In the Middle
Garfield Middle School Newsletter
Garfield Middle School Celebrates Cultures at the Annual International Food Festival on October 16th
Garfield Middle School’s cafteria was filled with the aromas of delicious dishes and the sounds of lively conversation on Thursday, October 16th, as students, families, and teachers came together for the school’s annual International Food Festival. The event, a beloved tradition at Garfield, celebrates the diverse cultures that make up the school community through food, music, and friendship.
Tables lined the cafeteria, each decorated with colorful flags and cultural symbols representing countries from around the world. Families brought homemade dishes ranging from spicy tacos from Mexico and delicate dumplings from China to creamy pasta from Italy and flavorful cupcakes and desserts. Students eagerly sampled foods they had never tried before, trading recommendations and favorite bites with friends.
“The festival is one of my favorite events of the year,” said one of our eighth grade helpers . “It’s a chance to share my family’s traditions and learn about others at the same time.”
Teachers and staff also joined in the fun, with many volunteering to help set up tables, organize the tasting stations, and coordinate set up and break down.
A special thank you to our State Senator Benjie E. Wimberly and Assemblymen Kenyatta Stewart and Alaa “Al” Abdelaziz for stopping by to sample Garfield cuisine … and more importantly, for always supporting the City of Garfield and the Garfield School District.
Principal Rigoglioso expressed his pride in the event’s success: “Our International Food Festival reminds us that diversity is one of Garfield’s greatest strengths. It’s wonderful to see students learning from one another in such a joyful way.”
As the evening came to a close, the room buzzed with laughter, new friendships, and full stomachs. The festival once again proved that food has the power to bring people together—and that Garfield Middle School is truly a community that celebrates the world.
Our GMS staff hard at work
Our hard working advisor organizer
Our VIP guests
Mr. Gonzales helping out
The best pizza in Garfield contest
Families sharing dishes from their culture
The best food in Garfield
Principal Riggs carving for everyone
GMS students setting up
Real-World Math Students Put Their Skills to the Test at ShopRite
Students in the Real-World Math class at Garfield Middle School took their learning beyond the classroom and into everyday life with a hands-on visit to the Lodi ShopRite. Their mission? To shop for supplies while sticking to a set budget—using the math skills they’ve been practicing all marking period.
The trip challenged students to compare prices, calculate discounts, estimate totals, and make smart spending decisions. Working in teams, students pushed their carts down the aisles with shopping lists in hand, discussing the best deals and double-checking their calculations before heading to the checkout.
“It was fun, but it also made us think,” said one student. “You really have to pay attention to what you’re buying and how much things cost. It’s not as easy as it looks!”
Mrs. Barbieri who teaches this class explained that the purpose of the trip was to show how math is more than just numbers on paper—it’s a tool used in everyday life. From planning meals to balancing a budget, math helps people make choices that are both practical and cost-effective.
The Real-World Math ShopRite trip was not only educational but also a great experience in teamwork, responsibility, and independence. We are proud of our students for representing Garfield Middle School with maturity and enthusiasm!
And who knew math class could be this much fun?
Using their shopping list
Comparing prices
Using math skills to shop
Garfield Middle School Students Shine at Statewide STEAM Competition
The future is bright—and this week, it shined especially bright for students across New Jersey at the NJSBA STEAM Tank Middle School Championships! This exciting event brought together some of the most creative and innovative young minds in the state, all working to solve real-world problems using science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
Teams from dozens of schools presented their projects after months of collaboration, testing, and refining their big ideas. The final round took place this week, and judges were impressed by the teamwork, creativity, and determination from every group that presented.
First place was awarded to Team Creative Crew from Maplewood Middle School, who earned $2,500 for their inventive and thoughtful project.
Second place went to Team Garden State Grocery Gadget from Stafford Intermediate School, earning them $1,500.
And we are especially proud to announce that Third Place was awarded to Team In-Sink—from our very own Garfield Middle School!
Team In-Sink earned $1,000 for their clever and practical invention. They represented Garfield with dedication, skill, and school spirit, proving that hard work and creative problem-solving truly pay off.
