HEADlines

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

David M. Lowry, Ph.D., Head of School
www.emswednesdayenvelope.org
Cooperation ● Courtesy ● Compassion ● Consideration For our calendar: www.elisabethmorrow.org

L ast Friday at the Morrow House Assembly, a “Presidential

Mock Debate” was held between Loretta Weinberg, repre-
senting the views of Barack Obama, and Robert Agresta, repre-
senting the views of John McCain. History and Current Events
teacher, Michele Bower, was the moderator. The questions
asked had been culled from those submitted by the students.

Loretta Weinberg is the Democratic incumbent running for the

NJ State Senate in the 37th District. Robert Agresta, a Republi-
can and member of the EMS class of 1995, is currently running for the City Council of
Englewood Cliffs. The student audience was instructed to behave in the manner of
those at the televised presidential debates, and they were perfect, never reacting to the
candidates’ responses.

Needless to say, this presidential race has stirred an energy and excitement like no
other in recent times. The students’ discussions and projects have been outstanding;
their knowledge of the points of view impressive. Mrs. Bower has been a master at
seizing this phenomenon and making it powerfully instructive, extending understand-
ing of the American form of democracy as well as clarifying the serious issues.

The students' most important job now? Making sure their parents vote!
Mrs. Weinberg, Mrs. Bower, Mr. Agresta

Parent-Teacher Conferences are next week, Thursday af-
ternoon and all day Friday, November 6 and 7. To help
make the most of these occasions, I offer a few tips:
Be on time for your appointment and keep to the schedule, as
other parents may be waiting for their conference. If you find
that the allotted time is not adequate to cover everything, end
on time and schedule a follow-up meeting.
Think ahead about any questions or areas that you wish to be
sure are covered. You might like to leave a voice mail or an e-
mail with the teacher in advance, so that he or she has a chance
to contemplate your questions.
Jot down these areas and bring them with you; it is easy to get
side-tracked during a conversation and then remember what
you wanted to ask after the conference is over.
Because time is limited, get down to the task of the conference
with minimal pleasantries. Focus on the student.
If you have questions or concerns about general procedures or
policies of the School (i.e., dismissal, car lines, music lessons,
etc.), do not spend time on those. They most likely need to be
directed to a principal or me.
If you want to speak with a special teacher, such as music,
physical education, art, library or technology, you would be wise
to make an appointment in advance that precedes or follows
your conference time.
If areas emerge that require some follow-up, be sure to set an
appointment for a future meeting before ending the conference.
Be sure to share any perceptions that your child may have of his
or her life at school of which the teacher may not be aware.
This may include any feelings of anxiety or worry that your stu-
dent may have about academic work, the social dynamics within
the class or grade or about a teacher. We need to know these
things to ensure the best possible situation for learning.
Also, share special areas of enthusiasm and enjoyment that your
youngster reports at home. These are equally important for us
to understand.
Remember that these conferences are simply the regularly
scheduled times for parent-teacher collaboration. You are
welcome and encouraged to have additional
conferences at any time. Never let issues go
unspoken!

Skills for the 21st Century

 EMS BOOK FAIR
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 11 — 13
A TRADITION NOT TO BE MISSED!

SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: LEARNING AND INNOVATIONS SKILLS

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

L ast week I wrote about the initiative that is summed up by the concept of
“Skills for the 21st Century.” Educators and other “futurists” who are in-
volved in determining what capabilities people will need to succeed in the coming
years have developed several categories of skills: Core Subjects and Interdisci-
plinary Themes; Learning and Innovations Skills; Communication and Col-
laboration; Information, Media and Technology Skills; and Life and Career
Skills. There are subsets of skills in each category. In many of its practices, pro-
jects, and activities, The Elisabeth Morrow School already focuses on many of
these aptitudes, perhaps intuitively. Nevertheless, it is clear that we need to make
such learning more visible and deliberate. How, exactly, does the School move be-
yond core subjects and skills and ensure the incorporation of what will be equally im-
portant for your children’s futures?

Excellent examples of the skills noted in the title of this piece were in full force dur-
ing the 7th grade’s Adventure Week projects: building a large pond with a re-
circulating waterfall and constructing an outdoor classroom, both on the campus.
These projects, while led by Gary Lyon, Director of Environmental Studies,
were a collaboration among students, faculty members, administrators and
maintenance professionals.

