Serving the Communities of Whippany and Cedar Knolls, NJ

Our Schools

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Volume 7, Issue 2

March 2013

Pictured on the Cover (clockwise from the top):

1. Memorial Junior School invited the Hanover Township Senior

Citizens Club to a luncheon and a preview performance of their

spring musical, Grease on March 20, 2013.

2. The Memorial Junior School Student Council/Community Service

Club recently organized a collection of school supplies for stu-

dents from the New Jersey shore area impacted by Hurricane

Sandy. More than 40 boxes filled with items such as book bags,

binders, pens, pencils, erasers, folders, and notebooks were pack-

aged up and delivered to The Lavallette Elementary School in

Lavallette. In addition, a monetary donation of over $500 was

given to the school to purchase materials necessary for working

classrooms. The school supply donations will be especially help-

ful to those students who have been displaced due to the storm.

Our students and staff sincerely hope that this small gesture of

assistance will help the Lavallette Elementary School community

to resume their educational activities and goals. We wish them

hope, faith, and success as they recover and rebuild.

3. During the "Week of Respect" students at Salem Drive School par-

ticipated in various character education based activities. This

activity entitled "Arms Around SDS" featured all students and staff

from Salem Drive School. Together, they formed a circle in the

front of the school and held a golden ribbon symbolizing the

"Golden Rule". The main focus was to emphasize the importance of

keeping respect in the school community and keeping bullying out.

As they held the ribbon all participants recited the school-wide

anti-bullying pledge followed by the school song.

4. Hanover Township School Age Child Care staff and students at

Bee Meadow School collected over 150 non-perishable food items

and donated

them to the

Market Street

Mission. The

students creat-

ed a giant post-

er to track their

donations, and

once they

reached their

goal, enjoyed a

special party to

celebrate their

good work!

The arts, athletics, academics, and community service projects are all represented in this latest edition of the "Excellence in Our

Schools" newsletter. Providing students with a comprehensive educational program and with opportunities to grow, learn, and suc-

ceed is at the heart of what our teachers do every day. The events captured in these pages remind us of our purpose, depict the val-

ue in what we do, and continue to demonstrate that when faculty, staff, students, and parents join together we are truly "A Commu-

nity That Inspires Excellence." As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our great public schools.

Scott R. Pepper, Superintendent of Schools

Editor: Donna Majdosz, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Page 2

Student and Staff Activities, Accomplishments and Recognitions

A Message From the Superintendent

E XCELLE NCE I N OUR S C HOOLS

We have some very artistically talented students in our schools. Some of their artwork is on display at the Board of Education office. 7 of our students won the MCCEA Poster Contest. A sample of our students’ artwork will be on display at the Whippanong Library art show this spring. Pictured is “Still Life in Pencil” by a 4th grade student in Bee Meadow School.

Students at Salem Drive School participated in an online mock election specifically tailored for students. Students were introduced to the importance of voting, and had the opportunity to cast their votes for the next President of the United States. Re-sults were posted online, and students could see the national results of participat-ing schools as well as our school results. Pictured with Mr. Cashen is a 4th grader.

Mountview Road School 4th graders began their journey as New Jersey experts on November 16! They were entertained by Michele Van Allen and her show, Welcome to New Jersey. Students learned more about our proud state, including its geography, native settlers, at-tractions, and many other fun facts. Students were engaged with a lively game show and walked away with more knowledge and excitement to learn more.

V OLU ME 7, IS SU E 2

The girls

champion-

ship soccer

team was

recognized at

a Board of

Education

meeting for

their third

consecutive

champion-

ship.

The boys championship soccer team was recognized at a

Board of Education meeting for their undefeated season.

Page 3

Student and Staff Activities, Accomplishments and Recognitions

On March 1, 2013, Salem Drive School hosted Friends of

Salem Drive Day sponsored by Student Council. This day

gave 5th grade students the opportunity to bring two guests

of their choice along with any Salem Drive School siblings

to eat lunch in the cafeteria and play the game called

"Name that Tune". Along with leading the way for "Name

that Tune", Mr. Pomel worked closely with the other Stu-

dent Council Advisors, Mrs. Serido and Mrs. Carey to help

make the event a success. The PTA also helped with vari-

ous volunteers and provided desserts to be enjoyed by all.

The remaining student council members served as chaper-

ons to welcome our guests. It was great to see so many

families come together.

Christopher Cerf, Commissioner of Education, Bari Erlichson, Chief Performance Officer, and Tracey Severns, Chief Academic Officer, of the New Jersey Department of Education visited Memorial Junior School on March 8, 2013, to speak to the Morris County Associa-tion of School Administrators regarding Department of Education initiatives.

Memorial Junior School students in Ms. Monacelli’s French classes had a Mardi Gras party. They wore beads and some very elaborately decorated masks. It looks like everyone had fun.

Memorial Junior School held its annual “Caring and Sharing” program on December 21. Preschoolers from Collinsville Child Care Center in Morristown were bussed to MJS where they were entertained by the band and choir, and then each child was presented with a holiday gift.

Page 4 E XCELLE NCE I N OUR S C HOOLS

Student, Staff, and Community Activities, Accomplishments and Recognitions

Bayer HealthCare Corporation donated 19 bicycles to Hano-

ver Township students in December. The Whippany Rotary

provided helmets and the Hanover Township Police Benevo-

lent Association donated bike locks. They held a community

team-building event at the Hanover Marriott on December

20, to assemble, inspect, test, and decorate the bicycles. On

December 21 the bicycles were ready for delivery or pick-

up. The Hanover Township Public Schools’ maintenance

mechanics delivered most of the bicycles to the students’

homes. Pictured below are some of the bicycles, donated by

Bayer HealthCare Corporation, all assembled and decorated,

and ready for delivery.

