Recycling: A Way of Life at Dogwood Hill School

For more than ten years at Dogwood Hill School, one character trait that has been
recognized and reinforced is Citizenship. Dogwood Hill students have demonstrated
their Citizenship in a variety of ways, but a cornerstone of exercising that trait has been the Fifth Grade Recycling Committee. This year, eleven fifth grade students have volunteered to give up some of their free time to help recycle, reduce and reuse at DHS.
Under the direction of Mr. Gerry McMinn, Head Custodian, the students have been instructed in how to collect paper and plastic throughout the building. Twice a
week, on Tuesday and Friday mornings, these students break into assigned teams to check the classroom and office recycling containers. The squad, made up of six girls and five boys, empties classroom receptacles into larger containers. Mr. McMinn and his crew are then in charge of getting these larger containers down to their work area for District pick‐up.
Recycling efforts at Dogwood Hill School are also seen during lunchtime. There are three large containers in the lunchroom. One is for food scraps; a second is for paper products; and the third is for plastic or glass. Mr. McMinn and his crew are also in charge of this aspect of our recycling efforts. The entire staff and student body is proud of these day‐to‐day efforts, as well as our annual Earth Day activities, which are used to highlight recycling opportunities for children across all of our
grade levels.

 

Oakland Volunteer Fire Department

2011 Firematic Officers of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department.

Department Chief Robert Knapp Jr.  Chief Knapp is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has served with the Fire Department since 1982.  He has received numerous awards for valor from the department and the borough over the course of his volunteer carrier. He has held the rank of Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, 2011 is his second year as Department Chief.
Co. 1 Assistant Chief Curtis LeRoy. Assistant Chief LeRoy has been a member of the department since 1997, prior to that he served with the Wyckoff Fire Department. He has received numerous awards for valor from the department and, while a member of the Wyckoff fire department, was recognized by Wyckoff and the 200 Club of Bergen County for his heroic efforts in saving the life of a brother firefighter.  He has held the rank of Lieutenant and Captain, 2011 is his second year as Assistant Chief of Company 1.
Co. 2 Assist Chief Peter Warnet Jr. Assistant Chief Warnet has been a member of the department since 1994, prior to that he served with the Wyckoff and Midland Park fire departments. He has held the rank of Lieutenant and Captain. 2011 is his first year as Company 2 Assistant Chief, but he has held the position previously.
Co. 1 Captain Charles Kelly. Capt. Kelly is a lifelong resident of Oakland. He has been a member of the department since 2003. He has held the rank of Lieutenant, 2011 is his second year as Captain of Co.1. Capt. Kelly serves alongside his two brothers, George and Brian, who are also members of Co. 1. 
Co. 2 Captain Timothy Ryan. Capt. Ryan grew up in Oakland and joined the department at 18, serving for 14 years before moving to New York State, where he joined the Highland Mills Fire Company and reached the rank of Captain. Capt. Ryan returned to his roots in 2006 and once again joined the Oakland Fire Department. He has received numerous awards throughout his volunteer carrier in New York and Oakland. 2011 is his third year as Captain of Co. 2.
Co. 1 Lieutenant Mark Romme. Lt. Romme has been a member of the fire department since 2005. 2011 is his third year as a Lieutenant with Co. 1.
Co. 1 Lieutenant Vincent Dies. Lt. Dies has been a member of the fire department since 1996. 2011 is his second year as a Lieutenant with Co.1.
Co. 2 Lieutenant Gary Walker. Lt. Walker is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has been a member of the department since 1988. He is a past Captain of Co. 2. 2011 is his first year as Lieutenant, but has held the position in the 1990's.
Co. 2 Lieutenant Vincent Incorvaia. Lt. Incorvaia has been a member of the department since 2006. 2011 is his second year as Lieutenant with Co. 2.

