Mark your calendars for the following dates:
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Little Silver Art Show/Chorus Concert/Orchestra Concert
Please join the Markham Place artists and musicians on Thursday, June 1st as they display their talents! The Markham Place Art Show runs from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM and the music concert follows beginning at 7:00 PM. The Point Road programs are on Thursday, June 8th. Doors open for the PR Art Show at 2:30 PM and run until 6:30 PM with the musical program following at 7:00 PM.
Lead Testing Update
On April 20, 2017, a letter was sent to the Little Silver School District Community regarding lead testing (see http://www.littlesilverschools.org/uploads/2/3/8/5/23851278/lead_testing_results_april_2017__3_.pdf). In accordance with the Department of Education regulations, school districts must implement immediate remedial measures for any drinking water outlet with a result greater than the action level of 15 µg/l (parts per billion [ppb]). The results revealed that the food preparation sink in the Markham Place Teachers’ Lounge as well as four Point Road classrooms (Mr. Hance, Mrs. Zusack/Mrs. Capone, Mrs. Cuffari, and Ms. Dunne) tested below the desired level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency for lead in drinking water (15 µg/l [ppb]). Therefore, one teacher location and four classroom locations were of concern. On Friday, May 26th, two of the faucets were replaced. During the week of May 29-June 2nd the remaining three faucets will be replaced. Those locations will be retested during the week of June 5th. We will report the new results shortly thereafter.
The National School Boards Association Advocates for Increasing Federal Funding for Education
The National School Boards Association (NSBA) believes in increasing the federal share of funding for education, in particular the IDEA mandate from 1975. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs. To read more about National School Boards Association Advocacy, see: http://www.nsba.org/advocacy/federal-legislative-priorities/federal-funding/nsbas-position-federal-funding
The Monmouth County School Boards Association Recognizes Board President Chris Smith | Excellence in Middle School Musical Theater Awards (EMMA) |
The Monmouth County School Boards Association (MCSBA) recognized Little Silver’s Board of Education President, Chris Smith, for his ten years of Board membership. As a community volunteer, Mr. Smith was recognized by New Jersey School Boards Association Field Representative, Kathy Winecoff, for his many years of dedicated service to the children of Little Silver. Unified Game Day On Tuesday, May 16th, the Markham Place Helping Hands students accompanied students from Ms. Owen's and Ms. Berkeley/Grant's class at PRS to attend the Unified Game Day that was held at Cross Farm Park in Holmdel. Over 200 Special Needs and General Education Peers were involved in the event that included Colts Neck, Little Silver and Upper Freehold Regional School districts as well as the Harbor School from Eatontown. Athletes and peers joined together to use the skills they had learned during the school year. | On Thursday, May 18th, a small group of students participated in the first ever Excellence in Middle School Musical Theater Awards at RBR. They represented the cast, crew and pit band from The Little Mermaid, Jr. ensemble who worked very hard this year. They performed an 8 minute compilation of various scenes of the show and received positive feedback for the acting, singing, costumes and props. They received Markham's first "EMMA!" RBR is hoping to make this an annual event for Middle School Theater programs to showcase the talent and efforts of the students involved. Los estudiantes de tercer grado tienen amigos por carta (3rd Grade Students have pen pals) During the month of March, third grade students wrote Pen Pal letters in Spanish to children at the Red Bank Primary School. Senorita Chad (now Senora Natoli) had the children describe themselves and their interests. The letters were mailed and responses were recently received. Copies of the letters can be seen at http://senoritachad.weebly.com/pen-pal-letters.html. |
Substitute Teachers Wanted!
Little Silver is seeking substitute teachers. Applicants need not be teacher certified. If you have 60 college credits and are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, please contact Karin Eberhardt at [email protected] or call 732-741-2188 to obtain paperwork to file for a substitute teacher's credential.
The Little Silver Board of Education Recognizes
Student Achievement
During their May 25th meeting, the Little Silver Board of Education recognized a number of different Markham Place achievements including: the Geography Bee Championship winner, Wayne Johnson; the Spelling Bee Champion, Sarah Pasquale; the artists that had their work displayed at Brookdale Community College for the Youth Art Exhibit including Charlotte Glynn, Julia Molinari and Kendall Thorner; and the artists that had their work displayed at the Guild Art Gallery including Emily Dee, Ava Forbes, Madeline Kelly, Annie Olsen, Rachel O’Neill, Gigi Scharmann, and Ellie Walsh.
Trills & Thrills Music Competition Results in Success for Markham Place ensembles!
