Grants in action at HiLLsiDE scHooL2015-2016

A F E EAllendale Foundation for

Educational Excellence, Inc.

Thanks to a grant from AFEE, the 2nd graders had an opportunity to enrich their study of colonial times by literally stepping into a day in the life of a Colonial servant. In this highly interactive presentation, the students (and their teachers!) had an opportunity to help Katie Cottswold finish her chores so that all could attend the Colonial Faire. Presented by Kit’s Interactive Theatre, the students & teachers co-created the show and got to experience first-hand what life was like circa 1730. They gathered acorns and lavender, prepared the wool to be dyed, made deliveries, and encountered various townsfolk along the way. Finally, Katie and her new friends were able to go to the village square to partake in the Faire where the students played a variety of colonial games. The day concluded with a rollicking and colorful Maypole dance.

Experiencing colonial LifeAnne Kay, Parent

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Life as LenapesDaniela Menghi Santiago, Parent

One important aspect of the third grade study of New Jersey is learning what New Jersey was like before all of our towns and cities came into being. The Lenape Indian program gives students an understanding of the customs and traditions of the first residents of the Allendale area.

Archaeologist and Lenape Lifeways Director John T. Kraft discussed the region’s 12,000 years of Native American history. He focused on everyday village activities and the roles of men, women and children within the family and community. Mr. Kraft used drawings and photographs to show how the Lenape dressed, built shelters, grew crops, fished, hunted, cooked, made tools and weapons, treated disease, relaxed and more.

The presentation expanded upon what 3rd graders had already learned about the Native American people who lived in Bergen County before them. The students were very engaged as they heard about what Lenape boys and girls used to do when they were about the same age. Lenape children helped their parents plant and hunt. They also had time for games. They even invented lacrosse!

The highlight for the students was the ability to touch and interact with a vast array of artifacts that they would otherwise only see on exhibit in a museum. Mr. Kraft dressed up a few of the students in original Lenape clothing and allowed them to handle masks, tools, bags and baskets. Thanks to AFEE for repeatedly funding this engaging and exciting assembly!

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Thanks to an AFEE grant, Hillside’s first graders were treated to a Weather or Not workshop presented by children’s science educators High Tech High Touch. Each 1st grade class experienced its own “in-class” field trip to learn about changes in air pressure, weather patterns, thunder, lightning and tornados through several different hands-on experiments. First graders witnessed a hard-boiled egg drop into a bottle because of a change in air pressure and also had a chance to check out a plasma ball to learn about lightning. Clear, age-appropriate demonstrations meant the students developed a solid understanding about how weather conditions are formed and developed.

After the workshop, first graders practiced their new meteorologist skills by reporting the day’s weather during Hillside’s morning announcements. The weather information is determined by reading the weather station that was also provided through an AFEE grant several years ago. Thank you, AFEE!

Hands-on-science creates Meteorologists Laura Heitman, 1st grade teacher

a Visit to rememberPat Finn, Fell House Board Member

For the past several years, The John Fell House hosts Hillside third graders for a tour of the house and a reenactment of the arrest of John Fell, performed by a group of American Revolutionary war reenactors known as Heard’s Brigade. The reenactment is made possible through a grant from AFEE, and it makes such a difference for the 100 students who attend the tour. It is living history at its best. The reenactors bring the arrest to life by firing muskets and armed soldiers take John Fell from his home. The students witness the soldiers telling Fell that he is being arrested for crimes against the King. After the arrest, the members of the brigade talk with the students while still in character. Students ask questions and learn about the life and times of the soldiers. John Fell’s wife and daughters are dressed in period costumes and share what life was like for them at that time. It is always gratifying to listen to the students’ questions and comments. They have studied the history of Allendale and New Jersey and understand a great deal about both. The reenactment, according to several students who have experienced it, “...makes it seem like you’re really going back in time and it’s so much cooler than reading about it in a book.”

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rtheater Week teaches Many LessonsZachary Zimmerman, Fourth Grade Student and Theater Week Veteran

Theater Week is when we learn a whole play in just one week of rehearsals after school. We learn lines, songs and dance moves. We learned a lot about following directions and what to do if you make a mistake in front of lots of people. Another thing I learned was not to be afraid on stage. I was very nervous my first year but this year I wasn’t, especially because I liked my all-black costume a lot.

It’s fun because all of your friends are there and you get to have a big cast party at the end. I’m glad AFEE funds Theater Week every year so that my little brother and his friends will get to do it too.

