Three Vineland Public Schools teachers were recognized in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week in an article featuring the Rowan University program MOCHA (Men of Color Hope Achievers). The article details the program, which the State of NJ funded to recruit more men of color to the classroom, especially in underperforming districts like Trenton and Camden. The first cohort of 10 fellows completed the program in June and included teachers Joseph Lyden and Montgomery Strickland, who both teach at Veterans Memorial Middle School, and Alberto Jimenez, who teaches at Wallace Middle School.
Vineland Public Schools is honored to have these educators lead the way in supporting this vital initiative that strengthens our schools and community.
The article is behind a paywall but can be found at this link: https://www.inquirer.com/education/teachers-rowan-shortage-males-black-hispanic-alternate-route-20241007.html
The Vineland School District and Vineland Chamber of Commerce recently collaborated to host "Celebrating Education," an event designed to encourage community engagement and showcase the district's educational offerings. On October 8, over 20 community members participated in a day-long experience aimed at strengthening connections between the business community and local schools.
The day started with a bus tour of three district schools – Winslow Elementary, Wallace Middle, and Barse Elementary. Participants met administrative staff, learned about each school's unique features, and took a guided tour of the buildings to better understand the learning environments.
During the tour, attendees observed classrooms in action and interacted with students engaged in daily lessons. This firsthand experience provided insights into the district's teaching methods and curricula.
Afterward, attendees gathered for lunch to reflect on their experiences and discuss the importance of supporting local schools and investing in education.
By working together on "Celebrating Education," the Vineland School District and Chamber of Commerce hope to inspire future generations to pursue diverse careers and create a united community that values shared responsibility for student success.
On October 4th and 5th, Vineland FFA attended the New Jersey FFA LEAD conference. This is a leadership conference for chapter officers and members, which includes two conferences, C.O.L.T (Chapter Officer Leadership Training) and S.G.C (State Greenhand Conference). Six chapter officers attended C.O.L.T, and four members attended S.G.C, along with advisor Annaliese Castellini. Chapter officers learned their roles in their individual offices and learned to work together as a team. Chapter members at the State Greenhand conference learned about the many opportunities that FFA gives them, including scholarships, leadership skills, and career skills. Vineland FFA enjoyed the Halloween dance and won best group costume with their Bob Ross-inspired costume. Senior Jenna Pollock received the Outstanding Student Advisor award, and Junior Da’Shyra Jones won Outstanding Greenhand Member of her entire conference.
“This conference not only gave students the opportunity to learn leadership skills but also to network with other chapters and learn from each other,” said Castellini. “FFA Conferences like this are providing our students with skills to be successful in the future.”
Fourth graders in Mrs. Pennington's class at Mennies had a special visitor, Ms. Juarez! Students played Loteria, Mexican Bingo, and pin the tail on the donkey. Mrs. Pennington and her class enjoyed celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
The Vineland High School Theater Program is holding a Krispy Kreme fundraiser and there is just one week left to place your orders! Please see the flyer for more information.
Students in Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Wheaton’s 2nd-grade class at Mennies Elementary School use teamwork, collaboration, and social skills to solve math problems while having a ton of fun!
Mennies students have been broadcasting live each morning on the WMEN news station. They create daily themes and share uplifting news to inspire the entire school. The students work hard to prepare and practice for each broadcast, and both students and staff love the creative content they produce. Everyone looks forward to starting the day with WMEN! A big thank you to Ms. Kreck for leading and guiding our students!
Vineland Public Schools recently hosted a two-day retreat for peer leaders from all four middle schools at the Landis Administrative Offices. This initiative is part of the Peer Group Connection grant from the Center for Supportive Schools. The retreat helped 20 peer leaders from each school to develop essential skills, create safe environments, and foster strong relationships among students.
Throughout the school year, these peer leaders will attend a daily class to prepare them for weekly outreaches in sixth-grade classrooms. The program focuses on connectedness, self-awareness, social skills, and educational aspirations, ultimately promoting student success and a supportive learning environment.
Congratulations to the members of the Rossi Elementary Safety Patrol! Our officers are Captains Gracie Petrini and Dallas Johnson, Lieutenants Zach Oshenic and Olivia Baldwin, and Sergeants Janasia Chin and Ally Morales.
Join the VHS Art club for fall paint night on Wednesday, October 30th at 6 pm in the VHS South Cafeteria. Tickets are $20 and include step-by-step instructions on a 16x20 canvas. All ages are welcome!
Tickets can be purchased using the link:
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/vhs-south/fall-paint-night-at-vhs
The Veterans Memorial Middle School Wellness Team, headed by members Nurse Kelli Laing and Physical Education Teacher Ms. Dawn Spickenreuther, hosted motivational speaker Mr. Reggie Dabbs at the school on Wednesday, October 2nd; all grades were able to participate in this interactive program. Of note, the Nursing Supervisor, Mrs. Josie DeMareo, applied for and was awarded $3,500 dollars for the WSCC School Health New Jersey Project grant funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Atlantic Care Southern New Jersey division.
