CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL CLASS OF 2017!

2017 GRADUATION AWARDS

PRE-K 4 GRADUATION & CELEBRATION

Tuesday, June 13 was a very proud moment for our Pre-K 4 parents, as they watched their children graduate from being a Preschool student into a BIG Kindergarten student in September. There were big rounds of applause as the students performed songs, recited their prayers, and even revealed what they would like to be when they grew up! Congratulations to all our PreK-4 graduates. We are so very proud of all you have accomplished and learned this year. YOU ARE AWESOME!

PRE-K 3 CELEBRATION

Congratulations to our PreK-3 Class of 2017, as they are now officially ready to move onto PreK-4 in September. Their celebration on Monday, June 12 was filled with prayer, poems, songs, awards, and sweet memories of a very special year!

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION - FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017

Congratulations to our St. Augustine Blue Ribbon Kindergarten Class of 2017! "Kindergarten is the end of a beginning. Now you start the numbered grades, dancing throughout the years at St. A's." We are so very proud of you!

CROWNING OF THE BLESSED MOTHER & PASSING OF THE LIGHT CEREMONY

St. A's celebrated its traditional Crowning of the Blessed Mother and Passing of the Light ceremonies in a combined prayer service held on Monday, June 5. The service began with the 8th grade class processing into Church wearing their graduation caps and gowns, followed by the 2nd grade class processing in wearing their First Holy Communion suits and dresses. After the crown was placed on the statue of the Blessed Mother, the 2nd grade led the gathering of students, parents, and faculty in praying a decade of the Rosary.

Following the crowning, the soon-to-be graduates received candles from their homeroom teachers and presented them to the 7th grade, thus passing the torch on to their successors.

8TH GRADE & KINDERGARTEN BUDDY DAY!

8th grade students and their Kindergarten buddies celebrated Buddy Day with art, crafts, and a little STEM, too!

FIELD DAY!

St. Augustine School's annual celebration of Field Day was held on Thusday, June 1. Below are a few snapshots of the various activities.

SPRING BAND CONCERT

Bright and early this morning, May 22, 2017, Mr. and Mrs. Mallinson, began our Spring Band Concert with our Third Grade Rocking Recorder Students. The band performed their musical pieces and then demonstrated to the younger students what each instrument looks like and how it sounds. The students who played at the Jefferson Memorial in DC this week-end received certificates and accolades on their performance in the nation's capitol. Mr. Mallison closed out the event by introducing a new technology tool called "Smart Music" which they will be implementing this summer, which is a web-based music education platform that connects teachers and students. Bravo to all of our Blue Ribbon Musicians!

8TH GRADERS RECEIVE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION FROM BISHOP CHECCHIO

On May 11, 2017, The Most Reverend Bishop James Checchio was the Celebrant at the Confirmation of our 8th Graders. It was a beautiful and joyful Mass, as the Parish Religious Education Students joined the 8th Graders in receiving the Gifts of The Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Giving many thanks to Bishop Checchio and wishing all of God's many Blessings on our newly Confirmed. 

See the entire photo album from this event on our Facebook page.

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ACHIEVE READING SUCCESS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

Our Kindergarten students have been using an online program to develop and improve their reading skills through the use of technology. The program is Teach Your Monster to Read and through the proceeds of a charity, the Usborne Foundation, it is totally free and the students love playing it while gaining valuable reading skills at the same time. 
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/

Our congratulations to the students pictured who have already completed their First Steps Level and have progressed to Level 2: Fun With Words: Way to go; Super Kids of Kindergarten!

8TH GRADERS HAVE LIVE Q & A SESSION WITH AUTHOR VIA SKYPE

Mrs. Borowick’s 8th grade writing classes Skyped with "Be a Better Writer" author Steve Peha. Mr. Peha spent 30 minutes with each class answering student questions on strategies to generate ideas, deciding what to write, character development, and what inspired him to write among other things. Mr. Peha also gave out his email and encouraged the students to send him examples of their writing and he will give them suggestions! The students look forward to using the strategies presented in the book! According to Mr. Peha (and Mrs. Borowick), the most important part of the writing process is revising. Mr. Peha spends most of his time revising his work--even professional writers find ways to improve! Thank you, Mr. Peha!

To learn more about Mr. Peha's book, please visit his website at http://stevepehasites.com/babw/.

4TH GRADE PARENT DAY!

