Robert Fulton Wildcats
We Inspire Leadership, Diversity, Citizenship, Academics, Technology and Success. Principal’s Message
Meet Our Teacher of the YearMr. Paul Major
The start of the New Year is a good time to reflect upon the accomplishments of our students. Watching them flourish with the guidance of excellent teachers at Robert Fulton School is truly rewarding. While visiting classrooms, one can witness children who are engaged and excited about their learning. We are very proud of the students and teachers at Robert Fulton School, and look forward to more great things in 2016. It is our hope that you and your family have a wonderful 2016 filled with good health and blessings. Mrs. Garcia, Principal [email protected] Mr. Tetro, Vice Principal [email protected] Inside This Issue: ●
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Spotlight on 3rd Grade Community Spotlight Nurse’s Message School Closing Alerts School­Wide Programs We are proud to announce the nominee for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program from Robert Fulton School is Mr. Paul Major. As Band Director for our school, Mr. Major has proved himself, for the past 24 years, to be a dedicated professional who is committed to the musical education of his students. Concerts at Robert Fulton School are always successful under Mr. Major’s direction. On Behalf of our staff members and students we offer our most enthusiastic congratulations to Mr. Paul Major! Mark Your Calendar January 22,2016
Cap and Gown Pictures Re-Takes
January 30, 201​6
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM ​Applebee's Pancake
Breakfast
February 2, 2016
End of Marking Period 2
February 3, 2016
Start of Marking Period 3
Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 Journey Bags
Nurse’s Message ​ Hello Parents, ­Ellen Begbie ­ Andrea Molina, RN I hope you and your children have had a Community Spotlight productive and healthy ‘Tis the Season for Giving start to the New Year. I am pleased to share with you an important The North Bergen Education health­care opportunity for your child Foundation​, along with the ​North offered by Give Kids a Smile NJ. Bergen Police Dept and Mayor Sacco​, According to the National generously provided brand new winter Children’s Oral Health Foundation, coats to several needy students in our tooth decay is the number one school during the month of December. Our sincerest gratitude for keeping our chronic childhood illness and it is five kids warm! times more common than asthma. However, it is 100% preventable! Also many thanks to the ​North Bergen Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) NJ is a Emergency Relief Program ​and program of the American Dental coordinator ​Amy Focaraccio​ for Association Foundation. Every donating some of the proceeds from their February, dentists throughout NJ 2015 Toy Drive directly to our school. We are excited to announce that offer free dental care for children Lee Perez, Anny Perez, and Kathy once again we are hosting our Lally ​are to be commended for helping to ages 12 and younger. Give Kids a Foster Care Journey Bag identify those children in need who Smile Day is Friday, February 5, Fundraiser. Journey Bags are ​new 2016. There are over 100 benefited from receiving a holiday present! backpacks filled with participating dental offices available age­appropriate personal items for for parents to schedule an ­Ms. Garcia foster children who have been appointment at a location of choice. If interested in participating and removed from their homes. During Guidance Counselor's the months of January and February, for more information about GKAS, visit their website​ ​www.njda.org​. You Corner we will be collecting both monetary can also reach out to me at donations and ​new​ items to go NED Show 201­295­2909 if you have any further Next month, our school will be presenting towards the bags. Last year we were questions or concerns. able to produce and donate 160 The NED Show. NED stands for: Never Hope you take advantage of this give up, Encourage others, Do your best! bags to Hudson County. With your opportunity. Let’s help keep healthy The NED show is a wonderful way to help we can have another successful smiles! create a practice or action of creating a more respectful climate and encouraging year! students to partake in random acts of kindness every day. It will be presented to grades first through third. If you need to contact me, or need information about programs and/or resources, please visit ​my webpage​. ­ Mr. Alvarez Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 We Won! 5000 Bonus Points from Scholastics Great news! Our schools will receive 5000 bonus points from Scholastics Reading Club. Krista Welz of The North Bergen High School Media Center applied for and received a $5,000 grant from James Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club to help the school library. She added our school as a co­applicant so that an elementary school could benefit from the grant as well​. Scholastic will match the $5,000 donation in "Bonus Points" for Robert Fulton School, ​which​ we can be redeem for classroom supplies. We want to thank Krista and #PattersonPledge for getting books into the hands of our students. In order to save more school libraries, James Patterson is donating another total of $1.75 million of his own money to save under­funded school libraries nationwide in 2016. Thank you! ­ Marisol Rodriguez Character Counts School Closing Alerts As winter weather approaches, the possibility exists for storms that would require the Superintendent to order a school cancellation, delayed opening or an emergency early closing. This month our character education focus is on ​Citizenship. Please talk with your child about the importance of being a citizen of the School, Community, Nation and the Earth. The Seventh Graders at Robert Fulton School created our Citizenship Bulletin Board in the main entrance. Take a look at what it takes to demonstrate good Citizenship: It is the parent’s responsibility to be aware of delayed openings and early closings or cancellations by listening to the radio or TV and to make arrangements for your child. The North Bergen School District uses a Robocall to notify families in the event of a school cancellation, weather delayed opening or closing, or other urgent messages. If you have changed your phone number recently, please make sure that the office has all of your most up­to­date contact information. For more information about delays or emergency and early closings, please log on to our website, www.northbergen.k12.nj.us. ­ Mr. Tetro Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 Spotlight on
3rd ​Grade What is 3rd grade up to?
