Hawk Happenings

Movie Night was a big success! Special shoutout to our Steen PTO for such a fun family night!

Our PreK, K, & 1st Grade students had some special visitors today! They were able to meet & pet some adorable therapy dogs! These furry friends sure knew how to put a smile on our students' faces! Thanks so much for the memorable experience @OperationK9Beethoven

Ms. Mawer's 5th graders studied parade history & created their own parade balloons. They even paraded around the school!

Our Pre-K kicked off the day with their Turkey Shuffle Dance.

In Media class, third graders listened to the story "Balloons over Broadway." They then practiced computer programming with our new Sphero Indi robots by planning their own parade routes for their parade balloons.

Our kindergarteners have discovered that plants are living things with needs! They even grew radish seeds and observed how they reach towards the window to get some sunlight! 2nd grade also studied plants and did an experiment on seed dispersal. 3rd graders examined plant traits and used that information as evidence to classify a mystery fruit! It was all about plants!

On Wednesday, November 27, our PTO hosted our annual Thanksgiving Feast for PreK through 2nd grade. This was lovingly prepared and enjoyed by all. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers! We are so grateful to have you in our school community!

Steen School would like to congratulate November's Staff Member of the Month. Mrs. Holly Gioiosa! Ms. Holly is one of our preschool teachers. Ms. Holly has been a PreK teacher over 20 years. She began teaching in Bogota in 2019 when Universal PreK first opened in Bogota. She is Steen's first preschool teacher! Ms. Holly is a teacher who embodies patience, positivity, and dedication to our family. She is known for coming to school each day with a smile, creating a structured and nurturing environment for some of our youngest learners, and going above and beyond to ensure every student reaches their full potential. Her young students adore her because of the dedication and care she shows them each day. She has taught us all the value of learning through play and constantly works with other grade levels for collaborative efforts. Ms. Holly is a Bogota resident herself and both of her children went through the Bogota school system. She says teaching is her passion and because of that, she has the best job in the world! In her free time, Ms. Holly enjoys spending time with her family and watching all types of sports. Gymnastics and volleyball are especially her favorites. Congratulations Ms. Holly! Well deserved!

Kindergarten - Alice Garcia

Kindergarten - Vania Mora

1st Grade - Scarlett Guzman

2nd Grade - Stephanie Tenezaca

2nd Grade - Ben Mustafaj

3rd Grade - Jayce Sanchez

4th Grade - Martin Boada Fernandez

5th Grade - Emely Diaz

5th Grade - Julien Colon

Our Student Council Kindness Coin initiative continues this year! Throughout the month, students who are caught performing an act of kindness without being asked are given a paper yellow coin on our pot of gold mural. At the end of the month, these students are recognized over the loudspeaker and presented with a certificate. Congratulations to all of our Kindness Coin recipients!

Check out this beautiful chalk mural our students made at recess! #Teamwork!

Happy 26 years to 3rd Grade Friendship Soup Day! Each 3rd grader brought in an ingredient. Together, all were combined into multiple pots of soup. It was a beautiful celebration of kindness, friendship, and a bowl of soup to warm the heart!

As an educator for 20+ years, I have always stated my number one job is to help produce healthy, happy, thriving adults in our ever-complicated world. I truly believe that no child can learn if their mental health is not in a good place. No child can focus on math if they struggle with themselves, with friends, or with family. Mental health is the true foundation of who they are, and without it, everything else crumbles.

Recognizing this, our school offers a variety of programs and resources to support the mental well-being of our students. We are fortunate to have Peer Leaders from the high school who connect with our kids, as well as guidance counselors, and social workers who are always available to provide assistance. Our amazing mentoring program pairs at-risk students with staff members in our building, creating a reliable in-school support system. Bogota CARES, funded by the NJ Department of Education, offers dedicated mental health counseling, while graduate students from FDU’s School Psychology program bring their expertise directly into our schools to help students build strength in their minds, bodies, and relationships. Additionally, CarePlus and our wellness center provide comprehensive services, including counseling, care coordination, school clearance assessments, and access to integrated care and social support services. Through these initiatives, students can benefit from individual counseling, skill-building groups in areas like mindfulness and stress management, and educational workshops for faculty and parents. Direct in-class support is also available to help students and teachers address challenges as they arise. These resources are here to ensure every student has the tools they need to thrive. If you or someone you know could benefit from these programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our school counselor. Together, we can provide the help and support that every child deserves.

December 20: Winter Show - Starts Promptly at 9:00 AM (Doors open to families at 8:50 AM) Please enter by the gym doors.

December 20: Single Session Day - Dismissal at 12:40 PM

December 21-January 1: Winter Break - School Closed

Preschool Students - Please bring in your updated FLU shot paperwork if you have not already done so.

Twitter: @LillianMSteen1

Facebook: Lillian M Steen Elementary School Bogota NJ

Instagram: lmsteenschoolBogota

Location: 134 West Main Street, Bogota, NJ, USA
Phone: 201.342.6446