Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Nov-Dec, 2015

Page 1

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Not Quite Ripe Yet By: Mr. Blanchard

When school begins we are often filled with a desire to do our best, but we can become easily distracted from that desire when other thoughts fill our minds. School is meant to educate, but it is also meant to develop inde-pendence. As parents and teachers we share a common goal. We are all striving for success, but our definitions of success can sometimes become blurred. Success is truly determined by what is appropriate for the individual and where that person is on his or her educational journey. A few weeks ago, I went apple picking with my wife and our three boys. As we walked through the orchard I no-ticed how each of our boys (ages 9, 6, and 3) approached the process of picking their apples in three distinctly different ways. Our oldest son was tall enough to reach the fruit hanging down. He would twist and pull, allowing the apple to come off easily. His independence and mastery of the task was evident as he moved from tree to tree. At times he climbed into the tree, and made us nervous as he searched for the best apples to pull. Our middle son was unable to reach all the branches, and he often needed me to pick him up to get at some of the fruit out of his grasp. He has grown close in height to our oldest son, but he is less daring when it comes to climbing into the tree. He preferred support from me. That made his mission more comfortable and successful. Our youngest son was unable to reach most of the apples in the trees, and was not yet ready to be lifted. He wanted to feel independent, even though he was not. He did figure out how to grab the apples that were already pulled or had fallen and gotten wedged in the branches of the tree. He, too, accomplished his task, but he need-ed to be watched in the cases when he wanted an apple that was rotting on the ground. Supervision was more of the method we used with him. All three approaches yielded apples and some level of success, but each child got there differently. Much like the education we instill each day as parents and educators, we often find children learning in different ways and achieving levels of success that are highly individual and based on the appropriate developmental stage. The fruit that is yielded from our endeavors helps to ripen those young minds toward the end goal of independ-ence and mastery. Until then, we must consider that not all the minds we work with are ripe yet – perhaps even our own! That is where support and help become crucial. Being a life long learner is the best model we can pro-vide. Enjoy the journey, the struggle, the learning, and the development of being able to reach those apples on your own - knowing when to help and when to let go.

Remember: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Nov-Dec 2015

Page 2

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Autumn By: Elizabeth Mathews

Autumn, the season that can’t quite decide

Whether to copy Summer

Or become Winter

Autumn, the season that’s right in between

Sweltering days

And arctic nights

Autumn, the season of transition

Just a bridge between two extremes

Yet

Within the transformation, there is beauty

Green Summer leaves turned valiant red

Before descending

Gracefully paving the way for Winter to arrive

On its chariot of snowy clouds

Autumn, the season of elegance

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

The Poem of Life By: Brendan Ahearn

The sun shining, the birds chirping

The grass beneath my feet

The cool breeze brushes against my face

As I decide to take a seat

Underneath a great willow tree

The sun starts to go

And the breeze comes in slow

As is it here wondering

Where does the wind blow

So I sit with a smile

Life changes every second

As children start to grow

Buts it’s not the only thing that grows

It's the world around you that shows How much life is the only thing you know.

Oil

Super

Fall By: Erick Tiu

Spring’s leaves are green Nature that we have seen Fall’s leaves are yellow As gallant as a castello

Acorns they will fall

Squirrels, they will haul Leaves fall off the trees Swirling in the breeze

Ducks they migrate

Flying as they’re lightweight

People put on their sweaters

Relatives write their letters

Kids knock for candy

Costumes they are handy

Families they’ll eat turkey

When the weather gets murky

Brown Leaves By: Theresa Sasso

Crunch, Crunch is all I hear

Walking down the street.

Holding my cup next to me,

I step on my cold feet.

Swish, Swish the wind speaks

Making me cold by my ear

All it ever wanted

Was for someone to hear.

Now all I hear is the sound of wind

Brushing through my hair

I hold my crimson cup close

And know I am almost there.

Super

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Nov-Dec 2015

Page 3

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Halloween

By: Hailey Mandara and Harmonie Weiner

Halloween is almost here

Everyone eats a musketeer

People scream with excitement The costumes give me a frightment

Casper lurks the lonely dark streets

He feels left out seeing everyone eat

Everyone goes to trick or treat In their costumes, they look neat

Grandma Ella cooks some nice cookies

I hope she doesn’t give me the spookies

So here on Halloween, gathered together Here to enjoy the nice weather

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Changes By: Ella Michalski

The leaves are turning; The wind is churning

Round and round the leaves fly

Creating piles and piles

Rake then jump, repeat Go inside to receive a sweet treat

In big sweaters, we go apple picking

In itchy costumes, we go trick or treating

Costume ideas bouncing back and forth

Children beginning to morph

This is my favorite time of year; And I am so happy it’s finally here

Oil Pastel by Rebecca M, Grade 4

Basketball We Play By: Sohang Patel

Boom, the sound you can hear it

the basketball dribbling on the ground,

Bringing you the realization that you are

in control of the ball,

you hear the coaches yelling,

you smell the hard work sweat that went into

Winning games and hustling,

you can feel a huge round object touching your hands

back and forth until you stopped,

you raise your large hands and realize everything is

on you,

you are the only one who can win the champion-

ship,

as you apply pressure and release the ball the ball is

flying

straight towards the hoop as splash,

the ball went into the basket

You hear the cheers of your teammates as…

Union School,

359 Union Avenue,

Rutherford, NJ 07070

2 0 1 - 438 - 7 67 5

Editor:

Mrs. Annie Mathews

Nov-Dec, 2015

Page 4

Do you want to write for the Union School Newsletter?

Please contact

Mrs. Mathews at <annie.nj99@gmail.com>

Figure this ! Math challenges for families

Answer in the Nov-Dec issue.

The students that each won a $50 gift certificate

towards the purchase of their school pictures.

Our retake/absentee day picture re-takes has

been scheduled for Thursday November 17.

There will be a photographer at the school to

take individual portraits for anyone who missed

the original day or who are unhappy with their

pictures

Pictured Above: Principal Mr. Schweitzer, Katie McCarthy (7th grade, Mrs. Moe), Marina Boulos, (8th grade,

Mrs. Goodman), Vanshita Patel (8th grade, Mrs. MacFayden-Doty), Emma Miller (8th grade, Mr. Evans) and

Brian Landzettel (8th grade, Mr. Breheney).

From the desk of 8th grade Guidance

Counsellor:

The 8th grade OPEN HOUSE at Rutherford

High School on October 27th at 7 PM