Dear Hoboken Public School District Families,
This edition of The Herald highlights a number of accomplishments across the district and upcoming events that will be taking place. Our students and staff are engaging in such wonderful academic, co- and extra-curricular activities.
Please enjoy reading news from each of our schools in this week's Edition of The Herald. Take a moment and learn more about our early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school programs:
Also, if you are not already following us on social media, please do so:
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In closing, I want to thank all of you for your steadfast cooperation, patience and partnership. All three ingredients make for an incredible school district. I could not ask for a more committed collection of guardians and parents. You are truly amazing and I am honored to serve the Hoboken Public School District.
Sincerely,
Christine A. Johnson, D.Litt.
Superintendent of Schools
Music at Wallce School
This week, the 5th grade Wallace Violin Ensemble and Choir, along with the Peer Leadership Committee, visited the Hoboken Homeless Shelter to deliver food and share holiday music. Special thanks to Ms. Martinez and the Wallace PTO for making this heartwarming event possible. Our Wildcats were excited to perform and spread joy to the community.
We look forward to taking the stage again on December 13th for the district's annual winter concert.
Music at Connors School
In Ms. Celentano’s class, students learned about the bass clef, used for low-pitched instruments like the tuba, trombone, and bass. They memorized the notes with fun phrases like "All Cows Eat Grass" and "Good Burgers Deserve Fries Always." Here’s Hazel with her perfectly labeled bass clef notes.
The 4th grade woodwind section has been working hard on their concert song, and after just a few months, they sound amazing—no squeaks! Here are Anika, Dylan, Stella, Aayan, Brielle, Sophia, and Serafina, ready to rock the house!
Music at Brandt School
They ended with The Russian Dance from The Nutcracker, reinforcing their understanding of rhythm. As George Gershwin said, "We've Got Rhythm!"
Art at Brandt School
This week in art, students read Balloons Over Broadway, learning about the puppeteer behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. They then created their own city street designs, adding color to their pencil sketches.
Next, they’ll study artist Jeff Koons and design balloons inspired by his balloon dog sculptures. The students are excited and engaged with the project and can’t wait to see the final results!
Junior Thespians at Hoboken MS
This week in Junior Thespians, students worked in small groups on their performances and enjoyed warm-up activities. The "Room of Redemption" gave eliminated students a chance to redeem themselves, while others played a lively round of Werewolf.
Next week, many will audition for Alice in Wonderland, with the option for others to observe the process.
Pre-AP Dance & Mindfulness and Movement at Hoboken MS
Mindfulness and Movement class, the students are working on different locomotor skills. The students had a rally race where they have to collect as many as bean bag possible to win the game. After each round, we counted the points to see what team collected the most.
Kindergarten at Brandt School
In Math, students worked on counting, comparing name lengths, and preparing for a new unit on shapes. For Social Studies, they used map skills to create classroom maps for a hypothetical new student. We're so proud of our little learners!
2nd Grade at Brandt School
Second graders are finishing strong before Thanksgiving break!
In Literacy, students are exploring the theme "What can animals in stories teach us?" by reading and analyzing fables. They’ll compare and contrast the texts using graphic organizers and writing paragraphs. In Phonics, they’re focusing on the soft c and g sounds with daily warm-ups and activities. Writing skills are also being strengthened through weekly paragraph writing and district tasks.
In Math, students are practicing word problems and building fluency with addition and subtraction. They’ve even created their own word problems, applying addition and subtraction to reach the same solution. Daily warm-ups, games, and Math Stations help reinforce automaticity in solving equations.
4th Grade at Brandt School
Fourth grade has been busy! Here’s what we've been up to:
In Social Studies, we’ve been learning about the Pilgrims and their journey to America, exploring their hardships and the impact on Native land.
In Reading, we started studying dramas, focusing on characters' actions and feelings to understand the plot. We also continued reading Ancestor Approved, connecting the short stories using text evidence.
In Writing, we’re working on narrative stories. After reading about Thanksgiving chaos, we began writing our own narratives about similar situations.
In Math, we wrapped up multiplication and division and began exploring addition and subtraction strategies for larger numbers, using expanded form and number lines.
We also had our 4th-grade HPEF science-themed field trip, which was a blast!