2011 Association Officers of the Oakland volunteer Fire department.
President Edward Proskey. President Proskey is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has been a member since 1975. He is an Ex-Chief of the department having held the position in 1986 & 1987 and serving a second term from 1994 - 1996. He has been Association President since 2006.
Vice President Timothy DeBlock. V/P DeBlock is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has been with the department since 2000 He has been Association Vice President since 2006.
Secretary Joseph A. Gallup. Secretary Gallup is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has been a member since 1960. He has held the position of Secretary since 1975. He currently serves alongside his son Joseph F. Gallup and his granddaughter Casey Gallup is a junior firefighter.  
Treasurer Edwin Kimmel. Treasurer Kimmel is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has been with the department since 1967. He is an Ex-Chief of the department having held the position in 1984 & 1985. He has been the Association Treasurer since 1993.
In 2010, your volunteer Firefighters spent approximately 2,400 man hours of training and answered 408 calls for assistance, 96 more than in 2009 and only the second time in the department’s history in which they answered over 400 calls. In 2007 the department answered 409 calls for assistance.  In 2005 the department responded to 365 calls, marking the first time the department answered over 300 calls in a year.  Since 2005 your volunteers have responded to 2199 calls, an average of 367 calls a year.  This is done by a department of volunteers made up of 54 men and woman, who are on call 24/7 365 days a year. Everyone has full time jobs and in some cases two jobs. Most are married with families, some are single. We come from all walks of life and professions.  Included amongst our ranks are electricians, plumbers, police officers, carrier firefighters, computers tech's, students, business owners, teachers, municipal employees and more.  But, what we all have in common is a love for Oakland and wanting to give back to the community that has given all of us so much. At a time where the economy is uncertain, the one thing the residents of Oakland can be certain of and count on is their volunteer fire department being there for our neighbors in their time of need.
The department also hosts tours of the firehouse for the boy & girl scouts and provides a safety training house for the children during “Safety Town” each July. The department also hosts a fire prevention poster contest for all children in the public schools between 1st & 5th grades, including a fire prevention program & open house for every member of town every October.
The department has spent the past 2 years planning and creating the spec’s for a new rescue truck. The new truck is a 2010 Pierce and will replace the current 1989 Mack. The rescue truck carries equipment to be used on numerous situations but not limited to the following; assisting on structure fires, water rescue, and extrication of victims of motor vehicle accidents. It is also used for firefighter rehabilitation during structure fires and serves as a mobile command post. The new truck is scheduled to arrive in Oakland in July and should be in service by September.
The Oakland Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for members.  If you are interested in joining our ranks and are at least 16 years of age come and visit us any Monday night after 7:30 and speak with an officer.

Oh, the Places We'll Go - Green!

Building upon the experiences that involve knowledge of our global society and the impact that we, as citizens, have on the environment, Heights School students will begin a “Going Green” Project with the Bergen County Utilities Authority in 2011-2012.
This initiative will build upon current practices at Heights where we recycle paper, plastic
bottles, and aluminum cans, which are deposited in receptacles throughout the school.
Children and staff are also encouraged to use products that can be washed and reused,
rather than used and thrown away. Our cafeteria uses plastic trays, which are washed and
reused, rather than disposable trays. Even Heights Olympics shirts are passed down from
older child to younger child to avoid the necessity of reordering.
Children are taught that “going green” is important because we live together on one planet and share its resources. Other ways that Heights encourages a “green” approach are:
• Purchasing products that are made from recycled materials.
• Encouraging people to walk or to ride bicycles rather than use cars
• Turning off the lights when leaving a room.
• Turning water off when brushing teeth or washing dishes.
• Encouraging parents to purchase foods that are organically or locally grown.
• Bringing reusable bags when going to the supermarket.
• Using recyclable bags and containers to transport food to school.
When we embark upon the BCUA project in 2011, the children will be involved in
hands-on activities that will teach them about the advantages of recycling, in addition to learning about waste reduction, water pollution, air pollution, and littering.
We look forward to our new partnership with the Bergen County Utilities Authority and
to having our children gain a new insight into “Going Green.”

Oakland Schools Recycle

Valley Middle School Raises Environmental Awareness

Valley Middle School teaches its students the importance of environmental stewardship and how each person can make a difference through conservation, community service, and daily living choices.
Sixth graders focus their studies on the environment through multiple interdisciplinary units. Early this year, students studied Native Americans and their reliance on the environment for survival. Subsequently, students viewed a special presentation, sponsored by the Oakland Environmental Commission, about the impact garbage has on our ecosystem and the importance of recycling.
These lessons will be reinforced as sixth graders participate in a four-week science unit about ecology and the environment culminating in ecology-themed Science Fair projects. As a result of the sixth grade experience, every student not only understands the importance of environmental stewardship but also has the skills necessary to practice conservation.
Environmental learning continues throughout one’s years at the middle school. Seventh graders participate in a variety of hands-on nature workshops as part of
their annual overnight trip to the Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, NY. In Science, eighth graders learn how the environment is a system of interdependent components that are affected by human activities that can cause lasting effects upon the environment. Personal responsibility for the care of the environment is stressed through various learning activities. Environmental stewardship is also emphasized in a variety of extra curricular opportunities, including the YES Club, the Hiking and Fishing Club, the Gardening Club, and the Science On Wheels Club. This year, the YES Club visited the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, New Jersey and participated in a community-wide clean up throughout Oakland. A second Town cleanup is scheduled for May 14th.
School staff has also taken steps this year to minimize our impact on the environment. In addition to our successful recycling program, the school now offers digital folders to further minimize paper waste and save valuable
resources.

