South Mountain Superstar April 2009

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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apr

april calendar

spring is here!

1

April Fool’s Day

6

Cultural Arts performance

10 13-17

Schools closed for Good Friday Schools closed for Spring Recess

22

General PTA Board Meeting

22

Earth Dsy

24

Arbor Day

School hours:

in this issue:

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@ Presidents

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Column Library News Fundraising Contact Info Teacher Awards SOMEF Grants Advertisements Advertisements Library News

Full Sessions First Bell 8:40am

AM Kindergarten 8:40-11:30am

PM Kindergarten 12:30-3:15pm

Grades 1-5 8:40-3:15pm

4-hour Sessions First Bell 8:40am

AM Kindergarten 8:40-11:30am

PM Kindergarten 10:00-12:45pm

Grades 1-5 8:40-12:45pm

SAVE our PLANET

Please sign up for the PDF version of this newsletter! Reduce your carbon footprint and go green!

Also, remember to participate in local Earth Day events.

Contact: Sandi Sandoli at 275-3856 or by email: ssandoli@verizon.net

earth day

box tops: Please keep bringing in those Box Tops!

April

22

Yvette Holowczak

Participate on April 22nd, and observe the 39th anniversary of Earth Day!

ymholowczak@yahoo.com

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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thank you, thank you! presidents column Sandi Brand & Sylvia Cutler PTA Co-Presidents

First, we want to acknowledge our fabulous Auction Co-Chairs, Maria Shapiro and Laura Reichgut. It is an incredible task to put together such a big event and we so appreciate all the hard work, the amount of countless hours of time and dedication they put in working on this fundraiser to benefit all of our South Mountain students. I know I can speak for all of the parents, staff and students of our school when we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We also want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers that also worked so hard on collecting donations, decorations, set up, raffle ticket sales, and the never popular clean up.

library news

On April 6th we will have our PTA’s final cultural arts performance of the school year. Kit’s Interactive Theatre will be performing for all of our students. Her show will take our students back to the year 1730 and they will learn what life was life for young people in a Colonial village. They will participate in the show as they meet the townsfolk, join in the chores, play the games and take a turn at the Maypole dance. This is Kit’s first time to South Mountain and we are very happy to have her.

battle of the books Job Well Done, to all those who participated in the Battle of the Books contest.

Congrats to the following 3rd grade teams for winning their class’ Battle of the Books competition this year. from Mrs Silverlieb’s class ‹ Adam, Ilana, Michael P., Kevin from Mrs. Conyers’ class ‹ Olivia P., Caleb, Lexie, Ben Ro., from Mrs. Koltenuk’s class — Elian, Ruth, Erica, Connie, Victor from Mrs. Esposito’s class ‹ Gerald, Chris H., Jonathan C., Reece from Miss Visco’s class- Eden, Karla, Lauren Y., Rostam, Steven K.

Thank you to all of our families who joined us for Storytelling Night. The kids all looked very cozy in their PJ’s along with lots of blankets and stuffed animals ready for some great storytelling.

Our Superstar teachers and parents did not disappoint them.

Thank you to all of our readers.

We also look forward to seeing everyone at our next General PTA meeting on April 22nd. Please check your backpacks or emails for details.

Fourth grade started their Battle reading in early March. Their “battles” will be in late April.

We also have lots of events coming up starting in the beginning of May. Of course, the success of these programs is only possible with your help. There are many different ways to help out and we appreciate any amount of time you can offer. If you would like to volunteer or become more involved, please feel free to contact anyone on the board. We would love to hear from you.

The 5th grade “grade-wide champion” as determined on March 18 is the Team from Mrs Appenzoller’s class.

Congrats to Eliza, Luke, Rebecca, Michael N., Russell. They each will get a gift certificate to Words (Maplewood bookstore).

We wish everyone a very happy spring!!!!

