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Closter
District news featuring stories from Tenakill Middle School and Hillside Elementary School
Newsletter
Issue No 4 - Spring 2015
Mrs. Schindler honored
Can you beat it?
The PTO has recognized 1st
grade teacher Mrs. Arlene
Shindler at the annual gala
for her service as PTO
representative. She has
worked in Closter for 30
years and will retire in
June. Fire and Ice, the
theme of the fundraiser,
raised money through ticket
sales, raffles and auctions.
The funds from PTO assist
the students and classrooms
of Closter. Non fiction books
and a large projector and
screen in the Hillside
gymnasium are just two
examples.
The following jump rope
speedsters completed
71-83 rotations in 30
seconds: From 3rd
Grade - Sam
Gilman, Camille
Hervieu, Megan
McCloskey,
Madison Kim and
Leeya Rice, and in 4th
Grade - Alan Kang,
Elaine Kim, Dana
Livson, Yuichi Hincapie
and Sanghoon Jung.
The top 5 from each grade
will compete in a final
competition sometime
later in April.
HES Pre-K Program
Prepares Closter Youth
Closter’s Integrated Preschool Program
continues to expand at Hillside School. Over
40 typical young children and children with
special needs from Closter and the Northern
Valley work, play and learn side-by-side to
develop their speech, language and motor
skills as well as their pre-reading, pre-math
and pre-writing skills. The program offers a morning session as well
as a full day session. Our classroom teachers
maintain certifications in both primary and
special education. The programs are also
supported by an excellent
paraprofessional staff. Our curriculum is Tools of the
Mind which is state-approved
and aligned with the NJ Preschool
Teaching and Learning Standards of
Quality. Specific instructional activities are
designed to teach self-regulation and
reflective thinking and they are embedded
into all activities.
Classes develop around monthly themes. For
example, March focused on the roles of the
Closter Public Schools
HES chicks hatch
The Doctor is in
Even though it was
Cheers to TMS Assistant
snowing out, the signs Principal Robert Hyman on
of spring hatched in the earning his
1st grade. Chicks from doctorate
Quiver Farm could be from Seton
Hall
heard chirping down the
University
hall.
in K-12
The first
Administration. Feel free to
graders
call him Dr. when you next
were
see him!
quite scientific as they All-State recognition
made observation
Congratulations to 7th
notations in their
grade 1st violinist, Mia
journals as more eggs Moon on being chosen
turned into the fuzzy
to participate in the NJ
creatures.
All-State Orchestra.
veterinarian. So dramatic play is centered
around being at a vets office.
With letter of the week, students delve into
developmentally appropriate order of letters
and sounds. Using the expertise of a speech
pathologist, songs, physical response and
visual prompts enhance the learning.
An important aspect of Tools of the Mind is
Play Planning. While these 3 and 4-year-olds
may not write out their responses yet, the
idea of self-regulation is an important aspect
of the Pre-K program. At first, students may
orally explain what they want to do during
play time. Then, they may draw what they
will do. Eventually, letters for initial sounds
or invented spelling has the students
thinking about what activity they will
choose.
Students also may engage in
Music and Movement, word
play, learn through singing, and
graphing weather patterns to
build on number sense.
Additional activities focus on developing
social skills and emotional responses. The
children use props to act out various
sequences and sign language for a multisensory experience.
Alumna back home
Closter resident and
former student, Brianna
Rodgers has been
working as a student
teacher in both Hillside
and Tenakill. She is
completing her
Childhood Education
(English) and Special
Education degree from
Dominican College.
Service returns
TMS Student Council
raised $225 for the
Closter Food Bank
during Kindness Week.
1st spelling bee
The first spelling bee was
held at Hillside. The PTO
hopes to make it an annual
event. Featuring judges,
Mr. Al Baffa, Mrs. Cynthia
Barry, and Mrs. Jennifer
Kennedy, 3rd, 4th and 5th
graders competed in the
traditional contest. The
champion representing 5th
grade is Chaeyoon Ok. In
4th grade, Yuna Shin beat
out her competitors. While
Eugene Lee in 3rd grade
was his grade’s champion.
Thanks to all who attended!
Closter Public Schools
340 Homans Avenue
Closter, NJ 07624
201.768.3001
Board of Education
Anthony Linn
Ann Ginsberg
Sung Hui (Chris) Kwon
Stephanie Lee
Gregg Lambert
Dina Marinaccio
Peter Micera
Grace Park
Carmen Pfeiffer
Administration
Joanne Newberry, Superintendent/
TMS Interim Principal
Peter Iappelli, Business Administrator/
Board Secretary
Lydia Mangini, Director of Special Services
Alfred Baffa, HES Principal
Robert Hyman, TMS Assistant Principal
Courtney Carmichael, Supervisor of
Curriculum and Instruction
William Tantum, Technology Integration
Program Supervisor
2015
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Closter Police Take Over Hillside
Above L to R:
Officer Chris Barbieri,
Officer Keith
Dombkowski, Chief
Dennis Kaine, Officer
Mike Fehsal, Sgt. Chris
Dippolito, Sgt. James
Buccola, Det. Vinny
Aiello, Officer Justin
Krapels
Police Dept. Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Several members of the Closter Police
Department showed off their story time skills
with the youngest Hillside students in honor of
Dr. Seuss’ birthday. We are curious as to which
group - the cops or the kids, liked the experience
more.
The HES and TMS communities appreciate any
assistance from the police. Whether it is
volunteering to read in a kindergarten class,
walking the halls, directing traffic, or greeting
children at the front door, these moments build on
the idea that they are community helpers and are
role models for our young residents.
On Old Man's Thought Of School
Walt Whitman
These stores of mystic meaning-‐-‐these young lives,
Building, equipping, like a Gleet of ships-‐-‐immortal ships!
AN old man's thought of School;
Soon to sail out over the measureless seas,
An old man, gathering youthful memories and blooms, On the Soul's voyage.
that youth itself
cannot.
And you, America,
Cast you the real reckoning for your present?
Now only do I know you!
The lights and shadows of your future-‐-‐good or evil?
O fair auroral skies! O morning dew upon the grass!
To girlhood, boyhood look-‐-‐the Teacher and the And these I see-‐-‐these sparkling eyes,
School. 2015
Closter Public Schools