21 minute read
SCHOOL NEWS
WWRSD
Kudos to WWRSD Governor’s Educators of the Year
In her message to district families on Dec. 9, 2022, superintendent Jill Mortimer congratulated staff members identified as Governorʼs Educators of the Year: •Berkeley elementary: Kari Binder, • Brookside Elementary School: Julia Acosta; •Jessie F. George Elementary School: Rebecca Duda; • Washington Elementary School: Deb Cummings; and •Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School: Henry Chen.
Mortimer said, “This program strives to recognize educators who have gone above and beyond in their service to New Jerseyʼs students.”
She added, “Teachers of the Year will receive an award certificate from their County office of education. We will present those certificates at an upcoming board meeting. We recognize all of our hardworking staff members, and we are very happy to highlight these special individuals.”
School expansion
Mortimer also addressed steps taken toward an expansion of a district elementary school. “The district initiated the process of planning for an expansion to Washington Elementary School in order to accommodate an anticipated increase in enrollment in the Township. We are starting with a site survey, and then our architect will make a schematic application to the NJDOE.”
She said, “We have been advised the review of that application will take at least six months. Construction could start in the fall of 2024 and could be finished in the fall of 2026.” (See “Washington School expansion planned,” Pascack Press, Jan. 2, 2023.)
Change is in the air: The Westwood Regional High School Woodwind Ensemble,under the direction of M.Daniel Peña,performs a sampling of holiday classics at the Dec.15,2022 meeting of the school board.Superintendent Jill Mortimer says the board is starting on a a site survey toward the expansion of Washington Elementary School,and then the district’s architect will make a schematic application to the state department of education. WWRSD screenshot
Kindergarten registration
Kindergarten registration for the 2023–2024 school year opened at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Visit the districtʼs website for more information.
Brookside school principal
The Brookside School principal advertisement was to be posted right after the New Year. A committee of administrators and staff members will conduct interviews. Mortimer said she anticipates the board will appoint a permanent principal for the 2023–2024 school year at its March meeting.
Acting principal leaving
Washington school acting principal Dr. Schoenlank left the district, as planned, at the end of December. Mortimer said, “We are grateful to her for her energy, expertise, and the relationships she made with students and staff. Mrs. Gomez, our elementary school assistant principal, will serve as acting principal of Washington School from Jan. 1 until Mrs. Palianto returns from her maternity leave in mid-February.”
She said, “Mrs. Gomez is spending the month of December at Washington School in order to get to know the staff and students before she takes over. Retired educator Mrs. Van Ess will be back from early January to mid-February to assist Mrs. Hughes in running Brookside School.
Mortimer also wished families happy holidays, saying “The New Year is a time of reflection and setting intentions. It is my wish that all of our families and staff members know their importance to the school district.”
She said, “There is no greater honor or challenge than preparing the next generation for their contributors to our global wellbeing. It is our collective responsibility, and it is one that I take very seriously. I come here every day with enthusiasm, energy, and a commitment to making prudent decisions that affect 2,800 students and 500 staff members.”
— John Snyder
Announcements?
Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about finances—and thatʼs true for wealthy families and less affluent ERIC KOHLMEIER families alike. Kids are smart enough to pick up on signals that their family may have more than others. But if the conversation stops at the benefits that money can bring, youʼre missing out on important life lessons. Theyʼre not really being taught how to be financially responsible once they leave the house and become independent. What steps can parents take to teach both sensitivity and responsibility about money?
Step 1: Find teachable
moments. It can be difficult to find time to sit down and talk specifically about wealth, but natural opportunities to teach pop up every day.
For example, you can incorporate financial responsibility into an impromptu math lesson about money: If you find something that originally cost $100 and itʼs on sale for 30% off, you can ask kids how much the new price is—and, now that they are only spending $70, what they might do with the $30 thatʼs left.
Step 2: Take a lifelong view
toward financial literacy. Every child, and especially those who will one day inherit substantial wealth, should have a tool kit of basic financial literacy skills by 18, including concepts such as how to spend, how to save, how to give, and the value of a dollar.
This can start very early with an exercise as simple as a three piggy banks analogy. You encourage the child to divide any money he or she receives into three piggy banks: spending, saving, and community/charity. This shows the concept of different types or purposes of money as opposed to all being for spending. Repeating this exercise can help ingrain the habit of saving regularly.
By late childhood or adolescence, parents can add concepts such as what it means to invest, what companies one might invest in, and how you assess risk with an investment.
