The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

Deerfield School Posts First Period Honor Roll

The names of 95 students who earned Honor Roll standing during the first marking period at Deerfield School in Mountainside were recently announced.

In the sixth grade, 11 students of the 75member class, were named to the High Honor Roll, which requires an “A” in all major and minor academic subjects.

Thirty students in the class were named to the Honor Roll, which requires at least a B in all major and minor subjects.

In the seventh grade, 6 students in the 66member class, were named to the High Honor Roll, and 23 students in the class, were named to the Honor Roll.

In the eighth grade, 3 students in the 63member class, were named to the High Honor Roll, and 22 students in the class were named to the Honor Roll.

SIXTH GRADE HIGH HONOR ROLL Joseph Baseil Justine LaBrutto Linnea Buttermore Ana Lopez Christopher Chan Tess Perrin Divya Desai Jillian Richard Andrew Gennaro Jocelin Thau

Molly Zhang SIXTH GRADE HONOR ROLL Hali Alpert Krystina Kingston Lauren Anderson Rebecca Kutner Massimo Arpino Morgan Liss Jonathan Avecillas Jason Massa Julianne Boyce Kathleen Melnyk Katelyn Capodanno Joel Merrill Sarah Dempsey Lauren Parlapiano Joshua Dubinsky Jason Pastore Claire Eng MaryJo Pijanowski Scott Foster Andrew Robertson Karole Fristensky Lisa Rossi Jacob Greenberg Lindsay Thomas Noelle Gostyla Kara Uzzolino Lauren Hauser Thomas Weakley Diane King Catherine Wilson

SEVENTH GRADE HIGH HONOR ROLL Brittany Bento Stacey O’Sullivan Allison Gionta Morgan Starkey Christine McCurdy Vera Souvorov

SEVENTH GRADE HONOR ROLL Gabrielle Apigo James Hughes Julia Arpino Evan Kaplan Phonishia Borsellino Zachary Januik Jillian Bottita Jessica Landis Katie Checklin Robert Mack Michelle Cirasa Nicholas Margello Anthony DeRose Matthew Miller Ashley Force Joseph Pijanowski Louise Fristensky Samantha Pingor Nicole Galatilis Molly Schmidt Jessica Gelsinon Matthew Taeschler

Lyndsey Thomas EIGHTH GRADE HIGH HONOR ROLL Michael Amalfe Marissa DeAnna

Jennifer Hauser EIGHTH GRADE

HONOR ROLL David Apigo Jessica Garry Marissa Basile Chase Golomb

Michael Biel Brittany Hamtil Elizabeth Billy Arda Hotz Jenna Blasi Sarah Hu Jean Brodian Irene Lentis Alex Caffrey Justin Polce Anthony DeAngelis Cecilia Watson Neha Desai Kristen Wedge Christopher DiVito Kevin Wyvratt Eric Feller Jamie Zawislak

Winter, Spring Adult Classes Planned at Community Center

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Central New Jersey will offer the following adult classes for the winter and spring of 2000. All programs in adult programming are geared for ages 25 to 55.

“Designing Your Life with the Art of Feng Shui,” will be taught by interior

designer, Barbara Rood, on Wednesday, January 19, at 9: 15 a. m. She will explain how to create relationships, health and achievement using the decorating principles of Feng Shui.

The cost of this program is $7 for JCC members and $10 for nonmembers.

The Knitting Club, a weekly class for all levels of knitters and needlepoint enthusiasts, will resume on Tuesdays at 1: 30 p. m. Please bring yarns and patterns. There is no charge.

The JCC Book Group, a monthly daytime class that meets to share thoughts and opinions on a book of the month, will also continue. Local author, Lawrence Cirelli, will be a guest at the Monday, January 24, meeting at 9 a. m. He will discuss his latest book, “Harvesting Ice.” There is no fee for members. A $2 fee is requested for nonmembers.

The Evening Book Group, or Commuter’s Book Group, will meet on Monday, January 24, at 7: 30 p. m. For the first session, please be prepared to select a novel by Dominick Dunne. A $2 fee is requested for nonmembers.

