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Phillipsburg School District News Phillipsburg School District News
Volume 5, Issue 2
Winter 2017
Inside this issue:
PHS Guidance
Information 2
PHS Guidance
Information (cont.) 3
Cabaret Night at PHS 3
Helping Hands 4
HOPE: Heroin and
Opioid Prevention
Education Event
5
NJHS Gives Back in a
Mighty Way 6
Spreading Cheer, One
Stocking at a Time 7
Bye Bye Birdie at PMS 7
Music Department
Hosts Leaders in
Business Series
8
PMS Celebrates Black
History Month 8
All Hands on Deck at
PPS 9
Literary Award
Nominations 9
Common Sense Media 10
It’s Coming! CODE 11
STEM Clubs 12
Math Night at ECLC 12
Home Sweet Home for
SBYS 13
Motor Lab Helps with
Readying Bodies and
Minds for Learning
14
Students at PPS Get
Organized 14
19th Annual Stateliner
Spring Classic 5K 15
Getting “Locked In”
With Problem Based
Learning
16
PSD Admin & BOE
Directory 16
We’re on the Move Again!
As part of the school district’s
Facilities Transition Plan,
building renovations to the
former Barber School are
scheduled to be completed
within the next two weeks. The
district is making final
preparations to relocate the
district offices from its current
location on 445 Marshall
Street. The new address for the
Board of Education and district
administrative offices will be
50 Sargent Avenue.
Plans are being finalized to
move the district offices in two
different phases. As one can
imagine, this is a huge
undertaking and will need to be
accomplished in multiple
phases. The first move will
take place on Friday, February
17, 2017 when the Technology
Department will be moved into
Barber School. Once that is
completed over the weekend,
the remainder of the central
office staff and administration
will be moved on Tuesday,
February 28, 2017.
The new offices will provide the
district with two large group
areas to conduct professional
development activities and
meetings. Off-street parking
will ease the number of
vehicles that need to park on
the adjacent neighborhood
streets. The school district is
committed to keeping the
playground on site for use by
the children who live in the
neighborhood.
ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WORK
BEING PLANNED
As the school year progresses,
plans are being finalized to
complete the installation of
spectator stands on the high
school athletic fields for use
during the upcoming spring
athletic season. In addition,
design plans have gone out to
bid on a building that will
contain public restrooms, a
concession stand, and space
for our athletic trainers to
attend to athletes using the
fields for practice and
competition. That facility is
expected to be completed in
time for the fall athletic season
in August 2017.
During the summer of 2017,
several projects are being
planned in our buildings. Work
will continue at the Middle
School to upgrade the interior
part of the facility with new
lighting, replacement of
student lockers, and removal of
carpeting in classrooms.
Classroom carpeting will also
be removed at the Elementary
School and replaced with tile
flooring. Finally, the walkway
that connects the two
classroom sections at the
Primary School will be
permanently enclosed during
the upcoming summer.
Once these multiple projects
are completed this summer,
the school district will have
successfully completed its two
year Facilities Transition Plan
and our school facilities will be
able to meet the needs of the
school district and community
for many years to come.
Sincerely,
George M. Chando
Superintendent of Schools
Page 2 Phillipsburg School District News
Phillipsburg High School Guidance Information
SAT Administration at PHS The SAT exam will be
administered at PHS on
Saturday, March 11, 2017.
Registration deadline was
February 10, 2017 with a late
registration of February 28,
2017. Interested students can
register for the test by
creating an account at
www.sat.collegeboard.org/
register. ASVAB Administration at PHS Phillipsburg High School
offered the Armed Services
Vocational Battery as means
for senior students to fulfill
New Jersey State proficiency
requirements. State mandate
requires high school students
to demonstrate proficiency in
math and language arts prior
to graduation. The ASVAB is
one measure designated by
the New Jersey State
Department of Education that
can be used to demonstrate
proficiency for high school
students. On November 17,
2016, 63 seniors participated
in the exam that was
administered by local military
in the library of Phillipsburg
High School. All participants
were extremely focused during
the test, leading to the
majority of students exceeding
the minimu m required
composite score of 31. The
successful outcome may lead
t o a n a d d i t i o n a l
administration of the ASVAB in
March 2017. Phillipsburg High School
2017-2018 Course of Study
The Phillipsburg High School
2017-2018 Course of Study is
now available for review
online. In February and March,
the high school guidance
counselors will be meeting
with students to schedule
classes for next school year.
