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Elysian Charter School
Weekly Newsletter
A Positively Different Public School
December 11, 2017 Vol. 13 Issue 14
The school newsletter is sent out on Mondays. When there is a holiday, the newsletter is sent the following day.
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Harry's Corner
There is no better gift for a child than a book. Below are listed the most notable books from 2017 as listed in the New York Times Well Family Blog
Notable Children’s Books of 2017
The best in picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, selected by the children’s books editor of The New York Times Book Review.
Please click on the titles for more information and reviews of each of these books.
Picture Books
AFTER THE FALL: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again. Written and illustrated by Dan Santat. (Roaring Brook, $17.99.) The Caldecott Medalist Santat offers a surprising and inspirational answer to the question, what if the shattered Humpty Dumpty decided to pull himself together and get back up on that wall?
GOOD NIGHT, PLANET. Written and illustrated by Liniers. (Toon Books; $12.95.) A little girl drifts off to sleep, but her stuffed rabbit heads out for a night of adventure in this comics-style book that’s both tender and exhilarating.
HEY, BOY. By Ben Strouse. Illustrated by Jennifer Phelan. (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $15.99). This emotionally resonant, retro-style debut about a boy and the dog who moves in and out of his life is “sure to be a book worth revisiting,” our reviewer, Tom Lichtenheld, said.
MY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS. Written and illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo. (Pajama Press, $17.95.) With lovely, unusual mixed media art and a hopeful story, Del Rizzo finds an approachable way to tell the story of a boy forced to flee his home during war, who finds healing and a new friend through caring for birds.
TOWN IS BY THE SEA. By Joanne Schwartz. Illustrated by Sydney Smith. (Groundwood, $19.95.) With simple, powerful language and stunning art, this quietly devastating book evokes a seaside community of Cape Breton miners and their families through the voice of a boy who knows he will follow his father’s path.
WELCOME: A MO WILLEMS GUIDE FOR NEW ARRIVALS. Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. (Hyperion, $15.99.) The inimitable Willems’s unclassifiable new book is a funny, profound guide to navigating the highs and lows of being a person on Earth, aimed at everyone from newborns to grandparents.
THE WOLF, THE DUCK & THE MOUSE. By Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. (Candlewick, $17.99.) The latest from this award-winning team is a darkly funny tale of friendship, escape and making the best of things, set mostly in the belly of a wolf.
Middle Grade
ALL’S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. Written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson. (Dial, $12.99.) “I dub thee brilliant,” our reviewer, Marjorie Ingall, said of this graphic novel about a girl just starting middle school, whose family works at a Renaissance faire.
BRONZE AND SUNFLOWER. By Cao Wenxuan. Translated by Helen Wang. (Candlewick, $16.99.)The great Chinese author’s moving novel—his first to be translated into English—features an unlikely pair of friends, one mute, one orphaned, who help each other through tough times in rural China.
FISH GIRL. By Donna Jo Napoli. Illustrated by David Wiesner. (Clarion, $17.99.) In this beguiling graphic novel, a girl befriends and rescues a mermaid who has been held captive and forced to perform in an aquatic show by a sinister impresario.
PATINA. By Jason Reynolds. (Atheneum, $$16.99.) The second book in Reynolds’ engrossing and big-hearted series about the members of a track team focuses on a speed-demon girl who outruns challenges on the track and at home.
REFUGEE. By Alan Gratz. (Scholastic, $16.99.) Gratz weaves together three separate stories of refugees on the run, finding the ingredients of a taut thriller in all of them while reminding us of the universality of refugees’ plight.
THE STARS BENEATH OUR FEET. By David Barclay Moore. (Knopf, $16.99.) This sparkling debut is about a grieving Harlem boy who’s lost his older brother and finds in friendship and competitive Lego building a path away from the lure of gangs.
TUMBLE & BLUE. By Cassie Beasley. (Dial, $17.99.) A boy and his new friend head out on a quest to escape a family curse that runs through generations in this exuberant, heartfelt fantasy set mostly in an alligator-filled Georgia swamp.
