Wallace Quarterly Newsletter MP2

The winter months have been full of learning, creativity, and kindness at Wallace School. Our classrooms are buzzing with meaningful learning and exciting projects that reflect the season. Students have been exploring new themes across subjects while also demonstrating kindness and teamwork in their daily interactions with classmates. We’ve enjoyed celebrating seasonal traditions and engaging in cultural learning that helps broaden students’ perspectives and deepen their sense of community. This quarter also highlights student creativity, with wonderful examples of art, writing, and STEM work that showcase their growth and imagination. Looking ahead, classes are setting clear goals for the new year, and we are grateful for the continued involvement and support of our families and community, which enriches our school experience in so many ways. Here’s how our students have been shining!

ELA

During Marking Period 2, Kindergarten students explored three engaging literacy units—Going Places, Around the Neighborhood, and Wonders of Nature—that focused on understanding communities, following rules, learning about neighbors and jobs, and discovering how living things grow and change. Through a mix of fantasy, realistic fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts, students practiced identifying characters, settings, events, and key details, while also learning to distinguish between story types and understand how illustrations support text. Students strengthened foundational reading skills by working on letter sounds, phonics patterns, rhyming, blending, and high-frequency words, and they continued developing print concepts and fluency. Writing activities included drawing, labeling, sentence writing, and responding to texts, with a focus on handwriting, grammar, and sharing ideas clearly. Across all units, students engaged in collaborative discussions, research projects, and creative work that reinforced kindness, community awareness, curiosity about the natural world, and early problem-solving skills.

Math

During Marking Period 2, Kindergarten students explored important math concepts through hands-on learning in geometry, counting, and measurement. In the fall, students focused on 2-D shapes by identifying, describing, comparing, and building shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, and hexagons, while connecting shapes to real-world objects and creating designs through art and collaborative projects that emphasized kindness and inclusion. In the winter, learning shifted to counting and measurement, where students practiced measuring and comparing lengths, counting objects in different arrangements, creating number combinations, and beginning addition and subtraction within 10. Across both units, students strengthened number sense, problem-solving skills, math vocabulary, and communication through discussions, creative activities, and real-life connections that supported curiosity, teamwork, and confidence in learning.

ELA:

During this marking period, First Grade students explored two engaging literacy units focused on Our Community and Changes Over Time. Through realistic fiction, fantasy, folktales, drama, and nonfiction texts, students learned about community helpers, buildings, and neighborhoods, as well as how plants, animals, and people grow and change over time. They practiced identifying characters, settings, main topics, key details, and the sequence of events, while using text features such as captions, diagrams, maps, and bold print to gather information. Students strengthened foundational reading skills through phonics lessons on short and long vowels, blends, digraphs, and fluency, and expanded their high-frequency word knowledge. Writing included narrative, opinion, and informational pieces, with an emphasis on handwriting, grammar, and clear communication of ideas. Throughout both units, students participated in discussions, collaborative projects, and research activities that encouraged curiosity, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. The students have also shown a lot of growth in reading, they’re now able to read word problems and complete workbook pages almost independently.

Math:

During this marking period, First Grade students built strong math foundations through units focused on addition and subtraction, number sense, measurement, and early fractions. Students used counting as a strategy to add and subtract, composed and decomposed numbers, solved word problems, explored the meaning of the equal sign, and began understanding place value and how numbers are made of tens and ones. They practiced mental math strategies, compared quantities, shared equally, and worked with unknown numbers in equations. Later in the period, students explored measurement by comparing lengths, ordering objects, solving comparison story problems, and learning to measure accurately, as well as using clocks to tell time to the half hour. Students were also introduced to fractions by identifying halves and fourths as equal parts of a whole. Throughout the units, learning was hands-on, discussion-based, and connected to real-world examples, helping students develop confidence, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of how math is used in everyday life. We are also beginning our measuring unit in math, which is very interactive and hands-on.

ELA:

During this marking period, students explored two literacy units that built strong reading, writing, and thinking skills through engaging themes. In Animal Discoveries, students read realistic fiction, fables, poetry, and informational texts to learn about animals, what they can teach us, and how humans can help protect them, while strengthening phonics, fluency, and comprehension skills. They conducted research on self-selected animal topics, wrote informational reports, and experimented with poetry by creating rhyming poems. In Live and Learn, students examined how the natural world and communities shape our lives through narrative nonfiction, fiction, and expository texts. They focused on understanding text structure, point of view, and text features, and deepened their writing by crafting personal narratives and expository pieces through planning, revising, and editing. Across both units, students participated in collaborative discussions, developed vocabulary and foundational reading skills, and made interdisciplinary connections to science, social studies, and civic learning.

