Music Made Easy for All Students Through Stonybrook Club

Band director encourages creativity and expression through percussion instruments.

Music, like math, is a universal language. But it does come second to some. Stonybrook School band teacher Alan Tedesco is hoping to make it easier for all students to grasp through a new club: the Stonybrook Drum Circle. "I started the Stonybrook Drum Circle last year as an outlet for students who demonstrated an interest in rhythm and percussion, but have a hard time understanding," he said. "Drum circle was designed to move at a pace students can comprehend and feel a great deal of reward from the experience." Stonybrook Drum Circle participants meet once a week for the entire year. During the allotted time, about 45 minutes, the students take turns making up their own rhythms, performing the sounds for others and teaching them the …

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Kinnelon Solar Project Nearly Complete

Panels will soon be installed on middle school roof.

Kinnelon Public Schools' project to install solar panels on three of the district schools is reaching its final phases, according to Business Administrator Jim Minkewicz. Minkewicz said the final phase of the project needed is to install a "pad" on Pearl R. Miller School where the solar panel field will be installed. The school district is participating in the Morris County Improvement Authorities Renewable Energy Program. Through the program, for which Kinnelon's participation was approved by the board of education in April, 375 kilowatts of energy are expected to be generated for the district. The panels, which are also being installed at Kinnelon High School and Stonybrook School, are expected to reduce energy consumption at the three …

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Cub Scouts Clean Up Stonybrook Garden

Six Scouts removed weeds, raked courtyard.

High Schoolers Teach Kinnelon Kids Spanish

Honors students celebrated 'Fiesta Day' at Stonybrook School.

The following was submitted by Jon Cataldi, Kinnelon High School Spanish teacher. The Kinnelon High School Spanish 5 Honors classes have been teaching Spanish to the Stonybrook fourth graders for the second year in a row in order to supplement the elementary Spanish program. On June 7, the KHS students went to Stonybrook for the end of the year culminating lesson entitled “Fiesta Day.” The seniors put together eight different cultural activities which included decorating maracas, creating authentic arts and crafts, learning traditional and contemporary dances and engaging in athletic competitions.  The partnership has promoted a more hands-on approach to acquiring the language of Spanish at a very early age. Throughout the year, the senior…

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Kinnelon Parents: Add Another Elementary Teacher

Board member said district is hoping for additional state aid that could be used for staffing.

Several Kinnelon parents expressed concern over the district's budgetary decision to eliminate an elementary teaching position for next year, which could have an effect on class size, during Thursday's Kinnelon Board of Education meeting. Former Kinnelon Public Schools Superintendent Jim Opiekun spoke about the reduction from a total of eight fourth and fifth grade teachers down to seven while presenting the school district budget in March. Parent Jill Agnello expressed her opposition Thursday and questioned if more than 25 students per class is too many. "The fifth grade teachers have a huge responsibility in preparing our students for middle school," Agnello said. Interim Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe asked the parents to be cognizant …

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4th Graders Celebrate Sweet New Jersey

Stonybrook School creates cakes of the state.

Stonybrook School fourth graders celebrated their New Jersey pride by constructing cakes in the shape of the state Monday in each fourth grade class.

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Students Raise Money for Cancer, One Cup at a Time

Stonybrook class inspired by reading about 'Alex's Lemonade Stand.'

Traditionally, teachers are thought to inspire their students. But in Terry Lummer's fifth-grade class, inspiration goes both ways. After learning about Alexandra "Alex" Scott and the national organization "Alex's Lemonade Stand" that Scott started when she was four years old to raise money to fight childhood cancer, eight students in Lummer's Stonybrook School class told their teacher they too wanted to fundraise for the cause. Former Stonybrook teacher Tracy Weniger is currently the schools program coordinator for the charity organization and visited the school to speak to Lummer's class. She brought with her 600 plastic cups which Lummer's students then distributed to students throughout the school. The students were asked to bring the …

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Stonybrook Celebrates 100 Days of School

Students, teachers donate to Kinnelon Food Pantry.

Stonybrook kindergarten students and teachers celebrated the 100th day of school on Feb. 8 with many exciting activities. "The 100th day of school is a special day highlighted by fun events like coming together to share a story, counting and taking part in donating to charity. Our kindergarten students can be proud of all that they have accomplished so far this year and we are excited about all that is still to come for them!" said Principal Mark Mongon. To promote the Full Value program, “Caring for Self and Others,” kindergarten students and staff donated $100 to the Kinnelon Food Pantry.

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Grants Bring New Technology to Kinnelon Classrooms

Kiel, Stonybrook schools seeking iPad donations.

With help from mini-grants from the Kinnelon Elementary Home and School Association (KEHSA), Kiel and Stonybrook School students will be using iPads in school, but the schools are hopeful to be able to use more tablets in the classrooms and are asking the community to donate first or second generation used iPads. Kiel Principal Jodi Mulholland said KEHSA purchased one iPad for Kiel and Stonybrook Principal Mark Mongon said two have been purchased for his school. "These come as part of a grant written by our Guided Study teachers and the technology will be used in those classes to allow students to interact with math and language arts concepts in a highly visual and 'hands-on' manner in order to reinforce and learn fundamental concepts," …

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Stonybrook Needs Recyclable Water Bottles

Bottles and caps to be used during Wednesday and Thursday 'Fun at Lunch' program.

Instead of tossing your empty plastic water bottle into a bin today, consider donating it to the Stonybrook School. The school is asking residents and parents to drop off recyclable water bottles in a bin in the main office to be used during the "Fun at Lunch" program on Wednesday and Thursday. According to a textcaster message sent Tuesday, the school needs the caps to be donated along with the bottles for a project the students will be working on.

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