Phillipsburg School District News Volume 3, Issue 2

PROGRESS CONTINUES ON THE FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS IN THE PHILLIPSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT The New Phillipsburg High School Inside this issue: PSD Recognition

2

Virtual Field Trip

3

Senior Farewell Letter

4

Guidance Information

5

Sneaker Donation

6

College Courses at PASS Enthusiastic Reader Award Ceremony

7 8

Battle of the Books

8

AAA School Safety Patrol Award

9

Science Rocks

10

Barnyard Days

11

Reading Across America Challenge Reading Around the World

11 12

Celebrating Earth Day

12

Literacy & Science Night

13

Lucky Learners’ Club

13

AAG Event

14

Summer Sports Camps

14

Science Inventions

15

Relay For Life

16

Poetry Fest

16

Autism Awareness

17

Free Preschool Information

17

End-of-Year Events

18

PSD Admin & BOE Directory

20

Spring 2015

With all of the facilities projects taking place in the district, the spring weather is a welcomed relief after a very difficult winter. Progress on The New Phillipsburg High School is moving along quite well. Every day, an enormous amount of activity is taking place as plumbers, electricians, masons and brick layers, roofers, heavy equipment operators, and general laborers can be seen working on the various sections of the building. The following is a brief summary of the progress on the building.  HVAC units have been placed on the roof of nearly onethird of the building.  Sections of the roof are being installed.  Exterior brick work has begun and will continue with anticipated completion of the entire building by this November.  Rough-in plumbing and electrical work is an on-going activity throughout the building.  Floor slabs continue to be poured on a daily basis prior to interior block work being done on classrooms, large group rooms, and administrative and staff offices.  By mid-June, all exterior windows and doors will be delivered to the site in anticipation of installation for the entire building by November.

The goal for the general contractor, Epic Management, and the Schools Development Authority is to have the entire building enclosed prior to the winter months beginning in December. The district has been working with the SDA to finalize the IT plan for the new building. It can be said, without reservation, that the technology capabilities being planned for the students and staff will ensure this building is a state of the art facility that will enhance the learning process for all students. At this point in time, the district continues to receive assurances the building will be ready for the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.

 Middle School students in grades six through eight will attend the current High School on Hillcrest Blvd;

For more information and to view photos of the construction process, please visit the school district website at www.pburgsd.net and click on “New High School” on the Menu Bar.

Administrators are currently reviewing all protocols (building master schedules, student start times, utilization of furniture and equipment, and transportation needs) as they continue to develop a master plan. The district has also begun the process of meeting with commercial moving companies to develop a plan to “move the district”. Details should be finalized by the early fall 2015 and will be communicated to all parents.

School District Transition Plan

Facilities

With the opening of the New High School in the fall of 2016, a team of building and central office administrators continue to work on the plan to transition grades one through eight into different facilities within the district. The plan calls for the following:

 Students in grades three through five who currently attend Andover-Morris and Green Street schools will attend the current Middle School on Warren Street;  Students in grades one and two who attend Barber and Freeman schools will attend the Green Street School; and,  The Phillipsburg Alternative Secondary School currently housed in Howell School, will occupy the Andover-Morris School.

Phillipsburg School District News

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PHILLIPSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNIZED FOR STRENGTHS OF ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT During the 2014-15 school year, the school district underwent two reviews of its academic programs and the total operation of the district by an international agency as well as the New Jersey Department of Education. On April 20, the district received a press release from the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools. The release is being sent to media outlets and will officially announce that our district will receive reaccreditation. Dr. Marian Trapani, and Mrs. Staci Horne, co-chaired the project and worked with a 37 member District T eam comprised of Board members, students, building principals, district curriculum directors, teachers, parents, and community members. The accreditation is good for seven years and expires on May 1, 2022. As a district, we are responsible for implementing action plans that were

developed by the District Team. During mid-March, the district was visited by Dr. Rosalie Lamonte, Executive County Superintendent and her staff as part of the Quality Single Accountability Continuum or QSAC review that districts go through every three years. Based upon their review which included classroom visitations, they completed a report and forwarded it to the Department of Education in Trenton. The district received notification on April 21 that based upon the County Office review, Commissioner David Hespe will recommend to the State Board of Education the Phillipsburg School District be designated as a “high performing” district. This designation is based on the district scoring 80% or above on five areas. Our scores in those five areas were: Instruction and program – 81%; Fiscal Management –

96%; Governance – 100%; Operations – 100%; and Personnel – 100%. Special thanks go to Dr. Marian Trapani for serving as the lead administrator and to all of our central office administrators, building administrators and curriculum directors for their efforts as we prepared for the review. These two reviews by external educational agencies are a way to receive valuable input on district programs and operations. The district has never failed to be reaccredited by the Middle States Association and has always passed the monitoring process used to review school districts in New Jersey. Accolades go out to every PSD employee, for each of them helping to make the district the quality educational institution that it is!

