Deborah G. Wood,
Principal
45 Breakey Avenue,
Monticello, NY 12701
(845) 796-3058
Robert J. Kaiser Middle School "A school-wide community dedicated to inspiring
academic
excellence, citizenship and life-long learning."
The Boys & Girls
Club Free Car
Wash & Spring Celebration,
Friday, May 30, 3-5 p.m.,
St. John Street Education Center parking
lot. Event includes bake sale, raffles, music, fresh
lemonade and more! Donations accepted. Rain date Friday, June 6.
The Boys & Girls
Club Talent Show,
Friday, June 20, 6
p.m.,
St. John Street Education Center.
Admission $1.
RJK Middle School
newspaper honored for excellence
The American Scholastic Press Association recently announced the
winners of its Annual
Review and Contest Awards for scholastic newspapers. Robert J.
Kaiser Middle School’s RJK WORD Newspaper was awarded Second
Place, one of only four middle schools in the country in the
500-1,000 enrollment bracket to receive this prestigious award.
The two categories cited for excellence are Creativity and
Editing.
Editor-in-Chief Kristen Druse and Assistant Editor Rachelle
Walker (pictured) expressed gratitude and pride at this
recognition. For the first time, they have made the newspaper
available on-line on the Monticello Central School District
website.
Members of the RJK WORD Newspaper staff include: Kaitlyn Isaksen,
Simcha Glassman, Emma Laufersweiler, Lauren Mathis, Jessica
Nesin, Safiya Osisami, May Rosario, Billy Smith, Reymond Cerda
and Larissa Roussos.
Ms. Deborah Wood, principal of Robert J. Kaiser Middle School,
complimented the staff for their outstanding achievement. Mrs.
Barbara Hill is the RJK WORD’s advisor.
RJK Word is now available in
digital format by clicking on the link on the right side of this
page.
RJK
spirit day filled with costumed fun and learning
RJK Middle School hosts a Spirit Day each month. For March, the
theme was People from History 1776-1996.
Students and teachers
participated in the fun by dressing in costumes from the various
time periods. Some students dressed as hippies, 8th grade social
studies teacher Michelle Knowlton, dressed in Colonial War era
wear with her students joining in the fun. Timothy Potts, a 7th
grade Social Studies teacher, dressed in traditional
Revolutionary War hero attire, and Joana Dutcher spent the day
as Rosie the Riveter.
Important Message
from RJK Principal Deborah Wood:Today,
Monday, April 28, at the RJK Middle School, there was a fire
alarm at about 12:30 p.m. This occurred when an adult
accidentally hit the fire extinguisher on the wall in the
faculty room. The fire extinguisher fell and activated the
alarm. Students were evacuated from the school in an orderly
manner and were brought back in at approximately 12:39 p.m. when
it was all clear. If you have any questions, please call
796-3058.
Homework Hotline
being tested by RJK Teams
RJK Middle School is piloting a new "Homework Hotline" program
to help students keep up to date with their work. Students will be
now be able
to take advantage of the new hotline to get their daily homework
assignments for the four core subjects. A recording will give the
homework for that day for that team. The recording will repeat
as many times as needed.
The system can be
accessed after 2:30 p.m. by dialing the school’s phone number,
796-3058, and then the appropriate extension for a team, as
follows:
Team 8K
- dial ext. 20703
Team 7R - dial ext. 20702
Team 6R - dial ext. 20701
The homework hotline can help students stay current even if they
are absent or have misplaced their planner or notebook for a
particular subject. If this pilot program shows positive results
by the end of this school year, officials will implement it for
all teams beginning September 2008. Feedback from parents and
students is welcomed and encouraged.
Students celebrate
their ELA success with lots of pizza
RJK Middle School recently celebrated its students success on the NYS ELA exams. Pizza parties were held in the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades for all students who improved their grades from
the mock test given at the beginning of the year and for students who
maintained a score of three or four.
In the 6th grade, 218 students
received invitations, in the seventh grade, 200 students
received invitations and in the eighth grade, 207 students were
invited. Overall, many students as well as their teachers and
parents had a lot to celebrate!