Students in Grade 4 enjoyed Parent Day on Tuesday, May 9th. They had the opportunity to complete many activities. Students and parents played a grammar game, created travel posters, and learned about Memorial Day and the significance of the poppy using the technology of the iPad. Other activities included math game with baseball scores, finding items that were magnetized at the Science station and even a STEM balancing activity. A productive and fun day was had by all!

Check out the full photo album on our Facebook page!

THREE ST. A'S STUDENTS AMONG THE WINNERS OF THE 2017 DIOCESE OF METUCHEN RESPECT FOR LIFE POSTER CONTEST

From the May 4, 2017 issue of The Catholic Spirit:

"The diocesan Office of Respect for Life received close to 200 poster entries from 16 Catholic Schools and 15 Religious Education Programs for its annual "Kids Look at Life" poster contest. Students from grades 1- 8 were asked to reflect on the theme: "Say 'Yes' to Life!" and draw a picture of how they can say 'yes' to God and bring Christ to others. Posters were judged on grade level, creativity and visual appeal. Winning posters will be used to create a 2017-2018 Respect for Life Calendar."

The winners were honored with a Mass and an awards luncheon on Tuesday, May 9 at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway. The honorees included three St. Augustine School students: Dylan W. won 1st Place in the 5th Grade contest; Madison Q. won 2nd Place in the 7th Grade contest, and Grace X. won 1st Place in the 8th Grade contest. Congratulations to all of the winners on their outstanding and creative posters!

“KNIGHTS OF THE BLUE RIBBON” ARE NATIONAL CHAMPS!

Our Rube Goldberg Machine Contest team traveled to the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend of March 25-26 to compete in the RGMC National Finals. After wowing the judges with their machine introduction skit and having two consecutive successful runs of their Rube Goldberg machine, they took First Place in Division I (Middle School). They also won two other awards: the Creative Spark award and the Spirit of Rube Goldberg award. After their competition, the team and their incredible creation became a COSI exhibit as they demonstrated their machine for COSI visitors and other contest participants. They also had the opportunity to meet Rube Goldberg's granddaughter and students from many prestigious Ivy League colleges as well. Congratulations to the “Knights of the Blue Ribbon” and their coach, Mr. Kovacs, on this historic achievement!

NEVER TOO YOUNG TO GET A JOB DONE: A PRE-K STEAM PROJECT

The students in Pre-K4 learned about Civil Engineering during Engineers Week In February. They learned about how Engineers use blueprints to plan and design a structure. Then they completed the "Let's Build It" Sesame Street activity on the Computer, in which they are given a blueprint and have to click, drag and drop the correct shapes to complete the structure on the blueprint. For Makerspace Week, they completed two hands-on projects that involved blueprints to reinforce what they previously learned in their Engineering unit.

The students were broken up into two stations: The first station was "The Blocks and Blueprints Learning Center", in which they were given blueprints of various structures and levels of difficulty, in which they had to choose the correct shape and size of the wooden blocks in order to correctly complete their blueprints. The second station was the "If I Were an Engineer I would Build a ________" in which the students were provided with a blank blueprint in which they had to plan, design, and draw their structure. Then they used the plastic building shapes to recreate what they drew on their blueprint. We discussed that if their structure was not coming out they way that they drew it, that they could always revise their blueprint drawing and make the necessary improvements, thus teaching them the basics of the Engineering Process.

NATIONAL ENGINEERING WEEK: HANDS-ON ENGINEERING IN THE NEW MAKERSPACE

St. Augustine School's new makerspace took center stage as the venue for this year's celebration of National Engineering Week. Every class from Kindergarten to 8th Grade had the opportunity to do real hands-on engineering activities using everything from pipe cleaners and construction paper to LEDs and interlocking electronic circuit components.

Our K-2 students combined Engineering Week with Read Across America by completing a project about Horton Hatches the Egg. The project was to build a protective nest for their plastic egg so strong that it would not crack when Horton the Elephant (represented by a gallon jug filled with water) sat on it. All of the students worked very hard together to build their nest. We are happy to report that ALL of the nests built by our future Engineers were strong enough to keep the eggs safe!

Grades 3 and 4 became Civil Engineers and took on the challenge to build a bridge that fit the following criteria: able to withstand an earthquake (shaking of the table), cannot break when moved, and a Matchbox car must be able to travel across it. Each team worked together the first week to create a prototype and then improved their bridge design the following week.