This competition wasn’t just about winning—it was about learning to collaborate, think critically, communicate ideas clearly, and make a difference in the world. Every team that participated showed what the future of innovation can look like, and it looks pretty amazing.
A HUGE congratulations to all of the winners—and a special round of applause to our Garfield Middle School team for making us proud on a statewide stage!
We can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Thank you to all who attended
Our wonderful Steam Team
Presentation in progress
8th graders signing the pledge
7th graders signing the pledge
Making the commitment
Cereal Box Domino Challenge Helps Feed Our Community
Students at Garfield Middle School are proving that small acts can make a big difference—one cereal box at a time. This month, the school is hosting a Cereal Box Domino Challenge to help support local food pantries and families in need. Instead of traditional canned food drives, each homeroom is collecting full boxes of cereal, which will later be lined up across the school to create one massive domino chain before being donated.
The idea behind the challenge is simple: collect as many cereal boxes as possible, have fun setting them up, knock them down in a giant domino run, and then give the cereal to local organizations that help families facing food insecurity.
Teachers and students alike were excited about the event. “It’s a fun way to encourage teamwork and school spirit, but also to do something meaningful for the community,” said Mr. Braitsch, one of the event organizers. “Every box donated represents a real meal for someone who needs it.”
Each homeroom was encouraged to bring in cereal boxes throughout the month, and the class that collects the most won a special prize—dress down for a week!
Students all month were strategizing about which cereals stack best and which grocery store deals stretch their allowance furthest.
The highlight of the challenge came on the final day, when students and staff gather in the gym to watch the cereal boxes fall in a long, winding domino pattern. The event is not just fun to watch—it also serves as a visual reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.
After the domino run, the cereal will be packed up and delivered to several local food pantries, offering support to families right here in our community. With grocery prices rising and many households facing challenges, these donations will make a real difference.
So far, the front office reports that thousands of boxes have already been collected, and Garfield Middle School is well on its way to making this year’s challenge the biggest yet.
Boxes at the start
Setting things up
Making estimations
GMS and GHS Students Share the Joy of Reading at Local Pre-K
On October 28th, members of the Garfield Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and the Garfield High School National Honor Society (NHS) came together to make a positive impact in our community. The students visited the Garfield ECLC to read stories to our youngest learners—and it was a heartwarming success!
Carrying picture books, big smiles, and plenty of school spirit, the NJHS and NHS students were welcomed by excited preschoolers who eagerly gathered on carpets and reading corners. The older students read favorite children’s stories, asked questions, and helped the little ones talk about the characters and pictures in the books.
Not only did it make reading fun, but it also showed the younger students positive role models right from their own community. Seeing older students who enjoy school, care about others, and give back helps inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.
The NJHS and NHS members are known for leadership, scholarship, character, service, and citizenship—and this visit showed all of those qualities in action. By sharing their time and kindness, they helped encourage a love of reading and connection across our Garfield schools.
This visit wasn’t just about reading books—it was about building community, spreading kindness, and showing that even small moments can make a big difference.
Great job to our NJHS and NHS students for continuing to make Garfield proud!
7th grader Charlie Ocasio sits down with NY Times journalist to learn about aspects of the job
Robert Gebeloff is a reporter at The New York Times. He works with statistics and data to help tell important stories. I interviewed him to learn more about his job and what it’s like to work at a famous newspaper.
When I asked if he always wanted to be a journalist, he said, “Yes, I loved sports so I figured I could write about sports.” Even though he doesn’t write about sports now, that’s what first got him interested in journalism.
He said one of the most important skills for a reporter is being curious. “Always ask questions,” he said. That was his wise advice.
Gebeloff said the stories he writes depend on what is happening in the world. For example, he has written about wildfires. He also said he does most of his research on the internet and doesn’t travel much for work.
He said he uses computers more than paper. “Computers are used most of the time,” he explained. He uses programs like Microsoft Word and spreadsheets to keep track of his work.
Outside of work, he likes golfing. “It’s relaxing, and it’s better than staring at a screen all day,” he said. Golf helps him take a break from working on the computer.
