February Newsletter 2023

CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Experience the Harlem Renaissance

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NOW through March 31st

Garden State Debate League

CHP Teams Wins 1st Place for the Most Percentage Wins!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all of our debaters who competed in Saturday’s 2023 Garden State Debate League tournament. Our debaters did an incredible job, with CHP ranking 1st for the highest percentage of wins (70 percent) and 2nd place in total debates won based on the performance of all CHP teams. Special congratulations to Sahith Mangu for winning the Golden Gavel award as the top speaker in the league and to Motonrayo Odukoya and Narayan Lekhi tying for second place as top speakers in the league!

Top speakers in the League (OUT OF 164 speakers)

Golden Gavel - Sahith Mangu (Number 1 speaker)

Tied for second place in the league - Motunrayo Odukoya and Narayan Lekhi

Fourth place in the league - Mahadev Menon

Sixth place in the league - Revant Jear

Seventh place in the league - Shray Chandwani

The next highest scoring speaker is given the Top Speaker of the School

11th place speaker in the league and top speaker for the school - Ananya Mehta

16th place speaker in the league - Anaya Raju

19th place speaker in the league - Valentina Garcia,

20th place speaker in the league - Meghana Indupuru

Top Teams in the Tournament (out of 58)

2nd place - CHP MOP (Mahadev M, Moturnayo O, Shameek P)

6th place - CHP DPPRishabh D, Tanvi P, Dhruv P)

7th place - CHP BDP (Vihaan B, Arsh D, Ayven P)

8th place - CHP JMX (Revant J, Sahith M)

9th place - CHP BLR (Nitara B, Sophia L, Jwala R)

10th place - CHP LMR (Narayan L, Ananya M, Anaya R)

11th place - CHP CGS (Shray C, Valentina G, Zahra S)

Congratulations to all!

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Groundhog Day

February 2nd is Groundhog Day. If the groundhog sees his shadow, then there are 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, then spring is right around the corner. After reading the book, Wake Up, Groundhog, the children were very excited to see if the groundhog would see his shadow or not. And the answer was . . . 6 more weeks of winter!

Dinosaur Fossils

Preschoolers learned about dinosaurs through reading stories and playing with imaginary dinosaurs. They learned that dinosaurs do not live today but are extinct. After reading the story, Fossils Tell of Long Ago, the children were so excited to make their own fossils. As a group, we followed directions on how to make dinosaur fossils. We mixed flour, salt, and water to make the dough. Then we formed the dough into balls. Each child flattened out their ball of dough and pressed a small dinosaur into it to leave an imprint. The dough was then placed into a warmer to dry out overnight. The children were so excited to see the fossils they had made!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day was celebrated with extra love and kindness in Preschool. The children dressed in Valentine’s colors and created “Love Bug” cards to express the love they have for their parents. Each child also brought special cards for their classmates and delivered them into their individual Valentine bags.

Dental Week

“Brush, brush, brush your teeth, brush them twice a day!!” Those were the words chanted by our Preschoolers as they learned the importance of keeping their teeth healthy by brushing, flossing, and eating the right foods. They were asked to bring in pictures of food and then, after making replicas of their mouths out of marshmallows, the children sorted the food pictures onto happy or unhappy teeth.

Black History Month

Our Preschoolers celebrated Black History Month by presenting their projects of famous African Americans. The children came to school dressed as the person they chose to talk about. They each created a poster of their famous inventor, athlete, scientist, or celebrity with help from their parents. Each child shared their project with their friends in class. They were so proud to pretend to be their famous person and talk about why they were famous.

Pre-Kindergarten Honors Black History Month

Pre-Kindergarten honored Black History Month by doing an exciting research project! The children were able to choose from a list of famous African American inventors, entertainers, athletes, and political figures. After researching their person of choice, they did a presentation in class. All of the children’s projects came out great and they did an amazing job presenting their work in front of their peers!

