Somerville Public Schools

New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Fast Grant Event at Somerville High School! 🌟 Date & Time: Saturday, December 9th, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM🏫 Location: Cafeteria, Somerville High School Join us for an enriching and fun-filled educational conference designed for Somerville's vibrant Hispanic community! This event is a fantastic opportunity for parents to gain valuable insights and resources to support their children’s success in school. Highlights of the Event: • Inspirational Speakers: Engage with dynamic speakers who will lead educational and motivational sessions. • Authentic Latino Cuisine: Enjoy a taste of culture with delicious, authentic Latin dishes. • Exciting Raffles: Incredible prizes, perfect before the holiday season 🎄 • Music and Dancing: Enjoy the day and end on a high note with Latino music and maybe some dancing! • Free for All Parents: This event is completely free, offering an excellent opportunity for community building and learning. Last year’s conference was a blast; we’re excited to bring even more energy and resources this time. Don’t miss this chance to support your child’s educational journey while celebrating our rich cultural heritage. 🌟 Come, Learn, & Enjoy with Us! 🌟

Today is the first day of December and as the holidays approach, they bring their share of joy and challenges. So our incredible middle school has created a little something special🎄📚 Introducing the ‘Need a Boost?’ Bulletin Board! Located in Somerville Middle School, this board is adorned with envelopes containing messages of patience, confidence, and hope. 💌✨ In this hectic season, we all could use a little bit of a lift. Whether you’re a student feeling some pressure, a teacher juggling the approaching marking period deadlines, or a parent navigating the holiday hustle, these messages are for you. 🤗 So feel free to take a slip, read it, and let these positive affirmations brighten your day. We can spread kindness and always support each other. 💖 👉It's always worth remembering that sometimes a small message can make a big difference. 📝💭 #Allin4theville #somervillemiddleschoolnj #KindnessCounts #PositiveVibes #HolidaySeason

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature our staff members at The Ville who contribute to students' academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week is a double feature with Van Derveer Elementary School's Mrs. Lepkowski & Mrs. Glinka! Mrs. Lepkowski has been teaching at Van Derveer for 21 years. She has taught first, second, and third grade and has spent most of her years teaching first grade. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, she furthered her education and expertise and returned to school for her special education certification. She is currently teaching first-grade inclusion with Mrs.Glinka. She loves teaching first grade as it is very rewarding to see students' growth over the school year and learn from other teachers she works alongside. She has served as Grade Level Leader for the First Grade Team, mentored new teachers, and served on numerous committees including the Food Drive Committee, Angel Tree, SunFish, Autism Awareness, Book Fair, the Literacy Team, Retirement Party Committee, United Way, Read Across America Committee, Strawberry Festival and has helped with New Staff Orientation during the summer. She loves to make learning fun, helping students work through problems, and enjoys seeing past students come back to visit her over the years. Mrs. Glinka has been teaching at VanDerveer for 19 years. She has taught fifth grade, third grade, and first grade. She has taught general education and inclusion classes for the past 3 years and worked alongside Mrs. Lepkowski in first-grade inclusion. Mrs. Glinka collaborates with colleagues to plan field trips, has been a Grade Level Leader, and has served on committees such as the Food Drive committee, Week of the Young Child, Science Fair committee, and Read Across America. She was nominated as one of Magic 98.3's Teachers Who Make Magic in the 2022-2023 school year. Her favorite thing about teaching is providing students with new and exciting experiences that help them connect their learning to the real world. Thank you for all that you both do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #somervillenj

🎨 Exploring Art Students Dive into Multicultural Learning with Sugar Skulls 🌟 Mrs. Stafford’s class at Somerville High School participated in their latest art project, diving into the vibrant world of sugar skulls, a staple of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. This multicultural lesson introduced our Exploring Art students to 3D artistry using clay and the rich cultural traditions behind these ornate creations. 🔸 Learning and Creativity: Students began by researching sugar skulls, sketching their ideas in 2D, and then bringing them to life with clay. They carved out intricate details as the clay hardened, culminating in a colorful painting and decoration session post-kiln. 🏆 Classroom Contest: Our young artists competed in five categories: 1. Most Original (Authentic) 2. Most Decorative 3. Scariest 4. Most Creative 5. Class Favorite Each class voted for their favorites, leading to a semi-final round judged by our staff members: 🌈 Winners: • 🥇 Favorite: Greta Scruggs • 🥈 Most Decorative: Jadyn DeSouza • 🥉 Most Creative: Tegan Dingwall Congratulations to the winners and all participants for their incredible work and creativity! Your sugar skulls are pieces of art but also a bridge to diverse cultures and histories. 🌍🎭 #allin4theville #ArtEducation #StudentCreativity #DayOfTheDead

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Somerville High School's M.A.P.S. Teacher, Mrs. DeRogatis! Anne Marie DeRogatis has been teaching at M.A.P.S. for 6 years. Mrs. D (as her students affectionately refer to her) teaches English, Public Speaking, and Creative Writing this year. She is also the proud mama of the M.A.P.S. therapy dog, Jeter! Jeter comes to school with her each day and loves her students. She even has her own Instagram account that you can follow @ville_jetertherapydog! . . #allin4theville #somervillestafffeatureoftheweek #somervillenj #somervillestrong

