SReaching for Excellence

51 WEST CLIFF STREET � SOMERVILLE, NJ 08876 � (908) 218-4101 � FAX (908) 526-9668 � www.somervillenjk12.org

VOL. 22 NO. 3 SPRING 2013

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICTReview

INSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUE

Harlem Wizards . . . . . . . . . . 8

Paul Robeson AchievementAwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Kids Bicycle Safety. . . . . . 4 - 5

Read Across America . . . 6 & 9

TEEN SAFE DRIVING - PROM AND GRADUATIONigh school students across America look forward to spring. The end of the

school year is quickly approaching andmany of them will be attending their school’sprom and graduation ceremonies. While this isexciting for teens, it can be a very scary time forparents, who are worried about their teen’s safety.

Often, parents’biggest concern isthat their teensarrive home safelyfrom whereverthey’ve been.According to theU.S. Departmentof Transportation,5,202 teens areinjured and 48are killed in automobile crashes during a typicalprom weekend, so it’s no surprise parentsbecome nervous about safe driving during thesemonths.

H There are many reasons why the risk of teensbeing involved in automobile accidents duringthis time is increased. One is the additional peerpressure associated with the events themselves.In a 2005 survey conducted by Chrysler Groupand MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving),more than half of the teen respondents reported

feeling pressureto drive care-lessly duringprom and graduationnight activities.

Anotherexplanation isthe presence ofalcohol and thepressure onteens to con-

sume it. In the same 2005 study, 74 percent ofthe teens reported feeling pressure to drink during activities surrounding prom and gradua-tion, while 44 percent reported pressure eitherto drive after consuming alcohol or to ride in acar with someone who had been drinking alcohol on prom and/or graduation night.

An increase in distractions is third cause forthe increase in the number of teen auto fatalitiesthat occur between the middle of April and themiddle of June. Accidents can occur any timestudents are distracted and 80 percent of carcrashes are related to driver inattention. Teensare more likely to carpool or ride with friends onprom and/or graduation night and the likelihooda teenage driver will be distracted increases witheach additional passenger in the car.

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SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 2

There are numerous ways parents can better prepare themselves for this time of year andensure their teen is arriving safely at and homefrom prom and graduation. Here are some important tips about safe driving parents shouldconsider as these weekends approach:

Hire a chauffeur or rent a limoHire a chauffeur or rent a limoConsider hiring a driver or renting a limo for yourteen and his or her date, or the large group offriends. An adult has more experience behind thewheel and more experience driving at night. Youcan instruct the driver to only take your teen to des-ignated locations you have approved. Make sure thedriver has your phone number and ask that he orshe call you if an incident occurs.

Limit the number of passengersLimit the number of passengersIf your teen is driving, or riding with a date, limit thenumber of passengers allowed in the car. This willreduce the number of distractions on the driver, aswell as potential peer pressure from other teens.Remind your teen of the dangers of being distractedand how important it is for the driver to concentrateand remain focused.

Encourage seatbelt useEncourage seatbelt useAccording to the U.S. Department of Transportation,70 percent of teens killed in auto accidents duringprom weekends were not wearing seat belts. Sharethis statistic with your teen and encourage her orhim to wear a seatbelt.

Know your teen’s plansKnow your teen’s plansMake sure you know where your teen will be andwhen. Is he or she going to dinner before the promand, if so, what restaurant? The majority of teendeaths on prom night occur in a car driven byanother teen, so it’s important that you know whois driving and whether or not that person is a safedriver who is committed to being sober. Where isthe prom being held? Contact the school and findout what teachers and school officials will be inattendance; also, obtain a phone number for the

location of the prom or a teacher who will be pres-ent. Make sure you know where your teen will beafter the prom and what time he or she will bearriving there.

Keep in contactKeep in contactIf your teen has a cell phone, make sure it is charged. Ask thathe or she call tocheck in with youat designated timesthroughout thenight … and besure to be availablefor the call. Makesure your teenknows you areonly a phone call away and that you will pick himor her up if the need arises — no matter how late itis. If your teen gets into a dangerous situation or onethat makes him or her feel uncomfortable, be surethere is a designated individual your teen can callfor help or for a safe ride home.

Know your teen’s date, prom group,Know your teen’s date, prom group,and friends’ parentsand friends’ parentsAsk for the cell phone number of your teen’s dateand/or some phone numbers for other people inthe prom group. If your teen plans on being at afriend’s house either before or after the prom,know where he or she will be. Find out if the eventwill be supervised by another parent or responsibleadult. In 2001, more than half of youths under theage of 21 who were killed in alcohol-related fatali-ties died during prom and graduation season (mid-April to mid-June). Be sure to speak with thesupervising adult prior to the event and ask if alcohol will be available.