Counselors are encouraging
students and families to
review new course selections
and necessary prerequisites
that have been added to the
list of preexisting courses. This
will enable students to make
the best possible choice when
selecting classes. To access
the Course of Study:
Log on to www.pburgsd.net Select “Phillipsburg High
School”. Cl i c k on “G u i d a n c e
Services” located under the
“School Shortcuts” tab, on
the left hand side of the
page. Click on the “Course of
Study” tab on the left hand
side of the page. Select “Course of Study
2017-2018”. Scholarship Opportunities
The Guidance Department
continues to update lists of
available scholarships. Senior
students may visit the
guidance office to receive a
p a c k e t . S c h o l a r s h i p
information is also available
on the High School website by
clicking “Guidance Services”
and going to the “Scholarship
Resources” tab. Peer Tutoring The guidance department in
conjunction with School
Based Youth Services is now
offering peer tutoring. It is
available during Activity
P e r i o d o n M o n d a y s ,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays
from 7:15-7:45am. The peer
tu tors h a v e s h own a
successful mastery of the
subjects they are tutoring
including all levels of Math,
Social Studies, English,
Science, and World Language.
Students needing assistance
may attend the program at any
time. Introducing Naviance to the
Freshman Class The class of 2020 has been
introduced to Naviance. Mr.
C l a r k e , t h e f r e s h m a n
guidance counselor, met with
all freshmen to assist them as
they begin their high school
exploration of college and
careers. Mr. Clarke modeled
the elements associated with
Naviance and had students
explore careers. Students
were able to asses individual
s t r e n g t h s , a b i l i t i e s ,
personality characteristics,
and different learning styles.
Mr. Clarke presented students
with career theories based on
John Holland’s theory of
career choice and highlighted
additional features including a
resume builder and career
inventories. Class of 2021 is Officially
Welcomed to Phillipsburg High
School The class of 2021 was warmly
welcomed on January 23,
2017 at Phillipsburg High
School by administration,
faculty, and guidance staff.
(continued on Pg. 3)
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 3
Families from all of the
sending districts were first
given the opportunity to tour
the high school. Approximately
1000 people were in
attendance. Tour guides
directed the guests into the
cafeteria where staff and
student representatives from
the many clubs and athletic
teams were available to
answer questions and provide
insight into all extracurricular
opportunities available at
Phillipsburg High School.
Following this, Mrs. Trent, The
Phillipsburg High School
Principal, greeted the class of
2021 and their families. She
introduced the administrative
team and then turned the
program over to Mrs.
Schinstine, Director of
Guidance Services. The
guidance team highlighted
important steps in the
scheduling process as well as
graduation requirements. At
the completion of the
presentation, faculty members
gave an overview of available
electives, world languages,
and core courses. Following
t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n ,
administration and staff were
available to answer individual
questions.
Phillipsburg High School Guidance Information (cont.)
Cabaret Night at Phillipsburg High School
Strains of the greatest songs
from musical theater echoed
through the new Performing
Arts Center at Phillipsburg
High School on the evening of
November 7, 2016. Students
treated friends and families to
an array of songs from George
a n d I r a G e r s h w i n ’ s
Fascinating Rhythm (1924) to
Sara Bareilles’s recent
Broadway smash Waitress
(2016).
It was the first time our new
grand piano was heard in our
new Performing Arts Center,
and to make the evening an
intimate experience, all
audience members were
seated on the stage, looking
out over the seats of the hall.
The event was well attended,
with over 60 people enjoying
the music performed by ten of
the most talented singers at
PHS. The students performed
like professionals, acting out
the lyrics of the songs to bring
them to life for the listeners.
Choir teacher, Mr. Tom
DiGiovanni, accompanied the
students on piano.
