M I D D L E S E X

Playbook
S C H O O L

Winter 2014

D I S T R I C T

Superintendent's Desk
Our district is moving forward to provide the students of our community with the tools and strategies they need to compete in the world of the future. We have embraced the preparation of our students so that they are college and/or career ready upon graduation from high school. Our programs and curricula are the focus of change to provide the rigor necessary to ensure that our students have the background they need to succeed. Highlights of our school programs will be featured in a series of newsletters to help the public understand the types of initiatives in place or being planned for our students. You are reading the first of three newsletters we have planned for this school year. The newsletters will be coordinated by our new Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. Candace Wallace, in collaboration with district administrative staff. Our goal is to eblast the newsletter to those who are on our email list and to make hard copies available for perusal by community members who are not directly affiliated with the schools. Our plan is to provide hard-copies to the Borough Hall, Library, Senior Center, local businesses, etc. for access by residents. I hope you enjoy the newsletter and encourage you to partner with us as we move the district forward.

The Buzz
In concert with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the new Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College & Career (PARCC) Assessments are standardized testing instruments that are designed to assess not only content, but also the deeper layers of comprehension, and understanding. These skills are indicative of success in the 21st Century global community. The intent is that the PARCC assessments will be interfaced with the CCSS so seamlessly, that they will be a true measurement of our students' growth. Instead of "teaching to the test", teachers will be able to focus on the standards for academic growth and success, and the PARCC testing will fall into place as an accurate measure of student progress. We will then be able to use the information generated from the PARCC to craft the instructional focus. Moving in this direction is a win-win situation for student learning and instructional design. You can visit the PARCC website at http://www.parcconline.org for more information.

Our schools are the jewel of our community and we are very proud of the accomplishments of our students. Those accomplishments stretch well beyond prowess on the athletic fields, which may be a bit more visible than other school activities. As a matter of fact at the recent Fall Sports Assembly, Mr. Gianchiglia, our Director of Athletics was proud to congratulate the many scholar athletes from the Fall sports alone. 53% of the athletes who participated in the Fall season made Honor or High Honor Roll. That is an outstanding statistic; one that we hope will continue to grow. The goal is for all of our high school students to challenge themselves by selecting courses that will engage them in a rigorous academic program. College acceptance is a high priority, but college success is the goal. Rigorous high school courses provide the preparation for a successful college experience.

D I S T R I C T

N E W S

Save the Date!

Townhall Meeting
High School Library February 3, 2014 7 pm
A presentation of initiatives and curricular information with the Superintendent of Schools and Director of Curriculum & Instruction

MIDDLESEX SCHOOL DISTRICT

WINTER 2014

Special Services
Transition Services are defined in the Individuals with Disability Education Act-(IDEA) as a coordinated set of activities for a student that promotes movement from school to post-school activities. Keeping this in mind, Middlesex Public School District has secured a grant funded program through the Arc of New Jersey to provide classroom and community based instruction with a Transition Navigator. The Middlesex Public School District has engaged the services of Project Hire, a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited program. Students with disabilities often face difficult challenges in determining and identifying their vocational and post secondary goals. Project Hire, using its proven supported employment model, will assist the district in vocational planning for our students. Through this grant funded partnership, Project Hire will provide the district with a Transition Navigator, who is a certified teacher, two to three days per month to work along side Mrs. Marsigliano, Mrs. Rosen, Mrs. Chainey, and Mrs. Goldfinger to provide education in the area of life skills to our students. The program provides life skills training in seven core areas: - Importance of planning/visioning - Self-direction - Post-secondary education/employment - Housing in your community - Legal/Financial decisions - Being Social/creating and maintaining relationships - Health/Behavioral Health Our Transition Navigator also provides the following: ! Job Club- Eligible Students meet twice a month in a small group setting at school. Navigators engage in small group activities, peer to peer discussions, formal presentation, or individual activities based on transition curriculum. Community Employment Site Tours- Area employers typically host half-day information and insight gathering visits for a maximum of 8-10 students at a time. Students will be given an opportunity to discuss their observations at the next job club meeting. 2 ! Prep Club- a face to face, educational forum held in every county throughout the State from October through May. Each Prep Club session focuses on a different aspect of transition and adult life and utilizes tools such as the Planning for Adult Life Guide, informational handouts, worksheets, checklists, questionnaires, flowcharts, and presentation slides. It also includes a formal presentation, question and answer period, small group and individual discussion time. Provider/Transition Fairs- Eligible Students will be provided with exposure opportunities to Fairs throughout the county. Families are encouraged to take advantage of these fairs in order to further support and aid their children into the adult services program. Fair format will feature a variety of exhibitors including: state and county government entities, community service providers, service coordinators, local health care providers, support and recreation providers, other generic support services, and information and referral services. Fairs will also include an educational component of short, 45-60 minute workshops on specific topics.