Eighth
grade student Katherine Carrion, said, “Being awarded the pizza
party inspires students to do better.” Katherine’s friend, Toni
Ann Hankins, agreed and added, “It's really great that we get
rewarded for the good things that we do.”
Eighth grade English head teacher Tracey Orlan felt that it was
nice to see so many students being rewarded for their
improvement. "It seems like the school is always being
scrutinized about the assessment scores," said Orlan. "So It was
great to see so many students involved in a celebration that was
actually based on the assessment scores."
The party was sponsored by RJK teachers, the PTA and the EPIC
Parents Center. Volunteers also provided baked goodies for
dessert.
RJK 2nd Quarter
Honor Roll list...Congratulations! 6th
Grade Honor Roll
Joel Aguilar, David Ambra, Jennifer Avila, Vincent Banek,
Ashlynn Barbarite, Taylor Bell-Schreiber, Jaclyn Bellamy, Erica
Betz, Emily Bockman, Sasha Bremnor, Veronica Brown, Jennifer
Browne, Jahreek Bush, Briana Call, Heather Callas, Janine
Cardoso, Indonaija Carr, Jonathan Conklin, Michael D'Abbraccio,
Kayla M Dandridge, Deija J. Davis, Kiara N. Davis, Whitney
Derienzo, Jack Drapkin, Matthew Etkin, Jason Fallick, Ashley
Falu, Kamree Farrish, Nicholas Fiore, Ali Fischer, Courtney
Forrest, Zakirah Garvey, Cristian Garzon-Cruz, Heidi
Gates-Nieves, Logan Gonzalez, Kayla Greco, Micaiah Greeen,
Jeremy Gwiozdowski, Helena Hall, Jonathan Harned, Esther Hong,
Kyle Hughes, Meghan Jefferson, Benjamin Kapito, Joseph Klein,
Richard J. Krom, Elizabeth Laba, Alexander Lawrence, Anthony
Lombardi, Joshua Mace, Tara Madsen, Jordana Maraj, Lily
McCausland, Ashley McEneaney, Briana McKinney, Hailey McManus,
Amanda Meade, Katherine Michel, Bailey Mitchell, Alexander
Morales, Mark Morris, Luis Ocasio, Lottie Oestrich, Destiny
Ortiz, Kimberly Ortiz, Megan Owens, Bhumi Parekh, Shivani Patel,
Kody Platt, Jonathan Quiles, Lexi Reeves, Mara Resnick, Athena
Ricker, Haley Ripa, Caroline Robinson, Rayquan Robinson, Tatyana
Rodriguez, Alexander Rokicki, Colin Rosenblum, Dino San Miguel,
Tatiana Sanchez, Latise Sanders, Valerie Santiago-Morales,
Valerie Santiago, James Schulz, Nicholas Serrone, Amelia Shaver,
Joanna Sikorska, Domonique Simms, Lucas Smith, William Smith,
Allen Sonn, Amy Stapleton, James Terpstra, Dustin Thomas, Tamera
Thomas, Daeshaun Thompson, Sergio Velasquez, Michael Washington,
David Watkins, Chelsea Wayman, Deanna Willcox, Ashley Wright,
Trisha Yearwood, Elesha Young, Katrina Zicot 7th
Grade Honor Roll
Tusher Abtahee, Patterson Altman, Madeline Andersen, Chaya
Barasch-Grose, Andrew Benskie, Mae Bonnaci, Tia Bowens,
Nathaniel Cox, Julie Crance, Arianna Dacosta, Joanna DeJesus,
Christopher Fox, Ian Faria, Jordan Fredell, Adrian Galeas,
Christopher Gallo, Simcha Glassman, Skylar Glick, Amber Grobusch,
Kayla Harrell, Angelo Heimowitz, Haley Heins, Marisa Ippolito,
Chase Israel, Brooke Jackson, Shane Jackson, Shane Jackson, Sean
Kane, Lauren Katz, Taylor Knapp, Andrew Krotje, Brooke Madnick,
Wayne Maree, Taylor McCormack, Kristen McEneaney, Mikayla
Mendels, Jakub Mierzwa, Malik Murray, Nicole Nittoli, Virginia
O’Rourke, Ariel Pabon, Hayley Paolini, Harsh Parekh, Kishan
Patel, Annette Purcell, Caitlin Radlein, Aimee Rice, Katryna
Rokicki, May Rosario, Brittany Rupp, Saige Sanford, Brooke
Saunderson, Taylor Saunderson, Laurie Schoonmaker, Caitlin
Shampang, Brittany Stein, Aliyah Thomas, Luis Torres, Marshall
