Embedded Files
Welcome to Patriot Press!
The place where we highlight what's going on at P.S. #27 each month.
June 2024
June 2024
First Grade Trip to the Bergen Zoo
On June 1st, first grade students visited the Bergen Zoo for their class field trip. Students, teachers and chaperones had a wonderful day exploring the zoo and seeing a variety of animals.
Carnival
The carnival came to PS 27 on June 3rd and June 4th! The courtyard was filled with games and activities for students including bounce houses and a dunk tank!
8th Grade Formal
The PS 27 gym was transformed into a beautiful catering hall on the evening of Friday, June7th. The Class of 2024 ate and danced the night away!
ESL Field Trip to Liberty State Park
ESL students in grades 3-7 were excited to have the Ellis Island experience and see how over 12 million immigrants were processed as they entered the United States. The students had fun visiting Liberty Island and climbing 215 steps/10 stories to the top of the pedestal. They were amazed by the view from atop and how Lady Liberty looked inside. Students also visited the new museum on Liberty Island and their ferry ride as well.
Track Team
Congratulations to the P.S. #27 boys and girls Track Team on their achievements during the city-wide track championships!
Events:
800 meter City Wide Champion- Vaibhavi Pagar
800 meter 2nd Place- Juan Ospina
400 meter 2nd Place- Anthony Cabrera
200 meter 2nd Place-Jeinise Castillo
200 meter 3rd Place- Caiden Gonzalez
Both the boys and girls relay teams came in 2nd place!
We are all so proud of you! 👟🏃♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃♂️🏃🏽♂️🥇🥈🥉
Camfel Productions
On June 13, tudents enjoyed an interactive three-screen assembly.
Camfel productions specializes in producing character-building resources for schools across the nation. The programs, “Keep Moving,” and “Dare to Move,” encouraged students to be the best they can be by first understanding and acknowledging the problems they face on a daily basis, and then by offering solutions in a format they can relate to.
Summer Reading
Summer slide is not an activity at the park! It’s a real thing, and it is what happens to students over the summer if they do not engage in learning activities. To prevent the dreaded “Summer Slide” PS 27 has provided each student entering grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 summer reading books and packets to complete this summer. Hopefully students enjoy reading these books and completing the activities. Packets are due Friday, September 13th and will count as a project grade in the first marking period. There is also a Reading Challenge for students to complete! Students who complete the challenge will receive a prize in September.
8th Grade Mobile Food Lab Experience
Grade 8 students were treated to an educational and edible learning experience. Mobile Food Lab (MFL) is a multi-sensory educational experience on wheels that is the centerpiece of a project dedicated to improving student understanding of experimental science, human physiology, plant science and the chemistry and biology that are the basis of nutrition. Students enjoyed learning about herbs and spices, and making their own tea.
Pre-K Moving Up
Our preschool students had a “Moving Up” ceremony in the gym to celebrate the end of their preschool days! We look forward to seeing you in Kindergarten next year!
Kindergarten Moving Up
Our Kindergarten students had a “Moving Up” ceremony in the gym to celebrate the end of Kindergarten. First grade here they come!
Exit Day
Exit Day is a tradition at P.S. 27. It’s almost like a dress rehearsal for graduation. 5th-7th graders attended the ceremony where the graduates received awards for the many extracurricular activities they participated in during their 8th grade year.
8th Grade Breakfast and Clap Out
8th grade students enjoyed a delicious breakfast with their teachers to celebrate their last day of school before graduation. Students signed each other's yearbooks and had some fun! At the end of the day, The Class of 2024 walked through the school for the last time as the whole school cheered and clapped for them in route to exiting the building. Retiree Ms. Vizcarrondo led the graduating class throught the halls. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
8th Grade Graduation
The Class of 2024 has officially graduated! Congratulations to all the graduates and their families. Best of luck in high school and beyond. Always remember your time here at P.S. #27!
See you in September!
May 2024
May 2024
Appreciation Days 👏
We kicked off the month of May with Principal Appreciation Day! Our wonderful teachers were celebrated during Teacher Appreciation Week! Each day, teachers were offered pampering activities such as painting, yoga, pizza, and a dress down. We also celebrated our amazing school nurse, Nurse Charles and we recognized our amazing food service staff; Ms. Tamara, Ms. Sharon, Ms. Patel, & Ms. Neena.
Also, our Teacher of the Year, Ms. Moriarty, Educational Service Professional of the Year, Ms. Jordan Dictrow, and Paraprofessional of the Year, Mrs. Phyllis Mafinejad, we’re all honored at a luncheon with their peers. Congratulations again!
We greatly appreciate all the hard work everyone does for our school each and every day!
Parent Teacher Association 🤝
Omayra Hernandez and Luis French were recognized as exceptional PTA volunteers! They attended the NJPTA convention and were honored for their hard work and dedication to P.S. #27! Our school will be receiving a banner as well!
We are very proud of them! 😃
Jersey City Public Schools 2024 ESL Proclamation ⭐
On May 5th, the Jersey City Public School held the annual ESL Proclamation. The theme this year was “Multiculturalism is the Culture of the World.”
Congratulations to 5th grader
Harshini Krishnamoorthi!
She was recognized as the 2024 ESL Student of the Year!
Tree-Tastic! 🌳
On May 9th, 2nd grade students were treated to a Tree-Tastic event! Environmental awareness and the importance of trees were the topic of Jersey City Science Night. Hands-on activities were provided to students and their families.They decorated their own trees, made leaf impressions, and planted seeds. Students got to take their awesome projects home.
Muffins with Mom or Your Favorite Miss 🥰
Pre-k through Grade 2 students celebrated their mothers and special women in their lives with a “Muffins with a Miss” day. The gym was beautifully decorated for the event. Students and their guests enjoyed muffins, arts and crafts, and priceless quality time with each other!
Hudson Transportation Management Association 👟
Here are the winners of the annual 2nd grade Golden Sneaker Contest hosted by the Hudson TMA:
1st Place: Mrs. Ojeda
2nd Place: Mrs. Giordano
3rd Place: Mrs. Coulter
Great job getting steps in!
Field Trips 😀
It’s field trip season! Here are some of the highlights:
Grade 1: Van Saun Park
Grade 3: Roller Skating
Grade 4: Museum of Native Americans
Grades 4 & 5: Somerset Patriots Baseball Game
Grade 8: Funplex
NJSLA Testing 🕗
Students in grades 3-8 took the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) this month. Grades 3-8 took both English Language Arts and Math tests. Also, grades 5 and 8 completed the Science assessment.
See you in June! 😎
April 2024
April 2024
The Week of the Young Child 🤩
Students in grades Pre-K to Grade 2 celebrated the Week of the Young Child from April 3rd-April 6th. Students had a fun-filled week of planned events.
The Educational Arts Team 🎭
On April 16th, the Educational Arts Team helped us host a Family Literacy Event. Students and family members created their very own pop-up theater! Everyone worked together to create a background and characters for their stage that they then used to retell story events. It was a creative and memorable experience!
P.S. #27 TREP$ Marketplace 🤑
On April 18th, P.S. #27 hosted our very first TREP$ Marketplace. TREP$, short for enTREPreneur$, is a project-based learning program that teaches kids in grades 5-8 how to start their own businesses. Our Kidpreneurs sold amazing products they created themselves! Thank you to everyone who came to support this event making it a sold out event!
RIF/KIA Books for Ownership Event 📚
On April 25th, our school was fortunate to have a Books for Ownership event sponsored by Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and Kia. Volunteers from RIF and Kia visited PS 27 and distributed 3 books to every child in grades pre-K through grade 5! The students in both kindergarten and first grade were also treated to a read aloud of Cosmo Faces the Forest of Fears from author, Amulya Veldanda Vadali.
The Book Fair 📚
Students were excited to see some of their favorite books at our Scholastic Spring Book Fair! The book fair ran from April 10-17. PS 27 is grateful for the support of parents, students and teachers.
Take Your Child(ren) to Work Day 👷
April 25th was Take your Child(ren) to Work Day. Staff members brought their children to work to meet their “school family.”
Spirit of Life Ensemble 🎺🎷🎶
On April 24th, the Spirit of Life Ensemble came to perform for our students. They are a Jersey City jazz band who have been performing since 1975. They have been performing for nearly 50 years in Jersey City and all around the world. Our music teacher, Mr. Bloom had the pleasure of performing with them as well. The students enjoyed hearing the beautiful jazz music.
