Edison Community Updates
2022-2023

Edison Community Update - November 23rd

Edison Intermediate School

NOV 23, 2022

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

Happy Thanksgiving- 

The faculty and staff at Edison Intermediate School would like to wish all Edison families a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are all very grateful that we are afforded the opportunity to work with amazing students and within a community that supports the work of our schools. Please take time this weekend to pause and reflect on the many wonderful people we each have in our lives. Have a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving. 

Turkey Bowl - 

All Edison students had the opportunity today to watch 8th graders battle it out in flag football against the faculty and staff. While the students rooted passionately for their classmates in the eighth grade, the faculty ended the game with the win 28-21! 

Upcoming Dates & Events

November 23rd - 1/2 Day of School

November 24th - 27th - Thanksgiving Break

November 30th - Marking Period 1 Report Cards issued through Genesis portal

Curriculum in Focus - Mathematics 

Grade 6 - 

Math 6 -

During the month of November, students will be writing ratios and rates, finding equivalent ratios and rates, and solving real world problems involving ratios and rates.  We will explore different real life scenarios and examine their rate of change in a variety of different methods.  Students will be making tape diagrams, ratio tables, and graphs to solve these problems.  

Grade 7 - 

Math 7 - Students will first be learning how to simplify algebraic expressions in Chapter 3. This unit will build upon the next, which is solving algebraic equations.  Solving equations is an essential skill that will be applied throughout this year and in future mathematical courses as well. Students will focus on illustrating the correct mathematical process when solving an equation. Students will also be exposed to NJSLA practice questions in this unit.

Pre-Algebra 7 - Students will be finishing unit 4 by applying their equation solving skills to solve inequalities.  They will be able to identify possible values for inequality solutions, as well as graph them.  Next, students will begin unit 5, which focuses on exploring proportional relationships. This skill not only applies to many real-life scenarios, it also closely relates to Algebra I concepts about slope and linear functions.

Grade 8 -

Math 8 - Students in Math 8 will be exploring different angle relationships formed when two parallel lines are intersected by a transversal.  The students will also be solving various problems dealing with the interior and exterior angles of polygons.  Students will also be asked to find corresponding parts of congruent figures to determine if polygons are similar and if they are how can we determine lengths of missing sides of these polygons.

Algebra 1 - Students in Algebra 1 will be exploring the characteristics of functions.  The students will be learning about function notation, discrete and continuous functions, and evaluating functions.  Students will learn how to graph linear functions in standard and slope intercept form.  Students will learn how to graph and describe transformations of absolute value functions.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter

Edison Community Update - November 18th 

Edison Intermediate School

NOV 18, 2022

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

Edison Field Project - 

On Tuesday night, the Westfield Board of Education approved a shared services agreement with the Westfield Town Council to renovate a portion of the fields behind Edison Intermediate School, a project that includes artificial turf. Please know that Edison School Administration will be actively participating in the planning of each step of this project. Our fundamental purpose, while partnering with the Town in this planning, is to ensure that all Edison staff and students are safe and minimally disrupted. We will be in regular communication with all Edison families to keep you informed as this project unfolds. 

Edison School Turkey Bowl -

Next Wednesday, all Edison students will be escorted by their teachers to Kehler Stadium to watch our Turkey Bowl. The Turkey Bowl is Edison’s student vs. teachers flag football game. Eighth grade students, who previously formed teams, will take part in 7 vs 7 games against the teachers. This game is a fun way for the students and staff to enjoy a portion of the day prior to the holiday break. Please remind your children to dress appropriately for the weather. We will be outside at Kehler Stadium for approximately one hour for the game. This game is a student and staff event, for security purposes, no other adults will be permitted entrance to the stadium during the game. 

November Advisory Lesson - 

This past Thursday, Edison students and faculty participated in our November Advisory lesson. The focus of this lesson was on building empathy. In order to build empathy, students must first build awareness. This first lesson, in our three part Advisory series on empathy, challenged students to build awareness of their surroundings as well as awareness of others. Students discussed the difference between “seeing” and “noticing.” They also reflected on the difference between seeing, noticing, and judging. Students were shocked that when only given a small amount of time (27 seconds) to look around their classroom, they noticed a bit, but also made a fair amount of quick judgments about those things they noticed. 

Upcoming Dates & Events

November 23rd - 1/2 Day of School

November 23rd - 7th Graders - The Outsiders movie

November 23rd - Edison Turkey Bowl

November 24th - 27th - Thanksgiving Break

Curriculum in Focus - Social Studies

6th graders - Students will be taking what they learned last month about early humans and the Neolithic Revolution to craft analytical essays.  Over the next month, students will learn about the DBQ process and apply it to write their own essays with proper introduction paragraphs, thesis statements and supportive evidence. 

7th graders - Students in 7th grade Social Studies are continuing to learn about the primary reasons for the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Specific emphasis this month will be placed on the costs and the benefits of the expansion of the Roman Empire from 508 B.C.E. to 14 C.E. 7th graders will explore the causes and the effects of the Punic Wars, the rise and fall of Julius Caesar, the creation of an empire out of the republic and the period of Roman Peace known as the Pax Romana.

8th graders - Students in 8th Grade Social Studies are exploring the following essential questions: What is the role of a citizen in a democracy? What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having a Constitutional democracy? Students will participate in a mock election, evaluate the N.J. candidates for House of Representatives in the 7th congressional district, and understand the principles that are expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter

Edison Apparel Sale - Click the link to purchase some Edison / Westfield Apparel

Edison Community Update - November 9th 

Edison Intermediate School

NOV 09, 2022

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

Edison School students and faculty were thrilled to participate in our annual Veterans Day assembly. Mr. Stasi served as the program’s master of ceremonies. Students from our eighth grade chorus and eighth grade band performed beautifully. The students also witnessed a slide presentation that featured the many family and friends of students and staff who are either veterans or currently serving in a branch of the United States military. After the video presentation, a special tribute was made to former Edison School teacher, and recently deceased Air Force veteran, Mr. John D’Andrea. 

Edison School Science Teacher, Mr. Chris Wiley, was featured as the assembly’s keynote speaker. Mr. Wiley, a US Army veteran, recalled the significant contributions that veterans have made to our society. Mr. Wiley paid special attention to the many veterans “are our parents and grandparents” that served in the Vietnam War. Mr. Wiley encouraged all of the students to take the time to speak with a veteran to learn about their experiences and thank them for their service to our country. 

Winter Driving Safety - As we head into the winter months you will notice that the morning sun shines directly down Rahway Avenue for eastbound drivers during drop off times. This sun glare, combined with windshields that may not be completely defrosted, has caused car accidents in years past. Please be extremely careful when you are driving down Rahway during drop off and pickup times. 

