Hawk Happenings
April 2025 Edition
Elementary Literacy and Math Night
Our Literacy and Math Night was a success! Thank you to all the families who came out and participated in this fun and informative evening. It was wonderful to see so many students and parents engaging in hands-on activities, learning strategies, and taking home valuable resources to support learning at home. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support in making this event such a memorable one!
Lip Sync Battle
The Lip Sync Battle was absolutely epic! A huge congratulations to all of our incredible performers—you truly lit up the stage! Special thanks to our amazing Steen PTO for organizing such a fun and memorable event, and to our Board Members and Administration for serving as judges.
Congratulations to our winners: First place went to our amazing teachers with their performance of "We Go Together" from Grease, second place to Ms. Silletti and her class singing "You've Got a Friend in Me", and third place to Rafael Kerns with his performance of "Chicken" by Steve Lava. It was a night full of talent, energy, and school spirit!
4th Grade 2025 My County Poster Contest
A special congratulations to 4th grader Sadie! We are thrilled to share that Sadie was chosen as a finalist in the highly competitive 2025 My County Poster Contest. Her outstanding artwork impressed the judges and will be proudly featured in the 2026 Bergen County Clerk's Election Calendar! This is a tremendous honor, and we are so proud of Sadie for showcasing her creativity, talent, and school pride on a countywide stage. Way to go, Sadie — your Steen family is cheering you on!
Take Your Child to Work Day
Our Steen Staff had an amazing time sharing the magic of Steen with their children during a fun-filled day! Activities included Minute to Win It challenges, mini pot decorating and flower planting, creating stress ball squishies and cup monsters, Guess in 10 games, the Germ Detective Handwashing Challenge, kickball, a scavenger hunt, and DIY flipbooks.
We were also thrilled to have a special guest join our music classes — a talented student who recently starred in Matilda at her school! She even treated our students to a live performance of a song from the musical.
To top it all off, everyone enjoyed a delicious pizza and ice cream party! It was a beautiful day to celebrate our amazing school community and showcase everything that makes Steen so special.
Administrative Professionals' Day
5th Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest
Our fifth graders recently celebrated their participation in the Arbor Day Poster Contest with a special visit from Mayor Fede! During the visit, students learned about the vital role trees play in protecting our environment and sustaining life on Earth. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect their artwork to real-world lessons on conservation and community stewardship.
A Visit from BHS YAC
A Day in Our Building
Kindergarten - Spring Scavenger Hunt
Our kindergarten students had an amazing time during our Spring Scavenger Hunt! Teachers hid special prizes throughout the hallways, and all three classes eagerly set out on the hunt to find the prize with their name on it. The excitement and smiles were contagious! What a fun and festive way to kick off spring break!
2nd Grade - Earth Day
Our second graders had a blast celebrating Earth Day in our Steen Garden! They spent the day exploring, learning about plants, and getting their hands dirty while helping care for our garden. It was a wonderful way to connect with nature and celebrate the planet!
5th Grade Trip to the Thomas Edison Museum
Our 5th graders had an incredible time on their recent field trip to the Thomas Edison Museum! The visit was an exciting opportunity to learn about one of America’s most prolific inventors, Thomas Edison. Students explored the themes of Edison’s groundbreaking work, including the creation of the world’s first research and development laboratory, the perfection of the incandescent light bulb, the development of a complete electrical distribution system, and the invention of the phonograph—earning Edison his title as the “Wizard of Menlo Park.” It was a fascinating experience that brought history to life!
Preschool - Ephemeral Art in the Park
Our preschool students had a wonderful time at Olsen Park creating ephemeral art! It was the perfect day for crafting temporary masterpieces in nature, and the students had a blast using natural materials to express their creativity. What a beautiful way to celebrate the day!
Steen School 2025 Teacher of the Year - Ms. Ariana Dellosa
Congratulations to our Steen Teacher of the Year, Ms. Ariana Dellosa! Ms. Dellosa is an educator who brings joy, structure, passion, and professionalism to every note she teaches and every student she reaches. One colleague shared, “Her days are filled with travel, coordination, and teaching; yet she greets each child with a warm smile and a contagious love for music that transforms classrooms into places of inspiration.” Students eagerly look forward to their 40 minutes with her each week, knowing they will be engaged by her pure talent and positivity.
Ms. Dellosa’s dedication, creativity, and vast knowledge make her an exceptional teacher. Another colleague noted, “She connects with students of every level and background, supports their needs, and lifts their spirits—sometimes without even saying a word.” Her ability to meet students where they are, even in a subject they may not feel naturally drawn to, is a testament to her incredible skill. “Getting students of many different ages on board with you in a subject they may or may not be passionate about is incredibly difficult, but Ms. Dellosa incorporates fun, engaging, and modern ways of reaching kids of today,” a colleague shared.
