Upcoming Events
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December 23
Holiday Recess
December 24 - January 2
School Reopens
January 5
BOE Reorganization Mtg.
January 6
Curriculum & Coffee: Preparing for PARCC
HMR January 13
CRS January 14
WAS January 15
FAMS January 16
No School for Students
January 19
FLEF Snow Tubing Event
January 23
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Franklin Lakes Public Schools
School News and Views December, 2014
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Dear Community Members,
As the old year ends and a new year begins, we make the time to reflect on the many events that shaped the past, and wait with anticipation to learn what the future holds. For those of us involved in the life of our schools, it seems hard to believe that December is almost over. In addition to normal school activities, our students, staff and parents have been involved in sharing both their creativity and generosity over the past few weeks, in order to make the world a place where learning is fun and giving to others is viewed as "the right thing to do."
All of our schools presented a variety of winter, holiday performances that were extremely well received. Schools also participated in the "Hour of Code" project and other science related activities. Our middle school students were recognized as Patriot's Pen Essay winners, and had their artwork displayed at the Paramus Park Mall, where our Jazz Ensemble performed to an enthusiastic audience.
At each and every school, students, staff and families participated in collections and "drives" intended to help bring support to those in need this holiday season. The life lessons of citizenship and giving of one's self permeated our schools. Thanks to our PTAs, and all of the organizations that helped us to help others.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Franklin Lakes Educational Foundation for their generosity once again this year. FLEF graciously chose to fund all nine of the grants submitted, which will benefit each and every school.
Looking ahead to the month of January, the district will be providing parent information sessions on the topic of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). These sessions will be lead by Mrs. Ann Jameson, Director of Curriculum. The dates, times and locations of these sessions are posted on the district website. I encourage you to attend to learn more about PARCC.
In early January 2015, our district will be deciding whether or not to offer Full Day Kindergarten next school year. We have been discussing this possibility for quite some time. This fall, we surveyed parents of Pre-Kindergarten aged children about their thoughts on Kindergarten programming. The topic has also been discussed at Board of Education meetings since the start of the school year. We will come to a final decision in time for the start of Kindergarten registration, which will take place in mid to late January 2015.
As I reflect on the last six months, I must tell you how proud I am to serve the Franklin Lakes Public Schools. Although this time has flown by, I truly feel like a welcome member of the FLPS community. I wish for you and your families a happy, healthy, safe and joyous holiday season.
 Sincerely, Lydia Furnari Lydia Furnari, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools |
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District News
Curriculum: Curriculum & Coffee : Preparing for PARCC
This Spring, the NJASK given to students in grades 3 - 8 will be
 replaced by the online PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessment. In order to provide parents with the most up to date information about these assessments, share how our schools have been preparing for these assessments, and offer families strategies for supporting the transition to PARCC at home, we are pleased to announce parent information sessions planned for this January. Curriculum and Coffee: Preparing for PARCC sessions will be held on January 13th (HMR), January 14th (CRS), January 15th (WAS), and January 16th (FAMS). An invitation with additional details will be eblasted to families in January. We are asking that you kindly RSVP once the invitation goes out so that we can best prepare for these sessions. We look forward to seeing you there! In the meantime, you can learn everything about PARCC by clicking here. We also encourage you to try out PARCC sample test items in their intended environment and walk your child through the tutorial by clicking here. Choose the heading for Test Preparation.
Technology: Curiosity Corner Students Coding
Third graders throughout the District are soaring with excitement about creating their own authentic Flappy Bird games with Mrs.
 Stacia Mascharka! Part of a new Curiosity Corner enrichment initiative, this activity allows the students to hone their computer science skills as they learn about coding. Through online simulations and video mini lectures from experts such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, the students learned how to sequence instructions, write procedures, and utilize loops, as they design their own interactive games and digital stories.
These experiences nurture the development of the 21st century skills of critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration and align with the newly revised NJ Core Curriculum Content Standard 8.2. The third graders not only display tremendous enthusiasm when engaged in coding activities, but also recognize the global impact and importance of this innovative field.
Business & Operations: Audit and QSAC Success
The annual audit by Nisivoccia and Company was completed in November. The  auditors presented their positive findings at the December 3rd BOE meeting.
Because of the District's high achievements, we have been invited to request a waiver that would exempt us from the lengthy QSAC inspection scheduled for early 2015. The NJ Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) inspection occurs every three years, focusing on the areas of Instruction and Program, Fiscal Management, Governance, Personnel, and Operations. We appreciate the Department of Education's recognition of our performance and thank them for the waiver opportunity.
Special Services: Collaborative Science
Fifth graders in Mrs. Teri Corage's and Mrs. Jill Bernstein's collaborative science classes finished the Scientific Method and  Variables unit with our first Woodside Avenue School Science Fair. Our students have been studying the Scientific Method and Variables through our investigations of Pendulums and Plane Systems. Additionally, students typed formal lab reports including the 8 steps of the Scientific Method and learned extensive methods of graphing using Excel.