Talk with your teenTalk with your teenInstead of talking to your teen, talk with your teen.Tell him or her you know it is an important nightand you want it to be fun, but you also want tomake sure it will be a safe night. Reason with yourteen and work together to set clear rules you bothunderstand and agree to. Place emphasis on gooddecision making; showing you trust your teen’sjudgment makes him or her more likely to exhibitresponsible behavior.�

For more information about teen driving, visit www.putonthebrakes.org

PROM AND GRADUATION < < < < continued from page 1

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 3STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT PAUL ROBESONYOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS RECEPTIONotivational speaker Nashad L. Warfieldwas the keynote speaker at RaritanValley Community College’s (RVCC)

23rd Annual Paul Robeson YouthAchievement Awards reception held on March11, 2013. The awards, sponsored by the PaulRobeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, andSocial Justice at RVCC, are named in honor ofPaul Robeson, a Princeton native who grew upin Somerville and graduated from SomervilleHigh School and Rutgers University. The awardswere established in 1990 to honor outstandingAfrican American high school and middleschool students from Somerset and Hunterdoncounties who have excelled in the areas thatRobeson gained prominence: Scholarship, theArts, Community Service, and Athletics. Paul Robeson was a son of an escaped slave

who rose from humble beginnings to become asuperior athlete, scholar, orator and linguist,and a star in theater, film, and on the concertstage. Paul Robeson was an outspoken and controversial advocate of civil rights for AfricanAmericans. In the 1950s, during the McCarthy

era, he was persecuted for his political ideasand prevented from working. His passport wasrevoked for 8 years because the U.S. govern-ment considered his activities in the 1930s and‘40s treasonable. Throughout Paul Robeson’scareer, he remained convinced that “art canbridge the gulf between white and black races.”Paul Robeson died in Philadelphia in 1976 atthe age of 77.Close to 40 students were nominated for

awards by their guidance counselors, teachers,and administrators. A special committee ofRVCC faculty and administrators selected theaward recipients. Eighteen middle and highschool students from Somerset and Hunterdoncounties were honored this year for theirachievements.�

The following Somerville High School studentsreceived special recognition:

� Arts — Doris Doku� Athletics — Alexis Knowles� Community Service — Leslie Westbrook

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Alexis Knowles Leslie WestbrookMyra Knowles, middleschool nominee

VAN DERVEER CELEBRATES MUSICVan Derveer School was filledwith sound as music was cele-brated around the nation.March 12thmarked the begin-ning of Music in the SchoolsWeek. Sponsored by theNational Association for MusicEducation, the event focusesschools’ attention on the needfor and benefits of qualitymusic education programs.Van Derveer celebrated withcreative activities and events, including live

performances by SomervilleHigh School, SomervilleMiddle School, and VanDerveer Elementary Schoolbands. The week also includ-ed mini-concerts in the morn-ing and afternoonannouncements introducingmusic genres. The celebrationculminated with the annualVan Derveer Variety Show.The Variety Show showcased

the various talents of the students of Van Derveer.�

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 4KIDS AND BICYCLE SAFETY

— Bicycle riding is fun, healthy, and a great way to be independent.

— But it is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it’s a vehicle!

— Be cool – follow some basic safety tips when you ride.

Safe Riding TipsBefore using your bicycle, make sure it is readyto ride. You should always inspect your bike tomake sure all parts are secure and workingproperly.

Remember to:

Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet.Protect your brain, save your life. But rememberthat simply wearing a helmet is not enough.Your child has to wear it correctly for it to keephim/her safe. You should choose a bike helmetthat meets current safety standards.

Other tips to help you select and correctly use abike helmet include that you should:

� Start children wearing helmets with theirfirst tricycles or play vehicles.

� Be sure your helmet is safety approved by the Consumer Product SafetyCommission (CPSC). This informationcan be found on the packaging of a newhelmet.

� Use foam pads inside to fit the helmetsnugly so it doesn’t move on the head.

� Fit the helmet so the front is just above the top of the eyebrows.

� Teach your child to wear a helmet so thatit covers the upper part of the foreheadand sits level on the head.

� Adjust the two side straps so they meetin a “V” right under each ear.