Her warm smile and passion for music are truly contagious, and it’s not just the students who benefit. “Ms. Dellosa is a pleasure to work with and a true team player,” said a fellow staff member. Students leave her class feeling not only inspired and knowledgeable about music but about life in general.
With deep gratitude and immense pride, we are thrilled to name Ms. Ariana Dellosa as this year’s Steen Hawk Staff of the Year. Congratulations, Ms. Dellosa! Well deserved!
Student Hawks of the Month
"Hawk of the Month Recognition Program." This program is designed to "spotlight" students who bring positive energy to our school. They are uplifting, positive, hard-working, kind, etc. students who are always trying to help, care for others, be a good friend, etc.
Each month staff are given the opportunity to select a student who exemplifies one or more of the characteristics and/or traits outlined below:
- Participates in clubs, extracurricular activities, sports, and/or events and acts as a leader or team player.
- Works hard in class (regardless of grades) to be their best student.
- Consistently demonstrates maturity and is a positive role model.
- Behavior regularly reflects above and beyond what is expected of a student.
- Any other reason you think they should be recognized!!
Hawk Students of the Month
K - Stephanie Owusu
1st - Phoenix Bustamante
2nd - Aydin Hayer & Illiana Leon
3rd - Dylan Criollo Quinonez
4th - Daniel Klima
5th - Brady Kernes & Naydelin Pelegrin
Staff - Carmen Rosado.
Staff Hawk of the Month - Mrs. Carmen Rosado
It is with deep appreciation that we recognize Mrs. Carmen Rosado as our April Hawk Staff of the Month! Mrs. Rosado works as a paraprofessional in one of our kindergarten classrooms. She is an extremely devoted colleague, and it’s clear to see the impact she has on our students every single day. Her ability to connect with students and manage her responsibilities is remarkable. It’s evident that she is deeply committed to making a positive impact, and we are lucky to have her on our team. Mrs. Rosado’s approach with her students is so nurturing and patient. She has a way of building each child’s confidence and helps them grow into thoughtful, caring individuals. The way she can take charge, handle challenges, and engage with the students is truly inspiring. Mrs. Rosado is not only a dedicated professional, but she also has an innate understanding of the needs of each student she works with. She’s constantly aware of her students’ needs and challenges; offering individualized support to help them with reading, understanding tasks, and building essential learning skills. She nurtures her students with kindness and patience; helping them grow into confident, thoughtful, and caring individuals.
Her resilience, flexibility, and preparedness allow her to navigate the surprises and joys that come with working with young learners. She ensures each child feels valued and supported; creating an environment where they can thrive. Her caring nature and dedication make her an integral part of the Steen team for the past two years. In her free time, Mrs. Rosado enjoys listening to gospel, shopping, and visiting the beach! Congratulations Mrs. Rosado! Well deserved!
PTO Corner
Our next PTO meeting is
Monday, May 5 from 7:00 – 8:00pm
Join us in the media center or virtually at https://meet.google.com/kww-emux-ppj
Upcoming Events
- 5/1 - Steen Talent Show - 6:30PM
- 5/12 - 5/16: NJSLA Testing Grades 3, 4, 5
- 5/20 and 5/21: NJSLA Science Testing Grade 5
- 5/26 - No School
- 5/27 - Field Day Grades K-2
- 5/28 - Field Day Grades 3-5
- 6/10 - PreK Ceremony 10AM
- 6/12 - Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony 11:30AM
- 6/12 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 6PM
Nurse's Corner
Spring is in the air (and so is pollen)! Many children experience symptoms of seasonal allergies including itchy / watery / red eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, and coughing. These symptoms can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from illnesses. Please consult with your child’s pediatrician to determine if your child is experiencing allergies and what treatment is most appropriate. It is often helpful for people who experience seasonal allergies to shower daily to remove pollen from their hair and to wash their hands and face (especially around the eyes and nose) after coming in from outside. A hat, sunglasses, and/or a mask can also help to reduce the amount of pollen that enters the eyes, nose, and mouth while outdoors. As a reminder, no medications, including eye drops, may be carried or administered in school without a signed order from your child’s doctor. If your child needs to remain indoors during gym and recess due to seasonal allergies, please notify the school and have your doctor write a letter indicating that it is necessary.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Buonadonna, the School Nurse at 201-342-6446 x 3002 or jbuonadonna@bogotaboe.com.
Lillian M. Steen School
Facebook: Lillian M Steen Elementary School Bogota NJ
Instagram: lmsteenschoolBogota
Location: 134 West Main Street, Bogota, NJ, USA
Phone: 201.342.6446