THE VANDERBEEKERS OF 141ST STREET. By Karina Yan Glaser (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99.) In this delightful and heartwarming throwback to the big-family novels of yesteryear, a large biracial family might lose their beloved brownstone home, but win it back with an all-out charm offensive.
WISHTREE. By Katherine Applegate. (Feiwel & Friends, $17.99.) A talking tree who has seen it all over the centuries narrates this wise, entrancing story set in a neighborhood in which a Muslim family is made to feel unwelcome.
Young Adult
AKATA WARRIOR. By Nnedi Okorafor. (Viking, $18.99.) This enthralling second book about Sunny, an albino Nigerian girl who can do magic, has her mastering her powers to save the world from apocolyptic doom.
AMERICAN STREET. By Ibi Zoboi (Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins, $17.99.). Set in a Detroit infused with elements of Haitian voodoo that creates a mood of magical realism, this elegant and suspenseful debut follows the story of Fabiola, who must stay with her cousins while she attempts to get her mother out of an immigration detention facility.
LA BELLE SAUVAGE. By Philip Pullman (Knopf, $22.99.) Pullman’s long-awaited prequel to the “His Dark Materials” trilogy pulls you back into the fascinating alternate universe of the original series, exploring the nature of the powerful substance called Dust and following the heroine, Lyra Belacqua, from babyhood.
FAR FROM THE TREE. By Robin Benway. (HarperTeen, $17.99.) “Unforgettable,” our reviewer, Catherine Hong, called this winner of the 2017 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, about an adopted, pregnant teenager who seeks out her own birth family.
THE HATE U GIVE. By Angie Thomas. (Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins, $17.99.). Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this absorbing and potent novel follows a girl whose childhood friend is shot by the police and whose world is irrevocably changed by what she’s witnessed.
I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER. By Erika L. Sánchez. (Knopf, $17.99.) This gripping debut finds humor as well as pathos in 15-year-old Julia’s quest to uncover her Mexican-American family’s secrets after the death of her seemingly dutiful sister.
TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. By John Green. (Dutton, $19.99.) Green’s chronicle of a teenager’s struggle to live and love—and solve a mystery—despite her debilitating obsessive-compulsive disorder is simply “astonishing,” said our reviewer, Jennifer Senior.
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This Week's Basketball Practices
December 11, Monday - 3rd Grade CANCELLED December 12, Tuesday - 6th Grade from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM December 13, Wednesday 1/2 day - 4th Grade from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
5th Grade from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM December 14, Thursday - 7th Grade from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM December 15, Friday - Girls Team from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM December 18, Monday - 3rd Grade, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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After School Enrichment Clubs
Here are the end dates for the fall session of clubs:
Monday: Debate - Dec. 11
Slime Club - Dec. 18
Double Dutch Club - Dec. 18
Tuesday: Movie Making Club - Dec. 12
Wednesday: Chess - continues through Jan. 31 (14 week club)
Fashion Lab - Dec. 13
Karate Club - Dec. 20
4th Grade Book Arts - Dec. 13
Thursday: Fashion Dreams (Hobby Quest) - Dec. 14
Scratch - Dec. 14
Crazy Chemistry - Dec. 21
Friday: Hola Amigos - Dec. 15
Dance with Derrick - Dec. 15
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As Elysian we value: - Experiential Learning
- Learning as a Process
- Authentic and Connected Curriculum
These are a few more of the Core Values at Elysian, identified when we developed the Elysian Charter School Strategic Plan all together in 2015.
How do you explain Elysian to friends and family when they ask?
The Elysian20 Yearbook Committee is creating a memory book of Elysian’s first 20 years. It will be available for purchase in the Spring. We asked students what word they would use to explain each grade at Elysian and about their Elysian memories. The most common answers included: - Our new Home
- Stairs
- Naptime
- Choice Time
- Reading Buddies
- Friends
- Pets
- KUUMBA
- PEEC
- 50 States Project
- Switching Classes/ moving up
- Earning Privileges
- Seminars
- Bridges
The Elysian20 Yearbook Committee is looking for submissions!!
Artwork, photography, poetry, memories, etc. by students or adults, on the themes listed above or our Elysian20 theme- ALL IN!
