Once again, the VHS Dancers made us proud! They did such an INCREDIBLE job performing at The NJ Teen Arts Festival this week that they advanced to the State level of The Festival! Ms. Hall is so proud of their hard work, dedication, and determination.
The Vineland Public Library has a lot of fun events for children and teens coming up in May! Check out the attached flyers for more information.
Vineland Public Schools hosted its next Community Partnership Action Committee meeting of the school year on April 24, part of an ongoing initiative spearheaded by Superintendent Alfonso Llano.
Over 30 city and county organizations, city officials, Board of Education members, and district staff and administrators participated in the meeting at the Landis Administrative Offices. The theme of this meeting was the effects of social media on mental health, especially related to our students.
The group enjoyed a light lunch from Sodexo, the district’s food service provider, before being welcomed by Deana Ridolfo, Supervisor for Pupil Services. Ridolfo welcomed the group and introduced new community members attending for the first time before welcoming Stephanie Engle, Social Worker at Vineland High School. Engle gave a very informative presentation on how social media affects our youth. She noted how the impact of technology and social media, especially during and post-Covid, has increased the rates of anxiety and depression as screen time increases. Engle also described several of the challenges that schools face related to social media and technology, such as cyberbullying, lack of conflict resolution skills, and a decrease in forming in-person social relationships. The group then discussed some ways for schools and parents to help mitigate some of these negative effects.
Following Engle was Delizah Headly, a Southwest Council Prevention Specialist. Headly’s presentation also focused on social media and its effects on mental health, with an emphasis on why children and teenagers interact the way they do on these social sites. She noted that overexposure to social media can trigger pathways comparable to addiction, and many teens avoid posting certain things because of fear of embarrassment. Headly also offered some suggestions on how parents can identify these behaviors in their children and how to form a healthy balance using technology.
Following the presentations, Dr. Danielle Sneathen spoke briefly on her experiences with social media in schools throughout her teaching and administrative career, highlighting how rapidly it has evolved. She then provided a summary of the novel “What Made Maddy Run” by Kate Fagan. The book delves into the life of Madison Holleran, a talented college athlete who struggled with mental health issues. The book explores the pressures of college life, the pursuit of perfection, and the impact of social media on young adults. Fagan examines how these factors contributed to Maddy's internal struggles and emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness and support systems for young athletes and students. Sneathen then raffled off 10 copies of the novel to attendees and thanked them for their generous donations to the Vineland Soup Kitchen.
The final meeting of the year will take place on May 14.
The Landis Administrative Offices were bustling today for Take Your Child to Work Day!
D'Ippolito Elementary School welcomed their families to travel Around the World in a Day! Over 150 people returned to go on a trip and experience the cultures of Ukraine, Mexico, Italy, Greece, China and the Caribbean through music, art and food. Families received a passport to start their journey and entered to enjoy the sounds of Steel Drum music provided by Veteran's Memorial School's own multi-talented Band Teacher Edward Zatzariny. They were then treated to Opera sung beautifully by VHS alumni Nerys Muller. This stop on our travels ended with our own D'Ippolito's Choir singing "A World of Music" beautifully orchestrated by Music Teacher Ms. Oravsky.
Our travels continued onward to our stops at different countries to experience their culture through art and food. The students actively participated during the school day learning about the different countries through Social Studies, Language Arts and Art. Each grade focused on one country or region: K-Mexico, 1st-Greece, 2nd-Italy, 3rd-China, 4th-Ukraine and 5th-Caribbean.
Sodexo provided tasty samplings from some of the different countries. The menu included:
Mediterranean: Falafel with Tzatziki Sauce, Latin: Chicken Mini Tacos, Asian: General Tao Chicken, Italian: Antipasto Kabob. Families were able to travel to these countries and sample these different delicacies.
After flying around the world, families could dance off some of those calories through Zumba/Hip Hop provided by Nancy Dixon and Nate Offer from the Dixon Dance Academy. Families really enjoyed this part of the evening where parents and students enjoyed a night of dancing and having fun.
D'Ippolito School enjoyed having our families travel around the world in a day with us. They were able to witness what their children have achieved through active learning and enjoy the results through an event that celebrates the diversity in all of us.
Students from the Vineland High School Agriculture Program took a field trip to the district’s Central Kitchen located at Wallace Middle School on Tuesday. The trip served to highlight the process that food goes through once it is harvested and delivered to our kitchen. Director of Food Service Purvesh Patel led the tour, walking the students through the “cook-chill” process, which involves the full cooking of food, followed by rapid chilling and storage at controlled temperatures before serving. The students took proper safety precautions and walked through the loading dock, freezer, and central kitchen.
“I believe that experiences like the visit from the Agriculture students are crucial in fostering a deeper understanding of the journey our food takes before it reaches their plates,” Patel said. “By showcasing the meticulous 'cook-chill' process, we not only educate but empower these students to make informed choices about the food they consume. It also provides an appreciation for the intricate workings of our kitchen while emphasizing the importance of food safety and sustainability.”
