Grants in action at Brookside school2015-2016

A F E EAllendale Foundation for

Educational Excellence, Inc.

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!law adventure: An Inside Look at the Legal SystemMeghan Cornacchia, Brookside student & Law Adventure participant

Thanks to a grant from AFEE, students at Brookside had an opportunity to learn about the legal system through Law Adventure, a program for middle-schoolers run by the NJ Bar Association. Ten 6th - 8th graders formed a Mock Trial team and had to create an original court case involving Fourth Amendment rights or school/community sports team liability. We chose a Fourth Amendment case about the possession of illegal fireworks.

During this full-year program, we learned all about the legal system and how a court of law functions. We worked in groups to prepare our prosecution and defense. Several lawyers from the community volunteered their time to help us. They came to a few meetings and taught us the fundamentals of writing and presenting a case. The lawyers also reviewed our case before it was submitted. Their assistance helped us to make a solid, balanced case.

We submitted our case to the Bar Association in the Spring and won 2nd place out of over 100 entries! As a result, we got to perform our case in an actual courtroom with a retired judge, a jury of our peers, and many spectators! For me, Law Adventure was an amazing experience and I’m excited to take part in it again this year!

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!introducing new Ways to

Get FitJanelle Kelly, Physical Education teacher

In 2014-15, the Brookside Physical Education department moved beyond the “old school” vision of PE as just team sports, and into one where students are introduced to a variety of activities designed to inspire a lifelong passion for fitness, whether or not they play on a team sport. In our new enhanced fitness studio, created through an AFEE grant, 7th and 8th graders are able to utilize 10 spin bikes, 24 yoga mats, a DVD player to showcase the latest fitness crazes like Zumba and kickboxing, and a Wii with dance games to help them get active in different ways than they would through traditional organized sports. The students were very enthusiastic about the new studio during its first year.

For the 2015-16 school year, we’ve designed several new PE electives including “Fitness for Wellness,” which includes yoga, pilates, kickboxing and spinning, and “Sports Training,” which will utilize the BeachBody program and nutritional information to help students develop endurance, strength and speed. We’re thrilled by how many students signed up for our fitness studio-inspired PE electives. Thank you AFEE for helping to enrich our students’ minds and bodies!

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Bulldog Bytes takes a Biteout of Brookside newsElisabeth Walker and Susan Goldsmith, Bulldog Bytes advisors

During the 2014-15 school year, an AFEE grant enabled Brookside to introduce its first digital newspaper, and its first ever newspaper, Bulldog Bytes. With a reporting staff of 21 students, the team began working together in September by brainstorming, researching, writing and editing articles, columns and reviews. Students took photos, perfected interview techniques and learned how to structure features, news articles, op-ed pieces and sports coverage.

Bulldog Bytes highlights included the advice column, “Ask Bentley,” a fad oriented column called “What’s Trending,” and a lengthy book review section, in addition to ongoing news about Brookside activities. The newspaper was updated several times throughout the school year.

Working together on the reporting staff not only helped students meet several Common Core English Language Arts Standards, it taught them teamwork off the sports field. For the coming school year, we hope to have even more students join Bulldog Bytes so that we can incorporate more graphics, photos and illustrations created by the students. st

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Mscientific inspirationKitty Barnett, Science teacher

To inspire students to maintain their interest in science, AFEE funded two different assemblies. Flight, a traveling science show by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, has been a big hit with students over the past few years. The engaging presenter explained the science behind flight as well as the history of human flight. He used small hot air balloons, mechanical birds, gliders and a rocket launch to illustrate the forces of flight. Teachers also received suggestions on ways to extend the National Science Standards aligned assembly lessons. As one fifth grader put it, “Force is much easier to understand when you’ve seen it in action.”

