On Friday, January 10th, our students enjoyed a fun and educational assembly, The Ways of Water, presented by Grand Falloons. The lively performance took students on an exciting journey through the science of water. The presenters explained the water cycle, the atomic structure of water, how evaporation works, and what clouds are made of. They also highlighted how water is the perfect vehicle for transporting nutrients to our bodies, plants, and fields. What made this assembly truly special were the engaging and creative methods used to bring the science to life! The Grand Falloons team used fractured fairy tales, life-sized puppetry, juggling, sing-alongs, bubble sculptures, and plenty of comedy to keep everyone entertained while learning. A big thank you to the Ridgefield Park Public Works Department for sponsoring this fantastic event. It was an unforgettable experience that made learning about water both fun and memorable!

The PTA’s Breakfast with Santa was a wonderful morning of holiday cheer and community spirit! Families came together to enjoy a festive breakfast, while children wrote letters to Santa to mail to the North Pole. In addition, children had the opportunity to win exciting prizes as well as create colorful artwork to be displayed at hospitals and local nursing homes. The event also featured a special visit from the police department, who helped welcome Santa and spent quality time with everyone. To top it all off, every child received a cuddly stuffed gingerbread man to take home as a keepsake. It was a joyful celebration that brought our school community closer and spread holiday warmth to all!

This Veteran's Day, Grant School celebrated and honored the brave men and women who have served in the military. To show our appreciation, we displayed small American flags outside the school. Each flag represented a veteran and was a symbol of our gratitude for their service. Inside the school, in the lobby, we proudly displayed the names of the veterans who were being honored. It was a special way for everyone at Grant School to remember and thank them for their sacrifices. We also worked together to raise money to support veterans in need. The funds will help provide services and care for those who have served our country. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our students, families, and community, we were able to raise a great amount to support this important cause. We are so proud to honor our veterans and to be a part of this meaningful tradition at Grant School!

On Friday, October 18th, Grant School l was thrilled to welcome the local volunteer fire department for a special Fire Prevention Day! The firefighters visited our school to teach students about the importance of fire safety and prevention. They shared valuable tips on what to do in case of a fire, how to prevent fires from starting, and how firefighters work to keep our community safe. Each class in grades K-4 were invited to the front of Grant School where firefighters explained their equipment and the protective gear they wear when fighting fires. They even demonstrated how quickly they can put on their gear when responding to an emergency! Students were amazed to see up close the heavy suits, helmets, and oxygen tanks that firefighters wear to protect themselves. Next, the firefighters led students through several hands-on activities. They practiced “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” a simple but important skill to remember in case clothing catches on fire. They also learned about the importance of smoke alarms and what to do if one ever goes off at home or school. The firefighters emphasized how having a family escape plan can make all the difference in an emergency, and encouraged students to talk to their families about planning one. One of the highlights was a tour of the fire truck! Students got a close look at all the tools and equipment on board, from fire hoses and ladders to rescue gear. The firefighters explained how each tool is used and shared stories about their real-life experiences. Our students were full of questions, and the firefighters were happy to answer them, making this an unforgettable learning experience. We’re so grateful to our local volunteer fire department for taking the time to visit and share such important safety lessons with us. Fire Prevention Day taught us all the importance of being prepared, staying safe, and remembering that firefighters are here to help. Thank you to our community heroes!

Welcome back Grant School families! We are thrilled to have our students and faculty in the building. On September 6th, the whole school met to kick off the new school year. Our students in Kindergarten-6th grade provided a warm welcome to our new Pre-k students. In addition, we spoke about our school’s expectations and the students learned about how to collect Bragtags this year. At the end of our assembly we sang happy birthday to our bulldog Buster, who turned 3 years old. Buster gifted each student a small pop-it to wear on their lanyard for when they need something to play with. Also, Buster had an important announcement to the students. His younger sister Betty was going to start school this year! We welcomed Betty with a drum roll and students were able to see what she looked like on the big screen. Be on the lookout for Betty. She will be featured on upcoming spirit wear!

