Oresko Winter Newsletter 2012

 Nicholas Oresko School A National Blue Ribbon School NJ Star School Volume 8, Issue 2
Winter 2012
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Welcome to the month of February. Our second marking period has come
to an end and report cards will be distributed on February 7, 2012. Mid-year
parent evening conferences will be held on this date from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Our
afternoon conferences are scheduled for February 8 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. We
look forward to your visit.
Students in our neighborhood component are looking forward to attending
second semester REACH courses. Our gifted & talented program students are
eager to explore their third marking period GAP courses.
Nicholas Oreskoʼs book buddies program continues with our students
reading a total of 7,110 books from September through December. Go Jaguars!
Nicholas Oreskoʼs school spirit is soaring at our basketball games. We
are so proud of our girlsʼ and boysʼ teams. We are fortunate to have Coaches
Baccarella, Kim, and Goodhart, whose dedication to excellence and
sportsmanship is appreciated by all.
Congratulations to the Chess Team. They captured First Place in our
citywide competition. Great job Jaguars and Coach Cook!
Congratulations to our “Teacher of the Year,” Miss Stacy Casais! Itʼs a
well-deserved honor.
Read Across America Day (Dr. Seussʼ birthday) will be held on March 2,
2012. Ms. Pacyna is busy preparing creative activities for our entire school
community to enjoy.
Spring is just around the corner. Stay warm everyone.
Mrs. Maria V. Kazimir
2 Student Council News Winter is not yet over; and although
many of us are already looking forward to
spring, the cold weather will continue to
provide Nicholas Oresko School students
with the opportunity to show just how “warmhearted” they are and how much they care –
for their family, friends, and community. The
Nicholas Oresko School Student Council is
hard at work planning educational and civicminded activities for the student body.
Back in December, Nicholas Oresko
School Student Council members enjoyed a
working breakfast with Dr. Patricia L.
McGeehan, Superintendent of Schools for the
Bayonne School District.
The students
discussed various ways of implementing the
district-wide initiative, “Let There Be Peace
In Bayonne.” Activities and plans for helping
to create a caring community and respectful
school culture were suggested and shared.
Dr. McGeehan also read to the students a
book about peace, and then presented them
with a banner of “RESPECT” which is hung
prominently in the school cafetorium.
A
peace mural, classroom door decorations, a
wisdom tree, and diversity day celebration
are in the planning stages. In addition, our
annual “SOUPER-BOWL SUNDAE” drive will
allow us to replenish our local food pantries
to help those in need in the Bayonne
community. These events will certainly get
the new year off to a bright start!
The district-wide reading initiative
entitled “G.R.O.W”. (“GO READ AND
WRITE”)
affords
student
council
representatives and officers the opportunity
to share the joy of reading with the schoolʼs
younger students. A Valentineʼs Day Book
Buddy activity is being planned! The school
store will soon be “open for business” to offer
you practical and whimsical school supplies.
Council members will certainly be busy!
Please remember to share YOUR
ideas with the Student Council by placing
your suggestions in your homeroomʼs
suggestion box.
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM ALL OF OUR JAGUARS – PRE-K
THROUGH EIGHT!!
We know we can count on your
continued support for our various Student
Council endeavors, since by “Building a
Caring Learning Community, Everyone
Counts In Our Success” as we strive to
achieve a “Spirit of Excellence for ALL!”
Mrs. Joanne Squitieri
Advisor
Vocal Music & Strings So far no SNOW…But…Oh, what fun
it is to sing and play instruments! We have
been very busy rehearsing for our 4th, 5th and
6th grade shows, Library Recital (which took
place on Saturday, January 14) and Open
House.
Please come and support our
musicians. Here are the dates:
February 1
Grade 5 – 10:00 A.M.
Shh, Weʼre Writing the
Constitution
February 7
Beginning Strings – 6:00 P.M.
Perform at Open House
February 9-10 Grade 5 students attend
Creativefest (Field Trip)
February 22
Grade 6 –10:00 A.M.
Songs of the Civil War
Ms. Marianne Greiman Art We just received the photographs of
our winners from the Fire Prevention Poster
Awards Ceremony. If your child was a
winner, the photo will be given to him/her, so
ask them to see it. It also shows the poster,
which is a good memory if you did not take a
3 picture of the poster yourself, as the fire dept.
doesnʼt return them.
We spent a big part of the fall making
1000 cranes and succeeded in accomplishing
that task. I called it a crane-a-thon because
so many of the students made them. I think
they couldnʼt stop. They are hanging in the
Atrium.
Unfortunately, we missed a few art
clubs because of Monday holidays, but
hopefully this coming marking period we can
turn that around. Starting in February, the art
club will be for grades 7 and 8 and will
continue until we are finished with work for
Graduation. It will be the last two marking
periods.
I would like to take the art program
students to a museum in the spring. I am
working on that now. It would be after
standardized testing.
Our third marking period GAP will be
going
back
to
fundamentals
and
concentrating on drawing and painting from
real objects. We have canvas boards put
away for this GAP and we will be doing
studies of still life, portraiture, and other
subject matter. We will also review basic
vocabulary and the elements and principles
of design. We have six students graduating
which will cause a gap in our GAP. So I am
recruiting art students for next yearʼs art
component of our G&T program.
In our general population of students,
including the G&T kids, we have many
artistically talented students. It is a pleasure
to find so many talented children.
