December 6, 2024
District Newsletter
IMPORTANT DISTRICT DATES:
Thursday, December 12: 7:30pm BOE Meeting @ Council Chambers - 475 Valley Road
Friday, December 20: Minimal Day - Start of Holiday Recess
Monday, December 23 through January 1: Schools Closed - Holiday Recess
January 2: School Reopens
SCHOOL EVENTS
December 6 & 7: OUR MS. BROOKS - Wayne Hills Theatre Production
Tickets go on sale the week of the show in the Commons. There will be a $2 student discount. People can send in cash or check with students. OR, they can buy tix at the door the night of the show for the full $15.
December 16: Community Concert: A music performance with the WHHS band and choir 12:30pm - 1:30pm @ Wayne Hills High School. Open to the community!
December 17:
WHHS Music Department Winter Concert at WHHS @ 7pm
WVHS Winter Band & Choir Concert at WVHS 7:00pm
Keep up with Wayne Hills!
Keep up with Wayne Valley!
😜 Newsletter Riddle: What happens when you mix a snowman and a vampire? *answer at bottom
Ryerson Elementary: A Model School 🏫
The Leader in Me model is a school improvement program that helps students develop leadership and life skills; Ryerson Elementary School has earned the designation as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, an accolade for meeting the rigorous program requirements of modeling and demonstrating outstanding results in student and school outcomes. After being involved with this program for the past 7 school years, Ryerson continues to reaffirm their commitment to Leader In Me, while generating new ideas and expanding on the program each year.
Other schools have visited Ryerson since they’ve been designated Lighthouse status, with the hope that they may be able to take some of what Ryerson is doing and employ it at their own schools, with the goal of earning Lighthouse status themselves. Most recently, Hillside Elementary sent a team of staff, who spent the day immersed in the Ryerson community. Activities for the day included student-led tours, classroom lessons, and group discussions.
Anthony Wayne Middle School
AWMS Celebrates Veterans Day
Anthony Wayne Middle School hosted and honored veterans related to our students and staff with our 19th Annual School Wide Veterans Day Assembly. The program included a welcome speech delivered by principal, Mrs. Duin, songs sung and played by the middle school band and chorus students, as well as poetry contest winners reading the poems they wrote. The assembly concluded with a slide show honoring each veteran and the playing of the Marches of the Armed Forces, where veterans were asked to stand while their service song played. After the assembly, the veterans and their families were invited to a luncheon hosted by AW’s PTO. It is always a pleasure to honor our veterans and demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices they made to keep our country safe. Thank you for your service. View more on the AWMS Instagram.
AWMS Fundraiser Raises Over $700 for K9s for Warriors
Our AW school community came together this Veterans Day to raise over $700 for K9’s for Warriors, a remarkable charity that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to be highly skilled service dogs for veterans in need. This organization has a profound impact, as it not only provides veterans with life-changing support, but also gives abandoned dogs a second chance at life. Many of these dogs go on to form deep bonds with their veteran partners, offering both emotional and physical support while helping to heal the emotional wounds of war. As part of this fundraiser, students had the opportunity to "sponsor" a flag to honor veterans. Each sponsored flag was proudly displayed on our AW Island, creating a stunning visual representation of our collective support. We are proud of our school’s generosity and the positive impact this fundraiser will have on our veterans and furry friends alike. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful cause!
Wayne Hills Spirit Rally 🙌 🙌
Wayne Hills just hosted their 31st Annual Spirit Rally. All week, students, staff, and the community came together to reach our donation goals and we exceeded each one of them. Student Council and their advisors worked tirelessly for months to plan, organize, and fundraise for this event.We collected over 12,000 food items - the most collected since 2017. We collected $8,145 in grocery store gift cards - the most EVER. Lastly, we collected $2,069.05 for Senior Scholarships - the most since 2014.
The rally highlighted photography and TV students, the band, choir, dance team, cheerleading team, STARS club, athletes and more. The Senior class took home the win! We then packed 19 Thanksgiving baskets filled with food and gift cards for Wayne Hills families in need, with additional perishable items donated by the Wayne Hills National Honor Society.