In our culminating project, students picked an experiment to conduct at home and implement all their knowledge
 independently. Students presented their experiments using the 8 Steps of the Scientific Method on tri-fold presentation boards. This was an exciting day and the students were exceptionally versed as they shared their scientific process skills with their audience. We are very proud of all of their hard work and the effort that was put forth to make this a wonderful Woodside 5th Grade activity.
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FAMS News
FAMS: Dedicated Student Volunteers
The Peer Leadership Corps, under the direction of Mr. Kozichek, is a service organization that represents each and  every student at FAMS. Through the PLC, we organize our efforts and generosity to help provide service, structure, and donations to dozens of local and national charity organizations. The FAMS PLC is proud to announce that the 2014 DANCE-A-THON was a huge success! This annual dance acts as a direct fundraiser for over 25 local and national charities that help serve our community. The PLC is proud to provide much-needed support to these fantastic organizations just in time for the holiday season. The fun-filled night included many FAMS students dancing, playing games, and winning donated prizes all night long. Since its inception, the FAMS DANCE-A-THON has helped raise over $115,000 for our community!
This event continues to be a great success based on the tremendous generosity and support of our school, students, families, and community. The PLC is honored to help represent FAMS, making a difference in people's lives and we'll continue to help others throughout the school year. THANK YOU!
FAMS students had the opportunity to enter the annual VFW Patriot's Pen Writing Contest in October and we're pleased to have submitted over 75 essays in the competition. The students were asked to write about why they appreciate America's veterans. Among the applicants, five were chosen to move on and compete at the district 2 level in December. Congratulations to the following students for their excellent writing: Miray Samuel, Leah Krantz, Angelina Kerik, Meredith Marden, and Olivia Greenberg. At the region competition, one essay from FAMS was chosen to advance to the next round. Congratulations to Meredith Marden for being selected to compete at the state level! We are very proud of her writing and wish her the best of luck!
The Peer Leadership Corps hosted a Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony on Tuesday, November 11th outside on the FAMS Plaza. We streamed this ceremony live to every homeroom in FAMS. The ceremony included a faculty drumline, presentation of the colors, an official flag raising routine, and reflective remarks by some members of the 8th grade core group. The PLC, in close partnership with the VFW, honored and thanked the veterans of our community. The PLC also played a tribute movie showcasing the dozens of past and present military members in our FAMS family. This movie played all day long in the office and MPR. We are forever grateful for the service you have provided to our country, and you will never be forgotten.
The Peer Leadership Corps 8th Grade Core Group traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 12th - 14th for their Annual Leadership Training Conference. This three-day learning opportunity included lessons on the rich history of the region, leadership training seminars facilitated by the PLC Advisors and Gettysburg College Leadership Program, project planning sessions, Gettysburg College CHEERS activities, and DARE Awareness and Prevention. Licensed tour guides accompanied the students, with stops at the National Military Park, Cyclorama, Seminary Ridge Museum, Battlefield Tours, and Gettysburg College. The Core Group will bring this leadership training back to FAMS to help plan, prepare, and carry out the dozens of service projects hosted throughout the school year. Our upcoming activities include the Warm Winter Clothing Drive and Holiday Mail for Heroes.
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CRS News
CRS: Caring Community Thanksgiving Food Drive
As we cherish our blessings, we also remember those less fortunate. On November 21st, the CRS PTA's Caring Community organized a school-wide effort to provide Thanks
 giving Meals for the Center for Food Action in Mahwah. CRS families worked diligently to donate complete Thanksgiving meals for several families so that those in need would have the opportunity to celebrate with a hearty meal. We are thrilled to report that CRS raised over 100 turkeys and countless meals. We thank everyone for fulfilling our school motto of "Together We Can."
CRS: Multicultural Holiday Celebrations
Kindergarten teachers are embracing the many teachable  moments that lie ahead as students embark upon a December Discovery of our multicultural world. Throughout the month of December, our Kindergarten friends will have the unique opportunity to learn about the variety of cultures that exist right from their own classmates and their families. Students will take pride in their family's own heritage and traditions by sharing the holidays they celebrate with descriptions, books, crafts, and activities. This cross-cultural sharing instills an appreciation for one another's traditions, cherishes each student's own cultural traditions, and provides an occasion to embrace their holiday spirit.
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HMR News
HMR: Hour of Code
HMR kicked off the Hour of Code with a special guest presentation for 4th and 5th graders by Mrs. Kay Fernandez, an HMR Mom and also a leader in the field of computer science. Mrs. Fernandez taught the students about STEM:
Science: The presentation began with a look at famous scientists that have made amazing contributions to the field, like Jane Goodall, the Wright Brothers, and Sally Ride.