On Friday, May 19th, ninety-three Markham Place music students participated in the Trills & Thrills Music Festival. Each ensemble (orchestra, chorus and concert band) performed for a panel of adjudicators at Toms River North High School before enjoying the afternoon at Great Adventure. The music teachers challenged our students with technical selections that resulted in the orchestra receiving an excellent rating and the chorus and concert band each respectively receiving superior ratings. Congratulations to Mrs. Bennett and Ms. Brush for their dedication to the musical achievement of the Markham Place students as well as to the student performers who dedicated many hours to the collective success of the ensembles.
Little Silver Schools Offer Summer Music Camp to Middle School Students
The middle school music teachers, Mrs. Bennett & Ms. Brush, will be offering seven, 60-minute small group lessons (plus a concert) this August for students entering 5th-8th grade interested in summer band, choir, or orchestra. Specifically, lessons will be offered on: (Week 1) August 21st-24th (Monday through Thursday) for $120; (Week 2) August 28th-30th (Monday through Wednesday) for $90; or both weeks for $190. The timeframe includes: 8:00-9:00 – Summer Band; 9:00-10:00 – Summer Choir; 10:00-11:00 Summer Orchestra. Please register online under the Parent Link (Event Sign Up) on the district web page http://www.littlesilverschools.org/event-sign-up.html Checks can be made payable to the Little Silver Board of Education.
NJDOE’s Office of Educational Technology Invites Little Silver to Assist the State
The NJDOE’s Office of Educational Technology is in the process of developing online video modules that will assist teachers in effectively integrating educational technology into their instructional practice, and increase students’ writing skills. They are targeting different instructional practices for each video module. The DOE plans to compile a series of 5 to 7 minute videos for each module that targets a specific best practice. After the NJDOE Office of Educational Technology visited our district in March, the Little Silver School District was identified as a district whose teachers could support other teachers across the state. Therefore, on Thursday, May 25th, the Office of Technology completed their first videotaping in Little Silver in Ms. Strauss’s third grade classroom. The focus of this module pertained to providing effective feedback. The NJDOE will be returning to Little Silver to tape more teachers for their resource. We are proud of Ms. Strauss and look forward to our continued relationship with the Office of Educational Technology.
Little Silver Welcomes New Director of Special Services
After a rigorous interview process, Little Silver approved Ms. Suzanne Lazzari as the new Director of Special Services beginning August 1, 2017. While filling Dr. Schutz-Robinson’s shoes will not be easy, Ms. Lazzari joins Little Silver after having served four years as the Supervisor of Special Education for students in PreK-7 in the Piscataway School District. Ms. Lazzari was responsible for the supervision of special education teachers, child study team members, related service providers, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) across two preschool sites, six elementary schools and three middle schools. Ms. Lazzari has had numerous experiences and is looking forward to working in a smaller, more intimate school community. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Lazzari!
Point Road School’s 2nd Grade Visits the Parker Homestead
On May 18th, second grade students walked to the Parker Homestead to learn about the historic site https://www.parkerhomestead-1665.org/ With a piece of history in their backyards, 2nd grade children learned about history and science as they explored farm tools, artifacts and more as they traveled back in time to circa 1720’s. The Parker Homestead speakers, Mrs. Hanson and Mr. Wells, were extremely interesting as they shared their wealth of historical knowledge with the students. Mr. and Mrs. Akey, and Point Road’s own Principal, Dr. Albert-Devine, volunteered their time and knowledge as they shared about the Sickles Community Garden and Bees. The students engaged in various stations around the grounds, coordinated by Point Road’s second grade teachers. At the Parker Homestead house, students listened to stories about Little Silver’s past and observed objects from Colonial Times. They explored the barn and learned the purpose of old farming equipment. The Sickles Community Garden was visited to observe the garden set up and the aeration from the miner bees. Each student even got to plant a flower in the new Pollinator Garden! The students found Dr. Albert-Devine very interesting as she shared her wealth of knowledge and interesting experiences with the students about the life of bees!
A Year in Review
Little Silver continues to stay ahead of the curve with academic progress. Click here to see highlights from the year:
Little Silver Changes Name “G&T” to “Enrichment”
All public school districts in New Jersey are required to have a Gifted and Talented program http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/g_and_t_req.htm. The program name is up to the discretion of the individual school district. Since Little Silver strives to meet the academic needs of all students, we provide “enrichment” in a variety of forms. Therefore, beginning in September 2017, those students who are identified as Gifted and Talented (based on Little Silver’s criteria) will receive services called “Enrichment”. Enrichment programs will be tailored to the needs of our students.
Did you know that the Board of Education is committed to obtaining parental feedback? Therefore, the Annual Parent Satisfaction Survey will be forthcoming this summer. Stay tuned!