The Transition Navigator has already begun working with our students to understand the purpose of the class, to develop ideas about what these students want for their futures regarding career paths, and to understand their strengths and interests and how they relate to their future employment. Through the completion of career surveys, journal writing, and class discussion our students have enthusiastically expressed interests in careers including education, child care, illustration, and construction. Students have also expressed interest in working at specific locations such as the library, restaurant, retail, and supermarkets. In the near future, students will take a trip to the Bridgewater Marriott to explore careers in the hospitality industry. In addition, we are pleased to offer parents the opportunity for training and support through the Planning for Adult Life Lecture Series. These lectures will address the many issues related to transitioning a student with special needs into adult life. The dates are listed as follows 1/23/2014, 2/20/2014, 3/11/2014, 4/10/2014, 5/14/2014, and 6/11/2014 all from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00PM in the High School Library.
This information has been provided by Middlesex Borough Public Schools Department of Special Services in collaboration with Project Hire.

MIDDLESEX SCHOOL DISTRICT

WINTER 2014

Curriculum & Instruction

The Department of Curriculum has a new Director Candace Wallace, MA. The changes dont stop there. The following programs are now housed under the departmental umbrella: Academic Advanced Program (AAP) Academic Support Instruction (Basic Skills) ESL/ELL Mentoring for new teachers NCLB Entitlement Grants Curriculum & Instruction Professional Development

The Common Core State Standards

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

William Butler Yeats

The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers.

Snippets
If youre like me, youre wondering what you can do at home to help support your students academic efforts in the face of all this change. Here are a couple of tips for providing a good fundamental foundation for life learning: Read with your child Ask him/her what they are reading in school and make sure you have a copy of it at home. Schedule a time every day when your child and you will read together. That can take many forms, from alternating reading passages out loud to each other, to reading silently at the same time and then discussing what was read. This special time with you can add to the positive outlook your child will have regarding reading. Even modeling what good reads do by reading aloud fluently and with expression and asking questions is a great strategy. This way you and your child can enjoy a more challenging book together. Help your child to understand how to get the answer the new standards require students to analyze information, work through the process of finding a solution, and then to articulate how they got there. An example of how to help your child practice this skill at home is to have him/her work through the steps of baking cookies with you. Ask your child to organize the materials and then, step by step, ask them to explain what comes next. Listen to your child ask him/her to tell you one thing that happened in school, and give them your full attention.

WHAT DOES STUDENT ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE?

A good working definition of engagement comes from Phil Schlecty (1994), who says students who are engaged exhibit three characteristics: (1) they are attracted to their work, (2) they persist in their work despite challenges and obstacles, and (3) they take visible delight in accomplishing their work.

