Calling all book lovers!

If you love books, and if your (or your son/daughter’s) love of books was born and
encouraged at St. John’s/the Wilson School, we have an exciting opportunity to
announce. We’ve begun a multi-track project that will revitalize the existing Middle
School library, add physical and on-line resources and offer portable resource access as
well as additional research space on the Middle School floor.

We’ve got a terrific team working on this large project including a band of very dedicated
parents, the Middle School faculty, and the school administration. We’ll be working
hard into the next school year; we know we’ll need additional resources to complete the
project. We’re hoping you’ll be excited to help.

Here’s a very brief list of some of what we’ll need to purchase:

• Books! both paper and ebooks.
• Shelves & rolling carts.
• Hardware & software for the catalog/checkout system and media access.
• Subscriptions to “deep web” resources such as online databases, encyclopedias, journal resources, etc.
• Training.

How can you get involved to show your love of books and of your (or your child’s) alma mater?

• Make a cash gift. We’ve begun accepting directed donations to the Middle
  School Library project. For example, we’ve received a gift from an anonymous
  donor who wishes the gift to be used toward the purchase of presidential
  biographies, first ladies’ biographies, and other US History titles appropriate to
  the Middle School age group, 10-14.
• Give of your time. If you can volunteer to help with setting up the library, or you
  have librarian/media specialist expertise, we’d love to hear from you! Recent
  alumni needing community service points, take note!
• Buy books for the library. We’ll be identifying specific titles we need; we’ll
  publish a wish list on Amazon.com so that those titles can be donated directly, in
  your name or in anothers’.
• Participate in fundraising efforts. We’ll be rolling out details of dedicated
  fundraisers for the Library project. Even if you can’t write a check don’t worry,
  there will be other ways you can participate!

For more details on what we’re doing and how you can help, please contact June at
school or at june@thewilsonschool.com. Strong thoughts for a happy and healthy 2012!

St. John’s School/The Wilson School Alumni Newsletter

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Announced

New Sound System in the Christiansen Memorial Auditorium

Generous donations from Marilyn Wolter (grandmother of Mckenzie Melius, class of  2011), David Gotwald, the Mott family (Olivia, class of 2011), Dr. E. Thomas Behr, member of the Wilson School Board of Trustees, the Lozynskyj family (Maksym, class of 2011 & Kyra, class of 2014), the Rehman family (Amina, class of 2012 & Hamza, class of 2013), the O’Donnell family (Ryan, class of 2011), the Dempsey family (Mark, class of 2012 & Claire, class of 2014) & the Castellini family (Francesca, class of 2015) enabled the purchase & installation of our beautiful new sound equipment. MANY THANKS & strong thoughts to all!!!

New Language Program:  Mandarin Chinese

The Wilson School has added a Mandarin Chinese program to the existing language curriculum of Spanish and French classes.  Our new language teacher is Yukun G. Sapio, pictured below with some of her students.  Ms. Sapio teaches Beginning Mandarin to all grade levels.  Mandarin classes include Chinese culture, history, geography and the arts, as well reading, listening, speaking and writing in Mandarin Chinese.

New PreK3 Program:  Wilson Start

In September 2011 The Wilson School launched Wilson Start, a pre-school program for 3-year-olds Christina Corsetto directs the program assisted by Erika Saum.  As in the rest of the Wilson School, class size is limited: in this case, to twelve students.  Here’s what Christina has to say about our new program:

“At Wilson Start we believe each child has a voice, and we encourage every child to express themselves individually because that is what makes them special. In Wilson Start, we follow a monthly theme based curriculum. We use these themes to reinforce areas of our curriculum: Math, Language Arts, Social Science, Science, and motor skills. In the first trimester our themes included Back to School, Fall Harvest, and We Are Thankful.  Wilson Start also introduces a new letter and number each week. In the first trimester we explored the letters A-K and numbers 1-11 using some of our school’s advanced technology, including the Smartboard and iPads.

“What distinguishes Wilson Start from other preschool programs is its variety of unique special classes such as Gym, Spanish, Swimming, Music, Art, Yoga and Health. Wilson Start students participate in each of these specials one to two times a week. Every day at Wilson Start is a new adventure, and we always start each adventure with a smile to make each and every day full of fun and learning!”

