Cliffside Park Middle School

As we close the first marking period of the school year, I am excited to share with you the remarkable progress we've made in building a strong and vibrant educational community at Cliffside Park Middle School. I hope this update will highlight the various aspects of our school's development over the past several months.

If you're wondering, "What happened to our school's PTO/PTA?" – you're not alone. Like many community groups, our Parent-Teacher Organization has been inactive since the challenges of the pandemic.

We believe it's time to bring it back.

A strong PTO/PTA is a powerful resource. It's how we can:

• Support our amazing students with new opportunities.

• Show our dedicated teachers and staff how much we appreciate them.

• Build a stronger, more connected school community for all families.

To do this successfully, we need to start from scratch and build an organization that truly works for our community today. That’s where you come in.

We need to hear from YOU.

Please take 5 minutes to complete our relaunch survey. This is your chance to tell us:

• What days and times work for you?

• Do you prefer in-person or virtual meetings?

• What would you like the PTO/PTA to focus on?

• What level of involvement, big or small, are you interested in?

>> Click Here to Take the CPMS PTO/PTA Relaunch Survey <<

This survey is not a commitment—it's a way for you to share your voice and help shape the future of our parent community. Every response provides valuable data that will help us create a plan for our first meeting.

Please complete the survey by Friday, November 21st so we can get to work!

Thank you for helping us support our school.

Learning isn't always done at a desk! Students in Dr. O'Connor's class recently took their studies on the road, using the fantastic programs offered by the Bergen County Parks Department to learn more about our local history and environment in a hands-on way.

Their first adventure was a trip to the McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff, NJ. This amazing local resource offered educational classes that our students thoroughly enjoyed during a beautiful fall day. The visit perfectly combined history and science.

Learners got to roll up their sleeves and step back in time, pressing their own apple cider using a traditional, old-fashioned machine just like the one early American residents would have used. After tasting the sweet results of their hard work, the students had an exciting, up-close encounter with animals native to our area, learning about their habitats and how they survive right here in New Jersey.

This trip is just the beginning! Dr. O'Connor's class has more trips planned throughout the year that will continue to use our community's rich resources to bring learning to life. We can't wait to see what they discover next!

In Mrs. Bucco's 7th Grade Social Studies class, students recently connected with a pivotal moment in American history in a deeply personal way. To commemorate September 11th, 2001, the class created a powerful paper "Class Quilt" as a 9/11 Memorial.

Each student was tasked with designing a unique square, turning their reflections into a tangible piece of art. The squares were filled with heartfelt expressions of remembrance, from original poems and special messages of hope to powerful drawings. Students focused their work on remembering the victims of the tragedy and honoring the incredible bravery of the heroes who responded.

Once completed, each individual square was joined together to create one enormous "Class Quilt." This moving tapestry of memory is now proudly displayed in the hallway, serving as a powerful visual reminder for the entire school community to pause, reflect, and never forget.

We are thrilled to announce that the Cliffside Park Middle School Wonder Girls Program is back and already making an impact! After a competitive application process, 50 outstanding students were selected to join this year’s program, which focuses on building confidence, leadership, and wellness.

Congratulations to our new Wonder Girls!

The program kicked off in September with its very first workshop, setting a strong foundation for the year. Program Coordinator Martha Aguilar and guest speaker Emily Peguero led an engaging session focused on a crucial life skill: making a great first impression.

Our Wonder Girls practiced the proper ways to introduce themselves and each other with confidence and poise. Learning how to communicate clearly and professionally is a powerful tool, and this workshop was the perfect start!

The new year's events follow a fantastic recent trip where our Wonder Girls visited Rockland Community College for an immersive day of health and well-being.

Students embarked on a “Passport to Wellness” journey, a special event designed to teach them how to care for themselves both inside and out. The day was packed with hands-on, mini-workshops where students:

• Got moving and learned new exercises in Fitness.

• Explored healthy eating habits in Nutrition.

• Discussed self-care and positive thinking in Mental Health.

• Learned tips and tricks for a healthy glow in Skin Care.

It was a fun, educational day that gave our students valuable tools for building a healthy and balanced life. We are so proud of our Wonder Girls and can't wait to see all they accomplish this year!

It has been a busy and vibrant season of learning in Mrs. Brito's 8th-grade Spanish classes! Students have been diving deep into cultural traditions, celebrating Hispanic heritage, and finding inspiration in powerful real-life stories.

Recently, our 8th-grade Heritage and Novice Spanish learners participated in a multifaceted lesson on El Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). The goal was for students to explore rich cultural traditions, practice new vocabulary, and compare celebrations.