Advance planning required a high level of critical (active, investigative) think-

ing, and any number of unforeseen obstacles required on-the-spot problem-
solving, often involving collaboration among those with differing approaches.
In fact, both of the projects were heavy on teamwork. And discovering solu-
tions to obstacles necessitated some pretty creative approaches and the com-
bining and refining of them. Team members had to evaluate the quality of
the proposed solutions, yet another level of thinking.

One of the more crucial skills that will ensure career success is the ability to
work in a team of dissimilar people. Just about all work is done in teams
these days, and the workforce becomes more diverse every day, reflective of
the diversity that EMS already possesses.

If you're on the campus, come take a look at

these two projects!
David

CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION

 CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION
cfanj.org

SUGGESTED ITEMS Dear EMS Families,

(Please do not send in foods past their expiration date,
as CFA cannot distribute them.) Helping the Center for Food Action
g apple or cranberry juice is an annual event at The Elisabeth
Morrow School. This year more
cranberry sauce than ever, there is great need in our
e
peanut butter and jelly community. As the economy falls
and unemployment rises at un-
n canned: precedented speed, more and more
sweet potatoes families will need food this winter.
vegetables Typically, the Center for Food Ac-
fruit tion helps over 3,000 families. This
ham or beef stew year, even more will call on them
chicken or tuna
for help.
soup
We will begin collecting food items
gravy
on November 3 and will continue
pumpkin pie filling through November 17.
nuts and raisins Should you prefer, a $20.00 check
Parmalat milk made out to CFA or a Shoprite Gift
pie crust or mix Card in that amount can be par-
cake mix ticularly helpful at this time of
coffee and tea year. Gail Winter will forward them
cereal to CFA.
beans
rice The Student Council has also de-
boxed potatoes cided to place collection boxes at
stuffing mix the coming BOOK FAIR. Let’s
salad oil or shortening make a gift of food an “entrance
spaghetti sauce and fee” to this special event.
pasta
Hunger Facts This is a time when
Milk prices have soared over the past year by
26%, eggs by 24%, bread by 13%. Add rising communities must
grocery prices to the higher cost of gas and elec-
tricity, throw in disappearing jobs and home help to support
foreclosures, and you can understand why people
are struggling to keep food on the table. Our their members.
government figures 28 million Americans will be
using food stamps this year —the highest level
Let’s make this the most
since the program began in the 1960’s. generous and successful drive
Bill Moyer’s Frontline - April 2008 EMS has ever had!
 The Elisabeth Morrow School
Book Fair 2008

Volunteers Needed
For
The EMS 2008 Book Fair
Set up/ Breakdown
Raffle
Pantry
Gift Wrap
School Store
Gift Books
Floor
Thursday, November 6 (Set up 1pm-6pm)
Friday, November 7 (Set up 9am- 5pm)
Tuesday, November 11 (8:30am-8:00pm)
Wednesday November 12 (8:30am- 8:00pm)
Thursday, November 13 (8:30 am-8:00pm)
Friday, November 14 (Breakdown 8:30am-11:30 am)

This is a great way to get involved at EMS!

Rebecca Solheim
2008 Book Fair Volunteer Coordinator
201-266-6360 or Rebecca_Solheim@hotmail.com
EMS Book Fair Pantry
We’re Still Looking for Donations!!

If you would like to make a donation for

the Pantry, please contact the Pantry
Co-Chairs:

Cynthia Oh
201.563.2213
cynthiaoh30@hotmail.com

Grace Park
917.881.8054
ejlee917@hotmail.com

Amy Spiewak
201.988.7618
amyspiewak@gmail.com

Or you may download the Pantry Donation

Form from the October 22 Wednesday
Envelope.

THANK YOU!!
 The Elisabeth Morrow School
Book Fair 2008

AMERICA
READS
In recent years, the families of The Elisabeth Morrow School have
served the needs of New Jersey inner-city students and schools by
donating books that our children have outgrown. This year, we
will once again be providing used books to support a
supplementary reading program at the Jackson Avenue School in
Hackensack.