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Of the People: A Conversation with President Obama On Thursday April 30, 2015 many classrooms across the district tuned in to a Virtual Field Trip with President Obama sponsored by Discovery Education. Of the People Event Series is a live broadcast that “takes students to Washington D.C. for a behind-the-scenes look at the people, places, and issues that shape and inform our world.” A virtual field trip is a field trip students take right from the seats in their classroom. It offers the learning opportunity without having to travel to a location. In this virtual field trip opportunity, teachers signed up to tune in to a live interview with President Obama from the Anacostia Neighborhood

Library in Washington, D.C. The President spoke to students across America about his favorite books and how they have influenced his life as well as the importance of technology in the classroom and libraries. The host of the discussion was Osman Yahya, a 6th grade student at Bennett Middle School in Salisbury, MD. He directed questions from the students present at the interview as well as questions from students who participated virtually. The President shared interesting facts such as: he was a basketball player, he loved reading the Hardy Boys novels, his favorite subjects when he

was a child were math and science, and tips on how he gets passed “writer ’s block”. President Obama encouraged all students to be interested in their learning! If you would like to watch a replay of this exciting adventure that some of our students experienced live, and learn more facts about the President and why he believes learning and literacy is important, visit http:// www.discoveryeducation.com /Live/of-the-people-aconversation-with-presidentobama.cfm

Phillipsburg School District News

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Senior Farewell Letter to Class of 2015

As I sat down to compose this senior “farewell” letter, I was struggling to find words to write to the Class of 2015 that had true meaning. I put my pen down (yes, I still write first, then type) and began channel surfing. After 50-60 clicks of the remote, I stumbled upon the NFL Combine. For those who may be unaware, the NFL Combine is a week-long showcase where the best college football players are invited to perform a series of physical and mental “tests” prior to the NFL draft. Some of the physical assessments consist of the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, and various other position-specific drills. In addition, the Wonderlic Test, a written assessment, is given to all combine participants to determine their aptitude for learning and problem solving. All of these tests, assessments and performances are, ultimately, used as a guide as to what player to invest millions of dollars in! You are probably wondering what any of this has to do with high school seniors – right? I’m getting there – LOL! So, as these players were going through these battery of physical tests on TV, a commentator mentioned how MANY of the best NFL combine “performers” from prior years ended up as “busts” in the NFL. The commentators spoke about their speed in the 40-yard run, their jumping ability in the vertical jump – incredible statistics that didn’t translate to their performance in the NFL. I began to think about the commentator’s remarks and then something came to my mind! One thing that the NFL (or any organization for that matter) CANNOT and DOES NOT measure is the size, desire and passion of the human heart! Unfortunately, throughout your life, you will be measured by scores on tests, SATs, ACTs, AP Scores, HSPA, NJASK, HS Transcripts, GPA, Class Rank, MCAT, LSAT – and many more to come! Colleges have already used MANY of these in determining whether to accept you – or not! In the future, medical schools, law schools, grad schools and prospective employers will attempt to judge you on “numbers”, on “results” from some arbitrary test that says little about who you are as a person! We all know that Harvard has drop-outs and employers fire employees, everyday! They get it wrong because the “numbers” don’t tell the whole story. No one knows your passion, commitment, desire – or size of your heart. Maybe some Stateliners don’t “measure up” with the competition, equally, when it comes to “stats or “the numbers” but, from what I have witnessed, personally, Stateliners have “heart” and would be on “my team” if I was putting an allstar team together! As you leave the safe confines of PHS, sorry, I cannot give you a score on the Troxellometer (i.e. size of your heart) to take with you. However, I can advise you not to be discouraged by the colleges that didn’t accept you or the job you didn’t/don’t get. But when the opportunity presents itself, I leave with you with the words of Harriet Tubman, “always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” There will be no “busts” in the Class of 2015 – make that commitment to yourself and me! From my “heart” – Mr. Troxell

