Congratulations to our Safety Patrollers of the Week!!!
Congratulations to Mrs. Kessler, Educator of the Year 2024 and Mrs. Meyers, Educational Services Professional of the Year 2024!!!
💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville who contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer School's Ms. Andrea Dominko! Ms. Dominko has been teaching at Van Derveer School for 18 years. She has been teaching first grade for all 18 years! Ms. Dominko received her certification for Teaching English as a second language. Within the first-grade classroom, she loves working with students learning English and seeing them progress as they learn a new language. Ms. Dominko is on Van Derveer’s Emergency Response Team and helps with other committees. She enjoys working with students of various ages in the Summer Enrichment Program. In Ms. Dominko’s classroom, she exemplifies the saying, “Be silly. Be honest. Be kind." Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #somervillestafffeature
💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville who contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer School's Ms. Charlene Tackvic! Charlene Tackvic has been teaching at Van Derveer School for 25 years. Her passion for teaching and learning new things has led her to various roles within the school. In 2001, she started as a third-grade teacher who always found innovative ways to use technology in the classroom. This led her to become the K-5 Technology teacher in 2007. After pioneering the first Hour of Code in Somerville, her enthusiasm for coding and all that children can learn from it inspired her to initiate Coding classes at Van Derveer. This is her tenth year teaching Coding. Mrs. Tackvic has also enriched many students by teaching in tutoring programs and gifted and talented classes. She has served on various school and district committees and shared her knowledge and passion for teaching while presenting workshops for the district and at conferences. She co-created the Van Derveer yearbook with Jessica Meyers and was a co-yearbook advisor for 12 years. In 2008, she was the Governor’s Teacher of the Year and a Teacher Who Makes Magic. In 2016, she was recognized as a State Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and named a NJ Exemplar Elementary Educator. Mrs. Tackvic strives each day to teach students how to solve problems. She says, “Problems are an opportunity to learn something new. Never be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we learn!” Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #somervillestafffeature
This is a visual motor wall course designed by Patti Clark, OTR and Kelly D’Urso PT DPT NCS on the walls of the A- wing at VanDerveer school . The purpose of this wall is to increase visual motor skills, coordination, visual tracking, and attention. Students can trace the course with a finger, putting their hands in the proper positions of the hands and tracing on the lines and dots. Two breathing activities were placed at the beginning and the end of the course to increase self regulation and calming skills, both prior and following completion of this task. The course can be used by any students at Vander school who require a sensory motor break, who require visual motor training, or who just require some independent calming work students in therapy also increase their arm strength as we give them weighted balls to trace the course with on the walls . Another way to improve visual skills for reading as well as self regulation and calming skills.
💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature staff members here at The Ville who contribute to students' academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week is a double feature with Van Derveer School's Jennifer Mitchell and Ashlee Haggerty! Jen Mitchell has been part of the Van Derveer team for 19 years. She taught fifth grade for seven years before moving to third grade in 2012. This is Jen's sixth year of a partnership with co-teacher and friend Ashlee Haggerty in a third-grade inclusion classroom. Through this collaborative approach, Jen and Ashlee can effectively support a diverse range of learners, ensuring that each child receives the personalized attention and encouragement they need to be successful. Both teachers strive to create an environment where every student feels valued and empowered. In addition to her role in the classroom, Jen has contributed to the school community through various committees and leadership positions over the years. As a mentor and cooperating teacher, Jen has guided new educators, sharing invaluable insights and fostering their professional growth. In addition, she supports her third-grade team as a Co-Grade Level Leader. Ashlee Haggerty is currently in her 19th year teaching at VDV. She started in 2006 as a first-grade general education teacher and then transitioned to third grade in 2017 as a special education inclusion teacher, where she co-taught with Jennifer Mitchell. They have established an effective and true co-teaching model within their classroom, where it is often difficult to tell who has the role of which teacher. They work hard to create an environment where students feel supported and valued and are encouraged to take risks. The motto of their classroom is “progress not perfection.” She feels fortunate to be part of such an inspirational community where she can positively influence those around her, and they, in turn, positively influence her. Thank you for all that you do for the Ville!
💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville who contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer School's Amanda Duckworth! Mrs. Duckworth has been teaching at VDV for 9 years. She has been primarily in Kindergarten as a Special Education and General Education teacher, with a year or two in First Grade as a Special Education Resource teacher. She also teaches during the Extended School Year program and Camp VDV. She is a co-chair of Van Derveer's Annual Food Drive in the Fall as well as the Annual Helen Doherty Science Fair in the Spring. Mrs. Duckworth loves to dance along with her class and her colleagues; she has been a member of the Variety Show Staff Act for many years. She mentors new staff members and continues supporting her Kindergarten team as a Co-Grade Level Leader. Engaging students with hands-on learning experiences is fun and important for young learners. Teaching living and nonliving with real worms and introducing equality with an egg experiment are just two of the fun activities she enjoys each year with her class! Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! @vdvshchoolnj . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj
💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer School's Mrs. Anderson! Mrs. Anderson is an Instructional Assistant at VDV. This is her seventh year. She has supported students in PreK, Preschool ABA self-contained, and 3rd-grade classrooms. For many years, she has participated in the VDV Food Drive and Science Fair committees. This school year, she was excited to bring in some of her fossil collection and share her love of science and fossil exploration with her 3rd-grade students! She enjoys fostering a love of learning attitude in her classrooms. Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #SomervilleStaffFeature
On September 14th, the NED Show came to our school! NED went on an adventure with Mrs. Streko to discover the power of YET and how students can think positively about their learning and day through life. NED showed us with his yo-yo tricks and mindset mission that anything is possible if we try our best!
👏 Congrats to the awesome 5th-grade students on their moving-up ceremony and last day at Van Derverr School! 🎉🌟 Best wishes for an exciting new chapter in middle school. Keep shining bright! 🌞✨ #allin4theville @VDVpal@MsFrevertVDV
@streko_vdv
Prima Pizza worked with Mrs. Scott's K-2 Class during their Read Across America celebration. Thank you Prima Pizza for the amazing hands on demonstration.
Due to the weather forecast and the potential for hazardous morning road conditions, all Somerville and Branchburg Schools will operate on a delayed opening schedule tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28, 2023. You may access school hours on the district website or below.
Please note that all before school clubs and activities will be canceled, including before school care at Van Derveer.
If conditions remain dangerous for travel in the morning, a decision to close schools for the full day will be made before 7:00 am.
Click below for delayed opening schedules by building.
VDV- https://5il.co/1hwy4
SMS- https://5il.co/1hiax
SHS- https://www.somervilleschools.org/o/shs/page/bell-schedule
Van DerVeer started World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) today by welcoming Rebecca Gardyn Levington for a virtual author visit! She read her book "Whatever Tomorrow Brings" and then answered some questions about her life as an author.
Thank you Patti Helwig for 25 year of service
A big thank you to the @SomervilleNJPTO for organizing a celebration of Dr. MLK Jr. Day of Service. VDV students designed placemats and wrote letters while SMS packaged personal hygiene items. Everything was donated to S.H.I.P. (Samaritan Homeless Interim Program).
VDV students are spreading kindness. The OT students are creating kindness clips to spread a message of kindness. They are secretly clipping them on a peer's backpack, jacket, paper, folder etc. to help share some random kindness around the school.
How are you feeling going into the weekend? (Seen at VDV) #allin4theville
☃️ Join our VDV students for some cheerful sounds of the season! The VDV Winter Concert is TOMORROW 7PM at Somerville High School! ❄️
Governor's Educator of the Year Nominations
Please take a moment of your time to complete the form to nominate one Teacher of the Year (TOY) and one Educational Services Professional of the Year (ESPOY).
Due: Friday, November 18th, 2022 by 3PM.
VDV Families- Don't forget to give your feedback on virtual Back to School Night. Check your text and emails for a link sent on Monday. The survey closes tomorrow afternoon.