Please bring in any books you wish to donate. They will be put to
the best possible use. Stations will be set up from Monday,
November 3, through Monday, November 17, at Chilton House,
Little School and Morrow House. Please drop off your old books
at any of these stations. In addition, you may drop off books at the
Book Fair.

Thank you for your generosity.

Bonnie Federman Book Donation Chair 201-816-9718

 Mother Goose Rhyme of the Week…and more

Dear Parents,

The Nursery Rhyme-of-the-Week is on the next page, followed by the

words for “Row Row Row Your Boat” which was inadvertently missing from
this website the week we were studying it. Please print out both rhymes to
make your child’s “My Mother Goose Book” complete.

Thank you,
Ellen Rubin, Librarian
Chilton House
 ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM
MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY
LIFE IS BUT A DREAM
THREE LITTLE GHOSTESSES

THREE LITTLE GHOSTESSES

SITTING ON POSTESSES
EATING BUTTERED TOASTESSES
GREASING THEIR FISTESSES
UP TO THEIR WRISTESSES
OH WHAT BEASTESSES
TO MAKE SUCH FEASTESSES
October 29, 2008

Dear Parents,

Teachers and I are beginning to prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences. It is

hard to believe that we have been in school almost nine weeks. The children
have adjusted beautifully to their classrooms. They have been eagerly
participating in so many of our treasured fall traditions in Chilton House.
From nature walks to pumpkin patch visits, the children have observed,
explored and experienced the wonders of fall.

As we plan and prepare for the remainder of the school year a few
housekeeping issues have been noted that I would like to address with
parents. Please review these points. If you have comments or questions,
please do not hesitate to call me for further discussion about any point
mentioned. Your continued support in providing all of our children with a
happy and healthy learning environment is truly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Beth Anne Brennan

 Please be mindful of packing healthy foods for lunch. Candy and

excessive sweets will be sent home with your child.

 Please send a note and or call if your child will be having a change in
dismissal.

 Please be in school by 8:45 a.m.so that your child can be an active

member of the class during morning meeting.

 Check your child’s cubby. Please make sure the extra clothes at school
are appropriate for the current weather.

 Kindergarten parents - please allow your child to walk into the

classroom independently, hang up his/her belongings and complete
their morning jobs.
 GIFT BOOKS AT BOOK FAIR

October 29, 2008

Dear Chilton House Parents:

The EMS Book Fair will be held this year on November 11th, 12th,
and 13th. This wonderful annual event is sponsored by the
Parents Association with the guidance of the school librarians.

One of EMS’s finest customs is for each child to select a book to

donate to the Chilton House Library. A selection of gift books
carefully chosen by Mrs. Rubin will be prominently displayed in
the gift book section. Each child will proudly sign and date a
book plate to be placed in the gift book. The teachers will share
the gift books with the children in the class before they are
delivered to the library.
Your child may then check out the book and take it home to
share with your family.

This is one of the many ways that the EMS community

encourages a love of books, reading and sharing. I hope that all
of you will take part in this truly enjoyable EMS tradition.

Sincrely,

Beth Anne Brennan

Director of Early Childhood Programs
October 29, 2008

Dear Parents,

We strongly encourage all families to attend the EMS Book Fair with their children.
This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase books for your family.

3-YEAR-OLD & PREKINDERGARTEN CHILDREN

Mrs. Grace Oliff, our EMS storyteller, will tell a story to the 3-Year-Old and PreK
children at 1:00 pm on Thursday, November 13th in the Morrow House Music Room
located to the left of the lobby. Please bring your child to this wonderful event and
listen to Mrs. Oliff work her magic of storytelling. Children who are enrolled for the
afternoon session should be in their classrooms a few minutes before 1:00 p.m. We
will walk up to Morrow House as a group. Those children who leave earlier are
invited to join us at 1:00 p.m. You can visit the Book Fair before or after the
storytelling or any other time during the three days.

KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN
The families of the children in kindergarten are invited to a flashlight picnic in your
child’s classroom on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00 pm. Please bring dinner for
your family and a flashlight. After dinner we will walk up to the Book Fair in the
Gymkhana next to Morrow House.