Sixth grade students also saw a presentation by space historian John Lennox (fondly known as the “Space Dude”). He used analogy and examples to help the kids understand challenging astronomy concepts in his Space Class 101 assembly. There also was discussion of the many technological advances made through space exploration that now benefit ordinary citizens. Students were encouraged to consider the many possible STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers available to them as they listened to Mr. Lennox’s stories and explored the many artifacts he brought to the assembly.

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technology Boosts Foreign language instructionSarita Cook-Kelty, Spanish teacher

Several different studies have shown that iPad apps help students learn a foreign language more effectively because they support visual, auditory, and tactile learning. Furthermore, the apps can be individualized to students’ specific levels. The Brookside Foreign Language Department was eager to see how it could help improve students’ immersion in foreign language. AFEE funded a grant to provide the department with 25 iPads and an iPad cart.

Through apps on these tablets, students were able to: personalize vocabulary practice record dialogue to be critiqued by peers and teachers create cartoons and skits in Spanish review lessons and content practice pronunciation translate Spanish to English translate English to Spanish

Teachers were able to meet with small groups and individuals for enrichment and review while other students could remain deeply engaged in learning with the iPads.The tablet apps also allowed teachers to track student progress easily and consistently. Over 500 Brookside students benefitted from this grant last year!

A group of 5th graders enriching their study of ancient Rome by exploring artifacts provided through the Morris Museum Loan program, an ongoing AFEE grant.

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Thanks to an AFEE grant, Hillside and Brookside students got to hear first-hand about the writing process from David Adler, author of over 200 books for children and young adults, including the Cam Jansen and Andy Russell series. As one fourth grader said, “It was awesome to get writing advice from someone whose books I’ve been reading since first grade!” Mr. Adler discussed the importance of constantly revising until each character has their own voice in the story, how he expanded on experiences from his own life to create some of his books, and how each person’s writing was distinct, just like a footprint.

This school year, Michael Northrop, best-selling author of young adult and middle grade fiction including The Tomb Quest series, Trapped, and Plunked, will be visiting the 5th through 8th graders. Mr. Northrop will be discussing his writing and editing processes and how his previous careers influenced his work as an author.

creative Writing tipsFrom the expertsPeggi Lees, Librarian

Visit our website: www.afeenj.org

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AFEEAllendale Foundation for

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Community Night Outat AB&G

October 19 & 20, 2015

AFEE Shopping Days at Tons of Toys / Tons of TreasuresDecember 2 &

December 6, 2015

Annual Dinner & AuctionMarch 11, 2016

Theater WeekMay 2-6, 2016

The Harlem WizardsJune 3, 2016

YES! I’d like to support AFEE!❏ $250 ❏ $100 ❏ $50 ❏ $25 OTHER $

❏ YES! My company has a Matching Gift Program.You can double your support through your corporate matching program. AFEE’s Tax ID number is: 223-416-674. If you don’t know if your company has a matching program, contact your Human Resources department. If you have additional questions, please email Daniela Menghi at dmenghi01@gmail.com.

❏ YES! My company participates in United Way.Amount $Please consider designating your United Way contribution to AFEE. In most areas, AFEE is already in the approved list of charities. If you can’t find it, please contact Daniela Menghi (dmenghi01@gmail.com), who will work with your company to include AFEE. Please be sure to specifically designate AFEE (Allendale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Inc.)

Please mail this form with your check, made payable to AFEE, to the address below or drop it off in the AFEE mailbox at either Hillside or Brookside. If you’d prefer to pay by credit card, go to www.afeenj.org.

UPCOMING

AFEEEvents

AFEE OFFICErSAnne Kay, President

Kate Petrow, Vice PresidentDaniela Menghi, Treasurer

Kim Rosner, SecretaryJulie Cornacchia, Grants

AFEE BOArD OF TrUSTEES

*Administrative/Faculty Members

AFEE’s Board of Trustees is comprised of volunteers from the Allendale community. It includes parents, teachers, and District administrators, including the superintendent, principals, and supervisor.

The Harlem Wizards