All will be displayed, some will be chosen for publication.
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All Sibling Applications For Next Year's Kindergarteners Due Now
Please hand deliver application to the office. Please do NOT submit online.
Forms can be found in the office or at ecsnj.org. Look under enrollment.
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Thinking of Elysian During the Holiday Season…
As we’re rushing around this month, we would like to ask you, in the spirit of the holiday season, to consider a year-end gift to the Friends of Elysian. No doubt, it’s a gesture that will be very much appreciated long after it’s been received. (And it certainly doesn’t hurt that a donation before December 31st will be helpful in other ways come April 15th.)
We realize that different families have different financial capabilities, but all contributions make a difference (especially when it comes to our school’s participation levels). Everything helps Elysian provide a “positively different” education to our children.
And, you may be able to double your giving. A number of companies match employee giving, particularly at year-end, so be sure to check whether your company will match your donation.
If you’d like to contribute a year-end gift, please click this url for links to either donate online or to download a pledge form to pay by check:
http://www.ecsnj.org/support-ecs/donate/
Thank you so much for your support!
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PTSO News Coin Challenge Prize Day Coin Challenge prizes will be awarded Friday, December 15.
1st and 5th grades will be having afternoon pizza and cupcakes.
3rd grade will be having afternoon cupcakes.
These classes will be having their scheduled lunch as usual. 1st Place - 1st Grade
2nd Place - 5th Grade
3rd Place - 3rd Grade
Chili Cook-Off Get your taste buds ready and your chili pots shined, because the 11th Annual Elysian Chili Cook-Off is just around the corner! Come one, come all, and invite your friends to the Hoboken Elk’s Club at 5 pm on January 6th to compete or just to relax and enjoy great chili.
Amenities include a supervised kid's room, live musical entertainment, a wine and beer cash bar for adults, and of course all the chili you can eat.
We need YOU to sign up as:
1. A Chili Chef
2. A Baker of Sweet Treats
3. Volunteer at the event – set up crew, front table or bartender!
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Tiny Prints and Shutterfly Discount Codes Available For all of your holiday needs, the PTSO has available 40% off and FREE shipping for Tiny Prints and $10 off an order of $50 or more and FREE shipping from Shutterfly! Send an email to elysianptso@gmail.com to get your code(s)! Elysian will also get 13% of your purchase as a donation from both Tiny Prints and Shutterfly when you shop through our exclusive storefront: ElysianCharter.ShutterflyStorefront.com.
Codes expire December 31, 2017
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Wrap-up Your Holiday Shopping
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Needed: Skinny Pig Care for Winter Break Skinny pigs are hairless guinea pigs who need a little extra care due to their extra fast metabolism. Our skinnies, Woodward and Bernstein, love to be cuddled and they love to eat. They look like tiny hippos. They live in a long cage that is on wheels. Please email Diane.Murray@ecsnj.org if you’d like to house them for winter break. Thanks!
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Attention, Slime Fans
The slime club will be selling slime and playdough next Wed.
Dec. 20, from
2:45
-3:10 PM outside in front of the school. Proceeds will go to a couple of charities that the kids in the slime club have chosen. Slime will range in price from $1.00- $2.00 per container. Thank you for your support!
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Helping Hands
Elysian Charter School has a long standing tradition of helping families in need. During this holiday season the ECS staff requests that you consider making a donation towards the purchase of gift cards to help our Elysian families who could use a helping hand to purchase gifts for their children.
If you know of a family in need, or are one yourself, please call me (201)-876-0102, email tara.dublanica@ecsnj.org or leave a note in my mailbox in the main office. All referrals can be anonymous and are confidential.
Please give your contribution to your child's classroom teacher by 3:00 PM Monday, December 18th.
Thank you in advance for your generosity. It is very much appreciated
Tara Dublanica, LCSW
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More Opportunities To Donate
In addition to donating to Elysian families in need, there are also more opportunities to give to those in need in our Hoboken community. Anthony Reimer, from the Hoboken Grace Christmas Exchange, explained it further, for those of you who might be interested in becoming "adopters". His explanation is as follows:
We strive to really put on a community event with the Christmas Exchange. People in our community who'd like to give and people in our community who find they need more help this season.
