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NJEA Convention - School closed
November 5 and 6
BOE Meeting

November 10

 

Strategic Planning Session II

November 11 

 

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November 25

 

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School closed

November 26 and 27

 

Strategic Planning Session III

November 30

 


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Franklin Lakes Public Schools
   School News and Views             October,  201
Dear Community Members,

In this issue of School News & Views, you will find a number of articles about activities that have been going on in our schools related to the "Week of Respect".  Students participated in programs such as World Wide Anti-Bullying Day, Mix it Up Day, Olweus Character Education, and various assemblies.  Our schools are places where there is a culture of caring, and we strive to ensure that all students feel safe in an environment of trust and respect.
 
The District's first Strategic Planning session took place on October 14, 2015.  Approximately 70 members of our Board, administration, staff, students and members of the community were in attendance.  This first meeting gave us a wonderful opportunity to talk about aspects of our District of which we are proud as well as things we felt will challenge us in the future.  You will find my State of the District presentation and the notes from our first session on the District website on the Superintendent's page.  Our next strategic planning meetings will be held on November 11th, and November 30th, 2015.  Please feel free to join us!
 
Finally, NJASK Science data was presented to the Board and the public at the October 27, 2015 Board of Education meeting.  I encourage you to review the presentation posted on the District website, by clicking on the Programs tab and selecting Curriculum & Instruction.  You will find the presentation in the Board / Parent Presentations folder.
 
Sincerely, 
Lydia Furnari                                     
Lydia Furnari, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools
   
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District News
 
Curriculum & Instruction:    K-5 Writing Folders

Families of students in grades K-5 should be on the lookout each month for their child's writing folder.  Sent home on approximately the last Friday of the month, the writing folder is an important tool for sharing student self-selected samples of recent student writing in Writing Workshop or across disciplines with their families.  

As FLPS values both process and product in supporting the development of our young writers, the folder includes two sections to reflect the importance of each.  This is reflected in the organization of the writing folder depicted in the graphic below.
We strongly suggest taking a few moments to write a note back to your child about his/ her writing, as this reminds students of the importance of his or her audience(s). Once you have viewed its contents, please send this folder back to school with your child, including all of the material inside. The writing in this folder will be used in class each day, and in preparation for report cards, parent teacher conferences, etc.

Curriculum: Preparing for PARCC Scores

As New Jersey school districts patiently await the results of the spring 2015 PARCC tests, FLPS encourages all families to visit http://understandthescore.org - a web site designed to help families develop an understanding of the information PARCC will provide on the student score reports in grades 4-8.   At this time, we anticipate spring 2015 PARCC results will become available in late fall 2015.
 
The 2016 PARCC test for grades 3-8 is scheduled for administration in late April/ early May 2016.

Technology:   Genesis Parent Access Mobile Web App 

Genesis, the District's Student Information System, now has a new "Mobile Web App" providing access right from a smartphone. These new phone-friendly web pages will make it more convenient for parents/guardians to keep up-to-date with their child's grades, assignments and report cards. Parents and guardians will also be able to update a child's Contact information right from their phone. To use this new feature, simply bookmark Genesis Parent Access on your smartphone       (https://parents.franklinlakes.k12.nj.us:8443/genesis/parents?gohome=true) so your child's academic information is always at your fingertips. The link is also available on the District website under Resources -> Parents.
  
Business & Operations:    The Bright Horizons Express

HMR''s preschoolers expressed their thanks to Mr. Michael Solokas, our Business Administrator, and the Buildings & Grounds department for sprucing up the fun train on their playground. The Bright Horizon Express is sanded, repainted and ready for action!


Special Services:  Vocabulary Workshop

Students in Ms. Caesar's, Ms. Stein's and Dr. Pryor's English Language Arts classes are now using the interactive and multidisciplinary Vocabulary Workshop program from Sadlier-Oxford. Students use their laptops to access this online program, where they can learn and apply vocabulary skills at their individualized levels. This program allows students to listen to passages where the words are used in context, and provides multiple authentic activities using vocabulary words in a variety of contexts and purposes. In addition to expanding their vocabulary, students are utilizing technology and practicing skills that will be applied on PARCC assessments. The students enjoy working on this engaging program on their laptops, and are already demonstrating an improvement in their use of new vocabulary words in their writing and speaking.

