West Essex News January 8, 2015

WEST ESSEX BOARD
OF EDUCATION
West Essex News
High School Hosts Senior

Upcoming
Events:

Jan. 8: FAFSA Workshop

Jan. 8: BOE
Reorganization Mtg

Jan. 12-16:
MS Spirit
Week

Jan. 13: Music
Buddy Day

Jan. 14: Music
Buddy Snow
Day

Jan. 14: PTO
Mtg

Jan 14: Pre-
paring for
PARCC

Jan. 15: MS
Winter
Dance

Jan. 19: MLK
Day: Early
Dismissal/
Staff Development

Jan. 21: End
2nd MPoard
Citizen Breakfast
S E S E P T .
J A N U A R Y
8 ,
7 ,
2 0 1 2
2 0 1 5
More than 225 West Essex area senior citizens feasted on a delicious breakfast prepared
by West Essex High School culinary students
and enjoyed performances by instrumental
and choral music groups and the dance team
on December 17 at West Essex High School.
"This is such a nice gesture by the school,"
said Eileen Connolly of West Caldwell as she
enjoyed her breakfast. "I have enjoyed coming to the breakfasts here for three years
now."
“The young people are so wonderful and welcoming," said Jean McNally of West Caldwell.
The seniors enjoyed performances by the
dance team and acapella groups during
breakfast and then moved to the auditorium
for performances by the larger choirs and musical ensembles.
Above, Taylor Albanese chats with Joe Piel,
the first principal of WEHS, at the breakfast. Below, MS Spanish Teachers Joann
Salzarulo, left, and Raquel Williams, right,
with Madison Ribeiro and Quinn Delehanty.
MS Spanish Students Enjoy Fiesta
Middle School students studying Spanish with
Mrs. Williams and Ms. Salzarulo enjoyed a
special Spanish holiday fiesta where they
learned Spanish songs, danced and enjoyed
Spanish treats including flan and “tres leches”
cake.
HS Students Selected for North
Jersey Area Band
Six West Essex High School students have successfully auditioned for the North Jersey Area
Band. The group is composed of the best high
school musicians in the northern part of the state.
Students who are accepted into the group are
placed into one of two bands, the Wind Ensemble
(a smaller and more select group) and the Symphonic Band, a larger group. From left to right,
Wind Ensemble members junior Bethany Hou for
the oboe (second overall for her instrument); junior Timothy Ruszala for the bassoon (first overall
for his instrument of all students auditioning); senior Kristen Ajmo for the clarinet and sophomore
Michael Bachmann for the traps (first overall for his
instrument.); Symphonic Band members senior
Victoria Dominguez for the bassoon (third overall
for his instrument) and junior Patrick Keating for
the trombone.
Below, high school musicians selected for the
North Jersey Area Band. Left to right, Bethany
Hou, Timothy Ruszala, Kristen Ajmo, Victoria
Dominguez and Patrick Keating.
JANUARY
PAGE
Students of the Month
2
These students created a
sailboat in the MS STEM
club sailboat races with
advisor Ms. Jean Marie
Zuhl.
West Essex MS Principal
Vee Popat and Assistant
Principal Lisa Tamburri
have announced the Students of the Month for
January, 2015. The seventh grade students of the
month, pictured below, are
Bardhyl Gashi and Aldina Ljesnjanin.
News Briefs
On-
WEST
The
ESSEX
NEWS
Bari Schmulewitz is the
chairperson for Project
Graduation 2018. She
can be contacted at
[email protected]
and (201) 294-8558. The
first planning meeting
will be after the holidays.
Seniors and their parents
are invited to attend a
discussion of the FAFSA,
the free application for
Federal Student Aid, Jan.
8 at 7 p.m. in the HS
Cafeteria.
Mrs. Williams, left, and
Mrs. Salzarulo, right, enjoy the Middle School
Spanish fiesta with students Phil Lutz, Scott
Barlow and Vasili Tsilionis.
Director of Curriculum
& Instruction Ryan
Gupta will make a
presentation on Jan. 14
at 7 p.m. on “Preparing
for the Demands of
PARCC” in the High
School Media Center. The
program is for parents.
There is still time to join
to PTO. Dues are $35
per family. For a form,
click here. Staff dues are
$5. Click here for a form.
WEST
ESSEX
NEWS
8,
2015
The eighth grade
students of the
month, pictured
right, are Sofia
Russo and Antonio Zaccaria.
Every month,
WEMS selects four
students to be
honored as students of the month.
Two students from
each grade will be
selected and the selection for each
month will come
from one academic
team at each grade
level. To be selected
as a Student of the
Month, the middle
The next West Essex PTO
meeting is Jan. 14 at 7:30
p.m. in the HS Cafeteria.
Parental and Community Engagement
We believe that parental
and community engagement is critical to the success of our students, as
our cooperative partnership is what makes this
school system strong and
successful. Our website is
a tremendous resource,
but there are more ways
for parents to stay in the
know. In keeping pace
with the social media
trends of the 21st century, we are pleased to offer the following addition
to our methods of keeping you in the loop:
Facebook
Twitter: District
Twitter: Middle School
Twitter: High School
The Class of 2017
Tricky Tray is March 1.
The class is looking for
contributors. For information, click here.
school staff has decided
to base candidates and
selections on a review
of the “whole” student,
not just the student
with the best grades.
Character traits such as
honesty, perseverance,
responsibility, integrity
and leadership, as well
as a student’s academic
qualities are considered.
The WEHS National Art
Honor Society is participating in the Memory
Project where students
create portraits of neglected children in India.
The Memory Project is a
unique platform for art
students to create portraits for youth around
the world who have been
neglected, orphaned or
disadvantaged. The NAHS
is finishing the portraits
and trying to raise $700
to fund the delivery of
the portraits to India.
(Ariana Daly is pictured
below with her drawing.)
Other West Essex News
PAGE3
(Left, Ms. Wall with Koji Lewis and Gianna Cielo with their tree
made from recyclables. Above, Liam Fiost works on his tree.)
Fun with Recycling HS Students in Ms. Wall’s Environmental Science classes used plastic bottles to
create holiday trees and coffee filters to make snowflakes. "We are making holiday decorations with an
important environmental message," said Marissa D'Antonio, a sophomore from Fairfield. Sophomore Koji
Lewis from Roseland said more people should recycle. "We are trying to spread awareness about recycling," added decorating partner Gianna Cielo, a sophomore from Fairfield.
Football Player Selected
Congratulations to High School senior Roberto LoCascio!
Roberto was selected as the Mini Max Award recipient for
West Essex and will be honored Jan. 11 at a dinner at the St.
David the King Great Hall in Princeton Junction. Roberto was
one of 57 football players who is being considered for the New
Jersey High School Player of the Year award, which will be announced at the dinner. Roberto was selected by his coaches for
his football performance, academics and community service.
(Roberto is pictured right with his parents, Lacrosse Coach
Glenn, Mr. Suda and Mr. Macioci.)
________________________________________________________________________________
Some scenes from the recent senior citizen
breakfast….clockwise
starting above, choral singers, the orchestra, the
dance team, the
Chordettes, and seniors
Desiree Russo and
Bridgette Pheloung with
senior citizens Jean McNally and Eileen Connolly of
West Caldwell.

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