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Upcoming Events

Rededications Planned

The Wilson School will conduct rededication ceremonies for the Johanson-Krawczyk Gymnasium and the Christiansen Memorial Auditorium this spring.  If you would like to help plan and/or attend either or both of these events, please contact June Tralle at The Wilson School, 271 Boulevard, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046, 973-334-0181 or email jtralle@thewilsonchool.com.

Middle School Library Reorganization and Fundraiser

A parent committee will lead an effort to reorganize and enhance the Middle School Library this spring.  Plans include recataloging the library using the Dewey Decimal System, evaluating the condition of the current stock, creating search capability, and a check-out system, as well as adding books to support the current and planned curricula.  If you would like to get involved in this effort in some way please contact Mrs. Preston at spreston@thewilsonschool.com, Julie Toth at julietoth22@yahoo.com or Jean Chen at theShiehFamily@gmail.com.

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We’d love to hear from you!

We’d like to publish this newsletter several times during the coming school year.  Please send news of you and your family (photos are fine!) and we’ll publish it in the next newsletter.  You can help us reduce the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter by sending us your email address (and letting us know it’s ok to send it to you that way).  Please consider making a gift of any size to defray the increasing costs of printing and postage for those who don’t have email.

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Do you know alumni who did not receive this newsletter?
We’re missing contact information for many alumni, former teachers and staff members.  Please send contact info to June Tralle at The Wilson School, 271 Boulevard, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 or email jtralle@thewilsonchool.com.

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Class Notes

HS Class of 1943

Ellen VanDeusen Jacke tells us:  In May 2011 I moved to Wallingford, CT.  I have a two bedroom cottage and lots of new friends and activities on the 168 acre campus of Ashlar Village, a continuing care Masonic retirement community.

I still spend summers on Block Island and remain very busy with church and community responsibilities, especially around the issues of hunger and affordable housing.

HS Classes of 1966 and 1971

Historic House goes on open space rolls
By Cindy Forrest (article reprinted in its entirety from Parsippany Life, a publication of the North Jersey Media Group Inc., September 30, 2011, page 4.)

[Parsippany] Mayor James Barberio presented Anita Baldwin [HS Class of 1971] with a resolution honoring her, her family and their history in the township of Parsippany. However that wasn’t the end of it. “I also want to give you a key to the city, in case you ever come back from California to visit,” he said handing her a large golden key.

Baldwin is one of two siblings who inherited the family homestead on South Beverwyck Road after her parents passed away.

In the spring of 2009 Baldwin and her sister Patricia [HS Class of 1966] put the 19-room center hall colonial mansion sitting on 2.8 acres up for sale at an asking price of $799,000.

Anita has lived in the home that has been in the family since 1831 for her entire life except for the four years she was away at Ithaca College in New York. Now she is on the cusp of a deal with the township to sell the estate that would guarantee the preservation of the building and the addition to the land to Parsippany’s open space program.

While [this] deal is still unofficial the township is anticipating a closing date sometime in November at a price of approximately $670,000.

Although the Baldwin House has not been registered as an official historic site, the mayor, along with Randy Tortorello, a member of the township’s Historic Preservation Advisory Committee who helped to broker the deal, felt it was an important acquisition.
“I just hated the thought that someone could come in, buy it and either tear it down or alter it,” said Barberio.

The plans for how the property will be used are not set in stone, but Barberio said he would like to open it up to the community for meeting space.
“Hopefully the women’s club, scouts, [and] different groups would be able to take advantage of the space,” he said. There is also a possibility that township equipment could be stored there or that the ambulance squad could use the location as a home base on that side of town.
Hiram Smith Jr., the son of a colonel who served in the American Revolutionary War was an honorary pallbearer at President George Washington’s funeral and was the original owner of the house, which was built in the early 1800′s.
The mayor also noted that Baldwin has 74 relatives buried in the Vail Memorial Cemetery in Parsippany. Baldwin was surprised. “Really? 74? I didn’t know that!” she said.

6th grade Class of ‘67

Ronald DeMouthe opened a Japanese/sushi restaurant in the East Village in Manhattan in 2001 – it’s Ginger, at 109 First Avenue between 6th & 7th Streets.

8th grade Class of 1973

Barbara Haugh Bossert reports:  After graduating from the Wilson School, I received a BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Fine Arts from Caldwell College. Subsequently, I attended Parson’s School of Design and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC.

