto to join the Institute for Advanced Study. Most recently, Akbari co-hosts literary podcast, The Spouter-Inn, with Chris Piuma. It was nominated in the Outstanding Arts Series of the 2020 Canadian Podcast Awards.
William A. Hanisch - Class of 1974: Bill graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1979 with a B.S. in Biology. He went on to earn an M.A. in Supervision/Administration from Jersey City State College (1987), and an M.A. in Biotechnology from William Paterson University (1992). After teaching science for only one year at New Milford High School, he took advantage of the opportunity to continue his educational career at Butler High (1981). He also became an assistant coach for both soccer and wrestling. Bill received many honors and awards throughout his tenure of teaching. When the BHS Principal position opened in 1997, Bill applied and was appointed. As principal, Bill continuously updated the curriculum to accommodate the wide spectrum of students' interests and abilities. Bill was an integral collaborator in milestones for BHS, such as the 100th Graduation Celebration, the refurbishment of Memorial Field and the construction of the new fieldhouse.
Joseph Howley - Class of 1977: Joe graduated from Butler in 1977. He attended the University of Pennsylvania upon his father's insistence. He was accepted into the coveted Wharton School of Business. Howley lettered all four years at Penn and graduated in 1981 with a B.S. in economics. Joe entered the workforce in 1981, starting as a floor clerk at the New York Commodities Exchange, located at the World Trade Center in NYC for a company called Aron. J Aron. He loved the business from day one, and quickly was promoted to the trading floor on Water Street. The next year, Goldman Sachs purchased the company and it was there he spent the rest of the 80's and 90's. He traded precious metals in the 80's and then crude oil through the mid 90's and then switched to natural gas. He traded natural gas the rest of his career and retired in 2018. Howley was convinced to go flying one day, and this became his new hobby. He flew his first volunteer flight in 1999. In 2010, Joe co-founded Pals/Sky Hope, a non-profit group of volunteer pilots, based on Long Island. Since then, he has flown some 30,000 flights all over the country to anyone who needs medical help. Joe has done over 1,000 himself
Peter C. Marzio - Class of 1961: Pete earned a football scholarship to Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1965. While studying at Juniata, he discovered a natural love and talent for fine art. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and established himself in various positions in the art world across the United States. Peter went on to teach at the University of Maryland and was a research assistant to the historian Daniel J. Boorstin in his book The Americans; The Democratic Experience which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Peter then authored "Rube Goldberg: His Life and Works" (1973) and two standard works on the history of drawing and lithography in the United States: "The Art Crusade: An Analysis of American Drawing Manuals, 1820-1860" (1976), and "The Democratic Art" (1979). Peter then served as the longest-serving director of The Museum of Fine Arts, located in Houston, Texas. He joined the MFAH in 1981 and was intent on diversifying and expanding the museum's commitment to artists outside the European and North American mainstream. He created new departments of Asian and Latin American Art and established a new research institution, The International Center for the Arts of the Americans.
Damon C. Matteo - Class of 1981: Damon attended Stanford University and began his fast-track to success. Matteo began his career working for start-ups, national laboratories, and multinational corporations, such as Xerox Parc. He is known for his experience in strategic development and tactical execution to realize maximum commercial advantages from innovation and intellectual property assets. Matteo was hand picked by two Presidents to chair the Patent Advisory Board because of his extensive knowledge and success. His career spans 25 years across all facets of the strategic creation, funding, management, and commercialization of high-value innovations and IP assets, all in an international context. Matteo considers his work and relationships in China over the last twenty years, one of his greatest accomplishments. Currently, Damon Matteo is the CEO of Fulcrum Strategy and serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Hoover Institution for his alma mater - Stanford University. Fulcrum Strategy is a company that guides customers by placing an emphasis on the creation of new technology, how it is used, and areas that are commonly overlooked. The Hoover Institution is an organization that seeks to improve the human condition by
advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity. Matteo has received many honors
throughout his career. He was named one of the "Fifty Most Influential People in
Intellectual Property" by Intellectual Asset Magazine twice and also received the National Technology Transfer Excellence Award from the U.S. Federal Government.