The lesson kicked off by tapping into students' own background knowledge with a KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned) chart. Students then watched videos about both Día de los Muertos and Halloween, using a Venn diagram to visually compare and contrast these two distinct holidays.

To understand the celebration's deep roots, students read a passage from Voces Digital about the origins and cultural significance of the Day of the Dead. This led to lively "Turn and Talk" partner activities and full-class discussions, which helped solidify their comprehension before they took a multiple-choice quiz on the reading.

The lesson concluded with a favorite hands-on activity: creating paper sugar skulls! This was more than just a craft; it was a practical way to reinforce vocabulary and the symbolic meaning of colors in Spanish culture. It was a perfect example of connecting language learning to creative cultural expression.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, students across all five of Mrs. Brito's classes participated in a wonderful collaborative project. They researched and designed a collage showcasing "Notable Hispanics," celebrating the incredible contributions of leaders, artists, scientists, and trailblazers who have shaped our world.

During the recent Week of Respect, our Advanced Art students took their learning outdoors! After studying the work of Pop Artist Keith Haring, students worked in pairs to create vibrant chalk art on the sidewalks outside the school.

Their images beautifully reflected the themes of the week, filling the walkways with messages of peace, love, friendship, unity, and respect. It was a wonderful way to combine art history with a positive message for our entire school community.

This fall, the Middle School was thrilled to welcome Ms. Scordo to our team as a new Guidance Counselor! She is excited to be a part of this community and to partner with students, families, and staff to support every student's academic success and personal growth.

Ms. Scordo is no stranger to our community. As a proud resident of Cliffside Park for nearly 35 years, she has a deep connection to our town. She shares that during her time here, she has worked alongside many dedicated teachers who inspired her to become the educator and counselor she is today.

This new role is a natural transition for Ms. Scordo, who has spent the past 13 years as a dedicated teacher right here in Cliffside Park. This tremendous experience gives her a unique perspective. As a former teacher, she brings a powerful understanding of how to build strong relationships, a clear insight into the challenges middle schoolers face, and a deep sense of empathy for both students and staff.

As the counselor for our 7th and 8th-grade students, Ms. Scordo is focused on building trusting and supportive relationships. She looks forward to providing our students with the social, emotional, and academic tools they need to navigate their middle school years successfully and flourish as individuals.

Ms. Scordo has already jumped right in, making a positive impact on our school climate. This fall, she organized our successful Week of Respect, which saw all students sign the "Upstander Pledge" to stand against bullying. You may have also noticed the inspirational quotes she helped place around the building and on lockers! Following that, she coordinated our Violence Awareness Week activities, including the fantastic school-wide "Kindness Chain," which visually represented all the good deeds happening in our halls.

We are so excited to have Ms. Scordo's experience and passion in our building. Please join us in giving her a warm Middle School welcome when you see her in the hallways!

Congratulations to our middle school volleyball team on an outstanding season, finishing with an impressive 10-1 record! The players showed incredible dedication, working hard every day in practice and demonstrating steady improvement both individually and as a team. Their teamwork, perseverance, and positive attitude were evident on and off the court. We’re proud of their accomplishments and the way they represented our school with skill and sportsmanship all season long. Go Raiders!

The middle school soccer team had an exciting and productive fall season, we had 45 student athletes try out for a 20 man squad started the season off slow losing the first 3 games but bounced back quick, showed resilience and finished with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses.

Throughout the season, players improved their understanding of the game, focusing on ball movement, communication, and maintaining strong team shape. Each week, the team demonstrated hard work, dedication, and effort on the field, reflecting their commitment in practices and games.

A key emphasis this season was preparing our 8th grade student-athletes to be ready for the challenges of high school soccer, helping build a strong foundation for the program’s bright future. Most importantly, the players showed sportsmanship, respect, and a genuine love for the game, making this season a memorable one for everyone involved.

The middle school girls soccer team had a fantastic season, finishing with a strong record of 5-2-3. With 21 dedicated players, the team showed tremendous growth and determination from the very first practice to the final game. Their teamwork, effort, and sportsmanship were outstanding all season long. I am incredibly proud of how far they’ve come and all they’ve accomplished together as a team.

The Cross Country program had a great turn out this season with 13 runners. Most of the athletes were new to the sport and really ran well to help the team. The goal at the beginning of the season was to get better every day. Each athlete accomplished this goal dropping anywhere from 30 seconds to over 3 minutes off of their times. We are looking forward to continuing this success with the upcoming spring track season.