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Livingston Public School e-News

LPS Weekly News: Special events, and district and student achievements.

Allison Freeman, Neighbor
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Dear Livingston,

I would like to thank everyone for the very nice welcome e-mails and messages. I look forward to meeting many of you over the next few months.

In this edition:

Find out what's happening in Livingstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Livingston Board of Education

The Livingston Board of Education will have a voting meeting on Monday, May 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Livingston High School Auditorium.   The district’s retirees will be honored in a special ceremony and board members will hear a construction update and discuss charter schools. 

Find out what's happening in Livingstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Important Dates

  • May 30, 2011 – Schools closed; Memorial Day
  • June 7, 2011  – NJ Primary Day, partial day for elementary school students

Upcoming Special Events

Save the date for some spring special events:

  • National Art Honor Society Induction – Monday May 23 at 7 p.m. at LHS
  • National Honor Society Induction – Tuesday, May 24th at 7 p.m. in the LHS Auditorium
  • LHS Science Research Symposium – Wednesday May 25th at 7 p.m. at LHS
  • LHS Band Concert – Thursday, May 26th at 7:30 p.m. in the LHS auditorium
  • LHS Silent Service - Friday May 27th at 8 a.m.in the LHS Auditorium

District Achievements

  • The Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools has awarded an accreditation to Livingston High School. Livingston Public Schools Superintendent Brad Draeger will formally announce the award Monday night at the Board of Education meeting. “In their verbal briefing, in the class and school visitation, and in their written endorsement of the accreditation of LHS, the Middle State Association wholeheartedly recognized the outstanding accomplishments of the school and the high achievement of all students,”’ Draeger said today. 
  • The LHS Science Research Program was selected as a “Notable Program” in the Magna Best Practices Awards. To see the entry, visit http://www.asbj.com/MagnaSearch

Student Achievements

  • Livingston High School students Ryan Leslie, a senior, and Klara Blazek, a junior, had their work selected for the Fresh Perspectives, a Juried High School Art Exhibition at the Morris Museum, now on display through June 12. Ryan’s graphite and colored pencil drawing  “Persephone’s Regret,” and Klara’s black and white photograph “Sacre Couer,” are two of the 50 pieces of artwork featured in the exhibit with art work by high school students from across the state. The Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Museum admission is $10; $7 children, students and senior. Admission is free to the public 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. For information, visit www.morrismuseum.org or call (973) 971-3000.
  • Seven LHS creative writing students were named winners in the 31st Annual Rider University Annual Writing Contest. Creative writing teacher Susan Rothbard noted that the contest, which is very competitive, only had 22 winners and her students “swept” the awards in the essay category. The following winners were named: Poetry, Honorable mention: Alex Toma, grade 10, for his poem “ Not Knowing Where to Look;” Fiction, Honorable Mention: Chelsea Altchek, grade 11, for her story “Orange Mush;” Essay: 1st place: Jana Ruthberg, grade 10, for “When You Brushed My Hair;” 2nd place: Li Ann Giordano, grade 11, for “Mashida;” 3rd place: Hana Feiner, grade 10 for “Bleeding;” Honorable mention: Shannon Zuber, grade 11, for “The Perfect Meal,” and Morgan Collins, grade 10, for “Closet Eater.” 
  • Heritage Middle School’s team of students came in first place in New Jersey in the middle school category of the Knowledge Master Open. They also placed 19th out of 604 teams from around the world. The tournament, which features a computerized exam, tested the students’ knowledge and problem solving/critical thinking skills.

Special  Program

  • The Livingston Parent Academy presents “Reading at Home With Your Child” Tuesday, May 31 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Heritage Middle School. The informal program will be presented by Elaine Bakke, Livingston’s K-12 Language Arts Supervisor, and will look at ways that parents can encourage positive reading behaviors at home, both during the school year and over summer vacation. The presentation will address the value of literacy, tips for reading at home and summer reading. Please RSVP by Friday, May 27 by e-mailing gdipopolo@livingston.org or by calling (973) 535-8000 ext. 8029.

Green Notes

  • The Livingston Recycling and Reclamation Committee and Livingston Public Schools PTOs are appealing to parents to turn their engines off while waiting to pick up or drop off students at school. The committee and PTOs are working together to increase environmental awareness in the schools, according to Sue Fershing, chair of the Recycling and Reclamation Committee. “State law prohibits idling for more than three minutes,” Fershing said. “An idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling at 30 mph, 15 minutes of idling emits almost 1 pound of carbon dioxide and 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning the engine on and off.”

Anti-Idling signs have been installed  throughout the district, she said. Fershing said that parents need to be aware that children are especially vulnerable to air pollution. “Children breathe faster than adults, inhale more air per pound of body weight than adults and stand closer to tailpipe height,” Fershing said. For information, email Fershing at sfersh@juno.com.