Special Services:   A Variety of Culture
 
4th graders at Woodside explored their cultures in collaborative Social Studies classrooms as an opening activity to our next unit entitled,  "We The People".  Teachers shared and modeled their own culture slides using Smart Notebook and Google Drawing applications.  After researching their cultures at home with their families using graphic organizers, students created and presented their culture slide to the class. Students completed a writing extension reflecting on what they learned and are interested in researching more about after this experience. Students used technology skills to find appropriate pictures that complemented their cultures.  This activity proved to be a moving experience for all students and for their teachers, Ms. Bernstein, Ms, Higgins, Ms.  Preziosi, and Ms. Yorio.

FAMS News
 
FAMS:   PLC Dance-A-Thon

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 2015 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 providing much-needed support just in time for the holiday season. The fun-filled night included many
FAMS students dancing, playing games, filling out cards for children with long-term illnesses, creating ribbons for cancer a
awareness, and winning donated prizes all night long. Since its inception, the FAMS DANCE-A-THON has helped raise over $120,000 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!
 
The PLC has several events coming in the next few weeks. Our students will have the opportunity to enter the VFW Patriot's Pen Essay Contest and showcase their writing talents. On November 10th, we'll host a Veterans' Day Remembrance ceremony at 8:00am on the FAMS Plaza. Every student will have the chance to honor any veterans in their families by participating in the Veterans' Day slideshow. As always, you can find all the details on the PLC website.

FAMS: Week of Respect   

During the first week in October, Franklin Avenue Middle School celebrated the Week of Respect. designated as such by the Anti-bullying Bill of Rights Act in the entire state of New Jersey. School districts are directed to observe the week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on preventing harassment, intimidation, or bullying. Here at FAMS, students participated in a variety of activities relating to character education and respect for themselves and others. Students and staff celebrated World Day of Bullying Prevention by wearing blue shirts and pledging to help put an end to bullying and cyberbullying.  

Students also viewed a wonderful multi-media presentation entitled Be Amazing, a motivational program that highlights the importance of striving to be our best. Many people want to be amazing without putting in the work required. Those who are amazing let their actions speak for themselves. The people highlighted in the program are focused on their goals and help others achieve and be successful! Teachers and students discussed the presentation and reiterated the message of making positive choices. Throughout the week, students participated in a "dissolving hate" activity at lunch, were given the opportunity to write a short note to a service member currently deployed., and shared thoughts on how they could help put an end to bullying. FAMS will continue to emphasize to our students that we should all respect one another each and every day.
CRS News

CRS:  Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day
 
Each year, CRS partakes in a nationwide campaign that supports students who want to identify, question and cross social boundaries that separate them from each other.  The day helps build an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.  It is a simple call to action for grades 1-5: take a new seat in the cafeteria.  By making the move, students can cross the lines of division, meet new people, and make new friends.  Each cafeteria table had a different color theme.  Students were randomly assigned to each table with tickets that were handed out in the beginning of their lunch period.  There were topics for discussion that students used to get to know each other better.  The teachers, lunch & recess aides and helpers from the Student Advisory Committee (now The Helping Hands) assisted students in making the day a fun and positive experience.  Visit
Click here to visit the national website to to learn more and to see CRS on the Mix-It-Up Map.
 
 CRS:     Helping Hands Committee
 
The Helping Hands Committee is comprised of Grade 5 students that have shown leadership skills, integrity and compassion.  We are pleased to announce that students have been selected and we have had our first meeting of the school year.  As the year progresses, the committee will meet twice per month during lunch and recess to plan school wide events, help existing programs and improve the overall spirit of CRS.
 
Last year, some of the group's initial endeavors included: "Think Pink Day" for cancer awareness, assistance during "Visit Your School Day," promoting our "Panda Point" system and assisting at our montly Olweus and Panda Point assemblies.  Mrs. Gagliardo and Mrs. Ballas are extremely excited about CRS' Helping Hands and know that the school community is as well!