Upcoming Dates & Events

-Veterans Day Assembly - November 9th

-Early Dismissal - November 9th

- Teacher Professional Days - School Closed - November 10th & 11th

-End of Marking Period 1 - November 16th

- Early dismissal - November 23rd

-Thanksgiving -School Closed - November 24th & 25th

- Report Cards Issued in Genesis - November 30th

Curriculum in Focus - Language Arts -

6th Grade -

Students are continuing their exploration of identity through the core class novel, Wonder. Students have begun “Motivation Mondays” where they have time each Monday at the start of class to reflect, relax, and set one’s individual focus for the week by responding to a precept.

7th Grade 

Students will be engaging with the question of how do we build relationships with people who are extremely different from us through the vehicle of reading The Outsiders.  Students will be learning about symbolism, direct/indirect characterization, connotation/denotation, and theme statement paragraphs. 

8th Grade 

Students will be transitioning from our first unit focused on the theme of Resilience, to our next unit, focused on the theme of Social Justice.  To begin our unit, students will work to define “social justice” and research real-world examples of justice being upheld and injustices. After we fully define the term, we will read the short story version of “Flowers for Algernon” which will prepare students to begin reading our first whole-class novel, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Students will explore how the characters in the book are treated unjustly based on their race, gender, and abilities. 

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter

Edison Apparel Sale - Click the link to purchase some Edison / Westfield Apparel

Edison Community Update - November 4th 

The Edison Community Update 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

Appropriate social media and phone behavior is a topic that occupies the space between home and school. This means both parents and teachers need to work in collaboration to educate students and enforce clear expectations regarding the decisions they make with their phones. Over the course of this week and next, our counselors will be visiting social studies classrooms to teach students lessons on appropriate phone/social media behavior. I am including a copy of the counselor’s lessons here so that you can view the slides that are being discussed during the lessons and reinforce this important topic with your children at home. Please also stay tuned for future parent workshops that we will host on this topic.

Westfield Public Schools Strategic Plan Parent Survey -

On November 1, Dr. González emailed a link to a brief survey to all parents and guardians regarding the district's strategic planning process.  Your feedback is extremely important as the district develops a Strategic Plan to define our values and priorities for 2023-2028.  Please note that if parents with children in multiple schools wish to submit a separate survey for each child, you will be prompted to do so once the first survey is submitted. Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to share your input.

Upcoming Dates & Events 

- Election Day -  November 8th

-Verteran’s Day Assembly - November 9th

-Early Dismissal - November 9th

- Teacher Professional Days - School Closed - November 10th & 11th

-End of Marking Period 1 - November 16th 

Curriculum in Focus - Technology 

Computer Tech I - 6th graders Students will begin their final entrepreneur project, creating a professional Business Presentation.  Students will learn and apply the advanced tech features within slide presentation tools, for example; text and image animation, slide transition, custom bullets, and many more features!

Computer Tech II - 7th graders Students are working diligently to complete a professional business commercial in which they write the script, narrate, and edit using WeVideo! Students will insert their business commercials into their business websites and then wrap up with any final touches for a business presentation to the class.

Project Technology - 8th graders Students are creating Digital Stories. For this project, they research a topic of choice, write a story, narrate it and create a movie with images, music and transitions.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter

Edison Apparel Sale - Click the link to purchase some Edison / Westfield Apparel 

Edison Community Update - October 28th 

Edison Intermediate School

OCT 28, 2022

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

Edison School Fall Drama Performance - Alice @ Wonderland 

The cast and crew have logged countless hours preparing for this weekend’s fall drama performance of Alice @ Wonderland. Each time I witness an Edison Fall Drama or Spring Musical performance, I am so impressed with the role the students play in not only the amazing acting, but also in all of the behind the scenes work. From lighting, sound and scenery to costumes, playbills, and advertising, the students truly do run these productions. A student-centered production would not be possible without the many caring adults who have the vision and focus to teach the students and take these shows from ideas on paper to a packed auditorium. I would like to thank all of the parents who volunteered their time to assist with this production. I would also like to thank the many faculty who worked on this show, namely: Ms. Ciampa, Mr. Scozzaro, Mrs. Vezos, Mrs. Acosta, Mr. McNanna, Mrs. Friar, Mrs. Gant, and especially our director, Mr. Altmann. 

Halloween on Monday!!!

If this is your first year as an Edison family, you should probably be made aware that Halloween is a BIG deal at Edison School. Halloween is a fun day where students participate fully in all of their classes, but do so dressed in costume. During lunch/study, students have the opportunity to vote for their favorite individual and group costumes for both the students and the faculty. At the conclusion of the day, the winners of the costume contests are announced and award certificates are distributed. We do ask that students not wear any Halloween masks during class time. Students are also not permitted to bring any costume weapons with them to school. 

Westfield Public Schools Strategic Plan Parent Meeting - The Westfield Public School District's Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 will serve as a blueprint that clearly defines our priorities and our vision.  This is important work and we need your valued input.  You are invited to attend a stakeholder session for parents and community members next Wednesday, November 2 from 7-9 p.m. in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School.  We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Dates & Events

- Fall Drama Performances - October 27th -29th

- Halloween - Monday, October 31st

- Veterans Day Assembly - November 9th

- Early Dismissal - November 9th

- Teacher Professional Days - School Closed - November 10th & 11th

- End of Marking Period 1 - November 16th 

Curriculum in Focus -

World Language 

6th Grade -

Spanish- Students are continuing their exploration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Students are deepening their understanding of famous Hispanic people by learning about the countries they come from. Students are studying maps, nationalities, and basic Latin American geography.

French - Students are learning how to express how they are feeling and are able to count up to 1,000,000!  They created jack o'lanterns that matched their favorite French expression, and we sat on the rug and played a “comment ça va?’ guessing game. Soon, they will be able to tell time in French and will be writing and performing their first skits!

7th Grade - 

French - Students will begin exploring vocabulary based on places around town. They will be able to express where they are going around town using vocabulary and the verb “aller”. Students will also create a Storefront to be displayed on the world language bulletin board that represents one of our new vocabulary words for places around town. 

Spanish - Students are exploring and learning about the cultural holiday, Día de los Muertos. This month students will read the short novel Tumba (about a boy that explores his family history to remember his grandfather during Día de los Muertos), watch parts of the movie Coco (to visually connect with aspects of the holiday), and complete a project (where the students choose to explore Día de los Muertos according to their interests). Students will also have the opportunity to observe various peer projects in the Hall of Día de los Muertos.

8th Grade - 

French - Students will be exploring their identity, culture, and future professional interests. Students will be able to identify vocabulary associated with their personal identity, as well as their family and cultural background.