As a first grade teacher in the North Caldwell school system. I was given the responsibility to create and implement curriculum.

My career in Photography began with a position as a Picture Editor and Photo Researcher with Silver Burdett Ginn a publishing company in Morristown NJ.

As Supervisor of Photography for McGraw Hill, a children’s publisher in NYC, I established award winning cover designs for their K-9 reading program and trained and supervised a staff of 11 photo researchers. In 1992 I became the Director of visual resources for Scholastic Textbook Division in New York City, managing all visual resources for their education products.
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Presently, as co-owner with my husband of Boz Art productions, I handle photo acquisitions for the company while he handles the art and website design. We live in Mountain Lakes with our 13 year old son, Christopher, and our dog Kirby. I continue to do freelance work creating amazing photos for all types of products.

Carolyn Borlo was kind enough to let us come to the Wilson School to take photos for reading and math workbook covers for the Publisher Evan Moor. I look forward to returning in February to continue working with the Wilson School students in this capacity.

8th grade Class of 1984

Jon Krawczyk – In the last issue of the Alumni Newsletter we reported that Jon created the “9/11 Memorial Cross” that stands at St. Peter’s Church, the oldest Catholic parish in New York City.  The New Yorker magazine article All Together Now (page 26, issue of September 12, 2011) relates that the cross Jon fashioned for St. Peter’s Church will be moved to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, so he created another cross to grace St. Peter’s.  Jon made the cross-country trip from his home in Malibu to New York City with the replacement cross strapped to a truck.  In the New Yorker article Jon relates the reactions he encountered in his journey.

8th grade Class of 2005

Kim Hartel is a junior at Boston University majoring in Special Education.  She graduated from the Wilson School and Morristown Beard High School where she was active in the Dance Ensemble and received the French award upon graduation.

8th grade Class of 2007

Andrew Eckart attended Oratory Prep for two years, then decided to apply to Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA – the only “early college” in the country, which enrolls about 60% of each incoming class out of 10th grade and 40% out of 11th grade.  Andrew graduated with an AA degree from Bard College in May 2011 and is now a sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Civil Engineering.  Although Vanderbilt accepted his 2 years of credits at Simon’s Rock, because he elected an engineering program he’ll have to spend a minimum of 2.5 years in that major to graduate, so he’s considered part of the class of 2014.

Andrew achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in April, 2011.

Drew Hartel is a freshman at Loyola University in Baltimore majoring in Business.  He also graduated from Morristown Beard High School where he participated in five varsity sports and was Captain of the varsity basketball team.

8th grade Class of 2010

Amanda Calderon reports that she’s doing very well.  “I’m playing volleyball, basketball, and softball, and I’m on a regional travel volleyball team. I’m involved in several community service organizations (Habitat for Humanity, Key Club, and Future Business Leaders of America).  I’m still making jewelry, and I’m taking business courses in order to help me expand my knowledge and improve my business.”

Aaron Schnitzler is a sophomore at Boonton High School, where he is putting his unique point of view — the writing ability he developed at Wilson — to work, pulling an A average in his Honors English class. He just finished up his second season on the J.V. soccer team and is looking forward to a second spring as a member of the track team. Aaron is keeping up his drumming, which he began in 6th grade at Wilson, and is playing in a music performance club at high school.

8th grade Class of 2011

Mckenzie Melius loves Mountain Lakes High School.  She is on the freshman soccer team and enjoys having a couple hours of a sport after school.  She is enjoying her classes and mentioned how prepared she was for Honors Geometry.  Kudos to Mrs. Preston!

Olivia Mott is loving every moment of being at Oldfields School. She loves all of her classes; she is taking World History II, Biology, Spanish, ceramics, English and Algebra I. She made the riding team and rides every day while doing local horse shows on the weekends. She is busy all the time and has made lots of friends.

Ryan O’Donnell loves Morristown-Beard School and is off to a good start.  He has joined the cross country team, plays trombone in the jazz band and is making new friends.  Wilson has prepared him well for high school and he has two advanced classes.

Todd Wilson, former quad-captain of the Wilson Wildcats, was named Captain of the Freshman Soccer Team at Morris Knolls High School.  Todd spent the summer working at “The Green Pond Stand” and training with a soccer semi-pro twice a week.

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Strong thoughts during this holiday season!

St. John’s School/The Wilson School
Alumni Newsletter

May Queen Gallery