� Adjust the chin strap snugly under the chin. You should only be able to fit twofingers from your eyebrow to the brim of the helmet and two fingers under thechin strap.

� Make it tight enough so the helmet pulls down when the child opens his/hermouth.

� Check often to make sure straps stay snug and the helmet stays level on thehead.

For more information see the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration publication, “Easy Steps toProperly Fit a Bicycle Helmet.”

Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over yourbicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches betweenyou and the top tube (bar) if using a road bikeand 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. Theseat should be level front to back. The seatheight should be adjusted to allow a slight bendat the knee when the leg is fully extended. Thehandlebar height should be at the same levelwith the seat.

Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflatetires properly and check that your brakes work.

See and Be Seen.Whether daytime, dawn,dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to beseen by others. Wearing white has not beenshown to make you more visible. Rather, alwayswear neon, f luorescent, or other bright colorswhen riding day or night. Also wear somethingthat reflects light, such as reflective tape ormarkings, or f lashing lights. Remember, justbecause you can see a driver doesn’t mean thedriver can see you.

Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with atleast one hand on the handlebars. Carry booksand other items in a bicycle carrier or back-pack.

Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be onthe lookout for hazards such as potholes, bro-ken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. Allthese hazards can cause a crash. If you are rid-ing with friends and you are in the lead, yell outand point to the hazard to alert the ridersbehind you.

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SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 5

Avoid Riding at Night. It is far more danger-ous to ride at night than during the day becauseyou are harder for others to see. If you have toride at night, wear something that makes youmore easily seen by others. Make sure you havereflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle(white lights on the front and red rear reflectorsare required by law in many states), in additionto reflectors on your tires, so others can seeyou.

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injuryor death are associated with the bicyclist’sbehavior, including such things as not wearing

a bicycle hel-met, ridinginto a streetwithout stop-ping, turningleft or swerv-ing into trafficthat is comingfrom behind,running a

stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic.To maximize your safety, always wear a helmetAND follow the rules of the road.

Rules of the Road – Bicycling on the Road

Bicycles in many states are considered vehicles,and cyclists have the same rights and the sameresponsibilities to follow the rules of the road asmotorists. When riding, always:

Go with the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right inthe same direction as other vehicles. Go withthe flow – not against it.

Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicleand you’re a driver. When you ride in the street,obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. Almostalways, drivers on a smaller road must yield(wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. Ifthere is no stop sign or traffic signal and you arecoming from a smaller roadway (out of a drive-way, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), youmust slow down and look to see if the way isclear before proceeding. This also means yield-ing to pedestrians who have already entered acrosswalk.

Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not inand out of cars. Signal your moves to others.

Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes ANDears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anythingthat could make you lose control of your bike.You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headsetwhen you ride.

Look Before Turning. When turning left orright, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn.Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough outfrom the curb to avoid the unexpected fromparked cars (like doors opening or cars pullingout).

Sidewalk versus Street Riding

The safest place for bicycle riding is on thestreet, where bicycles are expected to followthe same rules of the road as motorists and ridein the same direction.

Children less than 10 years old, however, arenot mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street. Childrenless than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.

For anyone riding on a sidewalk:

Check the law in your state or jurisdictionto make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.

Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.

Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets tolook for cars and to make sure the driverssee you before crossing.

Enter a street at a corner and not betweenparked cars.

Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.�

For more information on bicycle safety, visit theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) Web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Article reprinted with permission of:

Department of Transportation

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KIDS AND BICYCLE SAFETY

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 6VDV CELEBRATES READ ACROSS AMERICAVan Derveer School commemorated Dr. Seuss’birthday with a week-long Read Across Americacelebration. Studentswere engaged in various reading activ-ities, including usingtheir inferencingskills to identifyitems based onclues. Each morning,a mystery readerfrom the staff readan excerpt from aDr. Seuss book. Thestudent who couldsuccessfully identifythe mystery readerwas rewarded with a prize. Other events thattook place during the week included a school-

wide read aloud of “Green Eggs and Ham” byMrs. Haynes and Mr. Diaz, buddy classes reading

together, and across-curricularconnection con-sisting of a fishbowl estimation.The week wasculminated onFriday, March1st, with a com-munity celebra-tion. Over 50members of theSomerville com-munity andSomerset Countycame to Van

Derveer to read to students and share how theyuse reading in their everyday lives.�

SHS STUDENT RECOGNIZEDFOR ARTWORK

ongratulations to Somerville High School senior, Kaitlin Marino, for having her Vitruvian Danceartwork chosen torepresent highschool level students inSomerset County.Kaitlin was one ofsix students chosen inSomerset Countyto have her art-work on display atthe State ArtExhibit in Trenton.Kaitlin also

received a secondplace certificate for her award-winning photo inthe manipulated photography category by theduCrete School of Art in Plainfield. The duCreteSchool of Art only accepts high school juniors’and seniors’ artwork to exhibit.�

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Picture L-R Genecie Camacho, anAENJ Committee Member, KaitlinMarino, and Lisa Conklin, SHS ArtTeacher.