Helen Hilyer Micklitz - Class of 1946: During the Korean War, she voluntarily joined the Marines; a difficult decision for a young woman at that time. Helen trained at Parris Island, where she was assigned as a secretary in the Commandant's office. Helen married Joseph Richardson, a Navy veteran, and they had seven children, affectionately known as "The Richardson Magnificent Seven: Kathy, John, Duane, Ed, Marie, Colleen, and Carol. After her husband passed away, Helen joined the American Legion Post 154 and later married a fellow Legionnaire, William Micklitz. She helped erect the Vietnam and Korean Monuments. Helen was the Commander of the American Legion Post 154 for a number of years. Her leadership and respect earned her being selected as Grand Marshal for the Tri-Boro Memorial Day. One of Helen's hobbies over the years was collecting postcards. She was featured in a newspaper article back in the early 1960's, which stated that her collection was the largest in the U.S. for a private collector at that time. She also collected records of the men and women from the regional Butler High who had served in the military. It was Helen's sharing of her archives, which led to a Phase II of the BHS Mission Honor Veterans Project and the tripling of the amount of BHS veterans enshrined in the monument. Helen is also mentioned on the KIA monument at the BHS Memorial Football Field. Her records uncovered over sixty additional BHS KIA veterans who are now acknowledged at the field, along with Helen.
Mark Siciliano - Class of 1979: Mark pursued a degree in Criminology and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Saint Leo University. He obtained a Master of Science from Old Dominion University as well. Other schooling that Siciliano completed was specific to his career in the U.S. Navy. Commander Siciliano enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 22, 1978 under the Delayed Entry Program and attended basic training upon graduation from BHS. Mark is a career officer with a thirty-four year record of sustained superior performance in a position of great trust and responsibility. He spent 15 years - including three 5-year tours at SEAL Team Six where his skill and performance placed him at the top 2% of all SEAL operations. He worked his way through the enlisted ranks to Chief Petty Officer and again as a Naval officer to the rank of Commander. He has earned a reputation as a strong leader, highly competent SEAL operator and resource manager of personnel and complex weapon systems. Siciliano has been awarded many honors and recognitions for his bravery and leadership. He received the Bronze Star Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. These were all indicative of his dedication to serving the United States. Additionally, Mark was the recipient of a Global War on Terrorism Service/Expeditionary Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, an Afghan Campaign Medal, and a Humanitarian Service Medal. Although there are many other medals that were presented to Siciliano throughout his career, these are a few examples of his contribution to the Navy.
William Van Wilpe - Class of 1944: William left Butler High School early to serve in the United States Navy. He served on the USS Bassett as a Gunner's Mate Third Class during and beyond World War II. After the war, William returned to New Jersey and resided in Wanaque, New Jersey. He ended up becoming the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds at Lakeland High School until 1987. He devoted much of his life as a caretaker for the Midvale Cemetery. He belonged to the Wanaque VFW Post 6765. He received many medals and commendations for his acts of bravery and heroism. William was honored by Wanaque Councilman Thomas Balunis by naming the street that leads to Lakeland High School as Bill Van Wilpe Way. During the WWII conflict, William volunteered to join the rescue party after the USS Indianapolis was attacked. He ended up diving in the shark infested waters to gather the survivors who were hanging on to the floater net. William remained in the water until all survivors were rescued. Through his endurance and courage, the rescue boats were able to recover 317 men (158 recovered by the USS Bassett). In another incident, three of his shipmates fell off the rescue boat into the water and William jumped into the water to save all three men. Petty Office Van Wilpe undoubtedly saved countless lives and is a true American hero! In 2002, Governor Christine Todd Whitman presented high school diplomas to Bill and several other servicemen who left high school early to serve their country in a ceremony in Trenton, New Jersey. Sixty years later after the rescue, Bill was awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism in 2004.
Left to Right - Joe Howley, Suzanne Conklin Akbari, William Hanisch, Mark Siciliano, Daughter of Helen Hilyer Micklitz, Gene Mahon, Representative for Damon Matteo
NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS
Aaron Decker Elementary School - Mr. J. Manco, Principal
We are looking forward to a wonderful school year filled with fun activities. September started off strong with our first spirit day (Red, White, and Blue day in honor of Patriot Day), class meetings, Back to School Night, PTA Ice Cream Social, and other fun activities. Please click on the link for our monthly newsletter ADS Corner News where you will find some great pictures from the first few weeks of school.
Congratulations to Beverly Squire for being our September ADS Bulldog of the Month recipient. Mrs. Squire is a wonderful and hardworking third grade teacher. She possesses many fine qualities such as care, compassion, patience, and commitment. Most importantly, Mrs. Squire goes above and beyond for each of her students. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do!
We have some great events planned at ADS for the month of October. Thank you to the PTA for hosting the Fall Scholastic Book Fair which was held in our library the first week of October. Students and staff recognized the Week of Respect the first week of October and will continue with School Violence & Vandalism Week October 17-21 and Red Ribbon Week October 24-28. The Butler Fire Department will be visiting Aaron Decker School on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Students will sit through a small presentation by our firefighters and then take a tour of a few fire trucks. First and Second Grade classes will visit the Butler Public Library in mid-October. (more information will follow from Gr.1 and Gr. 2 Teachers). On Monday, October 31, 2022, Aaron Decker School will host their annual Halloween Parade at 9:00 AM. All classes will participate and parade around the ADS field in costume. Families are welcomed to attend. More information will be sent out in the next few weeks regarding the parade and class parties.