MIDDLESEX SCHOOL DISTRICT

WINTER 2014

Guidance
Guidance News from the Elementary Schools: In September, the Social Problem Solving (SPS) program was launched in the elementary schools. Students in Kindergarten were introduced to the Elementary School Counselors and discussed the role of the counselor by reading the book, A Helping Hand by Tammy S. Berg. Speaker Power was also introduced and students used a magic wand as a tool in this lesson to aid in understanding listening skills. In October, Kindergarten students learned about Understanding Feelings. Through a feelings faces activity, students learned and articulated the meaning of various feelings. In November, students learned How to be a Good Friend and How to Care for Friends. Characteristics of a good friend were discussed and practiced in groups. Students in 1st grade were introduced to the concepts of Speaker Power, Listening Position, and Sharing Circles as ways to enhance learning and promote prosocial behaviors. In October, 1st grade students also learned about Understanding Feelings. Children took a trip through a Feelings Forest to associate feelings to different situations that they may face in their daily lives. Then in November, students focused on Selecting and Caring for Friends. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade addressed Asking for Help and Developing Positive Attitudes. They identified characteristics of a good friend and behaviors associated with positive friendships. In November, the topic was Understanding and Respecting Feelings. Students in 2nd grade used the friendship ball to define feeling words and express particular feelings. In 3rd grade, we discussed disruptive behaviors and how students respond when they are challenged with these behaviors. Guidance News from Mauger: Students and Staff participated in fun activities designed to inspire us all to take a stand against bullying and remind us to have respect for each other, ourselves and our school. Each day, students and teachers dressed according to a different theme to show school spirit and our unity in the prevention of bullying. Each month, Mrs. Keenan and Mr. Morris are presenting a Character Education lesson in the Physical Education classes to all 4th and 5th grade students. Lessons focus on identifying bullying traits and characteristics, differentiating bullying from conflict, and conflict resolution skills. Mrs. Ulmer is working with the 6 , 7 , and 8 grade students each month to explore concepts in social decision making and problem solving. Students work in groups to discuss various topics including pillars of character, respect, decision making skills, and empathy. Lessons are supplemented with fun team building activities. Career Development: 4 and 5 grade students will participate in activities geared to help them identify their interests and strengths and then apply that to the career th th exploration process. 6 - 8 grade students will use the Naviance program to take inventories that assess the students learning style, career interests and personality types. Peer Tutoring: The goal of Peer Tutoring is to give the 4th and 5th grade students an opportunity to receive assistance in preparing for tests/quizzes and completing homework. The expectation is for students to gain a better understanding of the material and therefore see an improvement in their grade. Tutors are 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who are selected by their teachers because they display the character traits and habits of an ideal Mauger student. This program takes place in the Media Center and runs from 2:45 to 3:25 pm , Mondays and Wednesdays. Guidance News from High School: Parents of underclassmen and their students were invited to attend Underclassmen Night. The high school counselors spoke about transitioning to high school, graduation requirements, and preparing for college. Counselors met with seniors in September to review the college application process and how to use Naviance as an organizational tool. Counselors continue to be available by appointment to meet with students and parents as needed. A Financial Aid Night will be held on Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 in the Middlesex High School Library. Important information concerning financial aid and deadlines will be presented. The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible after January 1st as possible. To fill out the FAFSA online, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. Juniors and sophomores took the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16th. Freshman took the ReadiStep assessment in October. In December, the freshman and sophomores were introduced to the Naviance program. The freshman completed the Career Interest Profiler to discover the types of work activities and careers that match their interests. Students can access their Naviance accounts at http://connection.naviance.com/middlesexhigh. 4
th th th th th

MIDDLESEX SCHOOL DISTRICT

WINTER 2014

Business Office & Facilities

Fiscal Audit Information The financial records of the Middlesex Board of Education are audited yearly by an independent Certified Public Accountant. We are proud to announce that at the November 25, 2013 public Board of Education meeting, the auditors presented the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Auditors Management Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2013 with a clean opinion and no audit findings or recommendations. The auditor reported that our surplus, or fund balance, is 2% of our operating budget which is within the limits as recommended by the State Department of Education. In addition, as a result of good fiscal management, we were able to set aside funds for capital and maintenance reserves in order to make improvements to the school facilities. We applaud the Business Office staff for their diligence in record keeping. It is a goal of this office to continue to strive for fiscal responsibility. School Facilities Grants In June of 2013 the State of New Jersey initiated the opportunity for regular operating school districts (ROD) to apply for grant funds for school construction projects. The deadline for submission of these grants was September 4, 2013. We put together eight applications for various projects all related to health and safety issues and on December 4, 2013 we were approved for seven of the projects. The projects are for partial roof and heating and air conditioning improvements at the high school, school security vestibules at all five schools, and window replacements at the high school. The grants will need to be initiated within eighteen months. The State is funding approximately 45% of the total costs of the projects and the Board will be responsible for 55% of the cost. The State share of the projected costs is $2.1 million dollars. The board is committed to funding our share of the cost through our capital and or maintenance reserves and budget appropriations. This is a wonderful opportunity for our schools to be improved for the health and safety of the students, staff, and community. Recent Facilities Improvements Parker School window replacement project and Mauger School restroom and locker room renovations were completed over the past few months.