The VPS Transportation Department celebrated our bus drivers on Tuesday for School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Drivers received a keychain, snack, and a bottle of water for their afternoon route. Our drivers go above and beyond every day to get our kids to school and home safely and we thank them for it!
On Monday, April 22, students at Mennies learned about their own Mindset Mission and the Power of YET. YET the Yeti helped NED learn to Never Give Up by using the Power of YET. NED told students the next time they feel like they can’t do something… remember it’s just that you can’t do it…YET! But you will get there ifyou keep on taking the next step. Just like when you’re learning to yo-yo. You may not be able to do those amazing tricks…YET. But if you practice a lot and keep at it, you will get better!
The Vineland High School Lawn sign sale is now here! Help congratulate the Class of 2024 by purchasing a lawn sign for $30. Sale ends on May 1 and signs will be ready approximately three weeks after order date.
Visit https://www.varsitycentralnj.com/ to place an order. For any questions or more information, please contact Julia Madrid, class advisor, at 856-794-6800 ext. 2615, See the attached flyer for more information.
Dallago Preschools celebrated their appreciation for their bus drivers and aides for Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
There are multiple upcoming dates to come out and support our graduating seniors! See the attached flyers for more information.
Last week, Dallago students and staff wore blue to show that they "choose to include" and "choose to be kind to all kinds."
There is no part of our population that includes and welcomes ALL humans more than preschool-aged children. Our students and staff show inclusion, kindness, and support daily, and we could not be more proud of the amazing qualities that shine at Dallago.
"Neurodiversity fosters an environment where every individual's voice is heard and valued" - Unknown.
Mrs. Uebelackers's 5th-grade math class at Mennies Elementary School worked on learning different types of triangles and measurements. Students worked in small
groups, learning about the triangles and how to measure using a protractor. They got to explore their classroom, examining triangles that were taped all over the room. Students were excited and engaged during this lesson!
Veterans Memorial School's Multicultural Night is tonight! Come out from 6-7 p.m. All are welcome!
In Ms. Espinosa's Bilingual Science classes, 6th graders have been learning about living things. We took a walk around the school to find all the living things that we could find. We saw squirrels climbing on trees, birds returning to their nests, ants on the ground, and, of course, plenty of trees.
In our 7th-grade classes, we used a microscope to observe a part of our body (the elbow). Everyone was amazed at how our elbow cells looked under the microscope.
In 8th grade, we are piloting OpenSciEd through Active Learning! We have been talking about how animals look different, and some have more muscle than others. We've looked at traits and variations of traits. Students got to work in groups to organize tulips by their chosen traits and their variations.
On April 19th, Winslow School welcomed a fantastic array of community vehicles as part of an enriching event sponsored by the PRIDE Grant through the Vineland Education Association. Students had the extraordinary opportunity to explore and learn about various vehicles firsthand.
Throughout the day, students engaged in interactive experiences, including climbing into vehicles, honking horns, observing equipment, conversing with drivers, and asking questions to deepen their understanding. The event featured a diverse selection of vehicles, ranging from firetrucks and police cars to jeeps, slingshots, big rig trucks, and even a farm tractor and excavator.
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the landing of an NJ State Police helicopter in the back field, captivating the imagination of all in attendance. Following an exciting morning of exploration, students enjoyed a delicious cone from the ice cream truck.
Overall, Community Vehicles Day was a resounding success. It provided students with an unforgettable learning experience and facilitated a deeper connection with their community. We extend our sincere thanks to all involved in making this event possible and look forward to future opportunities for hands-on learning and discovery.
Barse Elementary 5th graders were treated to an awesome presentation from legendary American explorer John Moyer. He is a deep diver who owns the salvage rights to the Andrea Doria shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Moyer spoke about his many deep dives to various shipwrecks. He also brought in many artifacts that he had collected throughout the years. The students were so excited to see images and watch a clip of one of his dives on the Andrea Doria.
Petway Elementary Safety Patrol and staff came together to tackle the Lincoln Avenue and Petway School Road Clean-Up! The patrol and staff worked together to pick up litter from the portion of Lincoln Avenue that was adopted by Petway School. Students and staff planned this clean-up to coincide with Earth Day!
"We really want the students to understand that just picking up a small piece of litter can make a difference to keeping our Earth safe," said Michelle Brady, Safety Advisor. Students were enthusiastic about helping staff keep their community clean! #PetwayProud
Second-grade classes at Petway Elementary School celebrated Earth Day by planting wildflowers and going on a scavenger hunt. Kindergarten also joined in the fun and teamed up with the second grade to search for bees, flowers, clouds, and insects! Students learned about ways to help the Earth and conserve our planet. #PetwayProud
Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Through every journey, you're the steady hand guiding our children's path, ensuring their safety and comfort with every mile. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, and for being the friendly face our students count on each day.