Mrs. Marcia Singer
Instrumental Music The year is flying by for the band and
orchestra program here at Oresko School.
Our Holiday Concert was a great success.
The students performed some very exciting
repertoire, some even being high school
level! The students were pleased with their
performance, and surely they have made
huge strides as young musicians.
The
ensembles made my first concert one that I
will NEVER forget.
It feels like only yesterday the
beginners were learning how to assemble
their instruments. This past month, our fourth
grade beginners performed a four tune set list
for Superintendent Dr. McGeehan, Principal
Kazimir, and the rest of the fourth grade
during a presentation on leadership.
In
addition to this, our top instrumental students
also performed in a recital open to the
community at Bayonne Public Library. The
Jamminʼ Jags Rock/Jazz/Pop Band has
begun rehearsals (Mondays, 3pm-4pm). This
band is an audition only, comprised of
instrumentalists Grade 5-8.
We will be
rocking the stage at the Spring Concert, as
well as some other venues around the
community to be announced.
The Oresko School Symphonic Band
and Jamminʼ Jags will be traveling to
Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania on
June 8, 2012 to perform for the 2012 “Music
in the Parks” Festival. After our adjudicated
performances, we will be going into Hershey
Park for the remainder of the day! We will
also attend an awards ceremony with all the
other performing bands from all over the
country in the famous Hershey Arena.
Mr. Anthony Good
4 Physical Education
Welcome back! I hope everyone had
a healthy and happy holiday season. This
year is going to be packed with a lot of fun
activities for the students of Nicholas Oresko.
We will be having our annual JUMP ROPE
FOR HEART fundraiser, which helps the
American Heart Association raise money for
boys and girls who have heart conditions. In
years past, Nicholas Oresko School has
always been in the top 10 in Hudson County
grammar schools for fundraising.
During the month of March, the
students will also be participating in a
MARCH MADNESS tournament.
This
tournament will take place during physical
education class, where they be playing
games and competing for points against each
otherʼs team.
The students of Nicholas
Oresko will also be taking the 2nd part of their
fitness tests which include the pacer run and
push ups.
Healthy Tip: Take your body weight
and divide that by 2. Thatʼs the amount of
ounces in water you should be drinking.
Mr. P.J. Baccarella
Technology Happy New Year! I hope everyone is
having a safe and enjoyable winter.
With a new year, comes a new unit,
and the students are slowly becoming
technology experts. Students in Kindergarten
through second grade have moved on from
basic computer knowledge. They have been
practicing navigating the World Wide Web
using our Internet browser, Firefox. In the
new year, we will focus on simple
keyboarding using word processing software.
Students in third and fourth grade are
being introduced to Microsoft Office Suite.
They
are
creating
word
processing
documents, multimedia presentations, and
spreadsheets. Students in fifth and sixth
grade are using advanced features of
Microsoft Office, as well as being introduced
to Internet research skills.
Students in seventh and eighth grade
have moved on from Microsoft Office to more
advanced software.
We are currently
working on the MIT Scratch program, which
allows users to create their own games and
animations using script commands. We will
also start working on Google SketchUp, a
program that allows users to create 3D
models.
We will continue to focus on “Green
Technology”. All project assignments will be
given to the students electronically and
completed projects will be delivered to me
utilizing the Hand-In feature built into the iMac
computers.
The class will view the
completed projects via the Smart Board. We
will save paper and ink and extend the life of
our computer lab printers. Think Green!
Ms. Trisha OʼConnor 5 Pre­K We are nearly halfway through our
first school year. I am sure that you have
noticed, as have I, how very much your little
one has changed. We should expect to see
that your child is enjoying more group
activities. They like making faces and being
silly. They have better muscle control when
running, jumping and hopping. They are able
to recognize colors, shapes, numbers 1-10
and letters of the alphabet, especially those
found in their own name. We will start to see
them writing letters and I bet if you asked
your child if they could read they will say
“yes!” And they would be right, because
“reading” is not just knowing the words but
understanding that pictures tell stories too!
For this age group we want to encourage
independence. Let them dress themselves,
help fold laundry, empty and or load the
dishwasher. Allowing your child to help with
these family responsibilities give them great
personal satisfaction and pride for a job well
done!
Mrs. Cary Fussa Kindergarten The New Year is a great time to
express how proud I am of the Kindergarten
Jaguars. We have worked extremely hard
and have more challenging things in store for
us this year.
In language arts, we will be starting
our themes Watch Me Grow and Letʼs
Explore. The Kindergarten Jaguars have
worked really hard learning the alphabet and
their corresponding sounds. Students will
continue enhancing their reading and writing
skills by applying prior knowledge into new
Language Arts lessons. We will also begin
working on forming sentences and making
sure to use correct capitalization and
punctuation.
In math, students have completed
learning how to write, count, and identify
numbers 1-20. We will be starting to learn
about numbers through 100 in the upcoming
weeks. We will also learn how to skip count
and estimate by using different forms of
measurement.
Letʼs keep up the good work! I hope
everyone has a year full of happiness, health,
and good learning.
Mrs. Lorena Quiñonez
Grade 1 By now, you may have noticed that
your child is reading with more skill and
confidence. It is still so important that they
continue to read everyday and practice
reading at home with someone else watching
them pronounce words in a given text. This
will help your child read more fluently and
keep up skills, as the reading text will
become more challenging. The students are
reading a unit on “Changes.” Students are
learning about how we change by growing,
learning new ideas, and how the world
around us is always changing. They are also
learning about things that do not change. In
writing, we have been making up our own
stories and sentences using the spelling and
challenge words that are in their Study Pad.