Presidents’ Day

The Pre-Kindergarten class had fun learning about Presidents’ Day. We learned that George Washington was the very first president of the United States! We discussed what is the job of the President and that he lives in the White House in Washington D.C. We also learned that he is on the dollar bill and the quarter.

Kindergarten Celebrates 100th Day of School

A lot of excitement happened on Tuesday, February 28th when the Kindergarten students celebrated the 100th Day of School! After counting down the days with tally marks, the children learned place value along the way. Each child’s 100 Day presentation was proudly and beautifully presented in front of their peers and on video. We saw such amazing and creative designs. All day long the children had lots of fun and enjoyed 100-day activities such as doing various 100 exercises, taking 100 steps outside, counting to 100 by 1, 2, 5, and 10, and so much more! Happy 100th day of School, Cedar Hill Prep!

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Special Project in Grade 1

Zavier’s mother, Ms. Shirley, and a volunteer from Rutgers brought us a variety of beautiful art materials, and projects, including beaded keychains, pencil cases, and scratch art Valentine Cards. Our 1st Grade students volunteered their time and creativity to design gifts of love and friendship for the Children at St. Peter’s Children’s Hospital. We read I Am One: A Book of Action and discussed small acts of kindness and how they can make a difference. The students wrote beautiful messages of love and encouragement for these children, and Ms. arab and I are so thankful that Ms. Shirley allowed us to be a part of such an incredible project. We are so proud of our students for putting their hearts into this.

Grade 1 Living History Presentations

On Thursday February 23rd, 1st grade presented “An Alphabetical Representation of Black History.” Each student stood up and recited a few facts about an important historical figure that helped shape our history in alphabetical order.

These students began their journey learning about slavery and civil rights, being assigned an historical figure and writing about them, memorizing facts about their figure, and then reciting by memory their facts to a live audience. They ended the presentation by singing the civil rights folk song “We shall overcome.” We are very proud of 1st Grade. They did an excellent job on all parts of this amazing project!

Grade 2 Living History Presentations

2nd Graders were assigned an inspirational quote by notable Black Americans, both historical and current. For Living History, students introduced their notable person, recited their quote, and shared the message within the quote.

After, students showcased their illustration of their quotes’ meaning. Our 2nd Graders did a wonderful job presenting!

Grade 3 Valentine’s Day

“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.”

Oscar Wilde

On Tuesday February 14th, 3rd Graders had a fun-filled Valentine’s Day. They completed an intricate weaving craft with beautiful colors on a big red heart. They created a bracelet with hearts and made them into fun patterns that truly showed their personalities! The best part was exchanging their cards. They were all so excited to give their cards to their peers. Great job, 3rd Grade!

Grade 3 Living History

On Thursday, February 23rd, CHP participated in our annual Living History Museum for Black History Month. The 3rd Graders focused on authors and poets. The students created “People Posters” based on the person they researched. They were then asked to memorize a speech and impersonate their figure. Some students got creative and even dressed up in an outfit fitting to their character! We are truly proud of the courage each student showed by standing up in front of parents, peers, and teachers to present their speech. This is not an easy feat and the 3rd Graders performed beautifully. Thank you also to the parents and guardians for assisting your child in preparation for this wonderful event at CHP. Great job, 3rd Grade!

Grade 3 Super Students

Every month, 3rd Grade students are selected as Super Students. They exhibit the qualities of exceptional behavior in and outside of the classroom. They complete a poster that showcases who they are, including their “super student power” and what they would do to make the world a better place. The Super Students for the month of February were Kaelan, Leo, Tori and Cecilia.

Kaelan describes himself as a tremendous team player and an awesome athlete. He would like to change the current gun laws in our country so that nobody else gets hurt! He also loves to play soccer in his spare time.

Leo describes himself as a tremendous team player, mighty mathematician, marvelous musician, and awesome athlete. He wishes he could stop everyone from fighting and arguing and loves to spend time with his family in his spare time.