We get recommendations from local organizations, shelters and entities for names of children and families who could use some extra help this Christmas. They are invited to submit a wish list. Once we receive their lists they are paired with an "adopter" those who have signed up in our community to purchase gifts. Those people are directed to www.hobokenchristmas.com.
Once people are paired, the "Adopters" shop, wrap and drop off the gifts either Dec. 8 or Dec. 9th and the "Receivers" can pick up their gifts from 4pm-8pm at 301 Garden on December 9th.
If you'd like to chat further or meet with someone, please feel free to reach out to Outreach Director, Anthony Reimer at anthony@hobokengrace.com
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Next Afterschool Performance at The New Victory Theater: Jason Bishop: Believe in Magic
Jason Bishop: Believe in Magic – Wednesday, December 20, 4:30 PM Performance
Returning with even more tricks (and wry one-liners) up his sleeve – and new acts designed especially for New Victory audiences – Jason Bishop will convert any skeptics in this marvelous, mind-blowing magic show.
New Vic Jason Bishop Workshop is the day before the trip, Tuesday, December 19, 3:15 - 4:15 PM. (All students attending the After School performance of Jason Bishop are invited to participate in this pre-theater workshop.) Ticket Info: - If you accompany your child to the theater, you do not need a permission slip. Please contact lynne.shapiro@ecsnj.org. re: number of student tickets ($2) and adult tickets ($5). You pay your own transportation.
- If you wish your child to go to the theater with Aftercare, you must be registered in the Aftercare program and have a signed permission slip for each show. Permission slips are passed out during After Care and at pick-up.
Show is 60 minutes/no intermission. Suggested for 3rd grade and up.
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Homework Help For 3rd to 8th Grades
Sign-up sheets will be sent out when we return from Winter Break.
Homework help will start January 22 and be held on Mondays and Thursdays.
Students can sign up for 1 or both days. This is a free service for the students.
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| Elysian Collects Box Tops and LABELS for Education Look for the container near Deb's desk in the office! Thank you!
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Lost and Found
Please write your child's name or initials in their outerwear so if it ends up in the Lost and Found we can return it. We have many items (jackets and sweatshirts/hoodlies) that need to find their way back home. Please come and take a look in the Main Office.
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As per state law, we no longer publish the exact location of trips for security reasons.
Please read the calendar weekly, as changes are updated regularly. DECEMBER CALENDAR Monday, December 11 - 3rd Grade Basketball Practice, Cancelled today, Starts next week
Tuesday, December 12 - Play Practice, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
- 6th Grade Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, December 13 - 1/2 Day of School - Staff Developement
- 4th Grade Basketball Practice, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- 5th Grade Basketball Practice, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Thursday, December 14 - Abra 2nd Grade trip
- 7th Grade Basketball Practice, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- 8th Grade Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday, December 15 - Community Meeting, 8:30 AM - Gym
- Girls Team Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, December 16 Monday, December 18 - 3rd Grade Basketball Practice. 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Board Meeting, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 19 - Play Practice, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
- 6th Grade Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, December 20 - 4th Grade Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- 5th Grade Basketball Practice, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Afterschool to New Vic 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 21 - 3rd Grade Trip
- 7th Grade Basketball Practice, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- 8th Grade Basketball Practice, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday, December 22 - 1/2 Day of School
- Aftercare until 3:00 PM
Monday, December 25 - Monday, January 1, 2018 - Winter Break, Elysian Closed
JANUARY CALENDAR Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - Play Practice, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Saturday, January 6 - Open House, 10:00 AM
- Chili Dinner, Elks Club, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Monday, January 8 Tuesday, January 9 Friday, January 12 Monday, January 15 - Elysian Closed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 17 - 1/2 Day of School - Staff Development
- Lottery, 1:30 PM
- Middle School Night
Monday, January 22
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1460 Garden Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Harry Laub, Ph.D., Director
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harry.laub@ecsnj.org
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Phone:201.876.0102
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Fax:201.876.9576
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