Spanish - Students continue their journey exploring and learning about the cultural holiday, Día de los Muertos. This month students will learn about various aspects of the holiday, make their own monarch butterfly( as a representation of the memory of a loved one, a pet, or a notable person they admire), create their own alebrije (spirit animal), and complete a project (where the students choose to remember and write about a loved one, a pet, or a notable person they admire).  Students will also have the opportunity to display their projects  and observe various peer projects in the Hall of Día de los Muertos.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter 

Edison Community Update - October 21st 

Edison Intermediate School

OCT 21, 2022

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

This week, Edison students and faculty took part in our October Advisory lesson. During our monthly Advisory lessons students meet with teachers to take part in character education, team building, and SEL lessons. During Thursday’s lesson, students engaged in activities designed to  build connections with others and their Advisory teacher. The lesson began with students identifying the connections they have with certain other students regarding general low stakes topics such as, “Pineapple belongs on pizza, or pineapple definitely does not belong on pizza.” and “I’m asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, or it takes me a while to fall asleep when I go to bed.” After discussing the connections they found with others over these scenarios, the teacher of the Advisory shared a bit about themselves and gave the students opportunities to ask them questions so that the students and teacher could build connections. I was thrilled to see how engaged the students were in this week’s Advisory lesson. 

Fall Drama - Alice @ Wonderland Everyone at Edison School is excited for our upcoming Fall Drama performance of Alice @ Wonderland on October 27th at 4pm, October 28th and 29th at 7pm. Please scan the QR Code on the above linked flier for ticket information. 

Upcoming Dates & Events 

• Fall Drama Performances - October 27th -29th 

• Two Lunch Tuesday - October 25th

• Halloween - Monday, October 31st 

• Verterans Day Assembly - November 9th 

• Early Dismissal - November 9th - Teacher Professional Days - School Closed - November 10th & 11th 

• End of Marking Period 1 - November 16th 

Curriculum in Focus -

Social Studies 

6th Grade -

Students will be learning about the earliest humans and how their capabilities allowed them to survive. They will also be investigating the Neolithic Revolution, which was the transition from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to farmers who started the first settled communities. Over the next month, students will create a comic book, perform an infomercial, and write their first DBQ essay using documents for support.

7th Grade - 

Students will explore the impact of geography on the early development of Rome. Additionally students will read, summarize, and illustrate two accounts of the founding of Rome: the myth of Romulus and Remus and the historic account. History students will also learn about the impact of Etruscan engineering and sports as well as Greek art, religion, architecture and writing on the Romans. Students will make comparisons of the early Roman government to our United States government today. 

8th Grade 

Students in 8th grade Social Studies will be researching the events leading to the American Revolution. After exploring the effects of the French and Indian War, students will learn about the challenges faced by the colonies and Great Britain including the debt incurred by years of fighting. They will also learn about the effects of new taxes implemented on the colonists. Over the next month, students will listen to the words of Patrick Henry, examine evidence to determine the guilt or innocence of the British soldiers during the Boston Massacre, examine the role of propaganda, and empathize with the colonists as they create colonial protest signs.

Message from the SRO (School Resource Officer) Officer Johnson:

First, I would like to thank the Edison Intermediate School community for the collective work that we all do each and every day to keep our school community safe. I would like to offer some observations of ways to keep our students and schools even safer. 

• Crossing Rahway Avenue - Rahway Avenue is a busy street. Students must only cross where there is a crossing guard. Students must also pay attention to their surroundings while crossing (put the phone down while walking). If a crossing guard is not present during after-school hours, students should only cross in front of Kehler Stadium using the Hawk Light system. 

• Bikes and Biking - I love that kids ride their bikes to our school. Did you know that two out of every four bikes that are parked at Edison each morning are left unlocked. This presents a security concern and a clear opportunity for student bikes to be stolen. Please encourage your child to lock up their bikes. Also, students are required to wear a helmet when riding a bike in Westfield. Please remind your children of the importance of wearing a helmet while riding. 

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter 

Edison Community Update - October 14th 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

TLRNC - Peer Leadership Training 

This Friday our eighth grade peer leadership group, TLRNC (Teens Learning Respect and Compassion), received leadership training from the company Out on a Limb. The students engaged in a series of fun team building and conflict resolution activities throughout the day. Once this training was complete, the TLRNC peer-leaders were fully equipped to work with students in sixth and seventh grade over the course of the year during Advisory lessons, Mix-it-Up Day, and orientations for new students to Edison. 

Halloween

If this is your first year as an Edison family, you should probably be made aware that Halloween is a BIG deal at Edison School. Halloween is a fun day where students participate fully in all of their classes, but do so dressed in costume. During lunch/study, students have the opportunity to vote for their favorite individual and group costumes for both the students and the faculty. The Edison School Student Government Association (SGA) also hosts a pumpkin carving contest and distributes Boo Grams. Boo Grams are short messages, with a small piece of candy, that students can have delivered to friends in their homeroom on Halloween (more information on Boo Grams and the Pumpkin contest will be shared in next week’s newsletter). At the conclusion of the day, the winners of the costume contests are announced and award certificates are distributed. We do ask that students not wear any Halloween masks during class time. Students are also not permitted to bring any costume weapons with them to school. 

Upcoming Dates & Events

• Interim Reports Issued through Genesis - October 13th 

• Walk to School Day - October 19th 

• Fall Drama Performances - October 27th -29th 

• Halloween - Monday, October 31st

Message from the Main Office -

As the weather has started to change, and we begin to prepare for winter months, we wanted to take a moment to share the times students can enter the building.

• As reflected in our daily schedule, our doors open each morning at the 8:07 bell. Students wait outside in their respective areas.

• On bad weather days (rain, snow, temperatures well below freezing) we will open the aforementioned doors at 8:00 am. Once students enter the building, they will head to the following locations until the 8:07am entry bell rings. 

  • 6th Grade - assemble in the gymnasium 

  • 7th Grade -  assemble in the cafeteria 

  • 8th Grade - lineup outside of their homeroom

• Regardless of the weather, if a student has made arrangements with their teacher for morning help, the student can ring the front bell at the agreed upon time. Our main office secretary will buzz them in via the front door once we’ve confirmed the teacher is in their classroom.

Curriculum in Focus -

Orchestra & Band  - 

6th Grade 

• 6th Grade Orchestra - Students have transitioned well from the once weekly small group lessons they used to have in 5th grade.  Now students are in a large class (20 or more!) and are working on learning the ensemble skills necessary for performing with a large group.  On average, we rehearse four times as often as in 5th grade which allows for improvement in every single student!  Learning the importance of having a positive attitude, respecting our fellow musicians, and being a team player have been ongoing themes for October.  We have also begun practicing our pieces for their debut performance here at Edison.  Some of our pieces include Into the Sky!, Once Upon a December, and Highlights from Harry Potter.