Physical Education at Brandt School
At Brandt Elementary, we use creative PE activities to develop motor skills and foster a love for fitness. This year, students are enjoying miniature golf, table tennis, air hockey, skee ball, and cup stacking, which enhance hand-eye coordination and promote lifelong activity.
These games improve reflexes, precision, rhythm, and cardiovascular fitness, while teaching teamwork and strategy. By offering a variety of fun activities, we show that fitness can be enjoyable and accessible, building confidence and encouraging healthy habits.
Kindergarten at Connors School: Ms. Bartolotti, Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Fleischer, Ms. Criqui, and Ms. Klag
Math: In Unit 3, students are exploring shapes and numbers 1-20. This week, they made shape kites and used pattern blocks to create various pictures.
ELA: The focus this week was on the question, "What rules do we follow in different places?" Kindergarteners read How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, discussing characters, actions, and the story's moral. They also read Tim Can Tip It and worked on the letter Ii and the short /i/ sound. The sight word of the week was "to." Great job on dictation, KOALAfied Kindergarteners!
Social Studies: Students completed their unit project on maps, directions, and locations by creating detailed maps of our classroom, identifying five important spots, and including a map key with labels.
Kindergarten Dual Language: In SLA, we finished Unit 2, reviewing letters and syllables, and practiced reading sentences with Spanish sight words. We also began dictation in both Spanish and English. In math, students worked with 2-D shapes to create murals and complete puzzles. In Social Studies, they learned about community workers and the Apache culture, making their own pottery for Native American Heritage.
2nd Grade at Connors School: Ms. Rinaldi, Ms. Celentano, and Ms. Garcia
Math: This week in math, we continued Unit 2, sorting polygons by sides, vertices, and angles. We explored building rectangles with square tiles and Geoboards, learning to draw and create rectangles using rows, columns, and tile combinations.
ELA: Our second graders began learning about poetry, focusing on the question, "What do we love about animals?" They discovered rhyming words and rhythms in poems like "Cats and Kittens" and "Desert Camels." The phonics focus was on three-letter blends.
Writer's Workshop: Students completed their animal research reports and started their Author's Celebration. They're proud of their hard work and excited to share their books next week!
Social Studies: We explored primary vs. secondary sources and practiced interview techniques to learn about the past. We wrapped up Chapter 1 of Young Citizens and began reviewing the material.
4th Grade at Connors School: Ms. Schulz, Mrs. Rodriguez, and Ms. Stubbe
Math: 4th graders wrapped up Unit 3 in Investigations, mastering long division and word problems. After a successful assessment, students continue to support each other through practice and teamwork. Great job, 4th grade!
ELA: Students finished Reading Wonders Unit 2 Week 1, exploring animal adaptations in Spiders and analyzing central ideas. They also read Flying High from Ancestors Approved, identifying key events in the story.
Social Studies: 4th graders learned about natural resources and the crops grown by early farmers in the Americas, using maps and text features to explore the animals and environments of different regions.
Science at Connors School
Kindergarten: This week, kindergarteners learned about weather patterns, forecasts, and the equator’s influence on temperature and seasons. They will keep a log to track the weather in Hoboken.
1st Grade: First graders studied the phases of the moon, learning that the moon does not produce its own light and is influenced by the sun.
2nd Grade: Second graders participated in Rosie’s Runtime, an unplugged computer science activity where they programmed a robotic dog to follow a sequence of code cards. Working in teams, students solved challenges by adjusting the game mat and creating new programs for Rosie.
Kindergarten at Wallace School
This week, the Wallace Wildcats have been busy!
In ELA, they explored rules through How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, focusing on retelling, questioning, and vocabulary.
In Reading/Writing, they practiced using "to" in Can I Pat It?, working on punctuation, spacing, and capitalization with help from word walls.
In Math, they explored 2D and 3D shapes, compared geoboard and clay creations, and created patterns while sorting items and explaining their reasoning.
The disguised turkeys added to the Thanksgiving excitement, with students sharing what they’re thankful for.
2nd Grade at Wallace School
Second graders have been reflecting on what they’re thankful for, discussing gratitude for family, friends, food, and a safe home. They created posters to share what they’re thankful for this holiday season.
In Math, they’ve been learning about rows, columns, and arrays, which lay the foundation for multiplication. They’re also reviewing money concepts with activities like creating a money flip book.