H a z l e w o o d S c h o o l

Integrated Pre-School The Middlesex School District offers a tuition pre-school program for students ages three to five with morning and afternoon sessions. Students learn skills that will help them transition to Kindergarten more easily with a good foundation of age appropriate skills for school. The teacher and classroom aide follow the Creative Curriculum for preschool students and activities often include music and movement as a way to engage young learners. Pre-Kindergarten We have two full day Pre-K classes for students with special needs. Students have been working on becoming more independent with selfhelp skills. They have been practicing their listening skills, learning to take turns and waiting patiently. Kindergarten Since September, the kindergartners have been learning about friendship and how they can show responsibility and respect to their peers and teachers at school. In Math, the Kindergartners have jumped from using counters to creating their own oral number stories to drawing pictures and beginning to write number sentences. We always talk and turn to share our number stories with our classmates to make sure our addition and subtraction is correct. The Kindergartners are doing a fantastic job improving their handwriting and spelling. We write on a daily basis, whether it is in our writing journals or for projects. The children are enjoying reading stories of all genres including informational texts, tall tales, and fables. Additionally, they are applying various reading strategies such as asking questions and making real life connections. First Grade In math, first graders have been working on skills involving number sense and problem solving. The focus in the first marking period was to establish math routines and calendar activities. The children wrote and compared numbers, recorded tally counts and investigated equally likely outcomes. During math lessons, they used number lines and number-grids readily to work through daily math messages and math boxes which reinforce the skills being taught. The children also became familiar with counting combinations of coins and telling time. First Graders spent the first marking period becoming familiar with writing workshop routines. Currently, the first graders are finishing a unit on personal narrative where they included story starters and story movers in their text. The children have been enjoying read alouds from different genres. They have been utilizing the iPad for different books and are working to their ability as they tackle new material and comprehension skills, such as story plot and story sequence. First graders also work independently through monthly centers.

They enjoy using different tools in the classroom to reinforce skills in spelling, writing, reading and math. Second Graders at Hazelwood School kicked off the school year by participating in many fun and engaging activities, as well as learning and reviewing rules and routines. The students wrote an autobiography and created a book entitled A Book about Our Class. Each students writing is included in the book along with an illustration. The book was laminated and can be found in our classroom library. Students in second grade are enjoying mathematics through the EveryDay Mathematics program. Students are practicing their math facts daily and have learned many strategies to help them know them quickly. We are currently working on addition and subtraction of two digit numbers. Students are also responsible for completing a monthly Book Review. They must read a book of their choice at home on their reading level, and write a summary and recommendation on that book. In addition, we are participating in the Pizza Hut Book It Program. Third Grade In Math, Third Graders have been working on Problem Solving through Math Workshop. Students are using the Fantastic Five Step Strategy in which they use their hand as a visual of the process to follow in order to solve word problems Third graders have completed a unit on personal narrative and have been busy using vivid verbs, similes, and transition words. The third graders are enjoying the Science Fusion program, and are very interested in topics such as Ecosystems and Food Chains. Special Area Classes For music, Mr. Coupland sees our students twice each week. Hazelwood School has a Holiday Concert in December in order for the students to share some of the skills they have learned this year. Physical Education classes are taught each week and students have two sessions with Mr. MacMath and/or Ms. Valente. Both teachers work together to incorporate health and fitness into handson lessons that encourage teamwork and sportsmanship. Library classes with Mrs. Gehrke focus on different skills that are needed in the library, as well as, exposure to different genres and types of literature. Mrs. Logue and Ms. LaCour are the technology teachers at Hazelwood for K-3 students. Computer classes are held once a week and teach the students to navigate the world of technology. Spanish (World Language) Students in grades one to three also receive Spanish instruction from Senora Mata once a week.