This was the first concert
completely dedicated to songs
from musicals, and is part of
the Music Department’s
mission to give students more
f r e q u e n t p e r f o r m a n c e
opportunities in diverse
locations.
http://calendariu.com/tag/colour-music-notes-borders-clip-art
Page 4 Phillipsburg School District News
Students in Mr. Bronico’s
Transition 2 class, through
their Employment Orientation
course, are doing volunteer
w o r k t h r o u g h o u t t h e
Phillipsburg community. This
opportunity allows the
Phillipsburg High School
student to give back to the
community while they are
experiencing a variety of
career paths.
The students have created
positive relationships with
many organizations in town.
They assist with general
maintenance, yard work and
landscaping as part of their
program. You can see some of
their work at the Phillipsburg
Primary School and Early
Childhood Learning Center
where they assisted with the
outdoor playground and
ornamental floral displays. The
students have flourished and
have asked to expand their
program into more of the
Phillipsburg School system.
With assistance from The
Director of Guidance, in
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e
Phil l ipsburg Elementary
School administration and
counselors, the students are
piloting their “Helping Hands”
program. As a service learning
experience, students in Mr.
Bronico’s Transition 2 class
are paired with; “Lunch
B u d d i e s ” , d e l i v e r
“Backpacks” (weekly food
delivery from Norwescap), and
participate in reading
e x p e ri en c es w i th P E S
students. Mrs. Schettini, a
school counselor, works with
staff to create a weekly
schedule for this opportunity.
Phillipsburg High School
students meet with Mrs.
Schettini to receive their
schedule and a debriefing
occurs after the experience.
Here is some of the feedback
received thus far:
PES Teachers: “How do I get a PHS student in
my class?” “I have six more students who
would benefit from a Lunch
Buddy.” “ T h e s e s t u d e n t s a r e
wonderful. They interact well
with our students.” “Wonderful role models.” PHS Students: “This was the best day of my
life.” “I never had anyone to talk to
when I was little.” “Can we do this more than
once a week?” “These kids just need
someone to listen to them.
They have to understand how
important is it to set goals and
getting in trouble isn’t a good
goal.”
Helping Hands
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 5
SAVE the DATE
You are invited to attend the
Phillipsburg School District offering of:
HOPE Heroin and Opioid Prevention Education
We are losing current and former students to heroin addiction.
We have students losing parents. We have family members that
are struggling. It is critical that we educate ourselves.
HOPE was developed by the Center of Humanistic Change in
response to this growing epidemic. By attending the program,
participants will be able to identify:
What is Heroin? What are Opioids? Signs and Symptoms of Someone Using Effects of Use - on Health, School, Relationships, and Life Local Resources Where to Go for Help
Tuesday
March 28, 2017
Phillipsburg High School Auditorium
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes and
professions. – Patrick J. Kennedy
Page 6 Phillipsburg School District News
National Junior Honor Society Gives Back in a Mighty Way
The cornerstone of the
National Junior Honor Society
(NJHS) has always been
service. The students have
been blessed with talents,
knowledge, and time and they
use all of those attributes to
benefit those around them.
D u rin g th e m on th of
December, they turned their
attention to three deserving
charitable organizations to
see how they could make an
impact in the community.
National Junior Honor Society
sponsored a school wide
fundraiser where students
were encouraged to bring in
items for Toys for Tots,
Common Sense for Animals,
and the newly opened
Phillipsburg Animal Shelter.
For a month, students in sixth,
seventh, and eighth grade
piece by piece, item by item,
filled boxes to make the
holidays brighter for those in
need.
Both Common Sense for
Animals and the Phillipsburg
Animal shelters received five
boxes, each overflowing with
wet and dry dog foods, cat
foods, leashes, bowls, chew
toys, paper towels, blankets,
laundry detergent, and
cleaning supplies, to name a
few.
Animal Control Officer,
Michelle Crosson and Mayor
Ellis received the boxes of
goods for the Phillipsburg
shelter, which reopened its
doors November 18, 2016.
According to Crosson,
“Donations are very helpful
and are vital for the
continuation of the shelter.”