HMR News
 
HMR:   Week of Respect Activities
 
Each year, the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act designates a week in early October as a "Week of Respect" in the entire state of New Jersey.  School districts are directed to observe the week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on preventing harassment, intimidation, or bullying.  High Mountain Road School celebrated this week with a variety of awareness and educational activities for students.  Thanks to the PTA, the highlight of the week was a visit from Coach Randy, an international keynote speaker!  His high energy and dynamic approach engaged students by introducing valuable strategies to overcome obstacles and prevent bullying.  

During the assembly entitled "Bully in Me", children explored their self-esteem, accepting cultural differences, practiced kindness, empathy and age-appropriate strategies for dealing with negative behavior. Aligned with the Olweus Character Education Program. it reviewed the Bullying Circle and  each child's role within the Bullying Circle. Students began to realize their role and, at times, unintentional participation in the bully process. The "Bully in Me" Program used games and activities to engage children. from their inner thoughts to their external actions.
 
HMR:  Movie Night Under the Stars: 
  
HMR families cuddled up with their blankets and lawn chairs under the starry night sky.  They gathered to watch the student-selected movie, Big Hero 6.  Families were invited early to find a good spot, catch up with friends and stock up on snacks.  There was popcorn, Joel's Outrageous Cookies (hot out of the oven), hot chocolate, chips and more!  This family event was a true crowd pleaser. It was fully funded by the HMR PTA and free to all families.  Thank you to the entire PTA, the event coordinator Mrs. Erin Ross, and the Ansh Family for Joel's Outrageous Cookies!

WAS News 
 
WAS:   Week of Respect

Woodside celebrated a Week of Respect with a variety of activities to celebrate respecting ourselves, our friends, and our school.  The week kicked off with an assembly from a world champion jump rope master, Mr. Peter Nestler.  By sharing his story of determination and perseverance, not to mention his unbelievable jump-roping talent, Mr. Nestler inspired students to commit to their dreams and work hard to achieve their personal goals despite any obstacles that might come their way.  Throughout the week, students also participated in a variety of activities in their classrooms, including Olweus class meetings focused on respect.

WAS:   Spreading Sunshine

We are proud to introduce a new "spreading sunshine" program to WAS this year.  In an effort to increase random acts of kindness and continue to keep our school a safe & happy place to learn, WAS students will have new and exciting ways to have their name and picture on our hand-painted Random Acts of Kindness Tree. In conjunction with the District-wide Olweus Anti-Bullying program, we are beginning the Spreading Sunshine program.

Every staff member in the building has access to sunshine slips.  If he/she witnesses a student committing an act of kindness that is worthy of acknowledgement, he/she fills out a slip and gets it to the student's homeroom.  Each classroom will have a bucket for the sunshine slips.  In addition, there will be a sunshine bucket in the main office for adults to acknowledge the kindness of other adults in the building.  At the beginning of each month WAS will have an assembly.  Prior to the assembly, a name from each class' bucket will be drawn at random.  That student (one from each class, each month) will receive a certificate from Mrs. Jameson and Mrs. Magnusen in front of the whole school and receive a Principal's Prize.  Of course, all students' acts will be acknowledged each month at class meeting as well.  The more slips a student has in their classroom bucket, the more chances he/she has of being recognized at our assembly.  The top two classes with the most points will also be announced each month.  Each month, all of the winners' pictures and names will be pasted onto leaves on the Random Acts of Kindness tree for the whole school to see.  At the end of every month, each sunshine slip will be given back to the student and sent home for parents to see.  We are confident that this new unified system will bring our classroom and school communities even closer!          
FLEF News 
 
Ladies' Night Out - November 12th
For further information, please click here.



FL Borough News 
 
Be a Part of the COMMUNITY... at the NEW Franklin Lakes 
Community Center

Check out Franklin Lakes fitness and wellness programs offered in partnership with the Wyckoff Family YMCA. Sign up now and receive a $50 gift card! Click here to view the postcard for all the details! Offer limited to new Full Member enrollments from November 9 through November 15, 2015. One gift card per enrollment. For additional information call 201-904-2112 or visit the Franklin Lakes Community Center at 1 Vichiconti Way, Franklin Lakes. 

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Note: We value your feedback. If you have questions or comments that you would like to share, please email the Administrative Team at [email protected] or the Board of Education at [email protected]. For additional communications and connections, please explore our website at www.franklinlakes.k12.nj.us and FLPS Facebook at www.facebook.com/FrLkPS