You can encourage children in high school to think about college expenses logically by examining the costs and coming up with a credible college budget. Ask them to consider basic questions: What will you need in order to make this happen? What will the family need to supply, and what is the student expected to supply, in terms of tuition, books, room and board, transportation, and normal spending money?
And parents and grandparents can continue to encourage
Kaplan: On brain health
FROM PAGE 17
recommended to eliminate dairy products because they are the biggest triggers of autoimmune disease.
People say milk strengthens bones but consider:at a certain amount of consumption a sugar in milk, D-galactose, is shown to increase bone fractures.
To keep your bones strong and healthy, you need movement, sunlight, weight resistance exercises, green leafy vegetables, and high levels of Vitamin D.
If you are interested in learning more about your health, we are offering qEEG brain mapping at all of our offices to discover how your brain is functioning. It may tell us about your memory, your mood, your stress levels, your energy levels, your sleep patterns, your digestion, your neurotransmitters, if you have susceptibility to diabetes, heavy metal poisoning, concussion, and many other health issues.
Not only does it tell us the areas of your brain that are not functioning properly, but it also provides you with the solutions to reduce your symptoms to get you to feel better, function better, and live better. It is non-invasive, there is no radiation, and tells us lots of valuable information. It is normally $500 for the neurological evaluation, but for the rest of January we are offering this amazing brain mapping session for only $21. This is done in our Emerson and New York Citylocations, and you must email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com or call (201) 261-2150 to reserve a spot now as they are filling up quickly.
If you are interested in hearing my live radio show “Boost Your Brain Power with Dr. Eric Kaplan,” tune in to AM 970 Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. and AM 710 at 2 p.m. You will learn the healthiest and most natural ways to improve brain function and get your body to function better, feel better, and live better. responsible, long-term financial responsibility by giving young adults an incentive to begin saving for retirement early. If youʼre able, and they have earned income, offer to match what they save into a Roth IRA. Itʼs also wise to coax contributions to a 401(k) at work.
Step 3: Show your kids
how itʼs done. Your childʼs healthy relationship with money begins with an open and honest relationship within a family that models good money behavior. These discussions can be challenging, but the fruit is well worth the labor.
Stress education and expect them to do well in school. The parents who do really well in teaching financial literacy typically lead by example—they tend to be savers, and theyʼre more careful with spending money. Remember to be that example..
Wells Fargo Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice. Be sure to consult with your tax and legal advisors before taking any action that could have tax consequences. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.
This article was written for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Eric Kohlmeier, Senior Financial Advisor, Managing Director–Investments in Park Ridge at (201) 505-0472.
Investments in securities and insurance products are not FDIC-insured/not bank-guaranteed and may lose value.
Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered brokerdealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2022 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
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The WHS Class of 1972 celebrated 50 years on Sept. 21, 2022 at Seasons in Washington Township. Following that venue, many classmates gathered down the road at the Dog House Saloon for more reminiscing. The festivities continued the next evening at Cornerstone in Hillsdale. A great time was had by all!
Letters:
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
tions to come in ways that are clear and defined. Our biggest fear should be that the embarrassment of our mayor and councilʼs infighting causes residents to mistake the middle school for another boondoggle, instead of the vital investment that it is.
Jonathan Braunstein Hillsdale
Recalling Richard Rosencrans
To the editor:
IN THE 1940S MGM had as part of its programming a filler movie, “The Passing Parade,” consisting of stories on history and notable people. When I learned recently that a friend of mine, Richard “Dick” Rosencrans, had died I thought of him as a participant in the passing parade. He was one of the oldest members of American Legion Post 153, Park Ridge.
I met this charming gentleman a number of years ago when our post had a special program honoring those who served during World War II and became known as the Greatest Generation. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17 and served for three years in the Pacific Theater — stationed in the Philippines, among other locations. He was trained as a radio operator specialist for the planned invasion of Japan in 1945 when the war ended.
Dick as he was known by friends and family was later recalled and served during the Korean conflict. He was predeceased by Helen, his wife of over 55 years, and is survived by three children as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This individual who always down-
A Westwood New Year’s celebration
To the editor: A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who braved the mist to celebrate with us for the third Celebrate Westwood (early) New Yearʼs Eve! This event was made possible thanks to the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department and their rig of the illuminated ball, Westwood Police Department, the music of Kyle Towey and his band, the support of Westwood Recreation, Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo and council, the talented Westwood Regional High School students who stepped in as Frozenʼs Anna, Elsa, and Christof, Conradʼs Confectionery, Fritz Dietl Ice Skating Rink and Tom Laidlaw New York Rangers, and the volunteers who stepped in to assist, particularly our New Yearʼs wish tree MVP Alyssa Blundo, and photographer Richard Frant!
