West Essex News December 2, 2011
Hello everyone! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Thank you for all of your submissions. Submissions can be sent to afreeman@westex.org. Any questions, feel free to call me at extension 101.
Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
I have had several inquiries about this newsletter. I e-mail the newsletter to parents, staff, administrators, the Board of Education as well as anyone from the public who would like to receive it. I also send it to the Progress and the Caldwells Patch and post it on the District website.
Did you know that West Essex Regional Schools is on Facebook? Make sure you become a fan and receive updates on everything happening at West Essex.
Are you making regular visits to the School District website? Keep up-to-date with everything going on at West Essex. Check out the photo galleries featuring pictures of West Essex students.
West Essex Regional Board of Education
The West Essex Regional Board of Education will hold a Regular meeting on Monday, December 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the middle school.
Important Dates:
- December 3: NJSIAA Football Finals
- December 6: High School Orientation for Eighth Graders and Their Parents
- December 8: Coffeehouse at the high school
Holiday Concerts:
- December 8: West Essex Middle School Choral Concert 7 p.m.
- December 14: Senior Citizen Breakfast & Holiday Musical Performance 8:30 a.m.
- December 14: West Essex High School Winter Concert 7 p.m.
- December 15: West Essex Middle School Winter Concert 7 p.m.
District News:
Eighth grade students and their parents are invited to a “High School Orientation” on December 6th in the high school auditorium. The program will include an optional tour of the high school beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the regular program beginning at 7 p.m.
The West Essex Middle School Student Council honored school support staff at its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon November 22 in the cafeteria. The West Essex High School Student Council honored high school support staff at its “Support Staff” Thanksgiving Feast.” The Italian-themed luncheon on November 23rd featured a buffet lunch, trivia quiz and awards presentation in the high school cafeteria. The Student Council nominated and voted for all of the award winners. Hall Monitor Peter Davis was named Support Staff Worker of the Year. The Student Council also recognized Juliann Hoebee for her hard work and commitment as “Acting Principal” and Board of Education Secretary Patty Smith for her dedication to the student council and its activities.
U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen visited West Essex High School this week to meet with the school’s A.P. Government classes in the high school library. The congressman spoke about his career in politics and energy. He also answered student questions and presented Laura Drago, the District’s Instructional Supervisor of Social Studies, Business, Fine and Practical Arts, with an American Flag, which had been flown at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on October 5, 2011. For more information and to check out our photos from the event, visit our website at http://www.westex.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=773&....
The West Essex High School Honors Choir “The Accolades” will perform at the Essex Fells Country Club December 8th for the Essex Fells Women’s Association Christmas Luncheon.
Senior Citizens in the West Essex community are invited to a Senior Citizen Breakfast and Holiday Musical Performance December 14th at 8:30 a.m. in the high school cafeteria and auditorium. The event will feature the talents of students in the high school’s Culinary Arts and Performing Arts programs. Musical groups will take the stage and the work of art students will be on display. The school’s culinary students will prepare the food for the breakfast.
The West Essex High School Art Club is creating a Snoopy Christmas-themed mural which will be on display at the Senior Citizen Breakfast.
High School Yearbooks may be purchased online at www.Jostensyearbooks.com through December 31. Ads may also be purchased and can be designed by the yearbook staff. For information, visit http://www.westex.org/domain/68.
Middle School Yearbooks may be purchased now and should be ordered as soon as possible to make sure that enough books are printed. Yearbooks are $40 and can be ordered on our website at http://www.westex.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=774&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=2146&PageID=1067.
Student Achievements:
Four West Essex Middle School students have starring roles in the Roseland Performing Arts Company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” December 3rd and 4th at 2 p.m. at West Essex Regional High School. The student performers are Sophia Wenzke, who plays Clara, Brianna Crummy, who plays the Snow Queen, Rachel Hamburger, who portrays a Dew Drop, and Caroline Lanfrank, who portrays Chinese Tea. Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call (201) 444-6210. Information is also available at www.roselandpac.com.
