HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2009
JEFFERSON SCHOOL
Kindergarten
Ms. McCrea’s kindergarten class engaged in:

Social Studies: Living Things Grow and Change; I Grow and Change (class baby picture activity); Children Far Away – Peru.

Science: Seasons and Weather. Used a variety of art media to create weather books.

Reading: Letter Sounds o, l, h; Word Blending: – in, -ig, - on, -ot ; Sounding out
C- V – C words; High Frequency words: where, you, look, see, one.

Math: Numbers 10 – 30; Number Patterns (counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s).
Mrs. Northrop’s kindergarten class is presently engaged in:

Science: Land formations including hills, valleys, mountains, etc.

Social Studies: Differences and comparisons of cities and country.

Language: High Frequency Words, Robust Vocabulary, Comprehension.

Math: Numbers to 100.

Writing: Story writing with illustrations; sharing stories with class.
First Grade
Mrs. Paglucci's and Mrs. Pereira's first grade classes worked diligently during the month of February to complete Theme Three in Reading and Unit Two in Math. Small group differentiated instruction is provided daily. District-wide curriculum mapping is ongoing to determine what is being taught, to analyze and target potential areas of inclusion, and to develop timelines to match assessments with standards.
Second Grade
Mrs. Nolan’s second grade:

Learned to tell time to the nearest minute, using manipulative clocks and the
Smartboard. They played "Stop the Clock" to reinforce the concept. Students also were introduced to the concept of elapsed time.

Learned about changes in habitats.

Learned about characters and settings. They planned, wrote, and revised stories developing characters and a setting.

Published a book of heart themed stories.

Participated in an internet safety program.

BOTH SECOND GRADES observed the 100 th
Day of School by creating collections of 100 objects.
Mrs. Korycinski’s second grade
students engaged in the following activities during the month of February:


Learning to use a map grid, read a landform map, and read a table in Social
Studies.

Read a biography on Benjamin Banneker for Black History Month.

Learned about the important contributions of George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln to American History.

Participated in activities that involved using money in real-life situations.

Viewed a video that discussed safety measures to follow when using the Internet.

Learned comprehension strategies to use when reading a passage that involves following directions.
Third Grade
Mrs. Harte, third grade teacher reports that:

For Black History month, the class chose a book about a famous Black person and wrote a book report which was then presented to the class. The class also viewed a collection of Black folktales and chose one of them to write a summary.

After reading a story in our reading book about a collage artist, the class made collages of their own incorporating paper, pencil, crayons and markers.
 As an extra credit “fun” assignment, the boys and girls have been studying the states and capitals and have been participating in a flash card game to name the capitals.

We continue to work on both Study Island and NJASK preparation .
Mrs. Keogh’s third grade activities included:

Math – students used pattern blocks to trace various shapes as they filled in other shapes (i.e. square, rhombus); students identified shape names also.

Math- NJ ASK3 booklet was given out and used to write various definitions; students also illustrated them as a reference source (i.e. acute angle, flip).

Social Studies- students learned about various sections of the country and labeled a map to illustrate them; students were interested in Appalachian music and Mr.
Nicolle provided a CD for the classroom teacher to demonstrate.

Social Studies- Students viewed the video “Stories from the Black Tradition”, which presented various stories, and they wrote a summary of their favorite one

Writing- students are using dialogue in their stories.
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Rotondo’s 4 th grade class

Participated in the Young Poets National Poem Competition in which students created unique poems for submission for the competition.

Read articles and or mini-books on Teammates (Jackie Robinson), Duke
Ellington and Great Black Heroes: Five Brave Explorers such as Esteban
Dorantes (discovered territories known as Arizona and New Mexico), Jean
Baptiste Pointe DuSable (founded city now known as Chicago), James
Beckwourth (helped develop the American West), Matthew Henson (reached the
North Pole) and Mae C. Jemison (traveled in space), in honor of Black History

Month. After the mini-biographies were discussed, the children created pictures and wrote a response journal.

Read and discussed African Americans who changed the world, integrating the website http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/aframer. Students also viewed and discussed a website on The Underground Railroad
(http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad).

All fourth grade math and science classes are continuing daily assignments on
Study Island to raise the advancement level.
Mrs. Herrmann’s 4 th grade Language Arts Classes

Read five stories with a variety of genres. Reading skills taught and reinforced included fact and opinion, theme, and cause and effect relationships.
 Students are also participating in the “Battle of the Books” and the Six Flags reading programs. Each student read over 12 hours independently for the month of February.

In preparation for the NJASK4 in May, students are engaged in using the Study
Island program and writing speculative and explanatory writing prompts.
Mrs. Herrmann’s 4 th grade Social Studies Classes

Are learning about the three branches of the United States Government and how
New Jersey’s state and local governments are organized.

Students celebrated Black History month by reading and discussing Reader’s
Theater scripts focused on Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson.

Students utilized smart board technology to view and engage in activities highlighting the top ten African-American Inventors in American History. In honor of Presidents’ Day students also read and discussed biographies on George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln .
Fifth Grade
Miss Jacobson’s 5 th Grade Science Classes

Are able to identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. They are able to identify the uses of these resources and how to conserve these resources.

The students completed at-home projects on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Students completed posters that displayed items that they are able to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students found current event articles on the environmental issues that were being studied in class. Students wrote in Science Journals and reflected how they could as individuals contribute in helping the environment .
Students are able to describe, explain, and give reasons for conserving natural resources.
Miss Jacobson’s 5 th Grade Math Classes

Began to divide by 2-digit divisors. The classes continued to practice dividing decimals by whole numbers. Students learned that they can write the decimal point of the quotient above the decimal point of the dividend, and then divide normally. Students checked their answers by multiplying. The classes practiced

solving word problems by choosing the appropriate operation; multiplication, division, subtraction or addition. The classes learned to change a fraction to a decimal by using division.

We are also preparing for the NJ ASK test. Students will work on open-ended word problems from the Harcourt NJ ASK Test Prep workbook.
Mrs. Applegate’s 5 th grade Reading Classes

Continued using the Harcourt Reading series, Storytown. Students successfully accessed their reading texts from home. Emphasis was placed on the focus skill of making inferences, sequencing, cause and effects, robust vocabulary, and reading comprehension strategies. Leveled readers were used by students to reinforce skills from their text.

Students reviewed strategies for Reader’s Theater and continued to work on lessons related to Study Island in Reading.

The SmartBoard was frequently used to review stories and workbook pages.
Midyear Assessment tests were given to all students.
Mrs. Applegate’s 5 th grade Social Studies Classes

Studied beginning of English settlements in America. Emphasis was put on map skills and economic, political, and religious factors motivating these settlements and relations with Native Americans .

In honor of Black History month, students were given packets of notable African
Americans to discuss and analyze. Students had to write essays related to the
African American experience, as well as viewing a video about the African
American in American Society today.

A representative from the AAA came to both fifth grade classes to do United
States map skills activities with the students. Student were given free maps and did hands-on activities with the representative.

The smart board was also used to enhance text assignments.
Mrs. Applegate’s 5 th grade Writing Class

Continued to work on Study Island lessons and continued completing activities for the program. Writing skills focused on speculative writing, explanatory writing and persuasive writing. Students continued to work on grammar activities.
Art
Ms. Cronk’s
Classes

Kindergarten art classes learned about different textures. Kindergarteners created collages using various textured objects including fluffy pom poms and rough burlap scraps!

1 st
grade art classes created colorful collages in honor of Black History Month, using all colors to promote racial harmony.

2 nd
grade classes studied painter Marc Chagall’s I and My Village painting and created their own topsy turvy oil pastel pictures.

3 rd
grade art classes celebrated Black History Month by making unique fabric collages based on the beautiful quilts of the Gee’s Bend Quilts.


4 th grade art classes studied African American painter Jacob Lawrence by reading a biography entitled The Story Painter . The students then painted beautiful story paintings of their own.

5 th
grade art classes studied and signed The Birmingham Pledge to help eliminate any kind of prejudice. The students celebrated this pledge by creating a colorful picture frame to display the document.
English Language Learners
Mrs. Nouravai’s English Language Learners
continue to engage in activities designed to increase robust vocabulary, character analysis and comprehension.
Speech
Mrs. Hale’s students receiving speech and language services have made progress towards mastery of the goals set forth in their Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Goals have been addressed in the context of the general curriculum and/or NJCCS when appropriate.
Music
Preparation has begun for the annual Spring concert. Instrumental students continue to advance their skill level and are being challenged with new and exciting musical pieces.
Comprehensive Health & Physical Education
Mrs. Robb's Physical Education classes participated in the 3rd annual Jump Rope for
Heart event. The students jumped and bounced, did standing and running broad jumps, used the parachute for jump ball competitions, shot jump shots with basketballs, and made patterns with hula hoops and jumped through them. The children exercised, had an enjoyable time and over $1400 was sent to the American Heart Association. Our thanks to the PTO for donating bottled water to keep everyone hydrated throughout the event.
Nurse - Doreen Terletzky reports:

Conducting screenings: height/weight/audio/vision - referrals given when necessary.

Written and verbal communication with parents of students in need of medical clearance was sent

Completed and sent Annual Immunization reports to designated offices.

Registration and formulating health charts for new students

Assisted school dentist with dental examinations. Documentation of findings and referrals completed
Basic Skills
 Mrs. Osinski’s and
Mrs. Young’s reading groups are using context clues in the stories to explain comprehension and critical thinking questions. They are continuing to learn new vocabulary words and are practicing reading fluency.
 Mrs. Osinski’s
math classes are learning time, money, long division, and range, mode, mean, and median. Each grade level is working on story problems. The students must identify and state the steps they will use to solve the problems.