 

 

 

Internet Safety Tips

Young people are digital natives growing up in a fast-paced society, and they quickly acquaint themselves with the various forms of technology available. With instant messaging, video chat, and text messaging, children may meet people of different ages all over the world with a few simple clicks of a button. However, they must be aware of potential dangers presented by this interaction. This article provides safety guidelines, including those established by the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Police, and Oakland Public School personnel.

In talking with young children, parents/grandparents should stress the following:
• Never give your name, address or phone number to anyone on the Internet.
• Do not go into chat rooms without parental help.
• If you receive a message that makes you feel uncomfortable, don't respond to it; tell your parent.
• Don't join a mailing list without parent permission.
• Don't open email from anyone you don't know. It might be a virus, which could
damage the computer.
• Don't believe everything people on the Internet tell you. Since you can't see the
other people, you don't know who they really are.
• Never agree to buy or trade anything on the Internet without permission.
• Never agree to meet in person anyone you may meet on the Internet, and never send pictures of yourself over the Internet.

In talking with teenagers about the Internet, parents/grandparents should stress the following:
• Never give your personal information, your real name, address, phone number,
or any personal information about your family or friends without permission.
• Be careful in chat rooms. Don't get involved in fights or use obscene language.
You could be reported and have your Internet service suspended or cancelled.
• If you are in a chat, for example on Facebook, and someone makes you feel uncomfortable, attempts to start a fight with you, or uses offensive language, leave the chat.
• Ignore obscene or offensive messages. Replying may cause the sender to
continue to send such messages.
• Be careful in joining mailing lists; some may make your personal information
public. Don't provide an address or phone number. The information for which
you are signing up is sent to the email address you provide, so they don't need
your address or phone number.
• Beware of offers for free items, get rich, or weight loss offers. They often are
a scam.
• Beware of email from people you don't know or email you weren't expecting. It
may contain a virus designed to damage your computer or send your account
name and password back to the sender.
• Never send your photo to someone you don't know or trust. Remember, the
Internet allows people to become anyone they want to be, and they may be
someone you don't really want to know. Also, remember that photographs can be
forwarded to an unlimited number of people on the Internet via cell phones. Think before you send pictures of yourself or your friends via your cell phone.
• Always communicate in a responsible manner. Never send a negative message in a text, email, instant message or post to someone’s webpage. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it digitally.
• Never engage in cyberbullying. It is against the law.

Parents/Guardians should make certain to:
• Place the computer in a common area of one’s home rather than a child’s bedroom. This will permit monitoring computer usage and encourage online time to be a family-oriented activity.
• Become familiar with the people and web sites your children are interacting
with on the Internet, just as you would get to know all of their other friends.
• Choose a family-oriented Internet Service Provider or Online Service and use
Parental Controls or software to regulate the type of information and material
your children can access on the Internet. Most of the Parental Controls and
software allows adults to restrict access to age appropriate levels. If children do receive objectionable material, teach them to avoid responding to messages that are suggestive, obscene, threatening or makes them feel uncomfortable. Make sure they are comfortable in making you aware of these types of messages. Immediately notify your Internet Service Provider of the receipt of such material.
• Try to select non-descriptive Account Names and Screen Names for your children. Their online names should not be too specific or identify or describe them in detail.
• Remind your children not to provide their real name, phone number, address,
or other personal information to anyone they meet online, and never to meet someone with they have met through the Internet without your permission. If you do permit such a meeting, it should be in a public place and you or another responsible adult should accompany your child.
• Limit the use of the Internet and/or any digital device for non-school related activities, such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social mediums to the weekend. Minimal use during the school week allows students to focus more on their schoolwork.
• Set reasonable guidelines for your children's time online and remember that the computer should not be thought of as a "babysitter.” The guidelines should be age appropriate. Remember, what is acceptable for a teenager may not be acceptable for a younger child.
• Remind your children that the rules are the same for any computer they use,
whether at home, a friend's house, school, or the public library.
• Assure your children that they can talk with you about things that happen on
the Internet.
• Accept that your children are ahead of you and are probably using technology in ways that you aren’t. Make every attempt to stay current with the latest available technologies and digital devices. Be engaged in what they are doing and ask them to teach you new things from time to time.
• Have access to all of their children’s passwords to social networking sites with the understanding that occasionally their sites will be accessed to make certain there isn’t any bad behavior, such as cyberbullying, taking place.