In ELA, students are reviewing fables and analyzing character changes, using text evidence to support their responses.
In Social Studies, they’ve been exploring maps, including the compass rose, scale, landforms, and state abbreviations, and enjoyed coloring maps of the U.S. and its landforms!
4th Grade at Wallace School
ELA
4th graders continued reading Ancestors Approved, an anthology about an intertribal powwow. They analyzed themes through characters' actions and dialogue, and learned about hyperbole by creating their own examples. Literacy centers encouraged collaboration and independent learning.
Social Studies
Students researched Native American tribes, creating Google Slides presentations on their tribe’s location, food, clothing, and customs. They also designed dioramas to visually represent their tribes, combining creativity with critical thinking.
Math
In Math, students used "multiple towers" to explore multiplication, patterns, and addition. They focused on multiplying by multiples of 10 and identifying patterns, reinforcing skills in addition, subtraction, and problem-solving.
Peer Leadership at Waalce School
What an amazing initiative! A big thank you to the Wallace PTO, Peer Leaders, and Ms. Vega for their efforts in making the Thanksgiving Food Drive a success. Your generosity will bring much-needed support to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.
Special kudos to the Peer Leadership Council for not only delivering food but also sharing music with the shelter. Thanks to Ms. Safko and Teacher O for leading the Peer chorus and violinists in such a beautiful performance.
This effort truly captures the spirit of Thanksgiving—coming together to support and spread joy.
6th Grade ELA at Hoboken MS
ELA students analyzed word choice and tone through a close reading of The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick, answering questions to explore the text's mood. They then studied an excerpt from Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, focusing on explicit and implicit evidence to make inferences and support their analysis.
Students connected the excerpt to the question, “How do relationships shape us?”, and rewrote the passage with a different narrator, using evidence and inferences to reflect the narrator's relationships and tone.
7th Grade ELA at Hoboken MS
Seventh graders read the autobiographical story "Museum Indians" by Susan Powers, focusing on making inferences and using context clues to define unfamiliar words. They analyzed figurative language to uncover deeper meanings. By the end of the week, students completed Part I of Tangerine and are excited to begin Part II next week!
8th Grade ELA at Hoboken MS
Finally, students took the List 3 Vocabulary Quiz, demonstrating their understanding of “Words Every 8th Grader Should Know.”
River Keepers at Hoboken MS
Our students were excited to explore the new aquaponics pond and hydroponic towers in the lab, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm. The aquatic section has become a student favorite, featuring four brackish tanks, one saltwater tank, touch tanks, and a red-eared slider turtle habitat.
Students are tracking the feeding schedule for various species, including starfish, clownfish, hermit crabs, scallops, snails, trout fry, and turtles. Our lab is currently participating in the Trout in the Classroom project with 87 thriving trout fry. Students also harvested crops from our hydroponic towers in just three and a half weeks, which are now being fed to our turtles.
The River Keepers are eagerly awaiting an updated scientific collection permit to observe, research, and release local Hudson River species. They will also work on designing an aquaponics and biofilter project. The program is off to a great start, with students learning and having fun.
Academic Team at Hoboken MS
This week, the Academic Team competed in the second Continental Mathematics League (CML) meet of the year. Students in grades 6-8 solved six multi-step math problems in under thirty minutes.
Our scores will be ranked individually and by grade level. Congratulations to Magnus Peterka, Samuel Leong, Alek Fennell, and Saral for earning perfect scores! We have three more CML meets this year, all contributing to the team’s cumulative score.
ELA with Ms. Malenda at Hoboken HS
The study deepened their understanding of literature's role in revealing historical and human truths.
ELA with Ms. Schneider at Hoboken HS
In Ms. Schneider’s English I class, students researched Native American boarding schools and their lasting impact on individuals and communities. They also explored life on the Pine Ridge Reservation through a documentary, examining struggles with poverty and addiction.
This background deepened their understanding of Junior’s experiences in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In the early chapters, students analyze character development and the use of metaphor, such as Junior’s cartoons as “tiny lifeboats” to escape bullying and poverty.
Biology at Hoboken HS with Ms. Patel
Biology CP students are studying ecology, learning about levels of organization, abiotic vs. biotic factors, and trophic levels. They applied this knowledge to create food webs, illustrating feeding relationships and energy flow, gaining a deeper understanding of ecosystem dynamics.