Tori describes herself as a tremendous team player, a marvelous musician, an awesome athlete, an amazing artist, and a harmonious helper! She wishes she could fix pollution and loves to golf in her spare time.

Cecilia 
describes herself as a tremendous team player, a marvelous musician, an awesome athlete, and an amazing artist. She wishes she could help homeless people and also loves to color and swim in her spare time.

We are proud of you, 3rd Graders!

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Grade 3 Mystery Readers

On Friday, February 10th, 3rd Grade was treated to a mystery reader. It was Allison and Alexa’s mom! She read us the book, Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. This warmhearted tale examines the effect that love and tender regard can have on a lackluster existence. Mr. Hatch is a drab, predictable gentleman who leads a painfully ordered and uninteresting life, his dreary routine at the shoelace factory barely broken by the same joyless lunch day after day. One Valentine’s Day, a giant candy-filled heart is delivered to Mr. Hatch with a note that reads, ``Somebody loves you.’’ Just the thought of someone taking an interest in him completely changes the way Mr. Hatch interacts with his neighbors and co-workers. The newly adorable gentleman becomes so much a part of people’s lives that when it is disclosed that the heart was delivered by mistake, his friends and neighbors rally around him in a loving demonstration. 3rd Graders genuinely enjoyed this story. I think we can all learn a lesson from Mr. Hatch’s friends and neighbors!

3rd Grade welcomed Mr. Johnson, Conor’s dad, as their mystery reader on Friday, February 17th. He was given a drum roll welcome! Mr. Johnson read a very captivating book Gulliver’s Travels. The direct narrative describes four remarkable journeys of ship surgeon, Lemuel Gulliver. One journey takes him to the land of Lilliput where six-inch-high inhabitants bicker over trivialities. Another journey takes him to Brobdingnag, a land where giants reduce man to insignificance. Written with disarming simplicity and careful attention to detail, this classic is diverse in its appeal: for children, it remains an enchanting fantasy. The students loved the animated reading! Thank you for reading to us, Mr. Johnson!

Grade 3 Science

Third grade students conducted research on natural hazards.They gathered information on the characteristics of these hazards and also learned how to remain safe during them. Some of the natural hazards that they researched were, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and landslides. The students gathered interesting facts about them and presented them to their classmates. Great job, third grade!

Grade 4 Living History Presentations

February has been a very busy month for Grade 4. Throughout the month, students have been working on their Living History presentations. Each student’s performance was a celebration of the many Black American scientists and inventors who have made important contributions to our society. Dressed in costumes reflecting the period in which these inventors lived, from the mid-18th century to the present day, each 4th grade “inventor” delivered a speech that discussed the challenges many of the inventors faced and their amazing successes.

In preparation for the event, the students learned to do online research, collect and organize data, document their research, and write a speech -- all in the 1st person! Their “museum” displays included artifacts that reflected the inventors’ accomplishments and provided the students with an opportunity to express their findings creatively. In addition, the students learned some public speaking techniques and wrote Bio Poems of their subjects.

The gym was bustling with excitement on February 23rd as the students delivered their presentations to the many parents and other guests who visited their individual “museum” tables. Congratulations, Grade 4, for your outstanding presentations!

A special thank you to our Grade 4 families for their assistance with this five-week project. Thank you to Ms. Lyengar for her technical expertise and to Mr. Seeley for organizing the logistics that helped make the day so successful! As with all of our CHP events, it takes a village. And we are so grateful to all whose assistance has made Living History a time-honored CHP tradition! February also welcomed two more 4th graders to the “Double Digit Club.”

Happy Birthday to Vihaan Patel and Alexander Peng upon their 10th birthdays!

And, in the midst of all this, Grade 4 took time to celebrate Valentine’s Day as students shared cards and treats with their classmates. We hope everyone had a sweet February!