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Somerville Middle School's Mrs. Eddleman! Mrs. Eddleman has been teaching for thirteen years and has been lucky enough to teach at SMS for the last two years. As the Media Arts and Technology teacher, she teaches Digital Design to sixth-grade students, Broadcasting to seventh-grade students, Social Media and Media Literacy to eighth-grade students, and Filmmaking to elementary students in the summer enrichment program. She enjoys being an assistant coach for the FLL Robotics Team, the advisor for the Dungeons and Dragons Club, the executive producer of the SMS Newsroom, and the director of the Spring Musical. Mrs. Eddleman’s SMS production of Annie Kids was well received by the community last year. Since joining the district, Mrs. Eddleman has introduced two new courses for students and SMS Newsroom’s virtual daily announcements. Through a grant graciously provided by the Somerville Education Foundation, Mrs. Eddleman secured funding for brand new recording, lighting, and sound equipment for all Media Arts students and other clubs and activities throughout the building. She continues to look for ways to innovate and enhance the educational opportunities of SMS students. When Mrs. Eddleman accepted a position at SMS, her family fell in love with Somerville and relocated from Kansas City, Missouri to live in town. Mrs. Eddleman loves seeing her students every day, and her husband and two children love it when students recognize her around town and say hello. She believes that children are our future, and the future is bright! . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj #somervillenewjersey

🇺🇸🌟 Honoring Our Heroes This Veterans Day at Somerville Schools 🌟🇺🇸 For Veterans Day, we at The Ville want to express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country. Their sacrifices and service are the pillars of our nation’s freedom and security. We wanted to share a special initiative led by Mrs. Kohlehepp Strang at Somerville Middle School. In a poignant tribute to our veterans, SMS has set up a “White Table” in the main office. This powerful symbol serves as a reminder of those who were prisoners of war, lost in battle, or missing in action. Each element of the White Table holds deep significance: • A White Tablecloth: Symbolizing the purity of motives when answering the call to duty. • A Black Napkin: Representing the imprisonment of captured and missing soldiers. • A Lit Candle: Signifying the light of hope in our hearts, illuminating their way home, away from the darkness of captivity. • A Red Rose: Placed in a vase tied with a red ribbon, symbolizing our continued determination to account for the missing. • An Inverted Glass: To remind us of their inability to share in a toast. • A Slice of Lemon: On the bread plate to remind us of the bitter fate of their missing. • A Pinch of Salt: Symbolizing the tears of their families. And in another heartwarming display of solidarity, our VDV students dressed in their Boys and Girls Scouts uniforms to honor our veterans and joined Mr. Reavey outside gathered around the flag. At SHS, we have distinguished veterans like Mrs. Lawless, Mr. Hardy and more to thank for their service. Let us use this day not only to remember their valor and dedication but also to educate and inspire the next generation about the significance of this day. We invite the entire Somerville community—parents, teachers, and students—to join us in this observance. So to our veterans, we say: Thank you for your service. You are our heroes, today and every day. 🇺🇸 . . #allin4theville #somervillestrong #somervillenj #VeteransDay

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer Elementary School's Mrs. Osborn! Mrs. Osborn has been teaching at Van Derveer for 20 years. She loves teaching first grade and prides herself on the work she does to create a close class community as she infuses social and emotional learning throughout the day within many subject areas. She has mentored colleagues and has been an active member of several committees throughout the years, such as the Literacy Team, Read Across America Committee, Food Drive Committee, Sunfish, October Week’s of Recognition Committee, and the PBIS Committee. She has been recognized as the Teacher of the Year as well. Mrs. Osborn is also proud to say she was one of the original Girls on the Run coaches when GOTR first came to VanDerveer and has loved to watch it continue to grow and flourish throughout the years! . . #allin4theville #somervillestrong #somervillenjschools

As November unfolds, let's embrace the spirit of gratitude that this season brings. Here in The Ville, we encourage students, staff, and families to reflect on what they are thankful for. How do we do so? Somerville High School's School Psychologist Latisha Gandhi shares the following: "Studies actually show that displaying gratitude activates specific regions of our brain that are responsible for moral cognition, value judgement and perspective taking. In fact, our brains release dopamine and serotonin which are responsible for our "happy" emotions, either when we express or receive gratitude. Through activities such as "pay it forward" or writing a gratitude letter can not only help you feel better but also positively impact others". Let's share our gratitude and spread kindness throughout our halls, sports fields, and community. . . . #allin4theville #GratefulNovember #ThankfulCommunity #somervillenj #somervillestrong🍁📚🍂

🚨 Somerville Schools will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the NJEA convention, giving everyone an extended weekend to recharge and enjoy some extra downtime. 🙌🎉 . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj

💡 Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Somerville High School's Mrs. Caporale! 📚 Mrs. Caporale - otherwise known as Mrs. C - is the Media Center Specialist at Somerville High School. She has spearheaded an impressive transformation of the media center with immersive technologies like AcessIt, MackinVia, ComicsPlus, TeachingBooks and more. Mrs. C is also the advisor to the Cultural Diversity Club at SHS, which is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and a deeper understanding of the different values within our community. She is also the advisor to Cafe Con Libros, a reading program designed to enrich our Multilingual learners. She is a proud mother of 3 and enjoys listening to audiobooks, walking her dog and watching TikTok with her youngest son! She is dedicated to making the media center a safe and welcoming place for all students, and is a pillar of support for our SHS students! 📚 . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj #somervillestaff

📚 Exciting News! We're thrilled to share an exciting update regarding our middle and elementary school libraries. A collaboration of the Director of 21st Century Education, principals, school librarians, and middle school students have worked diligently to transform these spaces into more welcoming and warm environments for our students and teachers. 🏫✨ Through a combination of new decor, an enriched collection of books, and the introduction of modular furniture, these two libraries have undergone a remarkable transformation. These changes aim to foster a more engaging and conducive atmosphere for learning.📖🧠 View the full slideshows on our website!

🔬🧪 Reaction in a Baggie Lab! 🔥 Our seventh graders are diving deep into the world of chemical reactions! 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 With precision and teamwork, they mixed water, phenol red, calcium chloride, and baking soda in their lab groups - and the results were amazing! 💧🌈 They recorded their observations, made conclusions, and drew models of the experiment💡📝 👀💥 Gas production, color changes, and transformations in texture – these students witnessed the science of change firsthand! 🌟🔍 . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #handsonlearning

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Somerville Middle School's Dr. Sroczynski! Dr. Sroczynski a.k.a. Dr. Sro is the non-traditional School Psychologist at SMS, which means she gets to provide prevention and intervention services to all of our students. She started as a teacher over twenty years ago and joined our district in 2011 to serve in this role. Dr. Sro believes in taking students where they are to help them move forward and loves getting involved at the school, family, and community levels and meeting with students one-on-one and in small groups. Not only is Dr. Sro ever-present in the hallways, classrooms, and cafeteria, you'll see her attending concerts, sporting events, and PTO meetings, serving on committees like the Sunshine Committee, the Youth Services Commission, the Municipal Alliance, the county Violence Prevention Coalition, and Resilient Youth of Somerset; presenting at staff development days and community trainings; and updating her website regularly in case someone isn't able to benefit fully from the above and needs to find another source of support and comfort. . . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj #somervillenj

📚 Teaching in The Ville: Turning ‘lesson plans’ into ‘laughter plans’ while empowering our amazing students! 📚🤣 Somerville High School teacher Mrs. Rath is working diligently with our SHS students! . . #MathWithRath #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj #teachersrock

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer Elementary School's Mr. Gary Knoeppel! Gary Knoeppel is the Adaptive PE teacher at The Ville. He instructs PE and Health classes from Pre-K to 12th grade, working with students of diverse abilities and backgrounds. Gary is dedicated to making appropriate accommodations and modifications to ensure that every student enjoys a productive PE/Health class, finding fulfillment in this aspect of his role. He takes pride in witnessing the students' progress over the years. In addition to his teaching duties, Gary collaborates closely with various teachers and assistants within the district. Notably, he contributes to the HS Unified PE program, where senior students mentor Life Skills students in the PE setting. Gary is also actively engaged as an assistant basketball and football coach at Somerville High School!

🌐📚 Digital Citizenship Week📱💻 Here at The Ville, we believe in the power of technology and the importance of responsible online behavior. We’re celebrating Digital Citizenship Week to instill important values in our K-12 students this week. 🔐 Join us in teaching: 🤝 Kindness & Respect: Online and offline, treating others with respect is key. 🔒 Privacy & Security: Safeguarding personal information is a must. 🌍 Digital Footprint: What we post online lasts, so let’s make it positive! 🤔 Critical Thinking: Navigating the digital world with wisdom and discernment. Let’s be good digital citizens together! 💪💻 #DigitalCitizenshipWeek #allin4theville #OnlineSafety #somervilleschoolsnj

Let’s stand together against school violence this week and every week. 💪🏫 . . #SchoolViolenceAwarenessWeek #speakupstandup #allin4theville

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Somerville High School and Mrs. Jaime Reilly! Jaime Reilly teaches the Special Education Transition Class at Somerville High School. She has worked in special education for 23 years with students as young as preschool-age and up to high school. In Somerville High School's new transition program, students have recently graduated from high school and now work on job and functional skills. The class will start soon and operate an exciting new initiative called the Somerville Independent and Professional Skills (S.I.P.S.) Cool Beans Cafe. The goal of S.I.P.S. will be for students to gain hands-on experience working in a restaurant setting and learning skills that will transfer to future jobs, such as taking orders, making food and drinks, cleaning, managing money, and customer service. . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj

"🔥🚒 It's Fire Prevention Week, and we're rolling in with some fun and safety! 🔥🚒👨‍🚒 Let's make this week a blaze of fun and awareness! Stay safe and fire-smart! 🔥🚒🧯 . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #firepreventionweek2023