SAC’S CORNER

The role of our District Student Assistance

Coordinator is to assist with in-service training for

faculty and staff, review policy and curriculum, and

provide counseling and referral services for students—

all related to substance use and abuse.

September kicked off the 2014-2015 school year with

Administrative Town Hall meetings for all students in

grades 6-12. Mrs. Lacovara presented to each grade

level introducing herself, her role, and reviewing the

New Jersey Harassment, Intimidation, and/or Bullying

law.

October was a jam-packed month! In addition to all of

the hard academic work in the classrooms and

competitive spirit on our athletic fields, students were

immersed in activities surrounding Week of Respect,

School Violence Awareness week, Red Ribbon week, and

Halloween Safety.

With November bringing our first marking quarter to a

close, plans are being made to host Mix-It-Up day for

our sixth graders. Mix-It-Up is a program that

solidifies the message about getting to know someone

and appreciating his/her differences. Students will

“mix up” their lunch tables and, with a high school

mentor, get to know new peers!

Week of Respect 2014

started off with a school-

wide “Hands Across the

Woo” event. All students in

grades 6-12, staff, and

faculty gathered around the

stadium track to hold hands

and celebrate their respect

for one another. Seniors

Josh Byarm, Lisa Atkinson,

and Junior, Kendal Lacovara

read student written and

famous quotes regarding

respect over the loud

speaker while students

entered the stadium.

Everyone enjoyed

dancing and singing along to

Aretha Franklin’s, Respect.

More about Week of Respect on Page 2

Inside this issue:

Week of Respect

continued

2

School Violence

Awareness Week

2

Red Ribbon week 2

Halloween Safety 3

Congratulations

Bless Arrison

3

Bullying Tips 4

Domestic Violence

Facts

4

Week of Respect 2014

Donna Lacovara

District Student Assistance Coordinator

November 2014

Volume 1, Issue 1

Sophomores Nayshon Obey and Kah’Von

Thomas-Powell start the year off strong!

Class of 2017 Secretary Jamie Esters

is all smiles!

Sixth graders and their teachers show their respect! From

Left: Chris Costroff, Mr. O’Leary, Jordan Pendleton, Kiarra

Norton, Miss Lockett, and Gabe Lavender

Useful websites:

www.stopbullying.gov

http://

www.state.nj.us/

education/students/

safety/behavior/hib/

In addition to our kick-off, Junior-

Senior High students were provided

with the opportunity to enter an essay

contest. Students had to define

respect, explain the importance of self

-respect, and share ideas to make

Woodbury Schools an even more

enjoyable place. Winners were treated

to a take-out lunch and will be honored

at the November 19, 2014 Board of

Education meeting. Our Junior High

winner is 8th grader, Hayley Lomas and

our High School winner is 10th grader

Jaquan Solomon.

On October 8, 2014, Guinness World

Record Holder Strongman, Jon

Pritikin, from The Youth Alliance

presented to every student in the

district.

Jon shared his talent by rolling up a

frying pan with his bare hands and,

more importantly, shared his own

story about being bullied as a child and

how he uses those events to become

the man he is today. Jon also

presented at an evening community

event that was well attended.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon week kicked off this year

with a poster contest for students in

grades 5-12. A winner from each

school was chosen! Winners had

their submission created into a

poster that is on display in each of

their schools and will be honored at

the November 19, 2014 Board of

Education meeting where each will

receive an anti-drug goodie bag.

Sixth graders joined in by signing an

anti-drug pledge during lunch.

School Violence Awareness week was held

the third week in October. Junior and

Senior high students took the time during

their English classes to submit questions

to our School Resource Officer, Brian

Boucher. Ptl. Boucher answered each

question posed and several were chosen

to be read aloud during morning

announcements.