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Guidance Information AP Exams: AP exams will be administered to all students who have registered for the assessments. They will be administered from May 4 through May 14. A schedule of room location and test dates is available in the Guidance office and on the Guidance website. Biology Assessment: All students currently enrolled in a biology course at Phillipsburg High School will participate in the New Jersey Biology Competency Test scheduled for May 26 and 27, 2015. SAT: The deadline for the June 6 SAT administration is May 8. Phillipsburg High School will host the June 6 assessment. All registered students should report to the high school by 7:45am on the morning of testing. Senior Honor Awards Night: Senior Awards Night will be held on May 28, 2015 at 6:30pm in the Phillipsburg High School auditorium. Honor Graduates and students receiving scholarships and/or awards will be honored that

evening. The Phillipsburg Guidance department is pleased to be able to advertise over 170 scholarships worth $264,558.00 to this year’s graduating senior students. Summer Seminars for Junior and Senior students: The Phillipsburg High School Guidance department will be offering two half-day seminars for junior and senior students. The seminars will include guest speakers from area colleges, résumé building, college searches, the college application process, and the procedure to request letters of recommendation and high school transcripts. More information with specific date will be available prior to the end of the school year. Please look for the dates in the Guidance office and on our website. Senior Planning Evening: Graduates and their parents/ guardians of the class of 2016 will be invited to attend a Senior Planning Evening. The event will be held on September 8, 2015 at 7:00 in the high school auditorium. The Guidance Department will discuss the college application process and how

to request transcripts and letters of recommendations. They will also be available to answer questions specific to college and career planning. College Fairs: Phillipsburg High school will host two College Fairs. The first Fair will be held from 1:00 – 2:10pm on October 8, 2015 in the High School cafeterias. This Fair is open to all Junior and Senior students who request a pass to attend. The second Fair will be held on October 20, 2015 from 7:008:30pm in the High School Cafeterias. This Fair is open to all students and their families. Prior to the start of the October 20 College Fair, the High School Guidance Department will host an informational session beginning at 6:30 for all Junior students and their parents/ guardians. This session will include a guest speaker from a local college who will discuss “what colleges look for in prospective college freshmen.”

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Phillipsburg School District News

Sneaker Donation from Linde Group for Phillipsburg School District Students Employees of the Linde Group, a world leading supplier of industrial, process and specialty gases, took time beyond their work day to shop for 26 pairs of sneakers fo r s tu d en t s in th e Phillipsburg School District. The service project was the brain child of Rebecca Dabkowski, Trade Co mp lia n ce Ma n ag e r/ Region Americas; and Steve Earl, Plant Manager/Linde Electronics and Specialty Gasses. Company employees were interested in pursuing a service project, and since Rebecca and Steve are both

‘runners’, they thought providing sneakers to students who could use them most, would be a donation going directly to children, while at the same time encouraging them to be active. School Social Workers and Guidance Counselors worked with their principals to identify students who would benefit from the donation. Several students from each of the elementary schools in the district were the recipients of the sneakers. On behalf of the children and their

families, the school district administration and Board of Education thanks the Linde Group for this generous donation. Superintendent George Chando and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marian Trapani accepted sneakers from the Linde Group Personnel, Rebecca Dabkowski, Steve Earl and Frank Graziano at the Phillipsburg School District E du ca ti o n C en t e r o n Wednesday, April 1st.

Left to Right: Steve Earl, Frank Graziano, George Chando, Marian Trapani and Rebecca Dabkowski with sneakers distributed to schools for students to enjoy starting with the spring holiday.

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Volume 3, Issue 2

College Courses at PASS The Phillipsburg Alternative Secondary School is proud to announce our partnership with Warren County Community College in having college courses taught by the College at our school. The two courses started in early February of this year and are held at PASS every Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. Nine seniors at PASS are part of the English Composition and Foundations for Success courses. Even though the courses started only six weeks ago, the PASS staff are seeing benefits of our students taking these courses. Some of these students in the college c o u r s es d i d n o t s e e themselves as capable of s u c c e e d i n g i n college. However, as the weeks have progressed, these students have reported increasing confidence in their abilities to be successful in college.