The 5th and 6th Grade students played the role of Electrical Engineers and worked with Paper Circuits to light up a birthday candle on a birthday cake (5th grade project) and build a light-up paper helicopter (6th grade project). The students learned about electrical circuits by using only LED lights, conductive copper tape, and a 3-volt coin cell battery to complete their projects.

Electrical Engineering was also the focus for Grades 7 and 8, as students worked in teams to design, create, and build a working machine that can solve a real-world problem using the littleBits Pro Library magnetic circuits, as well as anything else found in the Makerspace Room. The teams followed the true engineering process, brainstorming and prototyping their project on the first day of the build. The following week, they refined their design, constructed their device, and presented it to the rest of the class.

RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE CONTEST TEAM TAKES FIRST PLACE IN COMPETITION DEBUT

CONGRATULATIONS to our first ever Rube Goldberg Machine Contest CHAMPIONS 2017!!! Our illustrious students not only won First Place in the Divison 1 Competition but also brought home three trophies as well; one for Best Construction. one for Best Teamwork, and one for Best Spirit of Rube Goldberg. We could not be more proud of this hard-working, innovative, and creative team of students. They are now preparing for the Finals to be held in Columbus, Ohio on March 26th. Stay tuned for a video of their winning Rube Goldberg Machine. WELL DONE KNIGHTS OF THE BLUE RIBBON!

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TEAMS EXCEL AT LIGHTHOUSE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

CONGRATULATIONS to all our Odyssey of the Mind Teams that competed in the Lighthouse Regional Tournament 2017. We are so very proud of all of our students and coaches that have been working so hard all year on their performances, and their props and costumes. We now have three teams that will compete in the State Finals on April 8th at Ewing High School. Stay tuned for more pictures of all the teams who participated in Saturday's competition.

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION

On February 28, 2017, we proudly inducted fifteen students into the National Junior Honor Society during a beautiful ceremony in our Church. Sister Mary Louise and Ms. Katie Bash, the NJHS Advisor, opened the ceremony and Ms. Lyndsay Rowe (Class of 2009) was our esteemed Keynote Speaker. The Lighting of the Candles was performed by the current Officers of the NJHS, as well as our Student Council President. Each inductee took the Pledge of the NJHS and pledged to "be loyal to our school, and maintain and encourage high standards of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Citizenship, and Character" which are the pillars of the Honor Society. There was also a very special reunion this evening, as Lyndsay Rowe (Class of 2009) was reunited with her Kindergarten Buddy, Nicole S. (Class of 2017) and will always be a big part of both of their memories of this very memorable evening.

Congratulations to all of the 2017 National Junior Honor Society Inductees:  Grade 8 - Karson C., Ansgar D., Alexandra D., Kristina I., Nicole S., Grace X.  Grade 7 - Spencer A., Lily B., Angela C., Sophia D., Maegan H., Bence K., Madison Q., Madison R., Matthew S.

KTN ACHIEVES MILESTONE WITH FIRST LIVE BLUE SCREEN BROADCAST

Our 21st Century KTN Television crew learned how to use Blue Screen Technology (Chroma Key) to transport their announcers to locations around the world. On their first show using this new technology, they used different backdrops from Italy to enhance their broadcast and made all their viewers feel like they were indeed in another country. Bene! Ben fatto! Buon lavoro! Ciao, a domani! Grazie, Mr. De Bari for all your help in getting this up and running!

MEMORIES FROM THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE

On Saturday, March 4th, 2017, our gym was transformed into a magical Masquerade Ball for our annual Father Daughter Dance. Please enjoy this video of all our handsome Dads and their beautiful daughters. Love was certainly in the air on this memorable evening!

SECOND GRADE SPIRITUAL RETREAT WITH "THE POTTER"

The Second Grade Students and their Parents spent a spiritual day at their Communion Retreat with Ray Boswell, better known as "The Potter". To remind our Second Graders of their First Reconciliation, Mr. Boswell used a video "The Lump" to explain how God's Love is infinite and how He is always forgiving us; no matter what we do. Then he began the process of making a Chalice out of an ordinary lump of clay, all the time reminding us of our strong connection to God.

The students then got the opportunity to decorate a Chalice of their own as a special memento of their First Holy Communion. The decorated chalices will be fired in a kiln and returned to the students later this year.