This year, Junior High students attended

an assembly with Detective Brian

Perticari who reviewed Internet Safety

and cyber bullying. Students left

School Violence Awareness Week

Week of Respect - Continued

SAC’S CORNER Page 2

Pictured right: Jon Pritikin and

Junior, Te’Annyha Jenkins-Russ

Pictured above: Jillian Loyden and the

WHS Girls’ Varsity Soccer team

West End Winner:

Dani Sulzman

Evergreen Winner:

Savannah Giangrasso

Walnut Winner:

Maggie McCumber

Jr. High Winner: Caitlin McGeehan

High School winner: Zaria LoMonico

that they deserve the best and that

their voice counts!

excited to share are the phrase “pause

before you post” and their knowledge

about the do’s and don’ts regarding

social media.

High School students were guests at our

“Every Voice Counts” assembly featuring

recently retired US Women’s Soccer

team member, Jillian Loyden. The

founder of The Jillian Loyden Foundation, Jill shared the story about

her sister , Britton’s death at the hands

of domestic violence. Students were

made aware of some of the signs

domestic violence and were reassured

This year, National Honor Society

students: Lisa Atkinson, Kevin Tierney,

Joshlyn Christopher, Sabrina Pantoja,

Justin Vera, Bless Arrison, and Andrew

Sennett, along with NHS advisor,

Michele Sokolovic; SAC, Donna Lacovara;

and SRO Brian Boucher visited our three

elementary schools and presented

Halloween Safety tips via classroom

visits. Students were left with a safety

tip card and a “treat” to remind them of

their visit from the “big kids” at the

High School.

Halloween Safety

The Jillian Loyden Foundation provides

means through scholarship grants to

deserving young adults. Their first two

sponsored scholarships are the Fearless

Hero scholarship and the Britton Loyden

scholarship. Recipients embody what it

means to be fearless in the face of

adversity. They take the unfavorable

circumstances of their lives and rise

above with a relentless pursuit of their

dreams. A college education will empower

them to make not only an impact on their

lives but the lives of the people around

them. Recipients apply and are selected

by the foundation directors.

The Jillian Loyden Foundation

The recipient of the Fearless Hero

Award receives $1,000.00 per semester

for four years of college at an accredited

institution.

This year, Woodbury Senior, and Varsity

Soccer Player, Bless Arrison has been

awarded the Fearless Hero award by Jillian

Loyden. Bless will be honored at the 2nd

Annual Break the Silence Gala sponsored by

the Jillian Loyden Foundation on November

15, 2014.

Jillian Loyden gives back…

Congratulations Senior Bless Arrison!

“Receiving The Jillian Loyden

Foundation Scholarship is

indescribable. This will help

me significantly in achieving

my future goals. It is

reflective of just how far I’ve

come. I can’t thank Jillian

enough.”

Bless Arrison

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

According to Stopbully.gov, the following are signs that might indicate a child is being bullied.

Unexplainable injuries;

Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry;

Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking

illnesses;

Changes in eating habits, like binge eating or skipping meals;

Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares

Declining grades, loss of interest in school work, not wanting to go to school;

Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations;

Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem;

Self-destructive behaviors

If you notice drastic changes in your child, please contact his/her counselor

Safety Net November 2014

An estimated 1.3 million women

are victims of physical assault by

an intimate partner each year.

Most cases of domestic violence

are never reported to the police.

Witnessing violence between one’s

parents or caretaker’s is the

strongest risk factor for

transmitting violent behavior

from one generation to the next.

1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men

have been stalked in their

lifetime.

Less than one-fifth of victims

reporting an injury from intimate

partner violence sought medical

treatment following the injury

*Provided by The Jillian Loyden

Domestic violence is the willful

intimidation, physical assault, batter,

sexual assault, and/or other abusive

behavior perpetrated by an intimate

partner against another. It is an

epidemic affecting individuals in every

community, regardless of age,

economic status, race, religion,

nationality or educational background.

Violence against women is often

accompanied by emotionally abusive

and controlling behavior, and thus is

part of a systematic pattern of

dominance and control. Domestic

violence results in physical injury,

psychological trauma, and sometimes

death. The consequences of domestic

violence can cross generations and

truly last a lifetime.

Foundation

Donna Lacovara

Student Assistance

Coordinator

Woodbury City Public Schools

25 N. Broad Street

Woodbury, NJ 08096

Phone: 856-853-0123, extension 251

Fax: 856-853-2684

E-mail: dlacovara@woodburysch.com

Domestic Violence Facts