Catherine Stockl, a college student at PASS, states: “By being a college student, I feel amazing. I feel like I shouldn’t be in high school any longer. This college course has been very eye-opening for me.” Kaitlynn Allen, another college student, states: “Being a college student makes me feel better about my future. Since I have gotten my feet a little wet being in the college course, attending courses at the College in the fall will not seem as bad. I’m proud of myself for being able to attend College after the long road that I’ve been on. I know that this will start something great for me, even if I am not sure yet what I want to study.” Michael Goble, also in the college course, states: “I am very excited and proud of myself for becoming a college student. I’ve bragged about it to almost every person I know. Being a college student I’m actually going to do

something with my life, and I can tell this to some family members who said I wouldn’t even graduate high school. I feel accomplished. It honestly makes me feel good about myself.” Ms. Dorian Alu is the English professor who is teaching both courses at the school. The PASS staff has heard all of her students at PASS report feeling motivated by Ms. Alu. She is described by our students as very patient, friendly, and possessing a good sense of humor . She is very positive in supporting our students in the classroom. We would also like to thank President Austin, Vice President Beeler, and Ms. Kolodzieski, Coordinator of Dual Enrollment. All of the above worked very diligently and long hours in bringing this course to PASS. The College is working with us in providing this course next school year and hopefully in future years.

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Phillipsburg School District News

6th Annual Enthusiastic Reader Award Ceremony Eighteen Phillipsburg area students were honored at the 6th annual Enthusiastic Reader Award Ceremony on the evening of April 22 at the Phillipsburg Middle School. Staff members at each participating school and library nominated students who are “Enthusiastic Readers.” These are students who read recreationally, use libraries, and enjoy reading and talking about what they’ve read. This year, 511 students were nominated and honored by their school

administrators. One winner from each school or library and one from each grade at the high school was selected by the librarian to attend the April 22 ceremony to represent all the enthusiastic readers. The program, modeled after the statewide Enthusiastic Reader Award program, is sponsored by the Phillipsburg Area Librarians (PALs) in an effort to promote recreational reading and encourage those students who engage in it. The PALs

want to foster recreational reading because they understand the positive impact it has on future academic success as well as pers onal gr ow th and happiness. Each student was presented with a certificate as well as two Barnes & Noble gift cards.

Battle of the Books Students in the Gifted and Talented program (PRISM) have been busy the past few months. Phillipsburg is a part of The Warren County Consortium for Student Enrichment (WCCSE) and students compete in various competitions across Warren County. Recently, the 5th and 6th grade students traveled to Great Meadows Middle School to compete in a

competition called “Battle of the Books.” During the competition, students are asked to recall details from a set of nine books that they must read on their own. Andov er- Mo r ris Ga rne t advanced to the round of 12 teams before being eliminated. In all, 31 teams were at the event. Congratulations to all students who participated!

On May 19, the 3rd and 4th grade students will attend their own “Battle of the Books” event held in Washington Borough. Again, they will compete against students from across Warren County. Best of Luck to Phillipsburg students attending the competition!!

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Outstanding AAA School Safety Patrol Award In cooperation with AAA MidAtlantic Foundation for Safety & Education, the Green Street School Safety Patrol was founded in 2010. Under the support of Mr. Raffaele LaForgia and supervision of Mrs. Vicky Hughes, approximately 20-25 fifth grade students are nominated to the program each year. Every year AAA sponsors a yearly Safety Patrol Luncheon to honor one Outstanding Safety Patroller from various counties in PA and NJ. The criteria for the award is to select a student who has excelled in the areas of leadership, dependability and academia. This year, we selected Maya Marino-Cappello as our winner and representative. Maya was selected for her positive behavior, dependability, courteousness and work ethic

she shows at school. Even though Maya is only 11 years old, she has performed in 8 plays. This year she played the Fairy Godmother in Green Street’s production of “Cinderella.” Her musical accomplishments in the School Band/Choir include: Trumpet Soloist (her first year playing), African Drum Soloist, numerous Vocal solos and Green Street School Drama Club and Supporting roles. She is an integral member of the Children’s Choir at her church, and she has been studying dance since she was 3 years old. Maya is a very busy girl in addition to being an ideal student and citizen. She consistently puts forth effort in every subject area. Maya is respectful, kind, follows the rules and tries to help others. For being chosen as the Safety

Patrol of the Year, Maya attended and was recognized with her family at a luncheon in Bordentown, NJ on April 24, 2015. At the luncheon, she received a plaque, displaying her name and a $100.00 Visa gift card. The staff and students at Green Street School are all extremely proud of Maya and her accomplishments. Please join me in congratulating Maya Marino-Cappello, the 2014-2015 Outstanding Safety Patrol Award recipient for Green Street School!