June was an exciting month for Grant School. We had a fun filled day of activities for field day on June 7th. On June 14th we welcomed family and friends to join us for our kindergarten and 6th grade promotions ceremony. It was a beautiful day to celebrate our students’ hard work and perseverance this school year. The kindergarteners received their class of 2036 t-shirts. We hope that the students take pictures with their shirts every year all the way up to their high school graduation in 2036. Also, the 6th graders were given their own Bust pin as a memory of their wonderful days at Grant School. They are now ready to be a Scarlet! Congratulations!

On May 21st, students in 1st through 6th grades participated in the annual spring concert at Grant School. The first, second and third graders performed various songs about summer and spring. This included the songs I Want to Go Outside, If You’re Happy Summer’s Comin’ and The Green Grass Grew All Around. Also, this year the third grade students have been learning the recorder. They performed three songs that displayed their hard work and dedication to learning this new instrument. In the evening the students in grades 4, 5, and 6 returned to school to showcase their musical talents. Students in the band worked hard on learning several selections to perform and did a fantastic job. The chorus students performed six songs for the crowd. The audience enjoyed and sang along to familiar songs such as Dancing in the Streets, Route 66 and Rockin’ Robin. A special thank you to Ms. Mir for putting this wonderful program together!

On April 4th, Grant School hosted an assembly for all 6th graders in the district. The assembly was presented by D. West, who is a former professional football player, sports analyst, and motivational speaker. As a child growing up in New Jersey, he shared many of the struggles he experienced including bullying, poverty, family dynamics, and the importance of school. The students were locked into D. West's messages about lifting each other up rather than pushing them down and how each of us always has the opportunity to self persevere in times of struggle. Our 6th graders were empowered to "Never Give Up" and live the best life they can for all.

The students participated in the Wax Museum on Friday, March 1st, which has become an annual event for 6th grade students at Grant School. The students did an excellent job representing a variety of people from way back in the past to contemporary figures of today. This year’s Wax Museum included musicians, artists, actors, several soccer players (from all over the world), a war hero and even a visit from Derek Jeter! The students prepared for the Wax Museum by conducting research using specific guided reading questions and then compiled their information into a graphic organizer. From the graphic organizer the students chose what information that they would share with the visitors. The students were well prepared and our visitors thought the students were fantastic!

Congratulations to Mila Dunn for winning 2nd place in the 4th-5th grade district spelling bee. This event was held on Thursday, February 1st at Lincoln Elementary School. It was sponsored and coordinated by the Women’s Club of Ridgefield Park. Over 70 students from all three elementary schools in Ridgefield Park registered to participate in the event. All of the students that participated should be proud of themselves!

On the week of January 22nd, Grant School participated in The Great Kindness Challenge to promote kindness in our school and community. Each day had a theme and students were excited to participate. On Monday students dressed up as a rock star or famous celebrity and modeled kindness by saying “Kindness Rocks.” On Tuesday, Grant School was powered by kindness and students and staff wore superhero shirts or costumes and empowered others to be kind. On Wednesday, we “teamed up for kindness” and wore our favorite sports team shirt. That day students were encouraged to score points with kind acts. Grant School students wore neon or sparkles to “let our kindness shine!” and on Friday we wore royal blue to represent school spirit and to “show our spirit of kindness.”

Grant School PTA hosted a Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 9th. There were over a 100 students present along with their families. The Grant School all purpose room was converted into a winter wonderland, where families were able to sit together to have breakfast, write letters to Santa, make crafts, color festive coloring pages, and children had the chance to win games and prizes. The coloring pages were donated to hospitals and nursing homes. When Santa came to visit, the group sang holiday songs, and took pictures with Santa. Thank you to the PTA for coordinating this wonderful event! In addition, the student’s of Grant School participated in Pajama Day on December 2nd and fundraised over $500 for CHOP, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The students were excited to learn about CHOP and how the hospital services only children. Grant School is proud to support CHOP, because they provide medical care for children in the Ridgefield Park community.

