What a wondrous time is spring. With daffodils – 30,000 new bulbs in all -- blooming in the front of schools and throughout the town, kites flying, children jumping rope and watching for signs of new life, we just might be finished shivering in the stands of their ball games.
Visiting a kindergarten class, a boy was excited to show off their duck eggs. “We only have 12 more days to wait,” Max told me. “We’re keeping them warm with a special light,” he said. “We can see the veins!”
“Embryos,” a classmate corrected, a grownup word for kindergarteners whose vocabularies are building as quickly as they are growing.
At the computer, their teacher was typing the children’s stories about their principal, John Leister at Collins.
“He tells jokes at lunch.”
“He owns this school.”
“He is the best in the world.”
All the best in the world is indeed being rediscovered. We found it in the child’s joyful anticipation for the birth of the ducklings. Flying kites for Earth Day, like they did at Harrison. Appreciating our township’s diversity at multi-cultural events. Art and music showcased in stunning exhibits at the mall. Turning off technology -- (by teenagers at Mt. Pleasant Middle!) -- and instead chatting with friends, unplugged.
For four days, close to 200 sixth graders took up the no-tech challenge. No video games. No computers. No texting. And the sixth graders say they text a lot – hundreds of texts a day. Instead, they ate ice cream. Baked cookies. Played at the park with friends. Cleaned out a shed. “I told my mom to lock my phone and hide it,” Keerthi said.
It all sounds like fun, but would they do again? For these tech savvy students, the answer was a chorus of Nos!
But by doing without electronics -- at least for 96 hours -- and focusing instead on family, the beauty of nature, and the imagination within themselves, the students enjoyed their reward on a gorgeous spring afternoon by jumping rope and kicking balls on the fields behind the school.
Here’s what else is going on in Livingston Public Schools.
IN OUR SCHOOLS
Art Through the Ages: District exhibit chronicles the creativity found in Livingston Public Schools.
Click! Cam Jansen Comes to Collins: Author shares some of the mystery behind the popular book series.
Second Graders Discover 200 Years of Livingston History: Library will showcase their giant timeline beginning with reception on April 30.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
What’s the Big Idea? LHS students have some innovative answers.
School Board Celebrates District Achievements: Students recognized for their scholastic, art and music honors.
LHS Honored in Congressional Exhibit: Four Livingston students are featured in 'An Artistic Discovery.'
STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS
MPMS Educator Wins Teacher Excellence Award: Technology teacher Aleksandr Sadiwnyk is honored by NJ Technology and Engineering Educator Association.
GT Teacher Honored with Democracy Award: Donna Richter-Maschio wins prestigious honor for her commitment to social justice.
Al Partelow Wins National Coach of the Year: Lancers volleyball coach is recognized as among the top in country.
See community news by clicking on our Bulletin Board here.
Marilyn Joyce Lehren is the Manager of Communications/Community Outreach for
Livingston Public Schools.