Administrative Professionals Day 🏫
On April 24th, we celebrated our amazing Administrative Professionals, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Reyes, and Ms. Melendez. We appreciate all they do for our school!
PTA Award 🫶🤝
Omayra Hernandez and Luis French are being recognized as exceptional PTA volunteers! They will be attending the NJPTA convention and recognized for their hard work and dedication to P.S. #27! Our school will be receiving a banner as well!
We are very proud of them!
Raspberry Pi Initiative 🥧
On April 26th, members of the Zampella School 7th grade had an opportunity to participate in the Raspberry Pi Initiative Showcase at Dickinson High School. There, they displayed the projects that they worked on during the year programming credit card sized Micro:Bit and Arduino computers to perform a variety of functions including gaming, numerical calculation, and detecting various environmental conditions. Our students also used the "Scratch" programming language to create animated stories and other gaming activities. At the showcase, our students earned recognition for their innovative ideas. Congratulations to our Raspberry Pi student participants, Mr. Burgos and Ms. Gurczeski for their involvement in this worthwhile activity.
NJSLA Pep Rally 🎉
P.S. #27 students kicked off our NJSLA testing with a pep rally! Students were motivated to do their best on the test!
8th Grade Ring Ceremony 💍
8th grade students received their class rings at the ceremony. Receiving their class ring is the first step students will take in graduating from Alfred E. Zampella, PS# 27. 8th graders will ask those who have supported them such as family, friends, and teachers to “turn” their ring. Turning of the class ring is meant to bring the individual good luck and prosperity.
See you in May! 💐
March 2024
March 2024
February Students of the Month 🍦
Our February Student of the Month Ice Cream Social was held on Friday, March 1st. Keep up the good work!
Read Across America📚
March was off to a great start as we celebrated Read Across America! Students participated in various activities, such as buddy reading and our “Be a Character” contest where students and staff dressed as a character from their favorite book!
Grades Prek-2 participated in Seuss-fest! Seuss-fest allowed these students to participate in fun games! Students enjoyed such games as don’t drop the egg, pin the hat on the cat, sack races, and duck-duck goose just to name a few.
Students in 3rd and 4th grade participated in a book tasting hosted by our very own reading specialist Mrs. Renz. In addition, students in all grades received a free book of their choosing. It was a fun filled week that reminded all of us of the joy reading can bring!
SEL Day 💟
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) day was Friday, March 8th. Students in grade 7 wrote letters of appreciation to someone in their lives in ELA class. Grades PreK to Grade 5 wrote about what they are thankful for on shamrocks that were displayed in the hallways. Middle school students had the opportunity to participate in chair yoga through the Calm app. Some students practiced yoga in our SEL room.
Cereal Box Domino Challenge 🥣
In celebration of 100 days of school, our AZS National Junior Honor Society organized a cereal box drive to benefit our community. The culminating activity was to have our boxes be used as dominoes! All cereal boxes collected were donated to The Hope Center in Jersey City.
Educational Arts Final Presentations
Our students in grades 5, 6, and 7 participated in “Bringing Literature to Life” workshops with the Educational Arts team. On March 12th, the classes performed their final presentations. Students enjoyed the interactive lessons presented by the visiting artists.
Pi Day
March 14th was Pi Day, a day of math, measurement, pie and circles! Students participated in fun activities during Math classes to celebrate Pi Day.
Hudson TMA Safety Poster Contest 🎨
Each year, the Hudson Transportation Management Association hosts a Safety Poster Contest. Congratulations to these PS 27 winners:
2nd Grade Winners
1st Place: Xialese Roman
2nd Place: Hailey Sandres
3rd Place: Srishti Kuwar
4th Grade Winners
1st Place: Deetchana Suresh
2nd Place: Aalya Rana
3rd Place: Aanya Rana
6th Grade Winners
1st Place: Wael Dekhissi
2nd Place: Samantha Andrade
St. Patrick’s Day 🍀
At PS# 27, we declared March 15th to be Green Day in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Everyone knows if you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, you might get pinched by a leprechaun.
Penny Wars
Our PTA, sponsored a penny war competition to raise money for our school. The winning class in each of the grade groups received a pizza party! Thank you to everyone who participated.
Jersey City Public Schools Spelling Bee 🐝
On March 23rd, the Jersey City Public Schools Spelling Bee was held at MS 7. Anuja Nere represented our school in the grades 3-5 category and Emily French Hernandez was our representative for grades 6-8. We are very proud of them!
Saturday Scholars 🌟
Our Saturday Scholars attended 4 sessions of Saturday school throughout the month of March. Students in grades 3 through 8 attended ELA and Math lessons each Saturday in preparation of the upcoming NJSLA test. Each week students attended they received a dress down pass to use on a day of their choosing. On the final Saturday, students enjoyed a pizza party with a trick-tray style raffle.
Egg Hunts! 🥚
Our students in PreK to Grade 2 participated in an Egg Hunt in our school garden. Each child was able to hunt and find eggs.
NJHS Induction Ceremony ⭐
On Wednesday, March 27th, 14 new members were inducted into the PS 27 chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). The NJHS is a school organization of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. In order to be inducted into the Honor Society, students must maintain an average of 85% or higher in all subjects and complete 5 hours of community service in the first two marking periods of the school year. Also, each inductee must have positive teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all our new members! We are very proud of all NJHS members.
Women’s History Month:
Barbie-You Can Be Anything!
PS 27 celebrated Women’s History Month with our first ever Barbie Day! The theme was Barbie-You Can Be Anything. Students in PreK to Grade 4 paraded in our courtyard with parents and families in attendance. In the afternoon, students in grades 7 and 8 watched the Barbie movie in the gym with popcorn. Our school was filled with students and staff dressed as Barbie or Ken!
See you in April! ☔🌈
February 2024
February 2024
Jersey City MLK Oratory Contest 🎤
Students Aalya Rana and Drishti Singh represented PS 27 in the elementary competition at the Dr. Martin Luther King Oratory Competition at City Hall on 2/26/24. Middle school students Aniya Patel and Jesse Nieves represented our school on 2/27/24.
These students also presented their speeches at our school's Black History Celebration. We are very proud of their hard work!
Writing Contest ✍️
Students were invited to participate in the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children contests. Congratulations to Viraj Sehgal and Vivaan Mehta on their participation.
Valentine’s Day ❤️
The school celebrated Valentine’s Day by decorating our walls with our own conversation hearts. Students and staff wrote kind messages on the hearts. Kindergarteners had a celebration of friendship and had a dance in the gym. Middle school students enjoyed a dance as well!
100th Day of School 🏫
On Wednesday, February 21, students celebrated the 100th day of school! Some dressed up like a one hundred year old. Some students wore homemade 100 day shirts. Kindergartners and preschoolers made necklaces from 100 Froot Loops. Students enjoyed many fun activities in their classrooms centered around the number “100”.
NJHS 100th Day of School Service Project 🥣
Alfred E Zampella School participated in a 100th Day of School Service Project by holding a Cereal Drive led by the National Junior Honor Society. Students and staff were encouraged to bring in unopened boxes of cereal. We collected 305 boxes, which far surpassed our goal of 100 boxes! The cereal is being donated to the Hope Center on Cambridge Avenue in Jersey City. There will be a celebratory assembly on Friday, March 8th. A representative from the Hope Center will be in attendance and will speak to the students about how our kind acts will have a domino effect in helping others throughout the community The assembly will conclude with all 305 boxes of cereal falling like dominoes throughout the school gym. We would like to thank all of the students and staff who generously donated to this worthy cause.
Seventh Grade Bowling Trip 🎳
On February 22, seventh grade students went on a bowling trip to Hudson Lanes. They had a ball…a bowling ball!
Celebrating Black History Month ❤️💛💚
On February 28th, Alfred E. Zampella had a schoolwide showcase honoring many important African American figures, customs, and contributions that make our world a better place. Be sure to visit our Youtube page for the full program.
Leap Year Day 🐸
Students learned why we have an extra day on the calendar. Primary students had a great time making frog hats, frog puppets and other crafts as they learned about Leap Day. Middle school students competed in the Leap Day Relay Race using plastic frogs to race across the gym. Enjoy our Youtube video of Leap Day highlights.
See you in March!
January 2024
January 2024
Happy New Year!
2024 is off to a great start at P.S. 27!
Welcome to Our New Assistant Principal: 🌟
Mrs. dos Santos
Alfred Zampella School welcomes our new Assistant Principal, Mrs. dos Santos. Mrs. dos Santos has worked for Jersey City Public Schools for twenty years and served as the Social Studies Supervisor for the last 10 years. We look forward to having Mrs. dos Santos become part of the AZS community!