100 DAYS BRIGHTER: BUDDIES CELEBRATE 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL

Our Kindergarten and 8th Grade Buddies got together to celebrate 100 Days of School yesterday. Each Kindergarten student brought in 100 items and then counted them with their 8th grade Buddy. After they counted to 100, Mrs. Young then challenged the students and their buddies to create something with their 100 items. They certainly are all 100 days brighter and we are so very proud of our Kindergarten students and all they have accomplished in the first 100 days of school.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2017 - DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS

Friday was a very busy day indeed, as we closed out another fun-filled Catholic Schools Week. We began the day by celebrating the Academic Achievements of our Middle School students with the Blue Knights of Accomplishment Awards and Honor Roll Certificates.

After that, each grade paired up with a Buddy Class and completed a Blue Ribbon Fever Project together.

In celebration of our Faculty and Staff, our HSA provided a beautiful and delicious luncheon that was enjoyed by all.

Mrs. Borowick and some of our talented 8th Graders led the entire school in a Blue Suede Shoes dance, where we showed off our smooth dancing skills.

Sadly, like all good things, CSW2017 came to an end, as Sister Mary Louise led us in final prayers, blessings, and song, as we will always treasure the memories of our first Catholic Schools Week as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School.

Many more photos from all of the Catholic Schools Week 2017 activites are posted to the school's Facebook page. Check it out here or click the "Like us on Facebook" button on the home page.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2017 - DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS

This was the day we were waiting for all week; when we got to participate in "The Brain Show" and show off our Academic Excellence by answering questions about all different subjects, including our Catholic Faith. However, the best part was learning and dancing to all the good songs when we won. We did not know that we had such talented dancers in our school, including our teachers!

We also had a wonderful visit with Mrs. Donna Kanowitz, the Assistant Superintendent of the Diocese of Metuchen. She toured our beautiful Blue Ribbon School and joined the Tech Team in the Makerspace room for a demonstration of all the STREAM projects we are currently working on.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2017 - DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS

On Day Three of CSW 2017, Grades K-2 learned about people in need throughout the world, by watching videos from Catholic Relief Services, while the Middle School students learned what it was like to be a refugee and wrote about what they would feel like in that situation. Grades 3-5 took a guided spiritual journey through stations in the gym, where each teacher showed them a symbol and they prayed for those in need.

Later the gym was transformed into a noisy and fun-filled place, where each grade participated in the "Minute To Win Activities" provided by Ms. Hulnik. We even had teachers and parents joining in the fun too!

BAND CONCERT & AWARDS CEREMONY OPEN DAY 2 OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2017

Students, teachers, and parents gathered in the gym on the morning of Tuesday, January 31 for the opening of Day 2 of Catholic Schools Week 2017. Mr. Mallinson led the St. Augustine School Band in a performance of their current repertoire of songs which they practice every week.

Following the concert, the Blue Knights of Accomplishment from Kindergarten thru Grade 5 were recognized for their academic achievements and excellence during the Second Quarter. Congratulations to all of the award recipients!

BLUE STREAM OF SUCCESS: BRIDGE BUILDING IN EIGHTH GRADE

The 8th graders are currently immersed in a multi-curricular STREAM project where they have all taken on the role of engineers.  They are blending science and math with the art of architecture and laws of engineering to build suspension bridges out of popsicle sticks.  It might seem odd, but all of this work is being done in a social studies class.  Social studies encompasses all the areas and aspects of learning, but most importantly, integrates the human purpose behind all the great accomplishments of civilization.  In our social studies curriculum, the eighth graders learned about the rise of big cities during the new industrial age of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the connection of many unconnected areas through bridge building.  We discussed the positive effects that urbanization had on society, but also highlighted the many negative effects that showed us the human casualties involved in that era.

As Catholics, no matter subject we study, we strive to incorporate the social teachings of the Catholic Church in whatever we do.  We strive to highlight the importance of the life and dignity of every person.  We also must recognize that the basic rights of workers must be respected and that the “economy must serve the people, not the other way around.”  During this historical time period, there was a large wave of immigration to the United States and many of these new immigrants were of the Catholic faith.  They struggled to find jobs and housing and were constantly discriminated against.  Many of these immigrants worked through horrible conditions and labored constantly to build the bridges and cities that we know today, while trying to support their families and serve God.  As a result of this study, the students were able to identify the hardships of religious minorities and increase their empathy for the men, women and children who labored so hard for this country.