.
Special Ed
Mrs. Volpe’s Resource Class is successfully achieving the goals and objectives set forth in each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP). This month our class discussed
Black History Month focusing on people such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglass,
Harriet Tubman, and Booker T. Washington, as well as athletes such as Jesse Owens and
Satchel Paige. The students were excited to learn about and compare the above mentioned people of history to people of today.
Workshop Attendance
On February 25, 2009 staff members attended grade level articulation meetings dedicated to common benchmark assessment goals .
Assemblies
“If you’re true to your teeth, they’ll never be false to you!”
Local area Dentist, Dr Joe Tella (A Mighty Good Fella) and his associate Dr. Oksana
Baczynskyj presented a dental hygenie program to the students of Jefferson School in
North Arlington. Their talk focused on prevention of tooth decay, proper brushing and flossing techniques, avoidance of tooth decay, and feeling comfortable in a dentist’s office. Each student was provided a complimentary toothbrush and tube of toothpaste
Student Recognitions
Students of the month demonstrate extra-ordinary effort, cooperation, kindness, a positive work ethic, and learning attitude.
North Arlington’s Jefferson School teaching family is pleased to proclaim the following children as Students of the Month for
February 2009: Daniela Alvarez, Tyler Raymond, Andre Martinoli, David Fernandez,
Crystal Alcalde, Leonela Alvarez, Taylor Willis, Sohila Mohamed, Ashley McCann,
Kyle Camacho, Peter Guerriero, Mariah Moreno,Tom Ferrie, Liam Henkel, Jonathan
Romero, Nour Mohamed, Eric Pace.
School Accomplishments
We are pleased to welcome 4 senior practicum teachers from various local colleges and universities. The future teachers will be working with our children as a part of our professional staff through May 2009. They are: Ms. Rebecca Waldron (NJCU) who is assigned to Mrs. Northrop’s kindergarten, Ms. Melissa Callaghan (Felecian College) who is working with Korycinski’s 2 nd
grade, Ms. Jilliam Monaghan (WPU) who is assigned to
Mrs. Pereira’s 2 nd
grade, and Ms. Barbara Biondo (Felician) who is assigned to Ms.
Nolan’s 2 nd
grade.
Ms. McCrea reports

Mrs. Joyce Barker (retired staff member) read to the children during Dental
Health Month.

Mr. David Mullen, District Music Teacher discussed rhythm and played the saxophone for our class. Mr. Mullen’s son is a student in our Kindergarten.

 Students sent Valentine’s Day cards to the McCauley Health Center in Watchung,
NJ. The McCauley Center is a nursing home whose residents are members of the clergy.

Mrs. Nolan (2 nd
grade) presented an Internet Safety program.

Hackensack Medical Center presented a Trauma Safety program.

Children wore red on 2/6 in recognition of The Go Red campaign sponsored by the American Heart Association. The children learned about heart health and the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise.
Mrs. Keogh reports:

Jump Rope for Your Heart (gym) - 3K had 100 percent participation.

Reading for Great Adventure passes- 4 students participated.

National Read a Book Day (PTO) – 10 students participated.

Dental Health Month- 100% participation in filling in their tooth brushing charts.
 North Arlington Women’s Club readers continue to read to various grades through the NAWC coordinator.

Students wrote cards to the soldiers which were brought to HB Drugs to send to the troops.

Students save flip tops which are sent to Mrs. Pereira (HS) for Ronald MacDonald
House.
Special Programs
Black History Month : Identification, discussion and celebration of noteworthy people is a year-long endeavor. It is not limited solely to the month of February and it encompasses folks of all ethnic backgrounds. Teachers of all grades engage their students in various activities including:
 Ms. McCrea’s kindergarten class celebrated Black History Month by reading: o Young Jackie Robinson by Edward Farrell (1992) o Wilma Unlimited : How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest
Woman by Kathleen Krull (1996) o Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki
Grimes (2002) o They also discussed segregation and the Civil Rights movement for Martin
Luther King Day, and the abolition of slavery for Abraham Lincoln's
Birthday.

Mrs. Herrmann's Social Studies classes are celebrating Black History month by reading and discussing Reader's Theater scripts focused on Harriet Tubman and
Jackie Robinson. In addition, students will utilize the SmartBoard technology to view and engage in activities highlighting the top ten African-American Inventors in American History.
 Mrs. Rotondo’s fourth grade students
1. Read articles and or books which follow: a. Teammates (Jackie Robinson) b. Great Black Heroes: Five Brave Explorers

c.. Esteban Dorantes (discovered territories known as Arizona and New
Mexico) d.. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable (founded city now known as Chicago) e.. James Beckwourth (helped develop the American West) f. Matthew Henson (reached the North Pole) g. Mae C. Jemison (traveled in space)
2. Read and discussed African Americans who changed the world. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/aframer
3. Viewed and discussed website on The Underground Railroad: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad

5A and 5J Black History Month Activities o Classes are provided with copies of The Record which contains special
NIE Black History Month activities to read and do activities with students o Packets containing information on notable African-Americans are provided to read, study, and do related activities o Video on African- American experience, followed by an essay with personal reaction to the African-American experience to the present.

MONTH: FEBRUARY, 2009
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: ROOSEVELT
Pre-K
 Mrs. Mack’s Pre-K
students made predictions if the groundhog would see his shadow or not. The majority of students said he would see his shadow.

Our youngest students learned about Presidents Day and the reasons why we celebrate this day.

Because Dr. Tella, our school dentist, will be visiting later this month, children are learning about making healthy food choices and visiting the dentist.
Kindergarten
 Mrs. Malanga’s kindergarten class is learning to use and give directions. As a group, the class wrote directions explaining what to do upon arriving in the class each day. Directions were made more clear by sequencing the steps. Children then wrote their own set of directions for “something” resulting in their own
“How To Book”.
 Mrs. DiTommaso’s kindergarten class
read “The Cat in the Hat” on Read across America Day and discussed how reading is fun and should be incorporated into an everyday routine. Children then made Dr. Seuss hats which they wore home. The hats contained words on it from the story that the children were meant to review at home.
First Grade
 Mrs. Arena’s first grade students and Mrs. Mack’s PreK students celebrated
Read across America together. First grade students read their favorite stories to the Pre-K students and then the PreK children drew a picture of their favorite part of the story.
Second Grade
 Mrs. Phalon’s grade 2 s tudents used the internet and other reference sources such as encyclopedias, and non-fiction books to research a famous person.
Students wrote biographies that are displayed in our halls.

Mr. Tetto visited the second grade to discuss safety around electrical wires. Mr.
Tetto has volunteered to present this program to several classes in the near future.
Third Grade
 Mrs. Giuffre’s grade 3 students read biographies this past month and decided on a person of interest to research. Each child chose a person, researched information, and dressed as that person for an oral presentation for their report. It was equally fun and informative to learn about many famous people including past presidents, musicians, athletes and astronauts.

Fourth Grade
 Ms Jaume and Mrs. Crismale’s fourth grade students
celebrated the
6 th
Annual Academy Awards of Geometry. This year’s theme was “Personal
Hobbies”. Students were given guidelines for grading with much freedom encouraged for creativity and individuality. Students learned solid geometric shapes and were able to visually distinguish these from plane figures. Family members were invited and served the role of paparazzi with flash bulbs going off as student walked down the aisle on the Red Carpet. Students had to include in their presentation how they made their awards and what geometric shapes were used. Naturally, a post Oscar party was hosted to celebrate students’ accomplishments. Some of the students presented their awards at the Board of
Education meeting.
 Ms. Jaume’s fourth grade class developed a new theme, Formula Friday. The class is using algebraic formulae to calculate both the perimeter and area of plane figures. The students used manipulatives to divide odd shape figures into familiar ones before computing the measurements.
 Mrs. Crismale’s class
also focused on Black History Month by choosing a person of African American descent and writing a short story about the person and his/her accomplishments. Each project is hanging on the bulletin board in our hallway.
Fifth Grade
 Mrs. Badiola’s grade 5 students have begun writing practice for the NJASK 5.
Using format outlines, the students have begun to write both speculative and expository writing.

Composting has resumed at Roosevelt School. The fifth grade saves fruit peels and cores, as well as vegetable leftovers from lunch and composts this in one of our two outdoor compost bins. The compost will be used next year to fertilize our memory garden.
Speech
 Mrs. Hale’s students
who are receiving speech and language services have made progress towards mastery of the goals set forth in their Individual Education Plans
(IEPs). Goals have been addressed in the context of the general curriculum and/or
NJCCS when appropriate.
Art
Ms. Cronk’s
Classes

Kindergarten art classes learned about different textures. Kindergarteners created collages using various textured objects including fluffy pom poms and rough burlap scraps!

1 st
grade art classes created colorful collages in honor of Black History Month, using all colors to promote racial harmony.

2 nd
grade classes studied painter Marc Chagall’s I and My Village painting and created their own topsy turvy oil pastel pictures.


3 rd grade art classes celebrated Black History Month by making unique fabric collages based on the beautiful quilts of the Gee’s Bend Quilts.

4 th grade art classes studied African American painter Jacob Lawrence by reading a biography entitled The Story Painter . The students then painted beautiful story paintings of their own.

5 th grade art classes studied and signed The Birmingham Pledge to help eliminate any kind of prejudice. The students celebrated this pledge by creating a colorful picture frame to display the document.
ESL
 Mrs. Stringham’s grade 2 ESL students and reading support classes
were shown how to locate information using table of contents, headings, glossary and the index in their social studies books. They were also shown how to locate information using reference materials such as the encyclopedia, thesaurus, dictionary and the atlas. All reference materials are available in our school library.
 Mrs. Stringham’s kindergarten ESL students were shown how to write directions to a place. The teacher modeled how to give directions on how to brush teeth. Time-ordered words were discussed (first, next, then, last). Then using these words, students dictated directions to the principal’s office. Students and teacher followed the dictated directions and ended up in the principal’s office!
Well Done kindergartners!!
BSI
 Miss Kleber’s first grade reading students are continuing to develop a robust vocabulary through exploration of meanings and by using words in conversation.
First and second grade students have been giving their own examples by incorporating actions or drawings into their explanations.
 Miss Kleber’s second and third grade BSI students have been using coin manipulatives to learn counting money, comparing amounts, and giving change.
World Language

Mrs. Gonzalez’s World Language Grade 3 Spanish students have reached a milestone. By the 100 th
day of school, they were able to successfully count up to
100 in Spanish! Through a combination of independent and cooperative activities, both written and aural, these students have achieved goals which span across the NJCCCS from World Language to Mathematics.
Comprehensive Health & Physical Education

Mrs. Robb, our gym teacher, reports that February was Heart Month for the gym classes at Roosevelt School. The children in grades 3, 4, & 5 participated in the 3 rd
Annual Jump Rope for Heart event and raised
for the American
Heart Association. Roosevelt School will receive a $100 gift certificate towards gym equipment for this outstanding donation.

