District News

SNaV Curriculum: New Teacher Orientation

We welcomed nineteen new members to our teaching staff at our New Teacher Orientation that ran from August 26th through August 29th.  Through the cooperative efforts of Dr. Romano, the Administrative Team, IT Team, the FLEA, the PTA, teachers, counselors, nurses, and the Central Office, the newest members of our Franklin Lakes family learned about the inner workings of our district.  Topics included systems training, policy and procedures orientation and a question and answer session with second and third year teachers. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our new teachers indicates that this was a successful week.

SNaV Business and Operations: School Safety and Security

Student and staff safety has always been a top priority at Franklin Lakes Public Schools.  During these past three years, we have engaged security specialists StoneGate Associates for all of our planning, preparation, and implementation work.  We continue to partner with the Franklin Lakes Police Department, seeking guidance at every step.  The Department, through their onsite inspections and regular visits and walk-throughs, has been an invaluable asset with expert recommendations that strengthen the safety of all. 

With each passing year, we have taken increased measures such as but not limited to video surveillance, visitor access protocols, staff training, student practice drills, and the like.  Gratefully, school violence is extremely rare, yet we must do all that we can to minimize the likelihood of an occurrence.  As our students and staff seem to face a greater risk in today's day and age, we ask for your support and cooperation in matters such as student drop off and pick up and school visitation.  We ask that you be extremely vigilant and patient when in and around our schools.  Working together, we can continue to provide a safe environment for all.   

SNaV Technology:  Supporting Staff and FAMS Student Work from Home

The District's Technology Department introduced teachers and middle school students this year to ownCloud, as a way to easily access their files from home.  ownCloud is a free, open source software, hosted on District servers, that offers a very powerful file sharing tool, much like dropbox or google drive.  Faculty and students now have easy access to their files from any web browser, app or desktop application, from a Windows or Macintosh computer or an iOS or Android device.

A link to ownCloud can be found on the District website under the Resources -> Student menu.  Students can login with their network username and password to access and update their files at home. They simply have to drag and drop any file they worked on at home into their ownCloud account. The next school day, they can log onto the network to access the file.  ownCloud even has a simple, built-in text editor, making it easy to create files from any internet enabled device. The only requirement for school to home file access is that a similar application must be on the computer at both locations. Use of the ownCloud facility should improve and simplify everyone's workflow, making teachers and students even more productive.

Click the image below to learn more about ownCloud.

SNaV Special Services:  New Beads 'n Me Designs

Students in Dr. Pryor's Beads 'n Me class have been busy creating some new products. As a product tie-in to the new laptop initiative at the middle school, the students made laptop case charms to distinguish one case from another.   Beads 'n Me is also featuring bracelet keychains.  Existing products include lanyards, necklaces, eyeglass chains, bookmarks and charm bracelets.  

Beads 'n Me is an original, integrated learning experience for students in Dr. Pryor's middle school class. While the main profits from Beads 'n Me are enhanced self-esteem and a love for learning, our monetary profits to date total more than $7,250. This money is donated to various charities decided upon by the students.  Profits from the this latest effort will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

On Saturday, September 21st, Beads 'n Me will once again participate in the Franklin Lakes Town Fair.  Feel free to stop by Room 127 to check out all of our great work, come see us at the fair, or visit us on the web: Beads 'n Me. 

FAMS News

SNaV FAMS: Junior Great Books

After a year filled with research, collaboration, work with Common Core State Standards, and curriculum writing, our English/Language Arts department is excited to roll out new programs at each grade level.   One component is Junior Great Books.  The Junior Great Books program focuses on high quality literature and student centered discussion, providing a framework to teach reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, speaking and listening skills.  Using a method of interpretive reading and discussion called Shared Inquiry allows teachers and students to work together to answer questions about challenging text.  Evidence from the text is used to support thoughts in the Shared Inquiry process. The Junior Great Books program is already in use at the elementary schools and we are excited to introduce it at FAMS.

SNaV FAMS:  Laptop Initiative to Support LMS

With an eye on the future, each of our teachers received a Macbook Air laptop to replace the teacher classroom desktop.  This will allow teachers more flexibility to continue to integrate technology into the classroom on a daily basis.

CRS News

SNaV CRS: Welcome Back to School!

We are thrilled to announce that CRS had a wonderful first week back to school.  All students were warmly greeted by our CRS teachers and have already hit the ground running with their learning!  We are so proud of all of our students, particularly our new students who have already begun to make themselves at home in Colonial Road School.  

SNaV CRS: "Together We Can"

As we here at CRS cherish our blessings, it is important to take the time to thank our parent community for the many ways they have contributed to our successful school opening.  Our PTA Board has been working diligently to ensure that students and families are well prepared for the many exciting activities and events planned for this school year.  In addition, class parents have already begun to set up each homeroom class for success.   Lastly, our school building has come to life with the vibrant and creative theme our decorating committee has so cleverly chosen to kick off the year.  We thank all of our parents at CRS for fulfilling our school motto of "Together We Can."

HMR News

SNaV HMR:  HMR Welcomes Students Back to School

The first day of school at HMR was a great success.  The PTA worked their magic to make the day extra special with colorful balloons, blooming mums, and breakfast for the staff.  Students gathered by the school sign to take their annual First Day of School Photo!  

SNaV HMR: September 11 Remembrance

Students, staff members and parents observed the September 11th anniversary in our new courtyard patio.  Principal Jaclyn Bajzath encouraged students to honor the lives lost that day by living their best lives each day.  The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence.

WAS News

SNaV WAS: Welcome Kindergarteners!

"Promise me you'll always remember.  You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."  These famous words from Christopher Robin opened our Kindergarten Meet and Greet held directly after our first day drop off.  Our time with Kindergarten Parents included welcomes from Woodside Avenue School Administration, District and School Faculty, PTA and FLEF Representatives.  This wonderful networking opportunity was a great follow up to our Kindergarten Meet and Greet in classrooms for both student and parents and guardians held on Friday, September 6th. 

SNaV WAS: Welcome Woodside Students!

WAS students began their school year being greeted with all WAS staff members at entrances, a huge welcome sign, "Welcome Woodside Students! We're so glad to see you ... It's going to be a great year!" and a banner and hanging stars, "Reach for the Stars." Classrooms had great welcoming activities such as designing personal flags, creating favorite book jackets, and gallery walks for sharing grade level goals.