June 2019 Newsletter

Superintendent, Principals Salute District’s RetireesThe District’s administrators, faculty, and staff convened after the last day of school to honor seven colleagues who walked out the doors of a Wyckoff school for a final time after a combined 200 years of service to the community.

The hour-long celebration featured standing ovations for each of the seven and moist eyes for many in the room as the retirees were saluted for their decades of contributions to the District. Interim Superintendent Jeff Feifer compared the group to threads in a tapestry that would be difficult to replace. “Congratulations to you,” Dr. Feifer said. “Just be healthy and enjoy.”

Interim Superintendent Jeff Feifer with Barbara Pepe, WEA President Rob LaMorte, Mark Maxwell, Donna Flato, Evon DeWitt, Sharon Burkard, and Mickey Hunt.

District administrators had the honor of offering appreciation to each retiree, some drawing on old personnel files to note when retirees were hired so many years ago.

Debbie Herold, Wyckoff’s director of student personnel services, looked back at the hiring of Donna Flato 23 years ago after 12 years in Newark schools and nine more in Elmwood Park. Herold suggested that Flato had touched the lives of thousands of Wyckoff’s students in her role on Child Study Teams. Her sense of humor and emphasis on the positive had helped students and their parents through difficult times, Herold said. “We’ve been blessed to have you working beside us.”

Coolidge Principal Rob Famularo wished physical education teacher Sharon Burkard sunny days on the golf course after 30 years of service, which included stints at Lincoln, Washington, and Eisenhower as well. Famularo thanked Burkard especially for her role as organizer of Coolidge’s field day, which is a highlight of the school year because of her efforts.

Famularo also celebrated Evon DeWitt for “a wonderful career” of 45 years in education, including 34 years as a teacher at Coolidge. He complimented her for having “an uncanny and eloquent ability to communicate with parents.” But noted that her greatest gift was her connection with the children. “For Evon, it’s always about the students. She loves each and every one of them.”

Eisenhower Principal Chris Iasiello said goodbye to Dr. Barbara Pepe after a career of 29 years at Washington School and Eisenhower. He noted that she more than lived up to a reference letter that accompanied her application in 1990 and described her as “always hard working and always willing to get things done.” He noted that Dr. Pepe had one more task to complete, which was directing the Wyckoff Summer Academies for the next two months. “Our Summer Academy has never been stronger,” Iasiello said. “It was dying before you took it over.”

Iasiello also paid tribute to music teacher Mark Maxwell, who arrived at Eisenhower 29 years ago after nine years in Midland Park’s school system. It is easy, Iasiello said, to mistakenly think that Eisenhower’s music program excels because of the District’s facilities and resources. “But the reason Eisenhower Middle School has the robust music program it has is because of Mr. Mark Maxwell. What Max does with our kids in unbelievable. We are going to miss you. You have enriched this school and changed it forever.”

The third Eisenhower retiree called up for a final bow was Mickey Hunt, a 26-year Wyckoff veteran, who spent nearly all of that time as a math teacher in the middle school where he also served as a team leader and a coach for basketball and baseball.

Iasiello lauded Hunt for his incredible connection with students, which was reflected in the standing ovation from the entire sixth grade during its final lunch period this year. Iasiello noted that Hunt’s exuberance for teaching, which included songs, stories, basketball shots, and birthday dances, will forever be remembered by generations of Wyckoff’s students. “We’re not just losing a teacher,” Iasiello said. “We’re losing an institution. There are going to be generations of kids who now are going to miss out.”

The final retiree, who could not attend the end-of-year gathering, was Eisenhower cafeteria worker Janine Nicolosi who served lunches in the middle school for 27 years. Eisenhower Assistant Principal Chris Giordano praised Nicolosi for caring enough to connect daily with students in the short time it took them to input their four-digit purchase code. “Jeanine created a positive environment for our students,” he said. “She made such a great impact on students’ lives.”

Board Honors Students’ AchievementsThe Wyckoff Board of Education began its meeting June 10th by recognizing current and former students for their achievements during the school year.