Ulger, Anthony Velez, Jessica Wagner, Nathaniel Whidbee, Debbie
Yang 8th
Grade Honor Roll
Connor Alvarez, Kerisssa Bennett, Daniel Braunstein, Garrett
Bunce, Alistair Byrne, Devin Cabrera, Devon Chester, Jacob
Cohen, Samantha Cohn, Erica Concors, Lauren Cook, Tammy
Corrigan, Steven Demestrio, Kristen Druse, Joshua Etkin,
Samantha Fallick, Marcella Fernandez, Kaitlyn Fisher, David
Fishler, Charles Gambino, Rachelle Gandy, Jennifer Giza, Paul
Gomez, Jessica Gray, Lacey Gray, Ryan Heins, Shelby Jakaitis,
Skyle Jones, Haeun Jung, Sarah Kelly, Rachel Klein, Carly Klemen,
Meghan Kocijanski, Ian Kolaitis, Noel Komatz, Emma Laufersweiler,
Karla Leon, Harry Lin, Amber Maillard, Melody Mangual-Rodriguez,
Justin Mapes, Rebecca Martinek, Miriam McCallion, Connor
McCausland, Duncan McCausland, Meaghan McCormack, Rahsheeda
McRae, Nolan Mitchell, Emily Morey, Joseph Mulvey, C.C. Neal,
Jessica Nesin, Kathleen O’Rourke, Emily Ortiz, Samantha Pantore,
Daniel Paulino, Paulina Pavese, Aimee Pelosi, Justin Quiles,
Shatek Reynolds, Steven Ruggiero, Taylor Santos, Amanda Seaman,
Bryana Sewell, Cassi Smithem, Sajeth Soundararajan, Helen
Sywalski, Brendan Thomas, Dayanara Torres, Victoria Ulaj, Victor
Vargas, Stefanny Vieira, Kathryn Walker, Rachelle Walker, Kyle
Wallach, Alexis Watkins, Jaquelyn Weiss, Gregory Wissman, Kathy
Zalewska
Congratulations to
RJK Middle School Students of the Month for February 2008:
Kayla Martin - Math; Jonathan Conklin - Science; Aimee Pelosi
- Social Studies; Amy Decker -ELA; Zachary Nevin - Guided
Reading; Elesha Young - ELA; Christopher Leon - Music; Alexander
Rokicki - Art; May Rosario - Physical Education; Andrew Krotje -
Foreign Language; Haley Heins - Guidance; Aryanne Stamp -
Library, and Jeffrey Call - Library.
Club raising money
to help those in need
The RJK Red Cross Club collected $469 during homeroom over a
three week period for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The
money is for the Annual Pennies for Patients fund and will be
sent to the Albany chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Congratulations to
RJK Middle School Students of the Month for
January 2008
Venus Beamon, Jonathan Conklin, Latise Sanders, Noel Komatz,
Jack Drapkin, Deanna Wilcox, Justin Mapes, Harley Mullen,
Tiffany Cox and Kathleen McGruder were each presented with a
certificate for their outstanding accomplishments for the month
of January.
Congratulations to
the following Sullivan County Teacher Center grant recipients from Monticello
Schools:
Tanya England -
Building Self-Esteem and Confidence in Girls - $300, and
Christine Wylie - Recorded Series a la Carbo - $1,000.
RJK recycling
students making a difference
Every morning during homeroom at RJK Middle School, a group of
dedicated 8th grade students
collect
mixed paper and newspaper from each classroom and office in the
school as part of a new recycling program.
The key to making the program work, which began about two months
ago, is the dedication of these students. Recycling bins were
placed in classrooms and offices with the hope that the waste
stream from the school that ends up in the landfill could be
reduced by voluntary recycling. Everyone in the RJK school
community has been working together to make this pilot program a
success. Principal Deborah Wood strongly supports the program
and has asked her office staff, teachers and students, to try to
"make it a habit" to recycle.
