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April Fool’s Day

Cultural Arts performance

Schools closed for Good Friday

Schools closed for Spring Recess

General PTA Board Meeting

Earth Dsy

Arbor Day

s o u t h m o u n t a i n a p r

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

in this issue: @ Presidents �� Column� � Library News �# Fundraising�3 � Contact Info �$ Teacher Awards�4 � SOMEF Grants�% Advertisements�^ � Advertisements�& Library News���� SAVE our PLANET ���

�����Please sign up for the PDF version of this newsletter! Reduce your carbon footprint�and go green! �Also, remember to participate in local Earth Day events. �Contact: Sandi Sandoli at 275-3856 �or by email: ssandoli@verizon.net��

School hours: Full Sessions�First Bell 8:40am� �AM Kindergarten�8:40-11:30am� �PM Kindergarten�12:30-3:15pm� �Grades 1-5�8:40-3:15pm� �4-hour Sessions�First Bell 8:40am� �AM Kindergarten�8:40-11:30am� �PM Kindergarten�10:00-12:45pm� �Grades 1-5�8:40-12:45pm�

PA

GE

april calendar

springis here!

box tops: Please keep bringing �in those Box Tops!�Yvette Holowczak�ymholowczak@yahoo.com

�����

22Participate on April 22nd, and observe �the 39th anniversary of Earth Day!���

earth day

library news

s o u t h m o u n t a i n superstar page @

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

thank you, thank you! presidents columnSandi Brand & Sylvia Cutler PTA Co-Presidents

First, we want to acknowledge our fabulous Auction Co-Chairs, Maria Shapiro and Laura Reichgut. It is an incredible task to put together such a big event and we so appreciate all the hard work, the amount of countless hours of time and dedication they put �in working on this fundraiser to benefit all of our South Mountain students. I know I can speak for all of the parents, staff and students of our school when we say thank you from the bottom �of our hearts. We also want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers that also worked so hard on collecting donations, decorations, set up, raffle ticket sales, and the never popular clean up. ��On April 6th we will have our PTA’s final cultural arts performance of the school year. Kit’s Interactive Theatre will be performing �for all of our students. Her show will take our students back �to the year 1730 and they will learn what life was life for young people in a Colonial village. They will participate in the show �as they meet the townsfolk, join in the chores, play the games �and take a turn at the Maypole dance. This is Kit’s first time �to South Mountain and we are very happy to have her. ��Thank you to all of our families who joined us for Storytelling Night. The kids all looked very cozy in their PJ’s along with lots of blankets and stuffed animals ready for some great storytelling. Our Superstar teachers and parents did not disappoint them. Thank you to all of our readers.��We also look forward to seeing everyone at our next General PTA meeting on April 22nd. Please check your backpacks or emails �for details.��We also have lots of events coming up starting in the beginning �of May. Of course, the success of these programs is only possible with your help. There are many different ways to help out and �we appreciate any amount of time you can offer. If you would �like to volunteer or become more involved, please feel free �to contact anyone on the board. We would love to hear from you.��We wish everyone a very happy spring!!!!��

Sandi and Sylvia ��

04/09

Job Well Done, to all those who participated in the Battle of the �Books contest.��Congrats to the following 3rd grade teams for winning their class’ Battle �of the Books competition this year. �from Mrs Silverlieb’s class ‹ Adam, Ilana, Michael P., Kevin from Mrs. Conyers’ class ‹ Olivia P., Caleb, Lexie, Ben Ro., from Mrs. Koltenuk’s class — Elian, Ruth, Erica, Connie, Victor from Mrs. Esposito’s class ‹ Gerald, Chris H., Jonathan C., Reece from Miss Visco’s class- Eden, Karla, Lauren Y., Rostam, Steven K.��Fourth grade started their Battle reading in early March. Their “battles” will be in late April. ��The 5th grade “grade-wide champion” as determined on March 18 is the Team from Mrs Appenzoller’s class.��Congrats to Eliza, Luke, Rebecca, Michael N., Russell. They each will get �a gift certificate to Words (Maplewood bookstore).� �---------------------------------� �Congrats to the 97 students who turned in their Six Flags reading forms. Tickets should be arriving to the library from �Six Flags in late April/Early May and will be MAILED home from the school. ��

battle of the books

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South Mountain PTA Executive Board Co-Presidents�Sandi Brand� (973) 762-5333�sandibrand@verizon.net�Sylvia Cutler� (973) 378-8286�sylcutler@aol.com��Vice Presidents, Administration�Sandy Sandoli � (973) 275-3856�ssandoli@verizon.net�Amy Forman � (973) 763-5669�amygarysamlily@aol.com��Vice Presidents, Fundraising�Maria Shapiro � (973) 761-4779�mikespopworld@hotmail.com�Laura Reichgut � (973) 763-6905�Feissgut@yahoo.com��Vice Presidents, Programming�Letitia Campbell� (973) 763-8014�letitia.campbell@yahoo.com�Kara Erhamza � (973) 313-2296�k_erhamza@mac.com��Treasurers�Louise Finkelman � (973) 378-2313�LSF92@hotmail.com�Debbie Granados � (973) 761-5357�4granados@optonline.net��Corresponding Secretary�Leslie Rubenfeld � (973) 313-0523 �rubenfelds@aol.com��Recording Secretary�Renee Leviton � (973) 378-3810�reneekleviton@hotmail.com

contact info: a big thanks fundraising 2009Maria Shapiro & Laura Reichgut, Fundraising VP Co-Chairs

We would like to thank our Superstar Parents, Teachers, Staff and Community for supporting South Mountain’s Auction, “An Evening In Paris”. We would not have been able to pull this off without your generous contribution. A lot of hard work and commitment went into planning this event. We would like to thank some people who went above and beyond the call of duty. ��Thank you Linda Thibodeau for your fabulous invitation and program designs, and Eve Peterson, Amy Forman and Julie Saydah for putting �it all in writing. Thank you Mary Jo DeFranco of Signal Graphics for all �of our printing needs. Our decorating wizards Lorry Ripley, Yvette Holowczak, Kara Erhamza, Catherine Brikke & Rachel Sullivan made �us feel like we were in Paris. Merci! Our solicitation committee led �by Shana Teitelbaum and Karen Wolf worked tirelessly to acquire wonderful goods and services for the auction. We don’t want to leave out Amy Forman, Canty Gross, Marilyn Wright and Julie Saydah who supported the team throughout the entire process. Let’s give kudos �to the class basket chairs, Kanani Briggs, Patricia Canning, Nino Badridze and Amy Forman. What spectacular baskets. Thank you �Celina Herrero & Maria Witt for taking care of the raffles. Put them �all together and you have an exceptional team. ��To Mr. Gibbons, Mrs. Samuels and our Superstar teachers, we say �thank you for offering such great raffle events. The lucky winners are so excited to spend time with their favorite teacher. ��Once again, thank you to the entire South Mountain Community for making “An Evening In Paris” such a spectacular event.��

Maria & Laura

thanks south mountain! The FOOD DRIVE was a tremendous success! The second grade Brownie Troop #699 �wants to thank all the South Mountain Students and teachers for their generous �donations. Ms. Savattieri’s class was the winner of the popsicle party!

s o u t h m o u n t a i n superstar 04/09 page $

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

��

somef

We Appreciate Our Teachers�������������Knowing that this is the time of year when families are looking for ways to thank teachers and other members of the school staff for their dedication to their students, the South Orange-Maplewood Education Foundation (SOMEF) is launching its annual Honor Your Teacher and Staff Campaign for 2009. Families can order special tribute cards with children’s personal messages for their teachers written in them. For a donation of $5 or more per card, SOMEF will imprint the tribute cards and deliver them to teachers at the end of the school year. SOMEF has rallied hundreds of families �to thank our teachers by choosing Honor Your Teacher tributes as teacher appreciation or end of the year gifts. Tributes are gifts that keep on giving, because every dollar raised goes toward SOMEF’s Teacher Grant program that enables any teacher to apply for classroom grants every fall. Order forms for Honor Your Teacher Tributes are available on the SOMEF website, www.somef.org, or call 973-378-2055, and they will be mailed to you. Visit the website for information on the Honor Your Teacher Campaign, SOMEF Teacher Grants and more.��EVEN MORE SOMEF TEACHER �GRANTS FOR 2009!�Many thanks to the donors who contributed a total of $4,050 during SOMEF’s Late Funding Initiative that concluded on January 30th. Because �of their generosity, SOMEF was able to extend its funding of grants for spring 2009 to a total of $42,750 for 45 grants awarded across all nine schools. Including grants requested by teams �of educators from one or more than �one school, over 70 teachers received grants this year. They will be honored �at a reception at the Central Office Building on May 8th.��

School� Teacher(s) � Project��CHS � Beth Johnson � Lead For Diversity Youth ��� Leadership Institute�CHS � Deborah Conway � Journals as Counseling Tools�CHS � Eugene Porta � Student Incentive Program�CHS � Janet Kahn � Prizes for a Purpose�CHS � Suzanne Logeman, et al. � Shakespeare Festival�Clinton � Ann Bodnar � Student Newspaper�Jefferson � Jennifer Diegnan, et al. � Battle of the Books Inclusion�Jefferson � Maryrose Caulfield-Sloan � Non-Fiction Reading and Writing�Marsahll � Patty O’Neill � Translation Initiative to Reach ��� All Families�Marshall � Bebe Greenberg � Quiet on the Set — Using Readers ��� Theater to Promote Great ��� Reading Skills�Marshall � Cathrine Evans, et al. � Art Through the Ages�Marshall � Donna Grohman � Children Get the Lesson�Marshall � Erin Bolstad � Let’s Play: Math Game Kits�Marshall � Rosemary Jessell � Launch to Learning�Marshall � Shannon Glander � High Interest Literature Project�Marshall � Victoria Schodowski, et al. � Listen, Look, Move�MMS � Barbara Santoro, et al. � Music Practice and Recording ��� System Use in the Music Classroom�MMS � Danielle Elko � Appalachian Hiking Trip�MMS � Erin Murphy � Shopping For Rewards�MMS � Tracey Sinatra � Flocabulary Workshop�Multi School � Gail Salomon, et al. � Leveled Libraries �Multi School � Karen Weiland � Elementors Reading Buddies�Multi School � Karen Weiland � Intervention Support�Multi School � Katie Simpson, et al. � iPods for Language Learning�Multi School � Laurence Seltzer, et al. � Mi libro es tu libro�Multi School � Marianne Hess, et al. � Twilight Family Program�Multi School � Suzanne Ng, et al. � Kindergarten Reads�Multi School � Suzanne Ng, et al. � Recordings for Blind & Dyslexic�Multi School � Suzanne Ng, et al. � Scan Those Books�Seth Boyden � Judith Symmonds, et al. � Let’s Take a Closer Look�Seth Boyden � MaryAnn Pratola, Tina Lehn � Passport to Adventure�Seth Boyden � Maureen Koppenaal, et al. � Dahl Day Library�Seth Boyden � Maureen Nelson, et al. � Learning In Harmony�Seth Boyden � Sheila Murphy, et al. � Book Clubs for Boys & Girls�Seth Boyden � Susan Brody, et al. � Student Cnsl. — Democ. In Action�SOMS � Barbara Tsioni � Study Island NJ ASK Preparation�SOMS � Ellen Hark � Mosaic Installation�SOMS F� ran Cristali, et al. � Girl’s Leadership Club�South Mountain � Debbie Wright, et al. � Kindergarten Big Book Bonanza�South Mountain � Ellie Esposito � Let’s Play Classroom Jeopardy�South Mountain � Karen Weiland � Invention Convention Workshops�South Mountain � Leslie Glennon, et al. � Communicating Through Grades�South Mountain � Zipora Auerbach � Bridging Phonic Fun to Reading ��� with Humor and Reading Games�Tuscan � Ana Reyes, et al. � Tuscan Peace Patch Garden�Tuscan � Jaime Falkin � Literacy Centers

2009 teacher grants awarded

Beginning, intermediate and advanced. �

25 years experience.�

Complimentary trial lesson.�

Call Wendy Goldstein.�

973-762-6601

PIANO for YOU��

762-6601

s o u t h m o u n t a i n superstar 04/09 page %

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

Rewarding and fun for children �

and adults interested in �

classical and �

popular music.�

�

ShaktiShakti Yoga & living arts & Shakti Ma

Dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our community, we offer yoga classes and healing arts practices for everybody.❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊

~ KIDS & FAMILY YOGA

~ PRENATAL & BABY&ME YOGA

~ BEGINNER & GENTLE YOGA

~ HATHA, VINYASA & ASHTANGA

~ KUNDALINI YOGA, CORE YOGA

~ BELLY DANCE BOOT CAMP

~ SELF DEFENSE & KUNG FU

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1861 Springfield AvenueMaplewood, NJ 07040www.ShaktiNJ.com 973-763-2288