Mayor Ellis made it a point to
talk with the contributing
NHJS members about their
importance in supporting the
school and community and
stressed how each person can
make a difference.
Knowing that the holidays are
also difficult for children who
go without, over 250 toys were
collected for Norwescap, as a
Toys for Tots campaign. Box
upon box upon box were
loaded into a truck to ensure
that children had presents to
open during the joyous holiday
season. NJHS Vice President,
Kaylie Hanisak offered,
“Volunteer work and donating
is a great way to help out and
support your community.”
Thanks to the efforts of NJHS
and the school family,
hundreds of children and
animals in Phillipsburg know
they are cared for.
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 7
Everyone knows that the
“Stockings were hung by the
chimney with care”, at long
last, we finally know who made
those stockings! Students in
Mr. DeRaymond’s classroom
lovingly sewed and crafted
handmade stockings for the
students in Mrs. Bower’s and
Ms. Lazur’s classrooms so that
their mantels would not be
unadorned.
According to Mr. DeRaymond,
though the process was long,
the students were committed
to sewing each stocking and
spreading Christmas cheer.
Through the project, they
learned how to work so that
someone else could benefit.
Jakhi Taylor, who created a
gorgeous stocking for Calvin,
felt the project was a success
and he felt amazing giving the
finished stuffed stockings to
the students.
“They were filled with toys and
candies that the teachers
donated, and it was nice to
give them to the kids,” said
Taylor.
In the process, memories were
created that will long be
cherished.
Spreading Cheer, One Stocking at a Time
On February 10, 2017 and
February 11, 2017, the
Phillipsburg Middle School
Drama Club presented the
Young Performers Edition of
the classic production Bye Bye
Birdie, with book by Michael
Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams,
and music by Charles Strouse.
The cast and crew, comprised
of roughly 50 sixth, seventh,
and eighth graders, were
excited to perform in their new
auditorium space! The story
takes place in the late 1950’s,
when the Elvis style rock star,
Conrad Birdie, is drafted into
the army! Manager Albert
Peterson and his longtime
girlfriend, Rosie, come up with
the idea to have Conrad kiss a
girl from his fan club on the Ed
Sullivan Show before he
leaves. They hope this
publicity stunt will earn them
enough money to get out of the
music business and get
married! Between the teen
energy, the humor of Albert’s
hysterically overbearing
mother, and the love story of
Albert and Rosie, audience
members were treated to a
rockin’ performance.
Middle School Drama Director
Lauren Smith, and Music
Directors Linda Pettinelli, and
Ellen Shelly are so proud of
this talented group of students
who put in many hours of
rehearsal time to create a truly
amazing and entertaining
show. This PRIDE sponsored
event was complete with
colorful costumes and sets,
wonderful choreography and
some really sweet singing!
Now in its fifth year, the
Phillipsburg Middle School
Drama students have truly
spread their thespian wings
and look forward to continuing
what will hopefully be the start
of a resilient theatre tradition!
Bye Bye Birdie at Phillipsburg Middle School
Page 8 Phillipsburg School District News
Music Department Hosts Leaders in Business Series
The Phillipsburg High School
Music Department is playing
host to a series of five lectures
by professionals who are
leaders in their field. The
series is designed to educate
students about careers as a
performer and the myriad of
jobs that exist off of the
performing stage.
On October 4, 2016 Alison
Ahart Williams spoke on her
career organizing musical
events. Her love of music
began while a student in the
Phillipsburg school district
(Class of 1999) and started to
take shape at Lafayette
College as she helped to
organize everything from small
student coffee house events,
to presenting the Counting
Crows for thousands of fans.
Currently, Alison is Senior Vice
President and Executive
Producer at Columbia Artists
Management LLC (CAMI).
Students were treated to
behind the scenes stories of
working with artists such as
Danny Elfman, Tim Burton,
Rebel Wilson, John Stamos,
and a host of elite classical
music artists.