Math:

During this marking period, students deepened their math understanding through two units focused on number sense, problem solving, and data. In Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System, students explored place value by representing two- and three-digit numbers as hundreds, tens, and ones, practiced reading and writing numbers to 500, and built fluency with addition and subtraction within 100. They solved one- and two-step story problems, including real-world money problems involving coins and bills, and explained their thinking using pictures, equations, number lines, and words. In Modeling with Data, students learned how data are collected and used to answer questions by sorting, classifying, ordering, and representing data in different ways. They interpreted graphs and data displays to describe what the data revealed about a group and made connections to real-life situations. Across both units, students strengthened mathematical reasoning, communication, and collaboration skills while applying math to everyday contexts.

ELA:

During this marking period, students strengthened their reading, writing, and thinking skills through two in-depth ELA units focused on problem solving, courage, and social change. In Unit 2, Figure It Out, students read a variety of literary and informational texts, including The Underground Railroad, to explore themes such as bravery, teamwork, and overcoming challenges, while analyzing characters, themes, text structures, and author’s purpose. They practiced close reading strategies, built phonics and fluency skills, and wrote realistic fiction, poetry, and opinion pieces through the full writing process. In Unit 3, One of a Kind, students studied biographies and nonfiction texts such as Who Was Coretta Scott King? to learn about friendship, leadership, and activism, focusing on comparing perspectives, summarizing, and supporting opinions with evidence from sources. Across both units, students expanded vocabulary, refined cursive handwriting, engaged in meaningful discussions, and made connections to history, civics, and real-world issues, developing confidence as readers, writers, and thoughtful members of a community.

Math:

During this marking period, students developed strong math skills through units focused on geometry, measurement, multiplication, and division. In geometry and measurement, students learned to classify and compare 2-D shapes, find perimeter and area, measure accurately using standard and metric units, and understand how shapes can have the same area with different perimeters or the same perimeter with different areas. They applied these skills to real-world problems, including finding unknown side lengths and exploring sources of measurement error. In multiplication and division, students built a deep understanding of the relationship between the two operations by working with arrays, cube patterns, and word problems, learning multiplication facts up to 10×10, multiplying by multiples of 10, and writing related equations. Throughout both units, students used models, drawings, and math vocabulary to explain their thinking, collaborated with peers, and strengthened problem-solving skills connected to real-life and interdisciplinary applications.

During MP2, the 4th graders in Ms. Cocucci’s, Mrs. DeCastro’s, Mr. Fagan’s, and Ms. Lucignano’s classes spent time learning about different Native American tribes in Social Studies. Students researched a tribe of their choice, created a Google Slides presentation, and designed a diorama to represent their learning.

In Math, students began working with fractions, including equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and finding fractions of a whole number. They used fraction sticks and anchor charts to support their understanding. Great job by all!

In ELA, the 4th graders have been reading What Would She Do?, a book highlighting 25 trailblazing women who overcame challenges and obstacles. Students are currently working on a Google Slides presentation focused on one woman from the book, selected from a choice board with nine different options. We are very excited to see their final products!

Stay tuned for more exciting times in 4th grade as they prepare for their annual 4th Grade Wax Museum in March! Where the Wallace gymnasium turns into a Wax Museum! Watch our 4th graders come to life with a tap of the red button!!

We are extremely proud of the 4th graders for their hard work and dedication—keep it up!

The fourth graders had a wonderful time on their field trip to Fort Montgomery this October. They explored the historic site, learned about the fort’s role in the American Revolution, and enjoyed hands-on activities that brought their social studies lessons to life. The visit was both educational and memorable, giving students a deeper understanding of local history and a fun day of discovery.

We are so proud of our 4th graders as they continue to thrive and grow in their math skills. Keep up the great work!

This quarter, our 5th graders have been working hard across all subject areas! In math, students strengthened their understanding of the four operations by practicing a variety of strategies for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing multiple digit numbers/factors, with a focus on accuracy, problem-solving, and explaining their thinking. In ELA, students participated in novel studies, including concluding Coraline and starting 10 Days: Abraham Lincoln, explored poetry, completed a literary analysis task, and reviewed figurative language to deepen their reading and writing skills. In social studies, students learned about the Civil War, studied the life and leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., and examined key events and figures of the Civil Rights Movement, building historical knowledge and making meaningful connections to themes of equality and justice.