Sandi and Sylvia

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Congrats to the 97 students who turned in their Six Flags reading forms. Tickets should be arriving to the library from Six Flags in late April/Early May and will be MAILED home from the school.

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www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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a big thanks fundraising 2009

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contact info:

Maria Shapiro & Laura Reichgut, Fundraising VP Co-Chairs

South Mountain PTA Executive Board Co-Presidents Sandi Brand (973) 762-5333 sandibrand@verizon.net Sylvia Cutler (973) 378-8286 sylcutler@aol.com

We would like to thank our Superstar Parents, Teachers, Staff and Community for supporting South Mountain’s Auction, “An Evening In Paris”. We would not have been able to pull this off without your generous contribution. A lot of hard work and commitment went into planning this event. We would like to thank some people who went above and beyond the call of duty.

Vice Presidents, Administration Sandy Sandoli (973) 275-3856 ssandoli@verizon.net Amy Forman (973) 763-5669 amygarysamlily@aol.com

Thank you Linda Thibodeau for your fabulous invitation and program designs, and Eve Peterson, Amy Forman and Julie Saydah for putting it all in writing. Thank you Mary Jo DeFranco of Signal Graphics for all of our printing needs. Our decorating wizards Lorry Ripley, Yvette Holowczak, Kara Erhamza, Catherine Brikke & Rachel Sullivan made us feel like we were in Paris. Merci! Our solicitation committee led

by Shana Teitelbaum and Karen Wolf worked tirelessly to acquire wonderful goods and services for the auction. We don’t want to leave out Amy Forman, Canty Gross, Marilyn Wright and Julie Saydah who supported the team throughout the entire process. Let’s give kudos to the class basket chairs, Kanani Briggs, Patricia Canning, Nino Badridze and Amy Forman. What spectacular baskets. Thank you Celina Herrero & Maria Witt for taking care of the raffles. Put them all together and you have an exceptional team.

Vice Presidents, Fundraising Maria Shapiro (973) 761-4779 mikespopworld@hotmail.com Laura Reichgut (973) 763-6905 Feissgut@yahoo.com

Vice Presidents, Programming Letitia Campbell (973) 763-8014 letitia.campbell@yahoo.com Kara Erhamza (973) 313-2296 k_erhamza@mac.com

Treasurers Louise Finkelman (973) 378-2313 LSF92@hotmail.com Debbie Granados (973) 761-5357 4granados@optonline.net

To Mr. Gibbons, Mrs. Samuels and our Superstar teachers, we say thank you for offering such great raffle events. The lucky winners are so excited to spend time with their favorite teacher.

Once again, thank you to the entire South Mountain Community for making “An Evening In Paris” such a spectacular event.

Maria & Laura

Corresponding Secretary Leslie Rubenfeld (973) 313-0523 rubenfelds@aol.com

Recording Secretary Renee Leviton (973) 378-3810 reneekleviton@hotmail.com

thanks south mountain!

The FOOD DRIVE was a tremendous success! The second grade Brownie Troop #699 wants to thank all the South Mountain Students and teachers for their generous donations. Ms. Savattieri’s class was the winner of the popsicle party!

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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School

Teacher(s)

Project

CHS

Beth Johnson

Lead For Diversity Youth Leadership Institute Journals as Counseling Tools Student Incentive Program Prizes for a Purpose Shakespeare Festival Student Newspaper Battle of the Books Inclusion Non-Fiction Reading and Writing Translation Initiative to Reach All Families Quiet on the Set — Using Readers Theater to Promote Great Reading Skills Art Through the Ages Children Get the Lesson Let’s Play: Math Game Kits Launch to Learning High Interest Literature Project Listen, Look, Move Music Practice and Recording System Use in the Music Classroom Appalachian Hiking Trip Shopping For Rewards Flocabulary Workshop Leveled Libraries Elementors Reading Buddies Intervention Support iPods for Language Learning Mi libro es tu libro Twilight Family Program Kindergarten Reads Recordings for Blind & Dyslexic Scan Those Books Let’s Take a Closer Look Passport to Adventure Dahl Day Library Learning In Harmony Book Clubs for Boys & Girls Student Cnsl. — Democ. In Action Study Island NJ ASK Preparation Mosaic Installation Girl’s Leadership Club Kindergarten Big Book Bonanza Let’s Play Classroom Jeopardy Invention Convention Workshops Communicating Through Grades Bridging Phonic Fun to Reading with Humor and Reading Games Tuscan Peace Patch Garden Literacy Centers