6 Please practice writing stories and sentences
using the spelling words at home. It is
significant that students are creative when
they write sentences or stories.
The first graders recently learned
new geometry skills in math. They are
sharpening their skills in fractions, symmetry,
and solid shape properties. The first graders
are writing simple addition and subtraction
sentences to represent the models they
construct. The students also use blocks and
other "manipulatives" to construct models of
simple addition and subtraction "sentences."
The first graders have been learning
about famous Americans, such as Martin
Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. On January
17th we were off from school to observe
Martin Luther King Jr.ʼs Birthday. The
students listened to stories about the life of
Martin Luther King Jr. and discussed about
the variety of ways he worked to make sure
laws were fair for all Americans.
In R.E.A.C.H., the students will be
introduced to the four basic food groups while
listening to a variety of literature. The
students will be learning new vocabulary
words that are important in the food pyramid.
Students will gain comprehension skills by
retelling the story in their own words just by
looking at the pictures. The different
vocabulary words that your children will be
introduced to plus many more are the
following: food pyramid, meat, milk, fruit,
grain, vegetables, fat, dairy, etc. The students
will be able to list the better food choices for a
healthy body by listening to a variety of
pieces of literature on different fruits and
vegetables.
Homework- As you might have
already noticed, your child will be receiving
homework on a daily basis. Please be aware
that you should check your childʼs book to
make sure that all assignments are
completed. Keep in mind, this is their
homework, not yours. Help when necessary
and sign finished work.
Reminder to Students- Read
everyday for 20 minutes. Practice your
handwriting. Practice those Spelling Words
and Study Pad Words every night. Children
should be prepared everyday with all
supplies. They must have sharpened pencils,
erasers, etc.
Reminder to Parents- Check your
childʼs folder every night. Make sure that all
tests are signed and returned. Sit with your
children and have them read to you the story
of the week and ask your child
comprehension questions. When students
complete their homework, make sure you
review it with them.
Ms. Maria Barberi
Grade 2
Happy 2012! I hope this year brings
health and happiness to everyone! We look
forward to many exciting days and activities
coming up, such as: celebrating Black History
Month, Valentineʼs Day, Presidentʼs Day, the
100th Day of School and Read Across
America Day, just to name a few.
In language arts, we will be finishing
Unit 3. In this unit, the main idea is for
students to understand what it means to be
creative. We will have explored this topic by
learning
about
inventions,
ways
to
communicate, how creative ideas can solve
problems and where creative ideas come
from. Most importantly the students will have
created many things on their own. With the
conclusion of Unit 3, weʼll begin Unit 4, “Our
Changing World.” Here, they will discover
different ways the lives of people can change.
In math, the students are starting to
learn multiplication and division. Students
need to practice their facts everyday. The
harder they work at home the easier this
difficult topic will be for them.
The second graders also are looking
forward to writing to our pen pals and
eventually meeting them! Remember to
check our class website for the most up-todate information, and keep warm in these
cold winter months with a good book! Ms. Janine Pacyna 7 Grade 3 Happy New Year! After a wonderful
Winter Break, Miss Cookʼs 3rd grade students
returned to school well rested and ready to
work in 2012.
In language arts/literacy, third
graders are becoming authors! As we read
various stories, essays, poems, plays, and
novels, third graders are learning to discuss
and write about literature. Furthermore, the
students continue to practice creative writing,
as well as compose descriptive essays. They
are learning about the different types of
figurative language, and how to implement it
into their own work. In addition, we have just
concluded Unit 3 in the reading series,
“People And Nature.” In reading stories such
as Night Letters, A Symphony of Whales, and
Volcanoes: Natureʼs Incredible Fireworks,
students learned and practiced how to
comprehend
by
drawing
conclusions,
generalizing, and comparing/contrasting.
Furthermore, these stories tied in with our
science curriculum by inspiring students to
explore nature and the world around them. In
both language arts/literacy and science class,
students grew to understand the idea that life
on Earth is interrelated – living things interact
with and depend upon one another and with
their environments. The third graders did a
beautiful job of completing their own research
projects on an animal of their choice in order
to gain a better understanding of that
species.
As we explored nature, we also
learned how to see the world in spatial terms.
In social studies, third graders practiced map
skills such as understanding scale and
reading a map grid. Next, we will design our
own maps! In addition, students have been
practicing their reading comprehension with
interesting and current articles from
Scholastic News, Kidsville News, and Time
For Kids.
In math class, students have been
mastering their multiplication and division
facts with the help of manipulatives, visual
aids, teamwork, and a few rhymes! Also, the
students are frequently exercising problem
solving strategies and dissecting word
problems on “Word Problem Wednesdays.”
As the year progresses, students must
continue to regularly study their basic facts at
home! Next, we will move into Time, Data,
and Graphs.
Ms. Erin Cook
Grade 4 Team Future (our fourth grade
classroom name) is definitely getting noticed
around our school and our city of Bayonne.
The children have been working hard sending
letters to adults they find interesting and
would love to meet.
Dr. Patricia L. McGeehan came to
our classroom and spoke to us about our
future. She inspired us to make great choices
for ourselves each day and to set goals.
Every student was given a ball. On the ball
was a picture of the earth since the world is in
our hands.