I hope everyone enjoyed their winter break and is feeling rested and ready for more fun and learning! This week in Mrs. Allende’s PSD, we are easing back into our classroom routine and focusing on helping students feel comfortable and successful throughout the school day. We continue to work on attending and sitting during group activities, as well as using visual supports to help with transitions and to express wants and needs.

Our students have been working very hard on a variety of crafts connected to upcoming holidays. They created a bee for our Valentine’s Day bulletin board and are also learning about Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For this activity, students made two handprints on a heart to represent how people from different backgrounds and skin tones come together to form one unified heart.

In addition, we have been reading the book We’re Better Together to help teach students about kindness, teamwork, and working together as a classroom community. The students are doing a wonderful job engaging in these activities, and we are proud of the effort they are putting in as we start the new year.

Our students in our ABA, MD, & LLD classes have grown so much throughout Marking Period 2. Students have been developing communication, social, academic, and independence skills through highly structured, individualized instruction. They have been building their confidence in the classroom more and more each day! Our staff have been helping students make meaningful progress while supporting their growth toward independence and success in school!

Happy 2026!

So far, our second marking period has been filled with exciting and meaningful learning experiences in our classrooms. In Math, students have been exploring new strategies, strengthening their problem-solving skills, and building confidence with making a ten, adding three addends, and solving word problems. In ELA, students continue to grow as readers by exploring a variety of genres and identifying key literary elements. Our dual language learners have been focusing on phonics with syllable recognition while also strengthening their reading comprehension through meaningful and engaging texts.

During MP2, students participated in winter-themed activities, such as creating snowmen while identifying true and false equations. In Social Studies, we honored and learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and spent time setting our goals for 2026.Families can continue to support their children at home by reading together each night and asking questions that encourage discussion and deeper understanding. We are so proud of our students’ continued growth and look forward to many more exciting learning adventures ahead!

Our elementary scientists have been busy exploring the world of plants and nature! In third grade, students learned about the life cycle of plants, focusing on germination and how a tiny seed grows into a mature plant. Fourth graders dove deeper into plant science by studying plant structures and their functions, and they put their learning into action with an exciting flower dissection to observe parts up close. In fifth grade, students are expanding their understanding to entire ecosystems, learning about decomposers and investigating how matter is transported between organisms and their environment, helping them see how all living things are connected.

During the current physical education unit, students are participating in a basketball skills unit designed to build fundamental movement skills, teamwork, and game understanding. Instruction is differentiated by grade level to ensure developmentally appropriate learning experiences.

Students in grades 3–5 are focusing on a variety of basketball skills, including dribbling, passing, shooting, defensive skills, and participation in modified gameplay. Lessons emphasize proper technique, decision-making, cooperation, and sportsmanship while allowing students to apply skills in game-like situations.

Students in grades K–2 are introduced to the foundational skills of basketball. Instruction centers on the basic techniques of dribbling, passing, and shooting through simple drills, stations, and developmentally appropriate activities that promote coordination, confidence, and enjoyment of physical activity.

This unit supports skill development, physical fitness, and positive social interaction while encouraging students to build a lifelong interest in physical activity.

This quarter, K–2 students learned Spanish weather words through singing, movement, and daily routines. As a final project, they created a mini weather book to show their understanding.

In grades 4–5, students are learning school routines in Spanish using movement, listening, and speaking activities to build comprehension and confidence.

It has been wonderful to see their growth, and I look forward to continuing to support their Spanish learning.

Wallace Elementary School has entered its renaissance of art and creativity. Since the start of my work at WES the children have been fundamentally enriched in the principles of art & design, color theory, art history and how to use art terminology during art class and beyond the classroom walls. My steadfast work with the children has not only bloomed into a culture of high academic learning, it has also been one filled with purpose, joy, fun, exploration and the beginning of a portfolio driven pedagogy to help every child succeed and enter their post-secondary experience full of knowledge and work to show.

Over the past quarter the children have continued to work on their drawing skills via observational drawing projects such as drawing a snowball and using shading techniques to show value, by use of stencils to create festive holiday cards, or using tools to explore lines and perspective and finally through step by step demonstrations to help the children learn what process means when planning to create their own explorative composition.