On Giving Tuesday students volunteered at Eva's Kitchen and brought thousands of donations there. They were so graciously overwhelmed that they had to transfer some donations to local food pantries because they couldn't store it all! We also donated food and over $2,000 in gift cards to help replenish the PTO Food Bank, as well as an additional $1,000 in gift cards to additional WHHS families in need. The true meaning of community and Thanksgiving is embodied at Wayne Hills. We proved that we can make a lasting impact on our community when we give back together as ONE, exemplifying the true meaning of "Patriot Pride".
Wayne Schools expand Multi-Language Coaching Program
The Wayne Township Public Schools are happy to announce that the Multi Language Learner Instructional coaching program for staff has expanded to our secondary schools!
On November 19, the secondary coaching plan officially launched with a presentation at Schuyler Colfax Middle School. As a result of this expansion, the district now has 5 MLL/ESL coaches supporting teachers and support staff at all 15 schools. The main goal of this program is to promote inclusion, instructional support, and cultural understanding for our 410 multilingual learners here in Wayne. These students, by further developing their English language abilities and sharing their native language, are truly exemplary. Our entire team of 14 ESL teachers and the general education staff which teach our students are fostering a nurturing environment and challenging our students daily. This program seeks to ensure all staff have the opportunity to learn from and share with our highly trained coaches.
Our coaching program began three years ago at the elementary level with introductory staff presentations on best practices and guidance on support of students with emergent language needs. The program quickly developed into a direct coaching model where staff who have questions about student support can request assistance from our ESL coaches. Currently, the Wayne Township Public Schools have approximately 28 different languages spoken in our ESL classes alone. In looking at the entire student population of our district, that number grows to 58 different languages spoken in our schools and at home.
Presentations have also occurred and/or are planned for AWMS, WVHS, Lafayette, Randall Carter, and Packanack.
Members of the Wayne ESL Coaching Team:
Elementary Coaching: Claire Donohue, Sorina Lintes, and Cristina Pignataro
Secondary Coaching: Kimberly Kirstein and Margaret Holland
Randall Carter Friendsgiving 😊
Learning through acts of service - RC students and staff spent time celebrating Friendsgiving with new friends at CareOne Assisted Living ❤️🖤❤️🖤
Thanksgiving Math! ➕➖
JFK second grade students use their math skills to 'buy' Thanksgiving dinner!
Thanksgiving STEAM at Lafayette
Students at Lafayette met with their buddy class to complete a STEAM Challenge. Kindergarten and 3rd Grade worked to create a parade balloon using only the provided materials. When the balloons were completed, they paraded down the hallway holding their balloons up high. 1st and 4th grade created Turkey Traps, inspired by the book How to Trap a Turkey. Students could only use tape, one piece of paper, toothpicks, and marshmallows. Students in 2nd and 5th grade were challenged to create a Thanksgiving Table and Chair that could hold up two cans of food using only tape, straws, and five pieces of paper. Students and teachers enjoyed the activity.
APT Struts Their Stuff(ing) in the Turkey Trot 🦃
Pines Lake Cougars Run and Trot 🎉
WTPS Stars! ✨
JFK's very own Ms. Gultz, got to be a balloon handler in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! She was a red star right before Santa in the parade. And two JFK students got to ride on one of the floats!
Shout out to brothers Rian & Divyan for performing a Bollywood dance at the Wayne Township Diwali celebration!
A Little Cheer! ☕
The Wayne Township Public Schools HR Department spread some cheer through the Central Office with a hot cocoa bar. All employees were most appreciative and it was delicious!
Open for Business!
ABOUT US: Students that attend the Wayne Township Public School Adult Transitional Program, at Wayne Valley High School, make, sell, and create products all year round.
With Seasonal Creations, students have the opportunity to express their interests and skills as well as their creativity.
The fall sale will run until Tuesday, November 26th, after that the Winter Sale will be open.
Create and personalize your own merchandise!
Customized Bracelets
Customized Key Chains
Customized Tote Bags
Capturing memories, one square at a time.
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😜 Newsletter Riddle Answer: Frostbite! ⛄🧛♀️
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From the District Calendar on the website or Events on the WTPS app! Click on the event and then Add to Calendar and choose: Google, Outlook, or iCal
District Calendar (calendar view)
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WTPS App - Events
This tip works for the events from all WTPS schools!
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Location: 50 Nellis Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470 USA
Phone: 973-633-3000
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Wayne Township School District | 50 Nellis Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470 | 973-633-3000