• 6th Grade Band - Students have done a nice job acclimating to middle school where they play their instruments four days a week. They have learned a lot of the routines and habits that will lead to success as we move through the year. They recently started practicing their first performance piece, The Star Spangled Banner, and are excited to play this at the Winter Concert.

7th Grade 

• 7th Grade Orchestra - Students are diving headfirst into more complicated pieces for our Winter Concert series.  We are constantly reviewing our major scales as well as our ensemble skills learned in 6th grade.  The students have also begun using Smart Music as a practice tool both at home and in the classroom.  Some of our selections for our upcoming performance include Spartacus, A Holiday Waltz, and Aspen Glow.

• 7th Grade Band - Students have picked up where they left off last year. We hit the ground running working on how to make more mature sounds on their instruments. They have worked on how to perform complex rhythms that they will see in their music this year. Preparation has begun for the Winter Concert as students started working on their first piece, Ash Lawn Echoes.

8th Grade 

• 8th Grade Orchestra - Students are hard at work practicing their repertoire for our upcoming Winter Concert.  Each class is a “mini” ensemble in itself, so all students have the opportunity to hear how the music will come together as a whole prior to the performance.  Some of our pieces include Brazilian Sleigh Bells, Danny Boy, and the theme music from HBO’s Game of Thrones.

• 8th Grade Band - The 8th Grade Band is in full swing. In 8th grade, there are many performances throughout the year. The 8th graders will have a chance to join the WHS Marching Band at 8th Grade Band Day in a few weeks where they will play alongside the award-winning Marching Blue Devils. Additionally, the 8th grade band will be performing at the school-wide Veteran’s Day Assembly and have started working on two pieces for that.

Information from the EIS PTSO 

Please click on this link to access the Edison PTSO newsletter. This week’s newsletter contains important information about upcoming school fundraisers, Two Lunch Tuesdays, and Bake Sales. 

Edison Community Update - October 7th 

The Edison Community Update 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

The students and faculty of Edison School truly demonstrated their commitment to creating a school culture that is rooted in respect and acceptance this week during our annual Week of Respect. Throughout the week, students engaged in a series of activities and challenges such as: wear a sports jersey to show that we are all part of the same team at Edison, say something positive to someone else, and wear blue to stomp out bullying. I could not be prouder of the way our students and staff came together this week in recognition of the Week of Respect. 

Since September 15th a number of teachers have engaged students in lessons regarding the important contributions, cultures, and histories of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. In seventh and eighth grade world language classes, students used a fantastic Google Earth link to develop their understanding of important Hispanic trailblazers. 

Upcoming Dates & Events 

• School Closed - October 10th in observance of Columbus Day

• Interim Reports Issued through Genesis - October 13th 

• Walk to School Day - October 19th 

• Fall Drama Performances - October 27th -29th 

• Halloween - Monday, October 31st 

Curriculum in Focus -

Mathematics  - 

6th Grade -

Students will be learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and decimals.  They will be applying all previous knowledge from Chapter 1 to evaluate expressions involving decimals and fractions by following the order of operations.

7th Grade - 

Accelerated Math 7 - Students will be writing and comparing linear equations in various forms.  They will be using classroom stations and the online Quizziz program for extra practice during class.  Students will also be participating in a Scholastic Math Contest, focusing on solving realistic problems and providing a detailed explanation of the mathematical process used to solve each problem.  

Pre-Algebra - Students will first be learning how to simplify algebraic expressions in unit 3.  This unit will be built upon the next unit, which is solving algebraic equations.  Solving equations is an essential skill that will be applied throughout this course and in future mathematical courses.  Students will focus on illustrating the correct mathematical process when solving an equation.

8th Grade 

Math 8 Students will be graphing and identifying different types of transformations.  Students will be formulating rules for translations, reflections, rotations and dilations.  They will be connecting what they learned about these transformations to answer questions regarding congruent and similar figures.

Algebra 8 Students will be introduced to writing and graphing linear inequalities.  Students will solve increasingly complex inequalities along with compound inequalities and absolute value inequalities.

Message from the Main Office:

Please see the notes below in reference to students leaving early and dropping items off during the school day:

• If your child will need to leave school early for a doctor's appointment, please send a note to school with your child the day before the doctor visit, or call the school before 7:30am on the day of the visit.

•  Please have your child bring a doctor's note to school after a doctor's appointment, so that your child's absence can be marked as an excused absence.

• All Westfield Schools utilize an outdoor Dropbox for items students left home (including books, notebooks, and lunches).

  • Items are picked up prior to each lunch period and students are called down to the main office during the changing of classes.

• Please do not leave laptops, phones, or instruments in the outdoor drop box.  Please buzz the main office so that someone can come pick up these valuable items.

Mrs. Petrie, Mrs. McManus, and Mrs. Noonan are our friendly main office secretaries and can be reached via email at:

Mrs. Petrie - hpetrie@westfieldnjk12.org - Dr. Bolton’s Assistant 

Mrs. McManus - tmcmanus@westfieldnjk12.org - Attendance Office & Mrs. Schall’s Assistant

Mrs. Noonan - knoonan@westfieldnjk12.org - Counseling Office Assistant 

We are here as a resource for your child(ren) and our community.  Please  reach out with any questions or concerns!

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

Please click this link to access Edison School PTSO Newsletter 

Edison Community Update - September 30th 

The Edison Community Update 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

This week, Edison School students and faculty engaged in their first Advisory lesson of the new school year. The Advisory program, implemented at both intermediate schools, is a time set aside each month for students to engage in character education and social emotional learning lessons. This year, the content of Advisory lessons will be guided by the Character Strong program. These Advisory lessons, that are differentiated by grade level, actively engaged our students and led to meaningful discussions. Please take a moment this weekend to ask your student about their first Advisory lesson. Also, feel free to access the Edison Intermediate School Live Feed on our new website to see our students in action during Advisory this week. 

Throughout the entirety of next week we will be celebrating the Week of Respect. During the Week of Respect students will engage in a variety of activities and lessons planned by our counseling department that are designed to build a positive climate and reduce acts of bullying. Please use the following link to access the various activities planned for Week of Respect. 

Upcoming Dates & Events -

• National Custodian Day - October 2nd 

• Week of Respect - October 3rd - October 7th 

• School Closed - October 5th in observance of Yom Kippur

• School Closed - October 10th in observance of Columbus Day

Curriculum in Focus -

English / Language Arts: 

6th Grade 

• During the month of September, students in 6th grade language arts began pre-activities for the identity unit. Students completed tasks to get to know one another and showcase information to display their identity in different ways. Students will be introduced to elements of literature and fiction reading strategies. 

7th Grade

• Students in 7th grade language arts are creating collaborative environments by building on their communication and discussion skills.  In addition, students will explore quality evidence selection in non-fiction texts to prepare for writing thoughtful open-ended responses. 