The Grant School community participated in honoring our nation’s veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day this November. Students and families were encouraged to donate a dollar in the name of a veteran or just to support veterans in general. We had over 50 families participate and the money collected will be used to purchase tuna and peanut butter for the VFW. The following military branches were represented when making donations: The United States Army, Army National Guard, United States Navy, The Air Force, The Marines and the United States Coast Guard. Flags for each donation are on display in front of Grant School to show our gratitude.

On Friday, October 16th the Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department came to visit to talk with students from Pre-K to 4th grade about fire safety and fire prevention. The fire fighters explained that their job is to help when there is a fire or accident. As part of the presentation, one of the firefighters got dressed in his gear to demonstrate for the students that even though firefighters may look scary with all of their gear on, they have to wear it to protect themselves. Students were also reminded to dial 911 if there is an emergency in their house and to “Stop, drop and roll” if they ever catch on fire. At the end of the presentation, all students were allowed to take an up close look at the fire truck and the tools that are used to save lives. A big thank you to the Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department for spending time with the students of Grant School!

Over the summer, Grant School’s playground got spruced up! Various interactive designs were installed both in the back playground as well as the path leading up to the kindergarten entrances. Near the kindergarten doors we have the alphabet and numbers for our young learners to practice with. On the back playground students have been enjoying using the lines on the basketball courts to play a half court game. Also, a sensory path was installed around the court for students to practice their gross motor skills. There are two four square courts, three different hopscotch courts, a twister board, a world map and an area to play the game Mirror Me. In the middle of the playground we have a conflict resolution circle which provides students who are experiencing conflict with strategies to help resolve any challenges. Overall the students have been enjoying our new designs during outdoor recess time.

Police Chief for the Day The Ridgefield Park Police Department along with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department hosted a Police Chief for the Day event. "Chief for A Day," was started by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department over 20 years ago. It is an inspirational program that offers Bergen County children a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. This year we are pleased to announce that two students were selected from Grant School. On the day of the event, Chief Ulloa and Chief Aguilar Paz were picked up from their home by the RPPD and brought to Grant School where the whole school cheered for them. They took an oath in front of the whole student body and started their day as acting Chief. Next, Chief Ulloa and Chief Aguilar Paz were given a tour of the Ridgefield Park Police Headquarters by Chief Joseph Rella and then were transported by RPPD, with lights and sirens, to the courthouse in Hackensack. There they had the opportunity to meet law enforcement men and women from various Bergen County towns and tour police vehicles such as the mobile crisis unit and the SWAT truck. Chief Ulloa and Chief Aguilar Paz had an amazing day with Chief Rella and the Ridgefield Park Police Department.

The cast of the Jukebox Time Machine took the audience on a time travel to listen to the greatest pop hits of all time from the 1930s to the 2000s. The show was a great success! A big thank you to Ms. Fenton and Mrs. Romba for directing the show and thank you to the cast members for your hard work and dedication. The show was SPECTACULAR!!!! The cast included: Fourth Graders: Geanna, Nicholas, Rebekah, Sapphira, Ayza, Catalina, Judy, Jeremy, Zavior. Fifth Graders: Leah, Dilia, Keisy, Elyanie, Zayna, Lucas B., Janah, Leahnett, Isabella, Mya and Sixth Graders: Arianna, Thelina, Leilani, Holy Ayeh, Lucas A.P., and Reji.

On Tuesday, February 28th, Grant School hosted our annual Wax Museum. The students posed as wax figures to portray all types of interesting people which included artists, actors, athletes, inventors, politicians, musicians, cultural leaders, and all kinds of trendsetters from all walks of life. The wax figures come to life as the visitors approach them to talk about their “claim to fame” and other interesting parts of their life. The students prepared for the Wax Museum by reading various informational texts and taking notes in a graphic organizer. From their research, the students then chose what they would share with visitors, and practiced their “speeches” in school and at home. Students from Kindergarten to the 5th grade, as well as the parents and guardians of the 6th grade, enjoyed learning about all the people represented at the Wax Museum. The 6th graders who participated in this year’s wax museum expressed how excited they were to perform for the entire student body. It was great to see the expressions on the visitors’ faces and the reactions by not only the visiting classes but also from the teachers and parents when first seeing the students dressed as the wax figures in full costume. The 6th grade students remember attending the wax museum as young students and looked forward to this year’s event. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication the 6th grade students put into this project.

