Jungle Book a Big Hit!

New Milestones for Daryl Johns

Jazz Bassist Daryl Johns (EMS '10) has been selected to participate in the prestigious Grammy Camp–Jazz Session Program. As well, the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz has selected Daryl as a member of its 2012 National High School All-Star Jazz Sextet.  Congratulations, Daryl.

Photo: provided by D. Keefe

C5...A Winter Wonderland

Though there has not been much snow outdoors, there has been plenty of it inside Chilton House in Kindergarten. The students in C5 have been celebrating the winter season with a variety of activities including exploring the concept of symmetry by creating snowflakes and mittens, building a ski and sledding slope with hollow blocks, and playing with "snow" at the sensory table. In Spanish they learned vocabulary for winter clothing. This interdisciplinary unit provided the children with the opportunity to create, develop vocabulary in math and language all while having fun. Now all we need is a real life snow fall to make it perfect!

EMS Fifth Grader, Henry Maw, Creates iPhone App -- for a Good Cause

Henry Maw, currently a 5^th grader at EMS, is no ordinary 10 year old boy from Bergen County, New Jersey.  First, he had the idea for a new game app and had the support to make his idea a reality. Second, he made the decision to donate 20% of all proceeds from the sale of this app to charity. Third, he is embarking on a crusade with his family to encourage other App developers to positively impact, or give a portion of their sales to, social, charitable and philanthropic organizations.

Born from an idea that Henry doodled on the back of a piece of paper and with the help of his family, he was able to work with a team of professionals to bring his new app – MonkeyBerry - to life. Available on the iTunes App store, the game provides fun and entertainment for people of all ages with an adventure through Berry Island where they embark on challenges including falling coconuts and molten lava balls. A sneak peak of the app can be seen at www.henrymaw.com.

The game was not enough.  Coming from a family actively involved in social causes, he was motivated by a sense of doing the right thing.  Henry felt compelled to donate a portion of the revenues earned on the sale of his app to charity supporting organizations that include Table to Table, a food rescue program for the hungry in Northern New Jersey and the ASYV, a village in Rwanda, Africa that helps vulnerable orphans, including those impacted by the 1994 genocide. 

And now he and his family have developed a website called Apps For Impact at http://www.appsforimpact.com/ to promote App developers and sellers who have a social impact or donate a portion of their sales or profits to social and philanthropic causes.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations!

Fifth-grader Henry Maw developed his own smartphone game app.  Follow this link to view his interview on Fox Business News.  You can also read how Henry started the project here.

4th Grade MLK Presentation

During yesterday's Little School assembly, Mrs. Lustberg's fourth graders gave a presentation celebrating the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  They concluded the assembly by reciting his famed "I Have A Dream" speech.

 

Lions, Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

Self Portraits in Chilton House

Returning from Winter Break, the students in Ms. Leff's and Ms. McConville's group made life-size self portraits.  While wonderful as art pieces, this was also part of their study of comparisons: similarities and differences.  Students are alike in many ways and different in many ways!  These paintings deserve to be seen in the original.

Spelling Bee

19 students in grades 4 - 8 participated in the EMS Spelling Bee. This "Challenge by Choice" activity took place after school on Friday, January 6, in the Russell Berrie Music Room. Eighth grader, Sang Uk Park, finished in second place. The first place winner was sixth grader, Emily Yu. She will participate in the semi-finals of the North Jersey Spelling Bee to be held at Bergen Community College in March.  The final winner of the North Jersey Bee will progress to the National Spelling Bee that is held annually in Washington, DC.

Reading Group Reads "LIttle Pear"

Miss Evans' reading group recently read Little Pear by Eleanor Frances Lattimore.  This story is about a young boy who lives in a small village in China.  The children built their background knowledge about China by reading information books, visiting Qwiki (a website that offers an informative slide show with a voice-over), and examining world maps.  After reading the story, the students enjoyed learning how to use chopsticks while eating some of Little Pear's favorite foods.