The school's custodial staff has been extremely helpful
implementing the new program by making sure the recyclables are
kept dry and are ready for pick-up each week by the Village of
Monticello. We hope the success of this program will encourage
more recycling throughout the school!
Photo: From left, RJK recycling students Tori Koskey, Lauren
Roy, Justin Garcia, Melody Mangual-Rodrigues and Neatly Diaz are
working hard to get others immersed in the recycling mindset.
"Math Counts" at RJK
On February 21, at the regional Math Counts competition,
Monticello’s team once again won the right to continue to the
New York State Competition in March. This year’s regional
competition, sponsored by The National Society of Professional
Engineers, took place at the
Holiday
Inn in Middletown.
As individuals, team members
performed extremely well with Noel Komatz taking 2nd place
overall with an outstanding 18 points and winning the 2nd place
trophy for her terrific showing in the countdown round.
In a competition where 12
individuals compete two at a time in eliminations rounds until
the top 3 competitors are found: Emily Morey finished among the
top 12 individuals and participated in the countdown round.
Kathy Zalewska and Katie Fisher completed the 8th grade team of
4 students with Greg Wissman as an alternate.
This year we were thrilled to
take a second team of 6th grade students to the regional
competition. They formed a very competitive team with Dustin
Thomas earning an amazing 13 points followed closely by Jack
Drapkin earning 12. This incredible 6th grade team was rounded
out with Briana Call and Lucas Smith with alternate Jenifer
Walker. Good Luck in Albany!
Monticello Rotary
Club makes donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Sullivan County
On Friday, Feb. 15, Monticello Rotary Club President Dr. Richard
Stein, on behalf of the club’s members, presented Boys & Girls
Club Senior Unit Director Teri Gamella with a check for $2,500.
The club plans to use the funds for the general operating
expenses of their Sullivan County after-school programs.
Monticello Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel stopped
by for the presentation.
Afterwards, BGC members celebrated Valentine's Day with a DJ
dance party and lots of goodies cooked up by the club's staff.
DJ Irv Nyce from Luva Fresh Entertainment donated his services
to play "feel good dance music" for the kids.
Photos: RJK Middle School students who attend the Boys & Girls
Clubs' St. John Street after-school program.
Middle school
students helping others and saving the environment
The students in the RJK Environmental Club have generously
donated some of their club funds to three worthy organizations
in recognition of the holiday season and its spirit of giving.
They did the following:
Adopted two acres of
rainforest in Costa Rica through The Nature Conservancy,
which will protect those acres from being burned or
otherwise destroyed;
Donated 5 anti-malarial nets
through Malaria No More to protect families from this
killer disease;
Purchased shares of a llama,
goat, sheep, and pig through Heifer International
which will go to communities to help them become
self-reliant by raising these animals for food and income.
The Middle Wrinkle
and RJK Word
now linked from RJK homepage
The Middle Wrinkle and RJK Word is now available in PDF format through a link
located on the right-hand side of this page.
The Middle Wrinkle is an award-winning literary art
magazine published by the R.J. Kaiser Middle School that was awarded
First Place position (scoring 925 out of 1000 points) for
excellence in content, design, presentation and creativity. This
is the eighth straight year that the Middle Wrinkle has been
awarded first place by the American Scholastic Press Association
judges.
Middle Wrinkle advisor Debora
Bausenwein said, “The award letter praised the efforts of
“talented and creative editors, writers, artists, photographers,
layout designers and staff members.” RJK Principal Deborah
Wood said she was very proud of her staff and students!
The RJK Word is the middle school
newspaper that reports news and events that have occurred or
will occur in the middle school. It is published four times a
year.
Wacky Wednesday
takes over RJK Middle School
December 19, was dubbed Wacky Wednesday at the Robert J. Kaiser
Middle School!
The event had students, faculty
and staff members alike, dressed in their wildest, most extreme
wackiest outfits. Some were so cute and crazy, that word is a
few new fashion trends may have been started!
Every month the middle school's
Positive Climate Committee creates a new spirit day to help keep
everyone focused on a positive school attitude.
Pictured right are RJK students
Jessica Hayes and Chaya Barasch-Grose who went all-out to
deck-out for the fun event!