CHS CHS CHS CHS Clinton Jefferson Jefferson Marsahll

Deborah Conway Eugene Porta Janet Kahn Suzanne Logeman, et al.

Ann Bodnar Jennifer Diegnan, et al.

Maryrose Caulfield-Sloan Patty O’Neill

Marshall

Bebe Greenberg

Marshall Marshall Marshall Marshall Marshall Marshall MMS

Cathrine Evans, et al.

Donna Grohman Erin Bolstad Rosemary Jessell Shannon Glander Victoria Schodowski, et al.

Barbara Santoro, et al.

MMS MMS MMS Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Multi School Seth Boyden Seth Boyden Seth Boyden Seth Boyden Seth Boyden Seth Boyden SOMS SOMS SOMS F South Mountain South Mountain South Mountain South Mountain South Mountain

Tuscan Tuscan

Danielle Elko Erin Murphy Tracey Sinatra Gail Salomon, et al.

Karen Weiland Karen Weiland Katie Simpson, et al.

Laurence Seltzer, et al.

Marianne Hess, et al.

Suzanne Ng, et al.

Suzanne Ng, et al.

Suzanne Ng, et al.

Judith Symmonds, et al.

MaryAnn Pratola, Tina Lehn Maureen Koppenaal, et al.

Maureen Nelson, et al.

Sheila Murphy, et al.

Susan Brody, et al.

Barbara Tsioni Ellen Hark ran Cristali, et al.

Debbie Wright, et al.

Ellie Esposito Karen Weiland Leslie Glennon, et al.

Zipora Auerbach Ana Reyes, et al.

Jaime Falkin

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somef

2009 teacher grants awarded

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We Appreciate Our Teachers

Knowing that this is the time of year when families are looking for ways to thank teachers and other members of the school staff for their dedication to their students, the South Orange-Maplewood Education Foundation (SOMEF) is launching its annual Honor Your Teacher and Staff Campaign for 2009. Families can order special tribute cards with children’s personal messages for their teachers written in them. For a donation of $5 or more per card, SOMEF will imprint the tribute cards and deliver them to teachers at the end of the school year.

SOMEF has rallied hundreds of families to thank our teachers by choosing Honor Your Teacher tributes as teacher appreciation or end of the year gifts.

Tributes are gifts that keep on giving, because every dollar raised goes toward SOMEF’s Teacher Grant program that enables any teacher to apply for classroom grants every fall. Order forms for Honor Your Teacher Tributes are available on the SOMEF website, www.somef.org, or call 973-378-2055, and they will be mailed to you. Visit the website for information on the Honor Your Teacher Campaign, SOMEF Teacher Grants and more.

EVEN MORE SOMEF TEACHER GRANTS FOR 2009!

Many thanks to the donors who contributed a total of $4,050 during SOMEF’s Late Funding Initiative that concluded on January 30th. Because of their generosity, SOMEF was able to extend its funding of grants for spring 2009 to a total of $42,750 for 45 grants awarded across all nine schools.

Including grants requested by teams of educators from one or more than one school, over 70 teachers received grants this year. They will be honored at a reception at the Central Office Building on May 8th.

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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Dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our

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Tsi p i Ka p l a n will be offering private chef services (weekly food preparation for families) and for holiday parties. Please call or email for reservations.