Community Opportunities

  • Get set for Livingston’s Youth Appreciation Week Monday May 23 through Monday May 30. The week-long event, which is chaired by the Healthy Community Healthy Youth Initiative of Livingston, celebrates the township’s youth and recognizes their achievements and contributions to our community. Check out the live television preview on Fios and Comcast. Special events include wiffle ball for kids with special needs Monday at LHS at 7 p.m., an Adopt a Grandparent program Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. at Inglemoor Nursing Home, a family softball game and barbecue Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (registration required at www.livingstonnj.org), a Town Center “Love-In” Street Festival for Youth May 26 from 4-9 p.m., a Parent’s Night Out Friday from 6-9 p.m. with kids activities at the senior center, an Open “Mic” for high schoolers and a family festival day at the oval Saturday May 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., a circus Sunday May 30  and Monday May 31 and the Memorial Day Parade and ceremonies May 31. For a full list of events and details and registration information, visit http://hchylivingston.org/ or e-mail mackermann@livingston.org.
  • A new “Shining Star” Sports League: A League for Exceptional Children, offered by the new Senior, Youth and Leisure Services League for children with special needs, will kick off its new programming in September. Parents must register their children for the new soccer, basketball, floor hockey and t-ball/baseball programs beginning June 1. The league will meet on Saturdays and/or Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Monmouth Court Community Center from September to June, 2012. Two leagues will be offered: a “junior” league for children ages 5 to 9 and a “senior” league for youth ages 10 to 16. The cost is $75 per sport. To register, visit http://livingstonsyls.org or enroll at the SYLS office at the Livingston Senior and Community Center on Hillside Avenue, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, including program qualifications, and volunteer signup (training will be provided), contact SYLS Adaptive Recreation Coordinator Mark Silance at (973) 535-7925 or email msilance@livingstonnj.org.
  • The LHS National Honor Society is having a book drive and will be collecting used SAT, ACT and AP study guides and later sell them at a reduced price to benefit a local charity. Books may be brought to LHS A116, world language teacher Barbara Kaplan’s classroom (also the NHS adviser) or at the high school main office with Kaplan’s name. For information, email bkaplan@livingston.org.
  • The Livingston Parents & Professional for Exceptional Children will have their final meeting of the school year Wednesday May 25th at 7 p.m. at the LHS Media Center. The group will present its new slate of officers, its mission statement and by-laws. Members are invited to attend. For information, contact ppeclivingston@aol.com.
  • Celebrate America with a Livingston Symphony Orchestra family-friendly concert featuring music by our country’s composers as the (LSO) performs its fourth and final concert of the 2010-2011 season Saturday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. at LHS. The evening will feature a range of music from “Star Wars” to “Porgy and Bess.” Tickets are $20; $15 for students and seniors, and are available in advance or at the door.  Admission is free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult. Call (973) 980-1809. For information, visit www.lsonj.org.
  •  Cub Scout Pack 16 is accepting registration for new scouts for the 2011-2012 scouting year and will offer an informational presentation June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Livingston Senior/Community Center. All boys currently in kindergarten through 4th grade are eligible to join. For information, e-mail committeechair@livingstonpak16.org.
  • A mother and daughter will recount their perspectives of an abusive dating relationship in “Dating Abuse: It Could Happen to MY Child” a special program planned by Columbia High School’s Teen Dating Abuse Club and the NCJW Center for Women.  Parents and their children are invited to attend the program May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia HS Auditorium, 17 Parker Ave., Maplewood. For information, visit   dgbeni@Verizon.net.
  • Livingston resident, parent, activist, volunteer and Livingston Social Studies Supervisor Chris Bickel will speak about “The Power of One” at the HCHY General meeting May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Livingston Community Center, 204 Hillside Ave. For information, visit www.hchylivingston.org.
  • Global Friendships is seeking host families for 15 junior high school and high school students from the northern region of Spain for a cultural exchange program June 30 through July 27. The students have knowledge of the English language and will attend ESL classes week days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the day at Anthony Franco’s Pizzeria. They will also be taking special day trips to New York City, the beach, Six Flags Great Adventure etc. Host families will be asked to provide a bed, three meals a day and transportation and make the student feel like they are part of the family. For information, call Yvette A. Borondy at (973) 992-5177 or e-mail nyuci@aol.com.

Until the next edition of e-News…

Have a wonderful week!

Take care,

Allison Freeman, Interim Manager, Communications and Community Outreach, Livingston Public Schools

(973) 535-8000 ext. 8036

(973) 535-1254 - Fax

AFreeman@Livingston.org

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