Congratulations to RJK
Middle School Students of the Month for
November
Nominated by each department, these students have excelled in a
variety of different ways. Congratulations to Tammy Corrigan, Ethan Porter,
Marissa Pantore, Samantha Pantore, Stephanie Padin-Paredes,
Kerissa Bennett, Kody Platt, Victor Vargas, Skyle Jones, Alyssa
Messineo, Miriam Mccallion, Heather Schoenleber, Patterson
Altman, Andrew Garrison, Louis Ocasio and Taylor McCormack.
RJK 1st Quarter
Honor Roll list...Congratulations! 6th
Grade Honor Roll
Joel Aguilar, David Ambra, Jennifer Avila, Christopher Bair,
Ashlynn Barbarite, Taylor Bell-Schreiber, Jaclyn Bellamy, Erica
Betz, Emily Bockman, Sasha Bremnor, Naomi Brown, Veronica Brown,
Jennifer Browne, Briana Call, Janine Cardoso, Indonaija Carr,
Victor Clark, Jonathan Conklin, Michael D'Abbraccio, Kayla M
Dandridge, Deija J. Davis, Kiara N. Davis, Amy Decker, Cory
Deitchman, Whitney Derienzo, Jamie Dileo, Jack Drapkin, Matthew
Etkin, Jason Fallick, Ashley Falu, Kamree Farrish, Nicholas
Fiore, Ali Fischer, Courtney Forrest, Jared Friedman, Cristian
Garzon-Cruz, Kristy Gessman, Taylor Gianquinto, Kemberly Gil,
Logan Gonzalez, Stasey Gray, Kayla Greco, Khalil Guadalupe,
Jeremy Gwiozdowski, Helena Hall, Jonathan Harned, Carmen
Hernandez, Esther Hong, Kyle Hughes, Nichelle Jackson, Meghan
Jefferson, Benjamin Kapito, Joseph Klein, Richard J. Krom,
Elizabeth Laba, Desirea Lara, Anthony Lombardi, Joshua Mace,
Tara Madsen, Mariah Mann, Jordana Maraj, Joshua Marbury, Lily
McCausland, Ashley McEneaney, Aaliyah McKune, Hailey McManus,
Amanda Meade, Katherine Michel, Bailey Mitchell, Alexander
Morales, Daniel Morgan, Mark Morris, Gwendaline Nieves, Luis
Ocasio, Lottie Oestrich, Destiny Ortiz, Gabriel Ortiz, Kimberly
Ortiz, Roxanne Osorio, Megan Owens, Bhumi Parekh, Shivani Patel,
Kody Platt, Jonathan Quiles, Lexi Reeves, Mara Resnick, Athena
Ricker, Haley Ripa, Caroline Robinson, Rayquan Robinson, Tatyana
Rodriguez, Alexander Rokicki, Skye Rundle, Dino San Miguel,
Tatiana Sanchez, Latise Sanders, Valerie Santiago, James Schulz,
Nicholas Serrone, Amelia Shaver, Joanna Sikorska, Domonique
Simms, Jahzaia Smith, Lucas Smith, William Smith, Deanna
Snowden, Allen Sonn, James Terpstra, Dustin Thomas, Tamera
Thomas, Daeshaun Thompson, Heather Trotta, Steven Turner,
Sergio Velasquez, David Watkins, Chelsea Wayman, Deanna Willcox,
Ashley Wright, Trisha Yearwood, Elesha Young, Katrina Zicot 7th
Grade Honor Roll
Tusher Abtahee, Patterson Altman, Madeline Andersen, Gabriela
Armstead, Chaya Barasch-Grose, Andrew Benskie, Mae Bonnaci, Tia
Bowens, Christian Carvajal, Nathaniel Cox, Julie Crance, Arianna
Dacosta, Joanna DeJesus, Sarah Durland, Ian Faria, Afton Fedak,
Sandro Fernandez, Jordan Fredell, Adrian Galeas, Christopher
Gallo, Yazmine Gandulla, Andrew Garrison, Lesley Garzon-Cruz,
Simcha Glassman, Skylar Glick, Amber Grobusch, Angelo Heimowitz,
Haley Heins, Marisa Ippolito, Chase Israel, Brooke Jackson,
Shane Jackson, Amber June, Sean Kane, Lauren Katz, Taylor Knapp,
Andrew Krotje, Sandra Lee, Brooke Madnick, Wayne Maree,
Katherine Martinez, Taylor McCormack, Kristen McEneaney, Mikayla
Mendels, Kayla Milline, Rebecca Mitchell, Angelo Niforatos, Nicole Nittoli,
Virginia O’Rourke, Ariel Pabon, Hayley Paolini, Harsh Parekh,
Kishan Patel, Annette Purcell, Caitlin Radlein, Aimee Rice,
Dequea Rodriguez, Katryna Rokicki, May Rosario, Nicole Ruperd,
Brittany Rupp, Saige Sanford, Brooke Saunderson, Taylor
Saunderson, Laurie Schoonmaker, Caitlin Shampang, Zachary
Sheehan, Brittany Stein, Kelly Sturm, De’Ja Taylor, Aliyah