When the students are done carefully engineering and building their bridges, they will all test them for weight capacity.  The students will start testing their bridges at ten pound increments up to fifty pounds.  They will then increase the weight at increments of five pounds.  They will discover which suspension bridge design works best and who was able to calculate the appropriate weight distribution.  The most important realization of this project however, is not in the mechanics of the building nor the art in the architecture.  It is the fact that we are a people of faith and with that faith comes great responsibility.  As a Catholic community, we are literal and figurative bridge builders.  We are here to fulfill God’s mission by breaking down the barriers that separate us and work to unite all mankind, no matter what structure we need to build to accomplish it.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STREAM PROJECT COMBINES MATH, LANGUAGE ARTS, AND RELIGION

6th and 7th Graders worked on a Deserted Island STREAM Challenge. Students read about a group of adventurous travelers who set sail on the open seas. Unfortunately a storm hit and only one survivor was left stranded on a deserted island. Mrs. Pucci’s Math students were challenged to construct a hut for the lone survivor. The materials provided were craft sticks, straws, paper, string, cardboard, glue and tape. The hut’s area had to be less than or equal to 36 square inches. The height had to be greater than or equal to 5 inches. The structure needed to have walls, a ceiling, and a door. In addition it had to withstand a windstorm (simulated by a hair dryer). The students worked collaboratively in planning in class and at home via Google Docs. After all construction was complete, the structures were put to the wind test. Students compared results and drew conclusions based on the outcomes. They summarized the process and reflected on what worked, what didn’t, and what they might do differently next time.

Taking their interdisciplinary STREAM activity into Language Arts students read Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.” They also read diary entries from people who traveled the Oregon Trail. After reading these two texts students were able to see the struggle to survive in the American wilderness during the Gold Rush. Each student was tasked with writing a “message in a bottle” that described an imaginary adventure that left them stranded on a deserted island. Their only chance to be rescued was to tell their story by writing a message and putting it in a bottle! Currently in Religion class we are studying the 40 year journey of the Israelites to the promised land. Students were able to make connections in reading to the struggles the Israelites experienced in the desert.

2016 CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 presented their annual Christmas Program on Tuesday, December 13. This year's program was titled "Christmas Around the World," and featured traditional holiday music, dances, and Christmas carols from various countries in Europe and the Americas. All of the children sang and danced their hearts out in the true spirit of Christmas. Thanks to everyone who made this wonderful night of music possible!

EIGHTH GRADE TRIP TO THE UN: A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

On Thursday, December 1, the Eighth Grade class had the opportunity to visit the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.  What follows is an account of this extraordinary experience written by one of the school parents who volunteered to serve as a chaperone for the field trip:

“I was delighted to accompany the eighth grade students on their field trip to the UN December 1. I think they all had a good time and learned some new things. I know I did! Special thanks to Mr. M. and Sister Mary Louise for making the trip possible for our children as well as the other parent-chaperones and the wonderful St. A’s parishioner, Joan, who serves as the secretary to the UN Secretary General and was able to facilitate a private meet-and-greet opportunity with him. I think the trip will be a long-lasting memory.

What an honor and privilege it was for the students and administrators to actually meet and have a photo taken with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon! The secretary general appeared to be very relaxed and unhurried during his time with them.  He spoke to students about "the three pillars” of the UN – in the distinct areas of Human Rights, Peace and Security, and Development – and observed that the Church’s mission often runs parallel to the mission of the UN.  The secretary general mentioned that he’d met Pope Francis a number of times and he praised our Holy Father’s recent encyclical, ’Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home,’ written for all on the care of God’s creation.  And before he left the room, the UN dignitary took the time and shook every person's hand, which was most impressive.

The group enjoyed a 15-minute break and stop at the gift shop (always a hit!) before touring the UN building in the afternoon.  In addition to entering some of the large conference rooms where international meetings take place, they saw the statue of St. Agnes recovered from a cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan, following the atomic bombing there and the beautiful “Golden Rule” mosaic -- a gift to the UN from the United States, which is based on a work by American artist Norman Rockwell. My group’s tour guide, a Jordan native, was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information. The kids were engaged and asked him some good questions, too.

Before you knew it, it was time to head home.  Some of wished we had a little more time to explore. What a wonderful experience for all!  