Meet the Teachers The third grade students are hard at work.
In accordance to our district curriculum and preparation for PARCC assessments, Robert Fulton third graders have been working on Informational/Explanatory writing. They've been specifically working on Scientific Nonfiction and have Nancy Uslu­Room 111 [email protected] Jill Giambelluca­Room 203 [email protected] Drita Turdiu­Room 205 [email protected] Elizabeth Ruiz­Room 213 [email protected] Elizabeth Pina­Room B10 [email protected] Kristy Reilly­Title 1 [email protected] Wilma Goyes­Resource [email protected] Julissa DeLaCruz­Resource [email protected] Amanda Sta. Maria­Resource [email protected]. been introduced to a plethora of exciting prompts related to paleontology and animals in the Savanna. In the world of Math, January marks their first exposure to multiplication tables and division. These skills are absolutely imperative for success in the third grade, and something they will carry for the rest of their school careers. Our teachers are working diligently to ensure all the students have strong foundations in these skills. Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 Clip ‘em, Send ‘em School­wide Programs Box Tops For Education Great American SpellCheck We are still collecting Box Tops for Education Coupons and Bonus Coupons and need your help. Since September 2015, we’ve collected a total of 1,066. This is the equivalent of $106.60. The money we raise will be used for PTO sponsored student activities. So, please continue to clip them and send them in. Thank you to the following teachers and their students for their participation in the Great American SpellCheck fundraiser. Ms. Graham, Ms. Manicone, Ms. Pachos, Mr. Raditch, Ms. Panepinto, Mrs. Rodriguez, Ms. Peck, Ms. Bucco and Ms. Pena. the students raised almost $700. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to enhance student learning activities and extra classroom bonus supplies. Fulton Wildcats Basketball
The boys and girls basketball teams are back at it once again, both in contention for playoff spots, respectively. Coach Jonathan Fernandez credits the success of both teams to outstanding eighth Spelling Bee grade leadership. The boys team, Congratulations to our spelling Bee Champion, Juan Hernandez​, a 7th coached by Mr. Fernandez and Mr. grader from Ms. Boesch’s Naik, is led by Jonathan Sanchez, class and also to our 2nd
​ Samy Ali, Adam Solimon, Place Champion, Zikiriya For your convenience, use the Mohammad Muhana, and Kobee Khan from Ms. Khalil’s collection sheet. Note, bonus Box Marquez. The girls, coached by Ms. Grade 6 class. Tops should be submitted Pegan, Mr. Fernandez, and Ms. separately, not attached to the Yousef, are led by Aniyah De Los Juan Hernandez will be collection sheet. You can place them representing Robert Santos, Madison Reyes, and in an envelope or baggie. Please Fulton School on Saturday, February 6, in Isabella Shibli. the Hudson County Spelling Bee at New send Box Tops to your child’s Jersey City University. Please join me in teacher. In addition, Coach Fernandez wishing him good luck. All are welcome to stresses academics as a key to the attend. The class that submits the most success of these student athletes. Box Tops will receive a pizza party “Equally important, says Fernandez, at the end of the year. Below are the The winner of this Bee will travel to the “ is their commitment in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, current top three contributors: classroom. Our ultimate goal is to D.C. as a representative of Hudson 1st Place: Room 110 with 309 have them pass all of their classes County. 