Curriculum Committee- Saturday October 11

Today marked the first Saturday meeting for the Hoboken Curriculum Project. The Committee reformed in groups that were developed this past summer and picked up where things were left off in late August. Committees on the Language Arts, Science, Technology, Mathematics, Social Studies, and "specials" met in Brandt on a beautiful fall day from 9AM to 3PM. Among the many new activites ondertaken today included initial work on the Holocaust curriculum for the first grade. The team is utilizing the developed curriculum mapping to integrate children's literature as well as other activities across the curriculum for each month. The guides provided to the group by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education have proven to be very helpful and interesting.

College Day at Hoboken High School

Thursday was "College Day" at Hoboken High School. Over 45 Universities, Colleges, and Community Colleges were on hand to distribute material and answer questions by Hoboken High School junior and senior class members. The event started at 9AM and concluded at noon with extremely high participation. Principal Dr. Lorraine Cella along with her administrative staff, counselors and teachers worked extensively with state and local area institutions to assure the success of this event. Recent data indicate that approximately 94% of Hoboken High School graduates went on to post secondary education.

Curriculum Committee Moves into Brandt

Today the Hoboken Curriculum Committee officially moved into more permanent facilities in Brandt School according to Dr. Petrosino. The committee will utilize four classrooms, a library and two computer labs as they set about the next stage of the curriculum revision process. This dedicated area will also be utilized for other district training and professional development activities. The area will have high speed internet access, a teachers lounge, work desks, computer stations, and the technical specifications to make small group presentations and conduct within district workshops. The Curriculum Committee is excited about having a dedicated location where texbooks, guides, and resources can be housed. The following assignments have been made for the 2008-2009 academic year:

RM 210- Language Arts
RM 300- World Language/Arts
RM 303- Social Studies
RM 307- Technology
RM 308- Science/Mathematics
RM 305- Library/Resource Room
Teachers Lounge

John Lennon's Birthday

On the occassion of what would have been John Lennon's 68th birthday it may be an appropriate time to reflect on his view of schooling. In his song "Working Class Hero" recorded in 1970, Lennon articulates a notion of alienation, class, and social status... a message that resonates independent of generational mileposts and points to the incredibly powerful role that schooling has on the developing child.

Refering to "Working Class Hero", U.S. Representative Harley Orrin Staggers heard the song on WGTB and lodged a complaint with the FCC. The manager of WGTB faced a year in prison and a $10,000 fine, but defended his decision to play the song saying, "The People of Washington are sophisticated enough to accept the occasional four-letter word in context, and not become sexually aroused, offended, or upset."


Working Class Hero
John Lennon

As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so $#@*&+# crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still $#@*&+# peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

Hoboken Family Alliance- Open House

Representatives from nearly all Hoboken public and private schools as well as a fair representation of other providers in northern Hudson County were on hand in the Hoboken High School gym for the annual Open House sponsored by the Hoboken Family Alliance. The Hoboken Public School District had displays by Calabro School, Connors School, Wallace School, and our Pre-Kindergarten Program. Building principal's were on hand to answer questions and provide information to interested parents and community members. In addition, representatives from HoLa (Hoboken Dual Language Program) were on hand to field questions and gauge district support for a dual language program.

Reminder: Hoboken All School Open House

Attention to all parents---there will be an All School Open House tonite, Tuesday, October 7, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Hoboken High School (800 Clinton St, between 8th and 9th). This Open House is especially useful for parents trying to reconcile school options for their children that exisit in the City of Hoboken. The Open House is sponsored by both the Hudson County Alliance of Independent Schools as well as the Hoboken Family Allicance. Representatives and parents will be available so that you may ask questions and learn more about various public and private school programs in Hoboken. For more information go to www.hobokenfamily.com.

World War II Veterans Voices Heard

Students from Ms. Rachel Grygiel's US History course along with help from Mr. Doug MacAulay's video production group, took part in an extensive interviewing of a number of Hoboken residents who served their country during World War II. The project will develop some public service announcements for the forthcoming World War II monument in Hoboken as well as a documentary project in which the voices and stories of these citizens will be shared with the public formally for the first time.

From the student handbook for the course: “In conjunction with the Library of Congress American Folklife Center Veterans’ History Project, HHS history students will interview WWII Veterans. This is the first stage in preserving the stories and memories of veterans from our town. In the following stages, students will work with veterans from all military conflicts from Korea to Iraq to share their stories with their families and the community.” All interviews will be sent to be stored at the National Archives in Washington DC.

Once editing and final production is done, look for the clips on the educational access channel on cable television (Channel 77). From a curriculum perspective, this project clearly integrates technology, history and the use of narrative in an extended project based activity. This is consistent with NJCCC standards as well as an example of the types of activities anticipated with the eventual adoption of the new curriculum.

