The SOMSD Mathematics Department & The Parenting Center’s Leap to Success Committee present:
Closing the Elementary School Achievement Gap Educational Series
Take-Home Math
Helping Your Child Succeed

Grades K-­‐2 ~ Tues., Jan. 31, 2012 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Clinton School
27 Berkshire Road, Maplewood

Grades 3-­‐5 ~ Tues., Feb. 28, 2012 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Seth Boyden School
274 Boyden Ave., Maplewood

Flyer with complete details here.

The Adult School is currently attempting to form new Suzuki violin lessons for K-2 beginners. Lessons will start in the second half of February. Depending on the start date, there will be 12-15 lessons, and the fee will be between $180-225. Potential classes will be held at the following times and places:

      Clinton School on Mondays, 5:00-5:30
      Seth Boyden School on Tuesdays, 4:00-4:30 and 6:00-6:30
      Tuscan School on Wednesdays, 4:00-4:30, 5:30-6:00 and 6:00-6:30

If you are interested, please email Jay Eisenberg or call him at the Adult School, 973-378-7620.

Since we have been providing information on the Hua Mei Mandarin-immersion Charter School application, we wanted to let you know that the application was denied by ‪Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf‬ on Friday afternoon.

The Mandarin-immersion school, proposed to be located in Maplewood, would have drawn students from the South Orange-Maplewood School District and West Orange School District. Hua Mei’s first application was denied in September and its second application was denied on Friday.

There are charter school reform bills currently stalled in the State Senate that would give communities local control of charter decisions. If these bills are passed, citizens would have a say in whether charters open in their communities. If you would like to show yoursupport for these bills, there is a petition you can sign here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/somsdcharterconcerns/

The Clinton PTA

The Harlem Wizards will be playing basketball against South Orange Maplewood teachers and administrators on Sunday, January 29th at Maplewood Middle School. Should be a really fun event.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29TH 6:30 PM @ THE MMS GYM
CONCESSIONS PROVIDED BY ROMAN GOURMET
HARLEM WIZARDS VS THE COUGAR ALLSTARS
FEATURING: JEFF TRUPPO, BRIAN OSBORNE, MMS TEACHERS, AND MORE

Tickets can be purchased at select village stores:
Maplewood Stationers, Village Barber Shop, Village Wine Shop

Tickets can also be purchased online at:
www.mmshsa.org or www.harlemwizards.com
Advance tickets: Students $7, Adults $9
At the door: Students $11, Adults $13

Please click here for the flyer.

On Friday January 13th, the Clinton Elementary School 3rd grade hosted Maplewood’s own Alidis Vicente. Mrs. Vicente is a 2001 Columbia High School graduate and author who resides in Maplewood. Her 2010 picture book, The Coqui and the Iguana tells the tale of a young girl’s trip to Puerto Rico and her discovery of the bioluminescent bays. The audience was introduced to the native coqui, or tiny tree frog, and the iguana, an animal that was brought to Puerto Rico many years ago.

3rd grade students were not only treated to a reading, but also invited to share in lessons of multiculturalism and environmentalism. They learned that many of the bioluminescent bays in the world are at risk due to the pollution from boats. Students were asked to consider how we could still enjoy the rare “glowing” waters in Puerto Rico without further damaging them.

Mrs. Vicente’s own story of growing up in a Spanish-speaking household and spending time with family in Puerto Rico connected with many in the room as students acknowledged their own international families and friendships at Clinton. Encouraging all students to write about what they know and what they are passionate about, she reminded them that age should not be a factor in writing as she herself is much younger than many authors today. Students are looking forward to her next book.

Click to see a clip of the author visit on youtube.

— Jennifer Latimer, Clinton Elementary School Library

Marshall School is sponsoring a great event for Martin Luther King Day, a screening of the movie “Our Friend, Martin” at 10:30 am on Monday, January 16th at SOPAC.

Please click the flyer for more information.