When I asked what the most difficult part of his job is, he said, “Some questions are hard to find answers to and take a lot of research.” But the most rewarding part, he said, is “Writing about interesting new topics and sharing them with the world.”
This interview helped me understand that being a journalist is not just about writing. It takes wanting to learn, and find answers, and especially, wanting to share them with others.
Spooky Fun and Friendly Competition at Trunk-or-Treat!
Garfield Middle School celebrates Halloween season with an exciting and festive Trunk-or-Treat event—complete with candy, costumes, and a friendly competition! For another year, the challenge was on between the Middle School teachers and the Pre-K teachers to see who could decorate the best themed car.
The parking lot was transformed into a Halloween wonderland as teachers arrived with trunks decorated as spooky haunted houses, enchanted forests, movie scenes, and even silly monster mouths. ECLC students and families walked from car to car collecting candy, playing mini games, and voting for their favorite designs.
The Pre-K teachers brought the cute and colorful energy, filling the lot with cheerful characters and bright decorations that made our youngest trick-or-treaters smile. Meanwhile, the Middle School teachers went all-out with creative themes, special effects, and costumes that matched their trunk setups.
Students loved the chance to see their teachers in costume and outside of the classroom—many said it was one of the best events of the year so far!
“Seeing everyone come together was awesome,” said one GMS student. “The decorations were so cool and everyone was having fun.”
After lots of laughter, candy, and photos, votes were counted and the winners were announced!
This year’s Trunk-or-Treat Champions:
1st place- Wicked
2nd place- The Pumpkin Playground
3rd place- Long Live Summer
But no matter who won, the real success was the sense of community, school spirit, and smiles shared by all.
A huge thank you to all participating teachers, students, families, and staff who helped make this event possible. Your creativity and teamwork made it a Halloween treat to remember!
We can't wait to see what spooky surprises next year will bring!!
Great job!
The Circus!
So much fun!
Exciting news for Garfield Middle School students — the school store is officially open for business! Located right in the cafeteria during lunch periods, the store offers a variety of school supplies, snacks, and really cool gift items to keep students stocked.
What’s really making headlines, though, is the store’s dual payment system. Students can make purchases using not only cash but also Bitcoins that they have been earning throughout the year.
“We wanted to make our store both fun and forward-thinking,” said Mrs. Ryden, who helps oversee the project. “Accepting Bitcoin gives students a hands-on way to learn about digital currency — something that’s becoming a bigger part of the world around them.”
Student volunteers help run the store, managing sales, stocking shelves, and explaining how Bitcoin transactions work.
“I think it’s really cool that our school store is now open,” said seventh grader Silah. “I used Bitcoin for the first time today to buy a notebook and some chips!”
In addition to snacks and supplies, the store also features water bottles, and keychains. Proceeds from sales will go toward funding student activities and school improvement projects.
The Garfield Middle School Store is open every weekday during lunch, so stop by, grab a snack, and maybe even try out a Bitcoin purchase for yourself!
Training the crew
Learning how to run the store
Working with our student volunteers
Cast your vote here - keep it or lose it? How important is Daylight Saving Time?
Every year, most of the United States moves clocks forward one hour in March and back one hour in November. This practice, known as Daylight Saving Time (DST), was originally introduced as a way to make better use of daylight during the warmer months. But now, many people are questioning whether it still serves a meaningful purpose—and our GMS school newsletter wants to know how you feel about it.
In the past, to get a sense of how students feel, the school newsletter has conducted polls asking: Should we continue Daylight Saving Time, or should we stop changing the clocks altogether?
Supporters of keeping DST say that the extra hour of daylight in the evening is beneficial. They enjoy having more time after school for sports, jobs, or simply hanging out outside. “When it gets dark later, I feel like I have more of a day,” one student athlete explained. Many also argue that lighter evenings can reduce energy use and make roads safer, since fewer people are driving home in the dark.
