Click this link for pictures and the full update from the district website: http://www.paterson.k12.nj.us/highlites/hilites-2012-13/10-04-12.html
Upcoming District Events
October 4: Board of Education Retreat
6:30 p.m. at 90 Delaware Ave. Details
October 6: Girls Leadership Summit
October 8: Columbus Day
District Closed
October 9: District-wide Information Sessions
6 p.m. The College of New Jersey at the PCCC Theater/Auditorium
October 10: District-wide Information Sessions
4 p.m. TBD, 5 p.m.Caldwell College, 6 p.m. TBD, 7 p.m. Princeton University at the PCCC Theater/Auditorium
October 12: Staff Professional Development
No school for students on this day
Calling all 8th graders! – The 2012 High School Choice Fair will be taking place at the John F. Kennedy Educational Complex on Thursday, November 1st beginning at 6 PM. All of our high schools are now “Choice” schools offering students opportunities to choose a career-oriented thematic course of study. The Choice Fair gives eighth-graders and their parents an excellent opportunity to review the various themes and course tracks offered by the district’s academies and high schools. Click here for a short video commercial message highlighting the 2012 High School Choice Fair.
University organization visits GOPA - The American Democracy Group, a student- run organization at William Paterson University (WPU) came to speak to about 100 students from the School of Government and Administration (GOPA). Among the topics discussed were civic duties and responsibilities, including: paying taxes, registering for military service, serving on a jury and perhaps most importantly, voting. Students learned how the youth vote impacted the 2008 election; that through the large turn-out of young voters they were able to affect the outcome.
Meeting the professionals - When the Three Doctors Foundation, Inc. held its annual Mentor Day; once again School 12 guidance counselor, Mrs. Bandeli and language arts teacher, Mr. Ocasio, along with 26 students were in attendance. While at this inspiring event they met many business, civic and education professionals. The “Three Doctors” themselves were on hand as well and encouraged all the students to work hard and do their best to succeed. Students spent quality time speaking to a police officer, a technology specialist, an ad executive, an administrator from a private school, and even an Editor from NBC Universal Studios!
Doctors Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, known as “The Three Doctors,” collectively serve as an extraordinary model of leadership for anyone who’s been through any kind of life challenge or major hardship.
New ELC opens its doors - The Department of Early Childhood Education opened the doors of St. Mary’s Early Learning Center in September. Although the facility is still undergoing some renovations, it has not prevented the school from fully participating in daily routines. A strong faculty and staff is now in place and are committed to implementing the state approved and developmentally appropriate “Creative Curriculum,” which provides strategies that support the teachers in bringing the curriculum to life in their classrooms. The St. Mary’s facility is moving ahead with high expectations and the staff is amazed everyday as they work with and watch the 3 and 4 year old students develop and acquire the social competence and foundational skills they need to succeed as lifelong learners. St. Mary’s would like to extend an invitation for all to come by and see the astounding activities taking place in the classrooms!
Listening to the Gov’ - Student Government representatives from International High School and Garret Morgan Academy attended Governor Christie’s Town hall meeting which took place in Elmwood Park on September 18th. Nah-Dira Artis, Linnette Martinez, Xavier Ridick, along with their advisor Kathy Esquiche, heard the Governor’s “middle class reform” agenda as well as the remarks of many citizens who voiced their concerns to the governor.
Getting out the vote - SOIT Student Government Association (SGA) members held a voter registration drive during the Eastside Back to School Night. The SOIT students set up a table in the cafeteria where they greeted parents as they entered. EHS seniors were also addressed during their first meeting of the school year and many completed their voter registration forms.
The SGA voter registration table was operated by SOIT Student Government Association members Melissa Pasichana, Jonathan Chavez, Tiffany Lopez, and Alex Lopez. Each student received community service credits toward their SOIT graduation requirement of 30 credits. While they are still counting the applications collected, between the EHS seniors and the parents who registered, it is estimated that 75 people were registered.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Respect is not just a theme from a popular song by Aretha Franklin. Respect is most importantly a way of behaving with civility in our daily interactions with others. As this issue of District HiLites reaches you, we are well into the State of New Jersey's official “Week of Respect.” Our school district has always taken the notion of respect very seriously and this is specifically advocated for under the“Safe, caring and orderly schools” priority in the district’s Strategic Plan. In recent months there has been considerable national and statwide focus with respect to harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB). Last year, New Jersey instituted one of the strongest laws dealing with this issue: the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.” The new “HIB” law requires schools to adhere to numerous guidelines and institute policies and practices aimed at creating a healthy and positive school culture for students and staff.
Our new interim Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Mr. Theodore “T.J.” Best, Jr. asks us all to ponder this question; “How much do you reallyknow about bullying?” Click here to review the district’s official HIB policy and to test your knowledge on this topic.
NSW goes Hollywood - The Norman S. Weir School produced a video trailer for their 2012 Back to School Night. This video was shown to parents and introduces the viewer to the school’s teaching and administrative family in a fun and entertaining way. You too can enjoy the NSW Back to School Night video feature by clicking here.
Slam Dunk the Junk - Girl Scouts, JROTC members, students, church groups and other concerned environmentalists raked, shoveled, and picked up all sorts of trash along the banks of the Great Falls and elsewhere in Paterson. More than 100 volunteers, including Eastside High School's J ROTC gathered in Paterson for the cleanup activity. The effort was part of a statewide “Slam Dunk the Junk” campaign, sponsored locally by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup event.
Overall, more than 250 volunteers picked up debris, removed graffiti, and shoveled garbage. In total, more than 300 bags of junk were collected. “I asked for 35 JROTC volunteers and 50 showed up,” said 1st Sgt. Abelito Solis, a JROTC instructor.
Community partners for education - School 15 students were welcomed on their first day of school by Pastor Ken Hwang and 9 members of the Arcola Methodist Church of Paramus, NJ. What was the reason for their visit? To provide each and every student with a personalized backpack filled with grade appropriate school supplies.
This amazing initiative was brought into fruition through the generous donations, dedication and outstanding efforts of over 100 Arcola Methodist Church members. They ordered 1,000 custom printed backpacks that read; “Paterson Public School # 15 - Shine Like Stars!” The congregants also purchased grade appropriate school supplies and hand-packed each and every bag for students in grades K-5.
Thank you for your service - In honor of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, School 18's counseling department sponsored a coupon collection activity for U.S. military families who are stationed overseas. Since coupons are not readily available to them, military families stationed in other countries can use these coupons for up to six months beyond their expiration dates. The website www.couponstotroops.com provided mailing information for two military families currently stationed in Germany and Guam. Collecting coupons for these families proved to be a great way to thank them for their service to our country!