Michael Avitabile was the
guest lecturer on November 1,
2016. Michael graduated
PHS in 2009 and has gone on
to start a classical chamber
m u s i c en s em b l e a f t er
graduating from the University
of Michigan and New England
Conservatory of music. His
talk focused around the ability
to use all of your non-musical
skills to help build your career
in music. Michael performs on
flute, and is the founder and
executive director of his
ensemble, Hub New Music.
The lecture series continued in
2017. On January 10, 2017
internationally renowned
guitar duo Michael Newman
and Laura Oltman presented
on music entrepreneurship.
Laura Watts, jazz trumpeter
and composer presented on
February 7, 2017 and
producer and owner of
Midnight Studios, Andrew
Chervak, is scheduled to
present on March 7, 2017.
All lectures take place in the
new Phillipsburg High School
Choir Room at 7:00 pm. The
events are free and open to
the public. Each lecture is
followed by an “Open Mic
Night” in the cafeteria,
beginning at 8:00 pm.
As part of Black History
Month, the Phillipsburg
Middle School held an
assembly for seventh and
eighth grade students where
Mr. Kevin Cooper, the chaplain
for the New York Knicks, was
the guest speaker. The title of
Mr. Cooper’s message was,
“Overcoming Life’s Obstacles
to Achieve your Dreams”. Mr.
Cooper challenged the
students to choose truth over
lies and to make right choices.
He cautioned students not to
make decisions based on
emotions but on what they
know is right in their minds.
He encouraged students to set
goals and to work hard to
achieve those goals. The staff
a n d s t u d en t s o f t h e
Phillipsburg Middle School
wish to thank Mr. Cooper for
sharing his message.
Phillipsburg Middle School Celebrates Black History Month
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 9
All Hands on Deck at Phillipsburg Primary School
Students at Phillipsburg
Primary School worked
together to create a beautiful
collaborative art project to
commemorate their first year
in the new building. During art
class, each student worked
hard to create a one-of-a kind
handprint, using markers,
crayons, and colored pencils
in a color of their choice.
Students also used designs
and patterns to make each
handprint a special piece of
artwork. When finished, all of
the handprints were cut out
and glued together to create a
gigantic flower, which now
lives in the display case in the
front hallway. Through
participating in this art
project, students learned that
each of us is unique and
special, and that when we
work together, the result is
marvelous.
Literary Award Nominations
Phillipsburg High School
sophomores Michaela Madaio
and Candace Penrose have
both been nominated to
receive the 2017 Student
Literary Award from the New
J ers ey Com m i ss i on on
Holocaust Education and the
Prakhin International Literary
Foundation. They were invited
to attend the foundation’s
Tenth Award Ceremony to be
held at the Museum of Jewish
Heritage in New York City on
Sunday, January 29, 2017.
Both students are enrolled in
English 2 CP this year and
submitted their fiction pieces
to Mrs. Boncik, a literature
teacher at the high school.
Page 10 Phillipsburg School District News
There are many coined
phrases that identify the world
of educational technology we
live in from 21st Century
Skills, College and Career
Readiness, Digital Citizen,
Cyber Bully, Social Media,
Information Technology… And
the list goes on and on! What
it means is that our children
today are living in an
information overload, media
and device driven world.
Children today spend over 50
hours of screen time every
week. The amount of media
they are exposed to can
impact their social, emotional,
cognitive and physical
development in either a
positive or negative way. Our
job as educators and parents
is to teach, guide, and protect
children from the dangers and
focus on the benefits of our
“informational age”. Since we
weren’t raised in a society of
information bombardment,
this can be a daunting task to
accomplish.
We take the task of preparing
our students to be successful
in a technology-driven society
very s eri ou sly in the
Phillipsburg School District.
The safety and privacy of our
students is first and foremost,
but so is the importance to
t e a c h t h e m h o w t o
successfully live in a
technological, information
based society.
One of the valuable resources
we use to accomplish this is
Common Sense Media.
Common Sense Media is the
leading independent nonprofit
organization dedicated to
helping kids thrive in a world
of media and technology. Their
goal is to empower parents,
teachers, and policymakers by
p r o v i d i n g u n b i a s e d
information, trusted advice,
and innovative tools to help
them harness the power of
media and technology as a
positive force in all kids’ lives.