Computer

Miss Tokarz grades 4 & 5 are continuing their keyboarding skills weekly according to hardware availability. Some students have commented that they are applying these skills at home and their families have noticed their use of the skills acquired.

Students at all grade levels are using CAI software for the practice of Math operations and working at their own speed and level to appropriately progress as needed.
Special Ed
 Mrs. Whelan’s third and fourth graders
have been studying adjectives. Each student brought an object to school in a brown bag with a list of adjectives to describe their object. Each student read his/her list to the class and the class had to guess the object.
 Mrs. Whelan’s math students
have been multiplying and dividing as well as trying to memorize their multiplication tables. During Science , students studied how animals use plants to survive. A walk was taken behind the school and birds and squirrels were observed as they used plants for food. Students illustrated their observations. All agreed it was a great project.

Mrs. Mc Kenna grades 3, 4, and 5 Language Arts classes learned how to use quotation marks when writing. Students used this skill when creating conversation for a St. Patrick’s Day Cartoon activity. Students combined their knowledge, creativity and art when completing this assignment.
School Nurse

Mrs. Terletzky, School Nurse, reports the following activities during
February:
- Conducting screenings – height/weight/audio/vision- referrals given when necessary
- Written and verbal communication with parents of students in need of medical clearance
- Completed and sent Annual Immunization reports to designated offices
- Registration and formulating health charts for new students
- Assisted school dentist with dental examinations. Documentation of findings and referrals completed
- Pediculosis screening
- Scoliosis screening/documentation on health charts
- Ordered 5 th Grade Parent Alert Pamphlets
- Trained Epipen delegates-all documentation intact
- Developed Individual Healthcare Plan
- 2 nd
notice sent to PK parents re: state mandated flu vaccine
- Ordered supplies

School Accomplishments

Continuing Education
Mrs. Hale participated in an online course entitled, “Intervention Strategies for
ELL with Language Learning Disabilities.” Acquired knowledge will aid Mrs.
Hale in providing services to ELL students on her caseload.

MONTH: February 2009
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: WASHINGTON
Pre-Kindergarten
Mrs. Johnson’s – Pre-K class
 This month our class has been studying the letters, N, O and P. We’ve been learning about opposites and rhyming and we’ve been using our fingers to count and add. We had a lot of fun using musical instruments and marching to music. We’ve also been enjoying our time at gym, where we’ve played
Freeze Tag, Duck, Duck, Goose, and had running races.
Pre-Kindergarten
Mrs. Luciano’s – Pre-K class

Painted with red and white and made pink.

Celebrated Ground Hog Day, read stories, sang songs and used our groundhog puppet.

We have a new blue traditional mailbox that we use in our writing center.
Our mail carrier, complete with outfit, brings our attendance and other mail to Mrs. Ryan in the Main Office.

Everyday we print our names and color and cut to support the development of fine motor skills.
Kindergarten
Mrs. Haag’s – Kindergarten class

We celebrated the 100 th day of school by counting raisins, M&M’s, marshmallows, cheese crackers and potato chips – then we ate them!

We learned the letters Ww and Xx.
 We made beautiful Valentine’s Day cards to give to someone special.
Kindergarten
Miss Pusaver’s – Kindergarten class
 Miss Pusaver’s Kindergarten is counting to 100 by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s in Math.
We also made “100 Things Posters” to celebrate the 100 th day of school! In
Science, we are learning about how plants grow. The students have been collecting seeds to observe their differences. In Reading, we are learning about opposites in the story, Swing High, Swing Low.

First Grade
Mrs. Dillon – First grade class

In February, the first grade is learning about numbers to 100. We celebrated the 100 th day of school on February 12 th . They wrote about what they wanted to be when they grow up. The answers were wide ranged (teacher, hotel worker, secret agent, waitress). We are celebrating Black History
Month with a biography on Rosa Parks. We are excited about Valentine’s
Day and are collecting empty tissue boxes for valentine mailboxes. We also learned about Groundhog Day – 6 more weeks of winter!!! We enjoyed having Mrs. Paolazzi as a parent reader on Friday, February 6 th .
Second Grade
Ms. Mielke’s - Second grade class

In February, the second graders wrote speeches about what they would do if they were the President for the day! They learned how to write their name in cursive and they continued to regroup in Math class! For “Black History” month they worked cooperatively with the third graders to learn about Rosa
Parks.
Third Grade
Miss Maier’s – Third grade class
Math –Using Money

Counting bills and coins

Comparing money amounts

Making change

Understanding economics, debt, credit and personal spending and finances
Social Studies – Communities and Geograhy

People change and adapt to their surroundings

Identify living and nonliving natural resources

Understand the importance of renewable and nonrenewable resources

Describe the significant characteristics of an effective citizen and participate in ways to influence public policy
Science – Earth’s Resources

Identify different kinds of resources: nonrenewable, renewable, inexhaustible

Focus on conserving and preserving nonrenewable resources

Consider ways to develop new energy resources from inexhaustible resources
Literacy - Theme 3 – As We Grow

Robust Vocabulary

Writing: Friendly Letter

 Focus Skills: Plot, Author’s Purpose

Grammar: Possessive nouns, singular and plural nouns, subject and object pronouns, pronoun-antecedent agreement
Third Grade
Miss O’Connell’s – Third grade class
 Students in Miss O’Connell’s third grade class, and Ms. Mielke’s second grade class studied famous African Americans for Black History Month.
Students familiarized themselves with important figures in our nation’s history including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Frederick
Douglas. A third grade student read a short story to the group, “Young Rosa
Parks.” After listening to the events of her life, students worked in pairs to complete a time line, including her major accomplishments.
Fourth Grade
Ms. Verrier’s – Fourth grade class
 Science: hands on investigation of seed growth (students observed,
 measured, recorded seed growth over a one week period)
Science: photosynthesis posters (students cooperatively created and labeled
 the process of photosynthesis of a plant)
Writing: "Hershey Kiss" stories (students wrote a descriptive essay on how- to eat a Hershey Kiss". the class then read their essays for "Author's Chair" during our Valentine's Day celebration!
 Reading: the 4th grade had the annual kick off for "The Battle of the
Books" !
Fifth Grade
Ms. Lonergan’s – Fifth grade class

The focus for February in the fifth grade is learning how to work in a group. Groups have been formed in both Science and Math. Groups have met daily to work on specific assignments.
Peer Mediation – Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

The 4th and 5th grade members made "positive posters" to encourage kindness and good behavior. The posters are all throughout the gym and in each classroom! The club members also read "positive books" to the 1st and
2nd grade each Friday, again to promote a positive school atmosphere!
Pre-K
Ms. Kenny’s – Pre-K3 class


This month we received a student teacher, Ms. Lauren Corrigan, a graduate student from Caldwell College.

We read the story Dora’s Valentine Adventure
 Teacher discussed Valentine’s Day with students and words associated with the holiday (love, heart, family, etc).
Students discussed the people in their lives whom they love.

Students identified hearts and cut them out with assistance. They traced their names on the hearts.
 Students sang the song “Skina Marink”

We read the story Dr. Seuss’ ABC (lead by Student Teacher)

Students labeled the letters and discussed different items that begin with letters A-E. We introduced the beginning sounds of letters.

Students created several art projects of items beginning with letters A-E. including …. o
Alligator o
Bear and Bumble Bee o
Crayons o
Dinosaur o
Elephant
Kindergarten and First Grade
Mrs. Kosiakowski’s – Kindergarten class and First Grade

Mrs. Kosiakowski's class read a book about Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln liked to read books and study. He helped his father and his neighbors chop wood and dig wells for water. Lincoln wanted to help people so he became a lawyer. Then he was elected President. Lincoln did not like slavery and he signed the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves. After our discussion was over, we made booklets about the life of Abraham Lincoln.
Second and Third Grade
Mrs. Cutruzzula
 Mrs. Cutruzzula’s 2-3 Grade class learned about many different kinds of animals. The students classified animals by their body parts. They also learned about the animals’ life cycles and change that occurs.
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Keegan’s – Fifth Grade class

Mrs. Keegan's 5th grade class has been having some reading competitions within the class. They have been divided into reading circles and must work with their group to win the challenges. The three groups made it to the tie breaker round "Think on Your Feet". This week Group 2 won the

competition. Next week there will be yet another challenge for Group 1 and
3 to try and win the prizes.

MONTH: ____February_____
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mathematics

Miss Neubauer's Math classes participated in “Hands-On Math Day”. In collaboration with Miss Scerbo's Science classes, the students competed in the
Metric Olympics. Students took part in a big foot competition, where they each found the area of their foot, as well as a paper plate discus and a straw javelin throw.
 Miss Maucione’s Math
classes were involved in “Hands-On Math Day”. Each student was given a handful of popcorn kernels and was asked to count how many they had. Once all the amounts were on the board, the students were asked to find the percent of kernels that each student had. To assist them in finding the percent, they were given calculators. With the calculators they were shown how to change a fraction into a percent. As an extension to the lesson, each student was given a random jolly rancher. They then had to calculate what percent of each color was distributed. With these results, the students had to predict which color would appear most, least or the same in the bag. They were also asked to find the probability of picking certain colors out of the bag.
 Miss Thomas’ eighth grade Math
students came to school on February 12 th
, and
SURPRISE, they were told that they were going to throw a party, which involved several math activities. The students had to sort out M&M’s or Skittles to find percentages and probability. Next, they found the hypotenuse of the classroom, in order to figure out how many feet of streamer they needed to hang across the classroom, and lastly they had a balloon toss. The students had to toss the balloon back and forth among their group. Starting with twenty seconds, then forty seconds, and so on. The students graphed the amount of time they spent tossing the balloon to how many tosses they completed.

