The highlight of last month in the classrooms was the Rube Goldberg PBL project conducted by Mrs. Picone in her 8th grade science classes. Students worked collaboratively in small groups in order to create Rude Goldberg-style machines designed to solve real-world problems and tasks. Utilizing what they have been learning about physics, students created complex machines out of a wide variety of materials in order to complete such simple tasks as popping a balloon, or to solve perplexing problems like getting those last potato chips out of a can of Pringles. By combining standard-based content knowledge with valuable 21st Century skills like creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, the Rube Goldberg PBL project was a huge success.

Outside of the classroom, students embraced the start of winter by attending the school's annual ice skating field trip to Mennen Arena in Morris Township.  At Mennen Arena, students enjoyed themselves by skating on the ice, playing video games and air hockey in the arcade, and sampling the great food and hot chocolate from the snack bar.  While staff members were impressed by the skating skills of many of the students, the most impressive students were the ones who demonstrated their resiliency by attempting something outside of their comfort zone and still endured despite taking some tumbles here and there. Sage Day Lower & Middle School students showed on the ice that having fun isn't just about doing something your good at, but challenging yourself to improve at something that you may not be so good at.

Of course, December would not be complete without the annual school-wide Holiday Party.  With Holiday Break only a day away, students celebrated the season by watching movies, playing bingo, creating art projects, and enjoying a dance party.  After a successful, but busy and work-intensive, first few months of the school-year, the Holiday Party was a perfect way to celebrate and usher in a well-deserved break.

December did end on a bittersweet note at Sage Day Lower & Middle School, as students and staff said goodbye to popular art teacher Mr. Castellano, but enthusiastically welcomed new art teacher Ms. Vicendese  who took over the helm of the art classes this month. We recently observed our Day of Service on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day where students were busy working on community service projects. Last year students created and ran their own Penny Wars that raised money for a children's cancer center, and this year's Day of Service was  just as worthwhile.

Lastly, January 23rd marked the end of the Second Marking Period and the halfway point of the school-year. Also, anybody can now stay abreast of events at Sage Day Lower & Middle School by continually checking the recently-created student-run blog: http://sagedaynewsmahwah.blogspot.com.