Elysian Charter School of Hoboken
Elysian Charter School of Hoboken
www.ecsnj.org friendsofelysian.org
Harry Laub, Ph.D., Director
Elysian Charter School
Weekly Newsletter

A Positively Different Public School

January 4, 2016         Vol. 11  Issue 16
Please note that the school newsletter is sent out on Mondays.  When there is a holiday, the newsletter is sent the following day.  Please send news to lynne.shapiro@ecsnj.org by 1:00 PM on Mondays.

The weekly newsletter is archived on Elysian's website, www.ecsnj.org, so that you can always access both the most recent newsletter as well as all previous ones.
Harry's Corner
KUUMBA DAY is Saturday, January 9, 2016
Kuumba is the celebration of creativity.  It comes from the celebration of Kwanza, the African celebration of lights.  On the 6th night of Kwanza, Kuumba is celebrated with the goal of using creativity and imagination to leave the world in a better place than we found it. 
Creativity has been defined as “a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work or a painting)” (Wikipedia).
Think about the people whom you feel are creative…whether it be a personal friend, an actor, artist, writer, poet, comedian, singer, scientist…in addition to having wonderful ideas and wonderful ways of delivering these ideas, each of these creative people is an extremely hard worker.  Part of being creative is carrying out the idea that has been developed.
At Elysian we value and encourage these two aspects of creativity.  We have created an environment that fosters thinking and problem-solving, which supports the creation of new ideas and encourages our children to think through solutions.  We also expect that our students will be able to carry out the solutions in a disciplined and thoughtful way.  I was recently in the art room where the children were making pictures modeled on the work of James Rizzi, an artist who paints skylines of New York City.  A few days later I was in the classroom of these same second graders where they were having their “Skyscraper Museum.”  They had been studying skyscrapers, written about “their” skyscraper, providing statistics, uses, etc. and built models of their buildings.  This interdisciplinary approach provides for a variety of learning styles, taps into individual strengths and helps the children to relate to the content of the material.
On KUUMBA Day we see the result of the third grade study of African culture.  Not only is the dance a creative expression of the culture, it also reflects the hard work and discipline it takes for thirty-two children to perform in unison.  The dance is a culmination of many weeks of rehearsals that continually spiral to more complicated dance steps.  During the performance individuals, small groups and the large group as a whole perform together.
KUUMBA Day has evolved into a school-wide celebration, with games and festivities surrounding the event.  At the 8th grade graduation, many of the student speakers often refer to KUUMBA day as one of the highlights of their time at Elysian.    
This KUUMBA Day 
This is the first time we will have a KUUMBA celebration in our own building! 
Our Interational Food Table and arts activities will take place on both Elysian floors, starting at 12:30 PM. The dance performances and the cake walk will take place in the gym.  At 2:30 PM the 3rd Grade will demonstrate for the entire community what they learned during their several month long dance residency.  
We have invited Elysian alumni to come and join in, see the new building!
We hope you will bring something for our time capsule!
On Friday, we will send out an important email blast about KUUMBA that will contain an overview of the day with a complete schedule of events - so be on the look-out!
See you there, 12:30 - 4:00!
If you have any questions, please email me, lynne.shapiro@ecsnj.org.
Lynne Shapiro
Art Room Wish List

 Dear parents, we could use the following:

- travel magazines
-brown paper shopping bags
-black sharpies (fine and ultra fine)
-tissues
-Clorox wipes
-skinny glue gun sticks

Thanks!

Nikki
January Basketball Practice Schedule

Reminder: Monday's practice schedule has changed slightly for the month of January (and possibly for the rest of the basketball season).  Starting in January the 5th grade will practice from 3:00 - 4:00 PM and the 6th grade will practice from 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Practices for all of the other grades have stayed the same. I sent home the official game schedules before tje break.
 
Adam 
PTSO Corner
FREE MONEY FOR ELYSIAN!! It is too easy! For all of you shopping for the holidays, please remember to sign up for Target, AmazonSmile and iGive as an easy way to help earn money for your school while you shop.  It only takes a few moments to sign up!  And if shopping at TinyPrints, use TPPHX3Z437 for 40% off through 12/31/15.  Please email elysianptso@gmail.com for a 40% code for use on Shutterfly products.  Just be sure to go through our storefront!  Please refer to No Brainer Moneymaker section of this newsletter for all the details and links.  Happy shopping!
 
No Brainer Moneymakers
Easy Ways To Raise Money for Our School At No Extra Cost To You. 
Shop through our storefront for Shutterfly and sign up for Amazon Smile, iGive and Target and just shop as usual!! It just takes two minutes!!  Pass along to your friends and family too!
  •  Shutterfly, TinyPrints and more -  Go to http://elysiancharter.shutterflystorefront.com.  Shop as usual.  No need to sign up, just use this link.  

  • Amazon Smile - http://smile.amazon.com/  Click on ‘change your charity’.  Select Elysian Charter.  Bookmark this address.   Shop as usual. 

  •  iGive -Go to www.iGive.com/ElysianCharter .  Fill out name, Password and email.  Click ‘Register Now’ button, install iGive button.  Shop!  You might have to click on a pop-up screen to verify at certain online stores.

  •  Target -  Go to www.target.com , click on REDcard and then ‘Learn about REDcard’.  Page down to ‘Take Charge of Education’ and click on ‘Learn More’.  Enter information under ‘Sign me up’ and click ‘Enroll’.  
Hoboken Homeless Shelter Paper Drive
Daniel Henson and Henry Plotka from the eighth grade are conducting a paper goods drive for the local homeless shelter. We are asking for paper goods such as paper cups, towels, plates, bowls, plastic forks, knives and spoons. In the downstairs lobby/entrance of the school, there is a box with a sign that says “middle school food drive". The shelter is in need of these items so we encourage you all to donate. Thanks!
Elysian Collects Box Tops and LABELS for Education:  Look for the container near Deb's desk in the office!  Thank you!
January 2016 Calendar
Monday, January 8
  • 6th grade trip
  • 8th grade trip
Saturday, January 9
  • 10:00 AM Open House for Prospective Parents
  • 12:30 PM KUUMBA Day begins.  Ends at 4:00 PM.
Monday, January 11
  • Applications for 2016-17 school year are due today.
  • Sibling applications are due today.
Wednesday, January 13
  • Half Day of School for Staff Development.  12:30 dismissal.  Afterschool Program available as usual.
  • Lottery for Admission. 1:30 PM
Monday, January 18
  • Elysian closed for Martin Luther King Day
Friday, January 22
  • Morning Community meeting.  All are welcome to attend.
Monday, January 25
  • 7:00 PM Board of Trustees meeting. is Saturday, January 9!



1460 Garden Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Harry Laub, Ph.D., Director | harry.laub@ecsnj.org | Phone:201.876.0102 | Fax:201.876.9576
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