Phillipsburg School District News

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Science Rocks Wednesday, April 15 was quite exciting as Green Street School was ERUPTING with SCIENCE. Over 50 students participated in our first annual Science Fair presenting projects that took visitors from Outer Space, to Volcanoes, to Worms Underground. Presenters Fizzled with Ninja Turtle Ooze, Electric Fruit, Elephant Toothpaste, earthquakes and more. For our first event, it was quite explosive and we thank and applaud all who participated! Special thanks to Exxon Mobile for stirring the creative juices of our students and sponsoring the evening. Exxon also

provided two of the judges, Jessica Hayner and Heather Elsin (SP) . We thank both of the ladies, along with Keith Kullman, our newly appointed Director of Science Education, for their time, energies and expertise in judging the event! Well done! Congratulations to our Top Winners: 5th Grade: 1st Place: Danielle Mestell 2nd Place: Jacob Miller 3rd Place: Isabella Neto 4th Grade: 1st Place: Thalya Valencia 2nd Place: Daniel Fisher 3rd Place: Jasmine Gerns

3rd Grade: 1st Place: Elizabeth Koch & Vincent Todd 2nd Place: Lily Wanisko 3rd Place: Jillian Miller We look forward to next year’s exploration of Science…until then remember… SCIENCE ROCKS!

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Barnyard Days Most of us have been to Barnyard Days when we were in elementary school, and if you haven’t, you really missed out. Barnyard Days were one of the best days of the school year. It was like going to the zoo, but at your high school. The beautiful plants in the greenhouse and the adorable animals were just part of what made those two days unforgettable. Phillipsburg High School’s Future Farmers of America continue the tradition and fun of Barnyard Days, making it better and better every year. This year’s Barnyard Days were May 6 and 7. Over these two days, approximately 2,000

children from 21 schools came to PHS to learn all about agriculture, meet the sweet animals, and adore the thirteen different exhibits. These exhibits include alpacas, bunnies, chickens, peeps, horses, pigs, donkeys, goats, sheep, the greenhouse, and tractors. The FFA President says she loves Barnyard Days. Her favorite parts of Barnyard Days are “being a presenter and working with kids in the community to teach them the importance of agriculture.”

lot of fun for everyone to enjoy. On May 6, the entire community was welcome to walk around Barnyard Days at their leisure to enjoy all of the animals and to learn more about agriculture from our very own FFA. The FFA also hosted a pig roast that night from 5:00-7:00 PM. The cost was only $10 at the door. Thank you to everyone who came out to support Phillipsburg’s FFA and congratulate them on all of their hard work!

This fun-filled opportunity to learn more about agriculture is not just offered to the children of our area, there is a

One Book, Two Books, Oh! The Many, Many Books We Read! During the month of March, the students at Freeman School were given the challenge to read a total of 4,000 books. We are very proud to announce that the students at Freeman School met and surpassed this challenge! On April 27, 2015, the students celebrated this achievement with a Rock Concert. The concert starred our principal, Mr. John Finken, with guest appearances by Freeman Teachers Mr. Kevin

Mahony and Mrs. Kristal Thomas. Other special guests included Matthew Thomas, Brian Leahey and from the DENNIS DEYOUNG Band, Mr. Jimmy Leahey. In addition to the school reward, class and individual awards were also distributed. The two second grade classes who read the most books and earned a pizza party were Mrs. Vine’s Class and Mrs. Micucci’s Class. Mrs. Aita’s

class was the winner of the pizza party for first grade. The three students who read the most books overall were Chiwetel Okaro in second grade and Chidebel Okaro and Emma Brey in first grade. WAY TO GO FREEMAN SCHOOL! YOU ROCK!!!

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Phillipsburg School District News

Reading Around the World at Green Street School On March 26, students and their families took “flights” to listen to and look at stories read in Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish and Urdu. Readers of Chinese and Polish were projected on iPads. The illustrated books were written in both the native language and English. Students pre-selected which languages they wished to hear and obtained boarding passes announcing their flight path to each language as well as “passports” upon check-in. They received “travel stamps” for their passports from cou n tri es wh er e those

languages were spoken. Volunteer readers included Phillipsburg School District Staff, students, parents and community members. The readers selected vocabulary to introduce to the “travelers” and they wrote the words in their “passports”. Students loved hearing the stories and learning their new “foreign speaking” vocabulary words. The books will be added to the Green Street Library collection.