Mrs. Kowalczyk's Math classes played two math games. One was "Light and
Strike". The students did basic math problems on what looked like a huge calculator. Once the students had their answer, they had to "strike" the correct number when it "lit" up. The other game was called "Equate". It was a board game similar to Scrabble. The students had to come up with math equations and connect them to one another. Each tile was worth points and the scores were added up until a winner was declared.

Mrs. Coughlin’s grade eight Math students designed their own apartments for
“Hands-On Math Day”. The project involved grid paper, furniture templates and where walls could go to make an apartment. Each person would be able to arrange and rearrange as needed until he/she was able to fit all of the pieces in properly. After gluing down the furniture pieces and drawing in the walls with a ruler and marker, students would finish by providing the area of each room and the total area for the apartment.

Celebrating both Math Day and Black History Month, Mr. Bernstein presented a lesson plan to all his classes focusing on the concept of equality. The lesson was divided into four sections and was based loosely on left brain/right brain 4-Mat guidelines.

o Section one was more or less a jumping off point with students breaking into groups to briefly discuss and then come together to define equality in math and in the real world through consensus. o In the second section, students were to formulate and present to the class two examples representing either equality or inequality in the real and mathematical worlds. o Section three's assignment was satisfied with the creation of a drawing incorporating equality or inequality in both the real and mathematical worlds. o Section four was the culminating activity with individual students sharing their work and conclusions with the class.
Language Arts

Ms. Demetroules' Writing class focused on the importance of Internet
Safety. After watching a short clip on "Cyber Bullying", students were asked to write a reaction to the fable "The Wise Man & the Feather". In this reaction, the students were asked to make the connection between gossip over the internet, to trying to collect a handful of feathers blown away in the wind.

In recognition of Black History Month, Miss Keeler’s class completed a 5lesson unit based on the history of intolerance in America. The unit began by simply defining the word “tolerance”. Using this as a basis for discussion, the students began to understand that, in the course of American history, some individuals and groups have been feared and discriminated against simply because of who they are. Through various discussions and writing assignments, students discovered that some groups who are victimized in one instance, become perpetrators in other instances. After reading the article “A
Town Called Rosewood,” the class learned about the terrorist tactics employed against African Americans by lynch mobs during the era of segregation. To conclude the unit, the students then divided into collaborative groups to research and report on life in another African American community in the 1920’s, the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Each group gave an oral presentation on one of the following areas: personalities, literature, music or visual arts of the Harlem Renaissance. As a culminating activity, the class then produced original images of African American authors, musicians and artists from this period in history.

The students in Ms. Thomas’ Writing class created posters to describe their favorite number. Students explained why they chose that certain number, then three ways that number relates to math, three ways that number relates to their own life, and three ways that number relates to the universe.

To celebrate Black History Month, Mrs. Roller's English Language
Learners read mini-biographies of several famous Black Americans. Next, they prepared a report and oral presentation on one person who interested them.
 Mrs. Helms’ 6 th & 7 th grade Reading classes did a study on the award winning African-American author Mildred Taylor. The 6 th
grade read her novella, The Gold Cadillac and the 7 th
grade read the novella, Song of the

Trees . The 8 th
grade students read several African-American folklores written by Zora Neale Hurston.
 Mrs. Duff’s sixth grade students took a survey. They attempted to determine the total number of students who believed the main character in the novel, No
More Dead Dogs, was guilty. The students then showed the results in a pie chart.

Mrs. Callahan's 7th and 8th grade Reading and Writing classes celebrated
"Hands-On Math Day" by completing various "brain teaser" activities. The students completed various worksheets which engaged their minds in skills normally related to math, including problem solving. Students were permitted to work independently or with a partner. Before the end of class, answers were reviewed and everyone was able to gauge their understanding of the various skills.

In
Mrs. Kowalczyk’s Writing classes
the students were given a quote by
Albert Einstein, which they had to interpret in their own words. This helped the students with their Explanatory writing skills for the NJASK.
World Languages
 Mrs. Marchese’s Spanish classes
:
The sixth and seventh graders measured items in the classroom. They first estimated the length and width of classroom items and then labeled them in Spanish. Lastly, they measured and compared the measurements of the items.
The seventh graders also wrote six sentences in Spanish about President
Obama and Oprah, as they celebrated Black History month.
The eighth graders learned the verbs ‘to pack’ and ‘to fly’. They made suitcases and mochilas to pack for their Boston trip in May. The
"maletas" will have ten items labeled in Spanish and are necessary for their trip. Their "mochilas" will also contain ten different items necessary for their trip to Boston. o To reinforce the knowledge achieved in Math classes,
Mrs. McNerney’s
Spanish classes worked on the “Metric System” by making basic calculations to transform inches to centimeters and vice versa, as well as applying these basic units of measurement to convert larger units, such as meters to feet.
The seventh grade students played “Prediction Games” to determine the distance between point A and B on the board; in order to verify the accuracy of their predictions, they had to use a yard and meter stick to confirm their estimates both in inches and centimeters.
The eighth grade students played the “Prediction Game” by rolling a softball on the floor and hitting a second one placed on the starting point. Each team of students had to guess the distance the second ball had traveled.
The team with more accurate predictions was the winner of the day.
Social Studies

o Ms. Demetroules' Social Studies classes paid tribute to Black Americans that have impacted our history. Students in each class researched a different famous
Black American that they had an interest in. During class, each student contributed to a class mural dedicated to Black History Month, depicting the person or their contribution to society.
o The students in Mrs. Fisher's classes recognized Black History Month by watching a movie about Ruby Bridges. After viewing the film, the students did a journal activity. The students’ responses were very touching. o The students in Mr. Wolowitz's Writing class created their very own survey.
They were asked to think of a question to ask fifty 8 th
grade students in the North
Arlington Middle School. They then recorded their data and made a chart to show the percentage of how many students like the same things that they do.
Science

The students in
Ms. Scerbo’s Science classes
learned about reptiles and amphibians. Many lessons were completed on adaptations and habitats. They also continued to observe the tadpoles and their progress. The students participated in a Mini Metric Olympics on Math Day. They completed many activities, in which they first had to estimate their guess and then measure their actual performance metrically. Activities included: the cotton ball shot put, left handed marble grab, and the right handed sponge squeeze.
 Mrs. Galante’s 7 th grade Science classes studied earthquakes. They finished learning about how geologists measure the intensity and damages of an earthquake. The students were taught that geologist use three different instruments to measure these factors: Mercalli scale, Richter scale, and the
Moment Magnitude scales. After looking at some of the most disastrous earthquakes that have occurred, the students designed bar graphs to compare the
Richter and the Moment Magnitude scales. The graphs showed how these two instruments differed in their ratings of the strengths of particular earthquakes.

All students in Mr. Haines’ classes completed a ten-page research paper, experienced what is involved in developing a scientific research paper, and had cross-curricular implications by developing a cohesive written presentation.
Art
 Mrs. Branco’s Art classes
had a very busy month. o The 6 th
grade created both Valentines and St. Patrick’s Day mobiles. They also learned how to create Op art, or optical illusions, using black sharpies and colored card stock paper. They completed their month by creating line drawings and upside down work. o The 7 th grade worked on line designs and completed the month by creating value packets, which helped them to create the element of value successfully. They did a value scale, cross hatching, stippling and shading. They also learned how to take simple shapes and create complex drawings using packet handouts.

o The 8 th
graders created portraits, using the proper measurements, and painted them to create Fauvist self portraits. They also learned about the history of the Fauves.
Music

Mr. Nicolle conducted another fundraiser to help offset the cost for the spring trip to Great Adventure. Band rehearsals began for the spring concert.
Comprehensive Health & Physical Education

The 6th grade students participated in ‘Hoops for Heart’ to raise money for the
American Heart Association. The homerooms competed and Ms. Demetroules' team won. Their team color was black and their team name was the Black
Magic. The two top fundraisers in the 6th grade were Devon Keen and Michael
Cammett; together raising over $300. All together the entire 6th grade raised
$2,100.00.
Computers

The students in Mr. Guanci's 7th grade Computer Studies class were able to use Microsoft Excel to create a word search based on Black History Month. The students used the internet to search for great African American leaders during the
Civil Rights Movements and then used them as the hidden words. They next exchanged them with their classmates to find the hidden words.
Guidance

Mrs. Bacek met with all students who received a letter stating that they are in danger of failing a subject(s) for the year. Many of the students were able to develop strategies to "turn around" their grades, while some of the students who are failing more than 2 subjects are overwhelmed at the mid point year. Together, various options and strategies were discussed with these students.
Special Ed

In honor of Black History Month, students in
Ms. Tzakis’ class
watched The
Children’s March, which is part of the Tolerance series. After watching the video, the students reviewed a timeline of all the important events that finally led to equal rights. The students were asked to develop an essay entitled,
How Far We’ve Come; they used facts from the timeline and video and then added their opinions and reflections to construct an essay. The students also decorated the hallway bulletin board with a dedication to Black History Month. o In honor of “Hands-On Math Day,” students were taught how to accurately read measurements by using measuring tape. The teacher shared information, from an interior design class she attended, that focused on the theory of scale. Students went home with their measuring tape and measured their bedrooms. They brought those measurements back to class and used graph paper to accurately graph their space. The

students were then supplied with pictures of furnishings that had exact measurement on them and they placed them in their rooms. At the end of the project, they had a professional room decorated to scale.
 Ms. Janczak’s 6th grade Writing class
worked on a project called "African-
American Achievers Hall of Fame". The students first chose an African-
American that they felt deserved to be in the hall of fame. They then read some information on their chosen achiever and had to describe their childhood/family, major accomplishments, create an illustration of an important accomplishment, and why he/she should be in the Hall of Fame. If the students needed more information they used the internet as a source. Once all of the students completed the research part of the project, they were asked to create an acrostic poem using the letters of their chosen African-American’s name. All of the research, as well as the acrostic poem, were then put into a pamphlet that they personally designed and shared them with their classmates.
Workshop Attendance

Professional Learning Communities: Meeting III, February 25, 2009
Student Recognitions

Catrin Janczak.................... Franklin Montesdeoca
 Persa Tzakis....................... Carlos Bazalar

Grade 6............................... Franchesca de la Calle
Abha Jhaveri
Nabih Arnout
Brianna Cappuccino

Grade 7............................... Daniel Gonzalez
Gabriella Pietronico
Natalie Leite
Julian Cunha

Grade 8................................ Natalie LaBarbera
Allison Manzo
Amanda Ortiz
Robert Gwiszcz
School Accomplishments
 Mr. Haines and Ms. Keeler organized drama actors and began rehearsals for
Mahwah High School’s “Shakespeare Day”.