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

November 11, 2008
6:00 p.m. (with families)
Kindergarten Flashlight
Picnic
November 12, 2008
9:00 a.m. (children only)
PreKindergarten &
Kindergarten with
Author:Mordicai Gerstein
(CH Music Room)
November 13, 2008
1:00 p.m. (with parents)
Mrs. Grace Oliff
Story time (MH Music Room)

Sincerely,

Beth Anne Brennan

Director of Early Childhood Programs
October 29, 2008

Dear Third & Fourth Grade Parents:

During the week of November 17th, we will be administering the CTP 4

(Comprehensive Testing Program) to your child. This is a standardized
test published by The Educational Records Bureau (ERB) designed to
provide instructionally useful information about student performance in
the key areas of school achievement: listening, reading, vocabulary,
writing, and mathematics. It is given in the fall of each year to third &
fourth grade students at The Elisabeth Morrow School. In order to
help children achieve their best results, we have been familiarizing the
children with the test format and test taking strategies.

During testing week, it is important for children to have an adequate

amount of sleep and a healthy breakfast before they come to school.
The CTP 4 is only one of many standardized tests the children will take
throughout their educational career. The results of these tests will be
given to parents in February 2009.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Jane Phend
Principal of Little School
 

October 29, 20088

Deaar Parents of Morrow

M Housse Students,

Thee Book Fair haas been a longgstanding traddition at Elisab

beth Morrow and
a we look forward
f to
it evvery Novemb
ber. This year promises
p b fairs ever for middle school
to be one of the best
studdents.

• In additiion to schedulling time for students

s to vissit the fair durring the schoo
ol day,
noted auuthor, Wendy Mass, will speeak to all of thhe students in Morrow Houuse on
Tuesdayy morning.

• On Weddnesday evenin ng at 7 pm, Edd Lucas, distin nguished sporrtscaster and writer
w will
speak abbout his life exxperiences andd relationshipss with many faamous athletes. As a
young bo oy, Ed’s ambiition was to bee a baseball pllayer, but, at th
he age of twellve, an
accident playing baseb ball left him bllind. He reviseed his ambitio
ons and went on
o to
become a reporter forr the NY Yankkees and Metss. He holds th he distinction of
o being
the only person ever married
m at hom
me plate at Yaankee Stadium m. Ed has beenn an
onal and chariismatic speakeer for many yeears.
inspiratio

• There will
wi be no homework on Wednesday nightt or tests on Thursday
T so th
hat all
Morrow House studen nts will be freee to attend. Visit
V the websitte www.edlucaas.org to
learn moore about this amazing man n.

• Please reemember to viisit the Gift Book

B table at th
he fair. It is a tradition of thhe School
for each family to don
nate a gift boook to the librarry in their chilld’s name. Thee gift
books haave been careffully selected by
b our librariaans and will make
m the librarry
collectio
ons even moree complete thaan they are now w.

If you
y would likee to come to th he fair during the time yourr own child is scheduled to visit
durring the day, th
he schedule off student visits is listed belo
ow.

Tuuesday W
Wednesday Thuursday
122:45 5 Rileyy 100:45 6th French
F and 9:40 5 Cohen
Y. Prrata's class
2:115 7th grrade 11:30 6th Spanish and
M. Eh hrlich's class
122:45 5 Groossman
2:115 8th grrade

We are looking forward

fo to a grreat week.

Sinccerely,

Gerrmaine DiPao
olo Aaron Coop
per
Mo
orrow House Principal
P Dean of Studdents
October 29, 2008

Dear Parents of Morrow House Students,

You are invited to two holiday concerts in the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana:

• The choruses and hand bell choir will perform at the annual Thanksgiving
Program on Tuesday, November 25, at 1:30 p.m. Although the regular
school dismissal will be at 3 p.m., students may go home with parents
following the performance.
• The Morrow House Holiday Program will be held on Thursday, December
18, at 7:00 p.m. The choruses, orchestra, jazz ensemble and hand bell choir
will perform.

Students have been preparing for these programs since September, and we look
forward to sharing their talent with you. Although it seems early to be wishing
anyone a Happy Thanksgiving, we know it will be here in the twinkling of an eye. All
of us at Morrow House wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving filled with
warmth and friendship.

Thank you,

Germaine DiPaolo Aaron Cooper

Morrow House Principal Dean of Students