Students in Laura Morris' classes at Pilla Middle School completed a cross-curricular science/social studies project in which they mummified apples and then wrote postcards home to describe what they learned. Students learned about how and why the ancient Egyptians mummified bodies and why bodies were preserved.
The Vineland High School FFA ended their FFA Week celebrations with a $1 plant and flower sale. Students were able to purchase a plant or flower for $1, and with each purchase, students were able to spin a prize wheel. Students were able to get a chance to win pens, stickers, and even an FFA T-shirt!
"It is always fun to do events with the whole school and get everyone involved," said VHS FFA Secretary Faith DeCicco, "The prize wheel was a hit. Even teachers and staff wanted to participate."
Students in all agriculture classes ended the week by playing FFA Bingo! Thank you all for following along with our FFA week celebrations. Stay tuned for our upcoming events, including our biggest event, our spring plant sale, which will be open to the public!
D'Ippolito Elementary School had a wonderful turnout of over 50 families of almost 200 people for their annual Family Bingo Night! The Vineland Education Association sponsored this event through a PRIDE grant, which allows us to have families come back into our school community for a night of fun. Families enjoyed pizza provided by Pizza Queen, fresh popped popcorn, and over 30 family game prizes for our event. This event gives families the opportunity to enjoy time together as a family in the school setting. It allows families to feel a part of the school community and bridges those relationships between staff and families.
Congratulations to our Vineland High School band directors, Justin Feliciano and Eric Sikorski, for conducting this year's Cumberland County Honors Band on February 13!
Congratulations are also due to the following VHS marching band members for making the Cumberland County Honors Band: Flutes- Angelina Medio, Jackie McBride & Sabastian Rodrigues; Clarinets- Alexsandra Ramos & Jaslynn Gonzalez; Alto Saxophone- Kian Meyers; Tenor Saxophone- Connor J. DiRocco; Baritone Saxophones- Zarria Jones & Jeremy Flores; Trombone- Jeshua Maldonado; Tuba- Peyton Russo; Mallets- Arianna Harold; and Percussion- Anthony Gonzalez, Nicholas Forcinito & Casey Russoman.
We are so proud to have you represent Vineland! Great job!
Wallace 8th Grade students have recently finished a unit on Sustainability. The culminating activity in that unit was a Socratic seminar about using "trash" to make food. Through their research, students learned that this concept is the idea that we use all parts of ingredients/food so we are not wasting it and/or creating more waste. Students then used leftover food or ingredients to make some dishes specific to them and their culture, which we all tried and enjoyed.
"I love how they took what we were learning and put it into practice," said teacher Jamie Ecret.
Ms. Moyer’s third graders at Mennies Elementary School enjoy “Flashlight Friday” each week. Students read independently as they work on their reading stamina goal as a class. They enjoy sitting and listening to the “campfire” while they use a flashlight to read their books. Students have doubled their stamina since September!
Kindergarten students in Ms. Dubois' class at Petway Elementary School learned about Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in Louisiana. The Story of Ruby Bridges was read to the students, and then the students brainstormed different ways Ruby felt and completed a writing piece.
The Vineland High School Academic Team competed in the Egg Harbor Township Academic Triathlon on February 22nd and came in fifth place. Competing among 20 teams vying for the top spots offered the VHS Academic Team an opportunity to hone their teamwork and communication skills in a competitive environment. The Triathlon featured three rounds of academic trivia: Round 1 focused on questions about the humanities and the arts, Round 2 focused on math and science, and Round 3 focused on pop culture, sports, and current events. All members of the VHS team who were able to attend the event were able to compete for at least one round and gain valuable competitive experience.
The VHS Academic Team members who participated are: Seniors Christian Alvarado, Kendra Chestnut, Gabriella Cumba, Denise Gonzalez, Desunny Gonzalez, Jillian Schultz, and Kaelin Zheng; Juniors Reese Barraclough, Valentino Chanza, Iris Giocondo, Michaela Giuliani, Brandon Nieves, and Marley Smith; Sophomores Alilah Folk, Christopher Gagnon, Juliana Panco, Alexica Perez; and Freshman Tristan Morgan. Gabriela, Kaelin, and Jillian served as Red Team captains for the event, and Chris, Brandon, and Valentino served as Gray Team captains for the event. The advisor for the Academic Team is VHS English Department Chairperson Vanessa Rasmussen.
The Wallace Safety Patrol was invited to participate in Fist Bump Friday at Dane Barse School. The students were excited to see them, and the Safety Patrol had a great time. Some students even got to see their old teachers! Thank you, Dane Barse, for having us!