5th and 6th Grade Trip to NJIN

The 5th and 6th graders spent an amazing day at the NJIN farm! The students learned that horses have distinct personalities. They exhibit shyness, boldness, love, and idiosyncrasies just like people do! The students even watched two horses vying for position at the trough. Petting the horses was the highlight of the morning. During our time for journaling, the students were asked to write about the farm using all their senses and about whatever else came to mind. These “streams of consciousness” will be transformed into poems for “Poetry Day.” It was another beautiful experience at the NJIN farm.

7th and 8th Grade Trip to NJIN

The 7th and 8th grade students visited the NJIN farm on February 7. This was a special day for CHP students as they met the Rutgers University Landscape Architecture students who held their class up there that day. After a brief introduction, both groups of students proceeded to visit an area where excessive rainfall had collected since our last visit. The students observed the area and used an inquiry-based approach to try to figure out why the rainwater was collecting there. Next, the students measured the area of the frozen pond. All of this data will be used to design a rain garden in this spot and the flow of water will be analyzed from the top of the ridge by using whole systems permaculture design. Mr. Deisher will teach a joint CHP/ Rutgers University class on Zoom about permaculture design on February 21st. The 7th and 8th grade students are excited about working with Rutgers University on this special project.

Grade 8 Gets American Red Cross Certified for CPR/AED/First Aid

Last year, Coach Frankie introduced and implemented the Adult/Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid American Red Cross Certification for CHP 8th Graders. Cedar Hill Prep became the only Middle School in Somerset County to offer this important life skill to our 8th Grade students. Coach Frankie has also provided the Cedar Hill Prep faculty/staff with the same certification.

On August 20, 2014, P.L. 2014, c.36 was signed into law requiring public school districts serving students in grades 9-12 to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED). This instruction must be provided prior to graduation. Our 8th Grade students at Cedar Hill Prep School have an advantage now among other students throughout New Jersey since they have successfully completed their American Red Cross Adult/ Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Certification prior to entering high school. Kudos to the Class of 2022 and now also the Class of 2023 for their success in this beneficial program. Coach Frankie has encouraged her students to maintain this valuable certification throughout high school and beyond.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

Experience the Harlem Renaissance

Middle school celebrated Black History Month this year by transforming CHP into an early 20th century Harlem Renaissance. The event took place on February 24th and was a celebration of the incredible cultural renaissance among African American artists that occurred in Harlem from the 1920s-1940s.

Each classroom was reinvented into a different cultural hot spot in the city at this time. There was The Cotton Club, the Harlem Community Arts Center, The Apollo Theatre, and The Harlem Cafe, all filled with students portraying the various writers, musicians, actors, and activists who contributed to this cultural renaissance. Attendees in early 20th century fashions meandered through the Harlem clubs, enjoying music and conversation about these great African American artists.

The evening ended with music, food, dancing, and final words of thanks to commemorate the great contribution the Harlem Renaissance gave to the world and to the civil rights movement.

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Mardi Gras Celebration

The first American Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a tradition that continues to this day. On Tuesday 2/21, CHP continued its tradition and the French Honor society planned and hosted the annual Mardi Gras celebration with the help of Mme. Gergesse.

The celebration included a slide presentation created by the FHS where students discovered the origins of Mardi Gras and learned about the food and activities associated with this famous festival. The audience participated in a fun Kahoot game. Grades 3-8 participated in creating Mardi Gras posters, each of which showed a high level of creativity.

Notre Café

Grade 7 students studying French learned about the differences between American food and French food. They also learned about French restaurants; how to offer, accept, and refuse food; and how to place an order in French. The Trimester Students were assigned a Project about creating a French cafe scene using props and a menu which they enjoyed. They also got to create dialogue. Students worked in groups to create these amazing scenes.

ART

Stamp Art

Kindergarteners created a form of printmaking known as “Stamp Art.” First, the students cut out templates consisting of bears drawn on heavy paper after which they brushed tempera paint onto the bear templates. Next, students stamped the painted side of the bears onto newsprint paper – thus creating their own print!