T h e i r w e b s i t e ,
www.commonsensemedia.org
offers numerous valuable
resources. This year
Phillipsburg School District is
focusing on 2 of them.
1. Common Sense Education –
We already implement
pieces of the Digital
Citizenship Curriculum in
grades 1-5. This year the
M i d d l e S c h o o l i s
implementing the 6-8 grade
curriculum. The high-
quality digital literacy and
citizenship programs offer
s t u d e n t s t h e s k i l l s
necessary to harness
technology for learning and
their everyday life. The
educational resources
include lesson plans,
videos, games, rating and
reviews of digital tools, and
more.
2. Common Sense Media –
This resource is designed to
help families make smart
media choices. There is a
Parent Concerns and
Parent Blog that help
families understand and
learn information about
issues they face raising
children of all ages in the
digital age. All of Commons Sense Media
Resources are FREE! We
encourage you as a parent or
educator to explore this
resource, and register so that
you and your family can
benefit from the information
available. To register go to
www.commonsensemedia.org
and click on the Become a
Member link.
1 "Our Mission | Common Sense Media." https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission. Accessed 7 Feb. 2017.
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 11
It’s Coming!! CODE
There were signs all over the
Phil l ipsburg Elementary
School and the students were
heard saying, “What CODE?”
“When is it coming??” “I’m so
excited!!”
The fifth grade PRISM
students, Maggie Thompson,
Jillian Miller, Jackson Maczko,
Dalton Torre, Emily Ellis,
Joshua Rojas, Kate Mora-
Orenday, Alyssa Bodogh, Katia
Mora-Orenday, and Lillian
Wanisko, in the Gifted and
Talented Program, were
excited, too! They have been
l e a r n i n g C O D E s i n c e
September and now they were
goi n g t o s h a re th ei r
excitement with the entire
student body and district
administrators. “They” were
going to be the teachers and
the experts for “The Hour of
CODE!”
What is The Hour of Code?
“The Hour of Code started as a
one-hour introduction to
computer science, designed to
demystify “code”, to show that
anybody can learn the basics,
and to broaden participation
in the field of computer
science.” (from https://
code.org) The Hour of Code for
2016 took place during
Computer Science Education
Week – December 5 – 11,
2016.
The PRISM students created a
one-hour presentation and
exploration session for every
class, 30 classes in all, in PES
which took place over four
days. They worked with a
partner and began each
session with questions to see
what the students knew about
computer science. They
showed a few videos
explaining that CODE is the
language that computers use
to c om m un ica te. T h ey
explained that a computer
needs to be told what to do
and that is where a “Coder”
comes in. The students have
learned that coding jobs are
the jobs of the future and that
computer coding can be found
in the fields of art, music,
medicine, architecture, and
even gardening!
After talking about CODE, it
was time to try it! Students
modeled several games, using
“block” code, on the
interactive board. Then they
assisted students when it was
their turn to try. The only
downfall was that the hour was
over in the blink of an eye! The
classes were so into coding
that they didn’t want to stop.
Now kids can be seen coding
at recess, after school, and
sometimes they do it at home.
The PRISM students have
asked if we could do a SPRING
Hour of Code to see how much
their classes have learned.
“Every student should have the
opportunity to learn computer
science. It helps problem
solving skills, logic, and
creativity. By starting early,
s tud en ts w il l ha v e a
foundation for success in any
2 1 s t c e n t u r y c a r e e r
path.” (https://code.org)
Page 12 Phillipsburg School District News
STEM Clubs
Exxon Mobil worked with about
160 students during our two
January STEM Clubs at
Phil l ipsburg Elementary
School. The topic for the
month was Forces of Energy,
and students rotated through
stations to experiment with
Wacky Hall Walkers (Law of
Conservation of Energy,
Potential and Kinetic Energy),
C e n t r i p e t a l S p i n n e r s
(Centripetal Force and
I n e r t i a ) , Y e l l o w R i n g
Challenge (inertia), and Steve
Spangler’s Science Inertia
Challenge. Six scientists from
Exxon Mobil lead the
activities, and Exxon supplied
all the materials used. There
are two clubs a month planned
for February, March, and May,
and the topic for the February
clubs is Coding. Thank you
Exxon Mobil for continuing to
support our students by
promoting an interest in
science!