Among those honored were Eisenhower students involved in Model UN and Battle of the Books competitions, as well as a history bee award winner from Lincoln Elementary School, and two recipients of college scholarships from the Wyckoff Education Association.

WEA Scholarship winner Julia DeKorte (center) with her parents John and Lauren.

The Wyckoff Education Association awards two scholarships annually with one dedicated to a graduating high school student who attended Wyckoff schools and the other reserved for the child of a District staff member. This year’s awards of $1,500 each went to Julia DeKorte, a Ramapo High School senior who had attended Washington School and Eisenhower Middle School, and Dylan Needleman, the son of Sue Needleman, a media specialist at Coolidge Elementary School.

Julia excelled at Ramapo despite a schedule that was heavy with Advanced Placement and honors classes. She was a captain of Ramapo’s cross-country team and co-president of the Environmental Club while devoting the largest amounts of time to the extensive training required to join the Wyckoff Fire Department, where she proudly serves as a volunteer firefighter. Julia will be attending the College of William and Mary and hopes to become a novelist.

Dylan, meanwhile, is a talented musician who plays seven instruments and participated in music and theater performances at Glen Rock High School. He also excelled despite having a class schedule heavy with Advanced Placement and honors classes. Dylan will be attending Vassar College and pursuing his dream of becoming a music producer.

The current Wyckoff students honored at the BOE meeting included Eisenhower’s eighth grade team who were champions of the annual Battle of the Books competition. Team members posted their victory in May against schools from Upper Saddle River and Midland Park. The competition involved answering questions about the contents of books on a common list of 15 titles. The winning team included Kathryn H., Ava M., Sydney N., and Katherine Z.

Another group of eighth graders who earned honors this school year were playwrights recognized as finalists by the New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival. All eighth graders at Eisenhower write plays each year as part of a PTO-funded opportunity to work with professional playwrights to write and publish a play. The six state finalists from Eisenhower, who all received perfect scores on their plays, were Carly G., Adriana K., Ava M., Haruka M., and Lindsay S.

The BOE also recognized three students cited for excellence as part of the Fifth Annual Junior Academy Model United Nations Conference, which was held in May at the Bergen Academies. The event provides middle schoolers with a chance to strengthen their skills in public speaking, communication, and collaboration, which are necessary for high-school Model UN competitions. Two Eisenhower students each recognized as “outstanding delegate” in their respective committees at the event were seventh graders Louisa V. and Arham S. Eighth grader Matthew S. was recognized as an “honorable delegate.”

The youngest Wyckoff student called forward at the BOE meeting to receive a congratulatory handshake from Interim Superintendent Jeff Feifer was third grader DeWitt S. from Lincoln Elementary School. DeWitt traveled to Long Island for the National History Bee’s regional finals where he placed second in the competition for students up to sixth grade. This placement also qualified him to compete in the National History Bee Finals in Chicago.

Outdoor Transformation at Sicomac Adds Mud Tables

The courtyard at Sicomac Elementary School for many years has been an attractive place for growing vegetables and enjoying the sunshine, but the District’s new approach to early childhood education and new features like “mud tables” are making the outdoor space an extension of the classroom whether the sun is shining or not.

Kindergarten teacher Jayne Mazie says her students love the opportunity to get into the courtyard to get their hands dirty even on rainy days. “There is just so much joy,” she

says, recalling times when students were gathered around the two new “mud tables,” which resemble a sink and cooktop where students can pretend to be preparing mud burgers or other “foods.” “They were sharing, figuring out things together, and taking turns.”

Sicomac students enjoying the new “mud tables” this spring.

This outdoor classroom fits nicely with the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education that the District has embraced in recent years (“Reimagining Early Learning,” posted 5/16/2018). This approach says that students learn best through exploring, so kindergarten rooms now boast large collections of blocks and various materials intended to spark curiosity and creativity in activities related to art, writing, and other areas. Since the kindergarten rooms are adjacent to the courtyard, the new outdoor play

area seamlessly extends the children’s exploration space. “Parents just love it,” Mazie says. “Nature-minded kids love it and other students are now more curious than they were before.”