Highest Quality Educational Books�Over 1300 titles for ALL ages�80% of titles under $10�Wide Range of Subjects: Phonics, Science, Literature, �Math, Nature, Music, Foreign Languages, & More!�100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!��To view the complete catalog or to order directly go to:�www.ubah.com/K1923�or call Annélisa Blake-Wasden�(973) 820-1267�booksforkidz@myubah.com

������� ����

�

973.761.5866 �917.502.0932 cell � �www.tsipikaplan.com ��

Tsipi Kaplan will be offering�private chef services (weekly�food preparation for families) �and for holiday parties. Please �call or email for reservations.��chef@tsipikaplan.com

chef instructor

s o u t h m o u n t a i n superstar 04/09 page ^

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Zina’s �Handmade �Treasures ��           Great gifts, or treat yourself!�                    Baby blankets, ���� baby sweaters�Children’s sweaters and ponchos�          Adult ponchos, �� scarves, and shawls�

        �

      � Everything is handmade by �� Mrs. Schaefer-Gelo’s mother.�

        �

If interested in purchasing a treasure �

� or two,�

        please contact Mrs. Schaefer-Gelo � �

�� (Second Grade Teacher)�

�

     ������� or email her at:

gschaefe@somsd.k12.nj.us

Consultant�

Lecturer�

Author�

Media Work

The Wellness Agenda ��

Stress Relaxation

Reiki Master/Healing

mind�–�

body�–�

health�–�

fitness

Miriam Belov, mat, rmt�miriam@wellnessagenda.com�973.762.6962

www.wellnessagenda.com

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17 UNION PLACESUMMIT, NJ 07901(908) 273.ZOKU (9658)

VISIT OUR WEBSITEFOR SPRING SPECIALS

ZOKUSALON.COM �

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see what you’re missing. 201.259.8426

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remember the days when you could buy a new TV, plug it into the wall, and...

s o u t h m o u n t a i n superstar page &

www.southmountain.somsd.k12.nj.us

ADVERTISE! ��For $2.00 you can place an AD.�(business card, birthday wishes, etc.)�Size: 2.75” x 1.75”�For larger sizes and display ADs, please �inquire. Submissions by email only.�Digital PDF version will be in color.�Printed version will be B&W.

04/09

classifieds: Advertising Policy �Deadline: the 15th of the prior month when you wish �your AD to appear. South Mountain �Families ONLY!

credits: Design + Production�William Kochi�KODE Associates, Inc.� �Printing�Mary Jo DeFranco�Signal Graphics

Will your child be taking one of these tests soon?�• NJ ASK (April/May) • HSPA (March)• End of Course Biology Test• College Entrance Exams• The ACT® Test • SSAT • ISEE • COOP�Check out www.dinasnotes.com to find test schedules, parent and student guides, sample tests, workbooks, test prep classes, tutors, test prep and tutoring centers, online tutorials, and summer enrichment programs.�www.dinasnotes.com

Janet Walentiny’s Bookmaking WorkshopA 5-day creative workshop in which an original story is transformed into an art book.

• Ages 8 and up• Utilize storyboarding for story development• Work with traditional and non-traditional

art materials• Apply a variety of book-binding techniques• Includes a “Reading/Reception at the

completion

Sessions scheduled for July and August 2009

For more information, contact:Janet WalentinyPhone: 973-275-0422Email: walentinyj2@gmail.com

Enjoy Spring Break! �Keep your children reading! ��Meet Kathi Appelt! Up close and personal with an author. �Grades 2 and up register at Main Library for story program on April 15 at 2pm with children’s author Kathy Appelt. Kathi is the author �of The Alley Cat’s Meow and Bat Jamboree. Registration is limited. ��Build It! �On Tuesday, April 28 at 4-5pm grades 3-5 will build a model using engineering principles. Register at Main Library. ��Games and activities �Board Games Club at Main Library meets on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30pm. Refreshments will be served. ��Bingo Bonanza (with prizes!) will be offered at Hilton Branch on Thursday, April 23 at 4:30pm. ��Not your Mother’s Book Club �This fun club for grades 4 and 5 will meet on Friday, April 24 at 4pm at Hilton Branch. ��In-person registration at the Main Library or Hilton Branch is required for all programs. For more information, go to www.maplewoodlibrary.org or call (973) 762-1622, ext. 5005. �

� library newsletter

Rena SpanglerSales Associate

973-876-7913 Cell � �“Making It Home”

�181 Maplewood AvenueMaplewood, NJ 07040

The Fifth Graders had a blast at their Dance-A-Thon as they danced to �raise funds for their Fifth Grade Camping Trip!

%dance a thon