On Friday, February 16th, Mennies came together in a spectacular display of enthusiasm and creativity to celebrate our 101st day of school! It was a day filled with joy, camaraderie, and plenty of school spirit.
In honor of this special occasion, our students showcased their support for our Fine Arts Club by dressing up as adorable Dalmatians! It was heartwarming to see the halls filled with spots of black and white, embodying the spirit of our upcoming school play, "101 Dalmatians."
On Thursday, the Vineland FFA continued their FFA week celebrations by having a teacher and staff appreciation day. VHS teachers and staff could order coffee and a treat prepared by FFA members and delivered right to their rooms.
“Something as simple as a cup of coffee and cookies brought so much joy today," said VHS FFA president Jenna Pollock. "It was rewarding to see the smiles it brought."
Some amazing work coming from our VHS ceramics classes! Students in Mrs. Carberry's ceramics classes created and painted these beautiful mugs. We can't wait to see what they make next!
During Mennies Elementary School's Tuesday WMEN news broadcast, our entire school gathered as a live audience to shine a spotlight on acts of kindness within our school community. It was a beautiful opportunity to recognize and appreciate the kindness that surrounds us every day.
Throughout the broadcast, special kindness shoutouts were given to students and staff members who have demonstrated exceptional kindness in their actions. It was a touching moment to acknowledge the positive impact that these individuals have had on our school environment.
Our student anchors took center stage as they engaged in meaningful discussions about kindness – exploring what it looks and sounds like in various contexts.
A remarkable aspect of this event was that it was entirely planned and presented by the students in the WMEN club. Their dedication, creativity, and leadership were evident in every aspect of the assembly, and we couldn't be prouder of their efforts.
Mennies recognized their Playground Stars for displaying kindness during lunch and recess. We are so proud of our stars!
Students at Petway Elementary School have been chasing away the winter blues by learning about calypso rhythms and traditional songs from the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. They have been studying the background of these songs, identifying the musical elements in the music, analyzing the form, singing, and playing traditional metal instruments for class performances. Students are having so much fun playing the steel drum, tongue drum, and metallophone to the music as they learn about layering the syncopated rhythms.
Seventh-grade students at Wallace Middle School participated in students vs. staff games recently! This competition builds positive relationships among staff and students as they learn how to be good sports and build teamwork skills. All students must qualify to play and to be game viewers. The competition takes place during the last two periods of the day and is coordinated by the Wallace Physical Education Department. Thanks to Mr. Buglio, Mr. Balestiere, Ms. Checkley, and Ms. Milleta. Thanks also to Ms. Galdi for providing music to keep our teams in competitive mode!
Staff wins this one!
Wallace Middle School students had a blast celebrating friendship! The Friendship Dance was open to all qualified Wallace Wildcats. It is an incentive-based activity hosted by the Wallace PBSIS Committee. The DJ was our Band teacher, Ms. Galdi. The star of the night was Wally Wildcat (AP Brian Newton), who made an appearance to take friendship photos with the students!
Vineland Public Schools and Rowan College of South Jersey came together in a celebratory event on February 21 at Vineland High School, marking the reception of a prestigious $148,000 Dual Enrollment Pilot Grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. This grant, awarded to only four school districts statewide, highlights the commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing high school student participation, particularly among underrepresented groups.
VPS Broadcasting was at the event, and the entire ceremony can be viewed on our YouTube channel, VLDSchoolsTV
All Kids First Preschool had the opportunity to learn and have a lot of fun with these ducklings! Each classroom did a great job of taking care of their duck eggs by keeping them warm and turning them. After about a week, we were able to see them hatch, and it was so sweet! Now, the fun began! After they hatched, we were able to enjoy many different activities with them, including duck races, watching them play in the water, and even holding them! They are now back at the farm with their family, but we are very happy we got to make so many memories with them! Hope to see you soon, duckies!
AMSA at Johnstone 8th grade Honors English I students chose an "Unsung Hero" to honor in class. This project was part of the Unit 2 curriculum. Students read the book "Anthem,” discussed a hero's journey, and then culminated the unit with this project. Some of the heroes that the students chose ranged from Mr. James Jennings, Johnstone custodian, to Cole the Deaf Dog and Mr. Hannah, Allison Gogarty (The Morristown Cake Lady), and Colonel Callahan from the NJ State Police. These students researched their heroes, reached out to them and made contact, completed a presentation and a speech, and created a certificate. These students went above and beyond the requirements of the assignment. Amazing job to all of them!