Sicomac Principal Steve Raimo says outdoor learning also fits well with the District’s emphasis on wellness. He notes that education researchers have chronicled the need for students to spend less time on electronics and more time exercising and connecting with nature. “This is what kids need,” he says. “Get them outdoors, let them play.”

“This is a space for curiosity and inspiration,” Raimo adds. “So many of the kids say this is their favorite part of the day.”

Raimo aims to make Sicomac’s courtyard an even richer play environment by adding new tables, benches, crates, a storage shed, specially designed outdoor blocks, and a kid-sized wheelbarrow. He thanks the Wyckoff Education Foundation for a new grant of $7,000 that will provide much of the financing. Sicomac’s PTO and some private donors also support the courtyard, Raimo adds.

“It is my sincere belief,” Raimo wrote in his application for the WEF grant, “that this enhanced learning environment at Sicomac School has the real potential to help reduce student anxiety at a crucial, young age by providing dynamic opportunities for students to practice self-regulation, social-decision making, and problem-solving in authentic situations.”

Record Year for Wyckoff Summer AcademiesNow that the school year is complete, summer school is just days away. The Wyckoff Summer Academies, which offer course options designed to expose K-8 students to fun new experiences, will kick off with a total of 320 students registered, the largest number ever for Wyckoff’s summer program.

The first session runs from July 8th through July 19th and the second session will run from July 22nd through August 2nd.

Many of the sessions are already filled, but parents can still find open spaces if they’re interested in registering their children. Fun with Fitness, America’s Next Top Baker, and Slimeapalooza are among the popular courses already full. But many others are open for new registrations, including filmmaking, coding, archery, Italian cooking, and a host of others. All of the classes are being taught at Eisenhower Middle School.

“Parents love the creative classes, all taught by certified teachers, and the affordability of the program,” says Dr. Barbara Pepe, a veteran Wyckoff teacher who directs the Summer Academies. “It's become known as one of the best summer programs in the area.”

Parents can register their children now by going to the Wyckoff Summer Academics website.

Board Approves Budget, Calendar for 2019-2020The Wyckoff Board of Education this spring approved a $44.4-million spending plan for the upcoming school year and a school calendar that largely replicates the class schedule for previous years.

The budget represents an increase of $935,000 or 2.15 percent, over the money spent during the prior school year. Information posted on the District website shows the

largest projected increase would be for employee benefits, which would rise by more than 9 percent. The costs for special education are projected to grow by more than 3.5 percent and school administration costs would go up by more than 2.4 percent. Costs for support services and technology would actually decline as would spending on maintenance and facilities.

Money for the additional spending would come primarily from a tax increase of 2.06

percent, which amounts to an additional $108.23 in annual taxes for the average Wyckoff home, which is valued at $790,000.

Interim Superintendent Jeff Feifer says the budget the Board approved provides for an additional class of kindergarten students and added services for English Language Learners. It also allows the District to move forward with many of its initiatives, including those related to wellness, makerspaces, STEM, instructional coaches, diversity training, and professional development.

However, the state’s mandated limit in annual school district increases required the District to make several tough decisions when assembling the budget. Consequently, the District will restructure its math intervention program and Gifted and Talented program, and allow the music faculty to shrink by one position through attrition. Spending on consultants, supplies, and travel will also be cut and the District will adopt more economical and effective software for its website.

The calendar approved for the 2019-2020 school year closely mirrors the one for previous years. One notable difference is a holiday, rather than a minimum day, for students on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20th. The calendar also reduces by one the number of minimum days for afternoon teacher workshops, compared to the 2018-2019 school year. Other major features of the 2019-2020 calendar are:

● An academic year that runs from the Tuesday after Labor Day through June 22.● Parent-teacher conferences that will be held in the first full week in November.● A Winter Break from Dec. 23 through January 1.● A February Break from February 17 through February 21.● A Spring Break from April 6 through April 10.● Three built-in snow days.● A note indicating that additional days can be added at the end of the year or

during Spring Break if needed.

