WELCOME TO THE EDISON PTSO
We would like to welcome you to the 2003-2004 school year. Edison
Intermediate School has a very active PTSO. Thanks to all of you who
have already sent in your membership money. There is still time to
join. We are happy to welcome the old members as well as the new
families to Edison School.
This PTSO newsletter, “The Current”, will be sent to your home 3
times during the year. Thanks to Rosemarie Panarese for compiling
the information for our newsletter and also to Jim Reardon for
donating the printing services. “The Current” is also available on
the Edison website-
www.westfieldnj.com/eis . Sharon Degel, our webmaster, does a
terrific job of keeping our website up to date. Please visit our
site regularly for calendar information, Flash and PTSO news sign
up, text book ordering information, classroom and library
information, and to contact the teachers.
Our only fundraiser of the year, the Magazine Sale, is currently in
progress. It runs from September 24- October 16. Through this
program, you are able to purchase new magazines and renew old
subscriptions. Thanks in advance to Sheri Cognetti and Michelle
Lynes who are co-chairing this committee.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the first PTSO meeting of
the year- October 9th at 7pm when we will be hosting Family Pasta
Night and Peer Leadership program in the cafeteria. If you are
interested in helping out please contact Dana Rego. Please make your
reservation by returning the form at the end of this newsletter.
The 7th grade parent roundtable is scheduled for Oct.14 and the 8th
grade parent roundtable, Oct.21st. These chats with the principal
are a great opportunity to ask Mrs. O’Brien questions and discuss
topics of concern with other parents.
If you are interested in purchasing a text book for you child to
keep home, please consult the text book letter and order form on our
website. October 15 will be the last day to place orders through
this program. This year we are also attempting to coordinate a used
text book swap program. Forms will be available at Back to School
Night in the cafeteria. If you would like to help with this project,
please contact Merry Wisler.
You should all be receiving your Edison School Directory very soon.
Special thanks to Merry Wisler for tackling this huge project and
meeting our goal to have the directory out by Back to School Night!
Thanks in advance to the emergency contact moms who have been
assigned to each homeroom this year. These homeroom moms will no
longer be calling for weather/snow closings as this information is
now readily available on the website, channel 36, and on radio
station NJ101.5 (FM). This phone chain will only be used for
notification in the event of a school wide emergency situation.
Our Edison Intermediate School Executive Board meets once a month on
the first Thursday at 1pm at the school. If you would like to sit in
on a meeting you are welcome.
Thanks for your support and have a great school year.
Sue Dilzell and Vivian Strano Co-Presidents
Letter from the Administration
We are off to a running start to the 2003-2004 school year here at
Edison. In the first month of school we welcomed more than 670
sixth, seventh and eighth graders as well as 30 PRE-K students.
Edison also hosts 51 third, fourth and fifth graders participating
in the elementary Gifted & Talented/ALP program. With such a varied
and exciting family of students, we really live this year’s SGA
motto: ELECTRIC! Extraordinary Learning Experiences Creating a
Terrific, Responsible, Intelligent Community!
We want to thank the many Edison parents who responded to the Board
of Education’s Community Survey. This information is a vital
resource as we continue to plan programs and initiatives that will
keep Westfield schools in the forefront of academic excellence. In
just a few weeks the Board of Education will start the process of
taking an in-depth look at the needs of our schools, and the results
of the survey will be integral to that process. Thank you again to
all who shared your thoughtful responses.
Earlier this summer I was reading Personal History, the
Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography of Katherine Graham who led The
Washington Post for many years. As I read this remarkable woman’s
story of her own life, I thought of other words she said that
crystallize for me the joy of working at Edison:
“To love what you do and
feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun.”
Sincerely,
Cheryl A. O’Brien, Principal and Stewart T. Carey, Assistant
Principal
SCHOOL POLICY INFORMATION
BACKPACK POLICY
Please remember that students ARE NOT allowed to carry backpacks or
book bags during school hours.
Students will be allowed to go to their lockers as needed.
DRESS CODE POLICY
Just a reminder concerning EIS dress code policy that applies to
both boys and girls.
Students ARE NOT allowed to wear the following:
NO halter tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops or tank tops.
Your shirt must meet your waistband at all times, even when seated.
VISITOR’S POLICY
All adults MUST report to the Main Office to sign in and receive a
Visitor’s badge. This badge MUST be worn while you are in the
building.
EIS FLASH
Are you looking for the latest information about what’s going on at
Edison School? Can’t find that flyer to check the exact time of an
upcoming event? Wondering if a notice you’ve been waiting for ever
made it home? We’re pleased and excited to announce the launching of
the EIS – Flash, an electronic update of activities and events at
EIS delivered automatically to your home via email. If you’re
interested in receiving this free service, log on to
www.westfieldnj.com/flash to subscribe.
PTSO ELECTRONIC NEWS ONLINE
If you would like to subscribe to the PTSO email notification system
please go the Board of Ed website
www.westfieldnj.com/eis/ptso .
WELCOME NEW FACULTY
We are pleased to welcome the following new faculty members to
Edison:
Michael Altmann |
Forensics/Public
Speaking |
Marc Biunno |
8th grade Language
Arts |
Lynda Bottitta |
Special Ed |
Mark Daniel
|
Special Ed |
Ken Horn |
Vocal Music |
Marc Lazarow |
7th grade Language
Arts |
Robert Maver
|
6th grade Social
Studies |
Eileen Moran |
School Nurse/Health |
Karen Marcus |
6th/7th grade
Gifted & Talented |
Deanna Jascur |
Paraprofessional |
Kyle Forbes
|
Paraprofessional |
Please remember that you can
contact any staff member via email by typing there first initial
last name @ westfieldnj.com
For example: Michael Altmann maltmann@westfieldnj.com
LATE ADDITIONS TO YOU STUDENT
DIRECTORY
Please check the hardcopy of the Current to add some new student
listings to your Student Directory.