Mr. Haines , with the students, organized the field day uniform order, which served as a large fundraiser for the eighth grade.
Special Programs

The 6th grade students participated in Hoops for Heart to raise money for the
American Heart Association. The homerooms competed and Ms. Demetroules' team won. Their team color was black and their team name was the Black
Magic. The two top fundraisers in the 6th grade were Devon Keen and Michael
Cammett; together raising over $300. All together the entire 6th grade raised
$2,100.00.

Curriculum and Instruction and Implementation of Objectives:
:
Mrs. Albuquerque’s English III and English IV students celebrated Black History
Month by completing a project on African American poets. Students had to choose an African American poet, research his/her biography, and analyze one poem. All of the students had to present their projects orally adhering to specific guidelines outlined in a rubric. Students reviewed all of the requirements, particularly those related to the evaluation of the poem – figurative language.
Every student had an opportunity to familiarize himself/herself with not merely one African American poet but several as each pupil presented the project to the class. Juniors and seniors were exposed to the varied genres of poetry selected for this project, and simultaneously developed an appreciation for the poetic themes transparent in all of the poems.
Mrs. Albuquerque’s English IV and IV Honors students reviewed the guidelines for developing a thesis paper focusing on MLA format as well as composing a cohesive thesis statement. Senior classes took notes on Sophocles, Oedipus Rex
, Aristotle’s poetics and Freud’s theory on the
Oedipus complex. Subsequently, they began reading and evaluating Oedipus Rex in class. Seniors were also assigned novels for independent reading: Night,
Fahrenheit 451 and In Cold Blood.
Mrs. Albuquerque’s English III students took notes on William Shakespeare, the Renaissance, and Macbeth . Juniors began reading and evaluating the play, Macbeth , in class. They were assigned novels for independent reading: Lord of the Flies and A Raisin in the Sun .

Ms. Augustine’s classes recognized Black History Month by engaging in an internet based mini project. The students researched an African American poet or author, provided a biography and analyzed his/her poem.
Ms. Augustine’s
English I Honors students delved into the novel, The Chocolate War . They have begun the Poetry unit where an array of poems will be examined to enhance appreciation of this art, locate and exemplify poetic terms and provide analysis.
Ms. Augustine’s English I students simulated disabilities invoking class reactions to living with a disability as portrayed in the novel The Acorn People.
The class learned about Shakespeare and began to enjoy reading Romeo and
Juliet. Ms. Augustine’s English II students researched the historical significance of the 1930’s in addition to the Scottsboro Trials to demonstrate the significance of that time period. The students then acted as connectors in Literature Circles to compare this to the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird . Ms. Augustine’s HSPA

students have been working diligently in attempts to prepare for March’s HSPA state testing by answering questions using the Study Island program and practiced speculative and persuasive writing prompts using peer editing and teacher critique.

Students continue to work on their vocabulary, building, grammar, and reading skills in Mrs. Jeannine Burns’ SAT Preview Class co-taught with Mrs. Elaine
Maresca . Students use the SAT Online course to practice test taking skills, as well as classroom activities, which use learned concepts in context. Students from
Mrs. Burns’ third cycle of Visual and Performing Arts have completed their theatre history posters which depict research on a particular sub-genre of theatre that students have completed. Additionally Mrs. Jeannine Burns continues to comb the internet and other resources to provide authentic examples of historic theatre such as pictures of Noh masks and supplemental information about the emergence of the female actor. In English 3 Honors, Mrs. Jeannine Burns continues to recognize African American poets throughout the month of February.
Each day the students study one poem from an African American poet and discuss its’ meaning and the experience of people of color in the US. Additionally, students are studying English Romanticism and working on cooperative groups to analyze this difficult literature. In Propaganda of Genocide and Oppression, students are discussing world politics including President Obama’s inauguration speech and the propaganda techniques that were used. In unit V, students are exploring different resistance movements that have been used by oppressed people—from spiritual resistance, to non-violent resistance, to armed resistance.
Students are then assessing and analyzing how effective each of these methods are, and pursuing the ethical question of violence for a “good cause” vs. maintaining a seemingly unwinnable non-violent battle such as that of the Dalai
Lama in Tibet.
 Ms. Ingannamorte’s
Creative Writing class is writing free verse poetry inspired by the theme of friendship. They are also writing poems inspired by works of art.
Her English III classes are reading Macbeth and comparing it to the live performance experience they had at Pax Amicus Shakespeare Theatre in Budd
Lake on February 26, 2009. In honor of African-American History Month, Ms.
Ingannamorte’s classes have read a Langston Hughes poem expressing his view of America in the early 1900’s. A comparison was made as to how he might have expressed himself differently today in relation to our recent election.
 Mrs. Nichols’
Journalism students have completed their fourth issue of the
Viking Saga . Students are currently learning more about the feature and sports pages and how to write more in depth articles for each of these pages. Mrs.
Nichols’
English II students have begun reading Julius Caesar . Students are learning how to read the Old English vocabulary and relate the words to modern words.
Mrs. Nichols’
English III Honors students have completed a persuasive writing prompt in preparation for the HSPA. Students were directed to choose

someone who was a civil rights activist to be given the distinguished honor of being on the 2009 stamp.
 Mrs. Holly Singler’s AP English class is continuing to write its class novel, the storyline is following that of the school year. Each of her classes studied works by
African American authors. The AP English , the English IV Honors classes, and
English IV classes each read Native Son by Richard Wright. The AP and Honors classes also read and analyzed A Raisin in the Son by Lorraine Hansberry. The
AP class also read The Piano Lesson by August Wilson.
 Ms. Turner’s
English I class has begun to study Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet.
They have been performing the scenes in class and relating the conflicts faced by these characters to the problems faced by modern teenagers. Ms.
Turner’s English II
students have also begun to study Shakespeare. They are reading Julius Caesar and have been spending a great deal of time on character analysis. English II Honors have begun studying modern American Literature.
They spent several weeks studying the major modern American poets. They also spent a week studying the major writers of The Harlem Renaissance in recognition of Black History Month. All of Ms. Turner’s English classes also completed a picture prompt based on a famous picture of segregated water fountains in the south before the Civil Rights Movement. This assignment was also in recognition of Black History Month.
Social Studies Department:

Mr.Galante’s Political Economic Geography Honors classes created “hands on projects” dealing with the units on Africa and the Middle East. These culminating projects were displayed in the Superintendent’s hallway during the month of
February. Projects ranged from a relief map of the Great Rift Valley, to a model of the Pyramids of Giza, the Ziggurat of Ur, a diorama of the Persian Gulf War, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, just to mention a few. All of Mr.Galante’s
Political Economic Geography classes have begun their new unit on India. As part of their study, and in accordance, with “Black History Month” the students compared the philosophies and achievements of “Mahatma” Gandhi and Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. The classes also engaged in a “Smartboard” lesson and experienced a “virtual tour” to Agra, India and the “Taj Mahal”. The regular PEG classes created a concept map as a culminating activity on the three monotheistic religions that developed in the Middle East. The Modern World History class, during their study of the French Revolution and Napoleon, created a time line of all major period events from 1789-1815.
 Ms. Jimenez’s USII classes presented research papers on topics linking the issues of the Roaring 20’s to issues that affect our society today. They observed
African-American History Month by reflecting on the birthday of W.E.B. DuBois, the seminal African-American intellectual and founder of the NAACP (which

celebrated its 100 th
anniversary earlier in the month).
Ms. Jimenez’s PEG classes viewed a short film on the Palestine-Israeli conflict as background to discuss the issue further in class. This activity wrapped up their study of the
Middle Eastern region. To honor African American History Month, they briefly researched the life of Malcolm X in connection with their study of Islam.
 Mrs. Kusher’s U.S. History I classes have finished their study of the Articles of
Confederation and the Constitutional Convention. Students in the U.S. I classes examined the Articles of Confederation, our nation’s first government, and analyzed it for defects. The students then viewed a power point presentation on the Smart Board about the Constitutional Convention. In addition , Mrs.
Kusher’s U.S. I students examined a copy of Patrick Henry’s anti-federalist speech to the Constitutional Convention and came up with evidence to counter his arguments. Mrs. Kusher’s U.S. I Honors class completed the activities just described and, in addition, students participated in a Constitutional Convention simulation activity. Students were in groups that represented three large and three small states at the convention. Students needed to compromise and come to an agreement about various issues that were debated at the real convention. Mrs.
Kusher’s U.S. Government class has begun its’ study of government. Students examined and analyzed a political cartoon illustrating the “Divine Right of Kings” theory of the state and discussed findings. Students also examined a primary source document by John Locke, (“Two Treaties on Government”) in order to better understand the foundations of the U.S. government.