On the other hand, students who want to eliminate DST often point to the disruption it causes to sleep schedules. When the time shifts, many people find themselves more tired, less focused, and even slightly irritable. “It seriously messes me up for like a week,” one student said. Teachers have also noticed that attendance and alertness dip in the days immediately following the time change. Some researchers believe these short-term sleep disturbances can have real health effects, which is part of a larger national debate.
In fact, several states have recently proposed—or already passed—laws to end the clock changes altogether, although no nationwide change has been made yet. Whether our own community agrees with this shift remains to be seen.
Our poll will run until our next issue is published. No matter the outcome, the discussion will spark thoughtful conversations about traditions, daily routines, and how even something as small as shifting time can affect our lives.
Cast your vote below to participate.
"Frizzy" by Claribel Ortega, a review by Zoe Garcia
Here’s a polished version of your book review for the school newspaper, based on your notes:
Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in? Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega is a great example of finding where you belong and learning to love yourself for who you are.
The story follows Marlene, a young girl trying to navigate school, family expectations, and her own insecurities. Between dealing with judgment from her classmates and criticism from her own family—especially about her hair—Marlene struggles to feel confident in her own skin. Without her father around, things feel even harder. But with the help of her loving Tía Ruby and her best friend Camilla, Marlene begins to discover that being herself is more than enough.
I really enjoyed this book because it shows what it’s like to face judgment and still find the courage to be true to yourself. The emotions Marlene goes through—frustration, sadness, and eventually pride—felt very real. Ortega does a wonderful job capturing how it feels to be different and how important it is to embrace your identity.
The main theme of Frizzy is about self-acceptance and pride in who you are. It’s a story that reminds readers that beauty isn’t about fitting in—it’s about being confident in your own uniqueness.
If you’ve ever felt pressured to change who you are, Frizzy is a book that will make you feel seen, understood, and inspired.
Garfield Middle School Fall Sports
As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, the fall sports season at Garfield Middle School comes to a close — and what a season it’s been! Our student-athletes showed incredible teamwork, dedication, and school spirit across all sports. Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights in pictures.
Garfield Middle School is already buzzing with excitement for winter sports to show their Boilermaker pride! Whether you were on the field, in the gym, or cheering from the stands, you made this a season to remember.
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Girl's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
GMS Boy's Soccer
The cast list is out !
This spring, our middle school theater department will bring a little bit of magic, mischief, and imagination to the stage with its production of Matilda Jr. The announcement was made last week, and excitement is already growing among students, teachers, and families.
Matilda Jr. is a musical based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book Matilda and the hit Broadway show. It tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a brilliant young girl with a love of reading and a mind full of ideas, who must stand up to unfair adults—including her neglectful parents and the famously terrifying headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. With the help of her kind teacher, Miss Honey, and her classmates, Matilda discovers the strength she needs to change her own story.
The decision to choose Matilda Jr. came after careful consideration by the drama advisors. They wanted a show that offered a wide range of roles, strong ensemble parts, and memorable music. “We were looking for something that would let many students shine,” said Ms. Statile, one of the play directors. “Matilda Jr. has humor, big musical moments, and a message about courage and creativity. It’s perfect for our school.”
Students who auditioned say they’re thrilled to try out. Many of them already know songs like “Naughty” and “Revolting Children” from the movie or Broadway soundtrack. “I love that the kids are the heroes,” one sixth-grader said. “It feels like a story that’s really about us.”
The production will also need stage crew, set designers, costume makers, lighting and sound helpers, and more. Everyone—whether they want to act under the spotlight or work behind the scenes—has a chance to be involved.
Now that auditions have been completed they will be followed by rehearsals leading up to opening night in late spring. Posters with detailed audition information will be posted around the school, and students can also ask the drama advisors for more details.
This year’s show promises music, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable scenes. Most importantly, it celebrates the power of standing up for what’s right—even when you’re small. We can’t wait to see our students bring Matilda’s magic to life onstage.
Editor and GMS Publishing teacher - Dr. Bugge
Email: abugge@gboe.org
Location: GMS, 175 Lanza Ave, Garfield NJ 07026
Phone: 973-272-7020
Setting things up and learning about proportions
Working as a team