For more information on the Veterans’ History Project: http://www.loc.gov/vets/

Schedule of Meetings for Hoboken Curriculum Committee: Fall 2008

Today was the first Fall meeting of the Hoboken Curriculum Committee. The meeting was held in the High School library from 3-3:30pm and consistent primarily of organizational issues. Dr. Petrosino and the Committee agreed to the following meeting times with the understanding that this was a fairly aggressive schedule and that modifications would be considered as the semester progresses. Petrosino also spoke about an upcoming meeting with the Deputy of Education in Trenton and updating progress on the curriculum made at the end of the summer.


The meeting schedule:

Thursday Schedule (all meetings are from 3-4:30pm)
October 9
October 23
October 30
November 13
November 20
December 11
December 18

Saturday Schedule (all meetings are from 9am-3pm)
October 11
October 25
November 1
November 15
November 22
December 13

Fall Break Schedule (all meetings are from 9am-3pm)
Monday November 3
Tueesday November 4
Wednesday November 5
Thursday November 6 (if necessary)

Working at the Car Wash Yeah- Fundraiser for Demarest Student Council Fund

On Saturday, between 8:30AM and 3:30PM, students from Demarest High School organized and took part in a car wash in order to raise funds for Student Council activities. The students braved changeable weather all day as weather conditions varied between sunny, overcast, rainy and crisp--- The students reached their financial goal and tentative plans are in place for a spring car wash in April. The car wash would not have been possible without the voluntary participation of a number of Demarest teachers and the help of the Demarest custodial staff.

Trenton Visit- NJ Schools Development Authority

Today, Superintendent Raslowsky, Director of Operations Calligy and Asst. Superintendent Petrosino visited Trenton to meet with members of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) and the Department of Education (DOE) on issues centering on 2008 New Funding Allocation and Capital Plan for SDA District. The meeting centered on issues relating to the Thomas G. Connors Elementary School modernization project as well as consideration for future prioritization of district facilities. For instance, discussions concerning the Long-Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) were discussed and debated for the optimal utilization of Connors School along with a formal presentation on the district's Design Review Status was communicated. Additional discussions revolved around construction and funding timelines. Some discussion on land utilization, open space and Hoboken's unique status was also discussed with agreement that further discussion should take place in the near future.

HoLa Meeting

Today Ms. Camille Korschun, Ms. Jennifer Hindman, Superintendent Raslowsky and Dr. Petrosino met to discuss a proposed dual language program (Spanish-English) as an educational option to the Hoboken families within the public schools. HoLa () is committed to establishing a strong tradition of excellence through a two-way dual language educational model in which both Engkish and Spanish will be used as tools on instruction in delivering a challenging academic program to a student body composed of native speakers of both languages. Exceptional dual language education will be provided through a rigerous curriculum that meets or exceeds the State of New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Further discussions are being proposed. HoLa will have a booth at the Hoboken Family Allicance Open House on Tuesday, October 7th from 5-8pm at Hoboken High School.

2008-2009 Curriculum Committee Approval

The following teachers were recommended and approved for appointment to the Curriculum Committee at a value not to exceed $3330.00 per teacher for the 2008 / 2009 school year. Total not to exceed $125,000.00. Line item# 11-000-221-104-12-1033-000

Jayshree Amin, Tasha Leggard, Jill Littzi, Lea Gualario, Michele McGreivey, Robin Piccapietra, Paul Huggins, Christopher Munoz, Stephanie Safko, Susan Imholz, Jared Ramos, Mark Taraszkiewicz, Ryan Sorafine, Jennifer Suyat, Erin Kraven, Donna Yula, Helen DeRose, Derek England, Louis Taglieri, Patricia Hack, Adriana Coppola, Joanne Ariyan, Martin Shannon, Jenisa Wilson, Frances Cohen, Damien DeBenedetto, Janice Shikham, Kathleen Kelly-Ynoa, Mark Schartner, Mary Sifonios, Cara Killen, Romy Marchesani, Fiona Stephens, Roseangela Perez, Elise Rosenberg, Melanie Alberto-Kolmer, Edward Barfield Isabel Bruno Veronica Ramos, Victoria Chodos, Geidy DeLaRosa, Juliana Addi, Barabara Teller, Meghna Patel, Anabel Gomez, Lynn Fusco, Robert Meyers, Tania Trinidad-Payamps, Tara Donnelly, Patrick Ciriello, Gabriela Taglieri-Garcia, Bess Mitsakos, Marni Rosenblum, Adriana Coppola, Kelly Sogluzzio, Andrea Canonico, Kevin Metcalfe, Beth Tomlinson, Denise Toles, Shawn Kolmer, Amy Casciano, Vincent Cassesa