Please patronize our sponsors. Ads with links are clickable.

Hasbrouck Heights Public Schools
Superintendent’s Report
January 28, 1999

Junior-Senior High School
This is the time of the year when we have the opportunity to promote cultural awareness and community involvement.

In addition to raising the ethnic and cultural awareness of our students, these activities also create opportunities for them to engage in charitable functions where they can bring the spirit of the holidays to the less fortunate.

Some of the activities included:
a) Performances by our vocal groups at local malls during the holidays.
b) Free gift wrapping at the Bergen mall by the Key Club and the Health Careers Club to benefit the American Cancer Society.
c) Holiday celebration ceremonies by the French and Spanish Clubs.
d) The annual caroling at the elementary schools and around town by the Italian Club.

The administration conducted the monthly Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) with a special meeting between student representatives and the cafeteria management. A more diverse menu, quality of food, and pricing were topics discussed.

The administrators also made their first presentations to the PTSA, providing job descriptions and goals, and inviting questions from the membership.

We have just begun our midterm exams, under a new format. Every course is conducting an assessment exercise during the test period, since we are impacted this year by state attendance regulations. Every teacher was obliged to turn in a test, project, or other form of assessment during the previous two weeks. All were reviewed by administration for appropriate design and rubrics.

We are also starting the design of next year’s schedule, focusing on expansion of electives, distribution of class loads, and appropriate curriculum design with regard to the Core Curriculum Standards.

Ms. Geftic reports that Mike K., Steven S., and John W. are new interns at the Observer.

Mr. Pankiewicz’s 9th grade classes are studying Romeo and Juliet, while his 10th graders are working on a literature unit in transcendentalism. Ms. Geftic’s English 12 classes are studying Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, and her 11th grade students are reading Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Both grade levels are beginning the study of Shakespeare. Shakespearean students took a “Virtual Tour of the Globe Theater” on the internet and also employed investigations on Shakespeare on line. Mr. Pankiewicz’s classes are currently receiving the New York Times through a grant he received at the teacher’s convention.

Sixth grade students discussed the fermentation process in wine making as part of their French culture awareness. This represented an interdisciplinary approach between science and foreign language.

Ms. Hicswa’s biology classes saw and discussed the NOVA film “Garden of Inheritance” which deals with the life and work of Gregor Mendel.

Ms. Korkgy passed the Comprehensive Examination for her Master’s Degree. Ms. Korkgy’s World History classes discussed natural law and how the philosophers of Ancient Greece applied observation, reason, and logic to society and government.

The seventh grade science classes were visited by Ms. Helen Stahlin, who spoke to them about the Biosphere 2 facility in Arizona.

The Middle Level Student Council completed its third annual Holiday Food drive with a successful collection of a truck load of food for the needy people in Hasbrouck Heights. Mr. Matthew Sicilian, advisor for Student Council, lead the Club officers in organizing the drive and then collecting and delivering the food.

In Wrestling, Morgan H. won the Garfield Christmas Tournament at the 145 lb. weight class. The boys Basketball team won the Saddle Brook Christmas Tournament by defeating Saddle Brook in the Championship game.

Mr. Masucci’s technology classes are designing a new outdoor sign for the offices of the Board of Education.

The “Technology Project of the Month” award went to Jesse D. for his rendition of a Canada Goose.

Ms. Reed’s Graphic Design classes are using markers to construct advertising posters. Ms. Jones Photography classes are learning the use of texture and techniques of cropping. They are also utilizing techniques of reflection, toning, and spotting in photographs. Mr. Masucci’s technology classes learned carving and chiseling techniques.

Displays of student work in both Drawing I and Photography are hanging on the wall in Ms. Jones room.

Via telephone, all nurses worked on updating/improving several policies.

Nurses attended NJ State seminar "Designee Training for Administration of Epi-pen".


Euclid School
Euclid and Lincoln Elementary Schools joined hands with the American Cancer Society to celebrate the Great American Smoke-Out on Thursday, November 19th.

Mr. Minichiello, physical education teacher, started the annual After School Athletic Club, for students in grades 4 and 5.

To welcome the holidays, music teacher, Mrs. Cerasuolo coordinated a Holiday Sing-A-Long on Wednesday, December 23rd.

The Hasbrouck Heights Junior Woman's Club hosted a town-wide spelling bee in the Kiefer Auditorium of the Hasbrouck Heights Jr./Sr. High School on Friday, January 15th. Bijal S. placed 1st and Jennifer I. placed 3rd as finalists from Euclid School. They will compete in the districtwide Bee next month with the Junior Woman's Clubs in the area.

Euclid School Nurse, Karen Della Fave, provided an American Heart Association CPR Training Course for Keys Staff on Monday and Tuesday, January 11th and 12th.

On Monday, January 18th, "Hawaii," was presented to Euclid School, by Ozzie Alive, Inc.

As a community service project, Mrs. Rubin's and Mrs. Gant's second and third grade classes collected hats, mittens and gloves for those in need.

Students at Euclid School are enthusiastically participating in a new service project this month. Pennies For Puppies, which began on Monday, January 18th, encourages students to collect pennies which will be donated to "The Seeing Eye" of Morristown, New Jersey. Students are also busy collecting used eyeglasses which will be donated to the Lion's Club of Hasbrouck Heights.

School Colors Day was held on Friday, January 8th. Staff and students proudly wore their black and gold colors.

The current enrollment at Euclid School is 323 students.


Lincoln School
Congratulations to Melissa G., Stephanie P., Cicily R., and Patrick W. who were finalists in the Junior Women's Club Spelling Bee and will go on to the next round to represent Hasbrouck Heights.

On December 27th, all of Lincoln School's children had the wonderful opportunity to hear the High School Italian Club sing in the Lincoln School gymnasium.

On Wednesday, December 23rd, all of the Lincoln School children were once again singing under the direction of Mrs. Sandra Cerasuolo.

Jane McClean is in the process of organizing a project that will increase children's understanding of blindness. This project will include many assembly programs about seeing eye dogs and presentations from local residents on the importance of good eye care. Mrs. McClean will also be instituting a "Pennies for Puppies" collection. The pennies collected will be donated to an organization that raises seeing eye dogs.

Lincoln School's American Heart Association's North Jersey Jump Rope Demonstrations Team has begun practicing in order to prepare for their visits to other school districts who are interested about Jump rope for heart programs. Mr. Dean Hoskin is the volunteer advisor/coach for the "Demo Team".

Lincoln's students and staff members contributed a significant amount of sweaters to those in need in Hasbrouck Heights. Children , parents and faculty were asked to donate a new sweater in a box. 102 sweaters were collected in a short period of time.

At this point, there are two remaining Math and Language Arts sequencing meetings. The remaining two meetings will be dedicated to choosing the assessment components that will be utilized to assure the standards are being met and the time allotment to accomplish these tasks. The first of the meetings will be held on January 18th in the Lincoln School Gymnasium and will include the faculties at both end schools.

The January 11th faculty meeting included a number of different topics. Discussion included: use of IMAC computers, the 1999-2000 Budget, the upcoming Science Exchange, Kindness Week beginning January 25th, and the taping of Classroom Closeup on January 27th.

The Lincoln School was generous once again this year to purchase a slice of pizza for every child on December 23rd.

The current enrollment for Lincoln School is 370.

[ Back to Index of Superintendents Report ]

Please patronize our sponsors. Ads with links are clickable.

Please patronize our sponsors. Ads with links are clickable.