Spelling Bee 🐝
On January 12th, we had the annual P.S. #27 Spelling Bee. Our winners were:
Champion- Samanvi Madupoju, Grade 7
On January 12th, we had the annual P.S. #27 Spelling Bee. Our winners were:
Champion- Samanvi Madupoju, Grade 7
2nd Place- Anuja Nere, Grade 4
3rd Place- Emily Frrench, Grade 8
Samanvi will represent our school at the Hudson County Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 3rd. Samanvi and Anuja will also participate in the Jersey City Public Schools Spelling Bee in March.
Congratulations to all participants and our school winners!
Science Fair 🥼
On January 18th, students in grades 5-8 participated in the Jersey City District Science Fair held at Liberty Science Center. Congratulations to Aniya Patel for placing 3rd with her “Keeping it Cool,” project.
Check out the participants and their experiments in our slideshow.
Winter Fest ☃️
First graders in Mrs. Monzon’s class enjoyed a Winter Fest. They read "Sneezy the Snowman" and made their own delicious snowmen out of marshmallows! Students also sequenced story events and wrote about how their snowman would eventually melt.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Contest 💬
Our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Contest was held on Wednesday, January 31st. Each and every participant in this contest should be very proud of their accomplishment. Public speaking takes bravery and determination, and the competition this year was very close.
There was a tie in the grade 3-5 category at first and three students had to perform their speeches a second time. These students were Aalya Rana, Vrushti Gandhi and Drishti Singh.
After tallying the scores, Aalya Rana and Drishti Singh were selected to represent our school in the district wide competition.
The middle school contest was also very competitive! 8th grader Jesse Nieves and 7th grader Aniya Patel were selected to represent our school in the district wide competition.
Best of luck to the winners and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish at City Hall.
World Hindi Day 🇮🇳
On January 10, a group of 4th-grade students had the privilege of partaking in the World Hindi Day celebration hosted at the India Consulate in New York.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Sarin, the students had diligently prepared for this momentous occasion. One of the event's highlights was a presentation centered around the Nainital Superheroes lesson, which Mrs. Sarin crafted using authentic materials she collected during the YHS Fulbright-Hays GPA Curriculum Development Program 2022 study tour. Another noteworthy performance was about Diwali in India, showcasing the diverse cultural celebration.
The event provided a platform for these students to exhibit their talents and served as an avenue for cultural exchange and inspiration.
Educational Arts Grant for Grades 5-7
PS 27 received an Arts in Education Grant this year. The Educational Arts Team will conduct 6 one hour lessons over the course of two months in grades 5 through 7. The lessons are titled “Bringing Literature to Life.” The first session was held on Tuesday, January 30th.
December Student of the Month Ice Cream Social 🍦
Our December Students of the Month celebrated their accomplishment at the Student of the Month Ice Cream Social on Friday, January 5th. Congratulations!
Hudson TMA Classroom Presentation
Grades Pre-K through Grade 4 received safety classroom presentations from the Hudson County Transportation Management Authority (TMA) this month. The TMA visited all Pre-K & K classrooms for the Safety Story Time Program. They visited Grades 1 and 2 for Safety Story Time and Bingo Program.
Finally, they visited one 3rd and one 4th grade class for the Safety Jeopardy Program. These visits were both fun and informational for students.
2024 NJAGC Art and Writing Contest 🎨 ✍️
3rd graders from Mrs. Worner’s homeroom, Viraj Sehgal and Vivaan Mehta, and 4th graders from Mrs. Lomax’s homeroom, Aalya Rana and Aanya Rana, participated in the 2024 NJAGC student Art and Writing Contest. The theme of the contest was “Advocating for Joyful Growth.” Great job to these students for taking the initiative to participate!
See you in February! 💕
December 2023
December 2023
Teacher of the Year & Educational Support Professional of the Year 🍎
Congratulations to 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Moriarty and our 2023-2024 Educational Support Professional of the Year, Ms. Dictrow. Our winners were announced at a wonderful holiday kick-off breakfast.
AZS 1st lego League Champions 🤖
Congratulations Dr. Zlotkin and the Zbots for winning the Champion’s Cup at the district-wide First lego League Competition. Over 300 students in 23 teams participated in the district-wide First Lego League Challenge. Our Zbots demonstrated exceptional teamwork, dedication, creativity and innovation. They qualified to participate in the New Jersey State Finals in Flanders, New Jersey. There, the Zbots ranked 20th out of 80 teams state-wide! Amazing job!
November Student of the Month Ice Cream Social 🍦
Our November Student of the Month Ice Cream Social was held on Friday, December 1st. Keep up the good work!
1st Marking Period Achievements Assembly 🤩
The academic achievements of students in grades 3-8 were recognized at an Awards Assembly this month. Students who achieved at least an A in all major subjects and at least a B in all specials were given First Honors. Students who achieved at least a B in all major subjects and at least a B in all specials were given Second Honors.
Winter Concerts 🎼🎶
The annual P.S. 27 Winter Concert took place on Thursday, December 14th. Students in our band and choir performed for students in Preschool through Grade 4 in the morning and Grades 5 through 8 in the afternoon. Then, in the evening they put on another fabulous show for parents and families! The students’ hard work paid off and a wonderful time was had by all!
PTA Tricky Tray
Our PTA held a Tricky Tray on Wednesday, December 20th. So many wonderful baskets and prizes were donated by staff members and families. It was a great night and a great fundraiser for the school.
The Wight Foundation
Daniel Rowe, a graduate of Blair Academy and representative of The Wight Foundation, spoke to 7th graders about his top-notch education.
The Wight Foundation provides opportunities for talented students from New Jersey to achieve academic success and personal development in a college preparatory boarding school environment.
Staff Holiday Cheer
We started counting down to winter break on December 1st! Staff members participated in themed dress days including wearing festive bells on Jingle All the Way Day and ugly sweaters on Wacky Tacky Holiday Day.
Door Decorating
Classrooms participated in our second annual Deck the Door Decorating contest from November 28th-December 20th. Here are the winners:
1st Floor: Room 106 Mr. Crooks and Mrs. Mafinejad’s Class
2nd Floor: Room 207 Mrs. Zwolak and Mrs. D’Agostino’s Class
3rd Floor: Room 205 Mr. Smith and Mrs. Borchard’s Class
Honorable Mention: Room 102 Ms. Marrero and Ms. Rashid’s Class
K-2 Polar Express 🚂
Our Kindergarten through Grade 2 students participated in our annual “Polar Express Day.” Students and teachers wore pajamas, sipped cocoa and watched the holiday favorite The Polar Express.
Grade 3 Peanuts and Popcorn 🥜🍿
Third graders began the month with a movie in the gym. Students watched Peanuts A Charlie Brown Christmas and enjoyed popcorn.
Kindergarten Caroling 🎤
Our PS 27 tradition continues! Kindergarten students spent the morning before winter break spreading holiday cheer by caroling through the halls of our school. Students sang holiday favorites including, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Jingle Bells.”
Holiday Parties & Winter Fun 🥳
Classes throughout PS 27 celebrated the day before winter break with class parties. In addition, this month staff and students participated in a variety of winter activities such as decorating cookies & gingerbread houses, making ornaments, activities in our SEL room, watching movies and more. Some of these events were not only fun, but delicious!
AZS Holiday Celebration-Buddy the ELF! 🎁
On December 19th, students in grades Preschool to Grade 5 entered “Candy Cane Lane” and celebrated the holiday season Buddy the Elf-style! Students each enjoyed cookies and juice, a “snowball” fight, dancing, and photos. Students also got to write name tags with their elf names such as Naughty Silver Bells and Twinkle Kringle Claus. To top it all off, each child received a gift!
Best wishes in 2024! 🎊
See you in January!
November 2023
November 2023
October Student of the Month Ice Cream Social 🍦
Our second Student of the Month Ice Cream Social was held on Friday, November 3rd. Keep up the good work!
November is Native American Heritage Month 🪶
Students in Mrs. Worner’s third grade social studies class created mini biographies to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.
Teacher for a Day 🍎
On Friday, November 3rd, fourth grader Caiden Dilauro got to be Teacher for a Day at P.S. #27. He enjoyed leading the gym class in stretching.
Picture Day 📸
Students were “dressed to impress” this month for picture day! Both individual and class pictures were taken.
Diwali 🪔🎇
Students in ESL class celebrated Diwali by coloring images and learning about this special holiday. From our P.S. #27 family and to all who celebrate, we hope you enjoyed Diwali!