8th Grade 

• In ELA for September, we are beginning our Resilience unit. The essential questions that we are addressing are: 

• What is resilience?

• In what ways are critical thinking and resilience related?

• How does literature act as both window and mirror in developing resilience?

• We are starting the year off with short stories, and we began with "My Name" by Sandra Cisneros. Students will be writing about their feelings about their names. We will then review Signposts for reading, and then reading "The Most Dangerous Game" and "There Will Come Soft Rains" to practice signposts and highlight resilience in the stories. We will also be writing mini essays to practice context and analysis. 

A Message from the Health Office 

For our 6th grade parents, if you have not already done so please submit your updated forms regarding the Tdap and Meningococcal Vaccines that are needed for entry into the 6th grade.  We have received many  updated records, however if you have not provided your child(s)  updated record please send it in the form with your child as soon as possible.  Thank you if you have already submitted the forms.  If your child is still in need of their immunizations please provide us with your appointment time and location. 

We are here as a resource for your child(ren) and our community.  Please  reach out with any questions or concerns!

We can be reached at pkelly@westfieldnjk12.org for Mrs. Kelly RN or

                                    mfico@westfieldnjk12.org fro Mrs. Fico RN

Edison Community Update - September 23rd 

Edison  Community Update 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

As the year progresses and school work becomes more challenging, students may find themselves in need of some additional “extra” help from a teacher. The vast majority of teachers do maintain either early morning extra help schedules or after school extra help schedules. If your child is in need of some extra help, please encourage them to speak with or email the teacher to schedule an appointment. This is an excellent opportunity to encourage your child to advocate and communicate for themselves with their teachers. If a student needs a more routine schedule of homework support, Edison School offers a homework club that is staffed by a certified teacher. The homework club meets in the media center after school on Monday thru Thursday. Additionally, our community also offers our students various forms of academic support throughout the year such as the Westfield High School Police Athletic League Tutoring Program. 

The Westfield High Police Athletic League Tutoring program is ready to begin its 2022-23 school year - PAL Tutoring is a grant-funded program that offers students from WHS, EIS and RIS the chance to access free weekly tutoring from National Honor Society volunteers, while also enjoying free pizza and connections with peers. We will start PAL Tutoring on Wednesday, September 28, and each week’s session will run from 3:30-5:30 in the Student Center. We encourage all interested students to attend. Students from EIS and RIS should buzz in at the front entrance by 4 p.m., and a secretary will direct them to the Student Center. If you have any questions, please reach out to Warren Hynes, WHS assistant principal, at whynes@westfieldnjk12.org. Thanks very much!

 Tech Department Information 

This week’s Start Strong Assessments went off without a hitch. I believe that the vast majority of our students found it easy to access this week’s assessments with updated Chromebooks. While all student issued Chromebooks are either brand new or less than one year old, as we all know, even new devices can experience technical difficulty at times. Should your child need some form of tech support please read the following message from our tech department. 

A student issue should be reported to the IThelpdesk@westfieldnjk12.org email account by the student/parent if it is one of the following: - The Chromebook is damaged (broken screen, missing keys, charger not working, etc.) - They lost or were never assigned a Chromebook - They lost or were never given a charger - Slow or glitchy, has touchpad issues, keys not working properly

Student's can be sent to the building ITS (Mr. Cusumano in the media center) for the following issues: - No wireless connection - Forgot to charge their Chromebook - Left their device at home and/or is in need of a loaner Chromebook for the day

Upcoming Dates & Events -

• Schools Closed - September 26th & September 27th in observance of Rosh Hashanah 

•  Start Strong Makeup Testing -  Thursday, September 29th - Friday, September 30th 

Curriculum in Focus -

Science  - 

6th Grade 

• Next week in Science students will begin our light unit by investigating a one-way mirror, asking questions about the phenomenon, and developing ideas for investigations that will be carried out in class the following week. 

7th Grade 

• During the month of September, students learn the important elements of experimental design. These lessons culminate into the mento and soda lab.  This past week in Scinece we began our bath bomb unit that incorporates Chemistry.  Students start by observing a bath bomb in water and try to explain where the bubbles are coming from.  They develop ideas for investigation and design experiments to figure out the phenomenon.  Conservation of mass is introduced.  Chemical reactions and experimental design are reinforced.

8th Grade 

• Students in 8th grade science were presented with the situation of accidentally dropping a cell phone to launch our first physics-based unit of the year. They are studying the changes that occur to objects when they are involved in a collision that either results in damage or surprisingly no damage! Students are exploring these changes using cart and track systems to design hands-on investigations to help answer the questions they have developed for their Driving Question Board for the Contact Forces Unit. 

• Students in biology are studying the chemistry of life.  They are working on developing an ideal diet for an Olympic athlete based on what they learn through investigations and discussions about macromolecules and water.  Their first big lab investigation will be on the properties of water followed by a catalase enzyme lab during which they will investigate the way in which enzymes behave in different environmental conditions.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

In the coming weeks, you will find a link to the Edison School PTSO Newsletter, The Edison Flash, in this section. This newsletter will contain important updates and community news from the Edison PTSO. 

Edison Community Update - September 16th 

The Edison Community Update 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

After our first full week of school I can confidently say that students and teachers have gotten into the swing of things. We started this week with grade level meetings where shared expectations for school behavior were reviewed with all students. In our grade level meetings we defined and discussed examples of what it means to “Take care of yourself, Take care of each other, and Take care of our school.”  During these meetings we also took time to review our anti-bullying policy with students and stressed the importance of being kind and respectful to one another.  The intermediate school code of conduct is available for your review in the Edison School Student Handbook, which is located on the Edison School Information Hub located on our school website. 

This week concluded with our annual Club Fair and Fall Drama interest meeting. During the Club Fair students had the opportunity to explore the many club options available at Edison School. 

Next week students will be taking part in the Start Strong assessments. Please click the link below for more information on these assessments. Start Strong Assessments Parent Letter. 

Upcoming Dates & Events -

• BNL School Picture Day - Friday, September 23rd
  
  

• Start Strong Assessments -  Tuesday, September 20th - Thursday, September 22nd
  
  

• FIRST 2 LUNCH TUESDAY! PLEASE HELP MAKE IT GREAT! September 20th is the first EIS 2 lunch Tuesday of the year.   Please consider making an extra lunch for the Plainfield YMCA aftercare program.  Include a cold cut sandwich with cheese, or a PB&J is great as well, piece of fruit, chips or granola bar.  Bag lunches can be dropped off at the main entrance of school, there will be a table out for them.  THANK YOU for your generosity!

Curriculum in Focus -

A Message from Assistant Superintendent Dr. Paul Pineiro - 

The Health Education curriculum is intended to be a joint initiative between the parents and the schools. Parents/guardians and teachers must work together and complement each other to provide a successful program. Curriculum revision, textbooks, and supplemental material approval follow regular Board of Education procedures.

