Lawrence Township Public Schools News Roundup

Lawrence Township Public Schools recently released the following news items:

Pit Bull Teaches Valuable Lesson

NBC-10 visited Tami D’Errico’s fifth-grade class last month to tape Lulu, Tami’s pit bull, and the lesson she brings on stereotyping.  Tami has rescued and trained dogs for years and began a program several years ago that involves dogs in therapy and service learning.  Check out Lulu’s lesson by clicking here.

Slackwood Students Visit Historic Anderson-Capner House

Slackwood Elementary School students visited the historic Anderson-Capner House on Trumbull Avenue as part of the second grade curriculum, which includes learning the history of Lawrence Township. Mrs. Kathlinda Saretzky, library assistant at Slackwood and present owner of the home, presented students with historical information about the house and Lawrenceville (Maidenhead) in the 18th century. Mrs. Saretzky and a friend wore period clothes and provided the students with a hands-on history lesson about colonial times. The Anderson-Capner House, built in 1764, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Streamkeepers

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Ben Franklin Elementary School first-graders kicked off a year-long science project called Streamkeepers. During this project, generously funded by the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, the first-grade classes will work on a problem-based learning experience. Students will collect data from a waterway that runs behind BF and will be involved with in-depth investigations about environmental topics that have community implications.

During Streamkeepers, first graders will step into the shoes of scientists, ecologists and mathematicians in order to learn how to perform authentic science tasks and connect information from a variety of sources. Long time friend and BF supporter, scientist Robert T. Morris, has partnered with the first-graders as their resident expert.

Dr. Morris is a senior research risk assessment specialist and his expertise includes residue and metabolism chemistry, environmental fate and environmental fate modeling; as well as, human health and ecological risk assessment. Dr. Morris introduced the framework of the project on Oct. 18 with a multimedia presentation and challenged the students to think like scientists as they explore the stream.

Following the presentation, he led one class to the stream to begin making observations. Throughout the year, the first-graders will share their data through their collaborative wiki called Streamkeepers. Jeanne Muzi, BF first grade teacher, is leading the project.

Red Scare Claims First Music in Motion

Still undefeated in their 10th season, Lawrence High School’s Red Scare got their groove on and won Espirit de Corps at the annual Music in Motion competition hosted by Steinert High School on Sunday, Oct. 23. Led by Lee Neamand, LHS music teacher, the group competed against five other local schools.

Florida Orange and Grapefruit Fundraiser for LHS Music Program

Students in the Lawrence High School music program are selling navel oranges and red grapefruit from Florida to raise funds for a trip to Puerto Rico next spring. Please support your favorite choral or instrumental student by ordering directly from them or online at www.fruitorder.com  (simply put in our school ID # 623316 to get to our site). During checkout you will be prompted to choose a student's name from the list or choose LIMBO [Lawrence Integrated Music Booster Organization] general fund to support the organization as a whole. The sale ends on Nov. 7 and fruit will be delivered to LHS in mid-December. Click here for more information or see the flyer in the media box above.

Vote and Help Ben Franklin Win 10 Mounted Smartboards

Earlier this year, Ben Franklin Elementary School was nominated for a “Power a Bright Future” grant from The Clorox Company in hopes of securing up to $50,000 in funding for ten mounted Smartboards. Help Ben Franklin win by casting votes through Dec. 9, 2011.

Adults and children 13 and older can vote online daily at www.PowerABrightFuture.com  for the program they believe is the most deserving of a grant. Find Ben Franklin by searching “Lawrenceville, NJ” in the location tab.

The program that receives the highest number of votes will be awarded the $50,000 grand-prize grant and the next top vote-getters in the “Play,” “Create” and “Explore” categories respectively will each be awarded a $25,000 grant. A panel of Clorox judges will also select one additional lucky school to win a $25,000 judge’s choice grant.

Visit www.PowerABrightFuture.com for additional details and official rules.

Contact Principal Chris Turnbull at (609) 671-5441 or cturnbull@ltps.org with questions.

Voting guidelines as follows:

Text to vote (Message and data rates may apply):

• To vote for Ben Franklin text clorox4007 to 44144
• Vote one time every day!
• Spread the word!

Vote online

• Log on to http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/gallery/detail/?nid=1196 (When registering, do not use any hyphens or spaces in your phone number)
• Vote one time every day!
• Spread the word!

Slackwood Golden Heart Assembly Video

A video of the 18 to unveil their mosaic Golden Eagle mural made by the students and art teacher Jill-Lee You has been posted on the Lawrence Township Public Schools Facebook page.

Community Provides Rich Conversation

Approximately 150 parents, students, community members, and staff came together on . Doors opened at 6:30 p.m. so those who arrived early could meet Dr. Crystal Lovell, new superintendent as of Sept. 1, as well as meet some community partners who displayed information about their organizations. Those partners included: Every Child Valued, Latinos Unidos, Lawrence Township Education Foundation, Lawrence Township Community Foundation, League of Women Voters and American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Additionally there was an area in which district students and staff displayed technology utilizing 21st century skills, such as that used in the middle and intermediate schools’ robotics programs.

Read three documents of input attendees provided during the evening and learn more here.

• Oct. 17 Community Conversation Feedback
• Oct. 17 Community Conversation Parking Lot Notes
• Oct. 17 Community Conversation Small Group Feedback

LHS PSAT Interpretation Night

Join Revolution Prep on Dec. 6 at Lawrence High School for PSAT Interpretation Night. You will receive your PSAT scores, and have the opportunity to review them with Revolution Prep and your school counselor, who will explain how to interpret these numbers. For more information, click here.

Revolution Prep SAT and ACT Workshops

Attention students at Lawrence High School: Revolution Prep will hold SAT and ACT workshops on campus on Wednesday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 14. Register to take the workshop of your choice at www.revolutionprep.com or call 1-877-738-7737 to speak with a testing expert. For more information, click here.