And of course our amazing sponsors: Mount Everest, The Melting Pot, Meals on Wheels North Jersey, Fritz Dietl Ice Skating Rink, Pure Hair Studio, Lucky Eden Photography Studio, Westwood Recreation Department!
Best wishes for a wonderful new year, Westwood!
Celebrate Westwood; photos by Richard Frant of FrantVisuals
ROSENCRANS BOZZONE
played his accomplishments was a member of our post for 38 years.
After graduating from Lyndhurst High School he graduated from Bergen Junior College under the GI Bill. It wasnʼt until many years later that I learned that he, too, was born in Jersey City and later lived in Hoboken. Coincidentally I learned that we both had taken our basic training at Sampson Air Force Base, he with the Navy and me with the USAF.
His life career was in law enforcement, serving with distinction for the Port Authority, the Bergen County Police Department, as well as the Bergen County Sheriffʼs Department. He was instrumental in developing the first Bergen County communication system. He was quick-witted, and respected by all he worked with.
Mr. Rosencrans was laid to rest in Westwood Cemetery on Jan. 4. It was my privilege and honor to have known this individual as a member of Post 153 who was a respected member of the Greatest Generation. The younger generations who followed him and those who served in World War II and Korea can never repay those who served as Richard did.
Rest in peace, my comrade and friend.
Dick Bozzone Park Ridge
Legion Post 153ʼs historian and a past commander
Editorʼs note: We have Richard Rosencransʼs obituary in this issue, on page 30.
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FROM PAGE 1
trol seizures, but for others, the seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.”
Conti has struggled with epilepsy all her life, though episodes had tapered off in recent years. In late 2021, after suffering her first seizure in eight years, she lost her driving privileges for the first half of 2022.
Her doctorʼs precaution, applied while new medication stabilized her, felt like punishment for something she couldnʼt control.
“Even though I knew that wasnʼt the case — I knew Iʼm not being punished — nobody understood me; not even the doctor understood me,” Conti said.
She added, “But I knew that other people deal with this for longer — some people canʼt drive at all.”
The setback seemed poised to renew her sense of isolation. “When I was in high school, middle school, elementary school, I 100% felt completely alone because I didnʼt see anybody in the wider world, or my immediate world, who dealt with it. The only thing I saw was people making fun of it. So I felt extremely isolated, and thatʼs why it was so hard to come out and speak about it.”
Conti (on Instagram as thechristinaconti) is familiar with modeling and pageants — she started competing at 6, then put it on hold to enjoy her studies and sports at Bergen County Christian Academy.
Amid the coronavirus lockdown she followed up on Miss New Jersey USAʼs call for contestants on Instagram. She got in, and in 2021 competed. She advanced to the semifinals but didnʼt place. It was a solid learning experience.
“My pageant mindset until this had been pretty shallow — that it was all about how you looked, how you performed, and thatʼs all I focused on going in that year. It became evident this pageant system is based on what you can bring to the table… what youʼve experienced and what you can shed light on for the community and the world.”
She said, “So I started to think. Iʼm like, Oh, wow, duh;Ihave struggled with having epilepsy my entire life. This was something I had never been comfortable talking about because I was heavily bullied in school for it, when I was younger. So I became really self-conscious about it and awkward about it.”
Conti said, “I realized, OK, if this is something I want to do, if this is something I want to compete for, if this is a title I want, then I have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable things.”
She started working with the Epilepsy Foundation of America, becoming an ambassador for them, and helping raise funds and awareness.
When she competes again sheʼll certainly have more to offer. “Instead of ʻHow well can I perform, how expensive is my dress,ʼIʼll have ʻHow much light can I shed on this topic that is very important to me and that I know other people struggle with.ʼ”
The Miss USA Organization bills itself as “a globally recognized pageant platform that celebrates the unique beauty of women across all cultures. We remain relevant in mainstream culture, as we connect young women to their own beauty and help activate their voice.”
It says, “We are a sisterhood in arms, a family of movers and shakers in beauty and business, poised to positively impact the status of women by bringing pageants to the everyday lives of everyday Americans.”
The reigning Miss New Jersey USA is Alexandra Lakhman, a 26year old, first-generation UkrainianAmerican from Hoboken. Sheʼs a digital marketing associate manager working for a Fortune 500 company.
Her biography on the pageant website says “Alexandra comes from a family where her younger brother is diagnosed with a progressive physical disability, spinal muscular atrophy. This disease is the leading genetic cause of death for infants, with no cure to date.”