WILDCATS SPORTS

Boy’s Basketball

The CHP boy’s basketball team had a successful season. They learned how to play together powerfully as a team and played excellently against some very good local teams. The highlight of the season was seeing the team pull themselves up from a low score and almost be victorious against Princeton Charter School. They only lost by a single point! Coach Deisher is proud of the hard work that all of the members of the team have put in this season. A strong group of 8th Graders will be missed as they move on to high school, but the future is bright with our up-and-coming players.

Girl’s Basketball

The Wildcats Girl’s Basketball team had a very successful February across three games. On February 2nd, we embattled Wardlaw at home over 3 quarters but could not complete the game due to a first aid need on the Wardlaw team. The needs of our fellow players superseded the completion of the game resulting in the cancellation in the third quarter. On February 10th, the Wildcats’ persistence and resilience were at the forefront: after having been down 2 to 20 by the end of the third quarter in our game against Metuchen Christian, CHP Wildcats made a huge comeback scoring 18 points in the last quarter, narrowing the gap to 16-22. While time did not allow for the surpassing of our opponent, an 18-point comeback in the last quarter is commendable for our girls. We ended the season with a bang defeating Princeton Day School 30 to 4 even while displaying great sportsmanship by suspending our defense in the last 2 minutes of the game. This allowed our opponents – who we see as our fellow players – an opportunity to gain a few plays and enjoy the sport as much as we did. Our victory over Princeton Day marks the end of the 22-23 girl’s basketball season. During this season our players displayed growth in skill, sportsmanship, and enjoyed the experience that middle school sports promise.

CHP BOYS BASKETBALl Team

CHP GIRLS BASKETBALL Team

Our Next PTO meeting will be on March 15th at 7:00pm. The meeting will be via Zoom and we will be discussing upcoming events. Be on the lookout for an email with details regarding the meeting.

One of the Top Chess Players in the World Visits CHP!

We were honored to have Grandmaster Chess Instructor, Arun Prasad Subramaniam, visit the school on Sunday, February 14th to share his knowledge with us and play 17 chess games with us! Arun shared his story of how he got to become a Grandmaster, the highest achievement a chess player can reach — which was incredibly inspiring! He encouraged our students that by working hard, studying, and practicing, they really can achieve whatever they want. There were 17 simultaneous chess games going on, with a participant at each board, and Arun walked each player through the strategies and moves that make a masterful game.

Thank you for spending the day with us, Arun. We are all more inspired to work hard and strategically to achieve our goals.

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Pizza with the Principal

On Friday, February 24th, our students enjoyed another Pizza with the Principal where they got to discuss school events, personal goals and successes, and anything that came to mind with our wonderful Principal Seeley!

Grades 1 - 2

Grades 3 - 4

Grades 5 - 8

Preschool - KIndergarten

TIME FOR Re-Enrollment

2023-2024

Deadline

March 31, 2023

Re-enrollment is open for all grades Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8.

All families must re-enroll online through Gradelink. Please login at https://secure.gradelink.com/ Gradelink or simply scan the QR Code to start your Re-Enrollment application.

Please call Admissions at 732-356-5400 ext. 32 or email admissions@cedarhillprep.com for any questions.

SCAN TO REGISTER

Steps to Login:

• Enter your School ID (1306)

• Enter Username and Password

• Click on Re-Enroll Tab

• Follow the Steps to Re-Enroll

Staff Birthdays

Join the Alumni Instagram and Facebook Page

Stay connected and network with the CHP Community. You will receive invitations to events as well as the latest CHP and academic news. This will also allow us to share news and acknowledge all your achievements. Be Part of the Alumni Community Today! Join and share with family and friends to follow and like!

Happy Birthday to Jessica Martinez and Karen Holstein who celebrated their birthdays in February!

152 Cedar Grove Lane

Somerset, NJ 08873

Phone: 732-356-5400

Fax: 732-356-5409

Email: admissions@cedarhillprep.com

Web: www.cedarhillprep.com Contact Us

Mardi Gras Celebration

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