As we entered 2026, we took a moment to reflect on every principle of art design we have covered so far: colors, lines, organic forms, geometric shapes, value, perspective, proportion, contrast, movement, emphasis. We are taking what we have learned to move forward with even more purpose and confidence to work on our current projects: Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Project, Lunar New Year: Symbol of the Horse and our much anticipated Black History Month Project on Alma Thomas (1891-1978) where every student will create their own colorful mosaic, using oil pastel to mimic Thomas' painterly iconic works of art.

In the Performing Arts music segment this quarter, students excelled in Band, Chorus, and Strings. They performed in our Winter Concert on Jan. 21st in the HS Auditorium. Our Wallace music community is thriving as we strive to push the performance level up of our amateur musicians. Chorus students sang at the city wide tree lighting in December and entertained the community with their rendition of “Frosty the Snowman.” For the winter concert, they performed the well-known K Pop tune, “Golden” with Mrs. Jessica Fasolino on the guitar as a featured artist amongst other pop tunes. All of the choruses did a rendition of “Winter Wonderland” together and filled the stage and risers with so many elementary singers!

The band and violin students had their own concert directly following the chorus concert. It was a great success; as our beginners in 4th grade had their very first instrumental show! Fifth graders shined performing “Hallelujah” from Shrek on violin and “When the Saints Go Marching In” for Band. Violin students performed at outdoor community holiday events as well as the chorus. We strive to continue to grow our amateur musicians by participating in spring community events as well. They will continue to share their talents with our district and Hoboken community.

This marking period, each class had a different song and dance to work on in order to create a cohesive performance. This was all put together for the showcase on January 29th.` We are so happy that you were able to join us for our marking period showcase. These students have worked on their public speaking, confidence and self-awareness alongside singing, dancing and a bit of acting! We are so proud of our young thespians. Next marking period signifies a change in the theatre schedule. Look out for more details coming soon!

Melissa Santiago, a second-grade student at Wallace Elementary School, is a wonderful example of what it means to be a positive and caring member of our school community. Melissa was nominated for Student of the Month by her teacher, Mrs. Makris, who describes her as a hardworking student who never gives up. Melissa eagerly participates in class, asks thoughtful questions, and approaches learning with determination and confidence. Melissa loves learning and her favorite subject is math, especially addition and subtraction.

Beyond her academic efforts, Melissa shines through her kindness. She is thoughtful toward her classmates and always looks out for others. One classmate shared, “We need a Melissa in every class. She is kind, cares for her friends, and always asks if I am okay.” This sentiment truly captures the heart Melissa brings into the classroom each day.

Melissa is an asset to Wallace Elementary School because she helps create a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels valued. She enjoys drawing, playing with slime, and staying active through soccer and basketball. Most importantly, Melissa loves coming to school and feels proud to be part of the Wallace community.

.In Melissa’s own words, “Everyone in the school is nice to me, and I like coming to school every day.”

Outside of school, Melissa enjoys playing video games with her younger brother, listening to music, and singing. Her favorite movie, and soundtrack, is K Pop Demon Hunters! She has a strong bond with her Grandma, looks up to her family members, and aspires to one day have a career as a police officer. When her mom was asked how she feels about Melissa receiving the recognition of Student of the Month, she shared, “so excited, just so excited.” Mom went on to share that she wants Melissa to know that “she loves her, is proud of her, and hopes that she keeps up the good work.”

Congratulations to our Student of the Month, Aspen Rhone-Walker! Aspen is a PSD student in Miss Lanza’s class and was selected for this honor because he is an incredible friend, leader, and role model to both his peers and teachers.

Aspen is always the first to help others, whether it’s assisting friends with cleaning up, helping them put on their coats, or making sure everyone has what they need. He looks out for his classmates by reminding them of classroom routines and rules, passing out water bottles for snack, and helping friends remember their class jobs. His kindness, thoughtfulness, and caring nature truly stand out each day.

Academically and socially, Aspen has shown tremendous growth. He excels during Opening Group, where he confidently takes on leadership roles while counting, graphing, and taking turns with his classmates. He loves participating in gross motor activities, especially dancing! He loves playing in centers, especially with play dough in art! Aspen also loves playing outside and interacting with his friends throughout the day.

When asked how he felt about being Student of the Month, Aspen shared that he feels loved. He said he loves his teachers, playing with his friends, and play dough. His teachers describe him as loving, confident, a natural leader, and a caretaker. He has been chosen as Super Friend many times for his strong leadership skills and positive behavior. He keeps us laughing all day!