Fall Book Fair 📚
The Book Fair was held from Wednesday, November 15th through Tuesday, November 21st. Students had a great time getting books and other goodies while also helping our school raise money for student activities.
SEL-Social Emotional Learning Room 💟
Students in grades 3 & 4 participated in an HONESTY Scavenger Hunt in our SEL room. We discussed the importance of being Honest and how this characteristic impacts our reputation. The students participated in scenarios and asked to determine whether or not the person was honest.
Gratitude 🤟
AZS staff members decorated a “Gratitude Tree” this month by the main entrance. The tree was adorned with ornaments that expressed feelings of gratitude held by our school’s staff. Also, Mrs. Worner’s third graders created a wonderful bulletin board expressing their gratitude for the many staff members who work with third graders.
PTA Friendsgiving 🦃
The P.S. 27 Parent Teacher Association (PTA) held their second annual potluck Friendsgiving dinner on November 16th.
8th Grade Friendsgiving 😋
The Class of 2024 celebrated Friendsgiving with a Thanksgiving feast on November 21st. 8th graders spent the day in the gym participating in activities centered around gratitude. Students also enjoyed a delicious meal together and then danced off the calories with tunes provided by DJ
Terry!
Thanksgiving & More 🍂
Students in grades K-2 celebrated Thanksgiving Peanuts-style. Children watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special and recreated Snoopy’s menu with popcorn, pretzels, jellybeans and bread! Students also enjoyed creating projects about Thanksgiving, gratitude, and Native Americans. NJHS students helped our K-2 students create cute pumpkin crafts to celebrate the holiday.
See you in December! 🎄
October 2023
Summer Reading Ice Cream Social 🍦
The AZS Summer Reading Challenge was a success again this year! 312 students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 submitted their summer reading assignment on time. These students celebrated with an ice cream social outside which included an extra recess! Congratulations to all the students who participated.
September Student of the Month Ice Cream Social 🍦
Our first Student of the Month Ice Cream Social was held on Friday, October 6th. Keep up the good work!
Week of Respect 👍
In New Jersey, the first week of October is designated as the Week of Respect. Schools across the state participate in activities to advocate for respect in schools as part of New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Initiative. Our school celebrated with them days such as
Stomp Out Bullying - Wear red, white, and blue (our school colors) to show we stand against bullying and advocate for respect.
Crazy Hair Day - Wear unique hairstyles to represent your own unique personality to celebrate diversity.
Keep the Peace - Wear tie-dye/rainbow colors to show you are committed to respecting others.
Mismatch Day - Wear mismatched clothes to show we respect each other’s differences.
Team Up Against Bullying- Wear your favorite HS/college/professional sports attire to show we stand against bullying as a team.
Walk to School Day
On October 10th, The Hudson Transportations Management Association, (TMA) staff, accompanied by our mascot, Buster the Bus, led a short ceremonial morning walk to school with school staff, children, and their parents/family members. Along the walk, participants carried signs and banners, provided by the TMA, supporting good and healthy choices. Afterward, students enjoyed a fun, interactive, and educational presentation by TMA staff promoting the benefits of walking.
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th-October 15th, is Hispanic Heritage Month. P.S. 27 acknowledged this month with numerous activities and opportunities for learning. The theme for the month was, “Somos uno, somos todos: We are all, we are one.” Teachers enjoyed a delicious luncheon catered by a local restaurant, La Concha. There were daily announcements made by Mrs. Iannitelli and posted on Patriot Pride by Mrs. Dabydeen. Students in World Language classes with Mr. Leyva and Mr. Ruiz learned about Hispanic cultures. On October 20th, students in grades 3-8 presented their projects in the gym. Parents and students from other grade levels were invited to view the projects and learn about Hispanic Heritage Month.
Jersey City Arts Assembly
On October 24th, 8th Grade students attended an assembly program to learn more about The Jersey City Arts Program.
The Jersey City Arts Program, (JC Arts), is a four-year conservatory experience that scaffolds arts training in technical skills and portfolio development for collegiate success. This program provides opportunities for collegiate success throughout the fields of visual and performing arts including visual arts, instrumental arts, vocal arts and theatre.
The assembly provided insight into the daily schedules, activities, curriculum, and student opportunities that JC Arts program participants will experience.
In the Winter, interested students will be invited to an on site workshop at the JC Arts program followed by an invitation to the Arts Festival in the spring.
Walk-a-thon
P.S. 27 held our second annual walk-a-thon on Friday, October 27th. This fundraiser was a huge success! Both students and staff enjoyed a nice walk outside. All money raised will go towards student activities. Thank you to all those who contributed!
October Birthdays
We celebrated everyone who has a birthday in October. We hope you have a fantastic year!
Spirit Day
Alfred Zampella School celebrated Spirit Day on the 27th. Staff and students were invited to wear our school colors, red, white and blue. Go Patriots!
Halloween Festivities:
Another SPOOKtacular Halloween at AZS!
Trunk or Treat
Our wonderful PTA hosted a Trunk or Treat for our school community on Friday, October 27th after school in the courtyard. Students and their families enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of activities and trick or treating!
The P.S. 27 Pumpkin Patch:
A rainy day couldn’t stop us! Our gym became a pumpkin patch on October 30th. Students in grades pre-K through third grade visited the patch and chose a pumpkin to take home. Our preschoolers spent the afternoon decorating their pumpkins in the gym.
Halloween Parade:
The entire AZS community was able to share in the experience of the Halloween parade. Pre-K through grade 4 paraded around the building while our 5th-8th graders cheered them on. Parents and families were also there to capture the moment.
Dances and Parties:
Middle schoolers celebrated with a Halloween dance in the gym and other grades had their Halloween parties in classrooms. Fun was had by all!
Costume Contests:
P.S. 27 had our third annual student costume contest via Padlet. Students posted pictures of themselves and staff voted. It was a tough contest to judge because everyone looked spook-takular. Here are the winners!
Spookiest:
Viraj Sehgal Grade 3 Room 208
Cutest:
Penelope Yabut Grade 1 Room 112
Caleigh DiLauro Pre-k Room 102
Best Original:
Aaron Fernandez Grade 3 Room 208
See you in November! 🍂🦃
September 2023
Welcome back to P.S. #27! 🏫
Our school year is off to a great start!
Back to School Night
It was wonderful to see so many parents and families attend Back to School Night on September 19th. Mrs. Iannitelli met with parents in the gym at 6:30 to discuss expectations for the school year. Then, parents had the opportunity to meet teachers for information sessions in classrooms.
Johnny Appleseed Day 🍎
Friday, September 29th our first graders celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day.
Johnny Appleseed was born on September 26, 1774. Every year, our students in Grades K-2 celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day on the last Friday in September. Some of the fun activities included apple tasting and graphing the favorites. Students learned about the stages of an apple tree, tasted applesauce and made crafts and puppets.
September 11th
Each year the students at Alfred Zampella School honor and remember those who perished on September 11th by walking through our Memorial Garden. This year, the outside memorial was canceled due to heavy rain, but students participated in grade level appropriate lessons and discussions about the day in class.
PTA Pizza Party 🍕
Our PTA hosted its first event this school year! Families were invited to a pizza and dance party in the gym after school. DJ Terry played music and a great time was had by all!
Spirit Day
P.S. #27 celebrated the first Spirit Day of the 2023-2024 school year. Teachers and staff wore their “Prepare to be Schooled” t-shirts to show school spirit. Students wore Zampella gear or red, white, & blue. All funds raised go towards student activities.
myON Top 10 Summer Reading Winners
myON is an online reading platform available to all students in K-8 via Clever. In June, we announced that the top 10 students who read the most minutes over the summer on myON would receive a special prize. Congratulations to the winners!
Armaan Chhabra Grade 2 Room 205
Eva Roy Grade 3 Room 208
Dylan Zepeda Grade 3 Room 201
Harvi Shah Grade 2 Room 206
Rudra Patel Grade 7 Room 312
Prisha Sandhi Grade 2 Room 206
Sandeep Swain Grade 4 Room 210
Rowan Roby Grade 3 Room 208
Eshanie Shiwprasad Grade 2 Room 206
Jigisha Borase Grade 6 Room 306
See you in October! 🎃
June 2023
June 2023
Congratulations Mrs. Jackson
Congratulations to Mrs. Jackson for receiving the Governor’s Award! She was presented with the Dance to Learn Advocacy Award: For Exceptional Leadership, Commitment, & Contribution to Providing Access to Dance Education.