W a t c h u n g

ART Elementary Art, with Ms.DePasque, is heating up during this chilly season. Kindergarten students are making colorful poinsettias while learning about stamp printing and the anatomy of flowers. First graders are creating city scapes, complete with holiday lights and snow. They are learning about the career/job of architects and how steel made it possible to build skyscraper. Second graders are designing personal pillows while learning about the materials that make up our clothes and how they are sewn together. Third grade students are getting inspired by the Navajo people, the colors of the painted desert, and beautiful rugs woven from their sheeps wool. If you get a chance, look for more elementary art which is displayed in the Board of Ed. conference room and the showcase near its office. TECHNOLOGY In computer class our Kindergarten students have been practicing their mouse skills of clicking and dragging. They are also working on typing their usernames and passwords to prepare to independently login to the st computers. 1 grade has been working on signing into Google, creating a Google document and editing their nd Google documents. 2 grade has been working very hard on practicing touch typing with the home-row keys which is a lifelong skill needed with the upcoming PARCC assessment. 3rd grade has been working on their Chrome books. We have learned how to use multiple tabs, create, edit, share and comment on Google documents. They have been working really hard both in and out of my classroom with their Chrome books. PHYSICAL EDUCATION The Kindergarten and first grade classes have completed units on Large Motor Skills, Kicking, Throwing, and Large Group Games in Physical Education classes. Students used their pretend glasses to go to the Pretend Zoo. While at the zoo, the students were able to walk like the zoo animals throughout the gymnasium. The students in second and third grade classes completed units in Soccer Skills, Football Skills, and Large Group Games. The second graders have been working on improving their core strength by incorporating additional core strengthening exercises during their warm-up routines. The third grade students are learning about character education and how it applies to sports as well as everyday activities. Using examples of sports in the news, the students have learned about perseverance, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, empathy and motivation. All Physical Education classes continue to have music and rhythmic activities incorporated into them to prove that learning is fun!

S c h o o l

On Friday, September 6, 2013 Watchung Elementary School's (Middlesex, NJ) Principal Kate Diskin received a donation of school supplies and backpacks from Marco Rodriguez and his mother Elieth. Both mother and son are members of the Cristo Vision Ministries, Hispanic Congregation. The ministry had been collecting school supplies to help and give back to the community.

Watchung School students participated in writing Thank You Soldier letters and drawing pictures to send to the troops overseas. The writing initiative was sponsored by Saint Marys Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ. There are many troops that have been deployed to overseas missions with more soldiers expected to go in January and April 2014. The troops will receive these letters in time for the holidays. Watchung School was pleased to participate as the students know they are filling someones bucket and making a difference in a soldiers life.

Congratulations to the Watching School Champion Summer Readers! The Middlesex elementary school students took part in a Summer Challenge during the Middlesex Public Librarys summer reading program. The K-3 students from Watchung Elementary School received a trophy and the top 10 readers had a pizza party from the Middlesex Public Library for reading a total of 2,640 books.