Health Education curriculum outlines and courses of study are posted at www.westfieldnjk12.org on the department page of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Programs.

As per district poilcy 5250 Excusal From Class or Program, parents/guardians who, for reasons of conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs, object to certain portions of the health education, family life education, sex education, or instruction that includes dissection of animals may have their children excused upon receipt of a formal request on the approved form which is posted on the department page of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Program HERE.  To assist our teachers with planning for the school year, we ask that any excusal requests be submitted by September 30. For further discussion about student exceptions, please contact your principal.

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

In the coming weeks, you will find a link to the Edison School PTSO Newsletter, The Edison Flash, in this section. This newsletter will contain important updates and community news from the Edison PTSO. 

Edison Community Update - September 9th 

Message from Dr. Bolton - 

We had a fantastic first week at Edison Intermediate School! It was wonderful to once again see students filling our hallways and classrooms. Throughout this first week of school teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, nurses, and administrators worked with students to develop relationships and establish clear expectations for student success. Early next week, Mrs. Schall and I will be meeting with each grade level of students to review our school-wide expectations and norms of behavior. In these grade level meetings, students will hear about the importance of consistent attendance, the value of being on time to school and class each day, and the three broad rules that govern all of our interactions at Edison Intermediate School: Take Care of Yourself, Take Care of Each Other, and Take Care of This School. I am looking forward to another great week of learning with students next week. 

Upcoming Dates & Events -

• Club Fair - Thursday, September 15th @ 3pm in the front of the school 

• Fall Drama Interest Meeting - Thursday, September 15th after the Club Fair in EIS Auditorium 

• BNL School Picture Day - Friday, September 23rd

• Start Strong Assessments -  Tuesday, September 20th - Thursday, September 22nd (more information will be emailed shortly regarding these assessments)

Curriculum in Focus -

Social Studies in Focus: 

Today, Edison School Social Studies teachers devoted Friday’s lessons to recognizing Patriot Day. Teachers facilitated lessons that taught their students about the tragic events and heroic actions that occurred on September 11th 2001 and in the many days, weeks, and months that followed. 

Below, Mrs. Keller describes what her 7th grade social studies students experienced in class today:

Today in Social Studies class we observed Patriot Day. We focused in 7th grade Social Studies on what it means to be a hero, and we asked students to give some examples of heroes. We examined the history of September 11, 2001 through the examination of artifacts that tell us the story of that day. We viewed a video narrated by the Chief Curator of the 9/11 Museum in New York, Ms. Ramirez showed many of the artifacts that can be found in the museum and the human story behind them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZywOZDHp0Rw

A Message from the Health Office 

Welcome back and we hope that everyone has had a great start to the 2022-2023 school year!   We have seen many smiles and enthusiasm in the classrooms and halls and hope that you have heard some positive feedback regarding the school day at home as well!

We wanted to share some information regarding the health office procedures and the links for all health forms if needed.  

All health related forms and information are found on this link: https://sites.google.com/westfieldnjk12.org/healthservices/home 

Any medication (even over the counter medications) must have a completed medication authorization form in order to be administered at school.  Medication at school may only be administered by a parent/guardian or school nurse.  If your child requires medication, and you were not able to make it during the scheduled drop off times please email/ call to arrange an alternate time.   Asthma action plans, Food Allergy Action plans (and additional forms) and standard medication form are in the link above. 

If a student is not feeling well,  they would come to the health office to be evaluated and you would then receive a call from us if needed.  If they are not feeling well enough to remain in school, they would then be dismissed by a parent/guardian or an authorized person after being signed out from the health office.  Students should not be contacting you via their phones, and you would be alerted from the health office. 

For our 6th grade parents, if you have not already done so please submit your updated forms regarding the Tdap and Meningococcal Vaccines that are needed for entry into the 6th grade.  We have received many  updated records, however if you have not provided your child(s)  updated record please send it in the form with your child as soon as possible.  Thank you if you have already submitted the forms.  If your child is still in need of their immunizations please provide us with your appointment time and location. 

 We are here as a resource for your child(ren) and our community.  Please  reach out with any questions or concerns!

We can be reached at pkelly@westfieldnjk12.org for Mrs. Kelly RN or

                                    mfico@westfieldnjk12.org fro Mrs. Fico RN

Information from the EIS PTSO - 

In the coming weeks, you will find a link to the Edison School PTSO Newsletter, The Edison Flash, in this section. This newsletter will contain important updates and community news from the Edison PTSO. 

BACK-To-SCHOOL NIGHT INFORMATION

Dear Edison Families, 

Edison Intermediate School’s Back-to-School Night has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 12th. I truly appreciate your flexibility in adjusting your schedule from our previous event, which was postponed due to severe weather. 

The evening will begin at 7pm in your child’s homeroom where you will receive a copy of your child’s daily schedule. As with the previous scheduled event, we are only able to accommodate one parent per student for this event. Teachers will be posting the content of the night’s presentation to their websites for those unable to attend. All parents in attendance will be required to wear a mask while in the school. 

Best, 

Matt Bolton 

October 1st - EIS Community Update - Social Media / Drop Box / Close Contacts

Good afternoon Edison School Families,

Please allow me to take a moment to share with you a few important items:

Chromebooks:

•  As previously communicated, all intermediate school students will participate in the Start Strong State Assessments. This assessment, starting on October 12th, requires all students to use their school issued Chromebook. In order for all Chromebooks to receive important updates, we are asking that all students bring their fully charged school issued Chromebook to school starting this Monday, October 4th. 

Social Media / Cell Phones:

• You may have already seen through various news outlets, there are currently some very disturbing trends on social media where students are being challenged to take part in, record, and post inappropriate, destructive, and illegal acts.  Students mimicking behavior observed on social media is not a new trend, however, these new “challenges” are encouraging students to perform acts that are unsafe and unacceptable at school. We ask that you help us to promote a safe and orderly school environment by speaking with your children about these social media challenges and reinforcing the seriousness of playing any role in these acts. Please be aware that any student participating in acts of violence or vandalism will be subject to disciplinary action as reflected in our school’s code of conduct. 

• As discussed in our grade level meetings with students, cell phones should be powered off and put away during the school day. We kindly ask that parents/guardians reach out to our main office if you need to share an important message with your child. 

Drop Box: 

• As outlined in our opening letter, Edison School uses a drop box system. Parents can use this system if their child forgets their lunch at home. Our main office secretary will collect and distribute the items prior to our three lunch periods. Please do not leave Chromebooks, cell phones, or anything of value in our Drop Box.