Mrs. Jackson has also been recognized as the Puerto Rican Principal of the Year! She will participate in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Jersey City later this summer.
P. S. #27 is so proud of Mrs. Jackson!
Dr. Galano Day
June 2, 2023 will forever be known as “Dr. Galano Day.” Dr. Joseph Galano, former principal of PS 27 and Division B Director was honored with an assembly and portrait unveiling. Middle school students, community members and many distinguished guests were in attendance. Dr. Galano’s portrait now hangs near the security desk alongside the portraits of our past principals.
Gian Paul Gonzalez~Motivational Speaker
Gian Paul Gonzalez, a renowned keynote speaker, will be addressed our Middle School students on Wednesday, June 7th at 9:30 in the gym.
Gonzalez's powerful message centered around the theme of commitment and making impactful decisions in life. As a former All-American forward, Gonzalez made the selfless choice to forgo a professional basketball contract to dedicate his efforts to supporting at-risk youth. He emphasizes the importance of being fully committed and "all in" when faced with life's choices.
Field Days
Although the Canadian forest fires tried to put a damper on our field days, we managed to persevere and make it happen! Grades 4 and 5 enjoyed field day activities in the courtyard and grades 6, 7, and 8 ventured to Washington Park for their field days which included volleyball, basketball, kick ball and the very popular spray playground.
Field Day with Fathers or Favorite Guys
Pre-K, Kindergarten, first and second grade students enjoyed spending quality time with their favorite guy at our first ever field day celebrating Father’s Day. Bowled, painted rock, hula hooped, ate snacks, and danced. It was a fun filled and memorable day.
NJHS End of the Year Ceremony
Alfred E. Zampella School National Junior Honor Society had their end of the year ceremony this month. The ceremony was a culmination of the NJHS’s year of community service, student activities and academic excellence. Congratulations to all members!
8th Grade Trip-Mets Game at CitiField
Our 8th graders enjoyed one last hurrah on a field trip to a Mets vs. Philly’s Game at Citifield.
Literacy Education Event by The Educational Arts Team
On June 7th, the Educational Arts Team helped us host a Family Literacy Event. Students and family members created their very own pop-up theatre! Everyone worked together to create a background and characters for their stage that they then used to retell story events. It was a creative and memorable experience!
Golden Sneaker Assembly
Each year, the MTA hosts a contest to see which class can take the most steps.
Here are the winners for the Golden Sneaker Contest:
1st Place: Mrs. Giordano's 2nd grade class with 508,748 steps.
2nd Place: Mrs. Grimaldi's 3rd grade class with 458,348 steps.
3rd Place: Mrs. Ojeda's 2nd grade class with 457,281 steps.
Pre-K Moving Up
Our preschool students had a “Moving Up” ceremony in the gym to celebrate the end of their preschool days! We look forward to seeing you in Kindergarten next year!
Kindergarten Moving Up
Our Kindergarten students had a “Moving Up” ceremony in the gym to celebrate the end of Kindergarten. First grade here they come!
Exit Day
Exit Day is a tradition at P.S. 27. It’s almost like a dress rehearsal for graduation, with emphasis on the “dress” part because our 8th graders were dressed to impress on Exit Day! 5th-7th graders attended the ceremony where the graduates received awards for the many extracurricular activities they participated in during their 8th grade year. Afterwards, the class of ‘23 enjoyed a luncheon at the San Carlo in Lyndhurst.
8th Grade Breakfast and Clap Out
8th grade students enjoyed a delicious breakfast with their teachers to celebrate their last day of school before graduation. Students signed each other's yearbooks and had some fun! At the end of the day, Mr. Dorsey led the Class of 2023 on their last walk through the school as the whole school cheered and clapped for them in route to exiting the building. Congratulations to Mr. Dorsey on his retirement and to the Class of 2023!
8th Grade Graduation
The Class of 2023 has officially graduated! Congratulations to all the graduates and their families. Best of luck in high school and beyond. Always remember your time here at P.S. #27!
Have a great summer!
See you in September!
May 2023
May 2023
Jersey City Public Schools 2023 ESL Proclamation
On May 5th, the Jersey City Public School held the annual ESL Proclamation. The theme this year was “Mulitculturalism is the culture of the World.” Congratulations to seventh grader Harram Masood! She was recognized as the 2023 ESL Student of the Year! Scarlett Hernandez and Zoe Arguijo-Flores also performed at the Proclamation.
Muffins with Mom
Pre-k through Grade 2 students celebrated their mothers and special women in their lives with a “Muffins for Mom” day. The gym was beautifully decorated for the event. Students and their guests enjoyed muffins, arts and crafts, and tunes by DJ Terry.
Hudson County School Counselor Association ~Award Winner
Congratulations to Nathaly Romero, third grader from room 201, for receiving the Caring Award from the Hudson County School Counselor Association (HSCA). This award is presented to a Hudson County student recognized for their kindness, good citizenship, and appreciation of diversity. We are very proud of you!
Teacher Appreciation Week
Our wonderful teachers were celebrated during Teacher Appreciation Week! Each day, students were asked to show appreciation with notes, pictures, compliments and even high fives! Teachers were also able to sign up for a massage or a facial during the week. To end the fabulous celebration, teachers were treated to a tailgate BBQ in the courtyard during lunch periods.
Field Trips
It’s field trip season! Here are some of the highlights:
Grades 1 & 2: Van Saun Park, Paramus, NJ
Grade 3: The Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, NJ
Grades 4 & 5: Somerset Patriots Baseball, Bridgewater, NJ
Grade 8: Funplex, East Hanover, NJ
NJSLA Testing
Students in grades 3-8 took the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) this month. Grades 3-8 took both English Language Arts and Math tests. Also, grades 5 and 8 completed the Science assessment.
See you in June!
April 2023
April 2023
March Student of the Month Ice Cream Social
On Wednesday, April 5th, the March Students of the Month celebrated their achievement with an ice cream social. Congratulations and keep up the great work!
The Week of the Young Child
Students in grades Pre-K to Grade 2 celebrated the Week of the Young Child from April 3rd-April 6th. Students had a fun week filled with a parade, sport and patriot theme days and even an egg hunt!
RIF/KIA Books for Ownership Event
Our school was fortunate to have a Books for Ownership event sponsored by Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and Kia. On Tuesday, April 18th, volunteers from RIF and Kia visited PS 27 and distributed 3 books to every child in grades pre-K through grade 5! The students in both kindergarten and first grade were also treated to a read-aloud from author, Carmen Rubin. Ms. Rubin delighted the audience with a read-aloud of her book, Honch Hates Mud.
Author Visit and Ballet Assembly
On April 20th, the American Liberty Ballet performed a ballet interpretation of the story Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig written by David Ira Rottenberg. The author visited PS 27 too! It was a fabulous show and students enjoyed it very much!
Grade 5 Dance Performance
We are thrilled to celebrate the culmination of our four-year residency with Segunda Quimbamba Folkloric Center. Our 5th students have been immersed in the traditions of Puerto Rico’s bomba and plena since they were in the 2nd during the 2019-2020 school year. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, these dedicated students persevered with their training and rehearsals, and their hard work paid off in a stunning culminating performance on April 26th, 2023. We are so proud of our students and grateful for the incredible instruction and guidance provided by Nanette Hernandez from Segunda Quimbamba. This residency has been an enriching and inspiring experience for everyone involved!
Grade 3’s Fraction Cafe
Grimaldi's Pizzeria, was a classroom transformation that changed the classroom into a pizzeria. The students were told they were trying out to become the next new chef at my uncle's pizzeria. First, they had to dress the part in a chef's uniform. Second, they interviewed for the job by showing off their fraction skills. Students worked with a partner to solve different types of fraction problems. After, they showed how great their fraction skills were they moved on to the last step. In the final step, these student chefs were asked to create their own pizza by placing toppings on various slices and then write the fractional part that represents how many slices of the whole pizza has those toppings. In the end, the new chefs celebrated their success with a pizza party!!!!!
NJHS Induction Ceremony
On Tuesday, April 25th, twenty-nine new members were inducted into the PS 27 chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). The NJHS is a school organization of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. In order to be inducted into the Honor Society, students must maintain an average of 85% or higher in all subjects and complete 5 hours of community service in the first two marking periods of the school year. Also, each inductee must have positive teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all our new members! We are very proud of all NJHS members.