Students have been at work reading
challenging stories. We started a lending
library so our classmates have been sharing
their own books with classmates.
We are writers…is our chant we
cheer before we write a story using our
figurative language techniques.
In math, we are multiplying and
dividing and learning mini lessons everyday.
We enjoy learning new skills and keeping old
skills sharp with our blast from the past tests.
Thank you parents for quizzing your child
everyday! Their confidence in math is really
showing.
In social studies, we have had
another special visitor come speak to us.
Assemblyman Jason OʼDonnell came to our
8 classroom. We learned about America and
democracy. Every citizen has a voice and
together we can be heard all the way to the
president.
In science, we are learning about
plants and lifecycles. We are making
diagrams and trying to keep plants alive in
our room. What a great job the children did
on science projects in grade 4! The children
were very proud to show all their hard work
and effort to their classmates.
I am very proud of all the effort they
are making to make great choices for
themselves. I am proud to be their teacher
and really praise their efforts in improving a
little more each day!
Ms. Nancy Jaros
Grades 5 & 6 I canʼt believe how quickly the first
two marking periods have gone! Iʼm proud to
say that the fifth and sixth grade students
have been making great progress in both
math and science.
Math
So far the fifth grade class has
completed
units
on
number
sense,
multiplying whole numbers and decimals, and
dividing with one-digit divisors. They are
currently completing a chapter on dividing
with two-digit divisors and dividing decimals.
In the coming weeks, fifth grade will be
working on data, graphs, and probability.
The sixth graders have explored
operations with decimals, solving equations,
fraction concepts and mixed numbers.
Currently, we are completing a chapter on
adding and subtracting fractions. In the
coming weeks, we will be multiplying and
dividing fractions and soon we will be working
with integers, ratio, rate, and proportion.
Students will be engaged in a variety of math
activities throughout the chapter, practicing
number sense, operations and problem
solving. Looking ahead to NJASK testing,
review lessons have begun.
Science
The
fifth
grade
is
currently
completing the unit on earth science with a
chapter on the solar system. Weʼre learning
about the planets, the life of a star and what
may lie beyond our solar system. The fifth
grade will continue their science explorations
with our next unit on matter and energy.
The sixth grade also completed their
study of earth science. While working on our
last chapter, we created a scale model of the
planetsʼ distance from the sun, studied the
phases of the moon, and learned about
eclipses. The students have eagerly entered
the area of physical science. We have
ventured into elements, compounds, the
structure of an atom, and the periodic table.
Currently, the students are working on an
activity called “Adopt an Element” in which
they will be researching facts about one of
the elements and creating an advertisement
for that element.
Itʼs hard to believe the year is almost
half over.
I am looking forward to a
productive end to the year. Please feel free to
contact me with any comments or concerns
at spelliccia@bboed.org.
Ms. Susan Pelliccia
Happy Winter! Can you believe that it
is even winter? Where is the snow and bitter
cold temperatures that come along with this
season? Maybe we will be lucky and Mother
Nature will give us a break!
With winter comes much preparation
for the NJASK. The tutoring classes began
the second week of January. The fifth grade
class is on Mondays and the sixth grade
class is held on Thursdays after school. Just
a reminder that if your child isnʼt going to be
attending a tutoring class then they must
bring in a note from their parent/guardian
stating that they will not be attending.
In sixth grade, the students have
completed reading their first novel, Island of
the Blue Dolphins, which they enjoyed very
9 much. It was a great book to inspire them on
how to be descriptive writers. The next novel,
which we have already begun, is Walk Two
Moons. This is a story of love, loss, and
human emotion. As for their progression in
their reading textbook, they are on unit three.
The theme of the stories will revolve around
challenges and obstacles that characters
must overcome. We will be starting the fourth
unit as well, reading stories about explorers,
pioneers, and discoverers. Sixth grade has
been doing a lot of writing practice. Every
week they respond to an expository or
persuasive prompt, to encourage them to
work on their writing and grammar skills.
The fifth grade students have
completed reading their first novel as well.
Now that the class has finished reading
Frindle, we must begin the next novel. Report
To The Principalʼs Office is about changes
and new experiences, as well as friends and
friendship. The third unit in reading has the
students exploring what people gain from the
world of inventors or artists. Fifth grade will
continue to work on their writing and
grammar by responding to speculative, and
expository prompts.
So far this year, social studies has
taken the sixth grade through the
developments of the early republic, foreign
affair in the young nation, and a growing
sense of nationhood. Sixth grade has also
learned about Andrew Jackson and the
growth of American democracy, Manifest
Destiny and how life was in the west. The
students have really enjoyed the chapters
that have been completed because they got
to work in groups with each other to complete
the activities for each chapter. During the
third marking period, the students will
continue enhancing their knowledge of
American history. They should be reviewing
any types of notes that they take everyday.
Meanwhile, the fifth grade has
learned about geography of the United
States, Native Americans and their land as
well as their cultural regions. They learned
about why the Europeans left for the New
World and the routes they explored. The
students learned about the early English
settlement and how the British colonies in
America were similar and different. They will
be learning about slavery, life in colonial
Williamsburg, as well as the growing tensions
between the colonies and Britain that will lead
to the Revolutionary War. The students get a
lot of opportunities to work in groups, which
helps them to learn how to work with others
when making decisions.
I also want to commend my sixth
graders on the work they did for their History
Day projects. Great job! For now, I hope you
can cozy up with a good book, a cup of hot
cocoa, and enjoy the rest of the winter days!