Bee Meadow, Mountview Road, and Salem Drive schools

participated in a “Walk For Character” to raise money for the

American Cancer Society. During the walk they discussed

making good and healthy choices. All grades were assigned

a different color t-shirt to wear in order to represent the Six

Pillars of Character that they focus on during their weekly

Character Education lessons. The walk was a great success

in all three buildings and the total money raised for the

American Cancer Society was over $1,500.00!

Once again, the Mountview Road School community gener-

ously contributed to Team Walker, a non-profit agency de-

veloped by basketball talent and Jersey City native, Jerry

Walker. The organization’s mission is: “To uplift and create

positive alternatives for the youth of Jersey City through

programs designed to enlighten participants and teach the

importance of solid academics, teamwork and sportsman-

ship.” Each year Jerry Walker provides a holiday party for

over 400 disadvantaged youths, grades K-8, in his communi-

ty. Jerry’s goal is to provide each attendant with a holiday

meal and gift. The Mountview Road School community was

pleased to be able to help out with this program as it ties in

nicely with our character education initiatives. We are ap-

preciative of everyone's generosity. Nearly 250 gifts were

collected! Pictured above are Jerry Walker, Principal Car-

men Bellino, and some 5th grade helpers.

Pictured above is the “Walk for Character” at Bee Meadow School. The students are carrying a Relay for Life banner from the American Cancer Society. It reads “Relay Recess Schools saving lives from cancer. This is a Relay Recess school.” All three elementary schools participated in the walk, and together they raised over $1,500.00!

Page 5 V OLU ME 7, IS SU E 2

Student and Staff Activities, Accomplishments and Recognitions

Salem Drive School 5th grade students performed a series of

holiday songs at Arden Court and Care One on December 21.

Students also shared their thoughts on what the holidays

mean to them and provided each resident with a holiday card.

It was a great event that spread some holiday spirit led by our

music teacher Mr. Pomel who worked closely with our PTA

in organizing the visit.

Bee Mead-

ow School 5th

graders read

Character Educa-

tion Books to

first grade stu-

dents. The books

were purchased

with funds donat-

ed by Hanover

Township’s Sub-

stance Aware-

ness Council.

Thank you to the

SAC for this very necessary addition to our Character Educa-

tion Program!

Mr.

Truebig,

from Boy

Scouts of

America,

visited

Mountview

Road

School on

Friday,

January 11

to instruct

our newly

developed

flag squad on flag etiquette and to teach them how to fold,

raise, and lower the flag. Pictured are the squad, all fifth

grade students, with Mr. Truebig, practicing their newly

learned flag skills. The instruction began with review of

history surrounding the flag and the representation of its

different parts. Then, students were instructed on the

"rules" of flag folding. Next, they headed outside to prac-

tice raising and lowering the flag. The students quickly

realized that the process is exact and complicated and will

require some practice but they are excited and eager to

take on the challenge.

A MTV student shares information about an experiment and the results with the NASA facilitator (on the screen) who is live at NASA headquarters.

This is a MTV 5th grader’s winning entry in the MCCEA Poster Con-test. Winners will have their work repro-duced and included in the MCCEA calen-dar. 7 of our students’ posters were selected as winners.

On March 8, the BMS kindergarten classes celebrated Superkid Day! Each student dressed up as their favorite character from the Superkid Reading Program. They sang songs together and made Superkid flags in honor of all they have learned. Their teachers were so proud of them.

Board of Education

Brian Cahill, President

Salvatore Azzarello, Vice President

Michael Alwell

Nicholas Duva

Stephen Furda

Thomas “Ace” Gallagher

Brandie Linfante

Catherine Slattery

Carol Tognetti

“A Community That Inspires Excellence”

Support Hanover Township Public Schools

Hanover Township Public Schools

Administrative Offices

61 Highland Avenue

Whippany, NJ 07981

Phone: 973-515-2400 Fax: 973-540-1023

www.hanovertwpschools.com

Administration

Scott R. Pepper, Superintendent of Schools

TBD, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development

Vanessa Wolsky, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary

Gregory Margolis, Supervisor of Special Education

Darrin Stark, Principal, Bee Meadow School

Carmen Bellino, Principal, Mountview Road School

Roberto Camean, Principal, Salem Drive School

Michael Wasko, Principal, Memorial Junior School

Aaron Wasserman, Assistant Principal, Memorial Junior School

This painting of a dog by an 8th grader at MJS is under consideration for the spring art exhibit at the Whippanong Library.

This poster by a 5th grader at BMS is the cover winner, in the MCCEA Poster Contest. It will be reproduced and featured as the cover of the next MCCEA calendar. There were 7 students from our district whose art work was selected, including this one for the cover. They were recognized at a Board of Education meeting, and will also be recognized during the opening ceremonies for the Pride In Our Schools event at the Rockaway Mall.

Student and Staff Activities, Accomplishments and Recognitions

On Columbus Day, while students had the day off, teachers participated in a profes-sional development training on the new teacher evaluation model.

On March 1, BMS students celebrated Read Across America by participating in a school wide Read-In. Wearing pajamas and lounging on their favorite beach towel, students read quietly in the media center and gymnasium for 20 minutes. 157 students also participated in Six Flag's Read to Succeed program, which earned them a free ticket to Six Flags Great Adventure. Students had to read for at least 6 hours to receive a ticket and we had some students read as much as 107 hours for the reading incentive!