Math Night at ECLC
Over 50 parents and students
signed up for this informative
math evening which took place
on January 12, 2017. Students
and parents worked with
teachers Jess Martin and
Rebecca Freeman and Math
Coach Ann Ball on technology,
on creating a number book,
and observed a typical
kindergarten math lesson
using our math program,
enVision. Parents went home
with a packet of ideas for
helping their children with
math at home and learned how
to log onto websites to assist
with math concepts and with
fact fluency. Thank you to all
our volunteers for helping to
make this evening a success.
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 13
Home Sweet Home
The Phillipsburg School Based
Youth Services finally has a
home location that is centered
in the new high school. School
Based Youth Services (SBYS)
has been in the district since
1988, but had various
locations in its 28 year history
including offices near the
river, in the armory, at the
Green Street Modular and a
few trailers at the old high
school. SBYS operates all of
the services through various
grants and all services are
provided to Phillipsburg
Middle and High School
Students free of charge.
These services include
individual, group and crisis
intervention counseling,
m e d i c a l a n d d e n t a l
a s s i s t a n c e , p r e g n a n c y
prevention, food pantry,
housing assistance, advocacy,
t u t o r i n g , m e n t o r i n g ,
recreation. REACH (only at
Middle school) is also
implemented through SBYS as
an afterschool educational
enrichment program that
operates Monday through
Friday, 3-6pm. This program is
funded through the 21st
Century Community Learning
C e n t e r s a n d h a s
approximately 85 students
attending on a daily basis.
SBYS also operates a county-
wide program called Jobs and
More; for students who
withdrew from school and this
program offers the student
GED/HSE instruction to
ensure they receive their High
School Diploma from the NJ
Department of Education in
addition to employment
training and life skills
coursework.
The new high school boasts
many state of the art
upgrades, but the largest
change is for students who are
involved with SBYS. Not only
are the offices, group rooms
and classrooms an upgrade
with more room, but for the
first time there is a student
recreation area. Currently this
area is mostly used by a
progra m call ed “Lin er
Buddies” which is an
interactive lunch period. At
Liner Buddies, students share
their lunches and work on
social interaction skills
through various activities/
games alongside staff and
student mentors. There are
approximately 80 students
who attend on a daily basis,
along with 25-30 mentors.
The recreational area also will
be utilized as an after-school
drop-in program in the near
future. SBYS is proud to serve
the many students and their
families and we are excited to
finally have the space provided
to offer the services.
Page 14 Phillipsburg School District News
Motor Lab Helps with Readying Bodies and Minds for
Learning
Nearly 40 students have been
participating in a motor lab
program called Ready Bodies,
Learning Minds (RBLM) at
Phillipsburg Primary School.
Students come for 30 minutes
once or twice a week to
participate in the motor lab.
The program was developed by
Athena Oden, a physical
therapist in Texas, and it
combines gross and fine motor
skills with sensory input. The
main goal behind the program
is help children develop the
skills needed to learn and
function in the school
environment.
A typical motor lab consists of
a reflexive warm up, rotation
through seven to eight
stations focused on different
skills (one minute at each
station), and a cool down. The
cool downs will vary between
stretches, yoga poses, deep/
meditative breathing, or
MeMoves, an interactive
online video to help calm the
body and mind. The stations
change every few weeks, but
have included activities such
as a ball pit, slide, spinning
disk, log rolling, balance
beam, crawling through a lycra
tunnel, dribbling a ball inside
of a square, and continuously
drawing large infinity signs.
“I know it probably looks like
we’re doing a lot of playing,
but all of these activities
require some amount of
planning by the body and mind
and what the motor lab is
doing is teaching the students
to control that movement,”
said Veronica Sydlowski, the
occupational therapist at PPS
who runs the program. “Once
students begin to control their
movements, they have a better
understanding of how to adapt
their movement responses,
which should help them in the
classroom.”