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 7TWEETIN’ TUESDAYS Van Derveer staff members have started to gettogether every Tuesday via Twitter to discussimportant topics in education. Twitter is anonline social networking service and microblog-ging service that enables its users to send andread text-based messages of up to 140 charac-ters known as“tweets.” UsingTwitter, everyTuesday from8:15 to 8:40a.m. topicssuch as literacy,differentiatedinstruction,and classroommanagementhave beenshared usingthe hash tag#vdvchat.Tweetin’Tuesdays has made the learning process mean-ingful, relevant, applicable, and convenient forour staff. The goal of #vdvchat is to provideopportunities for our educators “to do what wedo, better.”�

PRESCHOOL TEACHERS PERFORM GOLDILOCKSAND THE THREE BEARS

reschool teachers demonstrated theirthespian talents at the Barnes and Noble

Book Fair organized and promoted by theSomerville PreK - grade 8 PTO on Thursday,March 7th. Teachers from Van Derveer and thePreschool volunteered their time for thefundraiser and reading to the students and parents who came for a night ofstorytelling—and buying books! Narrated bypreschool teacher Karen Palmer and acted outby colleagues Jannette Coco, Katie Parsells,Deirdre Rajoppi, and Laura Hennessey, thestory of Goldilocks and the Three Bears cameto life for the crowd! Be on the lookout formore drama in the months to come as thisgroup of actresses rehearses for their next bigperformance!�

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SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013 8HARLEM WIZARDS DAZZLE

CROWDS AT SHShe Junior Class was excited to host the

Harlem Wizards at Somerville High Schoolon March 12th at 7:00 p.m. New York sportspromoter, Howie Davis, created the HarlemWizards in 1962 to deliver awe-inspiringfundraising events. At the Wizards game, fansexperienced amazing basketball talent withhilarious comedy. It was a great evening offun and excitement as Somerville HighSchool, Somerville Middle School, and VanDerveer Elementary School staff partneredwith the Somerville Police Department to takeon the Wizards. The funds raised will be used for pre-prom assembly speakers and events, as well asprom vouchers, favors, and decorations.�

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*Branchburg Board of Education Representative

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVIEW SPRING 2013

Van Derveer Elementary School...........................................218-4105Grades K–5 — Susan Haynes, Principal

Somerville Middle School..........................................................218-4107Grades 6–8 — Georgette Boulegeris, Principal

Somerville High School ..............................................................218-4108Grades 9–12 — Gerard T. Foley, Interim Principal

Dr. Timothy J. Purnell, Superintendent of Schools.....................218-4101

Mr. Al Kerestes, President

Ms. Linda Olsen, Vice President

Mr. James Adamec

Mr. Norman Chin

Mr. Kenneth Cornell

Mr. Dennis Garot

Mr. John Prudente

Mr. Daniel Puntillo, Jr.

Mr. Lucien Sergile

*Mr. David Rehe

2012-2013 Board Of Education Members

Questions? Suggestions?Call the Somerville Schools HOTLINE at 908 243-1598.

Guaranteed Response Within 24 Hours.

Reaching for Excellence51 WEST CLIFF STREET � SOMERVILLE, NJ 08876 � (908) 218-4101 � FAX (908) 526-9668 � www.somervillenjk12.org

VOL. 22 NO. 3 SPRING 2013

SOMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICTReview

District Policies Available on the Website

Parents/guardians can access district policies on the district website at www.somervillenjk12.org.

Amendments to the district’s policies are subject to periodic changesrequired by the State of New Jersey

and will be posted on the district’s website.

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The National Education Association is build-ing a nation of readers through its signatureprogram, NEA’s Read Across America. Nowin its 16thyear, this year-round pro-gram focuseson motivatingchildren andteens to readthroughevents, partnerships, and reading resources.�

“You’re never too old,too wacky, too wild, topick up a book andread with a child.”

ABOUT NEA’S READ ACROSS AMERICA