With gratitude and thanksgiving,
Erin Friedlander”

ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL HONORED BY THE NJ STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Saint Augustine of Canterbury School was honored by the New Jersey State Department of Education at a National Blue Ribbon Schools Recognition Ceremony in Trenton on Wednesday, December 7. Pastor Father Bob Lynam, Principal Sister Mary Louise Shulas, School Advisory Council President Claudette Klimczak, and Diocese of Metuchen Associate Superintendent of Schools Donna Kanowitz were presented with a plaque recognizing St. A's as one of the ten 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools located in the state of New Jersey.

FIFTH GRADERS CREATE LIVING PRESIDENTIAL “WAX MUSEUM”

Our creative Fifth Graders completed a Research Project Report about a President or a First Lady. Then they were challenged to compose a one-minute speech and design a costume for their historical figure. Their speech had to include facts about the person before they became President/First Lady, during their time in office, and what happened to them after they left the White House. However, the most impressive, was when these Fifth Graders transformed our gym into a Living Presidential Wax Museum and made the Presidents and First Ladies come alive. They stood as wax figures, frozen until their imaginary button was pressed and brought them to life and they became their historical figure. Sister Mary Louise, the faculty and parents who attended this event were amazed at the professionalism of our Fifth graders; from the speeches, to the costumes, as well as their poise, speaking and acting ability. We say BRAVO FIFTH GRADE! Your stars were shining brightly this day.

KINDERGARTEN PARENT DAY

On Monday, November 14th, our Kindergarten Parents joined their children in celebrating Thanksgiving by participating in several holiday-themed activities. The cafeteria soon filled up with so many donations for our food pantry that it looked like Stop and Shop! Thank you to all who so generously donated to those in need. Another service project that the families participated in was to complete a craft which was a Thanksgiving frame for the Nursing Home Residents. In Language Arts, they completed a pie writing project, showing off their newly learned writing skills. For Social Studies, they made Native American necklaces and Pilgrim hats. However the most impressive project was the STEM activity in which the families built Native American structures using marshmallows, spaghetti, paper, and pipe cleaners. The creativity and critical thinking skills they exhibited and designs that the students built were just incredible. Looks like some future engineers and architects are in our KIndergarten Class of 2025!

GERM AWARENESS CONTEST TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO STAY HEALTHY

Congratulations to our Germ Awareness Contest Winners sponsored by our School Nurse, Mrs. Hermosilla. Students learned about the various kinds of germs they might encounter at school and at home and the best ways to keep those germs from making them sick. Then they were asked to create a germ of their own, describing what illness it might cause and drawing what it would look like. As you can see they are all very proud of their Germs! Now don't forget to wash your hands and keep the real germs away!!

AGENTS OF MERCY ANTI-BULLYING ASSEMBLY

On Halloween all of our students gathered in the gym to learn how they could become Agents Of Mercy In the World by renewing our anti-bullying pledge from our Diocesan Good God Choices Program and to always be an Upstander and to support each other with Kindness, Mercy, and Grace!

STREAM SPOTLIGHT: THE MARSHMALLOW CHALLENGE

Students across the country were invited to participate in the Marshmallow Challenge, a STEM activity hosted by educator Jen Wagner.  St. Augustine 6th Grade students happily accepted the invitation.  We modified the activity a bit, making it a STREAM lesson, incorporating Religion and Art.  In Mrs. Falk’s Language Arts Class, students listed to the Story The Marshmallow Incident, written by Judi Barrett.  Students discussed elements of the story such as problem and solution.  They also made text to text and text to self connections.  In Mrs. Pucci’s Math Class, students used spaghetti, string, and masking tape to work collaboratively to construct a free-standing tower that could support a marshmallow on top.  Pre-planning was critical.  Students discovered that the important elements were a supportive base and reinforced support beams.  They also discovered that using triangles in their structure added to its strength.  In Mrs. Falk’s and Mrs. Pucci’s Religion classes, students discussed elements of the story and how they apply to our own lives.  In the story, two towns were divided by a line that separated the right handed people from the left handed people.  Students related this to times in our own lives when we use our differences to divide us.  We know that we are called to be followers of Jesus and make Good God Choices.  We are all made in God’s image.

SIXTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSES PUT A NEW SPIN ON BOOK REPORTS

6th Grade created game boards as part of their first marking period book report. Students used pictures from the setting, and events from the book to showcase the book they read. Both 6th grade classes used creativity in producing their gameboards! Great work 6R and 6X!

PRE-K 4 TEDDY BEAR TEA PARTY!

Mrs. Dwyer's and Mrs. Pullen's Pre-K 4 students held a tea party with their favorite Teddy bears. Surprise special guests Principal Sister Mary Louise and Vice Principal Mr. Modzelewski stopped by to take part in the festivities as well.

GYM CLASSES GET INTO THE ‘SPIRIT’ OF HALLOWEEN

During the week leading up to Halloween, students in gym class got an early treat (or was it a trick?): Halloween BINGO! Physical education teacher Ms. Hulnik broke each class into teams of two and gave each team a Halloween-themed BINGO card and marker. The teams were instructed to go any of the many activity stations set up around the gym and uncover the card hidden under a cone at the station. Both team members then had to perform the activity written on the card, after which they could turn over the card to reveal which symbol to mark on their BINGO card. Teams proceeded from station to station until they achieved a BINGO. The catch? If they went back to a station they had already done, they still had to perform the activity again. ("Gee, thanks, Miss H.!") Everyone had a great time and got a good workout in the process. Happy Halloween!

STEM WITH "THE RUNAWAY PUMPKIN"

The students in Ms. Fama's 4th Grade class listened to the story “The Runaway Pumpkin.” They then collaborated to answer the question “Will a higher incline make your pumpkin roll farther?” The groups worked together to design their inclines using textbooks and measure the height. Our next step was to test the incline, the pumpkin was rolled three times and the distance the pumpkin traveled was measured and recorded. In closing students answered question explaining how the height affected the distance the pumpkin rolled and how the design could be improved. Everyone had fun!

LIFE: IT'S OUR ONLY CHOICE

For the month of October, our Sixth Grade students learned that ALL life is precious and that Mary, The Queen of the Holy Rosary answers our prayers for the helpless and the hopeless of our world. They integrated Technology and our Faith, by completing two Respect Life projects; creating Word Clouds with Pro-Life words, and heartfelt prayers to Mary.

OCTOBER PUMPKIN PRESIDENTS AND FIRST LADIES

Our Second Grade students read a biography of either a President or a First Lady and then decorated a pumpkin in their likeness. We congratulate them for their creativity in their designs!

HONORING OUR VETERANS

Our 7th and 8th Grade students had the privilege of speaking with Veterans of WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Mr. Modzelewski told the students that the stories and information they were hearing from our Vets was "a living history of our country, and could never be learned from reading a textbook." The students were captivated and attentive when each Vet told their story, and they were provided with information from primary sources in a real and meaningful way that they can now apply to the Social Studies Curriculum.

1ST GRADE STEM ACTIVITY HONORS ST. FRANCIS

To honor St. Francis on October 4th, the students in Mrs. O'Donnell's First Grade class brought in their favorite stuffed animal. They used cubes to measure the animal's arms, legs and head and recorded their results on paper. Finally, they shared their answers with the class.

BISHOP CHECCHIO'S PASTORAL VISIT TO ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH AND SCHOOL

St. A's students and their families welcomed Bishop Checchio to our Parish on Sunday, October 9. Visit our Facebook page to see more photos from this historic event!

KINDERGARTEN & 1ST GRADE STUDENTS CELEBRATE FIRE SAFETY / PREVENTION WEEK

Our Kindergarten students had a visit from Fire Deputy Chief Wournell, who talked to them about Fire Safety, and the importance of always changing your batteries in your smoke alarms, and that Firemen can be our "Trusted Adults" and friends if we need them. They also used Technology to reinforce this lesson and completed "The Sparky Says" game and earned a Fire Safety Badge from Sparky the Fire Dog in Computer Class. The First Grade students also learned about Fire Safety and read an interactive story with Sparky and activities using the iPads. 

5TH GRADE PARENTS DAY TURNS INTO MAKER DAY!

On October 24, the 5th Grade Students and their Parents came together to collaborate on different stations involving Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science; but it quickly turned into a Maker Day, when the students and their families used our littleBits and Snap Circuit Jr. kits at the Science station to create, invent, and make. They also visited the Language Arts station where they chose the correct parts of speech to complete a story. At the Social Studies station, they used their Chromebooks to log into their Discovery Education account and create an interactive board about a Native American group they have learned about. Lastly,at the Math station, using their Chromebooks again, they completed a Carmen Sandiego assignment on their Go Math account. Not only did the students get to share their love of learning with their parents; they also got to share a sweet treat snack with them as well.