W a t c h u n g S c h o o l

KINDERGARTEN In September, we welcomed new Kindergarten students! Full of excitement, students came in on the first day of school with a project called Shooting Stars, each student drew a picture of themselves and wrote what they would like to learn in Kindergarten this year. In October and November, students wrote and illustrated a fall book where they were able to write about the things that they see in Fall. Learning about Johnny Appleseed, students participated in Apple Test Tasting and graphed their favorite apple! In continuation with festivities, Kindergarteners experienced their first Harvest Party! Eating yummy treats, reading fun books, and completing fun crafts, students enjoyed a wonderful day. During the week of Thanksgiving, students focused on discussions and writing activities about things that they are thankful for in their lives. Students also decorated and disguised an image of a turkey where they used their imaginations to create fire fighters, soccer players, animals and much more! In December, Kindergarteners continue with their reading and writing where they will discuss the change of weather, understanding rhyming, geometric shapes, and much more! Ending the month of December, Kindergarteners will enjoy another festive party before leaving for winter break where they will again, have fun with reading, crafts, and interacting with fellow peers! FIRST GRADE First grade students started the new school year sharing what they wanted to learn in first grade. In September, the students used read-alouds to get ideas for writing, drew and wrote about themselves, and got to know each other by sharing stories. They completed a book A Snapshot of Me. In October, the first grade students hosted a breakfast for Middlesex Firefighters and wrote about why firefighters are their heroes and how they help our community. The students sang songs and thanked the firefighters for their bravery. SECOND GRADE The second grade students spent the first two weeks of school getting to know one another and establishing rules and routines. We had a great time doing many different activities helping us get to know one another. In Reading, the students have been working to improve fluency as well as comprehension. They have been introduced to many comprehension strategies such as completing a story map, text and graphic features, and cause and effect just to name a few. The book, If You Give a Mouse a Muffin, as well as other books in that series by Laura Numeroff were used to create anchor charts for cause and effect. In Math students have been using different strands of the Common Core State Standards to learn about time, money, and addition number models as some examples. Second graders are preparing for the Holidays Around the World unit. In this unit students visit other countries in the world and learn about their culture, what their flag looks like and how they celebrate the holiday season. Students have the opportunity to dress in the typical garb from the country, or in clothing that is special to their own cultures. THIRD GRADE On Tuesday, November 12, we held our annual Veterans Day celebration. In attendance were veterans from both the Middlesex and Watchung School communities. Members of the 3rd grade Boy and Girl Scouts presented the colors, and the entire 3rd grade honored the veterans with a presentation highlighting the 5 branches of the military. The MHS Chorus, headed by Mr. Skip Adams, sang 2 patriotic numbers. A special part of the day came when a few of the veterans spoke about their experiences to the students in the audience. Following the assembly, the 3rd graders invited the veterans to remain with them for breakfast and great conversation. On Wednesday, November 27, Pilgrims and Native Americans descended upon Watchung for another annual favorite, our re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving. Both classes read the book If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, and participated in writing letters from aboard the Mayflower, comparing and contrasting Pilgrim life to life in 2013, and many other activities. The children were ready to bring the book to life. They prepared their own authentic Thanksgiving foods, came together to share their foods, and played a hearty game of cup-in-ball!

P a r k e r S c h o o l

During the school year, 2013 2014, Parker School is concentrating on programs to assist student achieve their potential in Reading. Accelerated Reader We will continue to emphasize Accelerated Reader (AR), not only the number of books read and tests passed but also the comprehension score. This program is supported by scientifically based research. Research has shown that good comprehension promotes growth in reading. During the 2012 2013 school year, Parker School changed to the web-based AR program and the results were astonishing. By the end of June 2013, over 11, 000 tests were passed. nd rd We also have a Wall of Honor for 2 and 3 grade students who achieve 85% or better on AR. We acknowledge these students at an assembly. In February 2014, during the Reading/Writing event for parents and students, medals will be awarded to them. Reading Specialist Parker School is very fortunate to be able to add a reading specialist this year, due to the allocation of Title 1 funding. This teacher with a Masters degree in Reading, will work with students at risk in Reading. She will be working primarily with 2nd and 3rd grade students in a small group setting and tailoring the instruction to meet their needs. The goal of this program will be to improve reading and through an intense, small group instruction format to engage students so they will be able to read on grade level. Reading Recovery - Parker School will begin in January 2014 a Reading Recovery program for low achieving 1st graders. This program is a supplement to classroom instruction. It is a short term, one on one tutoring program. Students receive 30 minutes of instruction every day for a 12 20 week period. Reading Recovery requires intensive training and follow up support for the teacher. We are fortunate to be able to provide this for students at the beginning of their reading journey. First grade reading achievement is one of the strongest indicators of success in subsequent grades. Tutoring For the past 6 years, high school students from the Key Club and Honor Society have been volunteering their time after school to assist Parker Students. Under the direction of a teacher, the high school students work with Parker students in the areas of reading and math. We have many high school students who have attended Parker and are now eager to give back. It is wonderful to see the relationships built between the older and younger students. Reading/Writing events During the months of February and March, Parker will again host evening events for parents in all grades. We invite the parent with their child to attend. Pizza is provided from a grant received from Target. The teachers facilitate this event. In grades 2 and 3, the writing process is explained and the parent and student actually produce a piece of writing that night. There is a sharing at the conclusion and parents have expressed how much they learn from this experience about the curriculum expectations and their childs achievement. Grade 1 concentrates on Reading and again a demonstration of actual lessons take place. Kindergarten will be added this year and again guided reading and high expectations for achievement will be the theme.