Thomas, Luis Torres, Marshall Ulger, Anthony Velez, Jessica
Wagner, Nathaniel Whidbee, Debbie Yang 8th
Grade Honor Roll
Connor Alvarez, Venus Beamon, Kerisssa Bennett, Megan Berger,
Tiffany Bigio, Daniel Braunstein, Garrett Bunce, Alistair Byrne,
Devin Cabrera, Ian Campbell, Devon Chester, Jacob Cohen,
Samantha Cohn, Erica Concors, Lauren Cook, Tammy Corrigan,
Steven Demestrio, Kristen Druse, Joshua Etkin, Marcella
Fernandez, Ysabella Fernandez, Kaitlyn Fisher, David Fishler,
Alexander Fortea, Charles Gambino, Jennifer Giza, Paul Gomez,
Anthony Gray, Jessica Gray, Lacey Gray, Ryan Heins, Richard
Hindley, Shelby Jakaitis, Skyle Jones, Adam Kaiser, Sarah Kelly,
Rachel Klein, Carly Klemen, Meghan Kocijanski, Ian Kolaitis,
Noel Komatz, Emma Laufersweiler, Karla Leon, Harry Lin, Brendan
Madsen, Amber Maillard, Christina Maney, Melody Mangual-Rodriguez,
Justin Mapes, Rebecca Martinek, Conal McCague, Miriam McCallion,
Duncan McCausland, Meaghan McCormack, Rahsheeda McRae, Emily
Morey, Joseph Mulvaney, Joseph Mulvey, C.C. Neal, Jessica Nesin,
Kathleen O’Rourke, Emily Ortiz, Samantha Pantore, Paulina Pavese,
Aimee Pelosi, Shatek Reynolds, Monica Rivera, Steven Ruggiero,
Taylor Santos, Amanda Seaman, Bryana Sewell, Christina Shaw,
Cassi Smithem, Sajeth Soundararajan, Tchayra Souza, Joseph
Strong, Helen Sywalski, Brendan Thomas, Dayanara Torres,
Victoria Ulaj, Victor Vargas, Stefanny Vieira, Rachelle Walker,
Kyle Wallach, Alexis Watkins, Jaquelyn Weiss, Gregory Wissman,
Kathy Zalewska
RJK Middle School
Principal Awards for the first marking period Team
6R- The Rockets Highest
GPA’s-Jonathan Harned and Jennifer Browne; Effort-Luis Ocasio;
Citizenship-Joseph Klein; Most Improved Academically-Marc Falco Team
6J- Jaguars
Highest GPA: Meghan Owens; Second Highest GPA: Jack Drapkin;
Most Improved Academically: Joseph Klein; Best Effort: Samantha
Suarez; Best Effort: Meghan Owens Team
6K- Knights
2 Highest GPA's: Richard Krom, Amelia Shaver; Citizenship:
Michael McGee; Best Effort: Kiera Williams; Most Improved
Academically: Jasmine Morales Team
6M- Monti Crusher
Highest GPA: Rayquan Robinson; Second Highest GPA: David Ambra;
Most Improved Academically: Benjamin Kapito; Best Effort: Kim
Ortiz; Citizenship: James Terpstra Team
7R- Eagles
Highest GPA: Kristen McEneaney; Second Highest GPA: Brittany
Rupp; Most Improved Academically: Lashay Serrano; Best Effort:
Tatiana Phillips; Citizenship: Yazmine Gandula Team
7J- The Patriots
Highest GPA: Joana DeJesus; Second Highest GPA: Saige Sanford;
Most Improved Academically: Brandon Cruz; Best Effort: May
Rosario; Citizenship: Simcha Glassman Team
7K- The Adventurers
Highest GPA: Brooke Madnick; Second Highest GPA: Annie Purcell;
Most Improved Academically: Arianna DaCosta; Best Effort: Nicole
Ruperd; Citizenship: Andrew Garrison
Team 8R- Team Rhapsody
Highest GPA: Shelby Jakaitis; Second Highest GPA: Steven
Demestrio; Most Improved Academically: Katie Walker; Best
Effort: Dayanara Torres; Citizenship: Victor Vargas Team
8J- Explorers
Highest GPA: Katie Fisher; Second Highest GPA: Tammy Corrigan;
Most Improved Academically: Guichard Spriggs; Best Effort:
Samantha Pantore; Citizenship: Charlie Gambino Team
8K- Team Titans
Highest GPA: Jennifer Giza; Second Highest GPA: Harry Lin; Most
Improved Academically: Sajeth Soundararajan; Best Effort: Melody
Manguel-Rodriguez; Citizenship: Paulina Pavese
RJK students step
back in time for a visit to 1700's Colonial Williamsburg
On November 8, students from Donna Nestler's 7th grade social
studies class participated in a