-ways. The grand prize was a giant blow up WORLD beach ball! This was a Phillipsburg Education Association PRIDE sponsored event. We thank the PEA for the opportunity to host such a wonderful event and look forward to additional opportunities to travel and Read Around the World in the future!

At the end of the event a drawing was held and students received a few enjoyable give-a

Our Way of Celebrating Earth Day Barber School along with the Phillipsburg Education Association, Title I and Exxon Mobil held their annual Scien ce/Literacy Night, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. The theme of this year’s event was “Into the Woods.” To kick off the event, Barber School students were asked to get their creative minds going and create Recycled Forest Animal Art Projects out of anything they could find. The students showed their talents and created truly amazing projects. Barber School has a creative and spectacular group of children. Teachers’ ideas along with the students’ projects transformed the school entrance into an amazing spinoff of the actual

woods. If you saw it, you would not have thought that you were walking into an elementary school, but instead walking “Into the Woods!” There were trees with birds and snakes hanging from the limbs as well as a moose and a mouse just chilling out on the floor of the woods. Families participated in fun hands-on activities developed by teachers, Exxon Mobil, and The Home Depot. The Home Depot donated chalkboard planter stand kits for the students to assemble and decorate. Throughout the night, families visited the allpurpose room for a quick snack and to listen to the Phillipsburg High School Jazz Band perform while checking out some more of the Recycled Forest Animal Art Projects.

A special thank you goes to the Phillipsburg Education Association, Title I, Exxon Mobil, The Home Depot, The Phillipsburg Jazz Band, Mrs. Klacik, Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. Huff, Mrs. Laughery, Ms. Szoka, Mrs. Santiago, and Mrs. Slack-Woods for making this night a huge success!

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Freeman School Literacy and Science Night Freeman School‘s Title I Teachers along with volunteers from Exxon - Mobil held their annual Literacy / Science Night on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. This year’s theme was “Hidden Treasures.” Students

listened to the sto ri es, “Seeds” by Patricia Whitehouse and “Zach’s Alligator” by Shirley Moselle. Students then explored vegetable and fruit seeds with tweezers and magnifying

glasses. They taste-tested a variety of fruits and vegetables and even tried zucchini noodle spaghetti with sauce. Students discovered the strange names of some vegetables and fruits and even discovered their nutrition values.

exclaimed that the night was a huge success! Thank you to all who participated in this worthwhile event.

To end the night, students received the mini book “When Will My Seed Grow?” and planted tomato plants in biodegradable ice cream cone cups to take home. Families who participated in the fun hands-on activities

Barber’s Lucky Learners’ Club Barber school teachers joined forces with some Lucky Learners for an afterschool adventure! The program began in early February and was held every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of April. Students engaged in various

activities to help enrich their learning experience. The students were eager to participate in all activities and enjoyed the extra time that was allotted to partake in computer time associated with our school curriculum.

We would like to thank all of the students who participated in the Lucky Learners’ Club, as well as Title I for funding this fantastic afterschool adventure!

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Phillipsburg School District News

Andover’s Awesome Games (AAG) On April 23, Andover students, parents, and staff along with six Phillipsburg police officers, joined together for an evening of fun relay games at the High School’s large gym. Games

included the Cup Tower, Over and Under, Hula Hoopla, a Day at the Beach, and the new event, Rolling, Rolling, Rolling. Many thanks to our helpers: FFA and HS Student Council

members and advisors along with DJ Detective Swick. A good time was had by ALL!

Summer Sports Camps For more information, visit http://www.pburgsd.net/Page/1271 SPORT

DATE

SPORT

DATE

Softball

June 29 - July 2

Football

June 29 – July 1

Girls Basketball

June 23 - 26

Baseball

July 20 - 23

Boys Basketball

June 23 - 26

Boys Lacrosse

July 27 - 30

Field Hockey

July 13 –16

Boys & Girls Soccer

July 13 –17

Wrestling

July 6 - 9

Cheerleading

July 29 – August 1

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Science Inventions Andover-Morris School held their inaugural Science Invention Fair on Tuesday, April 14. A total of 16 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades participated in the event which dazzled the audience full of family and friends. A Scientific Invention

was the focus of the particular fair, and participants were asked to design and present an invention that could benefit our environment. Congratulations to all of the students who participated in this eye-opening and energetic event, especially our

Top Winners. Special thanks to Exxon Mobil for their participation in developing the fair and providing two scientists, Andrew Stella and Aaron Jones, who were the judges for the evening. Everyone is already looking forward to next year’s fair!