Ms. Dana Pajak
Grade 5 Fifth graders have been working hard
this new year.
In reading theme 3, we
enjoyed learning about inventors and artists.
The students tapped into their creativity by
coming up with some inventions of their own.
Not only did they create some fantastic new
products, they brainstormed some very
interesting ways to advertise them. In the
process, they have become very savvy
consumers,
while
understanding
the
psychology of advertising and marketing.
Our explorers did a phenomenal job
working together and presenting their reports.
While dressing up as the explorer of their
choice, students shared their information in
many ways. They wrote and recited poems;
composed original music and lyrics; created
and acted out plays; designed costumes;
drew maps and timelines; and arranged and
presented PowerPoint presentations. Great
job, fifth graders!
The importance of good character is
something we continue to discuss. Students
are aware of many admirable (and not so
admirable) character traits. Our “Acts of
Kindness” binder is filling up with many
examples of how we can make each other
feel good. Some acts are as simple as
holding the door for someone.
Simple
kindnesses go a long way, and the children
are happy to share their kind acts. “Every
day, go out of your way to do something
kind.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Iʼm looking forward to meeting with
you at our Mid-Year Parent Conferences.
Thank you for your continued support!
Mrs. Mary Dwyer
10 In March, the fifth graders in Mrs.
Weimmerʼs and Mrs. Dwyerʼs fifth grade
classes will have an opportunity to visit the
Meadowlands Environmental Center and take
part in a program entitled, “Astronomy
Convocation.” During this two-day workshop,
the students will gather together with other
gifted and talented students in our area to
learn about the sun, telescopes, alternate
forms of energy, and sundials.
Wow, it is already February and the
“New England Maritime Tour” will be creeping
up on us shortly. In just three short months,
we will be in the ocean sailing with the
whales. All fifth graders are encouraged to
draw a design for the t-shirts, which will be
worn on the trip. The themes of the shirts
should depict whale watching or a P.S.
14/Nicholas Oresko school bus. Then, two
will be chosen for the t-shirts. Fifth graders
will also be very busily preparing background
information for our whale watching trip. A
parent information meeting will be held in
April (date and time to be announced).
During science, the students will
begin a new theme entitled, “Processes of
Living Things.” They will learn about the
basic units of all living things, cells. They will
also learn how cells, tissues, and organs
work together to form our body systems.
This is sure to be an exciting chapter.
In math, we are beginning a new
chapter on “Geometry.” The students will
focus their learning on lines, angles, circles,
polygons, and symmetry. Then itʼs off to
“Fractions!”
Please be sure to view our fifth grade
class website at the link below, it is updated
often for homework and upcoming events.
www.oncoursesystems.com/school/view_web
page.asp?id=26302
Mrs. Kimberly Weimmer
Grade 6 What an amazing first half of the year
we have had! As well as all the exciting
learning right here at Nicholas Oresko
School, G & T Sixth graders participated in
many field trips: Mussel Gardening in
October, and November, a Convocation at
the Meadowlands Environment Center. The
class
attended
the
Green
Building
Convocation in November, where they
learned about many factors that are
necessary for the designing of buildings that
are “environmentally friendly”. In cooperation
with other gifted and talented students from
the Hudson County area, they tried their hand
at planning and designing a Green School.
Their projects were amazing! We have many
potential “green” architects in our ranks! The
6th graders are eagerly waiting to attend the
CSI Convocation in February.
Mussel gardening is on hold for the
winter months. The mussels have been
temporarily relocated from their homes in
Rutkowski Park to an area where they are
protected from the winter weather. Our 100
mussels will be brought back in the spring so
we can continue our monthly excursions to
collect data.
And the winner was...
…Slytherin!
The sixth year students of Slytherin
House came in the lead for the first marking
period Hogwartʼs House Celebration. The
celebration was held on Friday, November
18, 2011 during lunch. The members of
Slytherin were treated to a pizza party,
Hogwarts-style, with Harry Potter Games and
prizes compliments of Mrs. Burnett.
Congratulations, Slytherin!
11 Good Luck to all the houses for the
Second Marking Period. I look forward to all
the hard work all the sixth graders will be
doing in their efforts to win the next house
party.
What a tremendous success our
Nicholas Oresko School Science Fair was! All
the sixth grade science students presented
an amazing array of Science projects.
Congratulations to all our participants and
especially to our winners:
First Place Dmitry Shlyapnikov: Wheels of The Future: Vehicle to Vehicle Communication Second Place: Alessandra Salazar: Stop the Bacteria Third Place: Antin Demko: Ocean Acidification Brian Nalewajek: Which Type of Advil will have the Fastest Result? 6th Grade Honorable Mentions Kenneth Valasquez Sofia Polishchuk Daniel Flts Loubna Maachi Jesse Eshak Joshua Roberts Students are also making the
connection between fractions and decimals in
math class, by learning to identify equivalent
fractions, compare and order fractions, and
convert between fractions and decimals.
Theyʼve worked hard at mastering the
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division of fractions. Sixth graders are also
becoming quite adept at solving fraction
equations. Soon they will be moving on to
Ratios & Percents and then Geometry and
will start exploring and measuring 3Dimensional figures.
Mrs. Monica Burnett I would like to start by congratulating
all of our sixth grade students for a “job well
done” on their NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
exhibit boards! The research projects related
to this yearʼs theme, “REVOLUTION,
REACTION, AND REFORM IN HISTORY,”
were creative, informative, and thought
provoking.