Most programs will meet at the JCC. For more specific information or questions, or to request a program guide with a complete listing of Adult Courses, please call (908) 8898800.

CHECK THOSE SPECS!… Special “2000” spectacles were created by Susan Rosander’s fourthgrade class at McGinn Elementary School in Scotch Plains. The students made the Y2K glasses at their Holiday/ Millennium party, which included a sharing of family foods and traditions of all class members.

Far Brook School Schedules Open House on February 1

Far Brook School, located at 52 Great Hills Road, Short Hills, will hold its Winter Open House on Tuesday, February 1 by appointment only.

The Open House will include attendance at Morning Meeting. This is a special feature of everyday life at Far Brook where the school gathers for announcements by School Director Mary Wearn Wiener, student presentation of projects, faculty readings of prose and poetry and songs led by Music Director Allen Artz.

Morning Meeting will be followed by a campus tour and question and answer period with faculty, staff and students. Refreshments will be served.

The Open House will provide par ents with the time and opportunity to

discover Far Brook’s combination of curriculum with promotion of selfdevelopment.

Far Brook School has recently added the Laurie Arts Center, the Ruth and Max Segal Library and the new Middle School building.

Now in its 52 nd year, Far Brook is an independent, coeducational day school for nursery through eighth grade with an enrollment of 220 students drawn from 32 communities in Essex, Union, Morris and Somerset counties.

For further information and reservations, please call Iris Leonard, Director of Admissions, at (973) 3793442. Space is limited.

Concepts &Thought

SPANISH SCHOLARS… The Foreign Language Department of Union Catholic High School inducted 25 students into the Spanish Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (SHS). Pictured, left to right, are: seated, Andria Lopez, Patty Nuwer, Melissa Foglia, Claudia Arango, Leslie Sanchez, Jessica Ballweg, Debbie Buchan and Blanca Rodrigues; standing, Anoop Varghese, Ryan McKenna, Bryan Hughes, Erik DaRocha, Michael Majcen, Katrina Tubayan, Chris Ganey, Veronica Zak, Senior Bruce Zehnle, SHS moderator, John Opilac, Brian Albano, Nicole Gryzwacz, James Bishoff, Tim Advani, with ceremony assistants Stephanie Juen and Jacob Riviriego.

Junior Woman’s Club Seeks Students for Spelling Bee

Piano Keyboard Organ Accordion Strings Woodwinds Brass Voice Guitar Drums

Kindermusik classes for ages 2 to 7

Riverwalk Plaza 34 Ridgedale Avenue • East Hanover (973) 4280405

281 Main Street • Millburn (973) 4674688

THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL

WESTFIELD — The Junior Woman’s Club of Westfield has invited all fourthand fifthgrade students who are residents of Westfield to participate in the club’s 14th Annual Spelling Bee.

The preliminary rounds will be held on Tuesday, January 25, for fourth graders and Thursday, January 27, for fifth graders. These two events will determine the 10 finalists from each grade who will then compete in the final local round on Thursday, February 3.

Five finalists will then go on to the District competition to be held in Cranford in February. All local rounds will be held at Westfield High School, with registration beginning at 7: 15 p. m. and the contests starting at 7: 30 p. m.

Students may register at their school office or in the Children’s Department of the Westfield Library. Registrations are due no later than Tuesday, January 18.

The Town Bank of Westfield donated a $50 savings account for the winner of the local competition and The Town Book Store, also of Westfield, donated a gift certificate for the runnerup of the local competition.

In addition, Steve Reedy of McDonald’s Restaurant made a donation for each spelling bee participant.

Benjamin M. Lee Earns Dean’s List Recognition

At Alfred University

FANWOOD – Benjamin M. Lee, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne R. Lee of Fanwood, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Alfred University in Alfred, N. Y.

Benjamin is a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he is a communication studies major. He graduated from Scotch PlainsFanwood High School.

Students must earn at least a 3.3 grade point average to qualify for the Dean’s List.

Heather Christina Post Earns Dean’s List Status At Vanderbilt University

MOUNTAINSIDE – Heather Christina Post, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay R. Post of Mountainside, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

To qualify for the Arts and Science Dean’s List, students must receive grades equivalent to a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the semester.