V o n M a u g e r M i d d l e S c h o o l

Von Mauger Middle School Week of Respect: The week of October 7th, the students at Mauger showed their dedication towards the prevention of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying. Students and Staff participated in fun activities designed to inspire us all to take a stand against bullying and remind us to have respect for each other, ourselves and our school. Each day, students and teachers dressed according to a different theme to show school spirit and our unity in the prevention of bullying. Various fun activities were provided during th th the Week of Respect. All 4 and 5 grade homerooms worked together to develop an antibullying slogan and poster that was displayed in the th th th cafeteria. Our 6 , 7 , and 8 Grade Teachers were invited to vote for the most inspiring poster. In addition, students participated in a scavenger hunt during recess to encourage them to find peers with common interests and traits. Mrs. Keenan and Mr. Morris visited the Physical Education classes and presented a Character Education lesson highlighting the importance of respect and kindness. The highlight of our week was participating in an amazing interactive performance by singer and songwriter, Brian Chevalier. Mr. Chevaliers songs that promote respect, kindness, and friendship were a lot of fun to sing and dance along to. In addition to our school wide themes, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students participated in fun activities geared towards promoting respect. Mrs. Ulmer organized classroom activities for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that promoted team work, character, and good citizenship. Also, each homeroom participated in a door decorating contest with an anti-bullying theme. The winning class was treated to a bagel breakfast. Our Upper level students also enjoyed an assembly that focused on our Week of Respect themes. Character Education: Each month, Mrs. Keenan and Mr. Morris will present a Character Education lesson in the Physical Education classes to all 4th and 5th grade students. Lessons focus on identifying bullying traits and characteristics, differentiating bullying from conflict, and conflict resolution skills. In addition, students will learn how to seek assistance and cope when confronted with a bullying situation. Mrs. Ulmer will work with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students each month to explore concepts in social decision making and problem solving. Students work in groups to discuss various topics including pillars of character, respect, decision-making skills, and empathy. Lessons are supplemented with fun team building activities. Career Development: In the upcoming months, Mr. Morris and Mrs. Keenan will be providing Career Education classes to all students. Our 4th and 5th grade students will participate in activities geared to help them identify their interests and strengths and then apply that to the career exploration process. Our 6th- 8th grade students will use the Naviance program to take inventories that assess the students learning style, career interests and personality types. Students will learn how to use the results of these inventories to search for future career options. In addition, occupational trends, educational requirements, and salary expectations will be explored. Peer Tutoring: The goal of Peer Tutoring is to give the 4th and 5th grade students an opportunity to receive assistance in preparing for tests/quizzes and completing homework in subjects that are difficult for them. The expectation is for students to gain a better understanding of the material and therefore see an improvement in their grade. In order to accomplish these goals, we rely on the help of our volunteer tutors. Our tutors are 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who are selected by their teachers because they display the character traits and habits of an ideal Mauger student.