The Book Fair
Students were excited to see some of their favorite books at our Scholastic Spring Book Fair! The book fair ran from April 20th-26th. PS 27 is grateful for the support of the parents, students and teachers.
ESL Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Field Trip
ESL students in grades 3-7 were excited to have the Ellis Island experience and see how over 12 million immigrants were processed as they entered the United States. The students had fun visiting Liberty Island and climbing 215 steps/10 stories to the top of the pedestal. They were amazed by the view from atop and how Lady Liberty looked inside. Students also visited the new museum on Liberty Island and their ferry ride as well.
Take Your Child(ren) to Work Day
Thursday, April 27th was Take your Child(ren) to Work Day. Staff members brought their children to work to meet their “school family.” Over twenty children attended and were able to spend the day with us.
The Color Run
Students in grades 3-8 participated in the first-ever PS 27 Color Run/NJSLA Pep Rally. This event is intended to give our students a chance to bond and enjoy themselves before taking the NJSLA, while also emphasizing the significance of performing their best. It was a day to remember!
See you in May!
March 2023
March 2023
Read Across America
March was off to a great start as we celebrated Read Across America! Students participated in various activities, such as buddy reading, and dress-up days, in which on select days, everyone could dress wacky, wear neon colors, or be a character from their favorite book!
Grades Prek-2 participated in Seuss-fest! Seuss-fest allowed these students to participate in fun games! Students enjoyed such games as hopscotch, don’t drop the egg, pin the hat on the cat, sack races, and duck-duck-goose just to name a few.
Students in third and fourth grade participated in a book tasting hosted by our very own reading specialist Mrs. Renz. In addition, every student in the school received a free book of their choosing. It was a fun-filled week that reminded all of us of the joy reading can bring!
Social and Emotional Learning- SEL
The fourth annual International SEL Day was March 10, 2023!
Our theme this year was Uplifting Hearts, Connecting Minds. SEL Day is an opportunity to collectively spread the word about the importance and impact of social-emotional learning. Students participated in activities that allowed them to express how they feel about themselves and others.
Pi Day
March 14th is Pi Day, a day of math, measurement, pie and circles!
Students participated in fun activities during Math classes to celebrate Pi Day.
St. Patrick’s Day
At PS# 27, we declared it wear green day! Everyone knows if you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, you might get pinched by a leprechaun.
Penny Wars
Our PTA, sponsored a penny war competition to raise money for our school. The winning class in each of four grade groups received a pizza party! Thank you to everyone who participated.
Jersey City Public Schools Spelling Bee
On March 25th, the Jersey City Public Schools Spelling Bee was held at M.S. #7. Heta Gandhi represented our school in the grades 3-5 category and Aashritha Akkala was our representative for grades 6-8. We are very proud of them!
Women’s History Month
March is recognized as Women’s History Month across our nation. Throughout the month, students learned about many women through daily announcements and class instruction. On March 31st, students presented and performed, highlighting just some of the many women who have contributed positively to our world.
See you in April!
February 2023
February 2023
January Student of the Month Ice Cream Social
On February 3rd, our January Students of the Month celebrated their achievement with an ice cream social. Congratulations!
MLK Oratory Contest
Our finalists in the P.S. 27 Martin Luther King Oratory competed in the Jersey City contest this month. Shriya Appannagari, Shuchi Sutaria, Kazim Mahajan, and Aniya Patel, represented our school in the city-wide contest. Aniya Patel received honorable mention in the grades 6-8 category. We are all very proud of their hard work and determination!
Valentine’s Day Celebrations
We think students must have LOVED coming to school the week of Valentine’s Day! There were many creative learning lessons in classes. Each grade level was treated to a Valentine's Day dance in the gym with DJ Terry!
Our middle school students voted on our first ever Valentine Royalty. The winners were Steven Bucheli and Ava Latasa, 8th graders from room 308.
100th Day of School
February 21st was the 100 day of school! We paid tribute to our namesake Mr. Alfred E. Zampella, with a digital birthday card in honor of what would have been his 100th birthday.
We also celebrated with a school-wide dress down. Our school’s theme was, “We had a ball the first 100 days of school,” so staff and students wore their favorite team’s shirt or jersey. Students participated in engaging 100th Day activities in their classrooms as well.
100 Days Service Project
The P.S. 27 chapter of The National Junior Honor Society sponsored a service project to commemorate the 100th day of school. The NJHS held a donation drive in support of St. Lucy’s Shelter. St. Lucy’s is an emergency shelter providing housing, food, clothing, and outreach services for those in need. Each grade level was asked to donate an item from St. Lucy’s wish list in the hope that we would collect 100 of each item.
Our school community was able to give back to the local community. Thank you to all who participated. Below are the totals collected as of February 21st. However, we continued to collect items until the last day of the month.
Pre-k and K- Wipes: 52
1st Grade: washcloths: 125
2nd Grade: Shampoo:72
3rd Grade: Conditioner: 49
4th Grade:Deodorant: 23
5th Grade: Soap: 40
6th Grade: Toothbrushes: 97
7th Grade: Toothpaste: 119
8th Grade: Paper towels: 15
Black History Month Activities
Students in pre-k through grade 8 worked hard this month preparing for the Black History Month assembly program. Here is a summary of the program:
Antoinette Carrington sang, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Pre-K students played African influenced instruments accompanied by the song, “I Have a Dream”
1st Graders performed “This Little Light of Mine”
2nd Graders performed the poem, “Black History Month”
4th Grader, Sophia Cedeno, performed her Dream Flags poem
5th Graders, Yara Musbeh and Ryan Muniz, performed their Dream Flags poems
6th and 8th Graders, Aniya Patel and Kazim Mahajan, recited excerpts from Dr. King’s speeches.
See you in March!
January 2023
January 2023
CoderZ Virtual Cyber Robotics Junior League Competition
This year, Zampella School 7th grade students participated in the CoderZ Virtual Cyber Robotics Junior League Competition. Using block coding, five teams of six students each programmed virtual online robots to solve a series of challenges as they advanced through the stages of the competition.
All five teams from the Zampella School advanced to the state-wide Region Final competition with fifty-nine other teams from around the state competing for first place and a chance to advance to the World Final competition. Our AZS Patriots team advanced to first place and represented the CoderZ East 1 (USA) Region when they competed in the World Finals with teams from around the nation and around the World. On January 12th, CoderZ League Representatives live-streamed the results of the World Finals Competition online and the AZS Patriots came in 3rd Place. Click the link at the bottom of this article to view a recording of the CoderZ League 2022 World Finals Broadcast.
The success of our CoderZ AZS Patriots team members (Adrian Garcia, Shaurya Yadav, Mia Nieves, Prianka Patel, Raul Villegas, and Mia Loor) is a testament to their hard work and support from our other Zampella School CoderZ team members, Mr. Burgos (Staff Advisor), Mrs. Jackson (Principal), and Mrs. Hudak (Science Supervisor), and the Zampella School PTA.
Check out the competition link here:
Go Patriots!!!
P.S. #27 Spelling Bee
On Friday, January 6th forty-six students in grades 2-8 participated in the P.S. 27 Spelling Bee. After nine rounds of spelling, a champion was declared!
Congratulations to our School Spelling Champion,
Shuchi Sutaria!
Shuchi will represent our school in the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 4th, at High Tech High School.
Shuchi will also participate in the JCPS Spelling Bee for grades 3-5 to be held on March 25th. Our second place winner, Aashritha Akkala, will represent P.S. 27 at the JCPS Spelling Bee for grades 6-8 March 25th as well. Students, Shreeram Patel and Heta Gandhi, made it to the final round of spelling and tied for third place.
Congratulations to all of the students who participated. Your hard work and dedication was evident. Best of luck to Shuchi and Aashritha as they move on to the district competition. We are very proud of you!
Student of the Month Ice Cream Social
On January 6th our December Students of the Month celebrated their achievement with an ice cream social. Congratulations!
Science Fair
Congratulations to the finalists in the P.S. 27 Science Fair!
Grade 8
3rd Place: Aubrey Yap
2nd Place: Noah Montiero
1st Place: Kazim Mahajan
Grade 7
3rd Place: Aiden Garcia
2nd Place: Aashritha Akkal
1st Place: Vaibhai Pagar
Grade 6
3rd Place: Samanvi Madupujo
2nd Place: Aivah Matos
1st Place: Aniya Patel
Grade 5:
3rd Place: Heta Ghandi
2nd Place: Lakshmi Abburi
1st Place: Supratik Akkala
On January 18th, these students participated in the Jersey City District Science Fair held at Liberty Science Center.