The wide array of projects
featured past and current topics from both
American and world history. Some of the
projects included: The Russian Revolution,
Airplanes in Warfare, Henry Ford and the
Model “T”, John Brownʼs Revolt Against
Slavery, Revolution in Egypt, and the
Protestant Reformation. Students acquired
important research skills as they learned the
causes, as well as the resulting effects,
reactions, and/or consequences of various
historic events.
The month of February is designated
as African-American History Month,
dedicated to the important role AfricanAmericans have played in our countryʼs
heritage. Americaʼs culture, government,
education, and social conscience have been
greatly influenced by the varied talents,
discoveries, and dedication of a number of
creative and ambitious men and women. In
recognition of such accomplishments, sixth
graders will complete a biographical report on
a famous African-American. Students will
also study the roles played by AfricanAmericans in the history of the Old West.
Through these activities, students will learn to
recognize and appreciate the contributions,
diversity, and talents of notable Americans,
both past and present.
The
cold
weather
certainly
encourages one to stay indoors and “warm
up” with a good book. Students are enjoying
“running through Two Mills with ʻManiac
Magee,ʼ ” and experiencing time travel in A
Wrinkle in Time. Soon students will escape to
the sunshine and warm breezes on the Island
of the Blue Dolphins and enjoy The View
From Saturday. Students will continue to
develop their composition skills as they learn
to respond to various writing prompts in
preparation for the NJASK. Creativity and
imagination are sure to surface through
various inter-disciplinary projects in the
weeks ahead as the studentsʼ reading,
writing, and critical thinking skills are
strengthened and refined.
Still not ready to venture out into the
cold? Then might I suggest an indoor
activity? The sixth grade classes had the
opportunity to take a field trip to the Bayonne
Veteranʼs Museum which offers a personal
and informative look at the role played by
community members of the armed forces in
Americaʼs military engagements around the
world. The museum truly makes history
“come alive” and reminds us to be thankful
for the sacrifices made by our own Nicholas
12 Oresko, as well as countless other veterans,
in order to keep our schools, community, and
nation safe and free! It is because of them,
that we are able to enjoy the many blessings
that are America. So why not spend an
afternoon at the Bayonne Veterans Museum?
You wonʼt be disappointed, but you may feel
humbled in the presence of such true heroes!
Never forget, “We are the land of the free
because of the brave!”
Mrs. Joanne Squitieri
Grades 7 & 8 Since math is a subject that builds
upon previous knowledge, mastering each
step is extremely important. Most of the math
lessons we cover are designed to provide a
deeper understanding or application of skills
students have learned before. Weʼve
continued to cover topics involving systems
of measurement, algebra, or problem solving
in every lesson.
As the second marking period comes
to a close, the students seem to have found
their “math memories” and are applying and
improving their skills daily. Continue to
encourage them to review key concepts,
vocabulary and basic facts as well.
Grade 7: During the 2nd marking
period, students focused mainly on factors
and fractions by revisiting topics such as
divisibility, prime factorization, and various
lessons on fractions. Weʼve also revisited
Geometry and reviewed the basic terms and
properties of geometric figures.
In the third marking period, we will
continue to build upon their math foundation
in areas such as Geometry, Probability, and
Graphing, and, as always, we will continue to
strive to improve our problem solving skills.
Grade 8: During the 2nd marking
period students focused mainly on simplifying
and solving algebraic expressions, equations,
and inequalities. Weʼve also revisited
Graphing, focusing on transformations and
linear equations.
In the third marking period we will
continue to build upon their math foundation
as well as expand on Geometry, Probability,
and Graphing. As always, we will continue to
strive to improve our problem solving skills.
During 2nd marking period, students
got to see, and present, many wonderful
Science Fair Projects. We will continue to
build upon improving science processing and
investigating skills throughout the year.
Grade 7: Second marking has
introduced the students to the magnificent
cell. Students have been given the chance to
explore and understand how important, and
powerful, these tiny, microscopic structures
are to our world, and to us as human beings.
rd
th
During the 3 marking period, the 7 grade
will extend their knowledge to other living
things.
th
Grade 8: The 8 grade, however,
learned about Earthʼs changing surface
during the 2nd marking period. In the 3rd
marking period we will continue to explore
areas of Earth Science such as Earthʼs
internal processes and their effects on our
planet and environment.
I continually try to reinforce how
important it is for students to follow directions,
read a problem carefully, and show, or
explain their work or reasoning. These skills,
although important in everything we do, are
essential in any type of open-ended or
constructed response question.
Please
encourage your child to follow directions
carefully and answer all parts of a question
by giving details and related terms or
processes.
Also, please emphasize to your
children that studying IS homework and
should be done every night. Please check
my website regularly, and encourage your
children
to
do
the
same.
http://www.oncoursesystems.com/school/web
page.aspx?id=374858
You will find
important information and links such as
homework,
project
dates,
general
announcements, and helpful Internet sites,
including links to textbooks. I also try to
upload or post any related class information
whenever I can.
Looking forward to a productive 3rd
Marking Period,
Mrs. Danielle Nese
Happy 2012! Seventh and eighth
graders are working harder than ever as we
begin the new year. The next few months
have a lot in store for us, and I know that
these students are up for the task.
13 In social studies, we started the year
off with our National History Day. Students in
both grades worked to create visual displays
depicting different times and events in
history.