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chef instructor

973.761.5866 917.502.0932 ce ll

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www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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superstar ZOKUSALON.COM

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Zina’s Handmade Treasures

Great gifts, or treat yourself!

Baby blankets,

baby sweaters Children’s sweaters and ponchos Adult ponchos,

scarves, and shawls

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SPRING SPECIALS

see what you’re missing.

17 UNION PLACE SUMMIT, NJ 07901 ( 908 ) 273 . ZOKU ( 9658 )

201.259.8426

remember the days when you could buy a new TV, plug it into the wall, and...

If interested in purchasing a treasure

or two, please contact Mrs. Schaefer-Gelo

(Second Grade Teacher)

or email her at: gschaefe@somsd.k12.nj.us

Miriam Belov, mat, rmt miriam@wellnessagenda.com 973.762.6962

chatham brick asbury park ...immediately start watching? Those days are long gone. Introducing pure AVS intelligence for universal remotes, audio/video system upgrades & iPod integration.

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Everything is handmade by Mrs. Schaefer-Gelo’s mother.

The Wellness Agenda

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endless possibilities with art

mind – body – health – fitness

Reiki Master/Healing Stress Relaxation

art & frame 25b commerce street c h at h a m , n j 0 7 9 2 8 by appointment

Consultant Lecturer Author Media Work

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

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library newsletter

superstar

Build It! On Tuesday, April 28 at 4-5pm grades 3-5 will build a model using engineering principles. Register at Main Library.

Check out www.dinasnotes.com to find test schedules, parent and student guides, sample tests, workbooks, test prep classes, tutors, test prep and tutoring centers, online tutorials, and summer enrichment programs.

www.dinasnotes.com

Janet Walentiny’s Bookmaking Workshop

Games and activities Board Games Club at Main Library meets on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30pm.

Refreshments will be served.

A 5-day creative workshop in which an original story is transformed into an art book.

Bingo Bonanza (with prizes!) will be offered at Hilton Branch on Thursday, April 23 at 4:30pm.

Not your Mother’s Book Club This fun club for grades 4 and 5 will meet on Friday, April 24 at 4pm at Hilton Branch.

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• NJ ASK (April/May) • HSPA (March) • End of Course Biology Test • College Entrance Exams • The ACT® Test • SSAT • ISEE • COOP

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Will your child be taking one of these tests soon?

Enjoy Spring Break!

Keep your children reading!

Meet Kathi Appelt! Up close and personal with an author.

Grades 2 and up register at Main Library for story program on April 15 at 2pm with children’s author Kathy Appelt. Kathi is the author of The Alley Cat’s Meow and Bat Jamboree. Registration is limited.

04/09

Rena Spangler Sales Associate

973-876-7913 Cell

“Making It Home”

181 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07040

In-person registration at the Main Library or Hilton Branch is required for all programs. For more information, go to www.maplewoodlibrary.org or call (973) 762-1622, ext. 5005.

• Ages 8 and up • Utilize storyboarding for story development • Work with traditional and non-traditional art materials • Apply a variety of book-binding techniques • Includes a “Reading/Reception at the completion Sessions scheduled for July and August 2009 For more information, contact: Janet Walentiny Phone: 973-275-0422 Email: walentinyj2@gmail.com

ADVERTISE!

For $2.00 you can place an AD. (business card, birthday wishes, etc.)

Size: 2.75” x 1.75” For larger sizes and display ADs, please inquire. Submissions by email only.

Digital PDF version will be in color.

Printed version will be B&W.

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dance a thon

The Fifth Graders had a blast at their Dance-A-Thon as they danced to raise funds for their Fifth Grade Camping Trip!

classifieds: Advertising Policy Deadline: the 15th of the prior month when you wish your AD to appear.

South Mountain Families ONLY!

credits: Design + Production William Kochi KODE Associates, Inc.

Printing Mary Jo DeFranco Signal Graphics