Technology: Then students learned about some of the most current technology including using 3D Printing for rapid prototyping, iPhone cases, prosthetics and more! The students left the presentation with 3d printed ear-bud cases, personalized with our HMR logo.
Engineering: Then they learned about engineering and explored innovative designs and creations by children that have solved everyday problems. They learned about the steps of the design process.
Mathematics: Students learned that math algorithms can be used to create music!
Students were encouraged to be observant, be curious, be problem solvers, ask questions, and then design, test their ideas and, above all, take risks!
The following week, HMR students in 2nd through 5th grades  participated in the Hour of Code. What is the Hour of Code? This is a worldwide movement to teach students how to use code to tell the computer what to do! Our HMR students participated by creating code to manipulate Angry Birds following tutorials with guest speakers including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Ruchi Sanghvi, Susan Wojcicki, and Elena Silenok. Our students are excited about this new skill and might even ask you to let them code at home. There are many more tutorials they can explore to go beyond the Hour of Code: check them out by clicking here.
HMR: Showing our Patriotism and Appreciation
(This article was written in collaboration with 4th grade students Harrison J. and Natalie F.)
HMR celebrated our patriotic spirit and appreciation for veterans in November. The entire school worked together to create a flag of thanks for our veterans. Students traced their hands and wrote about veterans on them. The students' handprints were brought together to create a flag symbolizing our appreciation for veterans.
Students in 4th grade worked in groups to research the history of patriotic music. Many interesting facts were discovered while utilizing non-fiction reading skills. They learned that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the "Star Spangled Banner" from the sidelines of the Battle of 1812. They also learned that many of these songs, like "America the Beautiful", started as poems. Groups presented their research using a variety of methods including singing, skits, poetry readings, technology, posters, artwork and other props. The 4th graders produced a successful collaborative project!
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WAS News
WAS: The First Thanksgiving
Our second grade students enjoyed learning about the first  Thanksgiving. To celebrate, the students performed "The First Thanksgiving". This play tells the story of the Pilgrims courageous journey to freedom and how the Native Americans helped them survive the harsh winter. Together, they celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast!
Students used the skills and strategies learned in Reading Workshop to speak clearly and with expression. Children worked collaboratively in groups to create beautiful scenery and costumes to enhance the show.
Families were delighted to watch their children perform. They especially enjoyed the songs and the unique way each student made the story come to life.
WAS: Bikes for Kids
This holiday season, Ms. Luisa Betrus brought a wonderful program to WAS. "Bikes for Kids in America" is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the goal of "helping every child feel the joy and freedom of riding his or her own bike." The Founder and  President, Enrico DeLuca, stated, "Parented by a single mother, I was the youngest of three children. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment where I slept with my siblings in one bed while our mother slept beside us on a cot. We barely had any money and did not have a car to get around in. My mother did her best to provide everything she could for our family by walking a couple miles everyday to the local supermarket where she worked. One day, a young couple that lived down the street came by to give me a new Ross Apollo 5-speed bicycle. I can still vividly remember the smile on my face and the joy the incredible gift brought to my life. It was a truly selfless gesture from two individuals whom I hardly knew. The kindness in their hearts has stayed with me over 40 years later and moved me to start our non-profit organization. With assistance from my family and friends, we started Bikes for Kids in America in November 2013."
As a result of Ms. Betrus' concern and Mr. DeLuca's philanthropy, three students in Franklin Lakes, whose families are going through challenging times, will now have "Santa" deliver shiny new bikes on Christmas morning. Thank you Ms. Betrus and Mr. DeLuca for your holiday spirit and concern for all of our children.
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Franklin Lakes Education Foundation
FLEF SNOW TUBING FUN!
At Campgaw Mountain
Come out for a fun evening o snow tubing with family and friends! (Must be 42" tall to snow tube.)
Date: Friday, January 23, 2015
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Address: 200 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ
Cost: $25 per person (includes snow tubing, 1 slice of pizza and hot chocolate; extra slices available for purchase).
Purchase: To purchase tickets and complete required waiver, click here.
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Franklin Lakes Public Library News
Be a Smart Cookie - Read! 
Reading Club 2015
Join the Winter Reading Club and warm up at the library as you read for fun and prizes!
Who May Join? Resident readers and pre-readers through Grade 5 are welcome to join our Winter Reading Club.
How Do You Join? Visit the Children's Department anytime during regular hours to sign up. You will receive your official Winter Reading Club Log, get your first gift and grand prize drawing ticket.
When Does it Begin and End? Monday, January 5 - Monday, February 9
What Do You Have to Do? Read as many books as you would like throughout the winter. Just keep a record of how many books you've read on our official Reading Log and let us know how you're doing when you visit the library. Check in with us weekly and receive your prize!
Why Join? Because it's fun!
Weekly prizes just for reading! Grand Prize Drawing to be held at the end of the club!
Enrollment begins on the first day of the Reading Club.
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