Betsy Klacik, a second grade
special education teacher,
brings 8 students once a week
to RBLM. Her students quickly
became engaged in the motor
lab and enjoy stations such as
the suspended swing and mini-
trampoline. “My students look
forward to the stations
followed by the [cool down]
savasana pose and tranquil
music,” said Mrs. Klacik.
“Once back in the classroom –
I notice calmer, more
attentive, ready to learn
students!”
Students at Phillipsburg Primary School Get Organized
The Warren County Needle
Arts Guild, of which several
District employees are
members of, do a service
project every year to benefit an
organization in Warren
County. In late 2016, the Guild
p r e s e n t e d P h i l l i p s b u r g
Primary School teachers with
their chosen project. The Guild
m em b e rs s e w ed c h a i r
pockets, a much-needed
organization tool, to first and
second grade classrooms. The
chair pockets were presented
to the school by Mrs. Santa
Torres, second grade teacher
at PPS and a member of the
Guild. Many classrooms are
using the pockets to keep
supplies, organize reading
group time, and help students
stay organized.
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 15
19th Annual Stateliner Spring Classic 5K
The Class of 2020 at Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg, New Jersey is holding a 5K Run/Walk race on April 23, 2017.
Name: Stateliner Spring Classic 5K
Distance: 5K Run/Walk and a Children’s Fun Run
Date: Sunday, April 23rd, 2017
Time: Registration 8:30-9:30 a.m. 5K Race begins at 10:00 a.m. Walk begins at 9:45 a.m.
Where: Phillipsburg Middle School Maloney Stadium Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865
For an application please contact:
James Bronico 1 Stateliner Blvd.
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Contact Phone: (908) 235-1634 Email: [email protected]
Volume 5, Issue 2 Page 16
Visit the Phillipsburg School District Website for More Information
www.pburgsd.net
Phillipsburg School District Administrative
and Board of Education Members Directory
Phillipsburg School District Education Center
908-454-3400
Board of Education Members
Thomas F. McGuire, President
Matthew Scerbo, Vice-President
Alan Amey
Bernard Brotzman
Peter Marino
Vickie Mendes-Branch
Sandra Morrisette
Rosemarie Person
William J. Spencer
Kevin Bayne, Greenwich
Ernest Gallant, Lopatcong
Joseph Delesky, Pohatcong
Student Representatives
Grace McAnally
Cole Mitchell, Alternate
George Chando, Superintendent Ext. 1010
Gregory Troxell, Assistant Superintendent Ext. 1012
Maureen Kehoe, Director of Planning, Research & Eval. Ext. 1020
Mary Jane Deutsch, Administrator of Special Services Ext. 2011
Staci Horne, Business Administrator/Board Secretary Ext. 1100
Tip Line - 908-213-2468
Getting “Locked In” With Problem Based Learning
Under the guidance of Mr.
George Johnson, learning
consultant from the Southern
Regional Education Board,
select Phillipsburg Middle
School and Phillipsburg High
School Career and Technical
E d u c a t i o n t e a c h e r s
participated in two full days of
professional development to
create problem based learning
units. After the first day of
training, teachers were
expected to create a unit and
participate in coaching visits
that occurred on December 8,
2016 and December 9, 2016.
Some of the projects included:
the creation of a catapult,
creation of recipes for
specialized dietary needs,
development of a marketing
plan, creation of floral
arrangements for specific
customer requests, creation of
a customized cutting board for
a customer with a physical
disability, and engineering a
product to bar a door given the
possible threat of an intruder.
Of particular note was the
scenario that Mr. Noble’s
Architecture and Engineering
class was faced with at
Phillipsburg High School.
Given the existing doors in the
lab, the students had to
measure, research, design,
and test their device to
prevent an intruder from
entering the room if one
cannot lock the door from the
outside. The device had to be
quick to install and remove.
The class work in pairs to
create and prototype their
solutions. Along with their
research, they were to draw
the device using the AutoCAD
(computer-aided design
program) and then prototype it
using the 3-D printer. The
students were completely
immersed in this problem
based learning task and were
able to create devices to bar
the door.
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