Also on Wednesday, the New Jersey Snake Man visited Grant School. The kindergarten through fourth grade students learned about reptiles and amphibians such as bearded dragon, tortoise, blue tongued lizard, a baby anaconda, and various pythons. In the afternoon, the fifth and sixth grade students learned about those same animals as well as various kinds of birds. All students were given the opportunity to hold or pet a snake. The fifth and sixth graders were able to have a bird rest on their heads or arms. The presentations were very informative and the students had a wonderful time.

During the month of December, the teachers and students of Grant School participated in the 12 days before winter break. The faculty and students had so much fun dressing up in different themes and wearing accessories to bring their outfits to life. Some of the themes included were: dress like a candy cane, Jingle all the Way with bells, Glitz and Glam day for our holiday concert, Mad about Plaid, Vacation Mode and Holiday Headwear

A BIG thank you to the Ridgefield Park Fire Department for coming to Grant School to talk about fire safety and prevention. The students had a great time learning how to keep themselves safe. All classes had the opportunity to go outside to get a close up look at the fire truck, which they enjoyed.

November is the month where we focus on the character trait of gratitude. Our school is grateful for such a supportive and loving community. On Wednesday, November 23rd we were able to restart our Grant School Thanksgiving tradition. After taking a two year break, we were grateful to be able to sit as a school and eat together. Kindergarten, first grade, second grade and third grade joined us first in the all purpose room. Classes were ready with Thanksgiving placemats and our third graders were dressed up for the event. Next, fourth grade, fifth grade and sixth grade came down for their feast. Students were served a Thanksgiving meal that was catered by Boston Market. Students were eager to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread and mac & cheese. In addition, our kindergarten and first grade students worked on a project called Turkey in Disguise. They did a wonderful job disguising their turkeys!! Take a look.

October was a month full of fun activities. At the beginning of the month, Grant School Participated in the Week of Respect because the character theme for the whole month was Respect. Each day of the week there were different themes for the students to follow. On Monday, we wore red, white and blue to represent that we are united. On Tuesday, we wore our favorite team jersey to represent that we are all part of a team. We dressed to impress on Wednesday because it was picture day. On Thursday, we were wild about showing respect by wearing animal print. Last but not least, on Friday we wore royal blue and white or Grant School spirit wear to show that we have the best school spirit around! All students and faculty had a great time participating in the Week of Respect. We ended the month with our wonderful Grant Glows party and we also had an awesome Halloween parade.

Welcome Buster the Bulldog!!! On Friday, September 9th the students of Grant School were introduced to our new bulldog mascot. I am proud that our school now has a mascot that is unique to our school, just like our students are. We celebrated his arrival by taking a vote and naming him. The students had a great time voting on his name and singing him happy birthday. All the students of Grant School received a water bottle with Buster’s face printed on it in celebration of his birthday. Be on the lookout for future Grant School spirit wear with his face on it!

As September approaches Grant School is excited to have our students, faculty and staff back together again. The custodial staff have been hard at work getting everything ready for the new year! Please see this linked letter from the Principal with important details including our schedule, lunch information and Chromebook information. Also, please make sure you check out the school supply list for your child’s grade to make sure they have what they need on the first day of school. See you on September 8th!

Students in Kindergarten through Second Grade along with Ms. Marin’s class visited Van Saun Park Zoo in Paramus. This trip was planned as an extension to the science lessons that were happening in the classroom. Prior to their visit, the students were learning about various animals and their habitats. As the students boarded the bus in the morning, they were so excited because for some students it was their first time riding on a school bus. The student walked around the zoo and stopped at all of the open exhibits. The students especially liked seeing the horses up close. In addition to walking around the zoo, the students had the opportunity to ride the classic red train. The students really enjoyed this as well. After the train ride, the students had a picnic lunch with their friends and ran around the grassy area for a little bit of recess. The students returned to school happy and ended their day with refreshing ice pops. A big thank you to Van Saun Park for hosting the students of Grant School!