Model UN Takes Home HonorsEisenhower’s Model UN Club was a top performer at a competition this spring among middle schools from throughout the New York metropolitan area. The group was named “outstanding large delegation” at the Fifth Annual Junior Academy Model United Nations Conference held May 11th at the Bergen Academies in Hackensack.

“Our team did an amazing job representing over 25 countries in five different committees, covering topics like nuclear non-proliferation, protecting world heritage sites in conflict zones, and responses to biological and chemical warfare to name a few,” says Eisenhower teacher Laila Moolji, who advises the club along with fellow social studies teachers Nicole Bolognini and Keri Traficante.

Social studies teachers Marissa Harrichand (far left) and Laila Moolji (far right) with Eisenhower’s Model UN team and the group’s award certificate.

About 200 students from middle schools in the New York City region competed in the conference. Organizers added more committees to the conference this year, giving students a greater opportunity to be actively involved as debaters.

Moolji says Model UN competitions enable students to step into the shoes of UN ambassadors, which means they make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, and resolve conflicts while abiding by established rules of procedure.

Three Eisenhower students who were given special recognition for their performance at the conference were:

Louisa V., outstanding delegate on the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee

Arham S., outstanding delegate for the United Nations Development ProgramMatthew S., honorable delegate on the Crisis Committee

Eisenhower’s Model UN Club also enjoyed the chance to compete in March at the International Middle School Model UN Conference at the United Nations Headquarters

in Manhattan. “We are very proud of the work they have done,” says Moolji. “They engaged in research, critical thinking, speech, and debate."

Lincoln’s “Peace Garden” Brings Community TogetherOn the Wednesday afternoon after schools closed for the summer, the sun shone brightly over Lincoln Elementary School and the temperature topped 90 degrees as Philip, a rising fifth grader, tended to the school’s Community Peace Garden with his mom.

They are just one of dozens of families who will make sure the crops in the two-year-old garden are watered, weeded, and harvested this summer. The plants, which are arranged in seven raised beds, got their start during the school year as students and teachers worked collaboratively to decide what to plant in the bed assigned to their grade. Teacher Michael Patanella is the knowledgeable green thumb to whom many turned for advice about gardening.

Lincoln’s Community Peace Garden was designed by a former student as his Eagle Scout project.

Lincoln Principal Pat Lee says this area on the front of the school outside Mrs. Donatello’s fourth-grade classroom has lived up to its name as a community garden since it was created in 2017. The many families caring for the oregano, thyme, mint, and a multitude of other plants during the summer are only part of the story. Another part of the story is Lincoln PTO’s Go Green Team, led by Dee Bouloukous, which has supported the garden and held after-school events to give students a chance to design and make painted rocks that cover the ground around the planters.

And then there is the story of the garden’s creation, which involves another community member Zac Decurtis, who attended Lincoln years ago and had an idea for his Eagle Scout project while he was attending Regis High School in Manhattan. His design involves red bricks arranged in a large peace sign in the center of the garden. Translations for the word “peace” in 15 languages spoken in the Lincoln community are posted on white, metal signs on the posts of the garden’s fence. Lee credits Decurtis and his fellow Boy Scouts with “doing tons of work” to make the garden a reality.

Lee points out that the location of the Community Peace Garden, near the kindergarten playground and the lineup area for third- and fourth-graders, has helped students connect with it. Some teachers have also brought students to the garden for learning

opportunities. Some students have used the plants there as subjects for drawing, while others have used the garden as inspiration for poems about plants and growth.

Giving students opportunities to learn outdoors is part of a District-wide effort to encourage self-directed exploration. In that vein, Lee is also looking to revitalize the outdoor amphitheater toward the rear of Lincoln’s property by adding additional seating, tables, and whiteboards. These additions will be funded with a grant from the Wyckoff Education Foundation.

New additions are planned for the amphitheater at the rear of Lincoln School’s property.

.