Close Contacts:

• If the school is notified of a positive case that attended school, that students will quarantine according to department of health guidelines. The school and department of health will investigate and identify any close contacts. If any close contacts were identified in the school setting, parents will receive a phone call or email from the school informing them that their child was a close contact and additional guidance on the child’s quarantine period. 

• Students who are required to quarantine because of a Covid positive test, waiting the results of a test, or are identified as a close contact will be provided information from the school regarding the remote learning program. 

October 15th - EIS Community Update - Halloween & Start Strong Assessments 

October 15, 2021

Dear Edison Families,

Start Strong Assessments - We had another great week at Edison Intermediate School. Students participated in the Start Strong Assessments on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (6th grade). The students did an outstanding job of coming into school, transition to their testing locations, and focusing on the assessment. Makeup testing for any student who missed a day of testing this week will take place next Monday – Wednesday.

 Halloween at EIS – Halloween is a big deal at Edison School. Students and staff are encouraged to come to school in their costumes. During lunch, students will vote on best individual and group costume in each grade as well as best faculty individual and group costumes.  Students will still be expected to wear their masks even though they are in costume. Halloween will be celebrated at EIS on Friday, October 29th.

Communication When a Student is Ill – If your child is not feeling well, please contact the school to communicate the reason for your child’s absence. The main office will put parents in touch with the school nurse who is able to provide information on whether or not you child is required to be Covid tested prior to returning to school. Maintaining open lines of communication when a student is not feeling well is an incredibly important measure in keeping everyone safe and healthy at school.

 Have a great weekend.

 Matt Bolton

December 17th - EIS Community Update - Social Media 

Dear Edison Families,

Social Media -

I have no doubt that after reading Dr. Gonzlaez’s announcement, you are aware of the national non-specific, non-credible threat of school violence that was circulating on various social media platforms. Let me begin by saying that despite this concerning and disruptive news, we had a safe and productive day at Edison School.

I can’t help but express my sincere frustration with the role and negative impact that social media is playing in the lives of our students. I’m frustrated that even before being dropped off at school our kids had to experience anxiety about going to a place where they should feel safe. I’m frustrated that our teachers had to redirect students from conversations about this social media threat in order to begin working on class content. We have amazing kids at Edison Intermediate School. While many of them see themselves as young adults, they are not. They are 11-14 year old children who, as a result of the devices in their hands and their access to social media, are interacting with very adult and serious themes.

I fully realize that we as parents and educators have no control over the disruptive content that is posted on social media. What we do have control over is the level of access to these platforms that we allow our children. It is critical that we all continue to engage in conversations with our children about the amount of time they are spending on social media and the type of content they are viewing online.

Science Guest Speaker-

Today our seventh grade students were able to experience a wonderful presentation by Edison parent (and real life science expert), Dr. Bob Finn. Dr. Finn is the Director of the Research, Development and Analytical Services at Innophos, Inc.  He has 20 years of experience developing new products in the nutrition, food and industrial markets.  During his time at Innophos, he has authored several patents and has over 40 scientific publications.  Dr. Finn and his team developed an alternative heater for meal ready to eat rations in 2009.  Today, Dr. Finn shared with our seventh graders the product development process in a chemical company as well as his past work on the chemical heater. A huge thank you to Dr. Finn for spending the entire day sharing his expertise with our seventh graders and truly providing them with clarity on the practical applications of the science they are learning in the World.

EIS Spirit Wear –

Edison spirit wear was delivered to the homerooms of all students who placed an order. Please be on the lookout for spirit wear coming home today. A huge thank you to our fantastic Edison PTSO for facilitating the ordering, production, and sorting of hundreds of pieces of spirit wear.

Have a great weekend,

Matt Bolton 

December 23rd - EIS Community Update - 

December 23, 2021

Dear Edison Families,

Mrs. Schall and I would like to wish you all a healthy and relaxing holiday break. I do hope that you each find time to enjoy the company of family and some moments of peace during this week away from school.  

If your child tests positive for COVID, or is considered a close contact, at any point during the holiday break, please remember to inform me and Mrs. Kelly pkelly@westfieldnjk12.org . We are required to document this information, which also helps us in understanding the impact that Covid is having in our school community while we are away from school.

Wishing all of you a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Matt Bolton

January 11th - EIS Community Update - Revised Lunch & Remote Programs 

Dear Edison Families, 

As previously communicated by Dr. Gonzalez, Edison Intermediate School will be returning to full days of school with lunch tomorrow, Wednesday, January 12th. Please see the following information related to Wednesday’s return. 

Revised Lunch Program - In developing a plan to return to school for full days, primary consideration was given to the health of students and staff. The guidance provided by regional health officials was to create a lunch program where students can be seated six feet apart while eating, to eliminate the possibility of any close contacts. In order to create such a schedule, the intermediate schools needed to make considerable changes to the existing lunch program. While we contend with the significant rise in Covid cases, students will be eating lunch in smaller groups in the cafeteria, auditorium, and media center. 

Ordering Lunch - The number of menu options and limited staff previously created long lunch lines for the purchasing of lunch in the cafeteria. In order to make a more efficient and less congested purchasing system, students who wish to purchase lunch must do so by contacting Chartwells using the following ordering email the day prior. EdisonLunchOrder@westfieldnjk12.org 

On a daily basis, Chartwells will be emailing all families the menu choices for the following day. If your child wishes to order lunch, respond to the Chartwell’s email with the following information: your name, your child’s name, grade and menu choice to the above email address. Lunch orders will be assembled, labeled, and ready for pickup at the beginning of your child’s lunch period. 

Remote Plan - In order to provide a more effective remote learning experience for the large number of students who are quarantined with illness or as a close contact, starting Wednesday we will be revising our remote program. Rather than meeting during lunch and after school, students on quarantine will now have access to listen to and watch their teachers through a livestream link. The livestream link will serve as a window into the classroom in order to compliment the classwork that has been uploaded into the Google Classroom. If a quarantined student has a question about the lesson they are watching, they are welcome to email the teacher at their convenience.

This livestream link will only be made available to those students who are required to quarantine as a result of a Covid positive test, are symptomatic and are awaiting the results of a Covid test,  or have been identified as a close contact. 

Thank you for your continued understanding and flexibility as we work to keep our schools open and safe. 

Best,

Matt Bolton, Ed.D. 

January 28th - Holocaust Survivor, Mrs. Eva Wiener, Speaks with EIS Students 

Dear Edison Families, 

Today, students in a number of Edison School social studies classes took part in a very meaningful and important lesson. Through the hard work of Mrs. Messenger and Ms. Lazarus, our students were able to hear the voice and story of living Holocaust survivor, Mrs. Eva Wiener. Mrs. Wiener eloquently shared the truly moving experience she and her parents went through during the years leading up to World War II in Poland and Germany. She then shared her first hand experience as one of the 900 passengers aboard the SS St. Louis as she and her family attempted to escape Nazi Germany only to be turned away by Cuba, The United States, and Canada and finally returned to Europe.  