The students in the classes of Mrs. Seton Ahearn and Mrs. Gabe Bauer have established a business, known as WECAN Enterprises, which will include a variety of activities throughout the school year. The purpose of WECAN Enterprises is to help students strengthen their vocational, communication and social skills in an effort to develop greater independence. The first effort of WECAN will be a gift wrapping service for administration, faculty and staff, which will collect fees for the Patrick Flaherty Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are awarded each year to deserved special education seniors who exemplify the qualities of character, competence, service and perseverance. For information, contact sahearn@westex.org or gbauer@westex.org.
West Essex Middle School Principal David Montgomery has recognized the Students of the Month for December 2011. They are seventh graders Isabel Parzecki and AJ Celentano, both from team 7C, and eighth graders Isabelle Caine and Jake Russin, both from Team 8C.
Kira Shabbab, a seventh grader at West Essex Regional Middle School, was cast as “Annie” in the musical “Annie” at the Smiling Rhino Theatre, 247 Wanaque Ave. Pompton Lakes. Kira is in the silver cast. Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25; $22 seniors and $20 students and children. Call (973) 248-9491. Visit www.smilingrhinotheatre.com.
Athletics:
Congratulations to our own West Essex Knights Football Team who defeated Lenape Valley Regional High School 48-8 in the second round of the NJSIAA playoffs! The Knights will travel to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford Saturday at 1 p.m. where they will face River Dell in the State Football Championship. Please read the West Essex Administration’s Guidelines for the game on our website. Tickets are $9; $3 for students and seniors. Parking at the stadium is $10. All spectators should enter through the west gate.
PTO News:
The West Essex Regional PTO will host its next meeting Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. The meeting will include reports from each grade’s student council on their plans for the year. All parents are welcome to attend and find out what is going on at West Essex.
PTO Membership forms will be mailed out to families in the near future. Each family is encouraged to make a $35 donation to the organization. In the past, the money has been used to purchase a mascot costume, a new speaker system for the stadium, equipment for the fitness center and contributions for the beautification committee’s efforts. The PTO also supplies refreshments for special events including class breakfasts, teacher in-service days and funds special teacher projects. The PTO is also looking for volunteers to help with these events. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jenifer at jpetrocca@optonline.net.
West Essex Volunteers:
The students and staff of West Essex Middle School donated $375 to the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey on November 23rd. Middle School students participated in a walk-a-thon on November 9, 2011 to raise funds for the organization.
The English National Honor Society will host a Book Drive to collect new and gently used books for students in grades 5-8 who attend Public School Number 7 in Paterson. The book drive will run through December 23 and be delivered by honor society members in January. Age-appropriate books may be sent into school and given to English teachers or to Ms. Macaluso in room 713 or Ms. Zuppa in room 708.
Members of the English National Honor Society will wrap gifts at Barnes and Noble at the Livingston Mall on Tuesday, December 13th. Come out and do some holiday shopping and have your gifts wrapped by our students. Donations to support the society are appreciated. Give the gift of literacy this holiday season!
Community News:
The Fairfield Home School Association is seeking donations for its May 10, 2012 Tricky Tray at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover. All proceeds go to the Fairfield HSA. If you would like to make a donation, e-mail Kelly Hricko at kellyhricko@yahoo.com.
Special Note:
We are asking parents to fill out a new Student Publicity Authorization form posted under general forms on the website and send them in to school with your child. This is different than the original form you filled out in September. The form will allow your child’s photograph or name be used in a press release for the District website and the local media. Please take a few minutes to fill it out now. Click here for the form: http://www.westex.org/cms/lib6/NJ01001533/Centricity/Domain/1/Forms/publicityauthorizationform.pdf.
If you do not receive the West Essex News and would like to have it e-mailed to you, please e-mail afreeman@westex.org.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Allison
Allison Freeman
Manager of Communications and Community Outreach
West Essex Regional School District