Freckle Math Contest
From January 9th through January 20th all students were entered into a Freckle Math Contest. Students in each grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5 with the most Math minutes on Freckle during this time period were given a special prize!
Congratulations to the winners!
Kindergarten: Beatrice Lawson
Grade 1: Sewar Musbeh
Grade 2: Gianna Bokuniewicz
Grade 3: Cairo Calderon
Grade 4: Chaitra Nagaram
Grade 5: Supratik Akkala
Keep up the good work!
MLK Oratory Contest
On Thursday, January 26th, twenty-five students participated in the Martin Luther King Oratory Contest. Each participant performed a 2 minute excerpt from one of Dr. King’s speeches. Students were scored on body movement, eye contact, clarity and expression. Students completed in two categories: grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. The top two students from each category will move on to represent our school at the Jersey City competition held at City Hall on February 14th (3-5) and February 15th (6-8). Finals will take place on February 16th.
Congratulations to our school winners!
Grades 3-5:
Shriya Appannagari
Shuchi Sutaria
Grades 6-8:
Kazim Mahajan
Aniya Patel
Volleyball
The P.S. 27 Volleyball season ended this month. The Girls’ Volleyball season ended with a record of 1-3. The Boys’ Volleyball season ended with a record of 2-2.
Soccer
Soccer season has begun in Jersey City Public schools. Tryouts were held earlier in the month for those students interested. The season runs until March 15th.
We hope the new year is treating you all well!
See you in February!
December 2022
December 2022
P.S. #27 Robotics Team
Our Z-Bots have done it again!
Congratulations on winning 1st Place in the JCPS 2022 Lego League Competition! Your hard work has paid off! We are all incredibly proud of you.
A Message from Dr. Zlotin, Robotics Coach
The 27 ZBOTS of Alfred Zampella School recently won the prestigious First Place Director’s Cup in the FIRST Lego League Competition for the third consecutive year, and the fourth time in the past five years. Students are tasked with various STEM challenges to solve, involving coding and robotics. They implement Engineering practices and team-building skills to solve real-world concerns by researching and developing innovative ideas.
With the support of our Principal, Mrs. Jackson, we have been able to dedicate the time and effort necessary to achieve this level of success. This year’s Robotic Team is the youngest team we’ve had, composed mostly of sixth and seventh grade students. Our team is dedicated and hard-working, enthusiastic, and creative in their problem-solving, and connect with one another like a family.
I am proud of what we have accomplished and equally thankful to the Jersey City Public Schools for hosting such a great event. I would also like to mention my appreciation to all the Robotics coaches who dedicate countless hours with their teams. Three, two, one LEGO!!!
Dr. Perry Zlotkin
Science Teacher PS 27
Robotics Coach
Teacher of the Year and Educational Support Professional of the Year & PTA Staff Breakfast
Congratulations to 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Andreacci and our 2022-2023 Educational Support Professional of the Year, Mrs. Rivas. Our winners were announced at a wonderful holiday kick-off breakfast sponsored by the PTA!
Coding Competition
This year, Zampella School 7th grade students participated in the CoderZ Virtual Cyber Robotics Junior League Competition. Using block coding, five teams of six students each programmed virtual online robots to solve a series of challenges as they advanced through the stages of the competition.
All five teams from the Zampella school advanced to the state-wide Region Final competition with fifty-nine other teams from around the state competing for first place and a chance to advance to the World Final competition. Our AZS Patriots team advanced to first place and have begun to compete in the World Finals with teams from around the nation and around the World. The results for the World Finals are available January 12, 2023 at the following link CoderZ League Junior 2022.
The success of our CoderZ AZS is a testament to their hard work and support from all Zampella School CoderZ team members.
CoderZ AZS Patriots team members:
Adrian Garcia, Shaurya Yadav, Mia Nieves, Prianka Patel, Raul Villegas, and Mia Loor.
Staff Advisor-Mr. Burgos
Principal-Mrs. Jackson
Science Supervisor-Mrs. Hudak
Go Patriots!!!
8th Grade Ring Ceremony
The Class of 2023’s Ring Ceremony took place on Friday, December 19th. Our future graduates celebrated with some dancing and some treats after receiving their rings at the ceremony.
Student of the Month Ice Cream Social
On December 2nd, the Students of the Month for the month of November celebrated their achievement with a dress-down day and an ice cream social. Our December Students of the Month will celebrate their achievement on Friday, January 6th.
Preschool Book Give-Away & Buddy Reading
On December 13th, our first preschoolers were given a special surprise. Each student was given a drawstring bag containing a brand new book. These books were donated by Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in partnership with Amazon. Students celebrated with a special snack and 7th grade helpers assisted students in writing thank you notes for the wonderful books.
PTA Movie Night
On Friday, December 16th The AZS PTA hosted a holiday movie night. Movie-goers were treated to a showing of the holiday classic, Elf. Tickets were $2 and pizza, popcorn drinks were sold for an additional cost. The event was sold-out! All proceeds will be used to plan fun end of the year activities!
Winter Concert
The annual P.S. 27 Winter Concert took place on Friday, December 16th. Students in our band and choir performed for students in pre-k through grade 3 in the morning and grades 4 through 8 in the afternoon. The students’ hard work paid off and a wonderful time was had by all!
AZS Winter Break Countdown
We started counting down to Winter Break on December 1st! Students and staff participated in themed dress days including wearing festive lights Shine Bright Like Holiday Lights Day and pajamas on ‘Twas the Night Before Winter Break Day.
Door Decorating Contest
Classrooms participated in the first annual Deck the Door Decorating contest from November 28th-December 21st. Here are the winners:
Most Creative: Mrs. Chrobocinski’s Classroom 308 Grade 8
Most Holiday Cheer: Mrs. McGinn’s Classroom 306 Grade 8
Best Dressed Door: Mrs. Reilly’s Classroom B7 Grade 1
Honorable Mention: Ms. Terry’s Classroom 202 Grade 5 (Decorated by Mrs. D’Agostino)
How would you make the Grinch smile?
Every student from Kindergarten through 8th grade participated in a school-wide writing project and responded to the prompt: How would you make the Grinch smile? Students wrote about ways to show the Grinch some kindness including sharing their toys with him and baking him a cake.
Grow Your Grinch Heart Bingo
From December 5th-December 167th, students competed in a “Grow Your Heart Bingo Contest.” Students were encouraged to do good deeds in order to fill their Bingo Cards. Once students completed 5 in a row, they had BINGO! Here are the winning classes:
Grades Pre-K through Grade 1: Mrs. Reilly’s Class, Room B7
Grades 2-3: Ms. Vizcarrondo’s Class, Room 112
Grades 4-5: Ms. Zariczny’s Class, Room 204
Grades 6-8: Ms. Chtany’s Class, Room 311
Winter Fun!
Throughout the month of December, staff and students participated in a variety of winter activities such as decorating cookies & gingerbread houses, making ornaments, watching movies such as “The Polar Express,” and more. Some of these events were not only fun, but delicious!
Jersey City Police Department
The JCPD acted as Santa’s best helpers by surprising students with gifts. They also enjoyed a visit to Whoville!
AZS Celebrates Grinchmas!
On December 20th, our gym was transformed into Whoville for our “I’d Rather Be in Whoville” celebration. Students in grades Preschool-Grade 5 entered “Candy Cane Lane” and were transported to Dr. Seuss’ Whoville. Students each enjoyed hot chocolate, dancing, crafts, photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch. To top it all off, each child received a gift!
Kindergarten Caroling
Our PS 27 tradition continues! Kindergarten students spent the morning before winter break spreading holiday cheer by caroling through the halls of our school. Students sang holiday favorites including, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Jingle Bells.”
See you in 2023!
See you in 2023!
November 2022
November 2022
Student of the Month Ice Cream Social
On November 4th, the Students of the Month for the month of October celebrated their achievement with a dress-down day and an ice cream social. Who will be Students of the Month for November? We will soon find out!
PTO Friendsgiving
The P.S. 27 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) started a new tradition and hosted a potluck Friendsgiving dinner on November 17th. If staff or families are interested in joining the PTO, please email the PTO at zampellapto@gmail.com
Middle School Fall Dance
Our middle school students danced the night away at the Fall Festival dance on Friday, November 18th. 112 middle schoolers attended the dance. Glowsticks, pizza and other refreshments were available for purchase. Alumni helped with transactions and former student, Richie Ramos aka DJ Chaos, provided the entertainment and photo booth.