** Theater Week is a parent-written grant for 2nd & 3rd graders that has been funded by AFEE for many years. The program is run by Michele Bloom of Better than Broadway Productions and is designed to help the students build self-esteem and gain a greater appreciation of the performing arts. Michele will be back again on May 2 - 6, 2016 to work with students for one week to produce a full-scale musical performance of her new show, Stone Soup. Look for registration materials in late March.

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An AFEE grant helped enrich the second grade butterfly science unit through an hour long presentation by Steve Fratello, an explorer and naturalist. Students saw spectacular displays of tropical rainforest butterflies and moths, many collected by Mr. Fratello himself during his numerous rainforest expeditions. Students exclaimed, “This is jaw dropping!” and “I am speechless!” while viewing the world’s largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra, and the world’s largest moth, the Goliath Birdwing.

Mr. Fratello taught 2nd graders the differences between butterflies and moths as well as insect body parts, predation, camouflage and the life cycle. He was even able to tell us about the polyphemus (a type of very large moth) that we’d caught on the playground the week before. We learned that this particular moth only lives for one week; it has no proboscis for eating and its only purpose is to mate. The kids were astounded by these revelations. This grant is a great extension of our living organisms unit!

amazing rainforest ButterfliesJennifer Jacobsen, 2nd grade teacher

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Enhanced character EducationElizabeth Diomede, Music teacher

During Respect Week 2014, students participated in an assembly program that highlighted a number of Aesop’s Fables. The performers presented a wide variety of fables using large-scale puppetry. The puppeteers even showed the students how to make their own puppets and scenery from things in their own homes.

Each of the fables was accompanied by a lesson or moral that connected to one of the ten character traits that the students learn about throughout the year as part of our Character Education curriculum at Hillside School.

The fables were also connected to a piece of music from the classical repertoire of composers such as Scarlatti, Beethoven, and Chopin. The students were introduced to the music in music classes before the presentation to aid in making connections to the fables more quickly.

Aesop himself was in the show, as well as his sidekick and trusty dog, Moral, who reminded the students of the significance of each lesson after each fable was told. The students were able to make connections in their own lives and see examples of the impact of positive character traits.

Through continued learning in the area of character education, the students of Hillside School will become upstanding citizens of our community. Thank you to AFEE for your generous support in enriching the lives of the students in Allendale.

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AFEEAllendale Foundation for

Educational Excellence, Inc.

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AFEE P.O. Box 243

Allendale, NJ 07401

Dipa Patel AminSuzana BacvanovicMichael Barcadepone*Claire Barnett*Kim Coleman*Karen DayKate Fennell-PrinceLinda FisherJudith FriedlandCorrina GiakouminakisJennifer Jacobsen*Julie JacobyJo Ann Karamus*Mary Keslo

Catherine LabbateKim Blazer LevyAnastasia Maroulis*Carla MorenaElizabeth PaccioneAvani PatelMichele Pepper*Rosa SassoJustine SokGisell TorresDeborah WeberBruce Winkelstein*Jennifer ZandoJennifer Zimmerman

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Community Night Outat AB&G

October 19 & 20, 2015

AFEE Shopping Days at Tons of Toys / Tons of TreasuresDecember 2 &

December 6, 2015

Annual Dinner & AuctionMarch 11, 2016

Theater WeekMay 2-6, 2016

The Harlem WizardsJune 3, 2016

YES! I’d like to support AFEE!❏ $250 ❏ $100 ❏ $50 ❏ $25 OTHER $

❏ YES! My company has a Matching Gift Program.You can double your support through your corporate matching program. AFEE’s Tax ID number is: 223-416-674. If you don’t know if your company has a matching program, contact your Human Resources department. If you have additional questions, please email Daniela Menghi at dmenghi01@gmail.com.

❏ YES! My company participates in United Way.Amount $Please consider designating your United Way contribution to AFEE. In most areas, AFEE is already in the approved list of charities. If you can’t find it, please contact Daniela Menghi (dmenghi01@gmail.com), who will work with your company to include AFEE. Please be sure to specifically designate AFEE (Allendale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Inc.)

Please mail this form with your check, made payable to AFEE, to the address below or drop it off in the AFEE mailbox at either Hillside or Brookside. If you’d prefer to pay by credit card, go to www.afeenj.org.

UPCOMING

AFEEEvents

AFEE OFFICERSAnne Kay, President

Kate Petrow, Vice PresidentDaniela Menghi, Treasurer

Kim Rosner, SecretaryJulie Cornacchia, Grants

AFEE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

*Administrative/Faculty Members

AFEE’s Board of Trustees is comprised of volunteers from the Allendale community. It includes parents, teachers, and District administrators, including the superintendent, principals, and supervisor.

The Harlem Wizards