Every year Bergen County’s Constitutional Officers (Clerk, Surrogate, and Sheriff offices) sponsor a “My County” poster contest for all fourth grade students in Bergen County. Across the state, fourth grade students have spent a lot of time this year studying the State of New Jersey through the social studies curriculum. Mrs. Conversano, the art teacher at Grant School, supported the students by brainstorming what makes Bergen County unique and all of the students at Grant School submitted their poster for the contest. On May 2,2022 Zayna Awawdeh was recognized as a finalist in the contest. She was selected from over 400 submissions. She received the title of Honorable Mention and her artwork will be printed in the 2023 County Clerk’s Election Calendar. We are so proud of Zayna and her accomplishment!

On April 4th, Grant School had some very special guests visit our school. A representative from the Barn Hill Preserve, along with six of her scaly, feathery and prickly animal friends came to spend the day with us. Students had the opportunity to meet and learn about several animal ambassadors which included a bearded dragon, black-tongued skink, armadillo, porcupine, tortoise, and owl. Each grade level participated in a 40 min session learning fun and interesting facts about each animal such as where they can be found in the world, what they eat and how they interact with other animals. The representative who presented was extremely knowledgeable and did an excellent job of answering all questions the students had. Not only did the students get a chance to see the animals from afar, they were able to purchase pictures with the animals. We can’t wait for them to visit again!

The 6th Grade students held the annual 2022 Grant School Wax Museum on March 29th. The students posed as wax figures to portray all types of interesting people which included artists, actors, athletes, inventors, politicians, musicians, cultural leaders, and all kinds of trendsetters from all walks of life. The wax figures come to life as the visitors approach them to talk about their “claim to fame” and other interesting parts of their life. The students prepared for the Wax Museum by reading a biography and taking notes in a graphic organizer. From their research, the students then chose what they would share with visitors, and practiced their “speeches” in school and at home. Students from Kindergarten to the 5th grade, as well as the parents and guardians of the 6th grade, enjoyed learning about all the people represented at the Wax Museum. The event was captured on video and pictures were taken to later be viewed by all. All of the 6th grade students participated in this year’s wax museum and expressed how excited they were to perform for the entire student body. It was great to see the expressions on the visitors’ faces and the reactions by not only the visiting classes but also from the teachers and parents when first seeing the students dressed as the wax figures in full costume. The 6th grade students remember attending the wax museum as young students and looked forward to this year’s event. They did an amazing job and put in a great deal of time and effort.

While reading biographies in the Fountas and Pinnell text set category named Artists, fourth-grade students compared and contrasted the art styles of various artists. The big ideas they thought about included: Why is creativity important for individuals? How do artists use their art to express their thoughts and feelings? How does art help you process your thoughts and feelings? After reading the biography of Jackson Pollock entitled Action Jackson, written by Jan Freenberg and Sandra Jordan, and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker, the fourth graders channeled their “inner Jackson” by creating their own unique pieces. Students utilized the same techniques as Jackson Pollock, including listening to improvisational jazz music as they created their original masterpieces.

On Monday, January 24, 2022, Grant School lit the school up in purple! We were showing support on Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day. Moebius Syndrome is a congenital neurological condition that affects Cranial Nerves 6 and 7. Individuals are not able to move their eyes side to side, and their face is paralyzed. So they cannot smile, frown, pucker their lips for a kiss and squint their eyes to protect them from the sun. This type of facial paralysis can make eating, breathing, and speaking extremely challenging. Grant School celebrated the theme, “Smiles Come in ALL Shapes and Sizes.” Students and teachers dressed in all shades of purple. Ms. Walker’s class even had purple masks on all day! It was a great day to bring awareness to a syndrome that people may not have known about. A big thank you to the Morales family for putting the day together.