Editor’s Note:

An article on the enrollment crisis expected in 2004 at Westfield High School was due to appear this week. However, the Board of Education reported that it is not prepared to release any information at this point. An article will appear when the board is ready to release information to the public.

Mountainside PTA Prepares For Feb. 5 Pancake Breakfast

MOUNTAINSIDE – The Mountainside Parent Teacher Association will sponsor its annual Community Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 5, from 8: 30 to 11 a. m. in the Deerfield School cafeteria. The snow date is Saturday, February 26.

Door prizes will be awarded and the public is invited to attend.

The menu options will include: adult portion (four pancakes, two sausages, fruit and beverage) for $5; smaller portion (two pancakes, one sausage, fruit and beverage) for $3.50, and the bagel breakfast

(bagel, fruit and beverage) for $2.50.

Mountainside’s community groups, such as the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, will once again participate in the event. Local businesses will also contribute with donations of food and prizes.

Ticket purchase forms are available at Deerfield School, the Mountainside Public Library and Borough Hall. The deadline for ticket requests is Monday, January 31. For more information, please call Teri Schmedel at (908) 3010147.

Washington School Parents, Faculty Gear Up for Show

WESTFIELD – Parents and faculty at Washington Elementary School in Westfield have been gearing up for the 52nd annual school production, On With The Show, which will be presented on Friday, February 4, at 8 p. m. and on Saturday, February 5, at 2 p. m. and 8 p. m. at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield.

Tickets for this year’s production are on a reserved seating basis. For tickets, please call the School Show Ticket Hotline at (908) 3172775. Ticket prices are $7 and $8.

Written by Rich Carlson, Dan Couture and Ed Warner, On With The Show

will be directed by Roger Hayden and Arlene O’Reilly and produced by Maryann Gingrich, Michelle Heffernan and Patti Swadosh. The production will feature musical numbers including “Car Wash,” “Purple People Eater” and “Viva

Las Vegas.” Begun as a small talent show in 1949, the annual Washington School Show evolved over the years into a fullscale musical production. It involves over 150 parents and faculty members and serves as the school’s primary fundraiser.

Maureen Zupkus Earns Dean’s List Recognition

SCOTCH PLAINS – Maureen Elizabeth Zupkus, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David McNelis of Scotch Plains, has been named to the Dean’s List at Rowan University in Glassboro for the fall 1999 semester.

Maureen, who is a senior at Rowan, earned a 3.79 grade point average and is a graphic design major. She is a 1996 graduate of Scotch PlainsFanwood High School.

Erin Zupkus Receives Dean’s List Honors

SCOTCH PLAINS – Erin Kathleen Zupkus, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David McNelis of Scotch Plains, has been named to the Dean’s List at Richard Stockton State College in Pomona for the fall 1999 semester.

Erin, who is a junior at Stockton State, earned a 4.0 grade point average for the fourth consecutive semester.

She is a speech pathology and audiology major. Erin graduated in 1997 from Scotch PlainsFanwood High School.

Board Considers Ending Summer School Program By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD – Although the matter is still under consideration, the doors to summer school may be sealed for good after a report from Curriculum, Instruction and Programming Committee Chairwoman Annmarie Puleio to the Westfield Board of Education on Tuesday evening.

Approximately $20,000 would be saved by Westfield taxpayers if the program ends, according to Ms. Puleio.

While admitting that the committee was “shocked at first blush” when the proposal to terminate the summer school program in the district was proposed by Westfield High School Principal (WHS) Robert G. Petix and WHS Assistant Principal John Farinella, Ms. Puleio said that after taking a closer look, reasons for terminating summer school became crystal clear.

This past summer, she reported, 55 students were enrolled in summer school, while only 10 of those pupils were registered for academic deficiencies. The remainder of the students were attending for excessive absenteeism during the school year.

“The demand is not great, but the absolute need for the summer school is even less great,” stressed Ms. Puleio.

“Half of this is kids cutting gym!” exclaimed Board Vice President Arlene Gardner. “This is insane! It’s a joke! We’re giving these kids a crutch.”

