Let the Games Begin!

Middle School Takes First & Second Place in Letters About Literature Contest

Under the direction of School Library Media Specialist, Cean Spahn, and Language Arts teachers, Barbara Milone and Kristine Cecere, 7^th and 8^th grade students here at the middle school wrote personal letters to their favorite authors. These letters focused on how one book, short story, or even poem inspired students to change their view of themselves or their world. The letters were then entered into the 2012-2013 “Letters About Literature” contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Target.

Out of the more than 69,000 nationwide entries, over 2,000 of which were from New Jersey, the national judges returned only about 250 letters to New Jersey. The third and fourth rounds of judging, performed by members of New Jersey’s educational and library communities, narrowed that number down to 75 before judges selected one first and one second place winner, along with about 20 honorable mentions for each level. For the first time ever, two students from the Lewis F. Cole Middle School took FIRST and SECOND place in the Level II contest category.

Congratulations to New Jersey’s FIRST place winner, Gavin Lifrieri, an eighth grader here at the middle school. Gavin's heartfelt letter about how Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog taught him to appreciate his life and his family really touched the judges.  Gavin’s letter has moved on to the national rounds of judging in Washington. If selected Gavin could win a $1,000 cash award! Good luck to Gavin in this next round of judging.

Additionally, congratulations to Tino Thoon, also an eighth grader, who took SECOND place in the state for his introspective letter to John C. Wright. Wright’s The Hermetic Millenia taught Tino to find the courage to believe in a bright future for our world, even when society is “surrounded by selfishness, greed, violence and war.”

Finally out of the 27 New Jersey honorable mention winners in the Level II contest category, four are from the Lewis F. Cole Middle School. Congratulations to our seventh grade winner, Joshua Yoon, and to our 3 eighth grade winners Minju Kang, Ruth Park and Trisha Sheth. All of their letters demonstrate writing sophistication and the positive effects that books have on readers.

In addition to receiving recognition on New Jersey’s Center for the Book website, each of the winners has been invited, along with their families, to a statewide awards reception, which will be held in Hamilton, NJ, on May 14th.

All of us here at the middle school are extremely proud of the winners for their exceptional achievements!

Intermedia Strikes Gold Again!

Intermedia, the art and literary magazine published each year by 7^th and 8^th grade students of the Lewis F. Cole Middle School, has been presented for the first time in its 40 year history with a Gold Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. A Gold Crown Award is the highest honor a scholastic magazine can receive.

 This is an honor in which Art Adviser, Nina Anderson and Literary Adviser, Cean Spahn are extremely proud. Special congratulations go out to all the writers and artists, including literary editors Christina Ping and Alex D’Ambrosio, and Art Editor, Gabriella Higgins, who were instrumental in making our “Time” theme resonate in the minds’ of the judges!

Middle School Band & Orchestra Visit Elementary Schools

Nineteen students from Lewis F. Middle School’s award winning Band and String Orchestra traveled to Schools 1, 2, 3 and 4 on April 9 and 10, 2013, to play for 5^th and 6^th graders. Selections included "The Barber of Seville," "Phantom of the Opera," "Colonel Bogey March," "Twenty One Guns," and "Midnight Escape." Students, faculty, and administrators at the elementary schools were enthusiastic in their praise and appreciation of the student musicians.  "Your entire presentation was so professional!  I can't believe these are middle schoolers!" remarked one staff member at School 2.

8^th Grade Class Trip to Boston

This year’s Boston trip is on June 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th in 2013. The final payment was due on April 5, 2013.  Students must also return a completed medical form and permission slip to Ms. Reicherz as soon as possible.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Reicherz after school. 

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