The theme was “Revolution,
Reaction, Reform.” Students then presented
their projects in the classroom and answered
questions from their peers. The seventh and
eighth graders learned valuable research
skills, as well as learning about topics that
interest them.
In language arts, students in both
grades have been working on writing
memoirs. Their final products will go in their
writing portfolios along with their short stories
from the first marking period. These next few
months will also be focusing on various types
of writing to prepare students for the NJASK.
The seventh grade is in the middle of
the novel Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the
Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin. In this
collection of myths, the students learn about
the ancient Greek gods including Zeus, Hera,
Hermes, and Poseidon. They also read
popular mythological stories about Pandora,
Prometheus, and Narcissus and Echo. We
discuss how these stories were significant to
ancient societies while exploring themes that
are still relevant today.
The eighth grade is currently reading
The Adventures of Ulysses also by Bernard
Evslin. This is an age-appropriate version of
Homerʼs Odyssey. The students meet some
of the same gods that they learned about the
year before, while reading about the different
obstacles Ulysses faces on his journey home.
We discuss the historical context of the work
while discovering themes that appear in
Classical Greek literature.
Aside from our work in class, the
eighth graders have unique opportunities
ahead of them during their last year of
grammar school. We have already started
work on the yearbook and will be continuing
throughout these coming months.
All
students have the opportunity to contribute.
They will also be enhancing their social
studies experience by taking a trip to
Medieval Times in March. We are all looking
forward to this exciting adventure. Until then,
keep up the hard work!
Grades 7 & 8 Science Congratulations to all our Science
Fair participants. Projects were amazing and
really showed studentʼs creativity, ingenuity,
and scientific knowledge and skills. Special
congratulations to our 2011-2012 Science
Fair winners!
Fifth grade:
1st place: Anthony Flynn “Power, Profit &
Progress: The Science of Hydro-Power”
2nd place: Shashwat Punjani “Make Monkeys
Fly in the Blink of an Eye”
3rd place: Arman Moazampour “Bacteria
Found in River Water”
Honorable Mention: Lauren Driscoll, Brandon
Ferreira, Tatyana Lazareva, Giancarlo
Megale, Giana Orlando, Samantha Rozario,
and Michael Valverde
Sixth grade:
1st place: Dmitry Shlyapnikov: “Wheels of
The
Future:
Vehicle
to
Vehicle
Communication”
2nd place: Alessandra Salazar: “Stop the
Bacteria”
3rd place: Antin Demko: “Ocean Acidification”
3rd place: Brian Nalewajek: “Which Type of
Advil will have the Fastest Result?”
Honorable Mention:
Kenneth Valasquez,
Sofia Polishchuk, Daniel Flts, Loubna
Maachi, Jesse Eshak, and Joshua Roberts
Ms. Stacy Casais
14 Seventh grade:
1st place: Anna Simone Makkar “ Rip Rap, Its
not Hip Hop but Erosion Stop”
2nd place: Alexandra Arana “Which Type of
Orange Juice has the Most Vitamin C?”
rd
3 place: Vittoria Orlando
“Burn Baby
Burn…Can Sand Burn?”
Honorable Mention: Frank Daly, Indhu
Kanakaraj, Angie Mejia, Annie Panageas,
Arton Popaj, Andres Ramirez, and Burhan
Zaman
Eighth grade:
st
1 place: Amina Bendaoud “Unbonding
Bacteria”
2nd place: Sara Bendaoud
“”Hungry for
Plasmid DNA”
3rd place: Hubert Kalinowski “Galvanic Cell…
More Salt = More Volts”
3rd place: Tom Salama “To Lay or not to Lay”
Honorable Mention: Rodaina Ahmed, Alexa
Balint, George Iskander, Elena Lazareva,
Kishan Patel, Tatiana Rodas, and Michael
Winters
Currently, we are working on geometry and
measurement. We will be starting graphing
in the coordinate plane soon.
In 8A, students finished up their work
with inequalities. We learned how to graph
inequalities, as well as solve them. We then
moved onto graphs and functions. Next up
will be exponents and exponential functions.
8R finished their units on inequalities and the
coordinate plane. Students in 8R completed
their “Which Airline is Best?” projects, and
they all did a really great job! 8R is now
finishing up their unit on proportions. They
will be starting percents soon.
Students on the Math Olympiad
Team have been starting to prepare for the
upcoming competition, which will be held on
March 27, 2012. The girlʼs basketball team is
getting ready for the playoffs. Good luck
girls!
Remember that my email address is
kkim@bboed.org, and my website is
http://www.oncoursesystems.com/school/web
page.aspx?id=26095.
Please make sure
your children utilize it to check their daily
homework and download any notes they miss
from class.
Good luck Dmitry Shyapnikov, grade
6, and Amina Bendaoud, grade 8, who will
represent Nicholas Oresko School in the
Hudson County Science Fair in March.
Our Science Fair winners were
honored with medals and certificates at our
Science Fair Awards Ceremony, which was
held on January 30, 2012.
Mrs. Kathryn Kim
Mrs. Barbara DeBenedictis
Mathematics We
have
been
utilizing
the
Smartboard each and every day in math
class!! It makes learning so much fun! In the
past couple of months, students in both 7A
and 7R completed their unit on fractions. 7th
graders learned how to simplify, add,
subtract, multiply, and divide fractions as well
as mixed numbers.