2nd Place: Room 109 with 173 throughout the school year.” 3rd Place: Room 201 with 76 Congratulations to all of our contestants on their outstanding performance at the Coach Fernandez gives his final Robert Fulton Spelling Bee: Note: Box Tops with no expiration thought, saying, “As always, we (the date or expired Box Tops are not coaches) would like to thank Grade 6: Derek Toribio, Gabriel Lafi, counted since they can’t be everyone for all the support we have Zikiriya Khan, Adeline Garcia, Nicole redeemed for cash. received so far. We hope it Lopez, Petra Nassereddin, Joshua continues as both teams make their Tenesaca, Simei Gonzalez, Jonathan Thank you. march towards winning a Travis, and Catherine Reyes. championship in their respective Marisol Rodriguez Grade 7: Juan Hernandez, Tiarra Fales, leagues.” Let’s go Wildcats! Box Tops Coordinator Asidri Bruggal, Kenza, Idrissi, Josue Martinez, Emily Gonzalez, Jenna Awadallah, Wilson Wong, Brian Turcios, and Ashlin Quevedo. Grade 8: Hussein Fardos, Cody Fernandez, Josseline Garcia, Roseann Chang, Jianna Yan Francisco, Samy Ali, Nashaat Muhana, Samantha Portrile, Damarys Mata, and Jayson Molina. ­ Eileen Carter ­Jonathan Raditch Game Schedule Calendar Go Wildcats! Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 “I Have a Dream…”-Dr. Martin Luther King My favorite quote that speaks to my hopes for the
future is motivated by Dr. Martin Luther King's famous and
inspirational quote, “Our lives begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter.” Ever since I was a young
student I remember learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
around this time of year. There’s something to be said about a
man who devoted his life to a cause that a lot deemed not
worth fighting for. I could never fully understand or fathom
the obstacles he and others had to overcome to gain the rights
and liberties that most people nowadays take for granted. My
social studies teacher this year has put a great emphasis on
how important it is for us to be aware of our identity in our
community, and our role in humanity. She always says, “Think
globally, act locally.” I take this as a call to action, as a challenge to see just how much of a positive
impact I could have on the lives of the people that surround me.
When I read different articles about him, watch the myriad of documentaries devoted to his
continued legacy, and study his famous speeches and quotes, I can’t help but notice how impassioned
and young he was. He was so ahead of his time. He practiced Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent approach
of resistance, and although it took over a decade, it really resonated with the people and helped
galvanize more support for the Civil Rights’ Movement. Another timeless quote he coined stated,
“Nonviolence in a powerful and just weapon. Which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who
wields it. It is a sword that heals.” That pretty much sums up the philosophy he lived by. At thirty-five
years old, he was the youngest person (at that time) to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Whether we like it or not, racism and discrimination are alive and well. It really begs the
question, are we continuing MLK’s fight for equality or have we as a society bowed down and gone back
quietly into the night of complacent golden age status quo? Watching the news saddens me. Instead of
being excited about what amazing things unfolded that day, I’m met with the paralyzing reality that
there are serious ills in our communities and country. I want to be happy for the progress that has been
made, but the realist in me knows there’s still work to be done. Which brings me to my next MLK
quote, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” Maybe it’s my
calling. I may be young, but I know this to be true, one person’s actions can change the course of
history. Although we celebrate MLK day once a year, what he stood for is what makes me want to be a
vibrant force in our society, whose sole purpose is to continue his legacy, where a symphony of
brotherhood is possible.
-Ashlin Quevedo, 7th
​ ​ grade, 306
Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016 January Messages Around the School
Our teachers and students do a great job making their voices heard through bulletin boards.
Here is some of what they have to say.
Robert Fulton School * 7407 Hudson Avenue * North Bergen, NJ 07047 * www.northbergen.k12.nj.us January 2016