The members of the new Memorial Wellness Team are as follows: Kelli Laing, School Nurse; Josie DeMareo , Nursing Supervisor; Sue Smith, Admin. Secretary; Purvesh Patel, Director of Food Service; Dawn Spickenreuther , PE/Health Teacher; Brooke DuBois, Guidance Counselor; Andrea Ruiz, ELA Teacher; Katie Landi, ELA Teacher; Rob Cresci, Social Studies Teacher; Vallerie Leadbeater, Spec. Ed Teacher; Maria Kohansky, Parent; Krystal Rios, Parent
We look forward to using the funds for programs to support the health and wellness of Veterans Memorial staff and students.
On Friday, October 4, Barse students and staff participated in National World Smile Day by dressing down in their favorite yellow casual attire, bringing an extra dose of cheer to the school! Throughout the day, smiles were shared and laughter echoed in the hallways, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
During morning announcements, the theme of kindness was connected to this month's Portrait of a Graduate focus: communication. Students were encouraged to express kindness through their words and actions, highlighting how effective communication can strengthen our community. This theme provided a perfect segue into our upcoming Week of Respect, where we’ll focus on fostering a culture of empathy and understanding within our school.
The bright smiles and positive energy filled the hallways, reminding everyone of the power of kindness. What a fantastic way to end the week! We look forward to continuing this spirit of positivity as we embark on our journey toward respect and compassion during Week of Respect. Let’s keep those smiles shining!
Barse 3rd graders dove into a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration during a fun-filled afternoon of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)—an integrated approach that fosters critical thinking and innovation.
Students rotated through various engaging stations, each designed to spark curiosity and teamwork.
At the Technology Programming Station, students got hands-on experience coding with Minecraft, where they learned the basics of programming while building their virtual worlds. The excitement was palpable as they collaborated to solve challenges and create unique structures.
Next, the Science Investigation Station allowed students to explore the scientific method through fun experiments with magnets. They conducted investigations to understand how different types of magnets interact, honing their observational and analytical skills.
In the Marbleized Paper Station, students got artistic! Using food coloring and shaving cream, they created beautiful marbled note cards to take home. This hands-on activity not only showcased their creativity but also served as a wonderful way to share their STEAM experience with parents.
The Engineering Build-It Station challenged students to design and construct various models using everyday materials. They worked together, combining their ideas to overcome obstacles and build impressive structures, fostering both creativity and engineering skills.
Finally, the Estimation Station put their math skills to the test as students estimated how many gallons it would take to fill a fish tank. This station encouraged critical thinking and discussions, promoting teamwork as they compared their estimates and reasoning.
The classroom buzzed with excitement, laughter, and a sense of accomplishment as students tackled challenges together. It was truly a fabulous Friday in Ms. Langford's 3rd grade, filled with exploration, teamwork, and plenty of learning! We can’t wait to see what our young innovators come up with next!
Mrs. Uebelacker’s 5th-grade students at Mennies Elementary School had a great time practicing composing and decomposing numbers using dice!
Veterans Memorial School would like to announce the 2024-2025 Safety Patrol Officers.: Captain Julissa Quiles, Lieutenant James Owens, and Sergeant Steven Kohansky. Congratulations!
We're a day late, but want to wish all of our coaches a Happy National Coach Appreciation Day! We’re so grateful for the dedication and passion our coaches bring to our athletes every day. Thank you for inspiring and making a difference both on and off the field!
The Fighting Clan take on the Atlantic City Vikings tonight at 6pm at historic Gittone Stadium! Help us pack the stands and wear PINK in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month or watch the live stream here: https://youtube.com/live/Conw59cBy2E?feature=share 🐔
You are cordially invited to the Vineland High School South Auditorium on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:00 am as we dedicate the South Building in honor of First Lt. Charles “Chickie” Asselta.
After the program, please join us in the lobby for light refreshments and viewing of a special film reel.
Please RSVP by October 31st to rsalerno@vineland.org
This week, our fifth graders at D'Ippolito Elementary School read and plotted story elements from picture books, including summarizing main events from the text. During one of their ELA centers, the students were engaged (and slightly stumped 🤪) with a figurative language sorting activity.
Down the hall, students read and annotated our 5th-grade core novel, Save Me a Seat, part of the Rising Voices collection. The students used their graffiti tables to identify figurative language and practiced effective communication strategies!
Students in Mrs. DiChino's 1st-grade class at D'Ippolito Elementary School learned about Mexican serapes and how they are used. Students have been working with the art element of line and added their own line designs to complete their serape designs.