Throughout her presentation, Mrs. Wiener explained about the important role those she experienced had in either promoting hate and bigotry, or serving has righteous individuals by working to save those from persecution. Mrs. Wiener concluded her presentation with a homework assignment for the students. She said, “I am the last generation of survivors of the Holocaust, which means that you children are the last generation that will ever hear directly from a survivor. Your homework is to share my story with others. Your homework is to ensure that bigotry, hate, and anti-semitism are never allowed to fester and grow in our society. You have the privilege and duty to stand up to hate.” 

I was so pleased that Mrs. Wiener allowed us to record her livestream presentation so that we can now share her incredible history with all of our students over the next few days. I would like to again thank Mrs. Messenger and Mrs. Lazarus for arranging this presentation. I would also like to thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Metro West Holocaust Council for their collaboration and assistance in planning Mrs. Wiener’s presentation. 

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the snow!

Matt Bolton, Ed.D. 

February 4th - EIS Community Update 

Dear Edison Families, 

Please be advised of the following updates from this week at Edison Intermediate School.

1. As a result of the weather conditions, all after school activities have been canceled for today, February 4th. 

2. Students transitioned smoothly into the third marking period this week, which marked the beginning of new elective courses for students in all grades. Please be aware that second marking period report cards will be available in the Genesis portal at the end of the school day on Friday, February 11th. 

3. During the third marking period, Mrs. Fico will rotate back to the Edison Health Office. Should you need to report any Covid-19 related symptoms or positive cases in your family, please feel free to contact Mrs. Fico at mfico@westfieldnjk12.org

4. I am happy to report that the Covid activity level in our community and school continues to decrease from where we were immediately following the winter break. The administration of the intermediate schools are working in conjunction with the superintendent and health officials to review local case numbers and evaluate the timeline for returning to the previous model of lunch. As we discuss next steps, we will proceed with caution in order to keep our students and staff safe.  For additional information and updates on Covid-19, please reference Dr. Gonzalez’s January newsletter.  

Have a great weekend. 

Matt Bolton, Ed.D.

March 4th - EIS Community Update 

Dear Edison Families, 

As previously communicated by Dr. Gonzalez, starting this coming Monday, March 7th, Edison School students and staff will have the option of either wearing a mask or not wearing a mask while in the building. Please know that while masks will be optional, other mitigation measures will continue to be in place, such as frequent disinfecting of surfaces and the district’s new test to stay protocols to ensure that all students and staff continue to work in a safe environment. 

As I shared with all Edison students this week, (and I ask that you reinforce at home) moving to a masks optional approach is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate that we can all be respectful of one another’s individual choices.  Additionally, I reinforced to the students that the choice to wear a mask, or not, is not their only option. Students and staff can exercise the choice to wear a mask, or not, at any point or location throughout the day. I fully anticipate that all students will respect the decisions of their peers as we move forward together.  

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Matt Bolton, Ed.D.

March 18th - EIS Community Update 

Dear Edison Families, 

Please see the following community updates from this past week at Edison School.

STEM CAMP IS BACK

Below, please find the information regarding this summer’s STEM camp.  Registration is opening up on Monday.

Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D2smtySchIrjr2YTvNEAKJ1daruLRBmF/view?usp=sharing

 Website: https://westfieldstemcamp.weebly.com/

March Madness - 

March Madness is in full swing at Edison School. While many of the students are paying close attention to the March Madness NCAA Basketball tournament, we decided to use this momentum to build our Edison School spirit. On Monday, each lunch/study was assigned a college team that is participating in the NCAA tournament. Over the next two weeks the lunch/study groups will compete against each other in various competitions such as a team poster contest, rock, paper, scissors contest, Kahoot, and Connect Four contests during the week to determine the winning lunch/study in each grade. The students are already having a blast designing their lunch/study team posters. The week of EIS March Madness activities will conclude on Friday, March 25th with our student vs. teacher basketball game (which was postponed from before the holidays). 

Wellness Wednesday - 

Our three school counselors have been hard at work planning a “Wellness Wednesday” that will take place on March 30th. Throughout the day students will be taught several different activities/exercises that they can use to enhance their overall wellbeing when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious.  These coping strategies will be taught and practiced during each period of the day, in students’ various classes. Some of the many activities that the students will participate in are:

Language Arts - teachers will choose from silent independent reading, journaling, wordle/word games.

Math - teachers will provide students with math focused games and activities such as, sudoku, tessellations, number games.

Social Studies - teachers will share student made presentations about the benefits of therapy dogs.

Science - Students will make Ooblek stress balls.

Phys Ed/Health - Students will take part in yoga and breathing exercises

World Language/ELL - Students will color Ukranian eggs.

During the 20 minute lunch/study, students will have the choice to visit with one of 8 therapy dogs that will be located throughout the building. For students who are uncomfortable and prefer not to visit the dogs, they can report to the cafeteria with the other half of the grade for lunch. We are using two therapy dog organizations --- Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs & Creature Comfort Pet Therapy 

And the student’s favorite part of the day…there will be NO HOMEWORK on Wellness Wednesday!

Have a great weekend!

Matt Bolton

April 1st - EIS Community Update

April 1, 2022

Dear Edison Families, 

Please see the following updates from this week at Edison School. 

SpongeBob Square Pants The Musical - We had another great week at Edison Intermediate School. Between our first Wellness Wednesday and the debut of our spring musical, SpongeBob Square Pants The Musical, this week has been full of activity and excitement. I would like to formally thank and congratulate all those who were involved in making our spring musical such a huge success. Thank you to the over 100 students who participated in the cast, crew, pit, and various other ways behind the scenes. Thank you to the faculty and staff who worked so diligently to enable this to be a completely student run production. Thank you to the many parents who donated their time and talents to the costumes, sets, PR, photographs, decorations, and on and on and on. Finally, thank you to Edison’s Musical Director, Mr. Markowski and Director, Mr. Altmann for their creativity, determination, and ability to always inspire their students. 

Spirit Week (Next Week) - 

To round out Edison’s last week of fun activities prior to heading into spring break, next week we will be recognizing both Edison Spirit Week and Autism Awareness Week. Students will have lots of choices to display their spirit or recognize Autism Awareness. Please check out the link below for the various themes for each day of the week.  

EIS Spirit & Autism Awareness Week Themes 

8th Grade End-of-Year Dance - 

We are thrilled to announce that Edison School will once again host our annual Eighth Grade End-of-Year Dance at Edison Intermediate School on Friday, June 17th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. During this upcoming week, students in the eighth grade will vote on a theme for the dance. More information on ticket sales will be shared in the next few weeks. 

EIS 8th Grade Dance