field trip to Colonial Williamsburg without ever leaving their
classroom. The online program,"Emissaries of Peace," is produced
by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
The electronic field trip allows students to observe first-hand
a re-enactment of the British negotiations with the Cherokee
Nation during the French and Indian War. At a predetermined
time, two of our students had their questions answered live by
the historical interpreters playing the different parts.
At the same time our students watched, thousands of students
from around the nation were tuned-in as well. The students were
engaged and thrilled to have the outside world brought right
into their classroom.
Learning the
recycles of life
Eighteen students from RJK Middle School visited the Sullivan
County Landfill for an informative
tour of the landfill and its recycling facilities. Recycling
center coordinator, Bill Cutler, led the group through the
facility while explaining the details of its workings. During
his tour, he made clear the importance of recycling materials,
the types of materials that are presently being recycled, and
the complete process of preparing recyclables for resale.
With the knowledge they gathered during the day's event,
students are already formulating some ideas on how to start the
recycling of mixed paper in the middle school. The Environmental
Club hopes to work with administrators, staff and students to
get a recycling program enacted sometime this year.
RJK Middle School students
frolic with fun in Wonderland In early November,
Monticello Schools’ Music
Department and Robert J. Kaiser Middle School
presented Lewis Carroll’s light-hearted play Alice in Wonderland
Jr.
RJK students gave a funny and engaging performance of the
musical comedy that follows the adventures of Alice after she
falls down a rabbit hole. The night was bursting with young,
talented voices as Alice was forced to use magic potions, cakes,
and mushrooms to change from small to large and back again,
while dealing with new acquaintances such as Mock Turtle, March
Hare, Dormouse, and the King and Queen of Hearts.
Full story
RJK field trip to
Frost Valley a team-building experience
On Friday, Oct. 12, Team 6M traveled to Frost Valley in
Claryville, NY, for an outdoor,
educational experience. The
purpose of the trip was to build team unity, leadership, and
environmental awareness through a variety of experiences.
The students, parents, and chaperones participated in “Project
Adventure” activities. They went on a cable bridge hike,
participated in low ropes activities and did a water ecology
study. The team learned to work together and communicate with
one another and after a healthy lunch provided by Frost Valley
personnel, the students learned how to recycle and make compost
from their garbage.
This trip was extremely successful, as it helped the students
bond with each other and build the confidence they thrive on.
Overall, this experience set a positive tone for the students
and gave them problem-solving strategies they can use for the
rest of their lives.
Pink & Denim Day
fundraiser a big success
RJK joined in the fight
against breast cancer by raising $635.50 on October 5, during
“National Lee Denim Day.” Staff and faculty wore Pink and Denim
on that day in exchange for a donation to the American Cancer
Society. Deena Tanzman and Chris Worthington co-captained the
event and gave out pink ribbons to all participants. This was
the school's third year of campaigning with Lee Denim for breast
cancer research. Thanks for the support and caring.