M i d d l e s e x H i g h S c h o o l

Middlesex High School Music Department On Wednesday November 20th, the Middlesex High School music department performed the first installment of their annual Listening Room Concert Series. Marking its EIGHTH year and 21st concert, this performance was billed as "Rookie and Originals Night" where only brand new performers and/or original music were programmed. Of all the previous rookies/originals nights, this concert featured the most original music in the history of the Listening Rooms and Acoustic Rock Shows with FIVE of the 13 songs original works, most of which were premiers. Students Alex Kyllonen, Matt Ciliberto, Vanyel "Faith" Hunt, Zack Seif, and Andres Torres were the composers/lyricists of the original songs and they did a phenomenal job writing and collaborating with other students to construct, orchestrate, and arrange the songs. As with all Listening Rooms, a professional guest artist was invited to open the show and talk to our audience about his/her perspective on "making it" in the music business. To tie into "college and career readiness", our guest performer, Cat London, provoked discussions, storytelling, and a Q&A with our audience sharing her experiences and point of view. Ms. London was so impressed with our students that she stayed until the end of the performance to personally meet and greet our student performers and hold further conversations about music. She has expressed interest in running workshops with our students in the future with hopes to further enrich their musical experience at MHS.

Principal Message The holiday season is approaching quickly and the school is full of activity. Recently our performing arts students staged George Washington Slept Here. Our winter band and chorus concert took place on the 19th. Congratulations and good luck to those talented students who participate in these activities. The fall athletic teams finished their seasons and we are now moving into the winter season. Congratulations to the girls cross-country team for winning the league title. Id also like to congratulate all of the seniors who completed their school career with their fall sports team. With all of these wonderful extra-curricular activities taking place, it is sometimes easy for our students to lose sight of their academic pursuits. This is the time of year that is extremely important for them to stay focused and work toward academic excellence. Parents, please spend some extra time explaining to your children the importance of finishing the calendar year on an academic high note. In our continued effort to bring MHS into the 21st century, the high school administrative team and staff are working on a framework of change. The areas of focus include the following: 1. Communication and Relationships 2. Leadership and Empowerment 3. Planning and Evaluation 4. Collaboration 5. Accountability and Responsibility 6. Consistency and Redundancy 7. Student Growth and Staff Development

MHS Creative Writing Club Dr. Kings Creative Writing Club, which meets every other Wednesday in room 116, provides a fun, friendly environment in which students explore all aspects of the creative writing process. During gatherings, students have the opportunity to share their voices as they present their work to their colleagues who, in turn, offer a friendly critique of the work. The writing club encourages creativity and offers a forum for students seeking to share their creative writing ideas; students are also invited to submit their works to various writing contests.

Our spring production, Schoolhouse Rock, Live! will be presented on March 20, 21, and 22, 2014. Based on the Emmy Award-winning 1970's Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, and more through clever, tuneful songs, Schoolhouse Rock, Live! is sure to be a fun-filled theatrical experience for the entire family.

Board of Education President, Steve Yacik Vice President, Sharon Schueler Diane Bensinger Glenn Dickey Sharon San Phillips Linda Harrity John R. Hrevnack Ed.D. David Oliver Monica Townsend Please help us to welcome Valerie DiNizio as our newly elected BOE member replacing Glenn Dickey in January 2014. District Administrative Staff Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Linda A. Madison Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Michele Previte Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Candace Wallace Director of Special Services, Christopher Harry Director of Guidance, Jennifer Powers District Network Manager, Joseph Mendicino Director of Athletics, Richard Gianchiglia Director of Facilities, Raymond Mulvey Community School Manager, Barbara Ferris Middlesex High School Principal, Joseph Sabato
sabatoj@Middlesex.k12.nj.us

Hazlewood School Principal, Christine McCann

mccannc@middlesex.k12.nj.us

Assistant Principal, Scott Walsh

walshs@middlesex.k12.nj.us

Von E. Mauger Middle School Principal, Robert Heidt

heidtr@Middlesex.k12.nj.us

Parker School Principal, Maureen Hughes

hughesm@middlesex.k12.nj.us

Assistant Principal, Jason Sirna

sirnaj@middlesex.k12.nj.us

Watchung School Principal, Kathryn Diskin

diskink@middlesex.k12.nj.us

Questions or comments, please contact wallacec@middlesex.k12.nj.us