Ms. Sharon O’Brien’s U.S. History II classes analyzed World War I propaganda and primary source documents. The students were exposed to liberty bond advertisements from that era. To enhance the lesson, the U.S. History II classes completed a project creating their own liberty bond posters. In addition,
Ms. O’Brien’s U.S. History II classes read a variety of primary source documents, including Bartolomeo Vanzetti’s speech to the jury that convicted him of murder in the 1920s.
Ms. O’Brien’s A.P. U.S. History class
learned more about Henry Ford by reading about his background and his significant contributions to American society and the automobile industry. A.P. U.S. students also read a first hand account of the stock market crash of 1929. To prepare for the A.P. U.S. History exam in May,
Ms. O’Brien’s A.P. class has continued to improve their responses to document based questions. This month the class wrote an essay response to a DBQ on the Progressive Era. Ms.
O’Brien’s Sociology
classes read and analyzed statistics about the death penalty in the United States and in other countries. The Sociology students were asked to formulate their own opinions about the death penalty after reading an article that detailed the pros and cons of the death penalty. The students then expressed their personal opinion in essay form and used the statistics and information they read in their writing assignment. Lastly, Sociology students read a current events article about the mother who had octuplets recently. Students were asked to evaluate the medical ethics used in this multiple birth case and decide whether this is a form of

deviance. Deviance is one of the current topics that Ms. O’Brien’s Sociology classes are studying this month.
Ms. O’Brien’s classes also acknowledged Black
History Month. In U.S. History II and A.P. U.S. History the students studied the
Great Migration and the contributions African Americans made to the war effort for WWI.
 Ms. Smith’s US I students worked in groups to “create” a new edition of the school newspaper based on the United States Constitution. Their goal was to understand the Constitution so that they could teach their classmates its origins, significance and relevance to our society. Each group member was required to make three contributions in the form of articles, graphics, political cartoons, editorials, and/or illustrations and each group was required to present their periodical to the class. Ms. Smith’s Sociology classes read Dr. Seuss’ Sneetches ,
Bruce Hornsby’s
The Way It Is and 2Pac’s Changes and examined how each relates to the concept of social stratification. In honor of Black History Month,
Ms. Smith’s US II Honors classes discussed major events of the Civil Rights
Movement and read the story of Emmett Till. Students discussed how life has changed for African Americans since the time of Emmett Till’s slaying and how life will continue to change in the years to come. After analyzing examples of propaganda produced during the WWI era,
Ms. Smith’s US II students acted as members of the Committee on Public Information and created posters and/or speeches to persuade Americans on the home-front to support the war efforts abroad.
World Language Department
 Mrs. de Diego’s Spanish III and IV classes have been working on the preterit and imperfect tenses in Spanish. They prepared a power point presentation depicting the highlights of their lives and they presented it to their classmates in the target language for an oral test grade. The students in all levels have also discussed Valentine’s Day in the different Spanish-speaking countries and had the opportunity to create a Valentine’s Day card for their classmates in Spanish.
Also, Mrs. de Diego’s Spanish III students have been working on physical appearance vocabulary and personality types by working in partners to create a sketch of the face of a person based on a written description. Once they were done, the sketches were placed on the blackboard and Mrs. de Diego read the written descriptions for students to guess who was in the sketch being described.
Spanish IV students were working the graduation vocabulary. They had to prepare a graduation speech to read in front of the class.

Mrs. Murad’s Spanish III Honors class participated in a TPR lesson in order to review direct and indirect object pronouns used with a conjugated verb, an infinitive, the present participle and with the preterit tense. Mrs. Murad’s

Spanish III Honors class played a memory game whereby the first student had to tell the class what he/she used to do as a child. The second student had to repeat what the first student said and tell what he/she did as well. Each student had an opportunity to speak.
Mrs. Murad’s Spanish I class did a TPR lesson reviewing vocabulary about places and how to express intentions. Mrs. Murad put up photos of places in the classroom. The students called upon had to choose a place and say where, with whom and why they were going to that place. Mrs.
Murad’s Spanish I classes used the Smartboard to review foods, telling time, prepositions, vocabulary dealing with places and to review the verb ‘to go’ in
Spanish. To honor Black History Month, students in the Spanish I classes were asked to bring in a photo of a famous African-American. The students pasted the photo in the center of a sheet of construction paper. All around the photo the students wrote adjectives in Spanish to describe that person. Then, the students wrote a composition in Spanish using the adjectives they used.

To create awareness of the African American and Hispanic experiences in our country, Mrs. McNerney’s Spanish classes researched the biographies of several personalities in the arts, sports and media that share both backgrounds.
The history and social issues of “Afro-Latinos” have not been very different from those of African-Americans here in the United States.
Spanish I students had to research the person they were assigned, write five correct statements about the person, in Spanish, and present to the class their findings. This was called “Pop
Corn Biography Bag”, as each student was rewarded for their efforts with some pop corn to fill a small paper bag holding the statements and a picture of the person. Spanish I Honors students had to work on their “Pop Corn Biography
Bag” project by writing a small essay with relevant facts that made the assigned person famous. The facts had to be presented to the class on a five minute presentation with the help of pictures and some other visual aides.

All of
Mrs. McKeown’s
French classes researched the monuments of Paris and created power point presentations of their research. Mrs. McKeown and the students who traveled to Paris and Normandy Beach added their personal experiences to the information.
 Ms. Sanabria’s Spanish II Honors and Spanish II students participated in an authentic role play presentation whereby they used menus and ordered food all in the target language. All teams had to create a situation where, while at the restaurant, one student had to play the role of a waiter/waitress, while another student(s) had to play the role of a customer(s). The students had to include a conflict or a problem that occurred while at the restaurant. Students were allowed to use index cards to help keep the dialogue flowing. The students enjoyed this type of communicative activity greatly and expressed how much they learned speaking in the target language at a restaurant. During the first week of
February, the classes discussed the importance of Black History Month, and

within their conversation, many famous African-Americans were mentioned.
There was a general agreement that President Obama represented a new hope for minorities.
 Mrs. Maresca’s Precalculus classes began working on their 3 rd
marking period projects,
Trigonome“tree”, by constructing clinometers from protractors, string, washers, and straws. These devices were used to measure the angle of elevation, which will enable the students to calculate the heights of very tall objects, such as trees and buildings, by using trigonometry formulas.
 Mrs. Maresca’s Algebra II
classes are working on their projects, “
Population
Trends.
” Each student was assigned a state and researched the population of that state by using the U.S. Census Bureau’s website for the years from 1900 to 2000.
The students then used the TI-89 graphing calculators to find a linear and quadratic model for their data. The best model will be used to predict the population of their state in future years.
 Mrs. Maresca’s SAT Preview
class is now focusing on concepts in geometry and measurement. They continue to use the SAT Online Course program to analyze their strengths and weaknesses in these topics.
 Mr. Dembowski’s
Geometry and Geometry Honors classes completed Chapter
5. Chapter 5 consisted of midsegments, medians, bisectors, and inequalities in triangles. Students are working hard and actively taking notes in class to raise test grades.
 Mr. Dembowski’s
Algebra I-B classes are learning about polynomials in
Chapter Eight. To demonstrate the different degree of polynomials, the class has been working with different size cubes that represented different degrees. Seeing the different sizes aided students to organize polynomials in descending and ascending orders. The cubes were also used in the next section, adding and subtracting polynomials. These cubes help students in grouping similar terms.
 Mr. Dembowski’s
HSPA Review class is working on HSPA sample tests to prepare for the upcoming test. The class is working together to help each other review old material as well as to explore and learn new material.
 Mr. Capriola’s Geometry Basic classes completed an activity that involved real life identification of isosceles triangles. Students were instructed to find examples of isosceles triangles in buildings pictured in newspapers or magazines. Students were then asked to identify the parts of each of the isosceles triangle, copy each of the triangles, and construct the perpendicular bisector to the base side of each triangle.
 Mr. Capriola’s Algebra I classes completed a real-world project involving scatter plots. Students were asked to find a scattered plot relating two different quantities from either a newspaper or a magazine. Students were instructed to analyze the data and identify if a positive, negative, or no correlation existed between the two variables. Students then had to construct a line of fit that best described their scattered plot. Finally students had to write an equation for the line of fit in slope intercept form using two points on their line. This project

helped students understand how linear equations can be used to model and analyze real world applications.
 Mr. Nazi’s AP Calculus is able to relate the definite integral to the area under a curve. They derived some of the area formulas used in geometry such as the area of the triangle, trapezoid and circle.
 Mr. Nazi’s Statistics class examined the application of the normal curve to real life problems and designs. They now understand how the dimensions of different designs are determined such as the height of doors, size of clothes, and the room space in your car.
 Mr. Nazi’s Algebra II-A
students are finishing the chapter on polynomials and polynomial functions. They are currently studying real life applications related to this topic.

Ms.
Meichenbaum’s
Algebra I students recently completed a unit about linear equations and inequalities. Students are becoming skilled at identifying the differences between standard and slope-intercept form and can graph equations and inequalities in either format.

Ms.
Meichenbaum’s
HSPA students have been practicing their test taking strategies while taking actual practice exams. The students are given three full class periods to answer all four parts of the practice exam. This allots them the necessary 120 minutes for which the sample tests were designed.

Students in
Ms. Meichenbaum’s Math Technology
classes are currently completing a unit on geometry concepts including area, perimeter and surface area of various shapes and solids. Students completed a “build a house” project, in which they applied all of the necessary measuring skills in one hands-on scale model assignment.

Ms.
Meichenbaum’s
Algebra II Honors students completed the sixth chapter on polynomials and polynomial functions and are starting to learn about logarithms.
 Mr. Zukatus’ Algebra I classes worked with different forms of lines. They worked along with point-slope form of a line, standard form of a line, and slopintercept form of a line. Students became proficient with the different forms and are able to use them to model and relate parallel and perpendicular lines to a given line.
 Mr. Zukatus’ Algebra I-A classes worked with graphing and the coordinate plane. Students learned about transformations in the coordinate plane, as well as different ways to show relations between ordered pairs. They also worked with linear equations, finding solution sets for given replacement sets, as well as ranges for given domains.