Anyone who was not listed in the directory may still turn in a
completed, signed form to the Main Office and the information will
be included in the next Current. Deadline: October 15th. Forms
available in the Office.
FUNDRAISING
MAGAZINE SALE
Our only fundraiser for the year is our Magazine Sale. The sale runs
from 9/24 to 10/6. Please save all of your magazine renewals. You
can either purchase new magazines or renew your old subscriptions.
If you are renewing, the new subscription will start when the old
one runs out - it’s very easy. The selling takes place whenever is
convenient and the students turn in the order forms at lunchtime. If
you want to help with this fundraiser or have any questions please
call Sherri Cognetti or Michelle Lynes.
TARGET VISA
Sign up for the Target VISA and designate EIS as the recipient. We
will receive 10% of your purchases.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
This year you WILL NOT receive a phone call for weather related
school closings. This information is now readily available on the
website (
www.westfieldnj.com ), channel 36, and on radio station NJ101.5
(FM). You will only receive a phone call in the event of a school
wide emergency situation.
DEPARTMENT NOTES
DRAMA
Coming very soon is The Edison Theater Guild's first annual fall
production. This year we are pleased to present to you Get Smart.
Get Smart is a show based on the popular television show of
the 1960's. The play is written by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. The
show centers on Maxwell Smart, CONTROL's top agent and his new
partner, Agent 99. Together, the two spies must stop Mr.Big and his
evil KAOS agents from getting their hands on the ithermo device as
well as stop the kidnapping of a young princess. With the help of
fellow CONTROL agents, shoe phones, and luck, Smart will attempt to
save humanity. Performing such quirky show takes an extraordinary
group of talented and dedicated actors and crew members. The
excitement that we are generating in rehearsals is amazing. We are
looking forward to opening night. So clear your calendar for The
Edison Theater Guild's fall presentation of Get Smart at the Edison
Intermediate School Auditorium on the nights of Friday, November 14
and Saturday, November 15. Tickets will be available at the door.
We'll see you at the show!
JOURNALISM
The 8th grade Journalism class is currently learning how to
investigate and report the news. They participated in a mock press
conference, wrote feature articles about their classmates, and are
now learning how to write using official newspaper style. They will
begin interviewing for this year's first issue of the Edison Insider
this week.
SGA
On September16th, the SGA held its annual induction ceremony.
Twenty-one new representatives, committee chairs, and executive
board members were inducted.
The Halloween socials will be held on October 24th. There will be a
DJ, dancing, and contests for best costumes. Sixth grade is from
4-5:30 PM and seventh and eighth is from 7-9 PM. Tickets will be $3
in lunch that week and $5 at the door.
The SGA Halloween activity is on Oct 27 from 3-4 PM. Details to
follow.
6th GRADE
The sixth grade is off to a wonderful start this year! All the
teachers are excited and the students are enthusiastic to learn. We
are looking forward to a wonderful year!
The sixth grade team of teachers, along with their guidance
counselor, Kerri Hecker, have organized a "Getting To Know You"
field trip for the sixth grade students. On October 3rd, the sixth
graders will be going to the Woodbridge Community Center for a day
of roller skating. Everyone is really looking forward to meeting one
another. It promises to be a fun filled day.
The sixth grade has also started learning an important test taking
strategy called Pirates. The sixth grade students will continue to
learn more about how to use this effective strategy in their classes
during the months of September and October.
8th GRADE
Ms. O'Brien's Language Arts class is currently researching facts
about the Russian Revolution in the library. This is in preparation
for their Animal Farm unit, an allegory about the Russian Revolution
by George Orwell. The class is also beginning a writing workshop
that will focus on Nancie Atwell's style of learning creative
writing.
Please join the PTSO for the First PTSO meeting:
“PASTA & PEER”
Marie Koch – Student Assistance Counselor
For Edison and Roosevelt will be presenting a program on Peer
Leadership
Date: October 9, 2003
Place: Edison Cafeteria
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Cost: $10/Adults $5/children
Pasta, Salad, Drinks and Dessert will be served
All Teachers, Staff, Parents and Students are invited!!!
Please RSVP by October 1st with form on the bottom of this page
YOU MUST PREREGISTER AND PREPAY
Pasta & Peer
Please make checks payable to Edison PTSO – Cash is also accepted.
Return this form with payment to the Main Office by October 1st.
NAME(S) ATTENDING :
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER: _________________________________________
AMOUNT ENCLOSED: _________________________________________
PTSO CALENDAR
GENERAL MEETING DATES
This is a list of the general membership evening meetings for the
2003-2004 school year. We hope that you can attend. The dates for
the meetings are:
October 9, 2003 Pasta & Peer
February 26, 2004 Fine Arts Expo & Cabaret
March 31, 2004 Budget Presentation & Bd of Ed Candidates Night (held
@ WHS)
May 6, 2004 5th grade Transitions & Parent Orientation
The 2003-2004 Edison Intermediate School PTSO Executive Board
Co-Presidents- Sue Dilzell and Vivian Strano
1st Vice President- Anne Bergin
2nd Vice President- Dana Rego
Recording Secretary-Theresa Reardon
Corresponding Secretary- Rosemarie Panarese
Treasurer- Judy Hoffman
Advisor- Donna Perch
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