8th Grade Friendsgiving
The Class of 2023 celebrated Friendsgiving with a Thanksgiving feast on November 22nd. 8th graders spent the day in the gym participating in activities centered around gratitude. Each student received the book, "I am Human: A Book of Empathy," by Susan Verde. Students also enjoyed a delicious meal together and then danced off the calories with tunes provided by DJ Terry!
Thanksgiving & More
Students in grades K-2 celebrated Thanksgiving Peanuts-style. Children watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special and recreated Snoopy’s menu with popcorn, pretzels, jellybeans and bread! Students also enjoyed creating projects about Thanksgiving, gratitude, and Native Americans.
Staff Friendsgiving
AZS’s wonderful administration team hosted a Friendsgiving for all staff members on November 22nd during lunch periods. Staff members were treated to a delicious Thanksgiving-style meal that was enjoyed by all!
8th Grade & Kindergarten Buddies
The Class of 2023 and the Class of 2031 became buddies! Our 8th Grade and Kindergarten Buddies met on Monday, November 21st in the gym for the first time. Students spent the morning getting to know each other and making crafts together.
Buddy Garden Planting
Our newly formed buddies spent the morning of November 23rd planting in the September 11th Memorial Garden. We look forward to seeing our “budding” friendships grow as well as seeing the daffodil and crocus buds grow in the garden.
Report Card Night and PTO Bake Sale
Report Cards were distributed on November 28th. The PTO hosted a bake sale. In addition, COVID tests were given to any staff or families interested. Thank you to all who volunteered to bake and sell items and the sale. It was a big success!
Book Fair
The P.S. 27 Book Fair was held Monday, November 28th-Friday, December 2nd. The Book Fair is a great way to fundraise for our school and provide great books to students. Thank you to everyone who helped support us!
NED Virtual Assembly
Students in grades K-5 attended The NED Show Virtual Assembly on November 29th. The NED Show is a positive behavior program. The performer took our students on an interactive educational journey filled with storytelling, illusions, yo-yo tricks and humor. NED’s message inspires students, promotes academic achievement, and supports our school goals.
NED stands for:
Never Give Up
Encourage Others
Do your Best!
October 2022
October 2022
October
Walk to School Day
On October 6th, students in grades K-2 participated in the annual Walk to School Day sponsored by the Hudson MTA. Enjoy our highlights video of the event.
Walk-a-thon
PS 27 held a walk-a-thon on Friday, October 7th. This fundraiser was a huge success! Both students and staff enjoyed a nice walk outside. All money raised will go towards student activities. Thank you to all those who contributed!
AZS Summer Reading Challenge Ice Cream Reward
Students in grades K-8 who completed their summer reading challenge by the due date of September 30th were treated to a special ice cream treat at lunch time on Thursday, October 13th.
SEL with Mrs. Rivas
Our Guidance Counselor Mrs. Rivas has been visiting grades PreK-4th to teach whole class Character Education/SEL lessons. The theme this month is respect.
Hispanic Heritage
Students in grades K-8 celebrated Hispanic Heritage by enjoying performances and presentations created by their peers representing many hispanic countries. K-5 students also participated in making crafts. Enjoy our highlights video of the event.
Diwali & Multicultural Day
Students in grades K-5 were able to learn about Diwali by watching a presentation and performances as well as participating in making crafts to celebrate the holiday. Students were also invited to dress in clothing that represents their heritage.
ESL Students Carve Pumpkins
Mrs. Shulas’ ESL students in grades 4-7 enjoyed the experience of carving pumpkins. For most of her students, this was their first time ever carving a pumpkin. So, this activity was one to remember! To incorporate writing, the students wrote step-by-step instructions on how to carve a pumpkin.
RIF Book Distribution for Grade 1
October 26th, our first graders were given a special surprise. Each first grade student was given a drawstring bag containing 3 brand new books, book marks and activities to do at home. These books were donated by Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in partnership with Amazon. Students celebrated with a special snack and 8th grade helpers assisted students in writing thank you notes for the wonderful books.
Pumpkin Day
Also on October 26th, students in pre-k to grade 3 celebrated PUMPKIN DAY at PS 27! The gym was transformed into a pumpkin patch and students each got to pick and decorate their own pumpkin.
Halloween Festivities
Halloween at PS 27 was SPOOKtacular!
Halloween Dances and Parties:
Students in grades K-3 had fun playing Halloween games, taking pictures at the photo booth and dancing with their friends and teachers!
Students in grades 4-8 had fun at their Halloween dances where they enjoyed some tasty treats and showed their dancing skills on the dance floor!
Our PTO also hosted an awesome trunk-or-treat.
Halloween Parade:
Students in Pre-K through Grade 3 had a Halloween parade! Parents and families were invited to come watch students walk in their parade. Middle school students were also able to watch their younger classmates and cheer them on as they walked by.
Halloween Costume Contest:
Student Contest:
Students in grades preK through grade 3 were invited to participate in a Halloween Costume Contest. Students submitted pictures of themselves in costume on our Halloween Padlet. You can view the contest submissions here. Staff members voted and chose winners in three categories: spookiest, cutest, and best original costume. Here are the winners:
Spookiest:
Honorable Mention-Sheidalys Solano Grade 2 Room 108 Wednesday from the Adams Family
1st Place-Ethan Fernandez Grade 1 Room 106 Scary Clown
Cutest
Honorable Mention-Saadhana PreK-4 Room 103 Butterfly
1st Place-Ryland Polizzano PreK-4 Room 102 Minnie Mouse
Best Original
Honorable Mention- Tanusya Mamillopalli Kindergarten Room 113 Evil Cleaning Robot Ready to Walk the Red Carpet
1st Place- Haylie Aguillera Grade 2 Room 112 Eleven from Stranger Things
Staff Contest:
Staff members also participated in a costume contest. There were 4 categories. Here are the winners:
Best Group
Goldilocks and the 3 Bears: Mrs. Gervasio, Mrs. Dabydeen, Mrs. Shulas, and Mr. Carhuaz
Best Couple
Mrs. Napoleon-Suess and Mr. Dorsey: Mrs. Borchard and Mrs. Giordano
Spookiest
Scream : Mr. Ruiz
Funniest
Karen: Mrs. McGinn
Best Original
Mad Science Teacher: Ms. Roodenburg
We can't wait to do it all again next year!
September 2022
September 2022
September 11th
Each year the students at Alfred Zampella School honor and remember those who perished on September 11th by walking through our Memorial Garden.
myON Top 10 Readers
myON is an online reading platform available to all students in K-8 via Clever. In June, we announced that the top 10 students who read the most minutes over the summer on myON would receive a special prize. When we looked at the numbers on the first day of school, there were actually 13 students who read over 1,000 minutes on myON from June 30th to September 8th! So, we decided to reward the TOP 13 myON readers! Great job!
Grade 2-Dylan Zepeda 3,105.5 minutes
Grade 7-Hana Hassan 3,066.2 minutes
Grade 2- Eva Roy 2,607 minutes
Grade 1-Harshman Kohli 2,357.1 minutes
Grade 6-Rudra Patel 2,269.4 minutes
Grade 4-Sodnam Gyaltsen 2,190.8 minutes
Grade 1- Tenzin Dzumkar 2,006.1 minutes
Grade 2-Maneet Katila 1,608.2 minutes
Grade 4-Jaslyn Pacheco Santos 1,585 minutes
Grade 1-Harvi Shah 1,275.3 minutes
Grade 5-Kevin Vanegas 1,264.9 minutes
Grade 4-Jeilyn Pacheco Santos 1,250 minutes
Grade 3-Jiya Koladiya 1,086.5 minutes
Walk for Your Health Assembly
The Hudson Transportation Management Authority sponsored a school assembly to promote healthy habits. The assembly discussion was about pedestrian and traffic safety for grades 1 & 2.
Dress Down for Puerto Rico
On Friday, September 20th students and staff participated in a dress down fundraiser in support of those affected by Hurricane Ian in Puerto Rico.
Recess!
Here are some pictures of 1st graders enjoying the sunshine and new recess equipment in the courtyard at recess. First graders especially love to draw pictures for the other grades to see when they come out to play!
Johnny Appleseed Day
Johnny Appleseed was born on September 26, 1774. Every year, our students in Grades K-2 celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day on the last Friday in September. Students participated in apple-themed activities including:
Making applesauce
Counting the seeds in apples
Tasting apples and graphing their favorites
Experimenting with apples to see if they sink or float
Reading Ten Apples Up on Top
Reading about the life of Johnny Appleseed
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