Mr. Zukatus’ Geometry class worked with quadrilaterals during the month of
February. Students learned about different types of quadrilaterals, as well as how to classify them by given properties. They worked exclusively with parallelograms and were able to prove figures were parallelograms by information given about a figure. Students also explored properties of rhombuses, kites, and trapezoids.
 Miss Fash’s Pre-Algebra students are currently working on a long-term project
“Sim-Survival”. Students are given their life scenario where they must balance a budget, and pay weekly and monthly bills. Students learned basic organizational

techniques like writing out checks and balancing a check register. Skills such as percentage, interest, and addition and subtraction of decimals were demonstrated.
 Miss Fash’s Algebra II-A students completed a project where they used properties of matrix multiplication and inverse matrices to decode messages. In this project, students were able to decode messages and create their own messages to be decoded by other students.
 Miss Fash’s Algebra II-B classes completed a unit on rational expressions. All operations needed to simplify rational expressions, complex fractions, and to solve rational equations were learned.
 Miss Fash’s SRA students are completing the SRA process for the March 31 st deadline.
 Mr. Mott’s Biology Honors class prepared a leaf poster presentation on the process of photosynthesis showing the over all structure, as well as the specific structures found in the cell. They also performed a photosynthetic rate lab, in which they related light intensity to the process of photosynthesis by collecting oxygen. The amount of oxygen compared to the various light intensities indicated the rate of photosynthesis. The students also performed a chromatography lab. In this lab, youngsters determined the various pigments found in a variety of plant leaves. They went on to calculate the RF factor and eventually determine the type of pigment, such as chlorophyll a, b, c, d etc. In honor of Black History Month, students researched African American Scientists that contributed to the field of biology. Students then created a written and oral report with visual aids.
 Mr. Mott’s AP Biology
class performed a respiration lab which measured the various rates of respiration in living things. Comparisons were made between pea seeds that were dormant, just germinated, 4 days germinated and 7 days germinated. The resulting data was analyzed and relationships between energy use and respiration were drawn. DNA was introduced, and the extraction of DNA from bacteria was performed. The DNA was freed from the bacteria and collected on a spooling rod. The similarity and differences between the various tubes of bacteria were discussed. The transformation of e coli was accomplished by shocking the bacteria with heat and cold in the presence of a DMA plasmid.
 Mr. Mott’s Anatomy and Physiology
class examined the integumentary system.
The youngsters took their own fingerprints and made comparisons by examining the various fingerprints in the class to the typical types, and then repeated the procedure for their hair samples examining under a microscope for similarities and differences. Each student also examined the effect of temperature on various regions of the skin by exposing areas to hot and cold and by use of temperature sensitive strip observing the effects on the immediate area, and nearby areas of the body. The students also did a hair sampling experiment making a latex imprint and permanent slide of various animal types, than comparing them to an unknown hair. They then justified the reason for the hair identification. The students also

began the dissection of the cat, by removing the epithelial tissue, and examining both epithelial and hair from the cat. The cats were put in storage for future use when the muscular system is examined.
 Mr. Rapp’s Chemistry
Classes completed a lab dealing with the separation, purification and identification of the components of a mixture. They used chromatography paper and calculated the Rf values for different food dyes. The students are also preparing reports on the development of the Periodic Table and citing the chemists involved in the major contributions.
 Mr. Spaccavento’s Physics 1 Honors classes are involved in an individual vector laboratory activity and analysis. Youngsters collected data for three forces and for five forces in equilibrium using a force table. Then they were asked to analyze the data 3 ways: first using a scale diagram, second using mathematics with a calculator and some right angle trigonometry, and finally create an “Excel” spreadsheet to solve this problem ( and in turn any other similar problem).
 Mr. Spaccavento’s Physics 2 class viewed and felt the effects of large accumulations of static electric charge using the “Van Dar Graff Generator”. It was a nice dry day, and the sparks were flying. Youngsters were introduced to the mathematics involved in circuit analysis and used “Excel” to help solve some problems. The class has completed “Module Four” of CASTLE and is now working on simple DC circuits. They will conclude this unit on electricity with
Module Five of CASTLE.

Mrs. Abdel-Messih’s Biology class students worked in groups on an on-line project (Cellular Respiration Web quest). Students used the computer to compare and contrast aerobic and anaerobic respiration and to research the role of
ATP in the living organisms. The students have used the microscopes to identify the stages of mitosis in plant and animal cells, identified the components of cells, and drew the structures seen with the microscope to compare the stages of mitosis in plant cells with those stages of animal cells. Also, students have worked in pairs to create Respiration Flip Book.

Mrs. Abdel-Messih’s Honors Biology In addition to the above, the students in
Mrs. Abdel-Messih’s Honors Biology Classes have done the following: The youngsters have worked in groups and constructed three dimensional models of different phases of mitosis and meiosis using the lab materials. They drew them in the lab report to compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis phases. Also, the students have used the computers to research the differences between normal cells and cancer cells and to research the cancer risk factors.
 Ms. Rosen’s Biology students learned all about the processes of cellular respiration and fermentation. Students also identified the different parts of the life cycle and drew the phases of mitosis.

 Ms. Rosen’s Environmental students aided in raising awareness for recycling through the collection and organization of discarded paper. Students learned about their own water use by recording the different ways they use water, then calculating their total water use. Students began to learn about the different types of freshwater pollution.
 Ms. Rosen’s Anatomy and Physiology students began their cat dissections by removing the intergumary (skin) system from the cat. Students also identified the different components of long bones.
 Mr. Necoechea’s Honors Chemistry students have been studying oxidationreduction reactions and electrochemistry. They performed a new activity in which they measured the relative strengths of oxidizing and reducing agents by observing the results of a series of single-replacement reactions.
 Mr. Necoechea’s Physical Science students have been studying electricity and magnetism. Students have successfully built several circuits from the EKI
Science Labs Manual, including an IC Timer Blinking Light Circuit, a transistor oscillator, and an LED current indicator. The students have also constructed and tested an electromagnet.

Mrs. Esquetini’s Technology students were treated with a guest speaker from
Devry University where they were given the opportunity to explore technology related career paths. The students used a PDA to create an Avatar (a digital image of themselves) and answer a few questions. The computer matched their personality to different career options and the students were then given information about each career matched.
 Mrs. Tomko’s and Mr. Kenny’s Computer Applications I classes have been working on formatting research papers. Formatting is consistent with the guidelines set forth by the North Arlington High School Handbook. Resources are shared for further investigation by students who may come across different situations when citing references.
 Mrs. Tomko’s and Mr. Kenny’s Computer Applications II completed the unit on PowerPoint. The students took a comprehensive exam and completed a capstone presentation project that will be shared with the class.
 Mrs. Tomko’s Introduction to Business class has begun work on savings and checking accounts. Internal Training Service material provided by Kearny
Federal Savings Bank is being used as a simulation for actual checking account record keeping. ATM’s, deposits, check writing, bank reconciliations, and more

are explored with this hands-on simulation. Kearny Federal has again asked for input on the use of the simulation and would like to come in for a photo opportunity with the students to use in the KFSB newsletter and on their website.
 Mrs. Tomko’s Personal Finance class is underway preparing federal tax return
Forms 1040 EZ and 1040 with Schedules A and B as attachments. Students will be able to complete their own individual tax returns as well as share the material learned with their families.
 Mr. Kenny’s Accounting 1
completed journalizing transactions and posting to the general ledger. Students are now completing Worksheets (Trial Balance,
Adjustments, Income Statements, and Balance Sheets). The class is continuing
“Business Current Events Friday”. Every week a selected student brings in an accounting related article to be read and discussed. A writing assignment follows.
 Ms. Rosolen’s Information Management class has been working on computing fundamentals covering such topics as networks, computing devices, and memory.
This topic is one of the components of the IC3 Certification test.
 Ms. Rosolen’s Web Design class completed a jigsaw project on the Responsible
Use of Computer Systems. Teams of two researched topics such as hacking, spam, and privacy in the workplace. Each team prepared and presented information on the topic via a PowerPoint presentation and a handout for the class.
 Mrs. Comer’s Culinary Arts classes completed the yeast bread unit. Students were amazed at their capabilities as they prepared pizza, pretzels, calzones and other yeast breads. The classes also celebrated their differences by participating in a three part mid-term. One part included a practical exam where all students prepared a dish from their cultures and shared them with their classmates. Each student discussed the recipe and shared when and how often it is eaten.

Mrs. Comer’s Child Development classes have been very excited since nursery school resumed. The high school students could not believe how much the children matured and grew since their winter break. Regression was seen with some children and the focus has been on different ways of dealing with these feelings. More focus with cognitive development will take place throughout the spring.
 Ms. DuJack’s Art classes completed one-point perspective cityscape illustrations in colored pencil/marker. This was a capstone project based on previous

assignments where they worked on one-point perspective cubes and one-point perspective buildings. Advanced students also completed two-point perspective cityscape illustrations in colored pencil/marker.
 Mrs. Branco’s Art
class moved into the area of Pop Art and did a project reminiscent of the work of Andy Warhol. They were photographed using digital photography and the color was removed using Photoshop. The students took the outline and details of their faces and used water color to paint their portraits. In keeping with the theme, they used unnatural colors and patterns to paint themselves. The four paintings were then mounted on black paper and hung in the hallway.
 Mrs. Branco’s Art Cycle students created value-based “Broken Glass” works of art.
They used pencils, rulers, paper, graphite, and stumps to blend and smooth value and have downloaded from the Internet an image of a fish or insect on which the value is to be placed.

 Mr. Kastner’s Instrumental
students worked on developing technical skills in the key of F concert. Students worked and were tested in major, minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor forms of the key as well as other technical studies.
 Ms. Corcoran’s Chorus classes have been studying interval training and have been learning vocalizations and warm ups to help better their singing technique.
Students will begin after school rehearsals next month to help prepare for the
Spring Concert and the Teen Arts Festival.
:
 Mr. Farinola’s Workout Programs are ongoing with students trying to increase weight by minimum of 2.5 pounds per rep.
2 New Workout Bikes have been installed into the Cardio Room of the Weight
Room and have been implemented into the Workout Program.

All PE Teachers: Volleyball and Basketball Units are the current curriculum with Basketball "seasons" taking place and daily "pickup games" for Basketball.
 Mr. Farinola’s, Freshman Health
has been split into two sessions this marking period. One of the sessions is geared for IEP students in the Coaches Room right off the Health Room. This environment is more one on one based, and has fewer distractions to better help the IEP students. Ms. Ryan has the one session in the
Health Room and Mr. Farinola has the IEP session in the Coaches Room.

Mr. Farinola's class has gone over grading procedure for the course, started weekly current events every Friday and has completed the first chapter on Self
Esteem.

Mr. Marcantuono, Ms Vespoli, Mr. Farinola, and Ms. Ryan have all P.E. students completing a timed 1 mile run on Fridays.
 Mr. Marcantuono’s
classes completed a Volleyball tournament.
 Mr. Marcantuono’s students completed health posters on the dangers of drugs.
They are currently displayed in the health room.