After fractions, we
moved onto the world of geometry. Students
have learned about lines, angles, polygons,
and circles. Both classes created Polygon
Scrapbooks.
They all came out great!
Social Studies Winter is a very busy time for our
social studies classes. After wrapping up our
unit on the Middle Ages, eighth grade
students studied the Renaissance and
Reformation periods in Western Europe, as
well as Russia and Eastern Europe. Students
investigated the conditions in Italy that
allowed such a movement to flower and
spread to other parts of Europe. We studied
two great cities, Florence and Venice, and
their contributions to art, architecture, culture,
and trade. In both social studies and art
history, we delved into the rich art and
15 architecture of the Renaissance masters,
such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and
Raphael. Classes also incorporated the art of
the Northern Renaissance. Russia and
several Eastern European nations were
covered, which included a look at their unique
geography, culture, history, and famous
rulers.
The seventh grade social studies
classes studied Greco-Roman history. We
studied Ancient Greek geography, city-states,
historical figures, literature, culture, and
mythology. Projects will include postcards of
Athens and Sparta. Ancient Roman
geography, government, the Roman Republic
and Empire, society and culture were also
covered. Patrician/plebeian diaries that
incorporate Collins Writing will complete our
Greco-Roman unit of study. Greco-Roman
myths were also a staple of the students
reading assignments for novels.
I would like to commend the sixth,
seventh, and eighth grade students on their
diligent research and construction of projects
for Nicholas Oresko History Day. Projects
consisted of process papers, categorical
visual displays, websites, performances, and
annotated bibliographies. Well Done!
I also wish to congratulate eighth
grade student Miso Demko for placing first in
the Bayonne District Geography Bee.
Ms. Stephanie Di Blasi Language Arts This marking period seventh and
eighth grade students will concentrate on
skills tested on the NJASK 7 & 8. All students
will work on open-ended responses,
persuasive essays, narrative writing, and
interpreting text. In addition, we will be
reading Animal Farm and Ulysses in our
novels classes.
Eighth graders are to be commended
for their support of numerous programs
designed to foster a sense of responsibility
through volunteer work in the school.
Currently, eighth graders are assisting
teachers with the lower grades in the
lunchroom and are working diligently with
individual students by providing academic
tutoring.
We would also like to thank the PTA
for their generous support. They very kindly
provided a beautiful graduation cake and
refreshments for our Eighth Grade Ring
Ceremony held on December 16, 2011.
Although it is only February, we are
already hard at work preparing for
graduation. This month eighth graders take
graduation photos and order caps and
gowns. Work has already begun on the Class
of 2012 yearbook. In order to create a
beautiful memory book, it is imperative that
students and parents submit photos for the
yearbook. We need photos of any events that
take place this year as well as anything prior
to eighth grade. Thanks for your anticipated
support.
Ms. Zoe Gonzalez
School Nurse Happy New Year to the families and
friends of Nicholas Oresko School! Winter
has arrived along with common colds,
respiratory viruses and the flu. There are
some preventive measures everyone can
take to keep the immune system strong and
healthy.
Hand washing is the most effective
means of preventing the spread of germs.
The best way to clean hands is with soap and
water.
Wetting the hands and rubbing
together to form lather for at least 20 seconds
before rinsing is optimal. If soap and water
are not available, a hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol is the next best
method.
Remind your children to cover his/her
mouth/nose with the bend of his/her arm,
instead
of
his/her
hands,
when
coughing/sneezing.
16 Staying hydrated is an important part
of battling colds, viruses and the flu. Water
aids the body in getting rid of toxins and in
mucus production. Without enough water,
the symptoms of a cold, virus, or flu will be
worse and will linger longer.
The flu shot may prevent one from
getting the flu or lessen the severity of
symptoms. For more information about the
flu shot check the following website:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downlo
ads/vis-flu.pdf
Most importantly, when your child is
sick, keep him/her home. A child with a fever
of 100 degrees or more needs to be feverfree for 24 hours before returning to school.
A child with a bad cough, runny nose,
diarrhea, vomiting, sleepiness, with or without
a fever, should stay home until symptoms
improve. This Board of Education policy is in
place for the welfare of your child and the
well-being of the other children and staff.
On a final note, please notify the
main office of any changes to the emergency
card. School personnel need to be able to
reach you in the event of an emergency.
Please have a plan in place in the event your
child needs to be picked up from school due
to illness. The School Health Office extension
is (201) 858-6283. Feel free to call any time
with questions or concerns.
conclude with a Question and Answer
session.
During the week of January 23rd-27th
schools throughout the country will participate
in No Name Calling Week, in which
educational activities are conducted to end
name-calling and verbal bullying. The
Nicholas Oresko School family works hard to
keep our school a Bully Free Zone. In
addition to reciting the bully free pledge every
morning, students in all grades receive
lessons throughout the year on this important
topic.
Happy and Safe New Year to all!
Mrs. Amanda Romano
Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Kathleen Geisler
School Nurse
Guidance
I would like to congratulate the eighth
grade students on all the hard work they put
into the application process for both Public
and Private Schools. Needless to say, the
anticipation is great and the tension is high as
the students await notification of acceptance.
Please rest assured, the Admissions
Committee will be sending out letters in the
weeks to come.
A representative from NJ Transit is
scheduled to come and speak with all
students Pre-K through 8th grade about
railroad safety and the dangers of taking
“shortcuts”
across
the
tracks.
The
presentation will be very informative and
17