On Thursday, December 16th and 17th Grant School students were invited to shop at the Grant School Holiday Boutique. The students were so excited to visit the store and shop for their families and friends. Many even shared that they were going straight home to wrap their gifts. It was amazing to see how much thought the children were putting into the gifts they were buying for their family members. As always, a big thank you to the Grant School PTA for organizing a wonderful event. In addition, on behalf of the Faculty and Staff of Grant School, we would like to say Happy Holidays to all of the families in Ridgefield Park. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in 2022.

On September 28th through the 30th Grant School students were invited to visit the Scholastic Book Fair. Students shopped until they dropped! They were excited to see books written by their favorite authors as well as newly released books. It was great to see so many smiling faces as they left the gymnasium eager to return to their classrooms and read their new books. Teachers were also on the lookout for students who were “caught” reading. If a student was caught reading, their name was submitted into a raffle for a free book. Congratulations to our two winners, Nicholas Fernandez and Mila Dunn. A big thank you to the PTA for supporting our students’ love of reading by bringing the book fair to our school.

Happy Fourth of July! This year all three Ridgefield Park Elementary Schools participated together in the traditional town Fourth of July Parade. It was a great way to really kick off the summer season in true RP fashion. After overcoming many challenges this year, the theme of the 2021 float was, “We’re In This Together.” Members from all three PTA’s worked together to make this fun and colorful project come to life. Students and PTA board members from all of the elementary schools rode on their impressive creation while waving to the crowds, blowing bubbles and energetically dancing to great music. A great time was had by all!

On June 16th, Grant School hosted the Kindergarten and Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremonies. For the first time, the ceremonies were hosted outside on Henry Street in front of the school. Families were invited to come and cheer their children on for this joyous occasion. This year both the kindergarteners and sixth graders incorporated sign language into their ceremony. Kindergarten students signed the song A You’re Adorable by Perry Como and the sixth graders signed Somewhere Over the Rainbow while a recording of Eric Clapton played in the background. Best wishes to our sixth graders as they enter middle school. Sixth Grade Class of 2021, please remember that you will always be part of the Grant School Family!

We are so delighted to share Edition 3 of the Scarlet Quill Jr. Our 5th and 6th grade journalists continue to write about their interests while culminating the pieces into one template. Please enjoy reading the material from each of our elementary buildings. Once again, we thank Mrs. Barrera, Mrs. Gerard, Mrs. Suarez, Mrs. Centrella, Mrs. Argila, Mrs. Haase, and Mr. Kenny for their efforts with the aspiring journalists. Please click the link to read the Scarlet Quill Jr., April Edition 3.

The Grant School PTA has been busy planning fun events for the students of Grant School. The PTA is happy to announce two upcoming events. The first is a paint night with Mrs. Conversano. Mrs. Conversano will guide the young artists through a step-by-step process to recreate a beautiful painting using watercolors. Next up, we will have a fun filled evening titled, Baking Night with Gina the Baker. Gina, the owner of Gina the Baker located on Main Street in Ridgefield Park, will walk students through baking and decorating various kinds of yummy treats. More details regarding both events will be sent home soon. Stay up to date through our weekly emails! We look forward to seeing the families of Grant School at these upcoming events!

Grant School is proud to announce that we will be participating in National Reading Month throughout the month of March. During this time we will be reading a variety of literature which will allow for us to use our imagination to take our minds to magical places.

Looking for quality literature? Try the Scarlet Quill Jr. Our 5th and 6th graders were offered an opportunity to write anything based on their interest while culminating the pieces into one template. Please enjoy reading the material from each of our buildings. Each students’ piece includes their name and the school they attend.

We are pleased to announce that the Ridgefield Park district website has a new look and feel. We've added a megamenu which will put most important resources only one click away as well as a qucklinks bar for our most accessed resources. This text was added to test the overflow feature. This text was added to test the overflow feature. This text was added to test the overflow feature. This text was added to test the overflow feature. This text was added to test the overflow feature.