The entire NAHS staff attended a two hour professional workshop on
Wednesday, February 25 th
with presenter Ed Agresta, who focused on motivating students.

Karen Nichols and Annette Ingannamorte attended a workshop presented by
Montclair State University’s Humanities Department, entitled “Teaching
Mythology: Beyond the Basics,” on February 5 th
, 2009. This workshop focused on teaching mythology in analytical ways to students. The workshop gave the teachers strategies and information on how mythology plays a role in our education and society.

Mrs. LoPresti attended the
New Jersey Department of Education’s conference on the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards Revision on February
20, 2009. Draft standards are available for public review and commentary on the
DOE website.

On February 20 th
, Mr. Abu-Hakmeh attended a workshop at New Jersey City
University. During the workshop, the State of New Jersey presented a draft of the
2009 Standards and provided an opportunity for face to face discussions in each of the nine content areas.

Ms. Meichenbaum registered for a professional workshop about Assessment and Achievement for all Students . The workshop will be held on Friday,
February 27 at FDU campus in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Mr. Spaccavento attended NJSELA sponsored North Jersey Science
Supervisor’s Roundtable at Fairlawn HS at the end of January.

Mr. Spaccavento troubleshot the program on internet safety for the HS students

Mr. Spaccavento participated in a video conference with staff at Rutgers regarding the Physics Master Class being offered on March 27 th . (EVO was used as the platform.


Mr. Mott on Feb. 9 th , 13 th and Saturday Feb 21 st worked with NJPAA to further develop the Biology test prompt for the 2009 field test and develop a holistic scoring table.

Mr. Mott has worked many hours this fall and winter on the weekends on the writing of the state prompts for the required biology examination. Because of his involvement he was invited to attend meetings with State Science Coordinator
Michael Heinz and several other state DOE, members Sandra Alberti, Stephen
Goldman, and Lisa Solomos. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb 21. He has also been asked to be a mentor for the reading and the training of other educators.
He will continue to be involved in the evaluation of the New Jersey End of
Course assessment test. In addition, Mr. Mott has been formally acknowledged by the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine as an educational Leader and Mentor and in recognition has been granted honorary member status by the
National Nominating Committee. Lastly, Mr. Mott attended a Bioethics workshop in which he worked with other teachers to develop bioethical problems for examination in various biology and science classes.

Kathy Puorro attended a workshop on February 11, 2009 at Eastwick College in
Ramsey. This included a tour of the facilities as well as majors that the college offers. The information from this session will be useful to our students.

Kathy Puorro attended the New Jersey Department of Educations Standards
Revision workshop on Friday, February 20, 2009. This workshop prepared us for the changes in the Standards that will take place over the next few years.

Kathy Puorro attended the Bergen County Director of Guidance Meeting on
February 11, 2009. This meeting discussed in detail changes in transcripts, curriculum and College Board information. Physics First was also a topic of discussion.

Amy Glarner, a member of the
Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, was honored by the
NJSIAA at their Women in Sport Luncheon at Seton Hall University. In addition,
Girls’ Varsity Soccer players Alyson DaSilva, Michelle Florea, Amy Glarner, and Megan Schaefer were selected to play in the All Star game for the Bergen
County Scholastic League at the Prudential Center.

Artwork by Ms. DuJack’s and Mrs. Branco’s students is on display in the school’s main hallway.


Mr. Dembowski , Miss Amelung, and the Sophomore Class held a sophomore semiformal on February 26 th
.

Junior basketball player Tara Fisher reached the 1000 point milestone .

Congratulations to many seniors who have worked very hard to get into college.
The acceptance letters are coming in and we are very proud of their accomplishments.

Jeannine Burns continues rehearsals for Shakespeare Day

The drama club , under the guidance of Mrs. Burns and Ms. Turner is continuing rehearsals for their spring production of Zombie Prom.

Ms. de Diego, as advisor to the Spanish Honor Society, is preparing a fund raiser called “Rock Band Night.” on February 25, 2009 at 7:00 in the cafeteria.
Student and staff are welcome to join in some Rock Star fantasy and fun, while sampling some cultural culinary delights. Ms. Sanabria and Mrs. Bratowicz are chaperoning the event as well.

Mr. Kenny completed a successful 7-3 season as the Junior Lady Vikings
Basketball coach.

Mr. Kenny and the Student Council is currently involved in the planning of the district’s “Off to a Good Start” Family Literacy Night.

Ms. Corcoran has been holding evening rehearsals for the cast of Zombie Prom and after school rehearsals for the cast of Alice in Wonderland in preparation for the performances in May.

Mr. Dembowski and Coach Marcantuono are having a t-shirt fundraiser to support the North Arlington baseball team.

Physical Education ( 10 & 11)
Through the month of February students were involved in one of four activities: badminton, volleyball, and basketball or weight room. On each side of the gym there is a different activity. We took a week to play games and set up seeding for the tournament. We then set up a tournament within the class and will be finding out the winner and offering the team a prize for first place. First period we are

playing a badminton tournament, the rest of the classes are actively involved in a volleyball tournament. On the other side of the gym, students are playing half court games of basketball. Students can play on teams of 4-6 depending on class size and interest in the activity. Within all tournaments we make it a point to remind the students of the importance of the rules, safety and sportsmanship within all games and classes. (NJCCCS 2.5 D)
If there are enough teachers to monitor the gym, a second or third teacher will bring students to the weight room and allow them to do a circuit workout.
Students are asked to follow a specific workout plan each day in order to build muscle. Students are also able to build cardio endurance by running on the tread mill, using the elliptical or stationary bikes.
We have also introduced fitness Fridays. Every Friday, students will all be actively involved in a fitness task for the day. All of February students will be running a mile on Fridays. They have the option to walk the mile if they wish to do so, or they may run, or do a combination of the two. They are all timed and depending on which style they choose, they have a time limit. If they decide to run the mile, it has to be under 8 minutes, if they are walking the mile it has to be under 13 minutes, and if they do a combination of the two they have to finish in under ten minutes.

Health (9)
During the month of February freshman began their health unit. The freshman health students will cover a little bit on every health related topic. Within the month of February students will be learning basic health topics: skin, eyes, ears and hygiene. They will also cover food, nutrition and how to make healthy food choices in their life. Classes will begin to discuss alcohol and its dangers, which will carry into the month of March. (NJCCCS 2.3 C). Students will be using different learning styles such as lecture, outlining, movies, games, puzzles and projects. Students will be given tests and quizzes throughout the month at the end of each topic learned.

Registration for Nursery School Program
 “Characters with Character” for the months of December and January

Hats on for Blood Cancers.

A picture and story about the Girls basketball team will be in the Feb 26 NA
Leader.

 Ms. Ingannamorte’s and Mrs. Albuquerque’s
English III classes attended a live performance of Macbeth and Hamlet on February 26 th
, at the Pax Amicus
Shakespeare Theater.
 Mrs. McKeown’s French IV and III students spent six days discovering the museums, monuments and cuisine of France.
They visited the Louvre, the Musee
D”Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Conciergerie, Sacre Coeur and
Normandy Beach.

Three students in
Mrs. Comer’s
Child Development class designed a lesson that was taught to the nursery school children about President
Obama. The importance of a leader, the first black leader, and the differences between people were successfully delivered to this young audience. The high school students used the classroom environment to help the children understand what it means to be the president. The
United States of America, the State of New Jersey, and the town of North
Arlington, were discussed in a most elementary manner for comprehension.

Extra curricular: Mr. Mott’s Chess Club continues to meet each Tuesday and Wednesday. Students compete against each other or teachers to develop their ranking, the students are also preparing to visit with
Roosevelt School to teach the students there how to play chess. Time is spent on proper methods of recording moves, proper moves and strategies of chess.

Students were spoken to about their schedules for the 2009-2010 school year. This discussion will allow students to choose the correct courses and correct sequence based on teacher recommendation.

Guidance has started to speak to students individually about their schedules for next year and connect their choices with the career they hope to pursue along with academic rigor.

For Black History Month the PE department had their students watch
“Remember the Titans”. We had class discussions about their opinions of the time the movie took place and which character in the movie they thought had the biggest impact on the team situation and why.


A guest speaker spoke to our 9 th grade students about “healthy relationships”.

Health classes had a guest speaker on Domestic Violence.
Boys Basketball:
The boys’ basketball team has a 2-18, record losing several close games throughout the month. The team will finish its season on Tuesday against Harrison.
Peter Santos leads the team in scoring averaging 20.5 points per game. The program has a total of 32 active players.
Girls Basketball:
The girls’ basketball team has a 15-5 record and is tied for second place in the league standings. The girls will play Jonathan Dayton High School on Thursday, March
5 in the first round of the NJSIAA State Tournament. The JV team has an undefeated record in the league, and we are one of only 3 teams in our league with a freshmen team.
The girls are lead by Tara Fisher who is averaging 18 points per game. Currently the team is ranked 20 th
in the Bergen Record.
Bowling:
Our Bowling Team won the league championship this past year. The team is lead by Senior Sean McDonald, and Juniors Ashley Johnson, and Matt Priore. Coach Mike
Pollard was selected as the BCSL Coach of The Year.
Wrestling:
Our Wrestling Team finished the year with a 7-9 record. The team is lead by
Jason Vianna (215 pounds) who placed 3 rd
in the districts, and Nick Tanelli (135). Jason was selected as 1 st
team All-League and Nick was selected Honorable Mention All-
League.
Cheering:
Our girls qualified once again for nationals which will be held in Orlando, Florida in late March. The team has put in countless hours of practice as well as several fundraising ventures in order to prepare them for this competition. The Girls will finish their basketball cheering season on Tuesday, when the boys play Harrison.
Special Honors:

The Girls’ Basketball Team is ranked 20 in the Bergen Record, and qualified for the state and county tournaments.

Bowling team won the BCSL National Division.

Michele Florea, Alyson DaSilva, Amy Glarner, and Megan Schaefer were selected to compete in an all-star soccer showcase at the Prudential Center in
Newark.