PLTW at Hoboken HS with Mr. Thomas
You’ve probably seen people with tape on their body in various directions and wondered what it’s for. That’s kinesiology tape, a stretchy tape used by therapists to improve muscle tone, lymphatic flow, movement patterns, and posture. Students practiced using it on the elbow to relieve pain.
Engineering and AP Physics at Hoboken HS with Mr. Torres
Engineering Design - Spatial Visualization and 3D Modeling
Students have moved from hand sketching to creating 3D models using Computer Aided Design (CAD), an essential skill for prototyping. CAD enhances spatial visualization, and while it can be challenging at first, students are completing modeling tasks to eventually build and 3D print their own designs.
AP Physics 1 - Work, Energy & Power
After studying Newton’s Laws, AP Physics students are exploring Work, Energy, and Power. They conducted a lab to measure the elastic potential energy of a spring by attaching different masses and analyzing displacement, force, and energy graphically and mathematically.
AP African American Studies at Hoboken HS with Mr. Munoz
Mr. Munoz's AP African American Studies class is currently studying Unit 2: Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865), with a focus on Topic 2.20: Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad. Students are learning about the Underground Railroad, a covert network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North and Canada, and the courageous individuals who risked their lives to help them.
Central to this topic is Harriet Tubman, who led around 300 enslaved people to freedom and later served as a Union spy and nurse during the Civil War. Students are also studying other key figures like William Still, known as the "Father of the Underground Railroad," and Levi Coffin, who helped operate safe houses. Important locations, including Philadelphia and the border states, are also highlighted.
This week, we were honored to host Superintendent Johnson, Principal Piccapietra, and NJDOE Project Specialist Makenzie Kelly, who visited the class to observe our discussion. Their visit underscores the importance of understanding the historical struggle for freedom and justice.
As students continue to explore these topics, they are gaining valuable insights into the legacy of resistance and the ongoing fight for equality.
Math at Hoboken HS with Mrs. Tank
This week in Mrs. Tank's AP Calculus class, students studied motion analysis, applying it to velocity and acceleration word problems. They will take a test on Related Rates this week. In AP Pre-Calculus, students reviewed trigonometric functions, including finding them in all four quadrants and applying them to real-life problems, such as calculating linear and angular velocity for a windmill.
In Pre-AP Algebra 2, students practiced factoring polynomials and expanding binomials using Pascal's triangle. They’ll take a quiz on polynomial operations and factoring this week. In AP Calculus BC, students learned the Integral and P-series tests to determine the convergence or divergence of series and will have a quiz on these tests Thursday.
Ms. Sivo and Mrs. Alt
This week, we focused on Jobs and Careers, discussing different types and the tools needed for each using miniature manipulatives. While Ms. Sivo worked one-on-one with students in rotating centers, Ms. Lisa ensured the rest of the class stayed on task with activities like matching job uniforms, sorting paper clips, identifying emotions, and practicing fine motor skills.
We also celebrated Yash Patel's 18th birthday at Mario's Pizza!
Animation 1
Period 3 Animation 1 spent the first marking period creating a comic strip. Students wrote a story with a beginning, middle, and end, then used Movemagic screenwriter and a comic book template to script their comic. They visualized each panel using Frameforge 3D studio, and integrated their pre-visualization into Toon Boom for more control over the images.
Video in the Connected World 1
Students in Periods 4, 8, and 9 worked on pre-production tools for the Speech, Theater Association of New Jersey (STANJ) communication contest. They created a 3-5 page screenplay without dialogue, then added scene angles and used Frameforge 3D studio to storyboard each shot.
Video in the Connected World 2
Students in Periods 2 and 7 participated in a contest sponsored by the Third Circuit Court, focusing on American Democracy. They wrote a 5-7 page screenplay, converted it to a shooting script, and storyboarded it. Afterward, they produced a pre-production package and filmed each angle outlined in the script.
On Friday, November 15th, a group of students visited Montclair State University for the National Hispanic College Fair.
This fair was specifically designed to meet the needs of all students and help them navigate through the college application process. The students were able to briefly view the campus and student life at a glance while cruising through the streets of the Little Falls location
Español en Hoboken High School with Mrs. Cruz
Español en Hoboken High School
Our students are advancing in language acquisition through engaging stories and focused grammar and vocabulary practice.