We have several ways for you to stay connected to ADS. Follow us on Twitter at @ADS_Bulldogs and Instagram at @ads_bulldogs for news, announcements, and celebrations. A weekly update will be sent out for upcoming events and important information through Blackboard Communications. As always, thank you for your continued support!
Richard Butler Middle School - Mrs. M. Papa, Principal
These first weeks of school have been spent building relationships, outlining expectations, and discovering strengths and areas for growth. Our staff believe that it is with this solid foundation that all learning and success can occur, and we are committed to ensuring that each individual in the RBS community feels a sense of belonging. Further, we have continued our commitment to an impactful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate advisory program using the Character Strong curriculum. As we attend to the social and emotional readiness of our students, we have gotten right into the curricula. Students are learning so much already as our staff implements thoughtfully prepared and engaging lessons.
We will continue with our Student of the Month program, and the trait for September was leadership. Teacher teams nominate two students in each grade level to receive this honor every month. We’ll announce the recipients at the beginning of each month along with the next character trait; October is when we look for students demonstrating respect. Additionally, we will continue to recognize students who make good choices, are upstanders, and model positive behavior by distributing PAWs (Positive Attitude Winners). These will be displayed outside the classrooms to showcase students who are making a positive impact at RBS.
We have some wonderful events planned, including Family Math Night for students in grades 4-8 on Thursday, October 13 at 6pm in the RBS All Purpose Room. Please join us for this fun-filled community event! We recognized the Week of Respect and will continue with School Violence & Vandalism Week October 17-21 and Red Ribbon Week October 24-28. Thanks to the Butler PTA the RBS Book Fair is back, and we’ll have the shop open the week of October 17-21 as well. The 5th and 6th grade Pumpkin Decorating Contest is Friday, October 28, and we’ll have our school wide Halloween Fun Afternoon on October 31. Our Environmental Walking Club is starting up this week, and we have Book Club for all grade levels. As you can see, there are many opportunities for our students to get involved and participate in our school community!
Please join us in congratulating Teacher of Science Mrs. Jessica Mignanelli on being named the Bulldog of the Month for September here at Richard Butler Middle School! Mrs. Mignanelli is in her tenth year at RBS, and she has made such a positive impact on students and staff alike. It's impossible not to get excited about science when you enter her classroom, and she truly makes each day interesting and fun for our students. We are grateful for Mrs. Mignanelli’s commitment to our students and her colleagues!
We have several ways for you to stay connected to RBS. Follow us on Twitter at @RBS_Bulldogs, Facebook at Richard Butler Middle School, and Instagram at @RBS_Bulldogs for news, announcements, and celebrations. The community newsletter, The RBS Review, is updated frequently as well. Please feel free to reach out to me at (973) 492-2079 or mpapa@butlerboe.org. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions. Thank you for your continued support!
Butler High School - Mr. R. Fitzgerald, Principal
We had a great start at BHS this year with a very busy September. We ran our annual fall pep rally on September 7th on the new turf and a college fair on September 20th. We had a nice turn out at Back To School Night on September 15th and two very successful events. The Memorial Field Turf Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place on September 17th and the 4th Bi - Annual Hall of Honor Ceremony took place on September 29th at the Barnyard and Carriage House in Totowa, NJ. We had our 9th and 12th grade parent night on September 20th where many parents came in to find out more about BHS. On Friday, September 30th, the Hall of Fame Inductees came in for an assembly for our 11th and 12th graders. I was very impressed by our students' behavior, enthusiasm and questions they asked to our inductees. It was a great day blending some of our Butler greats from the past with our current students.
Butler will host a Unified Soccer Soccer Game vs Sparta on October 18th.
Congratulations to senior. girls soccer players!
Congratulations to Nicholas Okken for being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program as a Commended Student in 2023 based on his 2022 PSAT score.
