News
4th Grade Project Challenge Wins 2nd Place in New Jersey State Bar Foundation's Mock Trial Contest
Fourth grade students in Project Challenge performed their second place-winning case "Dino Disaster" at the New Jersey Law Center in front of a judge and jury.
Nick Bruel Visited Joyce Kilmer on March 7, 2017!
Nick Bruel with winners of the Author Visit Poetry Contest
"Bad Kitty" author Nick Bruel stopped by Joyce Kilmer School and spoke to 4th and 5th graders about the inspiration for his popular series. During the day, he autographed books and ate lunch with the winners of the Author Visit Poetry Contest. This event was sponsored by the Mahwah Schools Foundation.
Winners were: 4th Grade - Claire L., Audrey M., Anabella B., Kerry P., Mahanth C., Abby W., Esther C., Matthew M.
5th Grade - Audra B., Stephanie F., Emelda P., Michael C., Kiran A., Noah B., Mark L., Ryan G.
Jonathan Stokes Visited Joyce Kilmer in October 2016!
Jonathan Stokes stopped by Joyce Kilmer during his book tour for "Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas." Mr. Stokes explained the process of writing his story, in addition to explaining the history of the Incas.
Dan Gutman Visited Joyce Kilmer in November 2015!!
On Tuesday, November 24th, the students at Joyce Kilmer School met the enormously popular, award-winning author, Dan Gutman. Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid, then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like the “My Weird School” series, the Baseball Card Adventure series, “The Genius Files,” “The Kid Who Ran for President,” “The Homework Machine,” and many other books for young readers. He's written sports fiction, humor, mystery, historical fiction, non-fiction, and more. Dan Gutman also says that he “doesn’t write about regular kids doing regular, believable kid things. I like to get fantastic, over the top. I like surprise endings and cliff-hangers.” A great time was had by all! Thanks to the Mahwah Schools Foundation for this special event!!
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Steve Swinburne Author Visit – December 2013
Every year, Joyce Kilmer Elementary School has the opportunity to host an author visit, thanks to the generosity of the Mahwah Schools Foundation. On Monday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 3, Joyce Kilmer students attended writing workshops with well-known children’s author Steve Swinburne.
Steve Swinburne is a well-known author of beautifully written narrative nonfiction, primarily writing about nature and wildlife. Given the strong emphasis on nonfiction in the Common Core Standards, the information he included during his visit will be particularly valuable to our students in their classroom writing and during standardized testing.
Mr. Swinburne met with both the 4th and 5th grades to conduct writing workshops. He helped them learn how to make their own writing come alive through the use of “strong verbs, cool details, and hooking the reader.” The students had the opportunity to share their inspired writing with Steve and their schoolmates. It was an interactive, energetic workshop specifically designed to leave kids eager to do more writing on their own, and it was a rousing success on every level.
We are so grateful to the Mahwah Schools Foundation for sponsoring this exciting event, and to Steve Swinburne for his entertaining, inspiring, and original program.
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David Lubar Author Visit – December 2012
On Monday, November 26 and Tuesday, November 27, Joyce Kilmer students attended writing workshops with renowned children’s author David Lubar. This visit was funded through a generous grant from the Mahwah Schools Foundation.
David Lubar is a critically acclaimed author and master of the macabre who has written more than twenty books for young readers. His characters quickly engage readers and lure them into his warped and fascinating tales. His novels are on reading lists across the country. His many Weenies short story collections remain a constant favorite among young readers, and his other titles include Punished, Flip, and the series Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie.
During his visit to Joyce Kilmer, Mr. Lubar met with both the 4th and 5th grades to conduct writing workshops. His presentation answered the one question everybody asks him: “Where do you get your ideas?” He provided students with a number of great tips to improve their writing, and gave them the opportunity to share with the group some of their creative story starters, or possible titles. It was an interactive, energetic workshop specifically designed to leave kids eager to do more writing on their own.
We are so grateful to the Mahwah Schools Foundation for sponsoring this exciting event, and to David Lubar for inspiring students to read, and to write more creatively.