Spanish I
Students are reviewing vocabulary and grammar related to numbers, time, and the verb ser. They are also practicing subject pronouns in formal and informal contexts and learning about famous figures from Spanish-speaking countries.
AP Spanish Literature
In Ms. Cruz’s class, students compare Hernán Cortés' Segunda carta de relación with the indigenous perspective in Visión de los vencidos. They analyze both viewpoints through comprehension questions in their Azulejos textbook and participate in role-play interviews, asking questions like: ¿Qué civilización en tu opinión crees que es más avanzada, la civilización de España o los aztecas?
Readwing Book Club
The Readwing Book Club participated virtually in the "Teens Read the National Book Award" event on November 19, hosted by author Jacqueline Woodson. The event featured the five finalists for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, who read from their books and answered audience questions.
We received copies of the five finalist books:
- Violet Duncan, Buffalo Dreamer
- Josh Galarza, The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky
- Erin Entrada Kelly, The First State of Being
- Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Kareem Between
- Angela Shanté, The Unboxing of a Black Girl
After the readings, we discussed which book to read next. Currently, we're reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
National Honor Society
National Honor Society members are encouraging gratitude among all Redwings by building a gratitude chain. We asked ELA teachers to set their students the task of writing something they are grateful for on a strip of construction paper as a do-now. We got the strips back and we are assembling the chain which we plan to display in the lobby.
Wallace Preschool Wildcats
Students practiced counting leaves, and sang songs like the "Turkey Pokey" and "5 Little Turkeys."
Preschool at 770 Jackson
Preschool at Calabro
Preschool at Jubilee
In Room 102, students have had a blast exploring pumpkins! They studied their shape, size, growing conditions, and uses for food, decoration, and science. After decorating pumpkins they picked from the patch, the class created a "pum-cano," combining math and science.
Students measured ingredients and watched in delight as their pumpkin volcano erupted with lava. It was a fun, hands-on lesson in science!
Preschool at Rue
The class even had show and tell where they shared something that began with the letter N.
Wallace ECE
A story about a candy or party store sparked creativity, while guided phrases like "around, close" and "down" helped develop fine motor skills.
Brandt ECE
The class is excited for next week's "Turkey in Disguise" activity and looks forward to showing off their turkeys.
Brandt Preschool
During circle time, they helped their turkey run the turkey trot to earn bubbles and practiced turkey-themed gross motor movements. In centers, students played with people figures and talked about who they'd see at their Thanksgiving celebrations.
Just a friendly reminder that registration is open for Winter Sports and here is the link for registration.
You can register with the ink below or click here: https://hhsredwings-ar.rschooltoday.com/viewmyaccount
Any student/athlete that needs assistance with registration can see or email our athletic clerk Angela Moret angela.moret@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Happy Thanksgiving and Go Redwings!!
Hoboken Public Schools - A District Dedicated to Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Our Vision
The Hoboken Public School District will be recognized as a premier educational choice and widely known as a best-practice model for academic growth, high quality instruction, innovative and equitable programs, engagement, facilities and personalized pathways that are essential for college, career and life-preparedness in our ever-changing, interconnected global society.
Our Mission
The Hoboken Public School District will prepare confident and resilient graduates who value academic achievement, embrace challenge, honor diversity, appreciate collaboration, and respectfully contribute to their local and wider communities.
Our District Goals
The Hoboken Public School District will implement a rigorous, relevant and responsive curriculum that meets the needs of all students, fosters personalized pathways for learning, and ensures continuous academic growth.
The Hoboken Public School District will support its diverse staff in professional growth, encourage them to serve as role models, and empower them to provide the highest quality of instruction for our students.
The Hoboken Public School District will develop and implement unique and innovative programs that promote global learning, ensure equitable access, and foster the social, emotional and academic growth of each student.
The Hoboken Public School District will engage and communicate with families and the wider community to bridge understanding and advance partnerships.
The Hoboken Public School District will operate well-maintained and safe facilities that respond to our growing student enrollment, support our academic and co-curricular programs, and promote pride across the city.
Email: District@Hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: www.hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 524 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ, USA
Phone: (201) 356-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hoboken.schools/
Twitter: @HobokenSchools