Congratulations to BHS Guidance Secretary for receiving the BHS September Bulldog of the Month Award
October 4-6 - BHS Start Strong Testing - 8:00 am
October 6 - Grade 11 and 12 Financial Aid Night - 7:00 pm
October 7 - BHS Homecoming Football Game - 7:00 PM
October 10-14 - BHS Fall Spirit Week
October 10 - No school for students - Faculty in service day
October 12 - PSAT for grades 10 and 11 - Class of 2023 Senior Group Picture,Class of 2026 - Assembly on Cyber Bullying
October 15- BHS Homecoming Dance - 7:00 pm to 10 pm - BHS Gymnasium
October 16 - Marching Band Competition will be at Memorial Field 1:00 pm
- October 20 - Boys Soccer Senior Night - 7:00 pm
October 21 - BHS Pink Out Football Game - 7:00 pm
Senior Night for Football, Marching Band and Cheerleading
October 24 - Field Hockey Senior night - 6:00 pm at Memorial Field
October 24 - BHS Picture Retakes in Auditorium
October 26 - College Fair during school at BHS
October 31 - Halloween Guidelines for Students
Mykee Fowlin Assembly 1:30 pm 9th and 10th graders
November 3rd - 6:30 pm 8th grade parent open house
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 973-492-2000 ext 1504 or rfitzgerald@butlerboe.org . Thank you always for your continued support!
THANK YOU!
The Butler School District wants to recognize and thank our custodial and maintenance crew. This past week, we celebrated National Custodian Appreciation Day, and it is important to note how integral these individuals are to our District. Many work as we sleep; they were important in our ability to offer safe, in-person learning during the pandemic's worse times; they keep our schools sanitary and in great shape. Every staff member plays an important role in keeping Butler the premiere small school district in the State - and these individuals are applauded and thanked for all they do:
- Mr. Joe Scaparro - Director of Buildings and Grounds
- Mr. Jim Curran - Lead Maintenance
- Mr. Steve Lang - Lead Custodian, Aaron Decker Elementary School
- Mr. Dennis Henderson - Lead Custodian, Richard Butler Middle School
- Mr. Lance Mendel - Lead Custodian, Butler High School
- Mr. Sean Mullen - Custodial, ADS
- Mr. Glenn Endresz - Custodial, ADS
- Mr. Al Coppola - Custodial, ADS
- Ms. Robin Hagelberg - Custodial, RBS
- Ms. Val Dalipi - Custodial, RBS
- Mr. Richie Brosonski - Custodial, RBS
- Ms. Bee Asani - Custodial, RBS
- Ms. Jamie Henderson - Custodial, BHS
- Mr. John Helfrich - Custodial, BHS
- Mr. John Haight - Custodial, BHS
- Mr. Nderim Dalipi - Custodial, BHS
- Mr. Harry Bachmann - Custodial, BHS
- Mr. Bashkim Kortoci - Maintenance, HVAC
- Mr. Richie MacArthur - Maintenance, IT and Grounds
- Mr. Jeffrey Muhlnickel - Maintenance, Electrical
- Mr. Mike Pugliese - Maintenance, Grounds and Painting
Thursday, October 13th - 6pm RBS All Purpose Room
RBS & ADS Families! Please join us for Family Math Night on Thursday, October 13 at 6pm in the All Purpose Room. You don't want to miss this amazing night of learning through activities and games!
BUTLER MARCHING BAND COMPETITION
Butler Marching Band Competition
Sun, Oct 16, 2022, 01:00 PM
Memorial Field, Butler High School, Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, NJ, USA
Week of Respect
Week of Respect is an opportunity for New Jersey schools to focus on building and supporting positive school climates for students, staff, and your school community
If we all work together, we can make a difference!
Ms. Tagariello & Ms. Young kicked off the #WeekofRespect at RBS with a kindness chain.
Students filled out ways to be kind, and they were then connected to hang in the hallway. #kindnessmatters
Our BHS Counseling Team worked to Stop Bullying, wearing blue to represent our commitment to building a safe, inclusive culture for all members of our learning community
Our Peer Leaders at BHS wrote motivational, inclusive statements for their peers to see throughout the Week of Respect.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 10 - Columbus Day - No School, Teacher In-Service
October 12 - PSAT @ BHS @ 8:00 AM
October 17-21 - RBS Book Fair
Fall Sports Senior Nights
Boys Soccer 10/20
Girls Soccer 9/28
Football, Marching Band, Cheering 10/21
Field Hockey - TBD
October 13 - Family Math Night @ RBS @ 6:00PM
October 16 - BHS Battle of the Bands @ 1:00PM
October 18- SEPAG
October 22 - ACT @ BHS @ 7:30AM
October 15th - BHS Homecoming Dance
October - BHS College Fair
October 21st - Pink Out Football Game, Senior Night (football, cheer, and marching band)
October 24 - Underclass Portrait Retakes
October 25 - BOE Committee Meetings
October 27 - BOE Meeting
October 28 - RBS Pumpkin Decorating @2:35PM
October 31 - ADS Halloween Parade
October 31 - BHS Halloween Costume Contest
October 31 - RBS Halloween Fun Afternoon