RJK filled with school
spirit as new year begins The Robert J. Kaiser
Middle School began the 2007-08 school year with huge success!
To celebrate, the students and staff participated in a
school-wide Spirit Day with various activities and an appearance
by our very own Monti the Panther. The theme of day was Blue and
White, which had many of the students and faculty donning the
district colors with fashion and flair.
School spirit was so abundant, it
just seemed to meld into Sport Team Day, which was celebrated on
Sept. 28. That day had students and teachers dressing to
represent their favorite sports team. Attire was spotted for
baseball, football, basketball, soccer, NASCAR, and even golf.
The three teams with the largest percentage of students and
teachers showing spirit
got chosen for a special photo shoot
that will appear in the school yearbook, the RJK Word school
newspaper, and was submitted to the local papers.
The winners were the 6th grade
Monti Crusher, 7th grade Patriots, and 8th grade Titans.
In response to the overwhelming
success of the days, RJK Principal Deb Wood declared that there
would be many more Spirit Days and celebrations throughout the
year!
New Boys & Girls Club
program flourishing The response to the Boys
and Girls Club has been tremendous! Presently, the club is still
accepting registration forms, but since the program is full,
applicants will be placed on a waiting list. Registration forms
can be dropped off in the Assistant Principals' office with Mrs.
Simon. The forms can also be sent directly to the Boys and Girls
Club at PO Box 14, Circleville, NY 10919. Please be sure to list
all current phone numbers so you can be contacted when your
child is next on the list. For questions, please call the Boys
and Girls Club directly at 361-2222.
Boys & Girls Club open
enrollment The Boys & Girls Club of
Sullivan County is currently holding open enrollment for RJK
Middle School students. The free after-school program, to be
held at the St. John Street Education Center in Monticello, will
run 2:30-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
After-school program activities
include: homework help, health and life skills, arts and music,
character and leadership development, and sports and recreation.
For more information or to register your child, call Sullivan
County Unit Director Teri Gamella at 361-2222 or visit
www.bgorange.org.
Congratulations to this year's
Sullivan Renaissance
"Spruce Up Your School"
award winners:
Chase and Rutherford Elementary
Schools and RJK Middle School.
Review and Contest Awards for scholastic newspapers. Robert J.
Kaiser Middle School’s RJK WORD Newspaper was awarded Second
Place, one of only four middle schools in the country in the
500-1,000 enrollment bracket to receive this prestigious award.
The two categories cited for excellence are Creativity and
Editing.
RJK
spirit day filled with costumed fun and learning
parties were held in the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades for all students who improved their grades from
the mock test given at the beginning of the year and for students who
maintained a score of three or four.
Eighth
grade student Katherine Carrion, said, “Being awarded the pizza
party inspires students to do better.” Katherine’s friend, Toni
Ann Hankins, agreed and added, “It's really great that we get
rewarded for the good things that we do.”
January 2008
collect
mixed paper and newspaper from each classroom and office in the
school as part of a new recycling program. 
Holiday
Inn in Middletown.
Sullivan County 
Monticello Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel stopped
by for the presentation.
November
field trip to Colonial Williamsburg without ever leaving their
classroom. The online program,"Emissaries of Peace," is produced
by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
tour of the landfill and its recycling facilities. Recycling
center coordinator, Bill Cutler, led the group through the
facility while explaining the details of its workings. During
his tour, he made clear the importance of recycling materials,
the types of materials that are presently being recycled, and
the complete process of preparing recyclables for resale. 
presented Lewis Carroll’s light-hearted play Alice in Wonderland
Jr. 
educational experience. The
purpose of the trip was to build team unity, leadership, and
environmental awareness through a variety of experiences. 
celebrate, the students and staff participated in a
school-wide Spirit Day with various activities and an appearance
by our very own Monti the Panther. The theme of day was Blue and
White, which had many of the students and faculty donning the
district colors with fashion and flair.
got chosen for a special photo shoot
that will appear in the school yearbook, the RJK Word school
newspaper, and was submitted to the local papers. 