Phillipsburg School District News

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Relay for Life Relay for Life is coming to Maloney Stadium on June 6 and 7 and is open to anyone and everyone. This American Cancer Society fundraiser is a great way to get out there and do something important. At these events that happen around the globe, people come and honor cancer survivors while also fighting back against the cancer that has taken so many loved ones. It is a very organized overnight community walk where teams of people camp around the track. This idea began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for a whole day (24 hours) around a track and ended up raising $27,000 to help the Cancer Society fight. The first year, 340 supporters joined the event. In 1986, 19 teams joined in the first team relay event and raised $33,000. It has now grown to

be a worldwide movement. Relay for Life has raised $5 billion to fight cancer. The first part of Relay for Life is the Survivors Lap. This is when survivors walk to celebrate their victory over cancer. The next lap is the Caregiver Lap that recognizes those who have given care and love to cancer patients. Following them, Relay teams are invited to walk together with them at the Opening Lap. Each lap is so important and really has a way of bringing each walker/runner together.

this happens, walking is coupled with different family games, activities, and entertainment to make for a memorable night. The Fight Back Ceremony closes off the event. During this event, all of the participants take their final lap. Everyone takes a pledge to take action and spread awareness of cancer research, prevention, and treatments. Come out to help raise money and awareness on June 6th and 7th. It will definitely be a memorable event.

The Luminaria Ceremony follows all laps. This takes place after dark. Candles are lit inside of personalized bags and are placed along the Relay track as tributes to those who’ve been affected by cancer. This sight is a breathtaking experience. As

Andover-Morris Poetry Fest On April 28, 2015, 29 Poetry Fest finalists from grades 3-5 recited their poems for an audience of parents, staff, students, and judges. Each presentation was scored on a scale of 0-4 for Volume, Clearness, Expression, Eye Contact, and Stage Presence. The competition was fierce, which made it very difficult for the judges!

The result was a three-way tie for third place being awarded to Abigail Approvato for “Today I Had a Rotten Day” by Kenn Nesbitt, Alyssa Bodogh for “Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens” by Jack Prelutsky, and the duo of Regan Thompson and Alivia Zagra for “My Puppy Punched Me in the Eye” by Kenn Nesbitt. Second place went to Arame N’Diaye and Sidney Dessources-

Manigsaca for “I Tried to Take a Selfie” by Kenn Nesbitt. First place was awarded to Xavier Arrington-Mitchell and Jayden Au for “My Mother Does My Homework” by Kenn Nesbitt. Award winners each received a book of poetry.

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Andover’s Autism Awareness On April 27, 2015, Mrs. Churetta’s and Mrs. Disidore’s third grade class at AndoverMorris Elementary School presented Google Slides presentations about autism awareness to fellow third grade classrooms. Students researched functional text and created an informational slide show to educate their peers about autism awareness. With the support of Mrs. DeMaria, occupational therapist, and Greenwich Autism Alliance, third grade students now possess a greater

understanding compassion toward autistic classmates.

and their

Free Preschool for Town of Phillipsburg Residents The Phillipsburg Ea rly Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) offers free preschool for all town of Phillipsburg residents. Our dynamic and dedicated staff ensures all students receive quality educational experiences enriched by family and community partnerships. Furthermore, our early learners are empowered through innovative instruction in a nurturing environment to rea ch their ind ivid u al potential. To enroll a student for the 2015-2016 school year, p a rents/guardian s may download the registration packet online from

www.pburgsd.net, or pick up the packet at ECLC (459 Center Street) or the Central Registration Office (445 Marshall Street). Documents needed to register include: c o mp l e t ed r e g i s t ra t i on packet, child’s original birth certificate, photo ID, lease/ deed/mortgage/affidavit, two current forms of additional proof of current address and an immunization record. Students may be registered via Central Registration, or by attending The Early Childhood Learning Center’s upcoming Registration Fair on June 9th from 1 – 4pm at 459 Center Street.