Contestants are judged in three areas of competition: interview, swimsuit (miss) or activewear (teen), and evening Gown. Judging criteria includes character, poise, confidence, and personality.
There is no performing talent competition.
The organization says, “Whether youʼre 4 feet tall or 7 feet tall it doesnʼt matter. In the swimsuit portion of the competition, the judges will be looking for physical fitness, which includes a healthy and fit body. Thereʼs usually a wide range of body styles and types for the Top 10 Finalists each year. Weʼre looking for outgoing, intelligent, confident, attractive young women excited to represent the beauty of New Jersey.”
It says most of its contestants are newcomers to pageants.
Reaching out and rising up
Contiʼs pageant is in March, in Parsippany-Troy Hills. Win or lose, she looks forward to hosting a fundraiser for the Epilepsy Foundation of America this year and deepening her relationship with the organization—and working toward “seizure-safe schools.”
Also, through Instagram, she recently became involved with a social media awareness project organized by the Cameron Boyce Foundation, which was established in 2019 to honor the legacy of Cameron Boyce “by aiming to cure epilepsy through funding research, education and awareness campaigns while still supporting causes that were important to Cameron.”
Conti has a coach to help her compete, not only with interview preparation but also in refining her brand.
And she has the full support of her family — her parents (she says her mom has roots in Bermuda and Trinidad and that her dad is Italian); her 5-year-old brother; her 13-yearold sister; and her grandparents.
Of her brand, she says, “I have so much and itʼs kind of hard to wrap my head around how to break that down.” What emerges is that this is Contiʼs chance to be the spokesperson on epilepsy she did not have growing up.
And she could have used an advocate, a warm and friendly face on the other side of an episode.
Of the seizures sheʼd get that made her appear to suddenly zone out, she says, “Of course kids will look at you and think youʼre crazy and will snap in your face and be really mean about it. They donʼt realize thatʼs a seizure; they arenʼt putting that together.”
Conti also would suffer seizures that had her “hysterically laughing and then transitioning to hysterically sobbing.” Her symptoms are “things that people need to be aware of: Itʼs not somebody being crazy or losing their mind; these are uncontrollable seizures that people experience. It doesnʼt always look like what you might think it looks like.”
Losing her license temporarily had forced her to open up – to educators at Montclair State University, where sheʼs studying marketing — and in getting rides to college.
Once people understood a bit more about her life, so much more became possible for her, she says.
“My brand is me shining light on a situation that took me to a dark place that some people are still in, and I want people to realize you donʼt have to be in a dark place. Other people experience these things. It means my being a spokesperson, if you will, for something that I never saw someone being a spokesperson for, growing up.”
Thatʼs not to say she lacked support. “My parents were always very supportive and helpful but as far as being at school and having friends and everything like that, nobody fully got it. But itʼs OK. Itʼs life.”
Her message is “Itʼs OK to tell your teachers, your bosses, and the people around you that this is something you struggle with, as it does affect your everyday life. And thatʼs something that losing my license taught me: it helped me come out of my shell a lot more.”
Although epileptic seizures can be triggered by stress, Conti says sheʼs not worried about stepping up for Miss New Jersey USA. Sheʼs faced worse.
“Covid life. I was a senior that year. That was an absolutely insane time: no senior trip, no prom, and graduation was weird. I was valedictorian of my senior class. That was something I worked on for a really long time, and then preparing a speech, and then [not to have the expected graduation ceremony] it was really hard. It was something I wanted for a long time.”
In contrast, the pageant isnʼt a big deal. “Iʼm not concerned only because I havealot of fun with this. I donʼt take anything too seriously when it comes to this. Itʼs just fun for me. At the end of the day itʼs just a pageant. Itʼs not life or death and Iʼm not going to get stressed out.”
Her plans after high school donʼt necessarily involve pageants, though if she wins Miss New Jersey USA she might takeit a step further. “Once I graduate I would love to get my masterʼs in marketing, and would love to be a marketing executive for a major fashion brand.”
Asked what advice she might offer a young person developing their own brand, she said, “Be yourself, know yourself, and donʼt lose sight of whatʼs important to yourself.”
For Conti, she said, “Thatʼsmy faith. Iʼm a Christian, so thatʼs incredibly important to me; family is incredibly important to me; and just knowing myself. Those three things have helped me navigate everything.”
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Christina Conti was a semifinalist for Miss NJ USA in 2021,representing Hillsdale.She’s going back for the title in March.(Courtesy photo)