Ms. Puleio added that when she asked Dr. Petix about other summer schools in the local area accepting students from Westfield into their programs, he discovered that this was indeed an alternative to Westfield maintaining its own program.

Students with financial and academic deficiencies who are eligible for summer school could take advantage of such alternative programs, according to Ms. Puleio.

She also expressed concerns that a student’s individual academic needs might not be adequately addressed in the district’s summer school. Ms. Puleio also pointed to the difficulty in staffing the program with teachers during the summertime.

Calling the summer school an “easy fall back position” for students, she added, “Without the presence of a summer school, we may decrease the number (of summer school students), giving them a heads up early on” that they must apply themselves during the school year.

Board President Darielle Walsh explained that the need for a summer school would have to “be reviewed annually due to the changing enrollment at Westfield High School.”

Board member Carol Molnar asked about the cost and availability of other summer school programs throughout the area.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Janie P. Edmonds responded that the per course rate in districts such as Cranford and Summit ranged between $500 and $525, with Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains rating higher.

Board member Thomas Taylor said that although he did not want to “paint with a broad brush,” the ma jority of the summer school pupils do

not end up attending any “ivy league colleges.”

He added that these are the students he hopes the district would monitor carefully.

“We will keep our ears to the ground and listen to emerging needs,” concluded Ms. Puleio, adding that no immediate action was required regarding the matter.

However, Superintendent of Schools Dr. William J. Foley stressed that the elimination of the summer school program was also “a budgetary issue” and the district’s spending plan should address more pressing needs.

In other business, Mrs. Walsh reported that the Facilities Committee plans to convene before the next school board meeting on Tuesday, January 25, to discuss items to include in next year’s budget, as well as the second phase of renovations at the Administration Building on Elm Street. These renovations would include work on the building’s lavatories.

The committee will also examine available space in the Administration Building that could be used for community purposes. However, Mrs. Walsh stressed that such a possibility is only in the “preliminary” stages.

While Chairwoman of the Long Range Planning Committee Eileen Satkin was absent at Tuesday’s meeting, Dr. Foley noted that the committee will meet on Wednesday, January 19. The predicted enrollment crisis expected by 2004 at Westfield High School will be under the microscope, as well as possible alternatives for more classroom space necessitated by the crisis.

Ms. Gardner, Chairwoman of the Policies Committee, revealed that the committee will begin to take an early look at the calendar for the upcoming school year and the four bylaws which were set aside for reexamination by the board during its last meeting.

Ms. Puleio stated that she has devised other variations on the proposed calendar which she will submit for consideration to the committee.

Board member and Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee Michael Kessler noted that the committee has begun discussion on the school budget and will continue to hold meetings up until March to examine the spending plan and its probable components.

In final board business, an Awareness Expo 2000 will be presented by the Westfield Parent Teacher Council and Special Education Committee this evening, January 13, beginning at 7: 15 p. m. at Roosevelt Intermediate School.

Several forums, such as “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Classroom;” “Hands on Math, Math on Hands;” “It’s Not My Homework; Respect My Rights – Self Advocacy;” “To Read or Not To (Can’t!) Read” and “Welcome! What’s So Special About Special Ed?” will be presented throughout the evening.

Scotch PlainsFanwood Board of Education Sets Meeting Tonight

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Scotch PlainsFanwood Board of Education will meet this evening, January 13, at Evergreen School in Scotch Plains.

The school board will recognize the Broadway Chorus of Park Middle School at 7 p. m. The board will then move into executive session at 7: 30 p. m. The school board will begin its open agenda meeting at 8 p. m.

Special board meetings will be conducted to discuss the district’s 20002001 budget on Monday, January 31, Tuesday, February 15, and Wednesday, February 16.

Exam Preparation Classes Set by Education Center

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Educational Services Center will offer SAT I preparation courses in late January and/ or early February for the April 2000 SAT I Exam.

Courses will also begin in late February and/ or early March for the May 2000 exam. The classes will be held at the Jewish Community Center, 1391 Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains.

The courses consist of eight, threehour sessions, taught by experienced, licensed high school instructors.

The cost is $350, including books and materials.

To register or for more information, please call (800) 7628378 or (914) 3568963, or on the Internet at www. esctestprep. com.