4B SINGS THE CAUSE AND EFFECT SONG

The students in Ms. Fama's class are learning about cause and effect. They had fun singing the Cause & Effect song.

A BLUE RIBBON DAY BECOMES A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
(Celebration of Joy and Mercy)

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 was a memorable day for our school community and guests gathered at the invitation in the gym for an assembly by Very Reverend Canon Robert G. Lynam, Pastor for an historic announcement.

Most Reverend James Checchio, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, The Honorable Frank Gambatese,  Mayor of South Brunswick, Councilman Joseph Camarota, Sr. Ascenza Tizzano, Provincial Superior of the Religious Teachers Filippini, who staff the school, Ellen Ayoub, Superintendent of the Diocese of Metuchen, Donna Kanowitz, Assistant Superintendent of the Diocese of Metuchen, Reverend Monsignor Michael Corona, Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Metuchen, Father Edmund Luciano, Director, Youth and Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Metuchen, Class of 1997, Deacon Denis Mayer, retired Physical Ed Teacher in Piscataway School District, former and interim Principals, Sister Alice Swartz, Mary Kedian and Kathy Lakarosky, and religious sisters of the Parish and staff were among the invited guests.

The Announcement Ceremony began with opening remarks by the school’s Principal, Sister Mary Louise Shulas, MPF, followed by the school community reciting their Mission Statement, followed by song, “God Bless Our Catholic Schools.” (Words written by Sister Barbara O’Kane, former Vice Principal, and sung to the tune of “God Bless America.”)

The auditorium echoed with the sounds of joyful music and song by the students, accompanied by the school’s Music Director and music teacher, William Berg and Elena Shirman.

The moment arrived when John B. King, Secretary of the United States Department of Education, appeared on the large screen via YouTube explaining, “What is a Blue Ribbon School?” and who the 329 schools were. As the state’s Blue Ribbon Schools were shown the anticipation heightened for the entire school community, pastor, principal, parents and invited guests, faculty, staff and students (Pre-K 3-Grade 8) with blue hand-made streamers in hand and bags of blue confetti were ready.  Everyone jumped up and burst into sounds of joy and warm words of pride.

Click here to see Secretary King's announcement of the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools
(St. Augustine of Canterbury School is recognized at 13:41)

Then the Bishop of Metuchen appeared via Skype on the Aquos Board with a wide welcoming and a congratulatory smile and words, as spectacular banners (designed by our Pastor, Father Bob) unfurled on either side of the auditorium.  The outside of the school is now adorned by them. (Photo of Bishop Checchio in his office courtesy of Erin Friedlander, Diocese of Metuchen Office of Communications.)

The assembly ended with shouts of joy to the song, “Celebrate.”  On Thursday, the celebration continued with free lunch and a make you own sundae, all thanks to Father Bob.

A historic announcement that confirmed and affirmed that St.A’s is an extraordinary school with extraordinary teaching and learning supported by an extraordinary community.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

St. Augustine School held its annual Back to School Night on Thursday, September 15. Teachers worked very hard to prepare creative displays for the Elementary and Middle School hallways and also in their classrooms.

Principal Sister Mary Louise Shulas, MPF opened the evening with prayer, then introduced new Home School Association President Leilani Okamura and new Vice Principal Edward Modzelewski.

Parents of students in Pre-K 3 to Grade 5 were invited into their children's classrooms for individual presentations by the teachers, while parents of Grades 6 to 8 remained in the gym for presentations by the Middle School teachers.

Thanks to all of the parents who attended, and to all whose hard work and dedication make the evening a great success!

FOURTH GRADE KICKS OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH STEM

This first day of school Ms. Fama’s fourth grade class participated in a Card Tower STEM project. Students were assigned to groups of 3. Then each group received a deck of 52 cards. The rules were simple: everyone must participate, treat everyone and their ideas with respect, and stay in one spot. They would have 15 minutes to build a tower together and there would be awards for the tallest, widest, and most creative towers. Then they set off to work. Students worked cooperatively and were supportive of their classmates’ achievements.

MEMORIES FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - SEPTEMBER 6, 2016!