Please feel free to contact Natalie Asayag with any questions at (908) 454-0614 or [email protected].

Page 18

Phillipsburg School District News

End-of-Year Events DATE

SCHOOL

May 13

GSS

Vocal & Bell Concert

EVENT

6:30 P.M.

May 14

GSS

5th Grade Wax Museum

6:00 P.M.

May 14

AMS

Chorus and Bell Choir Concert

7:00 P.M.

May 16

PHS

May 18

PHS

May 19

AMS

May 20

AMS & GSS

May 21

AMS

5th Grade Orientation at the MS

May 21

AMS

3rd Grade Morris Canal Assembly

1:30 P.M.

May 21

PHS

Freddie Awards - State Theatre

7:00 P.M.

May 21

AMS

Instrumental Concert

7:00 P.M.

May 22

AMS

Hug-a-Tree Assemblies during specials

May 22

AMS

Talent Show

1:30 P.M.

May 22

PHS

Veterans Association Military Musicians Concert in the Auditorium

4:30 P.M.

May 25

PHS

Band—Memorial Day Parade

May 26

AMS

Sodexo Barbeque during lunch

May 27

AMS

PTO Art Show Fundraiser at Raymour and Flanigans

6:00 P.M.

May 28

AMS

Future Chef Cook Off

5:00 P.M.

May 28

PHS

Senior Honor Awards Night in the Auditorium

6:30 P.M.

May 28

GSS

Instrumental Concert

6:30 P.M.

May 29

AMS

Career Day for 5th Graders

Senior Banquet at Arts Quest at the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, PA Band/Choral Spring Concert in the Lg. Gym G & T Battle of the Books (Grade 3-4) in Washington

TIME

6-10:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 4—7:30 P.M.

5th Grade Picnic/Activities at the MS

Page 19

Volume 3, Issue 2

End-of-Year Events DATE

SCHOOL

EVENT

TIME

June 1

AMS

June 2

AMS

June 2

PHS

June 2

GSS

Variety Show

June 3

AMS

3rd Grade Field Trip to Merrill Creek

June 4

PHS

Top 10 Banquet at Hawk Pointe Golf Club

June 4

GSS

5th Grade Trip to IronPigs

June 5

AMS

5th Grade Trip to Skate-Away

June 7

PHS

Baccalaureate Service—St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Alpha

June 8

AMS

Fun Day

June 9

PHS

Senior Class Day at Lopatcong Pool

June 9

PHS

Class of 2015—Phillipsburg Middle School Time Capsule Opening

12:30 P.M.

June 9

PHS

FFA Banquet in Café 159 and Auditorium

6:00 P.M.

June 9

GSS

5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

6:00 P.M.

June 10

GSS

End Of Year Awards Assembly

8:30 A.M.

June 10

PHS

June 11

PHS

5th Grade Trip to Waterloo Village 4th Grade Trip to Washington’s Crossing Historical Park Garnet Booster Athlete Awards Night in the PHS Auditorium

Athlete Appreciation BBQ—Outside the Sm. Gym Graduation Ceremony in Maloney Stadium

6:30 P.M. 6:30 P.M.

5:30 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

12:00 P.M. 6:30 P.M.

Page 20

Volume 3, Issue 2

Phillipsburg School District Administrative And Board of Education Members Directory Board Goals: Phillipsburg School District Education Center

908-454-3400

George Chando, Superintendent

908-213-2500

Marian Trapani, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent

908-213-2400

Maureen Kehoe, Director of Planning, Research & Eval.

908-213-2452

Mary Jane Deutsch, Administrator of Special Services

908-213-2535

William Bauer, Business Administrator/Board Secretary

908-213-2600

Maureen Broennle, Assistant Business Administrator

908-213-2600

Staci Horne, Assistant Business Administrator

908-213-2600

Board of Education Members Kevin J. DeGerolamo, President James Hanisak, Vice-President Bernard Brotzman Thomas McGuire Cathy Morgan Rosemarie Person Paul Rummerfield William Spencer Richard Turdo Brian Korbobo, Alpha Kevin Bayne, Greenwich Terry Glennon, Lopatcong Student Representatives Nicholas Braughton Erin Contiliano, Alternate

Tip Line - 908-213-2468

Visit the Phillipsburg School District Website for More Information www.pburgsd.net

 Engage in ongoing training for BOE members  Improve community involvement with the District  Improve communication with stakeholders