Attention Winter Athletes! Don't forget - physicals are due by November 1!
Second graders in Mrs. Bertonazzi and Ms. Caterina's class at Mennies learned about the October Portrait of a Graduate competency, Communication. As part of the lesson, students participated in a fun activity where they had to sit back-to-back and communicate with one another to try and color the same picture. The students thoroughly enjoyed using their words and practicing their communication skills during this engaging activity!
First graders in Mrs. Ensminger's Art class at Rossi Elementary School learned about the colorful concentric works of Jaime Domínguez, a Mexican-born contemporary artist. First graders identified the elements of art: lines, shapes, and colors and discussed how Domínguez's works made them feel when they looked at his brightly colored paintings. They talked about how big the paintings were and noticed that the art elements repeated over and over again throughout his pieces. First graders were given a choice of a butterfly or fish to trace in the center of their papers, then they chose an analogous color palette. After painting inside their fish or butterfly, they selected another color and carefully painted around their initial shape. When shapes like a circle, or in this case a butterfly and fish, share the same center, it's called concentric. These artists continued to paint around and around until their papers were filled with lines! During the next class, they discussed matching versus contrast. Students could select a paper color that either matched their painting or one that contrasted it and was different from their palette. They traced the butterfly or fish onto the paper, cut it out, and glued it onto the center of their painting. These students are very proud of their hard work and we are too! Featured in the photo are Mrs. Rado and Miss Jasmin's first graders.
Examples of Dominguez's Art here
https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/743140?srsltid=AfmBOoo736u-_yG0cWt9YNNTRmV8ER6ojUAUbabpy73nGLjEXFQwWTAX
Special guest Ms. Taylor visited Ms. Moyer’s third graders at Mennies School to teach them about Hispanic Heritage. Students listened to a story about piñatas. Then they got to race for candy from an actual piñata! The students were excited!
Students in Mrs. Fiocchi’s fourth-grade class at Durand Elementary School participated in a marble lesson that explored energy transfer. Students built a test track from paper, tape, and plastic cups. They made a chute that was hoisted by a plastic cup and attached a track to the end of the chute. Next, they added a ramp at the end of the track using smaller cups. Students tested their setup by releasing a marble down the chute to see if it would make it over the ramp. Adjustments were made to their track if needed. Once the track was working properly, students put a marble towards the end of the track near the ramp. Lastly, students made predictions: If they sent a marble down the chute and the marbles collided, would enough energy be transferred to send the sitting marble over the ramp?
Students then tested their predictions. Conversations between groups discussed potential and kinetic energy. Some added books under their cup to make them higher and add more potential energy to the rolling marble. At the end of the experiment, students filled out a reflection sheet.
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
On October 2nd, Ms. Reynolds and Mr. Munsick, former VHS Spanish teacher, hosted a Hispanic Heritage Craft Day in the VHS Asselta Library. Mr. Munsick taught the students how to create God's Eyes (Ojos de Dios). Students also painted spoons, played dominoes, and colored flags of their countries.
Vineland High School has selected its Rowdiest Roosters for the month of September! These students and staff members were voted Rowdy’s Rowdiest Rooster for their outstanding performance and exceptional commitment to the VHS family. The awards are part of the VHS Rock the Roost program, which helps promote good behavior and create a positive school environment.
The winners for September are:
VHS Asselta Building Staff: Nixy Maldonado
VHS Tanner Building Staff: Loraine Griffiths
9th Grade: Jadiz Acevedo
10th Grade: Mary Alice Wilson
11th Grade: Chimaobim Okafor
12th Grade: Kayden Barr
Congratulations, and great job!
Just a reminder! All schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, October 14.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