Aspen is an asset not only to our classroom but to Wallace Elementary School as a whole. Whether in the hallway or the classroom, he consistently sets a wonderful example for students of all ages. His classmates describe him as nice and say they enjoy eating crackers with him and painting together. When he grows up, Aspen hopes to become an astronaut! We can’t wait to see where his future takes him!

We are so proud of Aspen and all of the growth he has shown. He is truly an asset to our class, and we love him so much!

Dear Wallace Families,

Our school counseling team tackled several important social‑emotional themes during the 2nd marking period to support students’ growth and strengthen our school community. In November we focused on gratitude, encouraging students to recognize and express appreciation in daily life. In December we explored what makes us different, celebrating diversity and helping students value each other’s unique strengths. During January our lessons center on kindness, with activities that promote empathy and positive actions. These SEL efforts extend beyond the classroom — they’re helping build a more compassionate, connected school community where every student feels seen and supported.

Best regards,

School Counselors

Ms. Brianna Drew (Grades PreK-2) &

Ms. Parker Butler (Grades 3-5)

Email: bdrew@hoboken.k12.nj.us (201)356-3797

and pbutler@hoboken.k12.nj.us (201) 356-3736

Our 3rd Grade and 4th Grade CTY students are actively developing their understanding of fractions through adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Our scholars are building strong number sense by modeling fraction operations, explaining their reasoning, and applying strategies to solve both computation and word problems. The instruction emphasizes accuracy, efficiency, and mathematical thinking while encouraging students to justify their solutions. These skills help students strengthen foundational concepts that support future problem-solving and higher-level math.

Our 5th Grade CTY students are deeply engaged in the study of Rational Numbers, exploring how fractions, decimals, and whole numbers relate to one another. Our 5th Grade Scholars are working with number lines, coordinate planes, and real-world applications to better understand the structure and value of rational numbers. These CTY lessons promote critical thinking as students analyze relationships, solve multi-step problems, and communicate their mathematical reasoning. This work prepares students for advanced mathematical concepts and builds confidence in abstract thinking.

Our English Language Learners at Wallace have been so busy in Quarter 2!

This quarter, our beginning and emerging learners have been busy learning about their families, homes, and daily routines. Among other activities, students have created pictures of their families, sorted their daily routines based on when in the day they do different things, and created books about what they do each day! Our developing and expanding learners continue to grow as readers and writers. Students are practicing how to become better readers by finding cause and effect, creating venn diagrams, and sequencing stories based on fiction and non-fiction texts across a variety of topics. Advanced learners are also focusing on becoming better readers by diving deeper into reading comprehension by finding explicit details and making inferences. Great job everyone!

Pictured below: Grade 1 students use their “On the Farm” vocabulary to create sequenced stories about how different products get from the farm to us! They used important sequencing words like first, next, then, and last to tell their stories.

A HUGE thank you to the PTO for a very successful Krispy Kreme Fundraiser in December, Annual Bingo Night on January 22nd, along with the monthly staff surprises in the main office! :) Your dedication and support truly means so much to the staff at Wallace Elementary. We know we can always count on you for making any day, a better one!

Upcoming Events:

1) PTO Wallace Sweetheart Dance

Date: Thursday, February 19th

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Place: Wallace Gym

Pre-K/PSD through 2nd Grade

$5 per ticket (kids 3 and under are free)
- Cash
- Venmo @wallacePTO
- Zelle to wallaceschoolpto@gmail.com

*This is not a drop off event!*

*Help is needed!
- Donations can be dropped off at the main office through Tuesday, February 17th (Capri Sun juice boxes, 16.9oz water bottles, individually wrapped snack packs)
- Monetary donations are always welcome via Venmo @WallacePTO
- Click here to sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BAFAC28A57-61712837-2026?useFullSite=true#/

2) 3rd Annual Karaoke Parents Night Out!

Grab the mic or cheer from the sidelines!

Date: Thursday, February 26th
Time: 7pm-11pm
Place: The Shepherd & the Knucklehead

$25/per person
Venmo: @WallacePTO
Zelle: WallaceSchoolPTO@gmail.com

Proceeds from admission + on-site raffle tickets + 10% of venue's F+B sales will benefit the Wallace PTO

Here are a highlight of some of the recent PTO events at Wallace!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Presidents' Day Weekend with your loved ones! Enjoy the weekend!